YA Book Reviews for Feb. 25, 2009
From CRBSLS
MADAPPLE by Christina Meldrum
This book is for sophisticated high school readers. It is at once hypnotizing and thought provoking and frustrating. Told in alternating chapters and time periods, it is the tale of a lonely teen age girl, Aslaug, who has been raised (homeschooled) in isolation in rural Maine by her eccentric Danish mother Maren. Maren gives Aslaug rich gifts--languages, herb lore, science, exposure to many religions--while at the same time she rejects society, and keeps her daughter apart. In the early scenes we meet mother and daughter in their almost idyllic setting, but feel tension rising as Aslaug chafes to be free. Then we shift to the present day, in a courtroom, where Aslaug is on trial for the murder of two women, and for burning down a church. Back to Maren, who dies. Aslaug is arrested for possibly poisoning her mother with jimsonweed. Back to the court trial. But wait: this trial is for a different crime...? Slowly, chapter-by-chapter, Meldrum unfolds the many layers of this story. After the death of her mother, Aslaug is taken in by her preacher Aunt in the nearby town, and meets her two young adult cousins, an angry young woman Susanne, and her strangely alluring brother Rune. Religious extremism, science, mysticism, sexuality, probable incest, and even virgin birth enter the tale.
The reviews of this book--a debut novel--were mostly positive, although one or two critics felt as I did: there are plodding, confusing elements here, and (especially with the audio version) the reader can become overwhelmed. I wanted to really love this book--it has wonderful lyrical moments--but in balance I found myself too annoyed to fully appreciate it.
Reviewer: Ann Sayers
Touching Snow by M. Sindy Felin
Karina is having to shoulder the burden of watching all of her brothers and sisters, along with her older sister, Enid, since their mother is always working and their stepfather is abusive and controlling. This Haitian-American family must bind together after Enid is almost fatally beaten by their stepfather and cover for him, as their only means of survival. A truly moving and inspiring story of struggle at the hands of a family member and what children must deal with first by being immigrants in a foreign land and trying to cover up a family's dark secret. Along with the main issue of abuse, Karina is also trying to find herself, including what looks to be a budding romance with a female. (Reviewed by Alicia Abdul, Albany High School)
The Magician: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott
Twins Josh and Sophie might hold the powers to either destroy or unite the world in a series of books dealing with ancient and medieval characters like Joan of Arc, Nicholas Flamel, Niccolo Machiavelli, as well as fantastical characters like the gargoyles from Notre Dame and the like. What Nicholas Flamel must do is awaken Josh and Sophie's powers and use them to take back the Book of Abraham from evil men who are bent on ruining the world. This book, the second, takes place mostly in Paris, France with interesting descriptions about the tunnels running underneath the ancient city and deals with the conflict between the twins, since Sophie's powers have been awakened, but Josh's have not. (Reviewed by Alicia Abdul, Albany High School)
