What it is about
In a world where love is a disease and there is a cure would you want to be cured? That is the premise of this novel. Set in an alternate United States, teenagers await their 18th birthday so that they can be cured and go on to live a disease free life. They are matched with some one who is picked for them and await a life of complaceny free of heart ache. There are no love poems, but there is also no love. Even among a parent and a child.
What I thought
Dystopia seems to be pretty popular right now and I set about reading this novel wondering if I could make it through the book (it is the first novel in a triology). I just had finished Matched and Crossed both of which are really fine works but I was getting a bit burned out on the dystopian theme.
This book is really good and now I can not wait for the second book.
The book is about resisting society, understanding what is important in this world and the heartache and beauty that love has to offer. It is exciting and has believable characters and relationships. The ending is a cliff hanger and offers the message of hope among a desperate stituation. Recommended read, quick read (1 day) and thought provoking. Let me know what you think?!
Monday, February 6, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
The Future of Us
THE FUTURE OF US by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler
What the story is about:
It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future.
By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right - and wrong - in the present. (from B&N.com)
What I thought
The premise of the story is interesting but it is far fetched. It does create a hook for modern teenagers and compels you to finish the story. The characters (both primary and secondary), however,are believable. The interactions are real and the settings are credible. The story raises some interesting questions about how we act today influences our tomorrow.
What the story is about:
It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future.
By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right - and wrong - in the present. (from B&N.com)
What I thought
The premise of the story is interesting but it is far fetched. It does create a hook for modern teenagers and compels you to finish the story. The characters (both primary and secondary), however,are believable. The interactions are real and the settings are credible. The story raises some interesting questions about how we act today influences our tomorrow.
- Would you want to know what tomorrow would hold for you?
- Would it influence how you act today?
Friday, January 13, 2012
Everything Matters
Everything Matters by Ron Currie
I selected this book because it won an Alex Award. We were originally going to read it as part of one of the Junior English classes. I purchase the book, begin reading and there is no way, as a teacher, I can have the kids read this book. Talk about potential uproar!
I still would like seniors or juniors to this book, it is amazing. Currie writes like Irving, the story is so interwoven that it seduces the reader and then slams them back to reality. The characters are richly drawn that you are sucked in to their emotions and worlds. I highly recommed this work.
I selected this book because it won an Alex Award. We were originally going to read it as part of one of the Junior English classes. I purchase the book, begin reading and there is no way, as a teacher, I can have the kids read this book. Talk about potential uproar!
I still would like seniors or juniors to this book, it is amazing. Currie writes like Irving, the story is so interwoven that it seduces the reader and then slams them back to reality. The characters are richly drawn that you are sucked in to their emotions and worlds. I highly recommed this work.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Tilt
Tilt by Alan Cumyn (Groundwood Books, 2011) is a book that cannot be put down. Stan is 16 years old and has a sister Lily who is some kind of child prodigy. His father had left the family for a younger women who in turn left the father. His father arrives with Fenton, Stan's half brother in tow and the drama gets notched up a level or two. The children are all very likeable characters but I wish you could say the same thing about the parents. Stan steals the day and the reader's heart as he struggles with being 16 in a very dysfunctional family.
The parents are self absorbed and are in dire need of some parenting and while his life may seem a bit absurd there are kids who deal with crazy family situations and that is what is so believable about this story. I found I just wanted to scream at the mother and tell Stan that I know it will all work out for him in due time. By the way, I forgot to mention Janine, Stan's sort of girlfriend.
Despite hating the parent characters I really liked this book and think it has definite appeal to teenagers.Read it an you will see what I am talking about.
The parents are self absorbed and are in dire need of some parenting and while his life may seem a bit absurd there are kids who deal with crazy family situations and that is what is so believable about this story. I found I just wanted to scream at the mother and tell Stan that I know it will all work out for him in due time. By the way, I forgot to mention Janine, Stan's sort of girlfriend.
Despite hating the parent characters I really liked this book and think it has definite appeal to teenagers.Read it an you will see what I am talking about.
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