- The Turtle of Oman (#1) ★★★½
- The Turtle of Michigan (#2) ★★★★★
Showing posts with label series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label series. Show all posts
Friday, April 8, 2022
The Turtle of Oman Roundup
In Oman, an 8-year-old boy named Aref and his grandfather have a very close relationship. Aref is sad and anxious about having to move to a new country, but quickly adapts and thrives in his new home and school.
The Turtle of Michigan by Naomi Shihab Nye
★★★★★
Having read The Turtle of Oman, I set my expectations accordingly for this book, and I think that helped me to better appreciate it. I really loved it. Some might call the writing "slow", but I'd describe it as gentle, steady, and deliberate, with poetic interludes. Occasionally, the narration transitioned between third and second person. I really enjoyed the way the writing channelled the perspective and narrative voice of a child.
Aref is 8 years old. He's inquisitive, friendly, and not shy, a good model for young readers, particularly those who may feel nervous about moving to some place new. It's very clear how Aref benefited from a very diverse neighborhood and school, both in his old home of Muscat, Oman and in his new home of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Such diversity may not be the reality in many places, which means this book could serve as a good "window" for young readers who have less personal experience with different cultures.
It's been a while since I read The Turtle of Oman, so I can't remember for sure, but I think this book picks up right where that book left off. From the very beginning, we see Aref discovering a powerful truth: oftentimes, the anticipation of something is more anxiety-producing than actually experiencing the thing itself. The Turtle of Oman was about Aref feeling sad and scared about moving to America, but once he boarded the plane, he felt relief and excitement and was open to adventure.
Aref and his family are Arabs from Oman. There are occasional references to the Arabic language and Omani culture, which set the background and help to describe the main characters, but they are not central plot points. Oman is predominantly Muslim, but it's not clear if Aref's family is Muslim. There is a chapter about learning to celebrate Christmas in America, and other cultural and religious holidays are mentioned, but Aref's family's usual holidays are never identified. It seems like the author made a very conscious decision to not mention religion at all, since it wasn't even touched upon in the Christmas chapter.
Having read The Turtle of Oman, I set my expectations accordingly for this book, and I think that helped me to better appreciate it. I really loved it. Some might call the writing "slow", but I'd describe it as gentle, steady, and deliberate, with poetic interludes. Occasionally, the narration transitioned between third and second person. I really enjoyed the way the writing channelled the perspective and narrative voice of a child.
Aref is 8 years old. He's inquisitive, friendly, and not shy, a good model for young readers, particularly those who may feel nervous about moving to some place new. It's very clear how Aref benefited from a very diverse neighborhood and school, both in his old home of Muscat, Oman and in his new home of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Such diversity may not be the reality in many places, which means this book could serve as a good "window" for young readers who have less personal experience with different cultures.
It's been a while since I read The Turtle of Oman, so I can't remember for sure, but I think this book picks up right where that book left off. From the very beginning, we see Aref discovering a powerful truth: oftentimes, the anticipation of something is more anxiety-producing than actually experiencing the thing itself. The Turtle of Oman was about Aref feeling sad and scared about moving to America, but once he boarded the plane, he felt relief and excitement and was open to adventure.
Aref and his family are Arabs from Oman. There are occasional references to the Arabic language and Omani culture, which set the background and help to describe the main characters, but they are not central plot points. Oman is predominantly Muslim, but it's not clear if Aref's family is Muslim. There is a chapter about learning to celebrate Christmas in America, and other cultural and religious holidays are mentioned, but Aref's family's usual holidays are never identified. It seems like the author made a very conscious decision to not mention religion at all, since it wasn't even touched upon in the Christmas chapter.
Saturday, January 29, 2022
The Giver Roundup
A seemingly post-apocalyptic, supernatural world with extremely different isolated communities. Main characters eventually connect with each other, but the communities remain separate.
- The Giver (#1) ★★★
- Gathering Blue (#2) ★★★
- Messenger (#3) ★★★½
- Son (#4) ★★★★
Son (The Giver #4) by Lois Lowry
★★★★
*** Warning: This review contains spoilers!! ***
This story is divided into three sections. Book I, in which we go back to the events of The Giver and see the timeline from Claire's perspective, made for a slow start for me. Since I knew what would happen, I was anxious to move forward and get to the events after Jonas took Gabe from the community.
I found Book II much more engaging. I appreciated the author's creativity in inventing yet another isolated community, unique in its own way. I also enjoyed the way Clair discovered mundane things and found them enchanting because she had never known them before. Still no answers were given, however, regarding how this world came to be, and I was left wondering why Claire's original home was so technologically advanced while all other communities were so primitive.
Book II as a whole made me think of how it is that our lives are made out of distinct phases that come and go. We are who we are because of the experiences we've had and the people we meet - this is where Claire witnessed how loving parents treat their children, and where she learned about romantic love - and sometimes, though there may be nothing wrong with where we are, we still need to move forward.
The entire series came to a satisfying conclusion in Book III, and I was pleased to see some of my questions from Messenger answered. It was gratifying to finally understand Trademaster, who in this book was more clearly the Devil, at times even being described like a snake. (p. 264) I was especially happy to at last read the scene, in which Claire confides in Jonas, that I had been waiting the whole book to read. (p. 311)
In the end, there seemed to be a message of how, if you put good intentions out into the world, that good is reflected and given back to you. Just as evil feeds off of hate, goodness is made stronger by love.
This being the last book of the series, I knew the world had a supernatural component. But as with The Giver, a large chunk of the book passed without any reference to any magical powers or beings, and I was lulled into thinking of Claire's world as merely characterized by the communities in which she lived. The sudden appearance, more than halfway through the book, of something supernatural felt jarring.
As much as I enjoyed Claire's story, there were two things that irked me.
First, I wish the author had included a scene showing Claire and Alys saying goodbye. I had eagerly anticipated this scene, feeling sure it would be emotional and meaningful, and was surprised and disappointed when I realized it was omitted. Here Claire was the daughter Alys had never had, and Alys was the loving mother Claire had never had, surely their parting was significant.
Second, why wouldn't Claire - upon finding Gabe in the village and realizing that Jonas was there, too - go to Jonas, tell him her whole story, and figure out a plan for meeting Gabe earlier?! I can't understand how she waited SEVEN YEARS, until she was practically on her death bed, to make a move. It pained me to think of all those years lost and wasted.
One final note from a parental perspective. Though I categorized the first 3 books of this series as children's books, this one I think borders on young adult, mainly because of one line in which Einar described the abuses he suffered from his father and implied sexual assault. (p. 207) Still, younger readers might just gloss over the oblique reference and not even realize they've missed anything.
*** Warning: This review contains spoilers!! ***
This story is divided into three sections. Book I, in which we go back to the events of The Giver and see the timeline from Claire's perspective, made for a slow start for me. Since I knew what would happen, I was anxious to move forward and get to the events after Jonas took Gabe from the community.
I found Book II much more engaging. I appreciated the author's creativity in inventing yet another isolated community, unique in its own way. I also enjoyed the way Clair discovered mundane things and found them enchanting because she had never known them before. Still no answers were given, however, regarding how this world came to be, and I was left wondering why Claire's original home was so technologically advanced while all other communities were so primitive.
Book II as a whole made me think of how it is that our lives are made out of distinct phases that come and go. We are who we are because of the experiences we've had and the people we meet - this is where Claire witnessed how loving parents treat their children, and where she learned about romantic love - and sometimes, though there may be nothing wrong with where we are, we still need to move forward.
The entire series came to a satisfying conclusion in Book III, and I was pleased to see some of my questions from Messenger answered. It was gratifying to finally understand Trademaster, who in this book was more clearly the Devil, at times even being described like a snake. (p. 264) I was especially happy to at last read the scene, in which Claire confides in Jonas, that I had been waiting the whole book to read. (p. 311)
In the end, there seemed to be a message of how, if you put good intentions out into the world, that good is reflected and given back to you. Just as evil feeds off of hate, goodness is made stronger by love.
This being the last book of the series, I knew the world had a supernatural component. But as with The Giver, a large chunk of the book passed without any reference to any magical powers or beings, and I was lulled into thinking of Claire's world as merely characterized by the communities in which she lived. The sudden appearance, more than halfway through the book, of something supernatural felt jarring.
As much as I enjoyed Claire's story, there were two things that irked me.
First, I wish the author had included a scene showing Claire and Alys saying goodbye. I had eagerly anticipated this scene, feeling sure it would be emotional and meaningful, and was surprised and disappointed when I realized it was omitted. Here Claire was the daughter Alys had never had, and Alys was the loving mother Claire had never had, surely their parting was significant.
Second, why wouldn't Claire - upon finding Gabe in the village and realizing that Jonas was there, too - go to Jonas, tell him her whole story, and figure out a plan for meeting Gabe earlier?! I can't understand how she waited SEVEN YEARS, until she was practically on her death bed, to make a move. It pained me to think of all those years lost and wasted.
One final note from a parental perspective. Though I categorized the first 3 books of this series as children's books, this one I think borders on young adult, mainly because of one line in which Einar described the abuses he suffered from his father and implied sexual assault. (p. 207) Still, younger readers might just gloss over the oblique reference and not even realize they've missed anything.
Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Messenger (The Giver #3) by Lois Lowry
★★★½
*** Warning: This review contains spoilers!! ***
It's been a while since I read the first couple books, but I remember being thrown off by the supernaturalism in The Giver, because it wasn't evident at first, and I don't even remember any supernaturalism in Gathering Blue. The fantastical aspects of this world are clear early on in Messenger, with Forest actively attacking people and Matty discovering his paranormal ability.
The story of Village presents a heartwarming, meaningful message. Village thrived on selflessness - everyone welcoming newcomers and caring for one another - and it suffered when Trademaster introduced selfishness into their community.
Reading the book in 2022, there's an apparent parallel with contemporary issues of immigration and borders. Village is an example of how communities can benefit from diversity and compassion. Published in 2004, the book seemed to foreshadow Trump's obsession with building a wall.
I really enjoyed Matty's character, and was happy to read more about him since I liked him so much in Gathering Blue. I think the presumed post-apocalyptic world with disparate communities was intriguing, and I loved the beauty of the ending. Unfortunately, I just found myself too distracted by all the many unanswered questions.
For example, who exactly is Trademaster? Where did he come from, and what is his story? Why does he make all these deals that are detrimental to the people making them? What does he get out of them? Is he supposed to be the Devil, making deals with people so that their truest selves are sacrificed for some temporary, worldly gain?
At the end of the book, we learn that Forest is "an illusion...a tangled knot of fears and deceits and dark struggles for power" (p. 168), but why did it suddenly turn so evil? Was Forest somehow connected to Trademaster? And did Matty's powers work on Trademaster, too? Because if not, why wouldn't Trademaster simply resume his trading, causing the same trouble all over again, and with no Matty there to save them next time?
I tried to do the math, and Jonas, now called Leader, must be in his early 20s. I understand that he's got this special gift, but it still seems remarkable that Village would elect him as Leader at such a young age. And who was the leader before Jonas arrived? Jonas arrived with Gabriel, but we learn nothing more about him, getting only one passing mention of a boy named Gabe, who we can just assume must be Gabriel. (p. 17) Jonas tells Matty that his old community was "rebuilding themselves into something better" (p. 29), but how!? How did the Giver manage all the changes, and what became of the Committee of Elders? Later on, we see that Kira's village was also changed, but again the story of how is missing. What happened with Jamison and the Council of Guardians?
Interestingly, I found an editing error in my edition. In chapter 17, the book says that "Ramon had described poor Stocktender, who had been entangled by Forest". (p. 149) But back in chapter 2, it says Stocktender had died earlier, had not been entangled, and it was Gatherer who had been entangled to death by Forest. (p. 14)
*** Warning: This review contains spoilers!! ***
It's been a while since I read the first couple books, but I remember being thrown off by the supernaturalism in The Giver, because it wasn't evident at first, and I don't even remember any supernaturalism in Gathering Blue. The fantastical aspects of this world are clear early on in Messenger, with Forest actively attacking people and Matty discovering his paranormal ability.
The story of Village presents a heartwarming, meaningful message. Village thrived on selflessness - everyone welcoming newcomers and caring for one another - and it suffered when Trademaster introduced selfishness into their community.
Reading the book in 2022, there's an apparent parallel with contemporary issues of immigration and borders. Village is an example of how communities can benefit from diversity and compassion. Published in 2004, the book seemed to foreshadow Trump's obsession with building a wall.
I really enjoyed Matty's character, and was happy to read more about him since I liked him so much in Gathering Blue. I think the presumed post-apocalyptic world with disparate communities was intriguing, and I loved the beauty of the ending. Unfortunately, I just found myself too distracted by all the many unanswered questions.
For example, who exactly is Trademaster? Where did he come from, and what is his story? Why does he make all these deals that are detrimental to the people making them? What does he get out of them? Is he supposed to be the Devil, making deals with people so that their truest selves are sacrificed for some temporary, worldly gain?
At the end of the book, we learn that Forest is "an illusion...a tangled knot of fears and deceits and dark struggles for power" (p. 168), but why did it suddenly turn so evil? Was Forest somehow connected to Trademaster? And did Matty's powers work on Trademaster, too? Because if not, why wouldn't Trademaster simply resume his trading, causing the same trouble all over again, and with no Matty there to save them next time?
I tried to do the math, and Jonas, now called Leader, must be in his early 20s. I understand that he's got this special gift, but it still seems remarkable that Village would elect him as Leader at such a young age. And who was the leader before Jonas arrived? Jonas arrived with Gabriel, but we learn nothing more about him, getting only one passing mention of a boy named Gabe, who we can just assume must be Gabriel. (p. 17) Jonas tells Matty that his old community was "rebuilding themselves into something better" (p. 29), but how!? How did the Giver manage all the changes, and what became of the Committee of Elders? Later on, we see that Kira's village was also changed, but again the story of how is missing. What happened with Jamison and the Council of Guardians?
Interestingly, I found an editing error in my edition. In chapter 17, the book says that "Ramon had described poor Stocktender, who had been entangled by Forest". (p. 149) But back in chapter 2, it says Stocktender had died earlier, had not been entangled, and it was Gatherer who had been entangled to death by Forest. (p. 14)
Sunday, January 10, 2021
Keeper of the Lost Cities Roundup
An immersive fantasy world reminiscent of Harry Potter but with an exciting enough story arc to keep it feeling different.
Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities #7) by Shannon Messenger
★★½
*** Warning: This review contains spoilers!! ***
Early on in the series, when I read one book after another, I complained that there was too much recap at the beginning of each book. Now that I'm picking up book 7 after a long hiatus, I can't remember anything, and I need all the recap I can get! Still, it's not enough, there are so many references to things I don't remember at all. Oh, well.
I feel a little bad about my relatively low rating of this book, but it was just too long, with too much dialog that felt like filler, and not enough action. The book started out promising, but then fizzled, and I was halfway through before I felt like things started happening again. As in other books in the series, the storytelling that moved events forward continued to feel sloppy, with everyone mostly guessing at what the evildoers' plans were, then landing on a theory with a declaration of, "That makes sense."
I really enjoyed the creation of the multi-species bodyguard team; I liked the idea of all the species working together.
I didn't enjoy the additional focus on the Fitz-Sophie-Keefe love triangle; I'm just not a fan of romance being tangled up in action stories. Sophie still strikes me as "young", like a teenybopper compared to Fitz and Keefe being more in the "older teenager" category. I am not sure what is so desirable about Sophie to make her the target of everyone's affection, except that she's the moonlark, which makes her mysterious and special. I think both Biana and Linh having admirers would be more believable. Anyway, as eye-rolling as this sub-plot is to me, I was glad to finally see movement in the story line, and a resolution. And given how I think of Sophie as "young", I was pleased to see her put the brakes on moving too fast with Fitz. She may have been unbelievably oblivious to Fitz's feelings for her, but she was remarkably aware and mature in understanding her own feelings for Fitz, and recognizing that she wasn't really ready for a relationship yet. Wow! I super appreciated the good modeling for young readers.
Events finally picked up towards the end of the book, and the plot developments - particularly those including Alvar and "the Vacker legacy" - did not disappoint! In my mind, the ending lifted the book to 2 1/2 stars. Not sure if I will continue the series, but I'm not ruling it out.
*** Warning: This review contains spoilers!! ***
Early on in the series, when I read one book after another, I complained that there was too much recap at the beginning of each book. Now that I'm picking up book 7 after a long hiatus, I can't remember anything, and I need all the recap I can get! Still, it's not enough, there are so many references to things I don't remember at all. Oh, well.
I feel a little bad about my relatively low rating of this book, but it was just too long, with too much dialog that felt like filler, and not enough action. The book started out promising, but then fizzled, and I was halfway through before I felt like things started happening again. As in other books in the series, the storytelling that moved events forward continued to feel sloppy, with everyone mostly guessing at what the evildoers' plans were, then landing on a theory with a declaration of, "That makes sense."
I really enjoyed the creation of the multi-species bodyguard team; I liked the idea of all the species working together.
I didn't enjoy the additional focus on the Fitz-Sophie-Keefe love triangle; I'm just not a fan of romance being tangled up in action stories. Sophie still strikes me as "young", like a teenybopper compared to Fitz and Keefe being more in the "older teenager" category. I am not sure what is so desirable about Sophie to make her the target of everyone's affection, except that she's the moonlark, which makes her mysterious and special. I think both Biana and Linh having admirers would be more believable. Anyway, as eye-rolling as this sub-plot is to me, I was glad to finally see movement in the story line, and a resolution. And given how I think of Sophie as "young", I was pleased to see her put the brakes on moving too fast with Fitz. She may have been unbelievably oblivious to Fitz's feelings for her, but she was remarkably aware and mature in understanding her own feelings for Fitz, and recognizing that she wasn't really ready for a relationship yet. Wow! I super appreciated the good modeling for young readers.
Events finally picked up towards the end of the book, and the plot developments - particularly those including Alvar and "the Vacker legacy" - did not disappoint! In my mind, the ending lifted the book to 2 1/2 stars. Not sure if I will continue the series, but I'm not ruling it out.
Tuesday, May 12, 2020
Gathering Blue (The Giver #2) by Lois Lowry
★★★
*** Warning: This review contains spoilers!! ***
Gathering Blue is just as thought-provoking as The Giver, and part of its appeal was comparing and constrasting Kira's village with Jonas's community.
Kira's village lived in poverty and fear, with an every-person-for-themselves way of life. Yet, good-hearted people like Kira and Matt still flourished. At one point, referring to plants, Kira marveled at how "blossoms continued to bloom and she was awed to see that vibrant life still struggled to thrive despite such destruction." (p. 90) That description could be a metaphor for Kira and Matt's own lives, how the cards were stacked against them, yet they flourished. Taken further, it could be a metaphor for all of humankind; though the world had faced destruction, and shocking societies had grown out of ruin, the humanity of people like Jonas and Kira could lead people towards a better existence.
Matt was my favorite character. So capable and open, with such an infectious spirit! I would love to read more about him.
This book ends on a hopeful note, but as with The Giver, I put the book down wishing for a sequel. I can imagine Kira leading Thomas, Jo, and Matt in slowly introducing more compassion and equity into their society, but how? How will they handle the Council of Guardians, and Jamison in particular? Does the other community really become known to the village, and how do the villagers react to the news? What happens when everybody finally learns that there are no beasts?
As far as I could tell, there was nothing in this book that made it clear it existed in the same universe as The Giver; we only know the two stories are related because this book is marketed as a companion book. Just one line gives a hint at a possible connection, when Matt tells Kira that there is a boy her age in the other community who has very blue eyes. From The Giver, we know that Jonas and Gabriel had "pale eyes", which could indeed mean they had blue eyes. It's a very thin connection, but it's intriguing to wonder if the boy might be Jonas in a contemporary timeline, or Gabriel many years later.
*** Warning: This review contains spoilers!! ***
Gathering Blue is just as thought-provoking as The Giver, and part of its appeal was comparing and constrasting Kira's village with Jonas's community.
Kira's village lived in poverty and fear, with an every-person-for-themselves way of life. Yet, good-hearted people like Kira and Matt still flourished. At one point, referring to plants, Kira marveled at how "blossoms continued to bloom and she was awed to see that vibrant life still struggled to thrive despite such destruction." (p. 90) That description could be a metaphor for Kira and Matt's own lives, how the cards were stacked against them, yet they flourished. Taken further, it could be a metaphor for all of humankind; though the world had faced destruction, and shocking societies had grown out of ruin, the humanity of people like Jonas and Kira could lead people towards a better existence.
Matt was my favorite character. So capable and open, with such an infectious spirit! I would love to read more about him.
This book ends on a hopeful note, but as with The Giver, I put the book down wishing for a sequel. I can imagine Kira leading Thomas, Jo, and Matt in slowly introducing more compassion and equity into their society, but how? How will they handle the Council of Guardians, and Jamison in particular? Does the other community really become known to the village, and how do the villagers react to the news? What happens when everybody finally learns that there are no beasts?
As far as I could tell, there was nothing in this book that made it clear it existed in the same universe as The Giver; we only know the two stories are related because this book is marketed as a companion book. Just one line gives a hint at a possible connection, when Matt tells Kira that there is a boy her age in the other community who has very blue eyes. From The Giver, we know that Jonas and Gabriel had "pale eyes", which could indeed mean they had blue eyes. It's a very thin connection, but it's intriguing to wonder if the boy might be Jonas in a contemporary timeline, or Gabriel many years later.
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
The Giver (The Giver #1) by Lois Lowry
★★★
*** Warning: This review contains spoilers!! ***
I really enjoyed the writing in this book. It was straightforward and descriptive, and I think its matter-of-fact simplicity evoked a sense of calm and order, reflective of the community in the story.
I can imagine this book making a big impression on young readers, showing them the value of having choice, and how our individuality brings richness to our lives. Readers of all ages may be touched by the reminder that even if sometimes life is inconvenient, painful, or sad, it is the same range of emotions and experiences that allows us to feel joy, love, and excitement.
I was a bit thrown, however, by the uncertainty of the genre. I went into the book believing it was a kind of realistic utopian fiction, maybe futuristic or post-apocalyptic, but within the realm of possibility for humans on Earth. The totalitarian world of Sameness was intriguing; both benefits and disadvantages were clear, though its inhumanity was exposed when Jonas was introduced to the pill, even before we found out what a "release" really meant.
Then I got to the part about the Giver transmitting ideas to the Receiver telepathically. Suddenly, I had to recalibrate my understanding of this world as one in which some people had a supernatural ability. And the fact that people couldn't see color, how could that be explained? "Memories" had odd, unexpected qualities; they could only be held by one person at a time, and they never disappeared, but needed to be held specifically by someone in the community. As these sci-fi / fantasy components emerged, the book became less of a kind of warning for us humans, and more like an interesting story of some other species, perhaps one that might be encountered on Star Trek: The Next Generation. (Incidentally, some of these details held together better in the movie version, which I watched after finishing the book. In the movie, all citizens were given an injection since birth - this could explain the color blindness - and there was advanced technology that contained memories within the community at the Boundary of Memory.)
I can see the poetry in the final scene (which Lois Lowry called "intentionally ambiguous" (p. x) in the Introduction of the edition I read), but I am personally not a fan of vague endings open to interpretation. I like closure, and I like knowing what the creator of the story intended for their characters. Though I much prefer happy endings, I admit that if I am forced to choose, I might have to say that I think Jonas and Gabriel died in the snow. (I was actually quite pleased when the movie delivered the more uplifting option of the happy ending.)
Finally, the book left me with some lingering questions. First, I understand that the Giver plays a vital role in the story, but Jonas is clearly the protagonist. Why not name the book after the Receiver? Maybe because Jonas became a Giver when he transmitted memories to Gabriel? Or, as my husband suggested, because Jonas, at the end of the book, was the Giver for the entire community?
Second, what happens to the community when they receive all of Jonas's memories? How do they manage, and how is their society changed? Will the original Giver be able to effect change, or will the Committee of Elders squash the potential as they did when Rosemary was released? I wish these questions could be answered in a sequel.
*** Warning: This review contains spoilers!! ***
I really enjoyed the writing in this book. It was straightforward and descriptive, and I think its matter-of-fact simplicity evoked a sense of calm and order, reflective of the community in the story.
I can imagine this book making a big impression on young readers, showing them the value of having choice, and how our individuality brings richness to our lives. Readers of all ages may be touched by the reminder that even if sometimes life is inconvenient, painful, or sad, it is the same range of emotions and experiences that allows us to feel joy, love, and excitement.
I was a bit thrown, however, by the uncertainty of the genre. I went into the book believing it was a kind of realistic utopian fiction, maybe futuristic or post-apocalyptic, but within the realm of possibility for humans on Earth. The totalitarian world of Sameness was intriguing; both benefits and disadvantages were clear, though its inhumanity was exposed when Jonas was introduced to the pill, even before we found out what a "release" really meant.
Then I got to the part about the Giver transmitting ideas to the Receiver telepathically. Suddenly, I had to recalibrate my understanding of this world as one in which some people had a supernatural ability. And the fact that people couldn't see color, how could that be explained? "Memories" had odd, unexpected qualities; they could only be held by one person at a time, and they never disappeared, but needed to be held specifically by someone in the community. As these sci-fi / fantasy components emerged, the book became less of a kind of warning for us humans, and more like an interesting story of some other species, perhaps one that might be encountered on Star Trek: The Next Generation. (Incidentally, some of these details held together better in the movie version, which I watched after finishing the book. In the movie, all citizens were given an injection since birth - this could explain the color blindness - and there was advanced technology that contained memories within the community at the Boundary of Memory.)
I can see the poetry in the final scene (which Lois Lowry called "intentionally ambiguous" (p. x) in the Introduction of the edition I read), but I am personally not a fan of vague endings open to interpretation. I like closure, and I like knowing what the creator of the story intended for their characters. Though I much prefer happy endings, I admit that if I am forced to choose, I might have to say that I think Jonas and Gabriel died in the snow. (I was actually quite pleased when the movie delivered the more uplifting option of the happy ending.)
Finally, the book left me with some lingering questions. First, I understand that the Giver plays a vital role in the story, but Jonas is clearly the protagonist. Why not name the book after the Receiver? Maybe because Jonas became a Giver when he transmitted memories to Gabriel? Or, as my husband suggested, because Jonas, at the end of the book, was the Giver for the entire community?
Second, what happens to the community when they receive all of Jonas's memories? How do they manage, and how is their society changed? Will the original Giver be able to effect change, or will the Committee of Elders squash the potential as they did when Rosemary was released? I wish these questions could be answered in a sequel.
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Logans Roundup
Realistic fiction about three generations of a Southern black family spanning the years from just after the Civil War to the Great Depression.
- The Land (#1) ★★★★★
- The Well (#2) ★★★★★
- Song of the Trees (#3) ★★★
- Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (#4) ★★★★★
The Well (Logans #2) by Mildred D. Taylor
★★★★★
Like Song of the Trees, The Well is essentially a short story.
The book is written from the perspective of a grown-up David telling a story from his childhood. It's easy to imagine the words spoken aloud, as part of a family's oral tradition.
This is the 4th book of the series that I've read. Having already gotten to know the main characters from other books, I went into this one feeling fully invested in the Logan family. Being able to follow the arcs of character development was certainly a factor in why I was so captivated by the book. I was moved by the poignancy of an elder Ma Rachel, still so affected by the importance of her name, and I was saddened to see Paul-Edward talk of his brother, his childhood playmate, as "that white boy" (p. 73-74).
A lot of big themes were packed into this short story. There was Hammer's strong sense of pride and justice, despite the injustice of the laws and reality of the time; David's dedication to family and peace in his quiet willingness to take a completely unjustified beating; Caroline's keen understanding of people and events, coupled with smart thinking and quick action, in her efforts to help ensure as good an outcome as possible with the sheriff; and Paul-Edward's thoughtful and sensitive treatment of Joe McCalister.
The shocking unfairness depicted in this story is as heartbreaking as it is infuriating. Everyone should read this series to better understand a part of American history that isn't always taught in schools, but should be.
Parents should know that dialog is appropriate to the time period, and the n-word is used quite a bit.
Like Song of the Trees, The Well is essentially a short story.
The book is written from the perspective of a grown-up David telling a story from his childhood. It's easy to imagine the words spoken aloud, as part of a family's oral tradition.
This is the 4th book of the series that I've read. Having already gotten to know the main characters from other books, I went into this one feeling fully invested in the Logan family. Being able to follow the arcs of character development was certainly a factor in why I was so captivated by the book. I was moved by the poignancy of an elder Ma Rachel, still so affected by the importance of her name, and I was saddened to see Paul-Edward talk of his brother, his childhood playmate, as "that white boy" (p. 73-74).
A lot of big themes were packed into this short story. There was Hammer's strong sense of pride and justice, despite the injustice of the laws and reality of the time; David's dedication to family and peace in his quiet willingness to take a completely unjustified beating; Caroline's keen understanding of people and events, coupled with smart thinking and quick action, in her efforts to help ensure as good an outcome as possible with the sheriff; and Paul-Edward's thoughtful and sensitive treatment of Joe McCalister.
The shocking unfairness depicted in this story is as heartbreaking as it is infuriating. Everyone should read this series to better understand a part of American history that isn't always taught in schools, but should be.
Parents should know that dialog is appropriate to the time period, and the n-word is used quite a bit.
Sunday, February 2, 2020
Nightfall (Keeper of the Lost Cities #6) by Shannon Messenger
★★★
*** Warning: This review contains spoilers!! ***
There's a lot of explaining in this book. The first several chapters are basically a giant recap to the whole series, which was fine with me because at this point, all the details are getting muddled in my head.
Nightfall very satisfyingly brings in Sophie's human family. I appreciated this new development quite a bit, since I always thought it was a glaring omission of convenience for the Harry Potter series to not integrate Hermione's muggle life into the magical world.
There were a lot of exciting developments, a couple new characters, and Sophie's enhancing ability turned out to be more interesting than I expected.
Still, the unfolding story was as convoluted as ever, with Sophie and others making tenuous connections to move the story forward. The plot seemed to be driven more by explanation than by actual events.
Until now, I had brushed off the love square as an intermittent distraction. But potential relationships were more front and center in this installment, and I just found it to be an annoyance. Probably most readers enjoy the tension, and the choosing of sides for perfect pairings, but I'm just not a fan of superfluous romance that doesn't actually move the story along.
I also found myself disappointed at the lack of storytelling detail. For example, in the sparring match between Keefe and Dimitar, I didn't get any sense of how Keefe, a teenage boy with no training in defense or weapons or fighting, was able to best the highly trained warrior king with only his levitation skill. An actual play-by-play of how he made his strikes would have been nice. Also, more than once, it was a big mystery how Lady Gisela was able to get past Sandor's goblin guard. Apparently, Keefe's ogre bodyguard Ro was able to figure it out "within about three seconds" (p. 559), but we readers were still left in the dark.
*** Warning: This review contains spoilers!! ***
There's a lot of explaining in this book. The first several chapters are basically a giant recap to the whole series, which was fine with me because at this point, all the details are getting muddled in my head.
Nightfall very satisfyingly brings in Sophie's human family. I appreciated this new development quite a bit, since I always thought it was a glaring omission of convenience for the Harry Potter series to not integrate Hermione's muggle life into the magical world.
There were a lot of exciting developments, a couple new characters, and Sophie's enhancing ability turned out to be more interesting than I expected.
Still, the unfolding story was as convoluted as ever, with Sophie and others making tenuous connections to move the story forward. The plot seemed to be driven more by explanation than by actual events.
Until now, I had brushed off the love square as an intermittent distraction. But potential relationships were more front and center in this installment, and I just found it to be an annoyance. Probably most readers enjoy the tension, and the choosing of sides for perfect pairings, but I'm just not a fan of superfluous romance that doesn't actually move the story along.
I also found myself disappointed at the lack of storytelling detail. For example, in the sparring match between Keefe and Dimitar, I didn't get any sense of how Keefe, a teenage boy with no training in defense or weapons or fighting, was able to best the highly trained warrior king with only his levitation skill. An actual play-by-play of how he made his strikes would have been nice. Also, more than once, it was a big mystery how Lady Gisela was able to get past Sandor's goblin guard. Apparently, Keefe's ogre bodyguard Ro was able to figure it out "within about three seconds" (p. 559), but we readers were still left in the dark.
Saturday, January 11, 2020
Lodestar (Keeper of the Lost Cities #5) by Shannon Messenger
★★★★
Events in this book weren't as tight and held together as in the last book, but there were a lot of very interesting developments! The Lodestar itself was a good central theme, and readers can think themselves clever if they figure out the connection to the modified registry files before it's revealed in the book. As usual, a lot of surprises occur at the very end, setting the stage for the next installment.
Incidentally, I'm getting a bit irritated at how frequently everyone says, "That makes sense." It's not confined to one person's manner of speaking, and it seems equally used among multiple characters, old and young. It just seems like a clunky way to ensure that whatever explanation or conjecture is put forward will be accepted, no matter how unlikely or how little evidence there really is to point in that direction. When used as a simple phrase of acknowledgement, I just think a little variety would be welcome, e.g., "Okay," "I get it," "I understand," etc.
Events in this book weren't as tight and held together as in the last book, but there were a lot of very interesting developments! The Lodestar itself was a good central theme, and readers can think themselves clever if they figure out the connection to the modified registry files before it's revealed in the book. As usual, a lot of surprises occur at the very end, setting the stage for the next installment.
Incidentally, I'm getting a bit irritated at how frequently everyone says, "That makes sense." It's not confined to one person's manner of speaking, and it seems equally used among multiple characters, old and young. It just seems like a clunky way to ensure that whatever explanation or conjecture is put forward will be accepted, no matter how unlikely or how little evidence there really is to point in that direction. When used as a simple phrase of acknowledgement, I just think a little variety would be welcome, e.g., "Okay," "I get it," "I understand," etc.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Neverseen (Keeper of the Lost Cities #4) by Shannon Messenger
★★★★½
*** Warning: This review contains spoilers!! ***
I really enjoyed this installment! Sophie and the gang are now working with the Black Swan, so it's a pretty satisfying beginning. The first half of the book focused on Prentice, then the spotlight turned to Exillium, but there was a flow to the events, and there was a clear story arc involving the gnomes that tied it all together for the conclusion. There were lots of surprising revelations, plus a couple major events at the very end, one very poignant, the other a twist to set up the next book.
Ultimately, my rating is short of 5 stars because of some developments that seemed just too easy, or too simplistic. For example, Exillium's harsh practices were long-standing, yet Sophie was able to effect a full 180-degree change simply by telling two Councillors the truth? Did the Councillors really not know? Was there literally no oversight at Exillium?! Also, the whole idea that the Black Swan, and Della, would let 7 kids walk into Ravagog with only Alvar as a guide was a bit much, too. The Black Swan went out of their way to be secretive, but suddenly they needed Alvar's ogre knowledge, and they brought him on board, welcomed him to their hideout, assigned him a very important task without asking him to swear fealty first, and completely disregarded how Alvar used to argue with Alden against the Black Swan! Tam and Linh were equally unvetted, but at least they had nothing to lose, and good reason to help the gnomes.
*** Warning: This review contains spoilers!! ***
I really enjoyed this installment! Sophie and the gang are now working with the Black Swan, so it's a pretty satisfying beginning. The first half of the book focused on Prentice, then the spotlight turned to Exillium, but there was a flow to the events, and there was a clear story arc involving the gnomes that tied it all together for the conclusion. There were lots of surprising revelations, plus a couple major events at the very end, one very poignant, the other a twist to set up the next book.
Ultimately, my rating is short of 5 stars because of some developments that seemed just too easy, or too simplistic. For example, Exillium's harsh practices were long-standing, yet Sophie was able to effect a full 180-degree change simply by telling two Councillors the truth? Did the Councillors really not know? Was there literally no oversight at Exillium?! Also, the whole idea that the Black Swan, and Della, would let 7 kids walk into Ravagog with only Alvar as a guide was a bit much, too. The Black Swan went out of their way to be secretive, but suddenly they needed Alvar's ogre knowledge, and they brought him on board, welcomed him to their hideout, assigned him a very important task without asking him to swear fealty first, and completely disregarded how Alvar used to argue with Alden against the Black Swan! Tam and Linh were equally unvetted, but at least they had nothing to lose, and good reason to help the gnomes.
Saturday, November 9, 2019
The Land (Logans #1) by Mildred D. Taylor
★★★★★
A worthy prequel to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, The Land is an equally important and just as engrossing must-read book.
Taking place soon after the Civil War, The Land presents the reality of post-Civil War racism and white supremacy. This book is middle grade, though it does have some mature ideas along the lines of how the main character's married white father took his black mother to be "his colored woman".
Mildred D. Taylor has an unparalled talent for both storytelling and character creation. Each richly-developed character offered a complex perspective to the story. There's Paul-Edward, the main character, whose black mama was owned by his white daddy before the Civil War, and who struggled greatly in his coming-of-age years to understand his own identity and his place in society. There's Hammond, George, and Robert, Paul-Edward's white half-brothers, who themselves needed to make decisions about being white while still staying loyal to family, regardless of race. There's Paul-Edward's white father, who does his best to raise and treat all his children equally while still maintaining a "respectable" place in a racist society, and also while having to teach Paul-Edward the reality of his place and position as a person of color. And there's Mitchell, the black boy whose family lives and works on Paul-Edward's father's land, who is at first resentful of Paul-Edward's half-whiteness, but then eventually comes to understand Paul-Edward. It is clear that every character in this book has their own story, and we are only seeing them as their lives intersect with Paul-Edward's.
Paul-Edward and Mitchell form a life-long bond of brotherhood, a friendship that defines trust and loyalty in the deepest meanings of those words.
Along the way, Paul-Edward deals with fair-minded white people who treat him respectfully and give us readers faith that those who lived in this time period had reason to hope for a better future. Of course, Paul-Edward also deals with his share of mean and double-crossing white supremacists. All the while, he works earnestly and tirelessly and keeps his eyes on the prize, which is the land he intends to buy, so that he may finally have something of his own.
Fans of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry may appreciate, as I did, seeing a good-hearted young Wade Jamison, who grows up to be an ally to the Logan family and the black community.
A worthy prequel to Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, The Land is an equally important and just as engrossing must-read book.
Taking place soon after the Civil War, The Land presents the reality of post-Civil War racism and white supremacy. This book is middle grade, though it does have some mature ideas along the lines of how the main character's married white father took his black mother to be "his colored woman".
Mildred D. Taylor has an unparalled talent for both storytelling and character creation. Each richly-developed character offered a complex perspective to the story. There's Paul-Edward, the main character, whose black mama was owned by his white daddy before the Civil War, and who struggled greatly in his coming-of-age years to understand his own identity and his place in society. There's Hammond, George, and Robert, Paul-Edward's white half-brothers, who themselves needed to make decisions about being white while still staying loyal to family, regardless of race. There's Paul-Edward's white father, who does his best to raise and treat all his children equally while still maintaining a "respectable" place in a racist society, and also while having to teach Paul-Edward the reality of his place and position as a person of color. And there's Mitchell, the black boy whose family lives and works on Paul-Edward's father's land, who is at first resentful of Paul-Edward's half-whiteness, but then eventually comes to understand Paul-Edward. It is clear that every character in this book has their own story, and we are only seeing them as their lives intersect with Paul-Edward's.
Paul-Edward and Mitchell form a life-long bond of brotherhood, a friendship that defines trust and loyalty in the deepest meanings of those words.
Along the way, Paul-Edward deals with fair-minded white people who treat him respectfully and give us readers faith that those who lived in this time period had reason to hope for a better future. Of course, Paul-Edward also deals with his share of mean and double-crossing white supremacists. All the while, he works earnestly and tirelessly and keeps his eyes on the prize, which is the land he intends to buy, so that he may finally have something of his own.
Fans of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry may appreciate, as I did, seeing a good-hearted young Wade Jamison, who grows up to be an ally to the Logan family and the black community.
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
Everblaze (Keeper of the Lost Cities #3) by Shannon Messenger
★★★½
*** Warning: This review contains spoilers! ***
The exciting titular event depicted in the cover illustration happens about halfway through the book. After that, I was sort of left wondering, "Okay... Now what?" Rest assured the last third of the book picks up quite a bit, with a number of satisyfing revelations!
Overall, I just didn't feel like this book was tight enough. There wasn't a defining climactic event, and the story didn't have a good flow. There was the assignment with Fitz, and then the adventure with Keefe, then one shocking plot twist, and then another. It was kind of just all over the place.
I was also bothered by a lack of character development between Sophie and her friends. Dex is the only friend who I feel has "earned" his place as "a good friend of Sophie's who wants to help her by going where she goes." Sophie and Fitz shared the trust exercises from their Telepathy classes, but that didn't feel like an authentic bond of friendship. Keefe is by far the most developed character on his own, but even though Sophie and Keefe share the Silveny bond, she never seems to warm up to him as a friend unless she's faced with his vulnerable side, which makes it seem like Keefe just likes to be around Sophie because exciting things happen when she's around. Sophie and Biana's friendship is the most baseless of all. They don't have much in common except playing base quest with Fitz and Keefe, a pretty convenient way for each girl to spend time with her crush (Fitz for Sophie, Keefe for Biana). It's like Biana just wants to join in because otherwise she'd be left out, and also she wants to be where Keefe is. I don't know if I'm being too harsh, but all I know is that when Hermione and Ron volunteered to leave school and run off with Harry to hunt horcruxes, it was pretty believable because of the strong friendship shared by all three. When Keefe, Fitz, and Biana all volunteer to run off with Sophie, I saw it as a plot device, not really genuine.
Still, the Council versus the Black Swan versus Neverseen and ogres makes for a pretty exciting set-up, and now that we know who some of the Neverseen players are, it'll be fun to see where the story goes next.
*** Warning: This review contains spoilers! ***
The exciting titular event depicted in the cover illustration happens about halfway through the book. After that, I was sort of left wondering, "Okay... Now what?" Rest assured the last third of the book picks up quite a bit, with a number of satisyfing revelations!
Overall, I just didn't feel like this book was tight enough. There wasn't a defining climactic event, and the story didn't have a good flow. There was the assignment with Fitz, and then the adventure with Keefe, then one shocking plot twist, and then another. It was kind of just all over the place.
I was also bothered by a lack of character development between Sophie and her friends. Dex is the only friend who I feel has "earned" his place as "a good friend of Sophie's who wants to help her by going where she goes." Sophie and Fitz shared the trust exercises from their Telepathy classes, but that didn't feel like an authentic bond of friendship. Keefe is by far the most developed character on his own, but even though Sophie and Keefe share the Silveny bond, she never seems to warm up to him as a friend unless she's faced with his vulnerable side, which makes it seem like Keefe just likes to be around Sophie because exciting things happen when she's around. Sophie and Biana's friendship is the most baseless of all. They don't have much in common except playing base quest with Fitz and Keefe, a pretty convenient way for each girl to spend time with her crush (Fitz for Sophie, Keefe for Biana). It's like Biana just wants to join in because otherwise she'd be left out, and also she wants to be where Keefe is. I don't know if I'm being too harsh, but all I know is that when Hermione and Ron volunteered to leave school and run off with Harry to hunt horcruxes, it was pretty believable because of the strong friendship shared by all three. When Keefe, Fitz, and Biana all volunteer to run off with Sophie, I saw it as a plot device, not really genuine.
Still, the Council versus the Black Swan versus Neverseen and ogres makes for a pretty exciting set-up, and now that we know who some of the Neverseen players are, it'll be fun to see where the story goes next.
Thursday, October 10, 2019
Exile (Keeper of the Lost Cities #2) by Shannon Messenger
★★★
I still like the series, but I felt this book was lacking. I was a bit bored at the start, feeling like the story didn't pick up until chapter 8. I was annoyed at all the explicit recapping, but my daughter said if I had to wait a year in between reading books, I'd have appreciated it. The adults in this series seem to have a bigger role than I realized, because we didn't get to see any peers for Sophie until Dex appeared in chapter 15.
Similarities to Harry Potter continue, e.g., the mesmer talent is analogous to the imperius curse, and inflicting is like the cruciatus curse. Also, Silveny the flying horse-like alicorn was reminiscent of Buckbeak the flying half-horse hippogriff. But just as my son assured me, by the end of this book, the series veered quite a bit away from the wizarding world of Harry Potter.
I was surprised at how dark and disturbing some of the scenes were, e.g., people consumed to death by flames, minds shattered to the point of insanity. I liked the encouraging message about not letting yourself get destroyed by guilt. And I thought it was weird how quickly elves turned to sedatives to calm down, instead of just trying to calm down naturally.
Overall, the whole arc of the story just seemed kind of convoluted. The link between Sophie wanting to save Alden and her figuring some doodles in an old diary would be the answer seemed awfully tenuous. And sure, all the clues left by the Black Swan were intriguing and helped to build suspense, but why all the riddles? If they were able to contact Sophie directly via private messages in her locker, why not just give her clear instructions?
Finally, I had to dock the rating a star because I really disliked the way the author reframed J.R.R. Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings was a seminal work of fantasy and literature, yet in Shannon Messenger's elven world, Tolkien was unoriginal and didn't understand his own writing. Maybe she was trying to pay homage to Tolkien's elves, but the execution was lacking and, at least to me, it felt derisive.
I still like the series, but I felt this book was lacking. I was a bit bored at the start, feeling like the story didn't pick up until chapter 8. I was annoyed at all the explicit recapping, but my daughter said if I had to wait a year in between reading books, I'd have appreciated it. The adults in this series seem to have a bigger role than I realized, because we didn't get to see any peers for Sophie until Dex appeared in chapter 15.
Similarities to Harry Potter continue, e.g., the mesmer talent is analogous to the imperius curse, and inflicting is like the cruciatus curse. Also, Silveny the flying horse-like alicorn was reminiscent of Buckbeak the flying half-horse hippogriff. But just as my son assured me, by the end of this book, the series veered quite a bit away from the wizarding world of Harry Potter.
I was surprised at how dark and disturbing some of the scenes were, e.g., people consumed to death by flames, minds shattered to the point of insanity. I liked the encouraging message about not letting yourself get destroyed by guilt. And I thought it was weird how quickly elves turned to sedatives to calm down, instead of just trying to calm down naturally.
Overall, the whole arc of the story just seemed kind of convoluted. The link between Sophie wanting to save Alden and her figuring some doodles in an old diary would be the answer seemed awfully tenuous. And sure, all the clues left by the Black Swan were intriguing and helped to build suspense, but why all the riddles? If they were able to contact Sophie directly via private messages in her locker, why not just give her clear instructions?
Finally, I had to dock the rating a star because I really disliked the way the author reframed J.R.R. Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings was a seminal work of fantasy and literature, yet in Shannon Messenger's elven world, Tolkien was unoriginal and didn't understand his own writing. Maybe she was trying to pay homage to Tolkien's elves, but the execution was lacking and, at least to me, it felt derisive.
Monday, September 30, 2019
Keeper of the Lost Cities (Keeper of the Lost Cities #1) by Shannon Messenger
★★★★½
Super derivative and frequently reminded me of Harry Potter. Sophie, like Harry, was a pre-teen who had only ever known a human existence when suddenly she finds out she is something else. They were both whisked away to a special school in a secret world hidden from humans. They feel inadequate for not understanding the ways of "their people", yet they are both uniquely more advanced than their peers in special ways. Light leaping is analogous to apparating and disapparating, and Keefe's dad reminded me a lot of Lucius Malfoy.
All that said, even if this work is derivative, my son says it gets more original in future books, and my daughter points out that at least it's well-executed. I'll have to keep reading to see if I agree with my son, but I can say I do agree with my daughter. Characters are engaging, the plot is intriguing. What exactly is the big secret of Sophie's existence?! Sophie's crush is a little eye-rolling, but it's all age-appropriate. I also really like that Sophie seems to have a good head on her shoulders. Most of the time, she properly turns to adults in times of crisis, and when she doesn't, the repurcusions are swift.
I'm giving the book short of 5 stars because it kind of irks me the way Marella and Jensi were just dropped. They were the first to reach out to Sophie in school, not knowing anything about her, and I think they deserved more consideration than they got! At one point, Sophie has a falling out with some people and laments that she "had no friends". But what about Marella and Jensi!? Apparently they are chopped liver.
Super derivative and frequently reminded me of Harry Potter. Sophie, like Harry, was a pre-teen who had only ever known a human existence when suddenly she finds out she is something else. They were both whisked away to a special school in a secret world hidden from humans. They feel inadequate for not understanding the ways of "their people", yet they are both uniquely more advanced than their peers in special ways. Light leaping is analogous to apparating and disapparating, and Keefe's dad reminded me a lot of Lucius Malfoy.
All that said, even if this work is derivative, my son says it gets more original in future books, and my daughter points out that at least it's well-executed. I'll have to keep reading to see if I agree with my son, but I can say I do agree with my daughter. Characters are engaging, the plot is intriguing. What exactly is the big secret of Sophie's existence?! Sophie's crush is a little eye-rolling, but it's all age-appropriate. I also really like that Sophie seems to have a good head on her shoulders. Most of the time, she properly turns to adults in times of crisis, and when she doesn't, the repurcusions are swift.
I'm giving the book short of 5 stars because it kind of irks me the way Marella and Jensi were just dropped. They were the first to reach out to Sophie in school, not knowing anything about her, and I think they deserved more consideration than they got! At one point, Sophie has a falling out with some people and laments that she "had no friends". But what about Marella and Jensi!? Apparently they are chopped liver.
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
Track Roundup
Realistic fiction about black middle schoolers on an elite inner city track team. Each book focuses on a different character, and every character is dealing with their own unique issues.
Lu (Track #4) by Jason Reynolds
★★★★★
Lu is a perfect conclusion to this series!
This book falls squarely in the "middle grade" range, as the drug addiction of tertiary characters play a central role in character and plot development. It's made clear that drug addiction is an illness that requires treatment, and that addiction causes pain and suffering not only to the person, but to their friends and family as well.
As an albino, Lu has experienced his fair share of bullying. Young readers who are teased for being different in some way can hopefully find a connection with Lu, who learns to view bullying in a new perspective that helps build his maturity and confidence.
Like Sunny, Lu cries. And other characters cry, too. Tears might not be flowing freely, but tears are wiped away, people sniffle. I think it's just so important for young readers, especially boys, to see that crying is a natural form of emotional expression, and it's not a sign of weakness.
I love the way this book handles bullies. One of my biggest pet peeves in children's books is when a bully is one-dimensional. Sure, the protagonist needs an antagonist, but more often than not, the bully is simply a thoroughly mean person used to drive the story. Realistically though, I'm guessing that not all bullies are sociopaths, maybe they are just regular people who have a whole lot going on in their own lives that they don't know how to process, and so they act out in an effort to have some semblance of control and power. Anyway, that's what we see in this book, and it's a powerful depiction of relationships and responsibilities and integrity.
As the finale of the series, the book does a great job tying in Ghost, Sunny, and Patty, so you can feel there is a kind of closure to all their stories.
Lu is a perfect conclusion to this series!
This book falls squarely in the "middle grade" range, as the drug addiction of tertiary characters play a central role in character and plot development. It's made clear that drug addiction is an illness that requires treatment, and that addiction causes pain and suffering not only to the person, but to their friends and family as well.
As an albino, Lu has experienced his fair share of bullying. Young readers who are teased for being different in some way can hopefully find a connection with Lu, who learns to view bullying in a new perspective that helps build his maturity and confidence.
Like Sunny, Lu cries. And other characters cry, too. Tears might not be flowing freely, but tears are wiped away, people sniffle. I think it's just so important for young readers, especially boys, to see that crying is a natural form of emotional expression, and it's not a sign of weakness.
I love the way this book handles bullies. One of my biggest pet peeves in children's books is when a bully is one-dimensional. Sure, the protagonist needs an antagonist, but more often than not, the bully is simply a thoroughly mean person used to drive the story. Realistically though, I'm guessing that not all bullies are sociopaths, maybe they are just regular people who have a whole lot going on in their own lives that they don't know how to process, and so they act out in an effort to have some semblance of control and power. Anyway, that's what we see in this book, and it's a powerful depiction of relationships and responsibilities and integrity.
As the finale of the series, the book does a great job tying in Ghost, Sunny, and Patty, so you can feel there is a kind of closure to all their stories.
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