Hardback or Paperback Hardback
Synopsis Cassia is surprised and thrilled that the person Society has Matched her with--her future husband--is her handsome friend. But when she starts to read the digital information about him that she's been given, the face of another friend appears, apparently by mistake. This is the first sign for Cassia that there are problems beneath the surface of her seemingly perfect Society.
Evaluation Lyrical writing, gradual revelation of a society's hidden darkness, and subtle treatment of the tension between safety and freedom mean that this is an excellent book for students to read and discuss. There were parts that I found predictable and unsurprising--but less experienced readers might not. In any case, this flaw is not a deal breaker, because the book is not as much about the revelation of the flaws in Cassia's society as it is about her gradual realizations about herself.
Universal Themes coming of age, freedom vs. safety, the many faces of love
Edginess Nope.
Bonus Factors References to poetry, esp. Thomas's "Do Not Go Gentle." Close ties to The Hunger Games and The Giver.
Anti-bonus factors Everyone is white. For some readers, this will feel like a not-quite-as-good version of The Giver, now with kissing! This is clearly the first book in a series and the end is not exactly a cliff-hanger, but it's definitely not resolved, either.
Will they like it? Girls will, especially those who love HG. The love triangle will be a nice bonus. Some boys might, although I'd like to have some test readers. Until the end, most of the action is inside Cassia's head--but the last 50 pages or so are very suspenseful.
Recommendation Terrific for book clubs, possibly now (because this is a book with a lot of buzz), but definitely after it comes out in paperback.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Friday, December 17, 2010
Hate List by Jennifer Brown
Hardback or Paperback Paperback
Synopsis Valerie is finding it hard to return to her high school for her senior year. At the end of her junior year, a school shooting traumatized the school. And Valerie's boyfriend was the perpetrator. And many of the victims were on Valerie's hate list.
Evaluation Valerie is a sympathetic first person narrator. The school shooting, which happened before the narrative begins, is told through a series of flashbacks and newspaper accounts, so the whole story--and Valerie's degree of culpability--is revealed only gradually. I found this book very hard to put down. I like that it treats the aftermath of a school shooting from the point of view of someone who is responsible to at least some degree.
Universal Themes responsibility, secrets, coming of age, guilt and innocence
Edginess flashbacks of the school shooting are graphic in parts; teen drinking; language (I think the dad drops the F-bomb); the dad is having an affair; and there may be more that I don't remember.
Bonus Factors Deals with class issues; while it deals with the why of a school shooting, it does not try to excuse the perpetrator; guilt and innocence are not black and white, and even the most horrible characters are presented as being complex human beings.
Anti-bonus factors As far as I can remember, everyone in the book is white.
Will they like it? Yes, I really think so. This is a long book but it's a fast read, and I think that even though it's a first person female narrator, that some boy readers might get into it, too. I think students will be drawn in by the gradual revelation of the story of the school shooting. There's certainly a lot to talk about during a meeting.
Recommendation Recommended with reservations, since I don't really remember how edgy it is. Definitely a good choice for a classroom library.
Synopsis Valerie is finding it hard to return to her high school for her senior year. At the end of her junior year, a school shooting traumatized the school. And Valerie's boyfriend was the perpetrator. And many of the victims were on Valerie's hate list.
Evaluation Valerie is a sympathetic first person narrator. The school shooting, which happened before the narrative begins, is told through a series of flashbacks and newspaper accounts, so the whole story--and Valerie's degree of culpability--is revealed only gradually. I found this book very hard to put down. I like that it treats the aftermath of a school shooting from the point of view of someone who is responsible to at least some degree.
Universal Themes responsibility, secrets, coming of age, guilt and innocence
Edginess flashbacks of the school shooting are graphic in parts; teen drinking; language (I think the dad drops the F-bomb); the dad is having an affair; and there may be more that I don't remember.
Bonus Factors Deals with class issues; while it deals with the why of a school shooting, it does not try to excuse the perpetrator; guilt and innocence are not black and white, and even the most horrible characters are presented as being complex human beings.
Anti-bonus factors As far as I can remember, everyone in the book is white.
Will they like it? Yes, I really think so. This is a long book but it's a fast read, and I think that even though it's a first person female narrator, that some boy readers might get into it, too. I think students will be drawn in by the gradual revelation of the story of the school shooting. There's certainly a lot to talk about during a meeting.
Recommendation Recommended with reservations, since I don't really remember how edgy it is. Definitely a good choice for a classroom library.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Eon by Allison Goodman
Hardback or paperback? Paperback
Evaluation Terrific fantasy adventure in an unusual world. It starts off fast and ends with a fast-paced climax and a bit of a cliffhanger. The middle section is a bit tedious; I felt that Eona was blind to the obvious solution to her problems. Student readers may not find the solution quite so obvious, although the emphasis on palace intrigue in that section may confuse or bore them.
Universal Themes coming of age, self discovery, responsibility
Edginess There's a transgender character, discussion of menstruation, lots of violence, references to rape, and eunuchs. Plus the transgender character is in love with a eunuch.
Bonus Factors There's a transgender character; Eona is crippled, and there's another disabled character; Asian-ish setting and references, although the author seems to be a white Australian. Strong message about female empowerment.
Anti-Bonus Factors Can't think of any.
Will they like it? Both boys and girls who like fantasy have liked it. A strong female protagonist with lots of action seems to be a winning combination. It's long, though.
Recommendation I'm not sure. Kids will like it, and I think warning about the edginess would be sufficient for 8th grade, anyway--but we have a lot of fantasy already.
Prisoners in the Palace by Michaela MacColl
Hardback or paperback? Hardback
Synopsis Liza, a rich girl fallen on hard times, takes a job as a maid for Princess Victoria. She finds herself in the midst of palace intrigue, as Victoria's mother and an adviser work to try to keep power out of the princess's hands.
Evaluation The setting is fascinating and well-drawn. Because Liza is a lady's maid, we get to see what Victorian life is for both a princess and servants. The voices of the characters feel authentic but are not unduly difficult to read, although at least one character speaks in dialect. It's a bit slow in spots, but has a very satisfying climax and resolution.
Edginess Factor Mild. There's an out-of-wedlock pregnancy, references to rape, and a suicide.
Bonus Factors Historical fiction from an unusual period; the palace intrigue is based on real events; realistically-drawn characters from a variety of classes/ economic levels
Universal Themes Coming of age, overcoming adversity
Anti-Bonus Factors Everyone is white. This book will hold little or no interest for boys.
Will they like it? Bright girls and girls interested in historical fiction will like it. There's a romantic subplot that will hold girls' interest. The slow parts in the middle (and the length) mean that less avid readers will probably not like it as much.
Recommendation This would be a great book club book for the right group. Probably not worth buying in hardback, though.
Synopsis Liza, a rich girl fallen on hard times, takes a job as a maid for Princess Victoria. She finds herself in the midst of palace intrigue, as Victoria's mother and an adviser work to try to keep power out of the princess's hands.
Evaluation The setting is fascinating and well-drawn. Because Liza is a lady's maid, we get to see what Victorian life is for both a princess and servants. The voices of the characters feel authentic but are not unduly difficult to read, although at least one character speaks in dialect. It's a bit slow in spots, but has a very satisfying climax and resolution.
Edginess Factor Mild. There's an out-of-wedlock pregnancy, references to rape, and a suicide.
Bonus Factors Historical fiction from an unusual period; the palace intrigue is based on real events; realistically-drawn characters from a variety of classes/ economic levels
Universal Themes Coming of age, overcoming adversity
Anti-Bonus Factors Everyone is white. This book will hold little or no interest for boys.
Will they like it? Bright girls and girls interested in historical fiction will like it. There's a romantic subplot that will hold girls' interest. The slow parts in the middle (and the length) mean that less avid readers will probably not like it as much.
Recommendation This would be a great book club book for the right group. Probably not worth buying in hardback, though.
The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney
Hardback or paperback? Hardback
Synopsis Alex is a skilled musician attending a boarding school for gifted students of all kinds—a school where the faculty turns a blind eye to student misconduct. In the aftermath of being date raped her junior year, Alex turns to the Mockingbirds, a semi-secret student society that metes out justice when the faculty won’t.
Evaluation This is a grab-you-right-away kind of book. It starts with Alex waking up naked in a boy’s bed, and she’s not 100% sure who he is and what happened. The author was date-raped as a freshman at Brown, and Alex’s reactions—fear, shame, avoiding the perpetrator, reluctance to seek help—reflect her own experience. The writing is transparent and the topic is important.
Edginess Factor Date rape—and it’s pretty graphic. F-bomb at least twice—although not used gratuitously. There is other swearing, although pretty rare. Alex is date-raped as a result of excessive drinking.
Bonus Factors Allusions all over the place to To Kill a Mockingbird. Very strong anti-bullying message, along with the message that teens need to stand up for each other as well as for themselves.
Universal Themes Coming of age, overcoming adversity
Anti-Bonus Factors Although there is a sort-of nod to diversity—one character is from Singapore and another seems to be Indian American—the cast is overwhelmingly white and privileged.
Will they like it? Girls especially will like The Mockingbirds. Alex learns to stand up for herself; there’s a romance included; there’s a student secret society; music is an important part of it. Most importantly, the book moves quickly.
Recommendation I think the date-rape flashbacks are too graphic for me to want to have this for book club at the middle school level. I think it’s a good and important book, though, and may recommend it to select students. I think it’s a must-read for girls (especially) at the high school level. Why? Raise your hand if you don’t know someone who was date raped in college. Yep. That’s what I thought.
Synopsis Alex is a skilled musician attending a boarding school for gifted students of all kinds—a school where the faculty turns a blind eye to student misconduct. In the aftermath of being date raped her junior year, Alex turns to the Mockingbirds, a semi-secret student society that metes out justice when the faculty won’t.
Evaluation This is a grab-you-right-away kind of book. It starts with Alex waking up naked in a boy’s bed, and she’s not 100% sure who he is and what happened. The author was date-raped as a freshman at Brown, and Alex’s reactions—fear, shame, avoiding the perpetrator, reluctance to seek help—reflect her own experience. The writing is transparent and the topic is important.
Edginess Factor Date rape—and it’s pretty graphic. F-bomb at least twice—although not used gratuitously. There is other swearing, although pretty rare. Alex is date-raped as a result of excessive drinking.
Bonus Factors Allusions all over the place to To Kill a Mockingbird. Very strong anti-bullying message, along with the message that teens need to stand up for each other as well as for themselves.
Universal Themes Coming of age, overcoming adversity
Anti-Bonus Factors Although there is a sort-of nod to diversity—one character is from Singapore and another seems to be Indian American—the cast is overwhelmingly white and privileged.
Will they like it? Girls especially will like The Mockingbirds. Alex learns to stand up for herself; there’s a romance included; there’s a student secret society; music is an important part of it. Most importantly, the book moves quickly.
Recommendation I think the date-rape flashbacks are too graphic for me to want to have this for book club at the middle school level. I think it’s a good and important book, though, and may recommend it to select students. I think it’s a must-read for girls (especially) at the high school level. Why? Raise your hand if you don’t know someone who was date raped in college. Yep. That’s what I thought.
Getting Started!
Hey, all!
Time to get up and running! We can use this blog as a way to share thoughts and ideas about possible books that we might recommend for book club selections.
Also, this serves as an effecient way to stay on top of the newest and best selections for our students to read! No need for everyone to read the same books (unless you want to) - if everyone reads/blogs about different books, we'll have a much greater array of recommendations and possible suggestions for book clubs and student reading in general.
Some aspects to include in each blog you write:
Title
Author
Hardback or paperback?
Brief synopsis - Think Tweet - 140 characters, maybe more?
Evaluation - Is it worth it?
Edginess Factor - How much does this author test the boundaries of young adult writing/topics?
Bonus Factors - Diverse characters/author? anti-bullying messages? civic leadership? societal commentary?
Anti-Bonus Factors - Anything that detracts from any of the above?
Will they like it? Boys? Girls? Reading level? Pace of the book?
Overall Recommendation
Time to get up and running! We can use this blog as a way to share thoughts and ideas about possible books that we might recommend for book club selections.
Also, this serves as an effecient way to stay on top of the newest and best selections for our students to read! No need for everyone to read the same books (unless you want to) - if everyone reads/blogs about different books, we'll have a much greater array of recommendations and possible suggestions for book clubs and student reading in general.
Some aspects to include in each blog you write:
Title
Author
Hardback or paperback?
Brief synopsis - Think Tweet - 140 characters, maybe more?
Evaluation - Is it worth it?
Edginess Factor - How much does this author test the boundaries of young adult writing/topics?
Bonus Factors - Diverse characters/author? anti-bullying messages? civic leadership? societal commentary?
Anti-Bonus Factors - Anything that detracts from any of the above?
Will they like it? Boys? Girls? Reading level? Pace of the book?
Overall Recommendation
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