This book is my worst nightmare. I am not joking. Feed take a look into the future of America, when we can vacation on the moon and have flying cars. But that isn't what scares me. What scares me is that in M.T. Anderson's version of America's future, 70% of the population has a chip in their brain that connects them directly to the internet. At all times people are watching tv, reading gossip blogs, and ignoring real information. As the main character points out, who really needs to know how many troops George Washington brought into battle in the Civil War (if you don't see the problem with that sentiment, stay in school, kids). Due to the fact that they have access to all kinds of information right behind their eyes, school now consists of how to decorate your room and how to find the best deals when shopping on line. As a teacher, of course I feel this is horrible, but what is worse, when the kids loose the feed, they don't even know how to keep themselves entertained. Even worse, the country is being attacked, and 70% of the population is oblivious because the feed distracts them from the realities of the world. This is horrifying! I hate to think that this might be my son's world. Please don't let it be!
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This book is intense. In fact, I don't think intense really covers it, as that is a word we throw around a lot, and in its overuse, we lesson the point. So maybe powerful? Profound?
Why do I take the time to argue over the word? Because Jay Asher points out in this novel what happens when we don't take the time to consider things; for instance, when we don't consider how what we say or do might affect another person. Or when we don't consider how not saying or doing anything might affect another person. More than just a book about bullying, Thirteen Reasons Why just tells the story of the interactions between a somewhat popular girl and her peers. Because of the actions of others and her own inability to deal, this somewhat popular girl commits suicide; before doing so, though, she records a message to all of the people that intentionally or unintentionally lead her to her decision. So why does the word I pick to describe this book matter? Maybe it doesn't. But I think it is a lesson in being intentional and about paying attention, to everything and everyone. Thirteen Reasons Why is certainly an eye opener for us all, but only read it if you can handle it seriously. Suicide, even a fictitious one as in this case it happens in a book, is no laughing matter. We have it in our school's library if you are interested, though, and feel free to come talk to me about it. I did actually stick with the Maze Runner series. I admit, I had to know what happened: who were the "good guys" and if they were going to be successful. I feel that James Dashner developed his main character, Thomas, so well that when the book ended, I felt like I understood his thoughts and rationalized the way he did (well, rationalized the plot, not my life). I still haven't seen the movie to The Maze Runner, but I recognized the actor that plays Thomas from Teen Wolf and couldn't help but picture him in my reading; that is what good casting can do. It cannot always be said at the end of the series that a reader doesn't feel robbed; that an author didn't rush just to end, or that an author didn't put too much fluff in just to add another book into the series for more financial gain. Dashner ended just when he needed to, I think, and left his readers satisfied with the ending. I don't want to say much, as that would give away events from the other two books, but I will say you should read it. A few weeks ago I mentioned the prequel series to this book, and while I only read the first book of that set (that was the only book we had in our library), I didn't see the harm in jumping in to the actual series. I was correct in my assumption, as it was easy to get right into the book. Cassandra Clare did a good job in creating characters you actually like. The past few books I have read, I haven't cared about the well being of any of the characters, but in this book, there were a few that were developed enough that I wanted to know what happened to them, and I wanted it to be only good things. Even for Jace, who is pretty obnoxious, I was concerned. Clare tells an interesting story of the things that go bump in the night. Warlocks and werewolves and vampires all make an appearance, as well as a few other creatures you have probably never heard of outside of this series, but it is all okay because you trust the good guys to keep up the fight to protect the mere humans from the dangers that exist out there in the world. The main character, Clary, has just been introduced to this world that would be utterly terrifying to most of us, but she has an innate ability to adapt, understand, and become a part of it. While eventually we understand why Clary adapts so well, it is less clear why her best friend, Simon, is so quick to believe, either than his blinding love for Clary, that is. Poor Simon, though, how can he expect Clary to have time for love when she is dealing with things like the disappearance of her mother and friend, as well as a new perception of the world. Overall, an enjoyable read for everybody, and available in our school library. I began Can't Look Away by Donna Cooner with the assumption it was going to be about cyber bullying. To a small extent, it was, but looking at only the book's cover will not get you very far in this case. Don't Look Away does have to do with the internet and how you are opening yourself up to so many critiques when you put yourself on it. Torrey is our main character of the novel, but also of her own fashion vlog where she has thousands of fans and followers. She is all about her vlog and clothes and hair and make up, until her sister is killed by a drunk driver. People that have never met Torrey now have something to say about her personal life, attacking her for being shallow and cruel. Part of Torrey is dealing with her "fans", while the other part is dealing with two very difficult but important parts of everyone's life: grieving/loss and wanting to be accepted. Torrey has moved with her family to a new city to start over without her sister. She must again climb the social ladder, but as she starts to take the steps toward popularity, she notices that these people she desperately wants to be accepted by are maybe not the kind of people she wants to be. Meanwhile, her family is falling a part, and she has no one to give her guidance. Torrey handles her journey well, though. Not a book I would want to read again and again, but it was a decent read with a lot of relevant thoughts pertaining to real life, and is in our library if you want to check it out. After The Maze Runner, I wasn't sure if I felt up to continuing on in the series. Not because I didn't think that it was a good book, but because I was just trying to get away from all of these authors trying to make a ton of money by stringing readers along through multiple books. But then I found myself reading the Lunar series books, and beginning the Mortal Instruments, and I realized it was silly not to go on in The Maze Runner series. So I did. Again it was a good book, it is just crazy to think about: the world is ending due to a disease and solar problems that humanity itself helped to create. In order to save the world, these kids have to go through yet another trial- as if surviving the maze was not enough. Thomas, our main character, is a likeable guy. He figures things out quickly, is funny in a sarcastic way, and cares about doing the right thing. Given all that he is been through, that is really impressive. But as this second trial goes on, Thomas begins to remember more and more from his past, and we have to wonder how much of these trials are his own doing, and if he will ever make it out to be reconnected with the family he tried to remember. To make things worse, he has lost another best friend, not in battle this time, though; she makes the choice to betray him. Or does she? This books keeps you thinking and guessing: who can Thomas trust? Will he make it out? What does getting to the end mean? All good questions, but you have to read the third book to answer any of them! Ugh, another series; I could totally kick myself for this. Over a year ago I saw the previews for the movie version of Mortal Instruments. I thought it looked good, but nothing I was going to rush out to see, Netflix for sure. All this time later, I still haven't seen the movie, but the cover to Clockwork Angel kept catching my eye. I brought it home with me this weekend, only to take a closer look at it and see that this is Cassandra Clare's prequel to the series; not only that, but the prequel is a series in itself! There is no escaping series!!!! Any way, it was home, so I read it, and I will admit, I liked it well enough. It helped that it was set in Victorian England (one of the eras that, if I ever owned a time machine, I think I would want to visit for awhile). The story explores Tessa's transition away from being human; after being lured from NY under what seem to be false circumstances, she finds that both she and her brother have been kidnapped by people who are into witch craft, vampirism, and shape shifting. That is where Tessa comes in; turns out, she can turn into whomever she wants, and be aware of their thoughts. While most of us might think it is cool to have a "super power", Tessa has to adjust to a life of no longer being normal, no longer really being human, and all of the new information she has acquired about the concepts of good and evil. She makes a number of friends along the way, one of them a handsome angel with a big secret and a little bit of a wild side, or so he claims. Unfortunately, we don't find out what might happen between them until, I assume, the next book, which our library does not have at the moment... What does it take to be the popular kid, to be cool? I think there comes a point in your life when you just don't care any more, that you are able to say, both to yourself and out loud, this is who I am, and I am happy with that, so who cares what you think. But it isn't always like that. My mom and I were in the car last night after having gone shopping for Avery at the mall, and she mentioned how she didn't understand why I never told her when I was younger that people would make fun of you or just not associate with you depending on what you wore...what labels you wore, that is. My parents never cared about designed brands, so they never thought to buy them for me, so even though I would beg and plead for certain clothes to wear to school, it just never happened. And kids can be mean. Enter in Tyler from Laurie Halse Anderson's Twisted. Now a senior, he is just months away from escaping the battle ground that can be high school if you are not a certain kind of person, and Ty was not. He had been ignored, picked on, and bullied for the good part of his academic career, but that changed this year: you see at the end of his junior year, Tyler pulled a stupid prank that landed him with a zillion hours of community service, probation, but it also served as a reputation builder. Not only did being known as a little dangerous get him noticed by the right people, or person, so did working at a landscaping company all summer building muscle and perfecting a tan. What a great way to start senior year, right? Well, things don't really end up working out for Tyler; it seems that no matter how tone and tanned your arms are, the other side will not fully accept you. What's worse, they will make sure you and everyone else know that you do not belong. Tyler struggles to find where he fits in at school and at home in Twisted, working hard to please a father that never seemed to learn how to please himself. It takes a lot of courage for Tyler to turn off the thoughts that tell him that it all isn't worth it, that he should just run away, or worse, take his own life. A fun read about a really serious set of topics, Twisted is a realistic look at how your average guy, the loser, can truly show us what character is all about. We have it in the school's library if you are interested. Recently out in movie theaters, If I Stay by Gayle Forman tells the story of Mia, your somewhat average girl with three great passions: her musical ability, her boyfriend, and her family. I say somewhat average because there are certainly things that are not typical about her life; for instance, Mia a highly talented cellist awaiting a practically guaranteed acceptance letter from the renowned Julliard. Her boyfriend, Adam, though just our of high school, is in a band that is on the verge of getting a record deal. And her parents seem to be some of the most loving and accepting people on earth, albeit eccentric as all get out. I assumed the book would have spent a lot of time getting us invested in Mia and her life and her relationships, but the tragic car accident that takes the lives of her family happens only about thirty pages in. Now I don't know what really happens when a person is on the brink of death, but I like Forman's idea that Mia is hanging around the hospital having an out of body experience while deciding if she should stay or go. She is aware that her family has died (that was a very graphic description, so should you read the book, be prepared for that!), and she is aware of the trauma that her own body has experienced. Mia isn't looking for the easy way out, at least I don't think so. She is on the brink of starting an amazing chapter of her life as all young people are when they transition into college. So may great things still lie ahead, and so many questions would go unanswered if she didn't stay: would she have gotten into Julliard? would she be able to make a career of her music? would her relationship with Adam survive time and distance? Will she tour the world with her music and/ or his? Get married and have kids? At the same time, if she stays, Mia has to cope with the loss of her parents and brother. She has to wonder, given the trauma her body endured, will she be able to play music again? Even if physically she is able, music was a bond her family shared; will she want to continue when they are no longer there with her? Mia has a big decision to make. The previews for the movie make it seem like Adam is the driving factor in her decision making, but I don't know that, that is entirely true. I would like to think there was more to the girl than obsession with a boy, but who knows, young love and what not... It seems that I am on a WWII kick; even the mystery series I read is talking about Hitler's influence on young British minds in the 1930s. In this book, author Jane Yolen intertwines the concept of Sleeping Beauty, aka Aurora, aka Briar Rose, with the story of an extermination camp escapee. The escapee is now an old woman, and grandma whose three grandchildren are long since grown and no longer interested in the fairy tale stories that she once told. Well, two of them are no longer interested; one of them, Rebecca, is highly devoted to her grandmother, Gemma. So much so that after Gemma's death, Rebecca is determined to find out about Gemma's life before becoming a mother, since NO ONE seems to know anything about those years. Being a journalist has trained Rebecca well for her search, but the few clues that Gemma left behind offer very little to go on. Despite her family's protests, Rebecca leaves them and work behind to travel to Poland in search of Gemma's truth.
It is an interesting read as it focuses on a lesser known camp from the war, as well as a group of people fighting to help those already condemned escape. Overall, it was a good read that we have available in our library. |
Note From Ms. PIt will probably come as no surprise that I am an avid reader. I have also been spending a lot of time in the Dawn Hodges Library here at WAAS evaluating what books we can add to have students really READING. Some of you already read on your own, which is great because reading opens your mind to new ideas and possibilities you might not otherwise think of. It helps you to imagine and live in a new world for a little while, which is something we all need sometimes. Archives
February 2019
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