For its genre, a genre that has by-and-large failed to intrigue me for twenty-one years, I'd say that this book was actually pretty good--in the sense...moreFor its genre, a genre that has by-and-large failed to intrigue me for twenty-one years, I'd say that this book was actually pretty good--in the sense that I only fell asleep once while reading it, and never chucked it at the wall in frustration. While it is not the first book I would pick up off the shelf, I can see its place in adolescent literature. There are inevitably students who are drawn to non-fiction, and these are probably the some of the same students who appreciate their science classes more than their literature classes anyways, so I think that this book does a fantastic job of reaching out to those readers. I learned a lot about scientific endeavors of the past, but in a relatable, teenager friendly, not too overloaded with ridiculous scientific terms, sort of way. Also, i felt like the book appealed to both emotional and scientific readers; it combined the science with the person, so while I felt like I learned a lot about the science the "guinea pig scientists" encountered, I also got to know the person behind the experiment, and that helped engage me on an emotional level. (less)
Phew. Reading this book seemed almost as perilous as the journey it depicts. Jennifer Armstrong retells a compelling story, but she includes the detai...morePhew. Reading this book seemed almost as perilous as the journey it depicts. Jennifer Armstrong retells a compelling story, but she includes the details of every meal and every hunting foray that sometimes the book become a long, tedious tale where I really just wanted them to get rescued already. Non-fiction is not my favorite genre, so that may have added to the tedium of reading it, but overall, I felt like Sir Edward Shackleton--sorely fatigued and desperately ready for this quest to be over-- by the end of the book. I learned a lot about these remarkable adventurers, and the book was straightforward and well-written. Just a long haul at times.(less)
The Outsiders is not the most syntactically creative book I have ever read. It is not perhaps the most thoroughly researched or historically accurate...moreThe Outsiders is not the most syntactically creative book I have ever read. It is not perhaps the most thoroughly researched or historically accurate book either. It is however, one of the most genuine capturers of adolescent emotion and depth of thought that I have ever read. This book is magnificent because it proves that teenagers are capable of deep thought and intellectual emotion. I found myself so engaged with Hinton's characters, with her feeling, with her themes that even though I was a white girl from Suburbia. I felt deeply for the characters successes and losses. I was blown away by Hinton's ability to understand the world at such a young age. I think the book added validity to Young Adult Fiction, giving them a valid audience with a valid author. Four stars!(less)
An interesting tale of redemption and forgiveness. I think this book did a good job of depicting the adolescent condition, as well as linking cultures...moreAn interesting tale of redemption and forgiveness. I think this book did a good job of depicting the adolescent condition, as well as linking cultures together. I really appreciated the multiple perspectives from which the story was told, and I think that Fleischman has some real skill in putting together sentences. Thematically the book was strong and touching. Plot-wise, the book wasn't your latest Harry Potter or Percy Jackson novel. It featured Brent, who had to atone for his sin of killing a girl while drunk driving by making Whirligigs and stationing them around the United States. It had more of a slow, methodical rhythm that was just right for the story being told. I was pleased by the concept of redemption, and think there will be a lot to analyze in the book when I finally get around to doing that.(less)
Allow me to jump on the bandwagon and say that I really liked this book! Perhaps it was because it was stylistically different from the other YA lit n...moreAllow me to jump on the bandwagon and say that I really liked this book! Perhaps it was because it was stylistically different from the other YA lit novels that we have been reading all semester, but the complexity of the syntax (even though it wasn't all that complex) was a breath of fresh air. The protagonist was charming and real. I found that I could identify with her in more ways than I had with other protagonists I've read this semester. The book made me feel cozy as I cuddled between the sheets and read of the Calendar Sisters and their embrace of Lilly Owens, a girl who had run away from her father in order to find out more about her mother. I loved exploring the themes of motherlessness in the book, and loved watching as Lilly went from no mothers, to four mothers, to the mother of her own soul. Lilly’s emotional evolution was an especially compelling part of this book, and while I was aware that I wasn’t reading adolescent literature, the true hormonal pangs of adolescents read especially well to me. I think Sue Monk Kidd created a beautiful environment for Lilly to go through the refiner's fire and come out on top. I understand the mass appeal of this book now, and found it a delightful and cozy read. (less)
Kits Wilderness is about a young boy, moving into his grandfather's town to take care of his grandfather as he fades from this life. His associations...moreKits Wilderness is about a young boy, moving into his grandfather's town to take care of his grandfather as he fades from this life. His associations with another boy in class pull him into a strange world of communicating with people who have already died. After reading this book, I feel similarly to how I felt after I read Catcher in the Rye... Like now, I need to go dance in the sun and listen to a song by they Spice Girls and do everything I can to absorb as much light and happiness as possible. I feel just a little bit... bleak, which I suppose makes sense, considering the content of our last lecture in my adolescent literature class. Even with a fairly happy and redeeming ending, I still feel like I'm in a cold den with the faces of dead children around me. I suppose that speaks to author, David Almond's abilities. I think he is a gifted writer who told a beautiful story about redemption from the dead. I loved how he wove the stories of Kit's imaginations into Kit's reality, and I love the powerful effect Almond suggest that one can have in the lives of those who are struggling. The book was well-crafted and I don't think I am worse off for having read it. I appreciated the themes of looking into the past, the beauty of living in the present, acceptance, forgiving. And yet, I still have lurking, nagging "bleakness" that I don't always strive for when I am reading adolescent literature.(less)
It was an interesting experience to read two books in one day-- one with my favorite adolescent narrator so far and the other with my least favorite n...moreIt was an interesting experience to read two books in one day-- one with my favorite adolescent narrator so far and the other with my least favorite narrator so far (see my review of Feed for details). Jason BOCK! of Pete Hautman's Godless, was a smart-aleck, outwardly confident, yet inwardly insecure narrator, which happens to be my favorite kind of teenager. He was witty and believable, angsty, and probably a little too smart for his own good. This was the first book we've read for YA lit that I've laughed out loud probably every other page. I commend Hautman for his exquisite narrator, and look forward to reading more of his books for this reason. However, despite the wittiness of the narrator, the subject matter was surprisingly dense, and not always pleasant. Hautman addressed the common struggle of finding faith and religion, and I confess, sometimes I was distressed by his approach to the topic. He related real and intense grapplings with faith, and maybe it is because I consider myself religious that I found the whole subject somewhat uncomfortable. Still, it is a real issue, and something that teenagers probably ought to explore. While it does not come to a neat, bow-tied ending, I think it explores the real feelings of loneliness that faithlessness can bring. (less)
The novel, Out of the Dust, by Karen Hesse, depicts in free verse a young girl’s experience with the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression and Death, and te...moreThe novel, Out of the Dust, by Karen Hesse, depicts in free verse a young girl’s experience with the Dust Bowl, the Great Depression and Death, and tells the beautiful story of a girl coming to terms with the hand (literally and figuratively) that life has dealt to her. The story uses nature imagery to parallel the emotions of young Billie Jo, and helps relate her tale of forgiveness, suggesting that if one can endure life’s dust storms, life can again become worth living. I remember loving this book as a young girl, and it is no different now. Hesse tells a beautiful and poignant story of trial, redemption, and nature’s poetic song in Out of the Dust, and shows readers how we might effectively cope with the challenges afforded to each of us. Hesse writes in an extremely palatable free verse that feels beautiful, simplistic, and yet important all at once. For such a young protagonist, we feel such believable insight and perspective on a real historical event. I understood the human will to press forward, keep on living even when life seems like it could get no worse. An inspired read.(less)
Monster follows a young boy on trial for being an accomplice in murder, and questions the innocence of the protagonists throughout the entire time. Th...moreMonster follows a young boy on trial for being an accomplice in murder, and questions the innocence of the protagonists throughout the entire time. This book was an extremely interesting post-modern book that was constructed in a way that I have never seen before. I appreciated the stylistic break from the norm, and I appreciated a lot of the ambiguity the book portrayed. I remembered my experience with it as a young reader, and I remember being fairly confused and unsettled by the book. I think as an older reader, my unsettled experience became more concrete, and yet I had a better understanding of why it made me feel weird. I think this book challenged the tradition of trusting the narrator. It is a convention that I have not seen in a lot of adolescent lit novels, truth be told, and seems to be a good bridge into more adult literature. The unreliable narrator allows for some fascinating analysis of the book, especially when juxtaposed with the seemingly unbiased movie script that accompanies the narrator's journal entries. I love what Myers does with YA conventions and introduces more complex ones. It was a compelling, interesting, and unsettling read.(less)
While I'm still trying to massage the lump in my throat that this book brought on, I must confess that the four hours I spent reading this book on a S...moreWhile I'm still trying to massage the lump in my throat that this book brought on, I must confess that the four hours I spent reading this book on a Sunday afternoon were seriously compelling and thought-provoking. I confess, I have, in the past, grown tired of literature about the oppression of African-American literature. I think this has something to do with the fact that it is something that is so far from anything I have ever been able to relate to. Home-grown in Suburbia, USA, there were maybe four black people at my school, and so it's never been a struggle that I have been able to relate to. Plus hearing about the relentless cruelty of whites bogs me down about my race and fills me with uncomfortable sadness. Maybe that is the point of this kind of literature... This book, however, re-invented African-American literature for me. Suddenly I was brought into their perspective, because the narrator was a narrator I had something in common with: youth. Mildred Taylor gave an extremely honest depiction of childhood emotions, emotions that could identify with in my own childhood. It made me recall the feelings of innocence I had in my own second grade classroom when we learned about slavery and the Civil Rights movement. I remember not being able to comprehend, like Cassie Logan, why anyone could think they were better than anyone else because of their skin color. This innocence was precisely what was so compelling about the book, and what drew me into this struggle so intensely. Taylor's story was balanced, fair, accurate, and compelling. (less)
The age-old saying, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade,” becomes something of a through-line in Virginia Euwer Wolff’s novel, Make Lemonade....more The age-old saying, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade,” becomes something of a through-line in Virginia Euwer Wolff’s novel, Make Lemonade. The sour story of orphaned, destitute Jolly and her two kids becomes a bitter-sweet tale of making the very best of crummy situations. The book uses the metaphor of a lemon often to infuse a theme of optimism throughout situations where one would be inclined to pessimism. I thought the book was interesting and post-modern, and told a tired story in a new way. The characters read well, and I liked that Wolff didn't make the characters... better than they were. What I mean by that is that she didn't present these heroically optimistic girls that magically make the best of a horrible situation. The girls were real. They were beaten down by life. They whined a lot. They made mistakes. And yet through their obstacles they were triumphant, even if the ends didn't tie up so neatly at the end. The free-verse poetry was interesting and a good change of pace from the books that I am used to. It contributed in some ways... but I am still working out how on that one. Still, it did not distract from a cute, optimistic yet realistic read. (less)
**spoiler alert** This book was the most plot-driven and exciting book that we have read so far, which was a nice change from Kit's Wilderness, which...more**spoiler alert** This book was the most plot-driven and exciting book that we have read so far, which was a nice change from Kit's Wilderness, which was a bit more cerebral. As with most books, I liked it more after discussing it. I thought it was exciting and fun to read, and I thought it addressed current political issues in an interesting, albeit rather didactic way. My favorite tenant of the book, although it was also the part that made me a little uncomfortable, was the way that it examined western religion. Shusterman suggests the extreme justifications using the bible humans make are incorrect and repulsive. His character, Lev, makes a strong stand against religious extremists by exhibiting a complete turnaround of perspective. When he originally thinks himself valuable and a sacred donation, he begins to understand the gross practices of his western religion, and the justifications they have made on his behalf. Ironically, Lev resorts to suicide bombing to take a stand, which we commonly associate with terrorist groups, and therefore an evil practice. Yet in this book, audiences find they are rooting for Lev’s quest, and that we understand that his human effort will lead to a better tomorrow for many others. Using this extreme example, Shusterman invites audiences to consider extremes of our own culture, rather than chiding and deriding only the cultures and religions we do not understand. Lev’s goodness, and willingness to die for a cause, is rewarded with life—not simply his own, but Connor’s and all of the Unwinds Connor takes care of in the future.(less)
For my first experience with graphic novels, I confess myself impressed. I will admit that I was none too optimistic about it, but I felt that the boo...moreFor my first experience with graphic novels, I confess myself impressed. I will admit that I was none too optimistic about it, but I felt that the book was actually a poignant, thought-provoking, yet fast moving and enjoyable read. American Born Chinese is about a young American boy, Chinese by descent, who must learn to accept his heritage, while living in the western world. The book allowed me to examine some of my own cultural bias, and helped me to think about what is it about the western world that is so imposing... so "dominant" in the minds of other cultures. Why is it that we personally believe that our way is the most correct way? The main character has to explore the cultural divide he feels being a Chinese teenager in America, and while he is busy trying to completely assimilate into western cultures, he must confront some of the things that make him unique. It became not just a tale of racial injustice, but also sort of a coming of age story with a nice message about accepting your heritage and your environment. I appreciated the funny moments of the graphic novel, and I enjoyed reading with pictures, surprisingly. I think they added elements that text alone could not, and I believe this book would be a good outreach to many different students of many different cultural and literary backgrounds.(less)
This book fit my "romance" criteria book, and I must admit, sadly, that I think I am over Sarah Dessen. Her books are so alarmingly "YA" that they are...moreThis book fit my "romance" criteria book, and I must admit, sadly, that I think I am over Sarah Dessen. Her books are so alarmingly "YA" that they are starting to lack individuality. It seems like she found a winning formula: "Hardened college bound girl meets emotionally vulnerable boy and together they fix each other's wounds (inevitably inflicted by parents) and live happily ever after. The emotional problems seem to be the only variable between books-- parents problems, rape, parent death, parent neglect, boyfriend abuse. Except that all the narrators sound the same and cope with their problems the same way, and they never really seem stronger for it. For me, Sarah Dessen books used to be a guilty pleasure read, and now I just feel guilty reading the emotional boredom. I think Dessen lost her spark after This Lullaby, which was a truly charming read, emotionally redeeming, and pleasant. Along for the Ride seemed like its boring predecessor. The worst thing about this book is that it will probably get a wider readership than most of the books on my list.
Not your best Mrs. Dessen. Pick a different formula.(less)
**spoiler alert** Wintergirls was appropriately titled. Honestly, the best way to describe the book was "chilling." The book depicts the honest and ho...more**spoiler alert** Wintergirls was appropriately titled. Honestly, the best way to describe the book was "chilling." The book depicts the honest and horrible truth about the life of an anorexic girl. Reading it was miserable. Reading it was captivating, sickening, disheartening, worrying, irritating, and sad. But Anderson can do things with words that you've never dreamed. I found myself wanting to curl my fingers into her imagery and let it leak through my own fingers. I've learned that I judge a book often by the writer's imagery, and this book passed my "fantastic imagery" test. This book was able to evoke more emotions from me than any of the ones that I have read so far. It made me want to pick up my pen and blog in images until the day was done. Yet I cannot endorse the read for every adolescent. The subject matter is very mature and somewhat haunting. I felt my own self-esteem come into question at times, which proves Anderson's prowess as a writer, but also exposes the book as somewhat dangerous to impressionable minds. My only real complaint about the book was the lack of catharsis at the end. We struggled so much through the girl's illness that her recovery was understated and anti-climactic. Still, the book was well-written and thought-provoking. It made me want to go say a prayer for all those with eating disorders out there, and for their parents too.(less)
**spoiler alert** My immediate reaction after closing this book was to pull up my Goodreads account and tear into it because I hated it so much. I thi...more**spoiler alert** My immediate reaction after closing this book was to pull up my Goodreads account and tear into it because I hated it so much. I think, however, that the car ride home from Starbucks gave me time to reflect on the book, and I can't really tear into it like I planned. I have to give less than subtle props to M.T. Anderson for his artistry. He created a futuristic world with language extremely well, and sucked me into the depression that is life less than fully lived. He created the most detestable narrator since Holden Caulfield (I know, I should probably expect backlash for that comment). I HATED his narrator. And yet that was the point of his whole novel. He expertly created a protagonist so desensitized by his feed (a little brain chip in your body that gives you access to the internet, controls all your bodily functions, and feeds you endless mercantile propaganda), that he can't even display a human amount of emotion when his thoughtful, empathetic, beautiful girlfriend's feed goes into malfunction and takes her life. It was... Love Story meets... Shade's Children meets...Notes from the Underground (shudder)... meets The Departed (for language). The book explores chilling themes about the direction that our society is headed; supposedly we are headed to a completely capitalistic society where human interaction can be fabricated to "Chatting with the feed," where one does not have to read or write, where the only thing that matters is the material one has amassed. He discusses themes of how technology will control us to the point where it can even become a tool to rob us of our own lives if we lend it complete control. So all in all, I am way depressed after reading it, but a little bit in awe of the world Anderson created. I can't say I totally hated it. (less)
Joan Baur is a delightful author who tells the story of Hilde Biddle, a teen reporter who cracks down on a corporate scandal brewing in her small town...moreJoan Baur is a delightful author who tells the story of Hilde Biddle, a teen reporter who cracks down on a corporate scandal brewing in her small town. The book was cleverly written, albeit a tiny bit predictable. Still it was fun to journey down a reporter's journey and see a teenager empowered by her own determination. I was relieved to see a heroine that wasn't calloused and hardened by teenagerism and her father's death. Her narrator was relatable and real. She allowed things that hurt to actually hurt her throughout the book, not in just one big climactic moment I've seen in a lot of adolescent lit, where it is time to "face the music," if you will. I thought that was a more accurate, and I didn't feel like the protagonist was angsty, simply more real. Overall the characterizations in this book were strong, but the plot was a little weak, so I can't endorse it as the best book of all time, but a perfectly fluffy, adequate, adolescent read.(less)
**spoiler alert** This book wove three plots together--one of terrorist Miro who must complete his first mission, one of Bus Driver Kate who must save...more**spoiler alert** This book wove three plots together--one of terrorist Miro who must complete his first mission, one of Bus Driver Kate who must save kids from the terrorists, and one of The General's son, who is intriguingly involved somehow all throughout, though we aren't quite sure how until the end. What I appreciated most about Robert Cormier's book, After the First Death" was his unerring honesty. I think as an adolescent LDS reader, it is something that might have made me nervous, but now I appreciate his ability to tell the truth during a fictional tale. Human reaction and motivation was authentic and believable, even in a story that may seem impossible and outlandish. I think I am used to the cookie-cutter ending, and I appreciate the fact that Cormier did not deliver that; instead he left us with an unsavory ending where redemption and catharsis were still in question. When we wanted to root for Miro/ half-expected to see his turnaround, we were surprised by his ultimate stagnation. We still wonder and postulate about the relationship between Ben and his father. Was his father ultimately forgiven, or did Ben merely say "I forgive you" to assuage his conscience? The book had layers and depth, and I appreciated getting to know four (five including Randy) very real characters and see them shine and crumple under moments of buckling pressure. This will not be my last book by Cormier.(less)
My least favorite book so far. Lena is a simple story, and perhaps in my quest to finish thirty books in six weeks, I picked one of Woodson's less rep...moreMy least favorite book so far. Lena is a simple story, and perhaps in my quest to finish thirty books in six weeks, I picked one of Woodson's less reputable books. Lena is about a young girl who takes her sister and trecks across the country to get away from an abusive father, but doesn't really make it all that far. The writing was fine, but not enchanting. The story was lackluster and intended for extremely juvenile concepts. The struggle of the protagonists was easily resolved and not relatable. Overall, it might be a good book for young readers who come from abusive homes, but I really didn't feel like Woodson confronted the issue of abuse, just side stepped around it, with a short and fruitless journey. Woodson writes dialects well, but ultimately that did not redeem the entire story for me.(less)
Gary Soto's poems explored some cute adolescent themes of "love and longing." I didn't find it to be deeply moving or intensely motivating, but it did...moreGary Soto's poems explored some cute adolescent themes of "love and longing." I didn't find it to be deeply moving or intensely motivating, but it did hearken back to the silly, giggly, melty, buttery "love" feelings of adolescence. I was surprised that he could, at least to some degree, capture what it was like to be a thirteen-year-old female with her first unmanageable crush on a boy. It helped me recall the giddiness of crushes, and the intense feelings that come with our first attempts at becoming adults. It was enjoyable, and a great introduction to poetry for younger audiences, however, not the most astounding literature I have read in my entire life. (less)
My favorite book so far. This was an elective read, a quick, cute delightful tale of the Willoughby kids who desperately want to be orphans, and their...moreMy favorite book so far. This was an elective read, a quick, cute delightful tale of the Willoughby kids who desperately want to be orphans, and their parents who desperately want to get rid of their kids. The book was extremely clever (who would expect less from Ms. Lowry?), and made fun of a lot of the conventions of young adult or children's literature. It was satiric and snarky, yet heart-warming and sweet all at once. It was ripe with literary allusions that made the educated reader feel superior, but it also contained a glossary for the uneducated or younger reader, making a decided effort to improve reader vocabularies. It is the kind of book that will help young writers write better, as Lowry states that reading is the main way young writers will learn to write well. (less)
This book fulfilled my audio, Printz, and fantasy credit, and it was surprisingly good. I'd tried to read some of Farmer's other books and found them...moreThis book fulfilled my audio, Printz, and fantasy credit, and it was surprisingly good. I'd tried to read some of Farmer's other books and found them slow-moving and hard to get into at first. This one seemed to go in sort of a reverse order. At first I was really engaged, but I felt like the book was a TON of buildup and then kind of a let down at the end. The book is about a young clone named Matt, who discovers that is purpose in life is less than reputable. He must fix the political state of his degrading country as well as save his own life in the process. I wanted the protagonist to be more volitional then he was. The book was well-written and a really interesting concept, and I think it is a good book for young adults if they are willing to make it all the way through to the end. However, I definitely sensed a strong political undertone in a lot of the plot. Even though some of it I really agreed with, I don't like it when authors seem to write with an agenda to tell a story. It discussed important issues like human rights, immigration laws, and drug legalization, but it did them in a fairly swayed way. It also seemed to say a lot of organized religion, and it didn't seem to write most favorably towards it. Still it was interesting, and worthwhile, but I can't say that it was my one hundred percent favorite read of the semester.(less)
This book fit my "old time juvenile fiction criteria, and even though entertainment standards have changed since then, I have a hard time believing ki...moreThis book fit my "old time juvenile fiction criteria, and even though entertainment standards have changed since then, I have a hard time believing kids actually read this book! I am reminded of my own experience as a child, trying over and over again to read it. I remember the subject being very intriguing... A secret garden holds a certain amount of mystique, but this mystique is not one that Burnett capitalizes on well. The story focuses on Mary Lennox, who after her parents are taken by the cholera epidemic, is forced to move in with her cross uncle and his crippled son. During her time on the moors, she discovers a garden that has been locked for a decade, and helps Colin, the crippled boy, to heal, as well as healing some of her own personal shortcomings as well. The book is a laborious read, ripe with WAY too much detail, and I am reminded why I never got through it as a kid. I found myself rolling my eyes after hearing for the FIFTIETH time how much fatter Mary Lennox got once she got to the moor. I understand the tale is heart-warming and all about restoration of the adolescent spirit, but... Snore. The book was a bore, and I hope I don't enrage people by saying it. For once in my life, I endorse the movie over the book. It's quicker. Less... boring.(less)
This book was surprisingly good for a "sports book." Sports didn't seem like an annoyingly prevalent feature of the book, by any means, which was impo...moreThis book was surprisingly good for a "sports book." Sports didn't seem like an annoyingly prevalent feature of the book, by any means, which was important for me since I am strictly a "non athlete." The book is about a protagonist who must decide how he feels about racism, and suffers the consequences, and then on top of that, how he feels about being in love with a girl. Having never been a sports fan, myself, I worried upon picking up Chris Crutcher’s first novel, that it would not be a story I could identify with. However, Crutcher tastefully weaves sports into Louis’ tale, and sports become a way for him to cope with difficult emotions regarding race, sex, and death. The narrator was mature and immature all at the same time. He gave validity to young protagonists, and showed that teens are capable of thinking about deep things, even if they are not capable of behaving maturely to focus their energies. I think it was an accurate representation of teens, which sparked an interesting discussion in class about the necessity of "realism" in adolescent literature. As a reader, I think in most books I prefer realism, so I think this book sat well with me in that regard.
An engaging read. Not much to analyze, but one of the most enjoyable so far.(less)
Another Joan Bauer book and elective read. This book focused around Protagonist "Tree," an exceptionally tall and caring young boy who struggles throu...moreAnother Joan Bauer book and elective read. This book focused around Protagonist "Tree," an exceptionally tall and caring young boy who struggles through his parents' divorce, being tall, helping his invalid grandfather, and dealing with bullies. Tree is deeply caring and sweet, insecure about his height, and a nice boy. It does seem like his character is a tiny bit contrived, but still cute. I think this book targets a more middle school age audience, and so it was quick, but not especially compelling. It was forgettable, but fine. (less)
This book was one of my elective reads, I think I am becoming increasingly more alarmed that I have not read more Madeleine L'Engle in my life, and I...moreThis book was one of my elective reads, I think I am becoming increasingly more alarmed that I have not read more Madeleine L'Engle in my life, and I plan to amend this immediately. This book follows Vicky, who returns to a summer home and becomes involved with a science project involving communication with dolphins. Meanwhile, she is learning how she feels about religion, death, and boyfriends. This book is not to be confused with the horrible, watered down, counterfeit Disney movie that shares its title; this book was deep. It managed to entertain me and sparked thoughts about religion and spirituality in the most unobtrusive way. The characters were moral and yet real as they contemplated many different themes like death, abuse, love, spirituality, and religion. Yet I never felt preached at, any more than the characters admitted to preaching. I felt like it was an extremely contemplative book that came to no concrete answers. I definitely see that this might be frustrating for some readers, and though the plot was not always the most action-packed, it was still engaging and interesting. I think it is a book that LDS audiences especially could appreciate it--I know that enhanced my enjoyment of it very much. It explores the realm of spirituality verse religion in a challenging, yet respectful way, and raises important questions about morality, without being too moralistic. Furthermore, it is squeaky clean, but not obnoxiously so. I really appreciated this book. (less)
Admittedly, in my search for a graphic novel, I encountered many that helped define the stereotype I've projected on graphic novels, but MAUS was not...moreAdmittedly, in my search for a graphic novel, I encountered many that helped define the stereotype I've projected on graphic novels, but MAUS was not one of them. Maus was a brilliantly told story that encompassed both the historical accuracies and facts, as well as the way things can be tainted or colored by perception. It tells the tale of a Holocaust survivor as he fought for life in the face of all odds in an Nazi camp. It honestly depicted some of his prouder moments, and some of the moments he was a little ashamed of. For the limited amount of text afforded to graphic novels, the text was surprisingly complex and wove the tales of Nazi Germany and America together with grace. It became a story about trial, love, and family rather than simply a tale of Nazi Germany.
Another thing that I loved about it is that it was allowed conventions that straight novels simply cannot have available to them. It used imagery and symbolism well and created spectacular images without needing to be too graphic or appalling. It helped readers embrace a different magnitude of the Holocaust then something like The Diary of Anne Frank (which, don't get me wrong, definitely has its own place.) I've been pleasantly surprised by the complexity of the graphic novels that we have read and have very much enjoyed them.(less)
This book was shockingly bad. It tells the story of an unmemorable narrator who makes up a boyfriend because she does not want to tell people about he...moreThis book was shockingly bad. It tells the story of an unmemorable narrator who makes up a boyfriend because she does not want to tell people about her uneventful summer. Perhaps it was a terrible introduction to Lurlene McDaniel but I don't think I have disliked a book with such passion since Notes From the Underground, and at least that one had literary merit. This book focused on such a trivial, meaningless subject. It gave absolutely no credit to adolescents or adolescent readers. The writing was appallingly simplistic and an insult to teenage intelligence. The climax was silly and the denoument too convenient. The story was too easily resolved, and reminded me of a bad episode of Keenan and Kel. I would not recommend this book to anyone, not even a seventh grader, who I think can handle more mature subject material than this wasteful read.(less)
Loading...
