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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. ;)
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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. 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! 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" Starflight by Melissa Anders Starflight is a romantic teen sci-fi novel about a penniless orphan (and convicted felon) named Solara Brooks. Solara is hoping for a fresh start in the outer reaches of the galaxy, but doesn’t have money to make the journey to her new job. While waiting at a space station in hopes of being chosen as hired help for the voyage, she crosses paths with her high school nemesis Doran Spaulding. Doran is filthy rich and a major jerk. As the story unfolds, the two travelers end up on a dilapidated ship together – the Banshee – and all sorts of intergalactic shenanigans ensue.
Make no mistake. This book is not literature. There is not a lot of substance here, no hidden meanings or deep life messages. The characters are flawed, make mistakes, live with regret and experience some exciting adventures, but they aren’t about to reach off the pages and change your life in any way. This book is light and easy to read and quite entertaining. The world building is good but not mind-blowing. The secondary characters are interesting but not deeply developed. The story is fun but easily forgotten. If all you are looking for is a fun read that will give you some escape time, this could be it. I really enjoyed Starflight and it’s likely you will too. Article 5 by Kristen Simmons It's the near future, and after a devastating war on American soil, civil liberties have been eliminated. The Bill of Rights is a thing of the past, and the nation is in a constantly militarized state. The Moral Statutes have been instituted and are absolute - rules to live by with no exceptions. Practicing religions outside of Christianity is a punishable offense. Romance novels are outlawed. There are no luxuries.
Seventeen year old Ember comes home after school one day and finds soldiers from the Federal Bureau of Reformation on her doorstep. Ember's single mother is found of violating Article 5 - having a child out of wedlock - and she and Ember must be rehabilitated. The two are separated and Ember is taken to the equivalent of a prison camp, full of other girls just like her - illegitimate children and juvenile "article offenders" alike. Under the sadistic watch of a twisted headmistress who has the muscle of the Moral Militia soldiers behind her, Ember knows she must escape and find her mother. But when Chase, her ex-boyfriend (himself a Moral Militia soldier), comes to rescue Ember, their hardships are just beginning. Can she trust Chase, or is the boy she loved dead and gone? Article 5 is a frustrating book. One the one hand, I do enjoy the dystopian mindset. Article 5 is a terrifying glimpse at an entirely possible future America, ravaged by war and turning to religious zeal and militant patriotism. The love story between Chase and Ember held my interest too. But Ember's emotional angst drove me crazy! At two points in the story, Ember (idiotically) runs away from Chase - the boy that has risked his life, his reputation, his career solely to save her. Ember knows that Chase is trying to help her but she runs away from the him. TWICE. The motivations for her initial mistrust of Chase make sense, but what doesn't add up is the continued distrust. For the longest time, the two characters never even TALK about their feelings or relationship, making the romance between them feel like a prolonged plot device. There is a strong message in the end of the book that women are not always the weaker sex - that girls can be strong and independent - but it took ages for Ember to be that heroine. Her character spent much of the novel feeling sorry for herself, living with her head in the sand, and letting others take care of her. Thankfully she does redeem herself. Ultimately, there were things I liked about the book - notably the critique of sexism, religious zeal, and aggressive militarism - but these high points were dwarfed by the massive missteps in terms of plot and characterization. There are far better dystopian novels on the library shelves, but if this the the genre for you, it may still be worth your time. The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness The other day I had five novels from our library on my desk and I needed to chose which one to read next. So, I read the first paragraph of each book and The Knife of Never Letting Go was hands down the winner. What a great introduction to the main character, Todd, and his dog Manchee.
Todd is the only boy left in a village of men. There are no women or girls, and Todd is less than a month away from his thirteenth birthday, the age when all boys in the New World become men. What an unfriendly, hostile and Noisy world it is. Everyone in the village has Noise - even the animals. All thoughts and feelings are broadcast for everyone to hear, and there is nothing to be done about it. That's a lot of Noise. One day Todd and his dog go into the nearby swamp to pick apples and they comes across an area that reads to Todd as the opposite of noise. A spot that is almost loud in its silence, and Todd has to investigate. This begins a life-altering adventure as Todd discovers more about the New World and the repulsive secrets of his village. The Knife of Never Letting Go presents an incredibly unique plot that's both simple in its storytelling and layered in its depth. There are many moments of violence and aggression, moments of frustration and sadness, and many times I felt like this novel was a punch in the stomach (a sure sign of my involvement with the characters and plot). My only complaint is in the length of this book - I'm certain it could be as effective if it were 100 pages shorter. If action and confrontation are things you look for in a story line, this could be the novel for you. Excellent world-building and wonderful main characters. Ana's Story by Jenna Bush - reviewed by Brianna H. Do you love a novel that makes you cry? This true-story romantic novel is written in way that helps the reader feel what life is like in a poor family.
I would recommend this novel to people who have a hard life at home, or anyone in need of some hope. Also people who think they can only read fiction, not non fiction, as this is written as fiction would be. Ana suffers abuse from a close relative after both her parents die from HIV/AIDS and they find out she has HIV as well (contracted from her mom). Moving from her Abuela's house to her great aunt's house, and many more houses after that, Ana believes she and her child will never have a normal life. Then things take an unexpected turn and this book holds many surprises. The author of this narrative non-fiction is Jenna Bush, daughter of former US President George Bush. She wrote this book after doing an internship for Unicef, where she met many young people with stories similar to Ana's. Run to pick up a copy of Ana's story and feel like you are in the book Brianna H. Wither: The Chemical Garden Trilogy by Lauren DeStefano This is a novel I enjoyed a lot more than I thought I would. I could hardly put it down!
Wither is a dystopian story about a time in the future when the only remaining continent on earth is North America (somehow all the others have been destroyed by war and sunk into the sea - don't over think it), and all people are infected with a man-made virus that causes guys to die at age 25 and girls to die at age 20. Completely unrealistic and unsupported by the world-building of the story. So it should be a lousy book, right? Wrong. Once you get past the premise, the actual writing and characters make this a really good read. Rhine is a 16-year-old orphan who has been kidnapped by a wealthy man to be one of three brides to his son. In a world dominated by poverty and crime, Rhine can almost be convinced to succumb to the luxury she is married into, and she can't bring herself to hate the kind man who is her husband. She even comes to love her sister wives. But, she can't lose sight of the fact her life is nearing its end and she is not free. In this new world of grandeur, things are rarely what they appear to be. Rhine must not be fooled and she must escape the clutches of her vile father-in-law. Wither is definitely a flawed novel. You may be shaking your head over my description of the plot because the premise is, frankly, ridiculous. But the main character, Rhine, is an incredible and complex heroin whose kindness touches all those around her. At the same time, she is enduring her own suffering and trying to escape her new life. Rhine is at once a child, an orphan, a sister, a wife, a friend and a prisoner. Her experiences and plight make for an entertaining read. A book review by guest reviewer Brianna H. The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules by Catharina Ingleman-Sundberg
I would be worried if my parents or grandparents wanted to go to prison instead of stay in their retirement home. The Little Old Lady Who Broke All The Rules is about Martha and her friends wanting to escape their retirement home to get into prison. It feels you are committing all the crimes with the four characters, and experiencing all the trouble and hardships they experience. I think you would like to read this book if you like comedy, mystery and adventure books. This is a comedy because what this old lady says is not what normal people say and mystery because it is a mystery of why they do some of their crimes. In the book, these old folks break into a museum and ask for some ransom money, and they break into lockers at their hotel. So will these old folks go to jail? Run on over to the library or bookstore to pick up a copy of The Little Old Lady Who Broke All The Rules! |
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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