4 posts tagged “award-winning”
Speak
By Laurie Halse Anderson
Douglas & McIntyre / Fsg Kids (1999), Hardcover, 198 pages
So, this book is about Melinda, who was raped the August before her Grade Nine year. She called the cops after it happened, which resulted in the party being broken up, which has resulted in everybody in school hating her.
The title comes from the fact that she has more or less stopped talking after this event happened. The arc of the book is really her metamorphosis back to life, and how she is able to heal from this incident. I enjoyed how her art class is helpful in allowing her to explore her emotions and ultimately learn to reveal them.
There is also a very nice metaphor with her struggles to draw a perfect tree - she comes to realize that it is not perfect, that the imperfections are what make the trees real, and how small plants can survive underneath a bed of dead branches.
What I really liked about this one was how her former friends gradually return to her - not with big declarations of apologies, but kind of sheepishly and naturally, as it would happen in real life. And I was so glad when she finally stood up to her vain friend Heather.
Oh, and this book is totally funny! Which I had not expected. Melinda is so dry and sarcastic in her descriptions of high school life, and you can see how even through this terrible time, she has not lost her sense of humour. All of the details of high school life, especially the deranged teachers and their idiotic assignments, are spot-on.
Bottom line: Totally excellent book! Very recommended, especially for teen girls ages 13-16.
By Laurie Halse Anderson
Douglas & McIntyre / Fsg Kids (1999), Hardcover, 198 pages
So, this book is about Melinda, who was raped the August before her Grade Nine year. She called the cops after it happened, which resulted in the party being broken up, which has resulted in everybody in school hating her.
The title comes from the fact that she has more or less stopped talking after this event happened. The arc of the book is really her metamorphosis back to life, and how she is able to heal from this incident. I enjoyed how her art class is helpful in allowing her to explore her emotions and ultimately learn to reveal them.
There is also a very nice metaphor with her struggles to draw a perfect tree - she comes to realize that it is not perfect, that the imperfections are what make the trees real, and how small plants can survive underneath a bed of dead branches.
What I really liked about this one was how her former friends gradually return to her - not with big declarations of apologies, but kind of sheepishly and naturally, as it would happen in real life. And I was so glad when she finally stood up to her vain friend Heather.
Oh, and this book is totally funny! Which I had not expected. Melinda is so dry and sarcastic in her descriptions of high school life, and you can see how even through this terrible time, she has not lost her sense of humour. All of the details of high school life, especially the deranged teachers and their idiotic assignments, are spot-on.
Bottom line: Totally excellent book! Very recommended, especially for teen girls ages 13-16.
Hole in my life
By Jack Gantos
Douglas & McIntyre / Fsg Adult (2002), Hardcover, 208 pages
I finished reading this book, Hole in my life, by Jack Ganton. It is actually his autobiography (he is a children's book writer) and talks about how he wound up going to jail for drug smuggling when he was 19, and what it was like in jail, and how he got out, basically.
It is such an interesting story, I almost can't believe it is actually what happened to him.
Anyway, it is both funny and creepy and strange and sad, but mostly told very humourously, and I would deffo recommend this one.
Bottom line: This book is super-awesome and is whole-heartedly recommended to teens ages 12-18 and also for adults. Such a good book! Can't believe it all really happened!
By Jack Gantos
Douglas & McIntyre / Fsg Adult (2002), Hardcover, 208 pages
I finished reading this book, Hole in my life, by Jack Ganton. It is actually his autobiography (he is a children's book writer) and talks about how he wound up going to jail for drug smuggling when he was 19, and what it was like in jail, and how he got out, basically.
It is such an interesting story, I almost can't believe it is actually what happened to him.
Anyway, it is both funny and creepy and strange and sad, but mostly told very humourously, and I would deffo recommend this one.
Bottom line: This book is super-awesome and is whole-heartedly recommended to teens ages 12-18 and also for adults. Such a good book! Can't believe it all really happened!
Marvel 1602
By Neil Gaiman
Marvel Comics (2005), Paperback, 248 pages
So, I just started reading this v. cool graphic novel by Neil Gaiman, Marvel 1602. Its premise is - what if all of the Marvel superheroes (i.e. The Fantastic Four, the X-Men, Daredevil, Spiderman, some others I have not heard of) existed in Elizabethan-era England, and not modern-day? It is quite interesting. The X-Men are looked down upon as "witchbreed" and after Queen Elizabeth I is assassinated, the new king wants to put the kibosh on all "witchbreed."
I am about 1/3 of the way through right now. The main characters are Nick Fury and Stephen Strange, neither of whom I had heard of before, but who both seem very cool. Especially Nick Fury, who is like this spymaster guy. He and Strange, who is a magician, both fit in really neatly into the Elizabethan-era world.
Anyway, so I think I would probably appreciate this more if I knew more about superheroes, so I could be like - oh, that's that guy - instead of like, well, here is a character who runs very fast. He is probably a version of some superhero I do not know. Anyway, it is v. cool and apparently there is at least one sequel, so I am psyched for that.
Bottom line: This book is so great! I think that die-hard comic book fans would really like this, but someone like me (who saw the first X-Men movie, and the Spiderman movie, and that is all I know about Marvel superheroes) would like it too! I'd say ages 14 and up, although younger kids who are really into Marvel comics would like it too. Fusing the superhero mythology with the Elizabethan time period is so clever!
By Neil Gaiman
Marvel Comics (2005), Paperback, 248 pages
So, I just started reading this v. cool graphic novel by Neil Gaiman, Marvel 1602. Its premise is - what if all of the Marvel superheroes (i.e. The Fantastic Four, the X-Men, Daredevil, Spiderman, some others I have not heard of) existed in Elizabethan-era England, and not modern-day? It is quite interesting. The X-Men are looked down upon as "witchbreed" and after Queen Elizabeth I is assassinated, the new king wants to put the kibosh on all "witchbreed."
I am about 1/3 of the way through right now. The main characters are Nick Fury and Stephen Strange, neither of whom I had heard of before, but who both seem very cool. Especially Nick Fury, who is like this spymaster guy. He and Strange, who is a magician, both fit in really neatly into the Elizabethan-era world.
Anyway, so I think I would probably appreciate this more if I knew more about superheroes, so I could be like - oh, that's that guy - instead of like, well, here is a character who runs very fast. He is probably a version of some superhero I do not know. Anyway, it is v. cool and apparently there is at least one sequel, so I am psyched for that.
Bottom line: This book is so great! I think that die-hard comic book fans would really like this, but someone like me (who saw the first X-Men movie, and the Spiderman movie, and that is all I know about Marvel superheroes) would like it too! I'd say ages 14 and up, although younger kids who are really into Marvel comics would like it too. Fusing the superhero mythology with the Elizabethan time period is so clever!
I am the messenger
By Marcus Zusak
Knopf Books for Young Readers (2006), 368 pages
This book is the Best. Book. Ever. No, it really is. So, so good. And Australian. And I bought it at this great kid's bookstore in T.O. It is about this 19 year old cabdriver who doesn't know what he is doing with his life, and then he accidentally stops a bank robbery and then suddenly starts getting these cards in the mail, with addresses on them, and those are all people he has to help.
It is not sappy, though, it is really funny, and also touching, and sweet.
And if you read it, please talk to me about it because I want to know what you think about the ending. Endings are tricky, y'all, and I guess this ended the only way it could. But a good ending is rare. And this is an OK ending. Not a crap ending, but just OK.
Bottom line: This is one of the best books I have ever read. The ending falls sort of flat, but the rest of the book more than makes up for that. Recommended for ages 15 and up (it is practically an adult book, really). Younger kids might like it if they are very strong readers.
By Marcus Zusak
Knopf Books for Young Readers (2006), 368 pages
This book is the Best. Book. Ever. No, it really is. So, so good. And Australian. And I bought it at this great kid's bookstore in T.O. It is about this 19 year old cabdriver who doesn't know what he is doing with his life, and then he accidentally stops a bank robbery and then suddenly starts getting these cards in the mail, with addresses on them, and those are all people he has to help.
It is not sappy, though, it is really funny, and also touching, and sweet.
And if you read it, please talk to me about it because I want to know what you think about the ending. Endings are tricky, y'all, and I guess this ended the only way it could. But a good ending is rare. And this is an OK ending. Not a crap ending, but just OK.
Bottom line: This is one of the best books I have ever read. The ending falls sort of flat, but the rest of the book more than makes up for that. Recommended for ages 15 and up (it is practically an adult book, really). Younger kids might like it if they are very strong readers.
