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Scythe by Neal Shusterman What if we were able to cure death? What if disease and old age and accidents were a thing of the past, and we could live forever? How would this impact our society? And how would we keep out population growth under control? These are questions Shusterman raises in his new book, and he addresses them well. In his imagined future, life is pretty close to perfect, but something has to be done to keep the population to a manageable number. That’s where the Scythes come in.
Scythes are individuals chosen to live a life set apart, to “glean” others from the population. Only death doled out by a Scythe is truly irreversible. Scythes are respected and revered, are given anything they want for free, and live outside the laws that govern others. Scythes’ families are immune from gleaning for the lifespan of the Scythe, and the only way for a Scythe to die is by gleaning themselves. How would you handle being assigned to become a professional murderer? Do the pros outweigh the cons? If they do, you probably won’t be selected to become a Scythe. I enjoyed this novel a lot. The author raises interesting philosophical questions, his characters grow/change throughout the book, and the world building of the storyline is excellent. Shusterman chooses not to let any romance of the two main characters take away from the plot, as so many YA authors tend to do. Citra and Rowan are two teens who have been chosen to apprentice with Scythe Faraday. Neither of them wants to be a Scythe and spend their lives killing fellow citizens, but they really have no choice other than to compete for the position. Their views on death and the age of immortality are varied and interesting. I also loved how Shusterman wrote each Scythe doing the same job in completely different ways. I would recommend this novel to students who enjoy a little philosophy served up with their dystopian death novels. ;) I enjoyed the love story Everything Everything so much, I had to try the second novel by Nicola Yoon while lounging by the pool on vacation. I also loved this book! (Although not as much as the first). I have learned that I am definitely sucker for a good YA romance novel. ;P
The Sun is Also a Star is the story of Daniel. And the story of Natasha. And the fateful day they met in New York City. And all the small occurrences that had to happen in order to bring them together. This book is sweet, endearing, passionate and at times it is frustrating. It will make you question whether you believe in coincidence or fate. You will wonder if love at first sight really exists or if love is a fleeting emotion caused by the chemicals in our bodies. Most of all, this book won't take a lot of effort or commitment and you can breeze through it with a smile on your face. If you are a hopeless romantic, read the books of Nicola Yoon. This is from the CBE in regards to the TV series :
You may already be aware of the popular series on Netflix called 13 Reasons Why. This series, based on a young adult novel, has garnered the attention of media and raised concerns of mental health practitioners, organizations and of some parents. This series tells the story of high school student Hannah Baker who takes her life and leaves behind audio recordings for 13 people who she says in some way were part of why she killed herself. Netflix rates the show for mature audiences and notes it may not be suitable for children under 17. We realize that conversations about the series and its content may come up at school or at home. We recognize parents will want to handle this with their child in a way that makes sense to them and their family values, and there are many perspectives on the content of the series and how it depicts suicide and mental health. To help families and school staff make informed decisions and to support conversations about the topics within the series, here are a few resources. Each resource has been developed and provided by professionals in the field of mental health.
Everything, Everything is the story of a girl named Madeline who has spent her life living in a bubble. When she was a baby, it was discovered that she has SCID, a rare allergy to practically everything. Because of this Maddy is not able to leave the sanctity of her home. In order for people to come see her they have to go through rigorous medical examinations and a decontamination upon entering the house. Maddy lives with her mother, who just so happens to be her doctor, and a nurse named Carla. Maddy is content with her life of books and game nights with her mom, until the day that a new family moves in next door and a boy catches her eye.
At first, Madeline is nothing more than a voyeur, watching Olly through her window. Once he takes notice of her, they exchange email addresses and it isn't long before they are IMing late into the night. Eventually, Maddy tells Olly about her illness and they arrange, through Carla, for him to visit. Her world turns upside down with the touch of the hands. This is a story that has been told many times before. What makes Yoon's version so unique is her incredible character development, attention to detail and her accessible writing style. This is a really quick and absorbing read - I finished it in less than two days and couldn't put it down! Maddy and Olly are both flawed, but accept each other completely. They are characters I was cheering for from chapter 1. They have huge obstacles to overcome, a champion on their side, and strength of character to further their dreams. It's a sweet love story and will soon be on the big screen (May 19th, to be exact). If you get the chance, read the book before you see the movie. It's fantastic! Hello Vincent Massey community! My name is Ms. Gammon and I'm thrilled to be your librarian in the Learning Commons. I come to you after eight years at Altadore School, and I'm really enjoying my new digs here at Massey so far. I have two teens of my own - an 18 year old boy and a 16 year old girl. I have a background in Drama, Literacy, Youth Events and Lifeguarding.
I have set some pretty lofty goals for myself this year, which I hope all of our staff and students can help me achieve. First, it's so very important we work together to make our Learning Commons a safe, respectful and friendly place to be. I hope you will join me often - whether on the computers, reading books, checking out materials or learning with your class. There is always something happening here! My second goal is to put the right books into the right reader's hands. Young Adult novels are often amazing works of fiction, and I'm reading furiously to be able to offer you the best recommendations I can. Finally, this blog. Let's call it Title Page. I want to create a shared space where we can talk about what's New and Now in teen fiction. Here you can look for (and submit) reviews, check out what books are coming to our space, and keep up on our displays and events. Maybe we will even start our own Massey Book Club... It's going to be a great school year! Hate List by Jennifer Brown Near the end of their junior year at high school, Valerie's boyfriend Nick went on a shooting spree in the cafeteria, targeting the students from their "Hate List" - a list of students and teachers who made them angry - a list started by Valerie herself. After killing 6 and injuring many others (including shooting Valerie in the thigh), Nick turned the gun on himself and committed suicide. Five months later, Val is facing her return to school for one final year. Haunted by the boyfriend she still loves and navigating rocky relationships with her family, her former friends, and the girl whose life she saved, Val must come to grips with the tragedy that took place and the guilt she lives with every minute of the day.
This is such a powerful book, and so different from other books written about fictional school shootings. Telling this story from the perspective of the shooter's girlfriend sends the reader in all kinds of emotional directions, hand in hand with the main character. This isn't just a case of a bad kid who goes crazy and brings a gun to school - we, the readers, are given opportunities to see Nick as Val and his friends saw him. We sit with Val as she undergoes psychological therapy, we spend time with her at school and see the reaction of the students who aren't sure if she is a hero or an accomplice, a bystander or a murderer. There are repercussions for this character (and everyone around her) far beyond what we would normally think about when we hear about a school shooting. Hate List is a compelling and important novel. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy realistic fiction. There are so many lessons to be learned here about kindness, acceptance, forgiveness, caring and healing. It can be a draining and exhausting book to read, but also a very rewarding experience. "Just like there's always time for pain, there's always time for healing" |
AuthorThis book lover's blog is brought to you by the Learning Commons at Vincent Massey School, Calgary. Specifically, Ms. Gammon and various student book reviewers. We want to share our favorite titles with you! Archives
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