YA Book Reviews November 29, 2006
From CRBSLS
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Contents |
Death Collector by Justin Richards
"Outside, the London smog was cold and damp." This thriller can be summed up as Frankenstein-meets-Jurassic-Park. It is the story of a mad scientist seeking to control the world, by means of the monster mechanical dinosaurs that he is about to let loose upon Victorian England. Can our hero, geeky George Archer, save the day/world? Mists, fog, mechanical creatures and gothic horror all combine here to form a pretty rip-roaring read. The story moves along briskly, and is very atmospheric. There is humor and lots of tension. Good for boys--and it's got a good cover! Recommended for grades 5 through 8 (some graphic violence). Reviewer--Ann Sayers
Wolf: The Journey Home by Asta Bowen
Like Jean Craighead George's stories, this one is a vivid, thoroughly researched account told in the "voice" of a female wolf, Marta. Set in the rugged wilderness of Montana and Wyoming, this is a fictionalized account of a real wolf pack, led by the alpha female Marta. Marta is a survivor who fights desperately to keep her pups alive, against great odds. There were places where the story dragged a bit--at times Marta literally goes in circles, and the reader wants her to get back on track!--but the naturalism shines through in this wonderful but ultimately tragic story, which is the author's plea for us to respect wolves in the wild. Compare to Julie's Wolf Pack, Autobiography of a Dog, etc. Recommended for grades 5 through 9, as well as adult. Reviewer--Ann Sayers
How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
An anorexic teen, Daisy, is sent to live with her deceased mother's sister in England. Aunt Penn is working at a diplomatic convention in Europe. The children are left to look after themselves. Daisy falls in love with cousin Edmund and they begin a secret relationship. Enough going on, not yet. While British troops are off protecting the rest of the world, England is invaded
by unnamed terrorists. Daisy is separated from Edmund and left to care for her young cousin, Piper,in a series of refugee camps. Chaos and horror become a part of daily life and Daisy's own internal problems fade into the background.
I found this a very compelling story. I wanted to see it through, though it made me uncomfortable. There was so much to think about, from the pain of a young girl who feels abandoned, to finding love (albeit with her cousin), to the seemingly small ways fear and war effect the day-to-day life of ordinary people struggling to survive.
I would recommend this to mature eight graders and older. While the love story is never graphic (but mentioned as being physical), the war's effects and a camp massacre are. The story is also written in a stream of consciousness form that may be more difficulty for readers to broach.
by Judi Stott
The Naming by Alison Croggon
Genre: Fantasy
Sixteen year old Maedra, a slave living in horrible circumstances, is rescued by a bard named Cadvan. This meeting catapults Maedra from slave to the person destined to rescue the world from the evil that is descending upon it.
During their travels Maedra grows to trust Cadvan as he reluctantly reveals his magical powers in several ambushes from evil creatures. It is discovered that she, too, has powers and they increase as she learns more from Cadvan. During their travels Cadvan comes to believe that Maedra is "The Chosen One", part elemental, part human.
This book has many Tolkienesque characteristics. Croggon, a poet, provides us with a separate language and culture. This is the first book in a trilogy.
Reviewed by Dianne Hobden
Heck Superhero by Martine Leavitt
Heck is a boy with super talents and a boy in crisis: his depression-prone mother didn’t show up at her waitressing job and Heck and his mom have been evicted from their apartment. A talented artist & cartoonist, Heck creates powerful superheroes that save the world with one good deed – just like Heck wants to be able to do. The story opens with Heck homeless, penniless, and suffering an excruciatingly painful toothache. He’s a good kid in a bad situation. Mostly, he needs to learn that asking for help can be the most heroic act of all. Fast-paced and intense, Leavitt has created a story and a character that the reader will not soon forget. Recommended for gr. 7 – 9. Reviewer…Sheila Di Maggio
The Last Universe by William Sleator
Susan has always been afraid of the garden in their family property. Now she has the burden of pushing her brother, Gary’s, wheelchair along its dark, forbidding paths. He has recently become an invalid and he claims that parts of the garden have healing qualities. Great-uncle Arthur, their prize-winning, eccentric relative, whose house they inherited, planted this garden and created a maze along with it. When Susan and Gary enter the maze and follow its many twists and turns, they discover that each choice causes them to come out in a different reality. Sleator has created a world where nothing is as it seems – reality is constantly shifting and rearranging itself. This gothic, sci-fi thriller will appeal to your middle school sci fi fans. Recommended for gr. 5 – 9. Reviewer…Sheila Di Maggio
A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby
If you like really dark humor, then you'll enjoy Nick Hornby's A Long Way Down. This is a very British book by the author of High Fidelity and About a Boy that tells the story of four people who meet one New Year's Eve as they all try to commit suicide by jumping off a building. For various reasons none of them are successful and these very different characters end up bonding. They make a pact to not kill themselves for a period of time and to meet regularly. Each chapter is told by a different character, with a very distinct voice and set of problems. They end up working together to sort out their issues and eventually decide that life is worth living after all. This book is very funny in a bizarre way and is appropriate for mature high schoolers and adults who enjoy the cynical side of life. Reviewed by Marion Burghart
