Yay for Mr. Bennett. His jokes are the shortest. The longer jokes are good too, in this romance. And that’s without any “Goodness she has a cold and i...moreYay for Mr. Bennett. His jokes are the shortest. The longer jokes are good too, in this romance. And that’s without any “Goodness she has a cold and is damp and may die” Victorian tragicomedy.
The plot is as easy to follow as any soap opera, and lots more fun to forecast.
The book’s not perfect - pure Jane Bennett and her mushy love interest Mr. Bigley might as well be mirrors of each other. Several others seem cut a bit close from stereotypical blocks. But they’re still fun to laugh at, and with. This is one of my favorite 200-year-old works of art.(less)
This is a young adult Borat primer. Vospop Vsklzwczdztwczky is from Slobovia, where the women are shaped like fire hydrants and the national flower is...moreThis is a young adult Borat primer. Vospop Vsklzwczdztwczky is from Slobovia, where the women are shaped like fire hydrants and the national flower is the mustache. OK, I liked that last idea. And I laughed at most of the proverbs from Voss’ dad. My favorite was “Don’t count your chickens. You don’t have any.” There’s even a passable story here, in the rare moments when Ives tones down the cheap foreign accents. None of that makes up for the fact that the book is offensive. “Rural Eastern European women are massive. Many people are anuses. It’s OK to make fun of foreigners on one level, as long as you respect them on another.” Those ideas don’t make fun reading for me, so that’s the limit on how good this book can be. (less)
This is about as minimalist as a survival story can get. Almost all the action takes place in 16-year-old Miranda’s house and immediate neighborhood....moreThis is about as minimalist as a survival story can get. Almost all the action takes place in 16-year-old Miranda’s house and immediate neighborhood.
The catalyst is a huge asteroid that smashes into the moon and drives it closer to the Earth. The moon’s increased gravitational pull triggers devastating tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanoes, that threaten to destroy the planet. There’s widespread power shutdowns, a blanket of ash, and sub-freezing cold in August.
Miranda, her Mom and two brothers refuse to give in, but there’s no clear hope for recovery. Starvation haunts them. The relentless sense of doom, closing in and crushing the family, gives this story its extreme focus and power. Could the moon really establish a new closer orbit, choking off all human life? What could people do to save themselves in a near-sunless world. What lengths would we go to, to stay alive? This story poses some great questions, but not so many answers. In this case, maybe that’s the way it should be. (less)
The mystery here is OK, even good I guess. But Janie’s romantic teen trauma is overwrought – a style fit for Hallmark and Harlequin. A swirly font for...moreThe mystery here is OK, even good I guess. But Janie’s romantic teen trauma is overwrought – a style fit for Hallmark and Harlequin. A swirly font for the cover title would have helped as a warning.
Janie is a suburban high school sophomore. She loves her parents, but discovers they may have kidnapped her from her original family. She no longer knows who she is, who she can trust, and who’s shoulder she should cry on next.
Senior heartthrob Reeve has the brawny sympathetic shoulders perfect for this assignment – it helps to place him literally as the boy next door. Cue the violins, in all their sweeping moods. Reeve’s macho-sensitivity seems canned, but not as bothersome as his lunatic driving maneuvers.
Cooney closes the final chapter on a made-for-sequel butter knife edge. It felt good to step off, and I’m pretty sure I won’t climb back on any time soon. (less)
This is a very depressing book for a teacher to read. Are any of us really as evil as Brother Leon? I'm convinced that school has changed a lot from t...moreThis is a very depressing book for a teacher to read. Are any of us really as evil as Brother Leon? I'm convinced that school has changed a lot from the worst days of Trinity High, and that makes the book a bit dated and unrealistic for me.
On the other hand, I read it for a second time this year, and the way Archie is able to twist everyone else to his will is still a shock and a surprise. There are definitely people in all areas of life who find their fun in taunting the weaknesses of the rest of us. This is an unrelenting psychodrama - great in part because there's no way I'll ever work in a school that terrible.(less)
Satrapi tells of her childhood in Iran, as the Islamic Fundamentalism Revolution took hold in the late 1970s and 80s. Satrapi’s family was part of the...moreSatrapi tells of her childhood in Iran, as the Islamic Fundamentalism Revolution took hold in the late 1970s and 80s. Satrapi’s family was part of the intellectual elite: relatively wealthy, privileged, and outspoken in their support of human rights. They welcomed the downfall of the Shah, but not the repressive tyranny that followed.
Marji is every bit as outspoken as her parents. She talks back to her teachers, hunts out rock CDs on the black market, and hates her veil. She doesn’t have such a clear view of all the dangers in Teheran, but she’s learning. And constantly pushing against the walls that close in on everyone.
That’s a lot to convey in a graphic book, but Satrapi never lets the words crowd out her very expressive black and white ink drawings. The panels range from funny, to violently angry, to almost inexpressibly sad. This is an elegant and eye-opening story. (less)
Victoria “Egg” Jurgen is an interesting character. She loves science fiction, and she’s obviously smart and tuned in to the world. The author is a sci...moreVictoria “Egg” Jurgen is an interesting character. She loves science fiction, and she’s obviously smart and tuned in to the world. The author is a sci fi fan herself, and does well to share the details of sci fi movie geekdom.
Great cover on this book, too, including the irony of openness, when supposedly Egg is Boy Proof, aiming to be perfectly unlikeable.
As time ticks away, in journal entry chapter heading precision, Egg gets better at driving everyone away, even as she begins to realize she really does want friends, including maybe a boyfriend. Argh. Why does it take her so many pages to work this out? And if she’s really so eager and eligible to be valedictorian, how can she fail her math exams?
At one point she shares, “I haunt the hallway like a broken spirit.” She’s giving herself too much credit. Maybe “I plod through the hallway like Eeyore on a field trip to the glue factory.” Come on Egg, just get the guy already.(less)
I don’t read when I’m in the bathroom. But if I did, Dave Barry would provide most of the material. His work pretty much screams bathroom. As if the e...moreI don’t read when I’m in the bathroom. But if I did, Dave Barry would provide most of the material. His work pretty much screams bathroom. As if the essay title, “Some Thoughts on the Toilet,” didn’t make that clear enough for his billions of readers.
Not that I like bathroom humor. I don’t. I’ve probably only read “Some Thoughts…” two or three times. I’ve read a few of the other essays in here a couple dozen times. There’s just so much to learn, such as Dave’s tips for truffle harvesting. “When you see the pig chewing something, fire a few shots over its head and collect whatever it spits out in a Mason jar.” He also has a profound appreciation for global politics. “Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about the defense of Western Europe. It keeps my mind off this rash in my right armpit.”
This book should be required reading in every high school class, or at least the ones that have their own bathrooms.(less)
Chris Crutcher’s novels are often overstuffed with drama, trauma, and unbearable pain. Stotan, however, keeps the action within manageable bounds. Tha...moreChris Crutcher’s novels are often overstuffed with drama, trauma, and unbearable pain. Stotan, however, keeps the action within manageable bounds. That’s a huge plus. There’s terminal illness, racist battles, child abuse, and a troubling case of teacher-student dating. But the strength of the characters is enough to keep the emergencies in perspective.
There’s a fair amount of teenage male posturing to the language, another Crutcher trait, but he significantly tones this down after the first few chapters.
Also to his credit, Crutcher didn’t focus so much on the swimming competitions. For every minute swimmers race in the pool, they have to put in hours of training. Crutcher makes the training interesting, along with all the other social baggage these teenagers are lifting. (less)
“That was the worst fight ever.” That quote from clueless teen fantasy ninja bass boy Scott Pilgrim doesn’t sum up the entire novel, but it comes clos...more“That was the worst fight ever.” That quote from clueless teen fantasy ninja bass boy Scott Pilgrim doesn’t sum up the entire novel, but it comes close enough.
Scott’s up against evil ex-boyfriend number 2, in his quest to win the favor of Ramona Flowers. And the formula is already more than repeatable. It’s instantly ready for recycle. There’s the same overstated huge-eye half-felt angers. The same girlfriend-boyfriend sweetness. And the same catty side comments from a cast of characters who rarely match the two dimensions of the graphics.
I like the over-the-top lovestruck snap of Knives Chau. And “Thank you Kim’s basement” is a good line. Maybe even enough for 3 stars, except for the fact that I’ve seen too much of Scott already, and there’s still another four episodes to go. (less)
A first-person thriller, written as a flashback journal. That obviously puts a limit on the suspense, but there’s still a very chilling quality here....moreA first-person thriller, written as a flashback journal. That obviously puts a limit on the suspense, but there’s still a very chilling quality here. Matthew McIlvane and his two sisters were trapped by their psychotic mother, and it takes the entire novel to establish just how much danger they may still be in. The heart of this story remains in the past, however, and Werlin does a frighteningly good job of keeping the children’s fear alive.
The conclusion and postscript seem forced and extreme, but no more extreme than Nikki, one of the most disturbing literary moms I’ve encountered. As one more twist, Werlin includes this warning in her dedication: “Always remember: The survivor gets to tell the story.”(less)
There’s very little teenage tension left by this time, the third book in the series that started with “Tomorrow When the War Began.” There’s not much...moreThere’s very little teenage tension left by this time, the third book in the series that started with “Tomorrow When the War Began.” There’s not much space for anything but the war.
Ellie, the main character, seems old and battered. Every move she makes is a matter of life and death, and one main effect is to strangle her emotions. She still cares about her life, and questions her moral balance, but she doesn’t hesitate to kill. There’s a chance that Marsden has shoved aside some of his readers, the ones who want a few more breathers from all the terrorist tactics. If you’re one of those who likes the shoot-em-up scenes, there’s more excitement than ever, and still more moments when you have to wonder how the gang manages to survive.(less)
Pot-boiler. That’s the catch-all phrase for this kind of book. There’s a murder trial, a mystery. Two beautiful dames, one of them cheating on her man...morePot-boiler. That’s the catch-all phrase for this kind of book. There’s a murder trial, a mystery. Two beautiful dames, one of them cheating on her man. Lots of cigarettes and stiff drinks and bursts of rapid-fire dialogue. But it’s still somehow a young adult novel, centered around 15-year-old Evie.
There are times when Evie acts like she’s in her 20s, and times when she might as well be 11. That may be typical of teens, but it still bothered me. And the storyline doesn’t hold it’s soul-searching moments very well. But thankfully, the awkward moments are rare, and the trial unfolds in a twisting and dagger-fun way.
The cover jacket says the author has written under a pen name. A little research reveals Blundell as Jude Watson – author of Star Wars serials and the Premonitions series. So she has a history of fast-paced drama. Overall, it serves her well in “How I Lied.” As a bonus, the cover perfectly mirrors the tone of the story.(less)
The dialogue is dated, but the story is timeless. It’s a great wake-up call for any pro-sport wannabe.
In many ways 17-year-old Slam is a typical arro...moreThe dialogue is dated, but the story is timeless. It’s a great wake-up call for any pro-sport wannabe.
In many ways 17-year-old Slam is a typical arrogant athletic teen. He can’t figure out why his basketball coach limits his playing time, and he’s not much better at understanding his girlfriend. He’s flunking classes, but refuses to put in the effort to learn. When adults try to give him advice, he snaps back. He’s content with a 740 PSAT, knowing that a 700 is all he needs for college, as long as his hoops skills are good enough.
In spite of all this negativity, Myers manages to make Slam likeable. For one thing, Slam has kept himself drug and crime-free. He’s honestly struggling whether to straighten out his best friend, or give him up to the streets. And deep-down he knows his attitude needs work.
It’s hard to change, though, and hard to predict whether Slam will ever be the superstar he dreams of. (less)
A combo of Sartre and Seinfeld and true crime tabloid, with almost innocent teen angst. It’s Christmas in some beaten British neighborhood. The people...moreA combo of Sartre and Seinfeld and true crime tabloid, with almost innocent teen angst. It’s Christmas in some beaten British neighborhood. The people seem as bitter and gray and slushy as the surroundings. Martyn’s dad is an angry aimless drunk. He’s also dead before the end of the first chapter, the catalyst for all that follows.
There’s plenty of absurdity. And futility: regret that our lives can’t be any different from the way they are. Martyn’s one thread of hope, his crush on neighbor Alex, is blunted by the fact that she’s two years older, worlds wiser, and already has a lout of a boyfriend. The existential wandering can get a bit much: Martyn’s desolate seaside hike is one example. But when the seedier side of the plot finally snaps open, the effect is devastating.
Biggest complaint: I can’t believe the investigation would play out the way it does. Martyn becomes a lot less likeable, and that’s not a result I was prepared for. (less)
This novel is depressing and dark, but too dry for too long to be much more than that. It’s the documentation of a school shooting. No narration – jus...moreThis novel is depressing and dark, but too dry for too long to be much more than that. It’s the documentation of a school shooting. No narration – just transcripts of various investigations and inquiries and Miranda statements, and some news clippings that seem irresponsibly weak.
There’s also the journal of Leonard Gray, the shooter. That’s one of the highlights of the book: deeply disturbing. Leonard is by far my favorite character, but the reader only sees him through his journal and the descriptions of others.
His friend Cameron is a confusing and frustrating accessory, with the line count of a featured lead. The two most prominent females, Carla – a classmate, and Victoria Leash – an FBI official, are unnecessarily grating.
There’s no great mystery here, no huge shock. More than anything else, it’s one big drag. (less)
About 2/3 of the way through, I wasn’t sure I wanted to finish this book. It’s like “Lord of the Flies” without all the symbols and descriptive passag...moreAbout 2/3 of the way through, I wasn’t sure I wanted to finish this book. It’s like “Lord of the Flies” without all the symbols and descriptive passages to temper the evil frenzies.
Then again, Teller has built some impressive subtleties into her very linear and fatalistic progression. The suspense rises from a foundation of innocence, humor, and undeniable charm. And the children ride waves of conviction and doubt before crashing back down into trauma. There’s a twisted desperation in their refusal to accept that life might amount to nothing. They hurt each other, to prove their losses have meaning. And with almost every new torment, the victims increase the cold calculation of their revenge. I can’t remember another young adult novel that disturbed me more. (less)
Light and fluffy, in spite of the shoplifting and the stroke and the hints of sex. By far the best characters are Shira’s Grandmother and her friend M...moreLight and fluffy, in spite of the shoplifting and the stroke and the hints of sex. By far the best characters are Shira’s Grandmother and her friend Minerva, two Miami Beach seniors. Their stereotypical Jewish penny-pinching and outspokenness might seem offensive, but they are defined clearly enough to enjoy, without worries of political correctness. It’s hard to stay pedantic, for example, as Minerva claws away to retrieve the popcorn she dropped down the front of her blouse. Another favorite moment, when one of Shira’s teachers says, “The Talmud is like the breading on a piece of chicken shnitzl. Its purpose is to enhance our appreciation of the meat.”
Shira’s romance and father-daughter dynamic are easy to dismiss, even though they’re supposed to be the heart of the story. I like this book best when it’s not trying to be much of anything. (less)
Another well-constructed sugary two-hour Cosmo Girl diversion. Chloe likes geeky Adam, but fears the social backlash, especially from her three bff’s....moreAnother well-constructed sugary two-hour Cosmo Girl diversion. Chloe likes geeky Adam, but fears the social backlash, especially from her three bff’s. So she tells little white lies, and hedges her own emotions with innocent eyes and a pure heart. The friends are sketched out just well enough to keep the pages turning, even through the plot’s most predictable moments.
The illustrations are cute, but that’s not exactly an endorsement. Fashion High deserves its name.
I’m still trying to figure out if this book is part of a series, graphic or otherwise, but I’m not especially eager to seek out any next installments. (less)
It’s impossible to sustain horror when smothered under thick Victorian prose. Then again, this novel aims to be a treatise on the great questions of e...moreIt’s impossible to sustain horror when smothered under thick Victorian prose. Then again, this novel aims to be a treatise on the great questions of existence, not a trick or treat electric shock. The result is the most blatant example of “telling, not showing” I’ve ever read.
Frankenstein’s monster is a classic concept, but the scientist as narrator is a pompous, stupefying bore. It doesn’t matter whether he’s describing his dearest friends and family, the landscapes of Europe, or his emotional trauma, it’s all painful soap opera. The monster introduces himself with 58 pages of similar bombast: proof that creator and creature are perfectly matched as asinine adversaries.
Their intertwined revenge has potential, but Shelley is much more interested in embellishing her life lessons on the nature of humanity. Congratulations to humanity for ignoring her instruction, in favor of head bolts, Halloween, and Herman Munster.(less)
I like how Gahan fleshes out his “little kid” memories with an adult face and acidic epithets, while still holding true to his childhood interests and...moreI like how Gahan fleshes out his “little kid” memories with an adult face and acidic epithets, while still holding true to his childhood interests and ignorances. He remembers most adults as indescribably strange, and complains about their rules and mistakes with the scowl of a nursing home crank. Wilson shares dozen of situations in which children deserve to be treated more like adults, and adults deserve to be scorned for acting so childish. Favorites include: Cousin Claude, the lanyard, making models, and his Friday sundae.
The child’s profanity fits the bitter/innocent twist, but it’s not a selling point for me. And there’s no doubt that this is a Gahan Wilson production. His childhood tastes lean toward science fiction and suspense, and his visuals can be heavy on the gross factor. Maybe the strips worked better in their original magazine serial. The swearing and gore and “Remember” phrasing gets repetitive for me in book format. (less)
The truth can be indescribably strange; even so it seems impossible that this story could unfold the way Whelan has imagined it. I can accept that Arg...moreThe truth can be indescribably strange; even so it seems impossible that this story could unfold the way Whelan has imagined it. I can accept that Argentina’s history of state-sponsored terrorism and torture must be every bit as horrific as Whelan describes, and more. And the risks that Eduardo and his sister Silvia face in opposing the military junta seem real enough. But as the plot tension builds, the ties to historical reality snap away.
I don’t especially like the back-and-forth heart-to-heart first person narration style either. Whelan’s epilogue doesn’t help much, except to make me want to know more about Los Desaparecidos. After 136 very quick pages I have plenty of time left over to check Whelan’s “Further Reading” list, or at least Wikipedia.(less)
25 seconds a page. That was my average reading speed, and I’m usually a pretty slow reader. This is one of the fastest non-graphic non-verse books I k...more25 seconds a page. That was my average reading speed, and I’m usually a pretty slow reader. This is one of the fastest non-graphic non-verse books I know of. And that’s a huge help, because the book doesn’t really get much more than OK until about page 100. Or maybe 120. Whatever, it gets better as it zips along.
Even with a lot of predictable people and circumstances, it gets better. It’s not meant to be as funny as Sonnenblick’s funniest books, but there were a few good laughs as well. Almost all the relationships are obvious and comforting. I can think of worse ways to spend a couple hours. (less)
It’s near impossible to like Kristi Carmichael. She’s mean, and she has insults for everyone and everything around her. As if that isn’t enough, she h...moreIt’s near impossible to like Kristi Carmichael. She’s mean, and she has insults for everyone and everything around her. As if that isn’t enough, she has the disturbing power to read minds. Her alternative high school seems like a perfect fit, except for the fact that she hates that too.
Her home life isn’t any better. Dad has run away and Mom devotes most of her energy to her work – leaving Kristi with that much more to feel angry and sorry about. A handful of classmates, including one extremely cute extremely incomprehensible crush, fill out the plot. But then the plot starts twisting, and as it twists, it gets better. It’s near impossible to like Kristi, but it’s not entirely impossible. Understanding her? I just about gave up on that too, but I’m glad I didn’t give up completely.(less)
The characters are almost caricatures. The tragedy is overwhelming. And it’s all over in a few quick pages. And still this is a great book.
Steinbeck...moreThe characters are almost caricatures. The tragedy is overwhelming. And it’s all over in a few quick pages. And still this is a great book.
Steinbeck evokes the despair of nomadic farm workers, but he doesn't pity or patronize them. The life of any one California drifter is too brief and preordained to matter, not when set against the irrefutable laws of human nature. These people can dream, and they can sympathize, but they can’t win.
Steinbeck’s descriptions of the land are simple and beautiful. And in many respects, the same laws apply. Time passes, fates are sealed in an instant, and it all plays out again and again, with nothing to do but to accept what little life offers. (less)
15-year-old Christopher Boone is a remarkable character, the driving force of a remarkable book. Christopher has Asperger Syndrome. I thought AS could...more15-year-old Christopher Boone is a remarkable character, the driving force of a remarkable book. Christopher has Asperger Syndrome. I thought AS could be relatively mild – social anxiety that falls far short of autism. But that’s not the case for Christopher. He can’t bear to be touched, he screams uncontrollably in crowds, and he’s incapable of comprehending social and emotional signals.
As narrator, Christopher recounts the millions of details that trigger his anxiety, along with his mathematics genius. Haddon makes the math fun, and he does even better to share the heartbreak that tears apart Christopher’s home. He chronicles all the fighting, swearing, breakdowns, deceit, and love, with perfect detachment. This disturbing perspective may make the book a difficult, but not inappropriate, selection for MS as well as HS and adult. Readers should be prepared to absorb all the blows, and all the wonder of Christopher’s existence.(less)
This true story of a child soldier in Sierra Leone is brutally honest. Ishmael Beah was 10 years old in 1991, when the civil war reached his village....moreThis true story of a child soldier in Sierra Leone is brutally honest. Ishmael Beah was 10 years old in 1991, when the civil war reached his village. Beah and his friends spent almost 3 years on the run, before being forced to join the government army. The soldiers were half-starved, addicted to a stew of drugs. As Beah explains, the drugs were necessary to numb the horror: prisoner executions, village massacres, and near-unspeakable acts of torture.
One of the most disturbing messages is how these children look up to their squad leader, and vie for his respect. Their leader is a monster, not because he’s absolutely evil or sadistic, but because he cares for his boys, and believes in the government cause.
This book is powerful, but not perfect. Beah’s writing style is uneven, and the story jumps from moment to moment without a clear sense of how Beah or anyone else made it out alive. Even so, this is a story that demands to be heard. (less)
I spent far too much time looking forward to the end of this wartime coming of age novel. Life lessons from boarding school: Knowles may even deserve...moreI spent far too much time looking forward to the end of this wartime coming of age novel. Life lessons from boarding school: Knowles may even deserve credit/blame for fueling the franchise. The students are interesting, except for Phineas, the boy who is supposed to be the exemplar of all that’s pure and good and innocent. Elwin Leper Lepellier is a great name and character.
The book is a testimonial of fractured friendship, and self-worth, and the supreme virtue of honesty and courage and carpe diem for whom the bell tolls blah blah blah there it’s done I can move on now. (less)
I like how honest this book is about sports, and steroids, and how far people will push themselves to win. Even when the actions get extreme, they sti...moreI like how honest this book is about sports, and steroids, and how far people will push themselves to win. Even when the actions get extreme, they still seem possible, and that much scarier as a result.
Dueker doesn’t try to hide the benefits of steroids, or their appeal to athletes. He doesn’t sugarcoat the downside either. Mick Johnson, his football coaches, the trainer at the gym who introduces him to steroids – there’s no absolute good or evil in any of them.
Mick’s parents and friends are more predictable as stereotypes, but that’s not a significant concern. Mick knows that he’s responsible for his own life. He knows what he’s doing to himself. Can he stop? Does he want to stop? Those are the questions that propel this story right to the final line, and impact the culture of sports worldwide. (less)
Great suspense, but very hard to believe. 17-year-old Duncan is stuck in a dead-end summer job in Toronto. He finds what appears to be a psychopath’s...moreGreat suspense, but very hard to believe. 17-year-old Duncan is stuck in a dead-end summer job in Toronto. He finds what appears to be a psychopath’s journal, with descriptions of past arsons, as well as plans for deadly assaults against women. Duncan is convinced it’s his destiny to stop the would-be killer. It’s hard to imagine many readers who would immediately agree.
McNamee drops in plenty of internal monologues and a few side plots to help justify Duncan’s vigilante behavior. At one point Duncan even gives in and tries to hand the journal over to the police, but they aren’t interested. And he freely admits his doubts, his limits as a detective. Best of all, the suspense feels real enough when it takes over.
Final verdict: McNamee is thorough in his effort to realistically establish and defend Duncan’s actions, but his case could be a lot stronger. (less)
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