by Jay Asher
Summary:
It's 1996. Emma just got her first computer complete with Internet access thanks to an America Online CD her friend Josh gave her. As she logs in for the first time a web page comes up, a webpage called Facebook. The page gives her a glimpse 15 years into the future. A way to look not only at her life but at the lives of her friends and how they turned out. But what she sees isn't that great, in fact life might not turn out all that great for her. But she's got a chance to change it, so those sad status' she posts might never exist.
Review:
The Future of Us is a fun read about the consequences that even everyday actions might have on our future. We have no idea what might affect the way our lives turn out, a random decision can have a radical effect on how our lives might turn out. Emma is given a way to see how her decisions each day affect her future. Ultimately she also must learn that even though the things we do today might shape our tomorrow, we ultimately have to live each day the best we can and hope that it all turns out alright in the long term.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 8th-9th Grade
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
The Book Thief
By Marcus Zusak
Summary:
Set in Germany during World War II, The Book Thief tells the story of a young German girl named Liesel Meminger. As tragedy continuously strikes her young life, she turns to books as an attempt to lesson the blow. But books are few and far between in Nazi Germany, and it is in unlikely places that she finds them. In the snow by her brother's grave, in the midst of a book burning bonfire, and in the library at the Mayor's house. Liesel's story is that of a girl affected by a war which she had no part in, a war which destroyed everything she had.
Review:
The Book Thief did not grab me immediately. It is narrated by Death, who tells the story of how he first met Liesel and of her life thereafter. At first I thought the narration made the book choppy, but as I continued reading found that Death's thoughts on the tragedy of World War II truly added a dramatic aspect to the story. It helped to bring the realities of the war to the book, a reality which a book which focuses on a young girl might otherwise forget. It is a very intense read about WWII, but because it presents the war from the point of view of a young German civilian, it reminds us of the toll the war took on the complacent civilian population of Germany. The book is definitely more appropriate for older teens.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: 10-11th Grade
Summary:
Set in Germany during World War II, The Book Thief tells the story of a young German girl named Liesel Meminger. As tragedy continuously strikes her young life, she turns to books as an attempt to lesson the blow. But books are few and far between in Nazi Germany, and it is in unlikely places that she finds them. In the snow by her brother's grave, in the midst of a book burning bonfire, and in the library at the Mayor's house. Liesel's story is that of a girl affected by a war which she had no part in, a war which destroyed everything she had.
Review:
The Book Thief did not grab me immediately. It is narrated by Death, who tells the story of how he first met Liesel and of her life thereafter. At first I thought the narration made the book choppy, but as I continued reading found that Death's thoughts on the tragedy of World War II truly added a dramatic aspect to the story. It helped to bring the realities of the war to the book, a reality which a book which focuses on a young girl might otherwise forget. It is a very intense read about WWII, but because it presents the war from the point of view of a young German civilian, it reminds us of the toll the war took on the complacent civilian population of Germany. The book is definitely more appropriate for older teens.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Level: 10-11th Grade
Thursday, January 12, 2012
The Unwanteds
By Lisa McMann
Summary:
Alex and Aaron are twins. While they are alike physically, their personalities are different. Alex is the creative one, while Aaron is studious and a strict rule follower. Normally this wouldn't be much of a problem, but in Quill being creative is a death sentence. As they both turn 13 they are separated, with Aaron being deemed wanted in society, and Alex being deemed unwanted and thus sentenced to immediate death. But death isn't what is waiting for him. Instead he finds that creativity itself can be his salvation.
Review:
The Unwanteds is not just another dystopian novel. The book combines the depressive characteristics of this type of novel (a city full of neutral colors, no fun, and rigid societal roles) with fantasy (mixing in magic and pronouncing that creativity can overcome any obstacle). The book is well written and good for tweens of all ages, as it broaches topics like war but has little tangible violence.
Genre: Fantasy
Age Level: 4th Grade
Summary:
Alex and Aaron are twins. While they are alike physically, their personalities are different. Alex is the creative one, while Aaron is studious and a strict rule follower. Normally this wouldn't be much of a problem, but in Quill being creative is a death sentence. As they both turn 13 they are separated, with Aaron being deemed wanted in society, and Alex being deemed unwanted and thus sentenced to immediate death. But death isn't what is waiting for him. Instead he finds that creativity itself can be his salvation.
Review:
The Unwanteds is not just another dystopian novel. The book combines the depressive characteristics of this type of novel (a city full of neutral colors, no fun, and rigid societal roles) with fantasy (mixing in magic and pronouncing that creativity can overcome any obstacle). The book is well written and good for tweens of all ages, as it broaches topics like war but has little tangible violence.
Genre: Fantasy
Age Level: 4th Grade
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Revolution
by Jennifer Donnelly
Summary:
Andi has nowhere to go. Trapped by the grief after the death of her younger brother, guilty that she might have been able to stop it, abandoned by a father who moved out and a mother whose grief has rendered her completely dependent on Andi, she has nowhere left to turn. There is only one thing that comforts her, her music, but even that has not been enough. When she finds herself stuck in Paris for two weeks with her father, she turns even more to her music. When she finds a 18th century guitar in the house they are staying in, she finds comfort in it's strings. But it is the diary she finds hidden inside it, written by a 17 year old girl during the French Revolution, which helps her find the peace she needs.
Review:
Revolution weaves French history with modern life in an interesting fashion. The book deftly showcases life during the revolution, a time of horror for those who lived it, and relates it to the struggles that Andi is having in her life, as well as putting things in perspective for her. The book is pretty accurate in it's history, though it does take liberties to incorporate Alexandrine's acts. The book is also interesting in how it relates the struggles both girls have, both struggling with loss and feeling abandoned and alone. In the end it is Alexandrine who gives Andi the strength to move forward with life.
Genre: Historical Fiction/Contemporary Fiction
Age Level: 8-9th Grade
Summary:
Andi has nowhere to go. Trapped by the grief after the death of her younger brother, guilty that she might have been able to stop it, abandoned by a father who moved out and a mother whose grief has rendered her completely dependent on Andi, she has nowhere left to turn. There is only one thing that comforts her, her music, but even that has not been enough. When she finds herself stuck in Paris for two weeks with her father, she turns even more to her music. When she finds a 18th century guitar in the house they are staying in, she finds comfort in it's strings. But it is the diary she finds hidden inside it, written by a 17 year old girl during the French Revolution, which helps her find the peace she needs.
Review:
Revolution weaves French history with modern life in an interesting fashion. The book deftly showcases life during the revolution, a time of horror for those who lived it, and relates it to the struggles that Andi is having in her life, as well as putting things in perspective for her. The book is pretty accurate in it's history, though it does take liberties to incorporate Alexandrine's acts. The book is also interesting in how it relates the struggles both girls have, both struggling with loss and feeling abandoned and alone. In the end it is Alexandrine who gives Andi the strength to move forward with life.
Genre: Historical Fiction/Contemporary Fiction
Age Level: 8-9th Grade
Forgotten
By Cat Patrick
Summary:
Sometimes we all wish we could forget things from our past. That we could wake up and start completely fresh. Wouldn't it be easier? For London Lane it means waking up not remembering anything from the past. Not what clothes she wore the day before, not what happened in school, not what happened when she was little. All she has is the notebook she writes in every night, full of reminders about what happened each day. But what has she been leaving out of the notebook? What happened in her past that triggered this reset?
Review:
Forgotten is an interesting book about how a trauma can cause a person to reset themselves. AfterLondon
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 7-8th Grade
Summary:
Sometimes we all wish we could forget things from our past. That we could wake up and start completely fresh. Wouldn't it be easier? For London Lane it means waking up not remembering anything from the past. Not what clothes she wore the day before, not what happened in school, not what happened when she was little. All she has is the notebook she writes in every night, full of reminders about what happened each day. But what has she been leaving out of the notebook? What happened in her past that triggered this reset?
Review:
Forgotten is an interesting book about how a trauma can cause a person to reset themselves. After
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 7-8th Grade
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Putting Makeup on Dead People
by Jen Violi
Summary:
Donna really didn't know what she wanted to do after high school. Sure there was the possibility of college, but that just didn't appeal to her the way it should. But then she attended the funeral of a girl she goes to high school with. And suddenly she realizes that her career choice is right in front of her: mortician school. Definitely not a typical choice, but after dealing with the loss of her own father, she knows that she has the ability to comfort the grieving, to help provide closure to those who have lost. She just needs to convince her mother that it's the right choice.
Review:
Violi has created an interesting character in Donna. She is both incredibly mature for her age, having dealt with a severe loss in her life, but also very immature, being unable to cope with her mother dating 4 years after losing her father, and not able to talk about her life choices without being very defensive. Overall though the book deftly deals with the many ways people cope with loss and the way one girl decides to help them. Good for teens mainly, not a very thorough book about loss in general though.
Genre: Realistic fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
Summary:
Donna really didn't know what she wanted to do after high school. Sure there was the possibility of college, but that just didn't appeal to her the way it should. But then she attended the funeral of a girl she goes to high school with. And suddenly she realizes that her career choice is right in front of her: mortician school. Definitely not a typical choice, but after dealing with the loss of her own father, she knows that she has the ability to comfort the grieving, to help provide closure to those who have lost. She just needs to convince her mother that it's the right choice.
Review:
Violi has created an interesting character in Donna. She is both incredibly mature for her age, having dealt with a severe loss in her life, but also very immature, being unable to cope with her mother dating 4 years after losing her father, and not able to talk about her life choices without being very defensive. Overall though the book deftly deals with the many ways people cope with loss and the way one girl decides to help them. Good for teens mainly, not a very thorough book about loss in general though.
Genre: Realistic fiction
Age Level: 9th Grade
13 Reason's Why
By Jay Asher
Summary:
Hannah committed suicide. She left no note, no explanation. Yet one day Clay receives a package in the mail. A package containing 13 cassette tapes. As he begins to listen to them, he hears her voice. A voice he thought he would never hear again. The tapes are her explanation. Her story. They are not an excuse, but a way for her to tell those who hurt her, who were part of her story, the role that they played in the events that led to her death.
Review:
Asher has created a very powerful book about the nature of teen suicide. Through Hannah he has created a character that the reader sympathizes with, that the reader wants to know more about. It is a warning message about the terrible power of rumors, about how it only takes a little to spiral out of control. It is also a story about revenge, as this is the only way Hannah knows to get her story out, her way of reaching out even though it is too late for anyone to respond. Overall it is a very impressive book, though definitely suited to an older crowd not only due to the frankness it deals with suicide, but also the prevalence of sex and alcohol.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th grade
Summary:
Hannah committed suicide. She left no note, no explanation. Yet one day Clay receives a package in the mail. A package containing 13 cassette tapes. As he begins to listen to them, he hears her voice. A voice he thought he would never hear again. The tapes are her explanation. Her story. They are not an excuse, but a way for her to tell those who hurt her, who were part of her story, the role that they played in the events that led to her death.
Review:
Asher has created a very powerful book about the nature of teen suicide. Through Hannah he has created a character that the reader sympathizes with, that the reader wants to know more about. It is a warning message about the terrible power of rumors, about how it only takes a little to spiral out of control. It is also a story about revenge, as this is the only way Hannah knows to get her story out, her way of reaching out even though it is too late for anyone to respond. Overall it is a very impressive book, though definitely suited to an older crowd not only due to the frankness it deals with suicide, but also the prevalence of sex and alcohol.
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Age Level: 9th grade
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