Thursday, March 31, 2011
Book 13-The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
Yet another YA that I read because it was nominated for the Gateway Award. I feel terrible writing a "review" to these books when I know that very few of my followers are interested in this drivel. This one was pretty bad. It was about a girl at a very exclusive New England boarding school and how she tries to infiltrate the secret boys club. It's not overly immature, but the author used the words "nimrod" and "dog" waaaaaay too many times for my liking. Yuck! Would not recommend.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Book 12-The Juvie Three by Gordon Korman
Another young adult novel that I read because it was nominated for a Gateway Award.
This is the story of three juvenile delinquents who are saved from years of incarceration to live in a "halfway house" in NYC with a guy who wants to do good deeds. In the first week, though, the main guy (Mr. Healy) is injured in a scuffle and loses his memory. Instead of running away with their new found freedom, the kids continue to act as if nothing happened: going to school, therapy, and community service without Mr. Healy telling them to.
I really didn't enjoy this book very much at all. It was unrealistic and fluffy. I know that it was chosen for a Gateway to try and appeal to male readers, but I have to believe that there are better choices out there.
This is the story of three juvenile delinquents who are saved from years of incarceration to live in a "halfway house" in NYC with a guy who wants to do good deeds. In the first week, though, the main guy (Mr. Healy) is injured in a scuffle and loses his memory. Instead of running away with their new found freedom, the kids continue to act as if nothing happened: going to school, therapy, and community service without Mr. Healy telling them to.
I really didn't enjoy this book very much at all. It was unrealistic and fluffy. I know that it was chosen for a Gateway to try and appeal to male readers, but I have to believe that there are better choices out there.
Book 11-A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
This was my second time reading this book, which I've always said is the best book I've ever read. I hadn't read the book in ten years, so a lot of the details were pretty fuzzy.
This book is the story of the life of Owen Meany, a strange little child with a strange voice who never seemed to grow. Owen Meany is a strong character who never hesitates to make a decision or put himself in the spotlight despite the strangeness of his person. The narrator is John Wheelright, Owen's best friend. John is the antithesis of Owen. Where Owen is poor, John is rich. Where Owen is center-stage, John sits to the sidelines. It's almost as if John watches his life happening from above. For this reason, he is the perfect person to narrate this story.
John Irving, the author, is my favorite author of all time. He has a way of describing the tiniest of events or characters in a way that interests the reader rather than boring him/her to death. In this book, the story meanders between time periods...but I never got lost. Such a great book.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone. It is an interesting story, for those who aren't too interested in the deeper themes that permeate the novel. A long read, yes...but well worth it!
This book is the story of the life of Owen Meany, a strange little child with a strange voice who never seemed to grow. Owen Meany is a strong character who never hesitates to make a decision or put himself in the spotlight despite the strangeness of his person. The narrator is John Wheelright, Owen's best friend. John is the antithesis of Owen. Where Owen is poor, John is rich. Where Owen is center-stage, John sits to the sidelines. It's almost as if John watches his life happening from above. For this reason, he is the perfect person to narrate this story.
John Irving, the author, is my favorite author of all time. He has a way of describing the tiniest of events or characters in a way that interests the reader rather than boring him/her to death. In this book, the story meanders between time periods...but I never got lost. Such a great book.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone. It is an interesting story, for those who aren't too interested in the deeper themes that permeate the novel. A long read, yes...but well worth it!
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Book 10: Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
An adult book! Woo hoo! This book takes a serious look at the French responsibility during WWII for the deportation and round-up of thousands of French Jews. It follows the heartbreaking story of Sarah, a young girl who survived the round-up and a modern-day American living in France with her French husband.
The story here is really touching and heartbreaking, but I have a problem with the execution. The author bounced between Sarah and Julia's story, which I really enjoyed because it gave my emotions a break every so often from the horror of what Sarah survived. But I feel like I needed more towards the end. I don't know if it was Julia's story that was lacking or if I've been reading too many stories where the character development is super strong...
I would recommend this book for knowledge. I think that it's very important that I learned what the French did to Jews during WWII. Before this, I had gotten a rosy picture of French people either hiding Jews or supporting them silently for fear of retribution...this book paints another picture.
The story here is really touching and heartbreaking, but I have a problem with the execution. The author bounced between Sarah and Julia's story, which I really enjoyed because it gave my emotions a break every so often from the horror of what Sarah survived. But I feel like I needed more towards the end. I don't know if it was Julia's story that was lacking or if I've been reading too many stories where the character development is super strong...
I would recommend this book for knowledge. I think that it's very important that I learned what the French did to Jews during WWII. Before this, I had gotten a rosy picture of French people either hiding Jews or supporting them silently for fear of retribution...this book paints another picture.
Book 9: The Hate List by Jennifer Brown
This is yet another YA book that I read to be "cool" for my students. This book is about a couple who is bullied and the struggle the girl has to cope after her boyfriend takes matters into his own hands and shoots the bullies and himself. Is she guilty? Is she a hero?
I liked the premise of the book and I really like that my students are reading it. I hope that some of them will realize that they are not alone in being bullied and they can survive. I also hope that some potential bullies read it and realize that what they are doing is very hurtful. And I hope that some neutral kids will read it and decide to stand up for the bullied instead of being bystanders.
I thought that the end kind of wrapped up too quickly and there were some things that the author did in the end that I really didn't agree with.
I would recommend this book because the author is a Lee's Summit graduate and a current resident of Liberty. Buy local! Support local authors!
I liked the premise of the book and I really like that my students are reading it. I hope that some of them will realize that they are not alone in being bullied and they can survive. I also hope that some potential bullies read it and realize that what they are doing is very hurtful. And I hope that some neutral kids will read it and decide to stand up for the bullied instead of being bystanders.
I thought that the end kind of wrapped up too quickly and there were some things that the author did in the end that I really didn't agree with.
I would recommend this book because the author is a Lee's Summit graduate and a current resident of Liberty. Buy local! Support local authors!
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