Book Review - Feed
Anderson, M. (2002). Feed. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.
Summary:
Titus is a young man who has grown up with a “feed”, a computer that is installed in his brain and provides constant access to commercials, shows, and whatever else he might be interested in at any given time. Most members of society have grown up with this constant electronic stimulation, which has greatly impacted language patterns as well as the core values and beliefs of society. When Titus and his friends travel to the moon for Spring Break, their feeds are hacked at a party, and they have to go without them for a short time. Titus meets Violet, a very different girl who got her fee later in life, and questions the norms of society. Violet’s feed has begun to malfunction, and she starts to knowingly make decisions to try to confuse her feed, and it’s ability to categorize her thoughts and desires. While Titus enters a romantic relationship with Violet, she never truly fits into his world, or he into hers, and their interactions take his life onto unexpected paths.
Analysis:
Feed is set in an intriguingly futuristic time period where technology has literally taken over the brain. While the ideas of taking a quick trip to the moon and flying in “up cars” may seem appealing, and closer look reveals that these drastic changes might not all be so great. While Titus and his friends seem to live an overwhelmingly positive existence, even celebrating the oozing lesions that are appearing on their skin without explanation, the contrasting character, Violet, and her rebellious acts against the norm show a very different side. Violet is home schooled, and knows what it is like to live without the feed. While Titus and his friends are more interested in partying and buying the latest and greatest things, Violet pays attention to what is happening in the world, and worries about the United States and its rocky relationships with foreign countries. While the girls that Titus hangs out with are paying to get artificial lesions in order to gain the attention of a male interest, Violet fears for her children and what society will look like as they grow up. The author sets the scene with great detail of what appears to be a very cool place to live, but as most of the characters appear to blindly travel through life with little care for society or the future the reader realizes that maybe technological advances and material things aren’t really what is important in life. I listened to the unabridged audio copy of this book which added immensely to the experience. At the ends of chapters, the text cuts to commercials and news reports that are going on in Titus’s feed, and by listening to the book, the reader hears what sounds like actual commercials for the time which makes the setting that much more realistic. This book is appealing to readers who enjoy reading for a vicarious experience, and will also elicit feelings of empathy as the reader realizes how society has seemed to become dumbed down, and how Violet is affected by it all.
Connections:
This book would be a great recommendation for teens who enjoy fiction set in a dystopian society. It might be a suggested outside reading assignment while reading something like The Giver or Fahrenheit 451 in class in order to do analytical comparisons.
Book Review - Glory O’Brien’s history of the future
King, A. (2014). Glory O’Brien’s history of the future. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young
Readers.
Summary:
Glory O’Brien is at a turning point in life. With high school behind her and an uncertain future, she throws herself into uncomfortable research to learn more about her own past. With fragmented information about her mother’s death, Glory begins having difficult conversations with her father and others who knew her mother to learn more about the suicide that took her away. When Glory and her friend make an outrageous choice, the consequence is that both girls begin having visions of people. They are able to see information about a person’s past and future, and the future that Glory sees is disturbing. She begins writing down her visions as a warning to people of a future Civil War and a time when sexism is at an all time high. As Glory learns about her own history, she begins to develop her own desires for what she wants in her future.
Analysis:
Glory is a relatable and likeable protagonist. Her struggles to feel as though she fits in are common among people her age as well as her desire to figure herself out. While Glory is confused about her place in life and almost depressed at times, she is also sarcastically witty which makes the character that much more intriguing. Her difficult past has lead to a realistic and mature attitude toward life. Her contrasting character, Ellie, makes all of the stereotypical mistakes of a teenaged girl looking for attention and a place in the world. Ellie represents an important life lesson for Glory, that sometimes you have to move on from things (and people) in life, and while necessary, it isn’t always easy. In this soft fantasy, the girls experience a bit of magic as they decide to “drink a petrified bat” one night and wake up with visions of people's’ pasts and futures. This provides a piece of magic to the story that drives the plot in an intriguing way. Through Glory’s experiences, she discovers that she is her own person, and her fate does not have to be set by the choices of those in her past. She also learns that her own impression of herself, surprisingly does not match that of others.
Connections:
This novel would be great to recommend to young people who enjoy realistic fiction with a touch of magic.
Teachers could assign this book, and then have students write their own version of The History of the Future as they think it might be.
Here is a Book Trailer.
Book Review I hunt killers
Lyga, B. (2012). I hunt killers. New York: Little, Brown.
Summary:
Jasper is a high school student with more than the average teenage challenges. His father is an infamous serial killer who raised Jasper by sharing all of the techniques and details of his murders. When Jasper’s father is finally caught by the small town sheriff, Jasper was left to be raised by his grandmother, who in reality, he takes care of as she suffers from severe dementia. Obsessed with the details of the latest murder investigation, Jasper is convinced that it is the work of another serial killer, and against the sheriff’s wishes, enlists the help of his best friend Howie to conduct his own investigation. Jasper battles with the voice of his father in his head, and makes it his mission to prove that he is not like his father, and does not want to kill people. When the sheriff realizes that Jasper is right, and that this serial killer is actually reenacting the murders of Jasper’s father, he begins to accept Jasper’s help in the investigation. While “The Impressionist” is captured in a thrilling climax, the book ends with a cliffhanger when Jasper discovers that his father has escaped prison.
Analysis:
This book is a thrilling page turner, sure to please anyone who enjoys a murder mystery. The many details shared through Jasper’s thoughts and investigative attempts create a very realistic and eerie plot of a young boy in a twisted situation. Jasper is a relatable character through his struggles to fit in and fight against thoughts in his head, but he is unique in his experiences and knowledge from his father. As Jasper seems to suspect different characters throughout the novel, the reader is lead to searching for anything that might guide them to the answer of who “The Impressionist” is. Like any good murder mystery, the results are a bit unexpected. Jasper’s relationships with his best friend and girlfriend are aspects that ground him as a realistic character. The inner workings of these relationships are relatable, and make Jasper likeable even though he has thoughts that cause the reader to question his character a bit. As adolescents are developing in their own morality, this book provides plenty of food for thought on tough situations.
Connections:
There are four prequels to this book that focus on the different characters in the story. They are Lucky day, Career day, Neutral mask, and Blood boy. There are also two books after this one in the series: Game and Blood of my blood.
Here is a Book Trailer.
Book Review - Invisible
Hautman, P. (2005). Invisible. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
Summary:
Doug Hansen is a bit of an outcast at school. He spends all of his free time working on a train set that he has been building for several years out of matchsticks and hanging out with his best friend, Andy. Doug and Andy are an unlikely pair as Andy is a popular athlete, but the two have long discussions about everything, and enjoy spending time together and even getting into a little trouble together at times. Doug’s parents make him see a psychologist, and check in with him often about whether he is taking his medicine. As Doug progressively gets himself into sticky situations from frustrating the neighbors by talking at all hours of the night to peeking in the window of the girl he likes at school, it becomes evident that the situation is much worse that it originally seemed. When Doug is accused of calling in a bomb threat at school, he blames Andy for the action, and everything spins out of control because Andy lost his life in a fire a few years before.
Analysis:
This is a tragically sad story about a boy who is having trouble dealing with the loss of his best friend. Eerily, the lines between reality and what is happening in Doug’s head become a bit blurred. When Doug is not taking his medication, Andy is a consistent part of his life, but when the medications send him into reality, it is a place he just can’t seem to handle. This book should create an empathetic feeling in the reader as they experience the struggles of the characters involved. It focuses on a real challenge for many teenagers, the challenge to be socially accepted.
Connections:
This book is a good read for students who enjoy a story that is eerily mysterious. It touches on many tough situations that high school students can relate to.
Book Review - Six of crows
Bardugo, L. (2015). Six of crows.New York: Henry Holt and Company.
Summary:
Kaz Brekker is a teenage criminal who has made a name for himself as a thief willing to do anything. The city where he lives, Ketterdam, has been taken over by the gangs, and Kaz’s gang, The Dregs, are competing for control. When a scientist creates a drug that causes powerful affects, many people in leadership would like to get their hands on him. Kaz is hired for a large sum of money by Van Eck to kidnap the scientist from the Ice Court. To accomplish this lofty and dangerous task, Kaz coordinates a seemingly unlikely team who must work through their own struggles to trust each other. Inej, also known as The Wraith, is part of Kaz’s gang and her acrobatic past makes her an asset as she is capable of climbing unimaginable heights and moving around without being noticed. Jesper is a sharpshooter with a gambling problem. Nina is a heart-rendering Grisha. Matthias is a former soldier of Fjerda, and has a romantic history with Nina which ended badly, and caused great distrust between the two. In order for him to join the team, the others have to break him out of Hellgate prison where he has been because of accusations that Nina made. Wylan Van Eck is brought along as a hostage for the journey. Together, the crew goes to great extents to break into the Ice Court to find that the scientist is no longer living, but they kidnap his son, instead. The story ends with a battle of who can outsmart who, and leaves the reader hanging in the balance with a second book necessary for answers.
Analysis:
This book is a hard fantasy set in a fictional place with Grisha capable of all sorts of magical activities. I listened to the unabridged audio of the story, and I found it a bit difficult to follow at first because the character’s names are very original and keeping up with the geographical names and characters’ names took a little while. There are also many flashbacks used to give the reader background history of the characters and their interactions with each other prior to their mission. Overall, the story has the exciting elements of action and magic sprinkled with a little romance, and complicated relationships. The vast combination of literary elements give the story appeal for a variety of readers.
Connections:
This book will be appealing to readers with a variety of tastes because of the may twist and turns of the plot, and the complicated relationships involved.
Book Review - Speak
Anderson, L. (1999). Speak.New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.
Summary:
Melinda is entering her first year of high school under terrible circumstances. She has lost all of her friends and is being completely alienated by most of the students. Melinda attended a party during the summer and events led her to call the police who broke that party up. This leave Melinda with a terrible reputation. What nobody bothers to find out is her reason; Melinda was raped at the party. By the time the police arrived, Melinda was too afraid to report what happened. In fact, she stops speaking almost altogether. Her personality appears to have completely changed as she withdraws due to the trauma of her experience. Melinda begins skipping school, avoiding her parents, and literally hiding out in a closet. When her attacker horrifyingly tries to attack her again, Melinda finds her voice to speak out about what he had done to her.
Analysis:
This is a heart wrenching novel that deals with issues that nobody wants to talk about with their teenagers, but everyone should. The realistic depiction of how harsh students in high school can be is very sad, and makes the story relatable to anyone who ever felt outcast or bullied. The book provides many relationships that students can relate to such as Melinda’s relationship with her art teacher who makes her feel comfortable. Another relatable situation is Melinda’s relationship with her parents. Her fear to be open and honest with them about what has happened to her is a very natural response. These situations make this a book that provides opportunity for kids to read autobiographically. Melinda does befriend a new girl in town, but soon discovers that the girl has an agenda, and is quick to use Melinda when necessary. It is this relationship that seems to be the starting point for the confidence that leads Melinda to eventually speak out. This is the first person that she stands up to. Although the subjects in the book are very sensitive, they are also very real and must be discussed with young people in an attempt to prevent them from happening. Hopefully, but reading this book, young people can experience the terrible consequences of a bad choice vicariously instead of having to experience it themself. It also might provide confidence to young people who may have horrifically experienced something similiar to this to speak out about it.
Connections:
This book provides many talking points for parents and young adults about sensitive topics.
Book Review - The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian
Alexie, S (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. New York: Little, Brown.
Summary:
Junior is a teenage boy entering his freshman year of high school on an Indian Reservation in Spokane, but he doesn’t quite fit in. Junior loves reading and drawing cartoons, and dreams of a life that contrasts what he sees from day to day: tribe members who are discouraged, poor, and addicted to alcohol and gambling. With the encouragement of a teacher, Junior makes a life changing move, and consequently, is shunned by his tribe members and even his best friend. He decides to transfer to a “white school” in a nearby town. Junior faces many challenges in this new environment, but ultimately develops confidence in many areas of his life, and eventually even earns the respect of some of his fellow tribe members who were so angry at his initial decision.
Analysis:
Alexie’s novel, based on his own experiences, portrays a picture of reservation that is terribly sad while using the wit of Junior to incorporate some heart-warming funny moments. Junior experiences a tremendous amount of tragedy and loss, but he is quite relatable to teens as he navigates these challenges by almost sarcastically laughing at himself in the process. While Junior stands out as being very different from the other people on the reservation, his best friend Rowdy is a contrasting character. He has a hot temper, and his most pressing goal is to be the star on the basketball team. While the boys talk about Rowdy playing in the NBA someday, it is obvious that Rowdy doesn’t truly believe that he will ever escape the life of the reservation, while Junior takes control of his reality and makes that change happen for himself. While the details of his experiences are very specific to reservation life, the challenges that face teenagers are very normal. As Junior works through things like trying to fit in at his new school, and his first love interest, he is very realistic, and teenagers will find this character and his journey familiar in many ways. This book provides a great opportunity for young people to read autobiographically, and the protagonist goes through so many of the normal developmental stages that kids go through.
Connections: This novel could be used for cross-curricular activities. As students study the history of Native Americans in HIstory class, they could be reading this novel in English class in order to get a picture of modern Indian Reservation life.
Book Review - The coldest girl in Coldtown
Black, H. (2013). The coldest girl in Coldtown.New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.
Summary: Tana lives in a world where danger is commonplace. A vampire bit her mother when Tana was young, and when her mother lost her battle to fight the infection, and tried to bite Tana, she witnessed her father killing her mother to save Tana’s life. When Tana wakes up at a party with her teenage friends and finds that most have been slaughtered by vampires, she risks her life to saver her ex-boyfriend, Aiden, and the handsome vampire who was there with them. The three travel together to a Coldtown, a walled city to hold in vampires and humans who want to turn. There, Tana experiences outrageously terrifying things, but ultimately is able to save those she loves as she was unable to save her mother.
Analysis: This vampire novel is made eerily realistic by the setting and history divulged about the characters. Interlaced with the chapters of present action are chapters that take the reader back to when the ancient vampires were turned, and how their image and realities evolved over the years to the current romanticized lifestyles broadcast on reality television. The protagonist grows in confidences as she encounters newer and greater challenges with each chapter. Her selfless nature makes her a role model of self control and good will while her obvious attraction to the ancient vampire that she has befriended give her an edgy and brave quality. The vampires in the novel seem to mimic human nature. As there are good and evil people who are all suffer from temptation, there are also these categories of vampires. While they all have the ability to be gluttonous and evil, they are much more complex than that which takes the reader on a roller coaster of trying to figure out who can be trusted and who cannot.
Connections:
This is a great recommendation for young people who enjoy vampire novels as well as those who enjoy mystery, magic, and action. It would be great to provide as a choice for an outside reading project.
