Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
Read For: Leisure/completion of the series
Rating: 2.5
After the third novel in the Twilight series, I was not too excited about reading this fourth and final book. However, my constitution is such that, when I start a series, I must finish it. The first book was good, so I was excited to read the second book. The second book was not as great, but kind of ends on a cliff hanger so you have to read the third, plus you are hoping that Meyer will redeem herself. However, after the third book fails miserably you aren't too excited about reading the fourth bu you figure you might as well finish the series. That was my thinking, anyway.
Meyer lived up to her mediocre potential. The beginning and the ending were okay, but the middle 500 pages were BORing. Bella continued to be annoying, Edward continued to be the perfect woman-created man, and unfortunately my beloved Jacob took a turn for the worse and became a stupid fluff character. It was obvious that Meyer is biased towards Bella and Edward's relationship (which, I still have no idea why they are together besides how good her blood smells) so when she realized that Jacob was winning in the love triangle, she had to go and have something stupid happen to him in order to get him out of the way (and this happens early on, mind you) so that the rest of the book can be all about Edward and Bella blah blah blah. Meyer's writing is so predictable. Anytime a small sliver of a good plot begins to miraculously ooze from her storytelling, she immediately squashes it with annoying characters and ridiculous plot "twists." And this goes on for 500 pages? Don't waste your time.
*I will say this: I thought that the movie for Twilight was actually pretty good. It was well-adapted to the screen, the pace was quicker than in the book, Bella wasn't annoying, and the casting choices were fitting. Of course, I went in with extremely low expectations, so I wasn't hard to please. I just ask for Robert Pattinson (Edward) to not wear as much lipstick the next time around. It was incredibly distracting.
Rating: 2.5
After the third novel in the Twilight series, I was not too excited about reading this fourth and final book. However, my constitution is such that, when I start a series, I must finish it. The first book was good, so I was excited to read the second book. The second book was not as great, but kind of ends on a cliff hanger so you have to read the third, plus you are hoping that Meyer will redeem herself. However, after the third book fails miserably you aren't too excited about reading the fourth bu you figure you might as well finish the series. That was my thinking, anyway.
Meyer lived up to her mediocre potential. The beginning and the ending were okay, but the middle 500 pages were BORing. Bella continued to be annoying, Edward continued to be the perfect woman-created man, and unfortunately my beloved Jacob took a turn for the worse and became a stupid fluff character. It was obvious that Meyer is biased towards Bella and Edward's relationship (which, I still have no idea why they are together besides how good her blood smells) so when she realized that Jacob was winning in the love triangle, she had to go and have something stupid happen to him in order to get him out of the way (and this happens early on, mind you) so that the rest of the book can be all about Edward and Bella blah blah blah. Meyer's writing is so predictable. Anytime a small sliver of a good plot begins to miraculously ooze from her storytelling, she immediately squashes it with annoying characters and ridiculous plot "twists." And this goes on for 500 pages? Don't waste your time.
*I will say this: I thought that the movie for Twilight was actually pretty good. It was well-adapted to the screen, the pace was quicker than in the book, Bella wasn't annoying, and the casting choices were fitting. Of course, I went in with extremely low expectations, so I wasn't hard to please. I just ask for Robert Pattinson (Edward) to not wear as much lipstick the next time around. It was incredibly distracting.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Copper Sun by Sharon Draper
Read For: Leisure/recommended by my cooperating teacher
Rating: 3.5
Compared to Romiette and Julio, the only other Sharon Draper book that I have read, Copper Sun is Booker Prize material. Compared with other novels (actual Booker Prize winners, perhaps), Copper Sun falls extremely short. This book is a work of historicall fiction, following the life of Amari, and African girl who is captured and taken to America on the Middle Passage and then sold as a slave. In her new life she befriends Polly, and indentured servant working on the same plantation, and the two escape together.
Draper does a good job of portraying the life on a plantation in an age-appropriate way, as this book is geared towards middle school students. There is plenty of action as well as some romance, so I think that it could appeal to both male and female students. The writing is far better than Romiette and Julio and the story less contrived, so this is a pleasant read that I would recommend for middle schoolers.
Rating: 3.5
Compared to Romiette and Julio, the only other Sharon Draper book that I have read, Copper Sun is Booker Prize material. Compared with other novels (actual Booker Prize winners, perhaps), Copper Sun falls extremely short. This book is a work of historicall fiction, following the life of Amari, and African girl who is captured and taken to America on the Middle Passage and then sold as a slave. In her new life she befriends Polly, and indentured servant working on the same plantation, and the two escape together.
Draper does a good job of portraying the life on a plantation in an age-appropriate way, as this book is geared towards middle school students. There is plenty of action as well as some romance, so I think that it could appeal to both male and female students. The writing is far better than Romiette and Julio and the story less contrived, so this is a pleasant read that I would recommend for middle schoolers.
Friday, September 5, 2008
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Read For: Leisure
Rating: 3
It has been awhile since I read this and updated this blog (student teaching kept me busy), so i will try my best to remember my thoughts after reading My Sister's Keeper.
I had been wanting to read a Jodi Picoult novel for some time, because I knew that she was a popular author. When I found this book on sale at Borders for $3.99, I saw my chance! The basic premise of the book is that Anna was borne simply to keep her sister, who suffers from a particularly deadly strain of cancer, alive. For her entire life Anna has been donating tissue, blood, kidneys, you name it, to her sister. She has decided that she is sick of doing this and decides to sue her parents for the rights to her own body, effectively emancipating herself from her parents and also killing her sister. Each chapter in the story is told from a different character's point of view: Anna, her mom, her brother, her father, the lawyer representing Anna, the legal guardian appointed to advise Anna thoughout the process, etc.
Picoult's story is well crafted (although I have to say that Anna's mother was one of the most annoying characters I have ever read) and the writing decent, but nothing really stood out to me. Rather, I think that Picoult strays into mediocrity by being pretty much the same as other contemporary authors because a lot of the characters were stereotypical, the plot "twist" at the end was predictable, the references to sexual tension were casual. All in all it was a good read and I can now say that I have read a Jodi Picoult novel and understand her hold over the masses.
Rating: 3
It has been awhile since I read this and updated this blog (student teaching kept me busy), so i will try my best to remember my thoughts after reading My Sister's Keeper.
I had been wanting to read a Jodi Picoult novel for some time, because I knew that she was a popular author. When I found this book on sale at Borders for $3.99, I saw my chance! The basic premise of the book is that Anna was borne simply to keep her sister, who suffers from a particularly deadly strain of cancer, alive. For her entire life Anna has been donating tissue, blood, kidneys, you name it, to her sister. She has decided that she is sick of doing this and decides to sue her parents for the rights to her own body, effectively emancipating herself from her parents and also killing her sister. Each chapter in the story is told from a different character's point of view: Anna, her mom, her brother, her father, the lawyer representing Anna, the legal guardian appointed to advise Anna thoughout the process, etc.
Picoult's story is well crafted (although I have to say that Anna's mother was one of the most annoying characters I have ever read) and the writing decent, but nothing really stood out to me. Rather, I think that Picoult strays into mediocrity by being pretty much the same as other contemporary authors because a lot of the characters were stereotypical, the plot "twist" at the end was predictable, the references to sexual tension were casual. All in all it was a good read and I can now say that I have read a Jodi Picoult novel and understand her hold over the masses.
Sarny by Gary Paulsen
Read For: Student teaching
Rating: 4
Sarny is the sequel to Nightjohn. Again, Paulsen demonstrates his talent at writing a novel that is different from anything of the other books that he has written. Sarny is longer than Nightjohn and follows the path of Sarny (obviously) who is now an adult and able to read. When her children are taken away from her and sent to be slaves on another plantation, Sarny is determined to go after them. When the South is liberated, the plantation that Sarny lives on is liberated as well, and Sarny sees her chance to go after her children.
Paulsen writes many loveable characters in this book. Sarny is sweet and determined, Lucy is fun and thoughtful, Miss Laura is smart and elegant, and Bartlett is strong and stoic. They all work together to create a powerful commentary on Southern society at the time right after the Civil War.
One theme that I want to be sure to discuss with my students is the role of women. Miss Laura is a powerful woman in the South, and she takes Sarny under her wing and shows her how a woman can manipulate a man in order to get what she wants. There is a twist in the Miss Laura story, too, that I will be anxious to see what my students think of it.
Rating: 4
Sarny is the sequel to Nightjohn. Again, Paulsen demonstrates his talent at writing a novel that is different from anything of the other books that he has written. Sarny is longer than Nightjohn and follows the path of Sarny (obviously) who is now an adult and able to read. When her children are taken away from her and sent to be slaves on another plantation, Sarny is determined to go after them. When the South is liberated, the plantation that Sarny lives on is liberated as well, and Sarny sees her chance to go after her children.
Paulsen writes many loveable characters in this book. Sarny is sweet and determined, Lucy is fun and thoughtful, Miss Laura is smart and elegant, and Bartlett is strong and stoic. They all work together to create a powerful commentary on Southern society at the time right after the Civil War.
One theme that I want to be sure to discuss with my students is the role of women. Miss Laura is a powerful woman in the South, and she takes Sarny under her wing and shows her how a woman can manipulate a man in order to get what she wants. There is a twist in the Miss Laura story, too, that I will be anxious to see what my students think of it.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
Read for: Leisure/Quiet Time
Rating: 4
C.S. Lewis is the master of simple explanation. His way of presenting complex issues in a simple yet poignant and truthful manner is helpful in explainingto readers a religion that is very complicated. His language is thoughtful and precise, which I appreciated. Lewis sets out to explain Christianity--mere Christianity. None of the denominational differences or huge theological problems facing religion today. Rather, he tells readers what Christians believe and why they believe it.
"Ever since I became a Christian I have thought that the best, perhaps only, service I could do for my unbelieving neighbours was to explain and defend the belief that has been common to nearly all Christians at all times." (Preface, p. viii)
"I am not writing to expound something I could call 'my religion,' but to expound 'mere' Christianity, which is what it is and what it was long before I was born and whether I like it or not." (Preface, p. ix)
In my opinion, Lewis succeeds in his mission of explaining what he calls "mere Christianity." What makes his explanation so effective, I believe, is the fact that he writes from the perspective of someone who used to be an Atheist, but saw what Christianity had to offer and became a believer. Therefore he is able to explain why he came to hold his beliefs. Where Lewis falters in his mission of expounding on "mere Christianity" and strays into the land of convoluted theology is in Part 4, which addresses the doctrine of the Trinity. He of course explains the doctrine well, but it is a bit more than "mere," in my opinion. I would advise the reader who only wants the "mere" to simply stop reading after Part 3.
Rating: 4
C.S. Lewis is the master of simple explanation. His way of presenting complex issues in a simple yet poignant and truthful manner is helpful in explainingto readers a religion that is very complicated. His language is thoughtful and precise, which I appreciated. Lewis sets out to explain Christianity--mere Christianity. None of the denominational differences or huge theological problems facing religion today. Rather, he tells readers what Christians believe and why they believe it.
"Ever since I became a Christian I have thought that the best, perhaps only, service I could do for my unbelieving neighbours was to explain and defend the belief that has been common to nearly all Christians at all times." (Preface, p. viii)
"I am not writing to expound something I could call 'my religion,' but to expound 'mere' Christianity, which is what it is and what it was long before I was born and whether I like it or not." (Preface, p. ix)
In my opinion, Lewis succeeds in his mission of explaining what he calls "mere Christianity." What makes his explanation so effective, I believe, is the fact that he writes from the perspective of someone who used to be an Atheist, but saw what Christianity had to offer and became a believer. Therefore he is able to explain why he came to hold his beliefs. Where Lewis falters in his mission of expounding on "mere Christianity" and strays into the land of convoluted theology is in Part 4, which addresses the doctrine of the Trinity. He of course explains the doctrine well, but it is a bit more than "mere," in my opinion. I would advise the reader who only wants the "mere" to simply stop reading after Part 3.
Nightjohn by Gary Paulsen
Read for: Student teaching
Rating: 4
Gary Paulsen is such a diverse writer. Everything by him that I have read has been vastly different--different styles, story lines, characters, etc. Nightjohn is no exception. The story takes place during the height of slavery, right before the Civil War. Sarny, a slave on a southern plantation, is the narrator of the story. Nightjohn comes to the plantation and teaches Sarny how to read. Nightjohn's story is compelling: He escaped from slavery, but returned in order to teach other slaves how to read.
My cooperating teacher uses this story for two reasons: A) it coincides with the history teacher's unit on the Civil War, and B) she claims that it gets students talking about literacy and excited to be reading. I think that Nightjohn is the proof that a story can be written for young adults that is well written, has relateable characters, and can apply to the lives of young adults without being cliche or lacking in literary merit.
Rating: 4
Gary Paulsen is such a diverse writer. Everything by him that I have read has been vastly different--different styles, story lines, characters, etc. Nightjohn is no exception. The story takes place during the height of slavery, right before the Civil War. Sarny, a slave on a southern plantation, is the narrator of the story. Nightjohn comes to the plantation and teaches Sarny how to read. Nightjohn's story is compelling: He escaped from slavery, but returned in order to teach other slaves how to read.
My cooperating teacher uses this story for two reasons: A) it coincides with the history teacher's unit on the Civil War, and B) she claims that it gets students talking about literacy and excited to be reading. I think that Nightjohn is the proof that a story can be written for young adults that is well written, has relateable characters, and can apply to the lives of young adults without being cliche or lacking in literary merit.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper
Read for: Student teaching in the fall
Rating: 3
Romiette and Julio is a modern retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, only in Draper's version Romiette is the girl and Julio is the boy. The story takes place in a Cincinnati high school that has a gang problem. Romiette is African American and Julio is Hispanic, and the "gang bangers" don't like their romance.
The plot is obviously predictable and I wouldn't say that this is particularly well-written, but I think that the junior high students I will be teaching this to in the fall will enjoy the characters. Ben, Julio's friend and the Mercutio counterpart, is the most entertaining character in the book. Draper's foreshadowing, particularly concerning a side-plot concerning Ben, I found to be painfully obvious. However, I think that the junior-high students who may not be as used to picking up on the subtleties of character development will enjoy how Ben's story unfolds.
My one concern is that students will brush this off as stupid and patronizing because of how the characters speak. The book was published in 1999, but I can't remember a time when teenagers ever truly spoke the way that Draper portrays, besides in cliche teen movies and magazines. For example, when did anyone ever use "phat" in a sentence besides in Teen Magazine? Well, the characters in Romiette and Julio do!
I am definitely of the more classical line of thought when it comes to teaching, but for the 7th and 8th graders that I will be teaching who may not be ready for Shakespeare, I think that this will be a good lead-in to Shakespeare's classic. There is definitely plenty of material for discussion from Romiette and Julio that is on the students' level, such as race, relationships, poverty, gangs, school, fate, etc. It should be interesting to teach this book!
Rating: 3
Romiette and Julio is a modern retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, only in Draper's version Romiette is the girl and Julio is the boy. The story takes place in a Cincinnati high school that has a gang problem. Romiette is African American and Julio is Hispanic, and the "gang bangers" don't like their romance.
The plot is obviously predictable and I wouldn't say that this is particularly well-written, but I think that the junior high students I will be teaching this to in the fall will enjoy the characters. Ben, Julio's friend and the Mercutio counterpart, is the most entertaining character in the book. Draper's foreshadowing, particularly concerning a side-plot concerning Ben, I found to be painfully obvious. However, I think that the junior-high students who may not be as used to picking up on the subtleties of character development will enjoy how Ben's story unfolds.
My one concern is that students will brush this off as stupid and patronizing because of how the characters speak. The book was published in 1999, but I can't remember a time when teenagers ever truly spoke the way that Draper portrays, besides in cliche teen movies and magazines. For example, when did anyone ever use "phat" in a sentence besides in Teen Magazine? Well, the characters in Romiette and Julio do!
I am definitely of the more classical line of thought when it comes to teaching, but for the 7th and 8th graders that I will be teaching who may not be ready for Shakespeare, I think that this will be a good lead-in to Shakespeare's classic. There is definitely plenty of material for discussion from Romiette and Julio that is on the students' level, such as race, relationships, poverty, gangs, school, fate, etc. It should be interesting to teach this book!
Monday, July 21, 2008
Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Read for: Leisure
Rating: 3.8
I have a love/hate relationship with Redeeming Love. I read it for the first time in October of last year and was deeply moved by it. The story is a fictional retelling of the book of Hosea from the Bible. In Hosea, the prohpet Hosea is told by God to marry a prostitute named Gomer. This real-life example is supposed to be a metaphor for God's unconditional love for Israel, who has been unfaithful to him. Redeeming Love takes place in California in the 1850s, during the Gold Rush. Farmer Michael Hosea is told by God to marry the prostitute Angel. Rivers does a good job of showing the inside of the relationship that Hosea and Gomer might have had. Angel's conversion throughout the book strikes a cord with many Christian women that I know, who identify with her wandering heart and doubt about unconditional love.
With all that good stuff, I have a hard time enjoying this book as much as I should, because Rivers' writing style is so terrible. The dialogue is cheesy and forced, as are the dramatic moments. What bothers me the most, however, is that Rivers only uses one description for smiles. Whenever a character smiles, Rivers makes sure to note it by saying the corners of his or her mouth "curved upward in a smile." Sometimes this even happens in consecutive sentences! On page 385, the last sentence of chapter 29 is "Duke stood before her, his mouth curved in a deadly smile." Turn the page, and the first sentence of chapter 30 is "Duke's mocking gaze swept Angel's soiled gingham dress, his mouth curving into a sardonic smile." There is a difference between repetition and redundancy, and I'm afraid this falls into the category of the latter.
Rating: 3.8
I have a love/hate relationship with Redeeming Love. I read it for the first time in October of last year and was deeply moved by it. The story is a fictional retelling of the book of Hosea from the Bible. In Hosea, the prohpet Hosea is told by God to marry a prostitute named Gomer. This real-life example is supposed to be a metaphor for God's unconditional love for Israel, who has been unfaithful to him. Redeeming Love takes place in California in the 1850s, during the Gold Rush. Farmer Michael Hosea is told by God to marry the prostitute Angel. Rivers does a good job of showing the inside of the relationship that Hosea and Gomer might have had. Angel's conversion throughout the book strikes a cord with many Christian women that I know, who identify with her wandering heart and doubt about unconditional love.
With all that good stuff, I have a hard time enjoying this book as much as I should, because Rivers' writing style is so terrible. The dialogue is cheesy and forced, as are the dramatic moments. What bothers me the most, however, is that Rivers only uses one description for smiles. Whenever a character smiles, Rivers makes sure to note it by saying the corners of his or her mouth "curved upward in a smile." Sometimes this even happens in consecutive sentences! On page 385, the last sentence of chapter 29 is "Duke stood before her, his mouth curved in a deadly smile." Turn the page, and the first sentence of chapter 30 is "Duke's mocking gaze swept Angel's soiled gingham dress, his mouth curving into a sardonic smile." There is a difference between repetition and redundancy, and I'm afraid this falls into the category of the latter.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Ecclesiastes by Solomon
Read for: Quiet Time
Rating: 4.5
Ecclesiastes is such a powerful book, that speaks directly to the heart of man. The overall theme of Ecclesiastes can be summed up in chapter 3 verses 9-14:
9What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
My interpretation is this: The reason that a man toils and works is because God has put a burden on the hearts of men: the knowledge of eternity (v. 11). A man works because he has the desire on his heart to leave a legacy, to make something that is eternal. BUT, man is unable to truly understand the nature of eternity. I love v. 14; only God can make something eternal and beautiful, and he does this so that "men will revere him." Basically, man toils to make something that will be eternal, but since everything that man does (without God) is folly, man must turn to Him who can make everything eternal: God. It is only through partnership with God that something meaningful can happen in our lives. It is a gift of God for us to enjoy our work that is partnered with Him, instead of despairing because our work without Him is meaningless.
This is basically the theme of Ecclesiastes: Everything man does is meaningless, unless God helps you do it.
Rating: 4.5
Ecclesiastes is such a powerful book, that speaks directly to the heart of man. The overall theme of Ecclesiastes can be summed up in chapter 3 verses 9-14:
9What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.
My interpretation is this: The reason that a man toils and works is because God has put a burden on the hearts of men: the knowledge of eternity (v. 11). A man works because he has the desire on his heart to leave a legacy, to make something that is eternal. BUT, man is unable to truly understand the nature of eternity. I love v. 14; only God can make something eternal and beautiful, and he does this so that "men will revere him." Basically, man toils to make something that will be eternal, but since everything that man does (without God) is folly, man must turn to Him who can make everything eternal: God. It is only through partnership with God that something meaningful can happen in our lives. It is a gift of God for us to enjoy our work that is partnered with Him, instead of despairing because our work without Him is meaningless.
This is basically the theme of Ecclesiastes: Everything man does is meaningless, unless God helps you do it.
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
Read for: Leisure
Rating: 5+
I finished re-reading this a few weeks ago, but have been out of the country for awhile and unable to post, so I am catching up now. Ender's Game is ... pure genius. I love the character of Ender, and reading about his childhood in Battle School again makes me love him all the more.
Card's writing is poignant and precise. One thing I noticed in this re-reading is that Ender's Game is a lot simpler than the other books in the series. The moral and ethical dilemmas that are typical of Card are still present, but he doesn't spend pages and pages going into agonizing detail over them, as he does in some of the other books; Children of the Mind particularly. Rather, the dilemma is presented and left to Ender, and the reader, to solve. I used to think that this book would be suited for an upperclassmen-level English class, but after this realization I think that it would be perfect for the 10th grade level, maybe even the 9th.
Ender's Game remains one of those books that I simply can't put down, so I recommend it to everyone.
Rating: 5+
I finished re-reading this a few weeks ago, but have been out of the country for awhile and unable to post, so I am catching up now. Ender's Game is ... pure genius. I love the character of Ender, and reading about his childhood in Battle School again makes me love him all the more.
Card's writing is poignant and precise. One thing I noticed in this re-reading is that Ender's Game is a lot simpler than the other books in the series. The moral and ethical dilemmas that are typical of Card are still present, but he doesn't spend pages and pages going into agonizing detail over them, as he does in some of the other books; Children of the Mind particularly. Rather, the dilemma is presented and left to Ender, and the reader, to solve. I used to think that this book would be suited for an upperclassmen-level English class, but after this realization I think that it would be perfect for the 10th grade level, maybe even the 9th.
Ender's Game remains one of those books that I simply can't put down, so I recommend it to everyone.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Ender's Shadow by Orson Scott Card
Read for: Leisure
Rating: 4
Ender's Game has been one of my favorite books since I read it a few years ago in high school and ever since then I have slowly but surely been making my way through the rest of the books in the "Enderverse" series. Ender's Shadow tells pretty much the same story as Game, except from the perspective of the character Bean. It's nice to get a different perspective on Battle School, Ender, and the Bugger War. Also, it's nice to have another book devoted to kids, as the other books in the series that I have read have focused on Ender when he is an adult.
What concerns me most about this book is that through it I started to dislike Bean. I know exactly where it happened, too: page 217. Bean is quite the analytical Machiavellian character, which usually I enjoy--in a minor character. However, I felt that since this book is all about Bean, the Machiavellian concepts were overkill, instead of being a useful perspective on how the Bugger war could have turned out. I got a little bit sick of reading all about how Bean would do things differently if he were the commander and him comparing himself to Ender. Of course, I must admit that I have a bias because, like so many characters in the book, I nurse a fierce loyalty and devotion to Ender.
This novel is the first in the parallel "Shadow" series. For more information about the order of the books and timeline of events, I found this Wikipedia entry very useful. I'm excited to read the rest of the books in the "Shadow" series, but first I think I am going to go back and re-read Ender's Game, since it has been awhile. It's always nice to revisit a favorite, right?
Rating: 4
Ender's Game has been one of my favorite books since I read it a few years ago in high school and ever since then I have slowly but surely been making my way through the rest of the books in the "Enderverse" series. Ender's Shadow tells pretty much the same story as Game, except from the perspective of the character Bean. It's nice to get a different perspective on Battle School, Ender, and the Bugger War. Also, it's nice to have another book devoted to kids, as the other books in the series that I have read have focused on Ender when he is an adult.
What concerns me most about this book is that through it I started to dislike Bean. I know exactly where it happened, too: page 217. Bean is quite the analytical Machiavellian character, which usually I enjoy--in a minor character. However, I felt that since this book is all about Bean, the Machiavellian concepts were overkill, instead of being a useful perspective on how the Bugger war could have turned out. I got a little bit sick of reading all about how Bean would do things differently if he were the commander and him comparing himself to Ender. Of course, I must admit that I have a bias because, like so many characters in the book, I nurse a fierce loyalty and devotion to Ender.
This novel is the first in the parallel "Shadow" series. For more information about the order of the books and timeline of events, I found this Wikipedia entry very useful. I'm excited to read the rest of the books in the "Shadow" series, but first I think I am going to go back and re-read Ender's Game, since it has been awhile. It's always nice to revisit a favorite, right?
Friday, May 9, 2008
Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers
Read for: Leisure
Rating: 2.5
Fallen Angels is a Vietnam war story following Richard Perry, a young African American boy in the army. Myers is, of course, an excellent writer, but I just don't think this story was for me. It took me a lot longer to get through than a young adult novel usually would, mainly because whenever I took a break from reading I had to convince myself to pick it up again. Towards the end--the last 100 pages or so--the story became more interesting and held my attention better. There was a lot more action in the last 100 pages, which is what I think I liked better. In the first 200 pages, there was a lot of sitting around and talking, and when the talk is about war it just doesn't interest me that much.
I do, however, think that this novel is an apt representation of what soldiers had to face in Vietnam. I probably wouldn't use it in the classroom because there is a lot of violence and a lot of swearing, but if a student was looking for something about the Vietnam War, I might recommend it to them. The violence isn't gratuitous, and I think the swearing is suitable for what Myers is trying to portray. However, if I did use it in the classroom I would probably meet a lot of censorship problems, and the book just didn't interest me enough to be willing to fight for it.
Rating: 2.5
Fallen Angels is a Vietnam war story following Richard Perry, a young African American boy in the army. Myers is, of course, an excellent writer, but I just don't think this story was for me. It took me a lot longer to get through than a young adult novel usually would, mainly because whenever I took a break from reading I had to convince myself to pick it up again. Towards the end--the last 100 pages or so--the story became more interesting and held my attention better. There was a lot more action in the last 100 pages, which is what I think I liked better. In the first 200 pages, there was a lot of sitting around and talking, and when the talk is about war it just doesn't interest me that much.
I do, however, think that this novel is an apt representation of what soldiers had to face in Vietnam. I probably wouldn't use it in the classroom because there is a lot of violence and a lot of swearing, but if a student was looking for something about the Vietnam War, I might recommend it to them. The violence isn't gratuitous, and I think the swearing is suitable for what Myers is trying to portray. However, if I did use it in the classroom I would probably meet a lot of censorship problems, and the book just didn't interest me enough to be willing to fight for it.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Chinese Cinderella by Adeline Yen Mah
Read for: Leisure
Rating: 4.5
Chinese Cinderella is the memoir of author Adeline Yen Mah, who grew up in China during WWII. She is the youngest of four children and, unfortunately for her, her mother died from childbirth complications therefore crowning Adeline with the honor of being the unwanted daughter because she is considered to be bad luck. Her father remarries a beautiful Eurasian woman, who treats her stepchildren cruelly, especially Adeline. To try to impress her father, Adeline works very hard in school and consistently achieves top marks in all of her classes. He remains unimpressed until she wins an international writing contest when she is a teenager.
This story is deeply moving, and the fact that it is true makes it all the more compelling. Yen Mah has a simple writing style, but her words are nevertheless cutting and to the point. It is clear that she has poured her heart into writing her story. I think that this would be a useful and poignant book to use in the classroom, especially as it would add exposure to different authors, cultures, and genres to the reading list.
Rating: 4.5
Chinese Cinderella is the memoir of author Adeline Yen Mah, who grew up in China during WWII. She is the youngest of four children and, unfortunately for her, her mother died from childbirth complications therefore crowning Adeline with the honor of being the unwanted daughter because she is considered to be bad luck. Her father remarries a beautiful Eurasian woman, who treats her stepchildren cruelly, especially Adeline. To try to impress her father, Adeline works very hard in school and consistently achieves top marks in all of her classes. He remains unimpressed until she wins an international writing contest when she is a teenager.
This story is deeply moving, and the fact that it is true makes it all the more compelling. Yen Mah has a simple writing style, but her words are nevertheless cutting and to the point. It is clear that she has poured her heart into writing her story. I think that this would be a useful and poignant book to use in the classroom, especially as it would add exposure to different authors, cultures, and genres to the reading list.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Read for: Leisure
Rating: 4.7
I can see why this book is a modern young adult classic. I think that this would be a really great book to use with seventh or eigth grade students. The story is set in a futuristic, utopian society that has gotten rid of all pain, emotion, and idleness. The main character is a boy named Jonas. Through him and a man called The Giver we learn that only the Giver has all the memories of pain, sorrow, joy, love, war, etc. The Giver gives all of these memories to Jonas.
This would be a good book for writing prompts: What is one of your happiest memories? Aren't we better off without memories of pain or grief? What emotions were left out of the novel? If there was something you could change about our society today, what would it be? How does our society compare to the one portrayed in the book?
The Giver was a pretty easy read and I appreciated the fact that, even though there was a lot of background information on how the society works, the plot still moved quickly and there was a good amount of action. I don't think that students would get bored. My one reservation is that I think young students--especially reluctant readers--would dismiss this as stupid and hard to understand since it is set in the future and in a society that is completely different from our own.
Rating: 4.7
I can see why this book is a modern young adult classic. I think that this would be a really great book to use with seventh or eigth grade students. The story is set in a futuristic, utopian society that has gotten rid of all pain, emotion, and idleness. The main character is a boy named Jonas. Through him and a man called The Giver we learn that only the Giver has all the memories of pain, sorrow, joy, love, war, etc. The Giver gives all of these memories to Jonas.
This would be a good book for writing prompts: What is one of your happiest memories? Aren't we better off without memories of pain or grief? What emotions were left out of the novel? If there was something you could change about our society today, what would it be? How does our society compare to the one portrayed in the book?
The Giver was a pretty easy read and I appreciated the fact that, even though there was a lot of background information on how the society works, the plot still moved quickly and there was a good amount of action. I don't think that students would get bored. My one reservation is that I think young students--especially reluctant readers--would dismiss this as stupid and hard to understand since it is set in the future and in a society that is completely different from our own.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Read for: Leisure
Rating: 5+
I've been delaying writing about this because the ending of the book absolutely blew me away, and I've been trying to wrap my mind around it ever since. My best attempt at an analogy is to compare it to an episode of LOST: You've been watching the whole show (reading the whole book) and you think that you have it all figured out and know what is going on, then in the last 5 minutes (or five pages) EVERYTHING changes which makes you question everything that happened before, and you are left not knowing what to believe.
So, way before the last chapter bamboozled me, I was in total awe of the quality of writing. The style is ... amazing. I wanted to underline every sentence. On the page of "Praise for Life of Pi" there is an excerpt from The Seattle Times that says "each chapter is a well-polished pearl." I think it is more apt to say that every sentence is a well-polished pearl. Every word choice is a well-polished pearl. Martel is the master of the metaphor. Each one that he gives is so vivid with imagery and yet so grounded and applicable to the situation being described. For example, during the storm that sank Pi's ship:
"Nature can put on a thrilling show. The stage is vast, the lighting is dramatic, the extras are innumerable, and the budget for special effects is absolutely unlimited" (p. 128).
Or, when Pi is enchanted by listening to a man recite the Qur'an in Arabic:
"The guttural eruptions and long flowing vowels rolled just beneath my comprehension like a beautiful brook. I gazed into this brook for long spells of time. It was not wide, just one man's voice, but it was as deep as the universe" (p. 78).
I feel that there is not much I can say about Life of Pi that would do it justice. I would absolutely love to teach this book; it is probably at the senior level. There is so much heart, so much feeling, and so much to discuss. I feel that every student would have their own interpretation of the ending. Even now, looking back through the pages I've found passages that I underlined for the sheer beauty of the words, but seeing the words through the lens of the last chapter drastically changes my interpretation of those words. They are still beautiful and deep, but now even more poignant.
The best I can do is say that this a book that everyone should read.
Rating: 5+
I've been delaying writing about this because the ending of the book absolutely blew me away, and I've been trying to wrap my mind around it ever since. My best attempt at an analogy is to compare it to an episode of LOST: You've been watching the whole show (reading the whole book) and you think that you have it all figured out and know what is going on, then in the last 5 minutes (or five pages) EVERYTHING changes which makes you question everything that happened before, and you are left not knowing what to believe.
So, way before the last chapter bamboozled me, I was in total awe of the quality of writing. The style is ... amazing. I wanted to underline every sentence. On the page of "Praise for Life of Pi" there is an excerpt from The Seattle Times that says "each chapter is a well-polished pearl." I think it is more apt to say that every sentence is a well-polished pearl. Every word choice is a well-polished pearl. Martel is the master of the metaphor. Each one that he gives is so vivid with imagery and yet so grounded and applicable to the situation being described. For example, during the storm that sank Pi's ship:
"Nature can put on a thrilling show. The stage is vast, the lighting is dramatic, the extras are innumerable, and the budget for special effects is absolutely unlimited" (p. 128).
Or, when Pi is enchanted by listening to a man recite the Qur'an in Arabic:
"The guttural eruptions and long flowing vowels rolled just beneath my comprehension like a beautiful brook. I gazed into this brook for long spells of time. It was not wide, just one man's voice, but it was as deep as the universe" (p. 78).
I feel that there is not much I can say about Life of Pi that would do it justice. I would absolutely love to teach this book; it is probably at the senior level. There is so much heart, so much feeling, and so much to discuss. I feel that every student would have their own interpretation of the ending. Even now, looking back through the pages I've found passages that I underlined for the sheer beauty of the words, but seeing the words through the lens of the last chapter drastically changes my interpretation of those words. They are still beautiful and deep, but now even more poignant.
The best I can do is say that this a book that everyone should read.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Pre-Blog Reads: YA Lit Class Edition
Read in: February 2008
Read for: YA lit class ... duh
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Rating: 4.4
I don't know why, but I really enjoy solo survival stories. I found Hatchet to be very suspenseful. I immediately liked Brian, the main character and narrator. I think that reluctant readers, particularly males, would enjoy this book. It isn't difficult to read, but Paulsen's writing is still intelligent. I was cheering for Brian the whole time, celebrating his victories and mourning his failures when trying to survive in the wilderness on his own after a plane crash. It's the mark of a good book when I hold my breath, which I did during this one.
Monster by Walter Dean Myers
Rating: 4
The screenplay format of this book is very different from other young adult novels. The fact that there is a lot of space on the page might draw in young readers. Steve is a good narrator/screenplay writer, and the nights when he is alone in jail are the heart of the story. I think this would be a good book to teach, especially because there are a lot of different themes that could provoke discussion. Also, the fact that the reader is left not knowing whether or not Steve committed the crime that he is on trial for would make a good classroom activity: I imagine some sort of mock trial, where students act as prosecutor, defense attorney, witnesses, etc. to come to a class consensus on whether or not Steve was innocent or guilty.
Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block
Rating 3.5
I have read one other Francesca Lia Black book, Missing Angel Juan, which is actually a part of the Weetzie Bat series. Weetzie Bat is the first in the series, and I wish that I had read it first in order to become accustomed to Block's style of writing as well as the unique chracters. Block is infamous for fantastical imagery and creating settings that are set in reality but are on the verge of being mythical. At first this was hard to get used to, but after a few chapters I really appreciated the unique style of writing. I thought Weetzie Bat was more exciting than Missing Angel Juan, and I enjoyed the characters a lot more, as well. Even though I appreciated Block's style of writing, it just wasn't for me. I can see, however, why young adults would really enjoy it and would therefore recommend it.
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Rating: 4
I saw the movie version with Patrick Swayze and Rob Lowe long before I ever read the book, but I was surprised to find that the movie was actually pretty faithful to the plot of the book, which is hard to find these days. I really enjoyed reading The Outsiders. I was drawn into the life of the Greasers and was cheering for them against the Socs, even though I would probably be placed in the Soc category if I was a character in the book. I think that this book would be a good one to teach for that very reason: teaching students how to empathize with characters and that just because a character is not similar to you does not mean that you don't have anything in common with him or her.
Read for: YA lit class ... duh
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
Rating: 4.4
I don't know why, but I really enjoy solo survival stories. I found Hatchet to be very suspenseful. I immediately liked Brian, the main character and narrator. I think that reluctant readers, particularly males, would enjoy this book. It isn't difficult to read, but Paulsen's writing is still intelligent. I was cheering for Brian the whole time, celebrating his victories and mourning his failures when trying to survive in the wilderness on his own after a plane crash. It's the mark of a good book when I hold my breath, which I did during this one.
Monster by Walter Dean Myers
Rating: 4
The screenplay format of this book is very different from other young adult novels. The fact that there is a lot of space on the page might draw in young readers. Steve is a good narrator/screenplay writer, and the nights when he is alone in jail are the heart of the story. I think this would be a good book to teach, especially because there are a lot of different themes that could provoke discussion. Also, the fact that the reader is left not knowing whether or not Steve committed the crime that he is on trial for would make a good classroom activity: I imagine some sort of mock trial, where students act as prosecutor, defense attorney, witnesses, etc. to come to a class consensus on whether or not Steve was innocent or guilty.
Weetzie Bat by Francesca Lia Block
Rating 3.5
I have read one other Francesca Lia Black book, Missing Angel Juan, which is actually a part of the Weetzie Bat series. Weetzie Bat is the first in the series, and I wish that I had read it first in order to become accustomed to Block's style of writing as well as the unique chracters. Block is infamous for fantastical imagery and creating settings that are set in reality but are on the verge of being mythical. At first this was hard to get used to, but after a few chapters I really appreciated the unique style of writing. I thought Weetzie Bat was more exciting than Missing Angel Juan, and I enjoyed the characters a lot more, as well. Even though I appreciated Block's style of writing, it just wasn't for me. I can see, however, why young adults would really enjoy it and would therefore recommend it.
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Rating: 4
I saw the movie version with Patrick Swayze and Rob Lowe long before I ever read the book, but I was surprised to find that the movie was actually pretty faithful to the plot of the book, which is hard to find these days. I really enjoyed reading The Outsiders. I was drawn into the life of the Greasers and was cheering for them against the Socs, even though I would probably be placed in the Soc category if I was a character in the book. I think that this book would be a good one to teach for that very reason: teaching students how to empathize with characters and that just because a character is not similar to you does not mean that you don't have anything in common with him or her.
Pre-Blog Reads: Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer
Read in: March 2008
Read for: Leisure/procrastinating academic reading
Average Rating: 4.2
Twilight
Rating: 4.3
I was really surprised that a vampire love saga could be so compelling. The relationship between Bella and Edward is the most believable in this first book (as believable as a vampire-human romantic relationship can be) even though I find myself questioning why exactly Edward is so attracted to Bella in the first place--what exactly does she have to offer? Despite that, the characters are the most likeable in this book, in my opinion. One thing I noticed about Meyer's writing: She has a repertoire of about ten adverbs that she uses when describing how her characters speak. Her favorite is "grimaced." So, Bella might say something and then it is followed by "["insert what Bella says here"], I grimaced." Small writing habits like that were only semi-annoying, and probably only to me. The plot in this book has been the best so far, although I disliked how soon Bella wanted to become a vampire in order to be with Edward. I feel that Meyer is writing herself into a corner.
New Moon
Rating: 4
The second book in the series focuses on the relationship that Bella forms with Jacob when Edward leaves her. I am going to be completely biased here and state that I LOVE Jacob. Ever since the evolution of his and Bella's relationship, I have been rooting for him instead of Edward. Jacob was only a minor character in the first book, which is why I didn't develop this loyalty earlier. And of course, this goes against the grain of most Twilight fans: they all love Edward. I don't think there is anything wrong with Edward per se, I just like Jacob better. My main complaint about Edward is that you can tell it is a woman writing his character. He is too much the macho-yet-sensitive-always-says-the-right-thing type that all women dream of. This book, although he isn't in it as much, is when I started to doubt the believability of his character. Jacob, on the other hand, has more flaws but I believe in him more as a man.
My main qualm about this book is Edward's reason for leaving. It sucks. And I hate that Bella takes him back. Again, I feel that Meyer is writing herself into a corner.
Eclipse
Rating: 3
Still compelling, but definitely my least favorite of the three. Edward is back and he and Jacob are fighting over Bella the whole time. And unfortunately, the character of Bella becomes super annoying. All of her reasoning for the decisions that she makes are very stretched--you can understand why she would feel that way, but you can't understand why the heck she acts on her stupidity. I feel that the reason for this is Meyer's plot. As I mentioned, I feel that Meyer gets in the habit of writing herself into a corner. Unfortunately, the only way that she can get herself out of a plot corner, then, is to have one of the characters make a stupid decision to change the course of events. This task usually falls to Bella, which is frustrating.
What I dislike about this book is how quickly the relationship between Edward and Bella moves towards marriage. I feel that Meyer should explore other options before this one. A marriage is a cheap way to tie off a sitcom that is being cancelled, and it feels that the Twilight series is reaching this point.
Prediction for Book 4: Since Bella is the only one is actually choosing the vegetarian vampire life, and she dislikes the smell/sight of blood in her human life, will this carry over to her vampire state? Will she be the first naturally vegetarian vampire?
Read for: Leisure/procrastinating academic reading
Average Rating: 4.2
Twilight
Rating: 4.3
I was really surprised that a vampire love saga could be so compelling. The relationship between Bella and Edward is the most believable in this first book (as believable as a vampire-human romantic relationship can be) even though I find myself questioning why exactly Edward is so attracted to Bella in the first place--what exactly does she have to offer? Despite that, the characters are the most likeable in this book, in my opinion. One thing I noticed about Meyer's writing: She has a repertoire of about ten adverbs that she uses when describing how her characters speak. Her favorite is "grimaced." So, Bella might say something and then it is followed by "["insert what Bella says here"], I grimaced." Small writing habits like that were only semi-annoying, and probably only to me. The plot in this book has been the best so far, although I disliked how soon Bella wanted to become a vampire in order to be with Edward. I feel that Meyer is writing herself into a corner.
New Moon
Rating: 4
The second book in the series focuses on the relationship that Bella forms with Jacob when Edward leaves her. I am going to be completely biased here and state that I LOVE Jacob. Ever since the evolution of his and Bella's relationship, I have been rooting for him instead of Edward. Jacob was only a minor character in the first book, which is why I didn't develop this loyalty earlier. And of course, this goes against the grain of most Twilight fans: they all love Edward. I don't think there is anything wrong with Edward per se, I just like Jacob better. My main complaint about Edward is that you can tell it is a woman writing his character. He is too much the macho-yet-sensitive-always-says-the-right-thing type that all women dream of. This book, although he isn't in it as much, is when I started to doubt the believability of his character. Jacob, on the other hand, has more flaws but I believe in him more as a man.
My main qualm about this book is Edward's reason for leaving. It sucks. And I hate that Bella takes him back. Again, I feel that Meyer is writing herself into a corner.
Eclipse
Rating: 3
Still compelling, but definitely my least favorite of the three. Edward is back and he and Jacob are fighting over Bella the whole time. And unfortunately, the character of Bella becomes super annoying. All of her reasoning for the decisions that she makes are very stretched--you can understand why she would feel that way, but you can't understand why the heck she acts on her stupidity. I feel that the reason for this is Meyer's plot. As I mentioned, I feel that Meyer gets in the habit of writing herself into a corner. Unfortunately, the only way that she can get herself out of a plot corner, then, is to have one of the characters make a stupid decision to change the course of events. This task usually falls to Bella, which is frustrating.
What I dislike about this book is how quickly the relationship between Edward and Bella moves towards marriage. I feel that Meyer should explore other options before this one. A marriage is a cheap way to tie off a sitcom that is being cancelled, and it feels that the Twilight series is reaching this point.
Prediction for Book 4: Since Bella is the only one is actually choosing the vegetarian vampire life, and she dislikes the smell/sight of blood in her human life, will this carry over to her vampire state? Will she be the first naturally vegetarian vampire?
Have We No Right? by Mabel Williamson
Read for: Discipleship with Lois
Rating: 3.5
Have We No Right? was written in 1957 by Williamson, a missionary to China. She asks this question about the rights of missionaries in other countries. A lot of her examples were outdated, but I think that the main point of the book raised a good thought, mainly that as missionaries we are to follow the teachings of Paul to become all things to all people, so that we do not hinder the message of the Gospel. Becoming all things to all people may mean giving up some of the rights that we are accustomed to in America, Williamson points out. One of those rights is gender equality. In America, although in reality it may not always work out this way, there is still a high prevalance of the ideal of gender equality. In other cultures, though, it is taken for granted that men are better than women, and all the customs revolve around that fact. As a woman missionary, I may want to lead meetings or sharing the Gospel, but the culture that I am in might find that out of my place, so my unwillingness to give up that right might hinder the advancement of the Gospel. So, I think that the point that Williamson was making about the rights of missionaries was better than the way in which her book was written.
Rating: 3.5
Have We No Right? was written in 1957 by Williamson, a missionary to China. She asks this question about the rights of missionaries in other countries. A lot of her examples were outdated, but I think that the main point of the book raised a good thought, mainly that as missionaries we are to follow the teachings of Paul to become all things to all people, so that we do not hinder the message of the Gospel. Becoming all things to all people may mean giving up some of the rights that we are accustomed to in America, Williamson points out. One of those rights is gender equality. In America, although in reality it may not always work out this way, there is still a high prevalance of the ideal of gender equality. In other cultures, though, it is taken for granted that men are better than women, and all the customs revolve around that fact. As a woman missionary, I may want to lead meetings or sharing the Gospel, but the culture that I am in might find that out of my place, so my unwillingness to give up that right might hinder the advancement of the Gospel. So, I think that the point that Williamson was making about the rights of missionaries was better than the way in which her book was written.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr
Read for: YA lit class/leisure
Rating: 4.5
This was a really great book to read right after having read Speak. Story of a Girl is about Deanna Lambert, a girl who has been labeled the school slut. When she was thirteen her dad found her parked in a car with Tommy, her older brother's friend who was seventeen. The events in the book take place three years after that, when Deanna is sixteen.
What I really enjoyed about Deanna's narration was that she was oftentimes bitingly sarcastic and blunt, but then when she is on her own you see the softer side of Deanna and how she has truly been affected by her past. The heart of the story lies within the relationship that Deanna has with her father. After he found her with Tommy, Deanna and Mr. Lambert's relationship has never been the same. He doesn't look her in the eyes anymore, they don't talk, and he almost always refers to Deanna as "you" or "she." He is highly suspicious of all Deanna's activities and interrogates her about everything she does. At one point Deanna overhears her father and mother talking about her, and Mr. Lambert is suspicious that Deanna is going to "get into trouble" by working late nights at her new job.
"See, he talked about me that way even when he thought I couldn't hear. It wasn't just something he did when I was around so that he could make me feel like crap, punish me, or whatever. If I needed proof about what he really thought, here it was" (p. 69).
That is an example of the bitingly blunt combined with the softer side of Deanna. I think that students could really relate to Deanna, especially students who have made a mistake that they regret, but can't seem to get away from the repurcussions of it. I liked reading Story of a Girl in conjunction with Speak because it gave a different perspective on the issue of sex. What I would like to read next is a book that has a male perspective. This book is a lot more explicit than Speak was with regard to the sex and there is also a higher prevalence of swearing, which might give some pause for being recommended in schools, but I still think that students would benefit from reading it.
Rating: 4.5
This was a really great book to read right after having read Speak. Story of a Girl is about Deanna Lambert, a girl who has been labeled the school slut. When she was thirteen her dad found her parked in a car with Tommy, her older brother's friend who was seventeen. The events in the book take place three years after that, when Deanna is sixteen.
What I really enjoyed about Deanna's narration was that she was oftentimes bitingly sarcastic and blunt, but then when she is on her own you see the softer side of Deanna and how she has truly been affected by her past. The heart of the story lies within the relationship that Deanna has with her father. After he found her with Tommy, Deanna and Mr. Lambert's relationship has never been the same. He doesn't look her in the eyes anymore, they don't talk, and he almost always refers to Deanna as "you" or "she." He is highly suspicious of all Deanna's activities and interrogates her about everything she does. At one point Deanna overhears her father and mother talking about her, and Mr. Lambert is suspicious that Deanna is going to "get into trouble" by working late nights at her new job.
"See, he talked about me that way even when he thought I couldn't hear. It wasn't just something he did when I was around so that he could make me feel like crap, punish me, or whatever. If I needed proof about what he really thought, here it was" (p. 69).
That is an example of the bitingly blunt combined with the softer side of Deanna. I think that students could really relate to Deanna, especially students who have made a mistake that they regret, but can't seem to get away from the repurcussions of it. I liked reading Story of a Girl in conjunction with Speak because it gave a different perspective on the issue of sex. What I would like to read next is a book that has a male perspective. This book is a lot more explicit than Speak was with regard to the sex and there is also a higher prevalence of swearing, which might give some pause for being recommended in schools, but I still think that students would benefit from reading it.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Read for: YA lit class/leisure
Rating: 4.0
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson was definitely not what I expected. I don't know what I was expecting, but it was definitely not what Anderson delivered. Of course, that isn't meant in a bad way. What Anderson gave is much better than anything I could have dreamed up. I think waht surprised me most--and what I liked the best--was Melinda's voice. Kind of ironic for a character who speaks as little as possible, eh? However, since the story is told in the first person, the reader is privy to the narrative inside Melinda's head, which is a stunningly accurate portrayal of teenage emotions. I also enjoyed the humor--it was wry and sarcastic, but there was also so much truth in it that you couldn't help but chuckle. For example:
"We are studying history for the ninth time in nine years. [...] Christopher Columbus in time for Columbus Day, the Pilgrims in time for Thanksgiving. Every year they say we're going to get right up to the present, but we always get stuck in the Industrial Revolution. We got to World War I in the seventh grade--who knew there had been a war with the whole world? We need more holidays to keep the social studies teachers on track" (p. 7).
I underlined this section and wrote "touche" next to it.
Since the story focuses on the effects of rape on a young girl, I think that this book would be very important for students to read. Not only so, but the fact that it is a contemporary book with narrating character who is relateable would probably capture the hearts of readers. I would definitely use this book in a unit based on Voice--both how to write with it and how to use it. There might be some censorship issues based on the subject, but nothing is explicit and Anderson focuses on the effects of rape, not on the actual act itself. I would be willing to fight censorship for the right to teach this book.
Rating: 4.0
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson was definitely not what I expected. I don't know what I was expecting, but it was definitely not what Anderson delivered. Of course, that isn't meant in a bad way. What Anderson gave is much better than anything I could have dreamed up. I think waht surprised me most--and what I liked the best--was Melinda's voice. Kind of ironic for a character who speaks as little as possible, eh? However, since the story is told in the first person, the reader is privy to the narrative inside Melinda's head, which is a stunningly accurate portrayal of teenage emotions. I also enjoyed the humor--it was wry and sarcastic, but there was also so much truth in it that you couldn't help but chuckle. For example:
"We are studying history for the ninth time in nine years. [...] Christopher Columbus in time for Columbus Day, the Pilgrims in time for Thanksgiving. Every year they say we're going to get right up to the present, but we always get stuck in the Industrial Revolution. We got to World War I in the seventh grade--who knew there had been a war with the whole world? We need more holidays to keep the social studies teachers on track" (p. 7).
I underlined this section and wrote "touche" next to it.
Since the story focuses on the effects of rape on a young girl, I think that this book would be very important for students to read. Not only so, but the fact that it is a contemporary book with narrating character who is relateable would probably capture the hearts of readers. I would definitely use this book in a unit based on Voice--both how to write with it and how to use it. There might be some censorship issues based on the subject, but nothing is explicit and Anderson focuses on the effects of rape, not on the actual act itself. I would be willing to fight censorship for the right to teach this book.
Friday, March 28, 2008
I Am The Cheese by Robert Cormier
Read For: YA lit class
Rating: 3.6
I have read two other Cormier books, The Chocolate War and After the First Death. Cormier is renowned as an important YA author, but my opinion is that he is a bit overrated. He writes a lot of violence and perversion, which I do not particularly enjoy. However, reluctant readers can probably relate to his young male protaganists, especially male reluctant readers.
I Am The Cheese was very similar to After the First Death. Cheese follows the story of Adam Farmer, a teenage boy who is riding his bike from Monument, MA to Rutterberg VT to visit his father and deliver an important package to him. Along the way Adam has to face many of his fears and persevere in his very long journey. These parts are told in first person narrative. Interspersed throughout are "therapy" sessions between A and T. It becomes clear that A is Adam, and we learn that T is really named Brint, who is presumably a psychiatrist treating Adam and guiding him to fill in the "blanks" in Adam's memory of his past. However, Adam starts to question Brint's trustworthiness as a shrink, and the reader does too. These parts are relayed as dialogue between the characters. Then, there are parts told in third person describing Adam's past life--these are the blanks that Adam is trying to fill in. We learn that Adam's family is a part of some sort of witness protection program, because his father testified against an "organization," allegedly the mafia.
The ending is similar to After the First Death, in that Cormier pulls a twist on the reader's perception of what reality is in the book.
This book held my attention and I think reluctant readers will probably enjoy it. There is not as much violence or perversion in this novel of Cormier's as I have found in others, so I would not hesitate to recommend it. I'm not sure about the teachability of it, though. I think I would almost prefer After the First Death because the switch in reality at the end is more severe and changes your entire perception of the novel, which I think would be a valuable tool when teaching students about voice and creative writing. Perhaps if I taught After the First Death to my students and some really enjoyed it, I would recommend Cheese for pleasure reading.
Rating: 3.6
I have read two other Cormier books, The Chocolate War and After the First Death. Cormier is renowned as an important YA author, but my opinion is that he is a bit overrated. He writes a lot of violence and perversion, which I do not particularly enjoy. However, reluctant readers can probably relate to his young male protaganists, especially male reluctant readers.
I Am The Cheese was very similar to After the First Death. Cheese follows the story of Adam Farmer, a teenage boy who is riding his bike from Monument, MA to Rutterberg VT to visit his father and deliver an important package to him. Along the way Adam has to face many of his fears and persevere in his very long journey. These parts are told in first person narrative. Interspersed throughout are "therapy" sessions between A and T. It becomes clear that A is Adam, and we learn that T is really named Brint, who is presumably a psychiatrist treating Adam and guiding him to fill in the "blanks" in Adam's memory of his past. However, Adam starts to question Brint's trustworthiness as a shrink, and the reader does too. These parts are relayed as dialogue between the characters. Then, there are parts told in third person describing Adam's past life--these are the blanks that Adam is trying to fill in. We learn that Adam's family is a part of some sort of witness protection program, because his father testified against an "organization," allegedly the mafia.
The ending is similar to After the First Death, in that Cormier pulls a twist on the reader's perception of what reality is in the book.
This book held my attention and I think reluctant readers will probably enjoy it. There is not as much violence or perversion in this novel of Cormier's as I have found in others, so I would not hesitate to recommend it. I'm not sure about the teachability of it, though. I think I would almost prefer After the First Death because the switch in reality at the end is more severe and changes your entire perception of the novel, which I think would be a valuable tool when teaching students about voice and creative writing. Perhaps if I taught After the First Death to my students and some really enjoyed it, I would recommend Cheese for pleasure reading.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Booking Through Thursday: The Beginning
The most recent question on Booking Through Thursday is
The End
You’ve just reached the end of a book . . . what do you do now? Savor and muse over the book? Dive right into the next one? Go take the dog for a walk, the kids to the park, before even thinking about the next book you’re going to read? What?
(Obviously, there can be more than one answer, here–a book with a cliff-hanger is going to engender different reactions than a serene, stand-alone, but you get the idea!)
Well, the answer to that question is now: I will turn to my blog and post my thoughts about the book I just completed! So, even though BTT called this one "The End," I'm calling it "The Beginning," because this is the beginning of my new blog. Welcome!
The End
You’ve just reached the end of a book . . . what do you do now? Savor and muse over the book? Dive right into the next one? Go take the dog for a walk, the kids to the park, before even thinking about the next book you’re going to read? What?
(Obviously, there can be more than one answer, here–a book with a cliff-hanger is going to engender different reactions than a serene, stand-alone, but you get the idea!)
Well, the answer to that question is now: I will turn to my blog and post my thoughts about the book I just completed! So, even though BTT called this one "The End," I'm calling it "The Beginning," because this is the beginning of my new blog. Welcome!
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