Novel Review - Angus, Thongs and Full-frontal Snogging: confessions of Georgia Nicholson - TWU LS 5623-20 - SU 2012

Rennison, William and Bryan Louis. Angus, Thongs and Full-frontal Snogging: confessions of Georgia Nicholson. New York, Harper Tempest, 1999. Print. ISBN 978-0-06-447227-2, 234 p. What kind of life could Georgia possibly have with crazy parents, a too-big nose, friends who think you disappear when hot boys come around and an odd but loving little sister who keeps peeing in the corner of her room? If you add in Angus, here near wildcat-sized feline counterpart you get a crazy life indeed. Follow her through her misadventures, kissing lessons, heartthrobs and heartbreaks as her journal gives you the play by play of her quintessential British teenage life. Rennison takes us through the life of Georgia Nicholson, a British teen who uses so much slang we need an English-to-English dictionary to understand “nuddy-pants,” “snogging” “poxy.” Her life seems teenage typical. “God I hate my parents! Me stupid?? They’re so stupid. She wishes I was still Libby’s age so she could dress me in ridiculous hats and earflaps and ducks on. God, God, God!!!” (pg. 20). While some teenagers might enjoy it, it can come off as a bit over-the-top stereotypical. Young Georgia thinks of nothing substantial at all. There isn’t a single thought that goes through her head that isn’t about boys, fashion, kissing, farting in assembly or trying to find, or hide from, her newest boy obsession. Even when her father moves away to New Zealand for work and her mother appears to be having an affair with the contractor hired to redo her living room, she gives as little care to that as she would to a fly buzzing around her head. It is unfortunate that Georgia couldn’t have been written with more substance. While many teenagers are into sex, fashion and fitting in, they also feel real feelings, are concerned over their parents, want to be successful in life and actually have more than one vapid thought in their head. Renniston leaves her protagonist sorely lacking in this area. The one redeeming quality of Georgia, though, is the sweet relationship she maintains with her little sister. Whether the girl is slapping her in the face, putting oatmeal on her big sister’s cheeks or peeing in Georgia’s bed there is always love, compassion and caring for the little girl. Libby may be a mess but Georgia handles her with kid gloves and would do anything for her. That is the one element of the book that gives it a smattering of realism and makes it feel as if Georgia could actually have real human emotions that don’t revolve around girly-girl silliness and boys. While I had to force myself through the first fifty pages I am glad I finished the text. It is a fluffy read and while I wouldn’t recommend it for YA readers wanting something of substance, it could certainly be fun for a light read. Think of it as a Harlequin romance book for teenagers! Rennison, William and Bryan Louis. Angus, Thongs and Full-frontal Snogging: confessions of Georgia Nicholson. New York, Harper Tempest, 1999. Print.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind - Novel Review - TWU LS 5623-20 SU2012

Kamkwamba, William and Bryan Mealer. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. New York, Adobe Digital Edition, 2009. Digital. ISBN 978-0-06-193769-9, 292p. The jagged pieces of junk wood, scrap metal and bicycle parts climbed into the air as he lashed them together. What had leapt into his mind when he began checking out books from the library to fill the void left when he could no longer afford school was becoming a reality. Though just a teenager famine, grief, poverty and struggle couldn’t keep him from achieving his goal. The wind was part of Malawi, and soon William Kamkwamba would be a part of its history. William said it best when he said, “We must encourage those still struggling to keep moving forward. My fellow students and I talk about creating a new kind of Africa, a place of leaders instead of victims, a home of innovation rather than charity…I want them to know they’re not alone” (pg. 291). William and his co-author Bryan Mealer take readers on an epic journey through one young man’s life, both simple and remarkable at the same time. The humanness of William’s autobiographical account is what draws readers in. His struggles, in particular the devastatingly real re-telling of his country’s struggle through famine, is both heart-wrenching and gripping. While all Young Adult readers may not be able to connect with the utter poverty and suffering William describes, the moments of loss and hardship are still tangible, even at times uncomfortable. In this respect I caution adults choosing this book for their YA readers as they must be aware that some moments of the autobiography can be difficult to read, at times. The extended account of the famine is, in particular, troubling. While not necessarily a negative it is something readers should be aware of. And yet, through it all, William’s ingenuity and desire to bring something as simple as electricity to his home brings readers in. His creative and scientific mind is wonderful to read about in action and his overcoming of obstacles will have readers cheering. In addition the wonderful things that happen to William later in life as he moves towards more progress are merely icing on the cake. The book puts on no airs, is accurate, thoughtful, charming and gripping. Every young person mature enough to handle the content of this book should read it, period. Kamkwamba, William and Bryan Mealer. The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. New York, Adobe Digital Edition, 2009. Digital.

When My name Was Keoko Novel Review- TWU LS 5623-20 - SU2012

Park, Linda Sue. When My Name Was Keoko. New York, Yearling, 2002. Print. ISBN 0-440-41944-1, 192p. The Japanese had been in Korea so long that Sun-hee didn’t even know how to read her own language. As the war dragged on Sun-hee, her brother, mother, father and Uncle each maintained their pride and defied the Japanese in their own way. From the small musings of a girl’s diary to acts of defiance so large they could result in death. What happens to her family during the time Sun-hee’s name was Keoko? And will they ever be the same after the occupation? “If the Japanese lost the war, Uncle could come home. If they lost, Abuji could be the principal of his own school. We could learn Korean history. We could use our real names again! And Abuji could teach me the Korean alphabet. How could an alphabet - letters that didn’t even mean anything by themselves - be important?” (pg. 107). The attempted erasure of the Korean identity from the peninsula during the Japanese occupation of the early 20th century appears in stark reality in Linda Sue Park’s historic novel. While the humanity of the characters rings true the verisimilitude of the historic elements is accurate and helps connect readers to the time and place. With an accompanying bibliography and an Author’s Note that explains the many connections to real people and events that the novel has, the accuracy of the information is without question. These two elements, the highly tangible human element of the characters and the accuracy of the historic elements make this book an excellent example of historical fiction. One element that was a bit confusing at the beginning was the shifting perspective between Sun-hee’s telling of the story and her brother Tae-yul’s telling. It was a bit jarring at first. After the first few changes, though, the flow became more established and it helped to fully realize the story. While this was a bit distracting in the beginning it did not adversely affect the overall appreciation I had for the story. This is one to recommend to all young people and would go especially well with a social studies class working through this particular time period or for additional reading to learn more about an element of history not often covered in the classroom. Park, Linda Sue. When My Name Was Keoko. New York, Yearling, 2002. Print.

Anna Dressed in Blood - Novel Review - TWU LS 5623-20 - SU2012

Blake, Kendare. Anna Dressed in Blood. New York, Tor Teen eBooks, 2011. Digital. eISBN 978-1-4299-8281-8, 369p. She was supposed to be the kill that would finally prepare him to avenge his father. As Cas made his way to Thunder Bay and the Canadian wilderness he only knew that he was drawn to the story of this ghost as he had been to no other he dispatched in the last two years. He would play the high school game as he always did, make the contacts, learn her story, but in the end it would all be about her, the most powerful ghost he would ever meet. Anna Dressed In Blood would become a part of him, more than he ever intended, and Cas would find his life changed forever the moment he passed through her door. “’I don’t want to do this again,’ the hitchhiker whispers. ‘This is the last time,’ I say, and then I strike, drawing the blade across his throat…in less than a minute he’s gone, leaving not a trace behind” (pg. 14). Kendare Blake’s tantalizing tale of a teenage ghost killer who confronts one of the most powerful and heart-wrenching ghosts in North America is a spine-tingling page turner that kept me intrigued from start to finish. I became so invested in the wonderful story of Thesius Cassio, or Cas, and his friends and family that upon completing my reading I pre-ordered book two, due for release this August. What is most enjoyable about this tale is that it is the best of many previously told tales intertwined in a wonderful new way and placed in the realm of the supernatural. What Blake get’s out of this new recipe is a wonderful taste full of familiar flavors but brought together in a wholly unique way. A love story that shouldn’t exist, a young man’s drive to avenge the death of his father, the seemingly impossible coming together of a group of high school students from different cliques and an obsessed villain who has been manipulating the story unknowingly from the onset are the tried-and-true story elements that come together in Anna Dressed in Blood. The author gets the most credit in this story for making a fresh and lively supernatural adventure that has a satisfying reveal at the end, while still leaving the reader wondering what happened next. It should be noted to parents that there is a significant amount of violence and carnage in this book. I do not consider this a negative for appropriate age readers but I would not necessarily recommend this to younger readers. Parents should preview this text and make a determination as to whether or no they feel it is appropriate for their child. While the ferocity of the combat scenes may be considered unnecessary by some, I personally find it gives the text a verisimilitude that is necessary for us to buy in to the story line. If one is in the business of sending deadly ghosts to their final destination it only makes sense that danger and fighting for one’s life would accompany the career choice. So long as parents are aware that they should preview the text, this book would be enjoyable for most Young Adult readers. Blake, Kendare. Anna Dressed in Blood. New York, Tor Teen eBooks, 2011. Digital.

Anna Dressed in Blood - Novel Review - TWU LS 5623-20 - SU2012

Blake, Kendare. Anna Dressed in Blood. New York, Tor Teen eBooks, 2011. Digital. eISBN 978-1-4299-8281-8, 369p. She was supposed to be the kill that would finally prepare him to avenge his father. As Cas made his way to Thunder Bay and the Canadian wilderness he only knew that he was drawn to the story of this ghost as he had been to no other he dispatched in the last two years. He would play the high school game as he always did, make the contacts, learn her story, but in the end it would all be about her, the most powerful ghost he would ever meet. Anna Dressed In Blood would become a part of him, more than he ever intended, and Cas would find his life changed forever the moment he passed through her door. “’I don’t want to do this again,’ the hitchhiker whispers. ‘This is the last time,’ I say, and then I strike, drawing the blade across his throat…in less than a minute he’s gone, leaving not a trace behind” (pg. 14). Kendare Blake’s tantalizing tale of a teenage ghost killer who confronts one of the most powerful and heart-wrenching ghosts in North America is a spine-tingling page turner that kept me intrigued from start to finish. I became so invested in the wonderful story of Thesius Cassio, or Cas, and his friends and family that upon completing my reading I pre-ordered book two, due for release this August. What is most enjoyable about this tale is that it is the best of many previously told tales intertwined in a wonderful new way and placed in the realm of the supernatural. What Blake get’s out of this new recipe is a wonderful taste full of familiar flavors but brought together in a wholly unique way. A love story that shouldn’t exist, a young man’s drive to avenge the death of his father, the seemingly impossible coming together of a group of high school students from different cliques and an obsessed villain who has been manipulating the story unknowingly from the onset are the tried-and-true story elements that come together in Anna Dressed in Blood. The author gets the most credit in this story for making a fresh and lively supernatural adventure that has a satisfying reveal at the end, while still leaving the reader wondering what happened next. It should be noted to parents that there is a significant amount of violence and carnage in this book. I do not consider this a negative for appropriate age readers but I would not necessarily recommend this to younger readers. Parents should preview this text and make a determination as to whether or no they feel it is appropriate for their child. While the ferocity of the combat scenes may be considered unnecessary by some, I personally find it gives the text a verisimilitude that is necessary for us to buy in to the story line. If one is in the business of sending deadly ghosts to their final destination it only makes sense that danger and fighting for one’s life would accompany the career choice. So long as parents are aware that they should preview the text, this book would be enjoyable for most Young Adult readers. Blake, Kendare. Anna Dressed in Blood. New York, Tor Teen eBooks, 2011. Digital.

White Cat Novel Review - TWU LS5623-20 - SU12

Black, Holly. White Cat. New York, Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2010. Print. ISBN 978-1-4169-6396-7, 310p. Cassel was the white sheep in a family of con artists and curse workers. With curse work having been made illegal decades earlier, everything in the family “business” is conducted in the shadows, or in the case of Cassel’s mom, from prison. Whether working emotions, physical curses, luck or memory curses the family is in deep and Cassel may be in deeper than he realizes. What he discovers about himself as he delves into the family secrets revolves around stolen memories, lost loves and one white cat. Holly Black’s White Cat is a fun, intriguing jaunt into the world of magical organized crime and the families who practice. What began as a fun and simple look into the lives of curse workers became a spine-tingling, interwoven onslaught of a “whodunit” that kept me turning each page quickly and with anticipation. Cassel, true to form of any great Young Adult Lit protagonist, is a wonderful ball of mess and untapped potential whose world is turned upside down as he begins to unravel his own hidden past. As Cassel noted, “I can’t trust the people I care about not to hurt me. And I’m not sure I can trust myself not to hurt them, either. Friendships suck” (pg. 93). What was most intriguing about the story as a whole, though, was that while Black took us down what we were sure would be tried and true paths through a magical story, at each new fork she took the road less traveled by. Family issues led readers to hate the wrong brother, the love story became entangled and ended bitter-sweet and sad yet satisfying, and the oddest of political affiliations led to a set of friendships that became part of Cassel’s plans to redeem himself and save the love of his younger days.. At each new turn Black made me raise my eyebrows and say to myself, “Really? I hadn’t thought it would be that!” Read this book for no other reason than to be surprised by new twists on what could have been a standard magical fantasy tale. No story is perfect, though, and while I don’t wish to give away a substantial element of the ending I will say that, for me, the culmination of the love story factor was a bit heartbreaking. While it did follow through with Black’s wonderful ability to bring new turns to a standard story, the shift in how the love story ended was slightly unsatisfying for me. I am sure, though, that it would be right up the alley of other readers. And it is certainly not enough to detract from the overall enjoyment of this particular bit of fantasy. All of the elements are in place, we have strong central characters, an amazing plot and just enough reality in our fantasy to make it all perfectly plausible…minus the ability to curse individuals with the slightest touch of a bare hand to skin. Read and enjoy! Black, Holly. White Cat. New York, Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2010. Print.

The First Part Last - Novel Review - TWU LS5623-20 - SU2012

Johnson, Angela. The First Part Last. New York, Simon Pulse, 2003. Print. ISBN 978-0-689-84922-0, 132p. Feather was never supposed to be in his life, Nia was. For sixteen year-old Bobby, replacing the love of his life with the child they created together has given him a life he never expected to have. Told from the perspective of both the past and the present, readers journey with Bobby as he learns to be the man he can be, a diamond in the rough polished to shining through a horrible tragedy. Angela Johnson’s Michael L. Printz winning novel draws readers deftly into the life of new teenage father Bobby as he grows to cherish his baby daughter, Feather. Told in beautifully accessible language with a limited but gripping cast of characters the realness of the story shines through as a hook to readers of all ages. Neither too graphic nor too bland the story is perfect for young adults as it handles mature situations in a manner that is both honest and considers the issue from a teenage perspective. “Some kids my age are hanging around this arcade I’ve been wanting to check out, but haven’t had the time, and probably won’t ever have. They lean against the games and each other. I look at them and feel like I’m missing something” (pg. 111). By far the most exceptional element of this wonderful read is the deft way that Johnson makes readers fall in love with her protagonist, Bobby. Though he made a mistake in his past, it was truly a mistake, and one we watched him struggle with. We saw the loving but disjointed relationship of his divorced parentsd as they struggled to come to grips with the pregnancy of Bobby’s girlfriend. We see Bobby through his friends eyes, young men who love him and are still with him no matter what. Bobby makes the book and his love for Feather, his cherubic daughter, and Nia, the girl he will never hold again, keeps us clinging to the last page. In struggling to find a negative element to this novel to give perspective The only issue that came to mind was that the literary element whereby the author shifts back and forth in subsequent chapters from the present to the past might cause some issues for younger or less able readers. Comprehension and story sequence must be built over time as the components of the story from two different time periods unfold. This could cause issues for some readers. It also, though, creates a great opportunity to assist young adult readers in connecting story elements in their mind and in attempting to predict story outcomes. Overall, a fantastic read and highly recommended for most YA readers! Johnson, Angela. The First Part Last. New York, Simon Pulse, 2003. Print.