5183 Fall 2025 Information Resources and Services for Children discussion
Reading Responses 8 (Wk11: 11/3 - 11/9): Science Fiction
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1. Lowry, L. (2000). Gathering blue. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) Books for Young Readers.
2. Kira, a young girl with a disability, navigates a dystopian society's prejudices and finds the truth behind her community's dark secrets.
3. Gathering Blue is set in an unspecified dystopian future and the story takes place in a small, primitive village where living conditions are harsh. The setting highlights the challenges our main character Kira faces as someone with a disability in a world where other children are shunned or even left to die because of it. Contemporary society is reflected in this book by the representation of issues such as ableism, societal expectations, and the importance of art and storytelling. This book encourages readers to question how we value and treat our fellow humans, especially if they are different from us.
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1. Coville, B. (1989). My Teacher is an Alien. Aladdin.
2. When Ms. Schwartz suddenly quits, Susan becomes skeptical of the strange, new, extremely strong, and handsome substitute teacher, Mr. Smith. When Susan's curiosity gets the better of her, she drags her friend Peter along to discover that Mr. Smith is an alien from outer space on a secret mission.
3. The setting of this book takes place at Kennituck Falls Elementary. The reader can infer from the information provided that it is set in the modern day. During the story, Susan and Peter talk about the school PTA meeting, the school concert, and the new substitute teacher who doesn’t allow the students to play the radio or tape players at recess. The setting plays a part in the story because Mr. Smith, later revealed to be an alien named Broxholm, comes to Kennituck Falls to kidnap five kids to take back with him to space. The book reflects contemporary times through a few illustrations that depict the characters in clothing and hairstyles inspired by 1980s fashion.
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DuPrau, J. (2009). City of ember. Mizan fantasi.
The City of Ember follows Lina and Doon, who live in an underground city built to protect humanity. But as the city’s lights begin to fail, they must uncover clues to find a way back to the surface before darkness becomes permanent.
The story is set in an underground city built centuries ago to shelter everyone from an unknown catastrophe on the surface. The city is powered by a failing generator and lit by dim electric lamps, creating a constant sense of urgency and decay. The setting is central to the plot, as it shapes the characters' lives, fears, and their quest for escape. Ember’s rigid structure, limited resources, and reliance on authority connect tp environmental sustainability, government control, and dependence on technology.
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1. L’Engle, M. (1962). A Wrinkle in Time. Farrar, Straus & Giroux.
2. The novel, A Wrinkle in Time, follows Meg Murry as she embarks on a daring journey through space and time with her brother Charles Wallace and friend Calvin, learning to overcome her insecurities and discover her own strength all while in route to rescue her missing father. The novel blends science fiction with themes of love, individuality, and the battle between good and evil showing how Meg grows in courage and self-confidence.
3. I read this book with my 8th graders recently! The story moves between a familiar small-town setting on Earth, mainly Meg’s hometown, and a variety of fantastical planets across the universe, in a time that feels concurrent to the modern era of the 1960’s when it was written. The setting shifts from a familiar rural Earth to otherworldly realms accessed by "tessering," or folding space-time, which is central to the plot. While the Earth setting feels very normal and relatable, the other worlds are full of strange, magical places that are vital to the story. The planet Camazotz, with its eerie sameness and control by the evil IT, feels like a stark warning about conformity and loss of individuality, reflecting fears from the time when the book was written but also could resonate today. Overall, the different settings aren’t just background, they actively shape the plot and themes, emphasizing the battle between darkness and light, evil and love.
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Hatke, B. (2015). Little robot. First Second.
A lonely little girl finds and befriends a robot. The robot recognizes they are different and tries to go back where he came from, leading to his capture. Can friendship overcome their differences?
Little Robot is a graphic novel. It opens on cityscape, with traffic driving over a bridge. Much like anyplace in modern times. We see a delivery truck, that loses a box. The box falls into the river and we next see a little girl climbing out the window of her trailer. The girl roams around a junkyard. It shows a factory where robots are made, that is run by robots. This is our first clue that the book is set in an advanced time. The setting is vital to the book, due to amount of parts and life in junk yards and the surrounding area. This little girl watches kids get on a school bus, depicting her age to be younger than them. In the junkyard she finds a satchel and tools. When she finds the box and opens it, she puts together a robot. Again, not something kids of her age can do in modern society. The girl and her new robot friend have a few adventures until the big robot discovers the little robot is missing and goes looking for him. The robots in this story appear to be sentient. Not something, we see in this day and age. Ultimately, there is a chase, robots help the small human girls and we see her handle tools and disassemble and reassemble robots numerous times. It makes for a harrowing tale of what friendship means, and a good science fiction tale of robots who can choose between good and evil and toddlers who can change it all.
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1. Lowry, L. (1993). The Giver. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.
2. Jonas is a 12 year old boy who is assigned with the task of being the Receiver of Memory in this dystopian society. Jonas navigates these new emotions and memories while learning the dark history of his community through The Giver.
3. The Giver is set in an isolated community at an undefined point in the future. This place is completely flat and lacks any type of different weather or terrain. The setting plays a large role in this book because the main plot is the dystopian society Jonas soon comes to realize he lives in is not everything it seems when he is given the large task of being the Receiver of Memory. The community that is portrayed in this book doesn’t reflect contemporary society fully; however, there are many similarities. “Sameness” is enforced among their society to eliminate any conflict or differences. Although our society is quite diverse, social media and current social norms have pressured people into following the same mass media trends.
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The Giver1. Lowry, L. (1993). The giver. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
2. Imagine a world without color, music, or love. In a society defined by "Sameness," twelve-year-old Jonas discovers that his community's peace comes at a high cost, and he is forced to confront a terrible choice: keep the painful truth hidden or risk everything to bring real life to his community.
3. The setting of The Giver is never specifically defined. The book describes a community in isolation set at some point in the future, but never gives any other details. The setting reflects the beliefs of the community in its lack of color and "Sameness". The sterile, isolated setting is very important to the story as it supports the idea that the community has been led to believe that they must all conform to their surroundings or be released. The Community is similar to our modern society in its pursuit of security and comfort. However, the consequences for those who do not conform show us the risks involved with sacrificing individuality and choice to eliminate pain. The Community serves as kind of a what-if scenario: what if our modern obsession with safety and comfort meant we had to sacrifice things like music, color, and personal choice? I enjoy my freedoms, and this book makes me think about what it would be like to live in a society with less choice.
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1. Riordan, R. (2021). Daughter of the deep. Disney-Hyperion.
2. In this modern ocean adventure based on Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, high school girl Ana Dakkar finds out that her family is related to the famous Captain Nemo. She has to lead her classmates in a struggle for their lives against another school. Riordan's book is a fast-paced, imaginative tale of courage and teamwork that mixes science fiction, technology, and adventure.
3. Daughter of the Deep is set in the near future. Most of the story takes place at Harding-Pencroft Academy, a secret high-tech school on the coast of California, and on the Aronnax and Nautilus, two of the world's most advanced subs. Daughter of the Deep has a lot of interesting underwater worlds and powerful submarines that really stand out because they are so connected to the story's themes of scientific finding and exploration. This world is a lot like ours. Lots of different kinds of kids are in it, and there is a big focus on STEM subjects. It also makes me think about how to use technology in a smart way. I also think that the underwater setting is related to things we have to deal with in real life, like taking care of the earth and finding a balance between being creative and being careful. It brings the story to life and makes it seem interesting.
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1. Miller, D. (2018). Margot and Mateo save the world. HarperCollins.
2. It's a normal day for middle schoolers Margot & Mateo...until Margot pulls a gooey blue alien specimen off Mateo's neck. With most of the adults in town out of commission, it's up to Margot and Mateo to save their world from this invading species before it infects everyone!
3. The setting of this book is a coastal California town in modern day. It is an important part of the story because it is relatable to the readers. Margot and Mateo are normal kids in a normal town whose lives are disrupted by an invading alien species. The setting makes you feel like you are a part of the town this is happening to. The society is a contemporary society, other than the fact that every helpful adult has been infected by aliens. What makes it reflective of our society to readers is the way the kids feel all on their own because the adults are “checked out” for one reason or another. Many children feel that from the adults in their daily lives.
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1. Haddix, M.P. (2008). Found. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
2. 13-year-old Jonah is adopted, not a big deal, right? Wrong. Jonah and his friends have to rethink their entire lives when they find out they are a part of a government coverup and a possible time-traveling smuggling ring.
3. This book is set in a regular suburban town. The setting is not super important to the story, but it is more of a backdrop. During the book, Jonah, along with his friend and sister, tries to uncover the mystery behind their origins. The setting makes the story feel more grounded as time travel and government conspiracy take over the plot. Contemporary society is reflected through the depiction of adopted children. Each missing child has their own feelings and experiences being adopted, and the sci-fi plot allows the author to explore this theme in an interesting and yet very truthful way.
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1. Holm, L. J. (2021). The lion of mars. Random House.
2. Life on Mars is safe and predictable for Bell, until a strange illness changes everything. He's always been taught that the other Mars settlements are dangerous, but as the disease spreads and the adults fall ill, Bell begins to question everything he's been told. With courage and friendship, he learns sometimes the things we fear can actually help.
3. The story takes place on Mars in 2091, in a small American colony built beneath the planet's surface. Life on Mars is harsh, so the settlements have had to adapt in many ways: they grow food in hydroponic gardens, wear protective suits when venturing outside, recycle air and water, and develop new means of producing toilet paper! Living underground and believing the other Mars settlements are dangerous have left Bell and the other children feeling isolated and fearful, but also curious about the world beyond their own. This attitude within Bell's settlement reflects contemporary society in how people can become divided by fear and misinformation. However, the author also pays tribute to how societies can build connections and curiosity about other people and bridge the divide.
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1. Higuera, D. B. (2021). The last Cuentista. Levine Querido.
2. After Earth is destroyed, Petra Peña awakens aboard a spaceship where memories and stories have been erased from the surviving colonists’ minds. As the last storyteller—or “cuentista”—she must preserve humanity’s history and imagination before it is lost forever.
3. The Last Cuentista takes place first on a dying Earth and then aboard the spaceship Zaragoza, centuries in the future. The confined, sterile environment of the ship contrasts sharply with Petra’s memories of a vibrant, story-filled world, emphasizing what humanity loses when culture and creativity are suppressed. The setting is essential to the story and not just a backdrop. It is a metaphor for how easily society can prioritize efficiency and control over individuality and imagination. This futuristic society reflects contemporary concerns about conformity, censorship, and the erasure of cultural heritage, reminding readers how vital stories are to maintaining identity and empathy.
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1. Cline, E. (2011). Ready player one. Crown Publishers.
2. Humanity can escape its grim reality by engaging with a competitive virtual reality called the OASIS, and Wade Watts is desperate to win an Easter egg that would change his life forever.
3. Ready Player One is set in 2045, and the world is overcome with poverty, pollution, and overpopulation. Almost everyone is struggling to make ends meet. To escape the hardships of their lives, many people spend their time in the “Oasis,” a virtual reality where one can avoid real-life responsibility to be whomever they please and do whatever they please. The setting of this book MAKES the story. The society that Ready Player One presents reflects our current society in many ways. An obsession with entertainment, pop culture, and consumerism guides the main character, Wade Wyatt’s, world into chaos. I just finished reading this book with my book club kids and they loved it!
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Killick, J. (2024). Dread Detention. Penguin Random House.
Who doesn't dread detention, but what happens when detention could be deadly? Nowhere to run, cell phones gone, how will we survive!
Set on a sprawling school estate surrounded by woods, the students are forced into a Saturday detention for each, causing a massive disruption at lunch the previous day. The main building used to be a billionaire's mansion. The grounds are extensive with woods surrounding them, and the entire area is fenced and gated. New buildings have been added since the original, but everything is locked by the school groundskeeper. So the students are stuck on the grounds with no way to escape; their teacher was taken underground by something, and he was carrying all their cell phones. This setting places the students in a dire situation with no means of escape. Each student has a story that led them to detention. They were blackmailed into misbehaving at lunch because of something they did. The bad thing they did had to do with significant life issues, one child didn't have enough to eat and feed his brother, so he stole money from someone, another felt extreme pressure to get into college because of how hard her mom constantly works to give her opportunities so she can do better, so she cheated in the school elections. Each student has an issue that many readers can relate to. The villains in the story were accomplished geniuses but were shunned from society, had to change their names, and go into hiding when their experiments became too extreme. While most of us can't relate to being mad scientists, feeling shunned is something we've all experienced. For students reading this book, getting detention is also something they may be able to relate to. The story is interesting, and the characters are relatable.
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1. Holm, J. L. (2021). The lion of Mars. Random House Children’s Books.
2. Eleven year old Bell has lived his whole life in a small American colony on Mars, surrounded by strict rules and routines that keep everyone safe, but also isolate the colony. When a mysterious illness strikes the adults, Bell and the other kids must work together to survive.
3. The story is set inside an American settlement called the U.S. colony on Mars in the year 2091. The enclosed/underground environment shapes every part of the characters’ lives, from their food and communication to their friendships. The isolation on Mars reflects issues we face on Earth, like fear of outsiders and dependence on technology. The setting is essential to the story, not just a backdrop, because it creates the tension between survival, community, and curiosity that contribute to Bell’s growth arc and the colony’s ultimate reconnection with others.
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1. Holm, J. L. (2021). The lion of Mars. Random House Children’s Books.
2. Bell is the only 11 year old on Mars, where life is predictable, living in his Lion’s Pride. When a terrible sickness breaks out in the American Settlement, Bell must travel to the other settlements, desperate for help, and finds more than he bargains for.
3. The Lion of Mars takes place in the American Settlement on Mars in the futuristic 2090’s. The settlement is underground, where the inhabitants grow most of their own food and make their resources from scratch. The people are a tight-knit community that support each other, like a Lion’s pride. The book was written pre-COVID era, but was edited and published at the height of the pandemic, when most people were stuck inside for long periods of time. The community in the novel reflects this societal shift in the way they learn to depend on their neighbors, and discover the importance of being part of a larger community.
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1. Rex, A. (2015). Smek for president! Little Brown Books for Young Readers.
2. Tip, a girl, and J.Lo, her alien BFF, embark on yet another adventure together as they set out on an intergalactic journey to the planet of New Boovworld! J.Lo is desperate to clear his name after his alien-kind believe he is responsible for ruining their colonization plans of Earth. In a hilarious tale of friendship, Tip and J.Lo must work together to set the record straight.
3. Smek for President begins on current-day Earth that is just recovering from an enemy alien take-over. During the alien take-over, many citizens had relocated by force to different states, so there is still much turmoil amongst the citizens even though life has somewhat returned to normal. The book’s setting then goes intergalactic as Tip and J.Lo space travel to an alien city on one of Saturns moons called New Boovworld. The setting plays a very important part in the story as it is what adds the science fiction element to the story. An election is taking place in New Boovworld that brings up political topics and social issues in lighthearted ways that young readers can understand.
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Lowry, L. (1993). The Giver. Harper Collins.
Living in a world without decisions: yet also a world in which is void of color, music, and love. Year twelve is one in which Jonas will be assigned his new job and begin the journey to independence, what he learns may open his mind to so much more.
The Giver takes place sometime in the future, referenced as Jonas is given memories and taught about the back-back-back. The exact location is not defined though it is in a tight community of sorts where most know each other. The setting being a community means a great deal to this book as the community defines everything about who they are as people. The hierarchy or elders of the community spend the first twelve years watching the children grow and learn and then in year twelve select what their job or path in life will be as they grow into an adult. There are those with the job of selecting spouses, placing families with children, nurturers of children, food delivery, every job accounted for and no decision left to the individual. There is a desire for everything and everyone to be the "same" or have "sameness." Contemporary society is not fully reflected here, although the more "trends" I see teens and youth following in the effort to fit in, it reminds me of the desire to be the "same" as everyone else. I do not believe when faced with having to give up the simple things that we take for granted like color, music, and most importantly love, any of us would actually be willing to sacrifice them to fit in.
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1. Brown, P. (2016). The wild robot. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
2. When a robot named Roz is accidentally activated on a remote island, she must learn to survive in the wilderness and build relationships with the animals around her. Her discovery of community, identity, and empathy shapes her journey from machine to beloved member of the island.
3. The story takes place in the near future on a wild, uninhabited island where nature is untamed and animals communicate with one another. The setting is essential to the plot because Roz’s entire development depends on adapting to an environment she was never designed for. The island forces her to learn survival skills, build trust, and understand emotional connection. Although the world includes advanced robotics, the society on the island reflects a simpler, cooperative ecosystem that contrasts with contemporary human society. The tension between technology and nature mirrors current conversations about environmental responsibility, artificial intelligence, and what it means to belong.
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1. Lee. Y.H. (2019). Dragon Pearl. Rick Riordan Presents.
2. When her brother goes missing in a search for the fabled Dragon Pearl, fox spirit Min must use her magic and go on a quest to find him.
3. This book is set in the fictional galaxy of the Thousand Worlds and this setting plays an important part in the story because Min must travel across the galaxy from her home planet in search of her missing brother. Many of the skills and talents she uses throughout the story she has learned from working on equipment used to help grow food on the family’s barren planet. She also spends part of the book on a Space Force ship, the Pale Lightning, which also plays an important role in the story as it was the last place her brother was seen before his disappearance. The use of Korean folklore throughout the story and plot give it more of a fantastical element while the space opera setting makes the book a very interesting blend of science fiction and fantasy but because of these fantasy elements, the society in the book becomes less like a reflection of today’s society and more like the setting of a fairy tale.
5183 Fall 2025 Information Resources and...
Books mentioned in this topic
Dragon Pearl (other topics)The Wild Robot (other topics)
The Giver (other topics)
Smek for President! (other topics)
The Lion of Mars (other topics)
More...
Note: You may not be able to add a book, if the book has already been added to the group bookshelf by another student. In this case, add the title information to your post.
Part 2: This week I'd like you to write about the science fiction book that you chose to read.
1. A citation for the book in APA format.
2. A brief annotation for the book, no more than two sentences.
3. Briefly describe the setting of the book (i.e., time and place). Does the setting play an important part of the story or is the setting backdrop? How does the society or community in the book reflect (or does not reflect) contemporary society? Your answer to #3 should be about 100 words in length.