How I Live Now - Novel Review - TWU LS5623-20-Sum2012

Novel Review - how I live now Rosoff, Meg. How I Live Now. New York, House Digital, Inc., 2004. Digital. ISBN 0141318015, eISBN 0375890548. 192p. Moving to live with her cousins in England couldn’t be any worse than having to play nice with her father’s new family-to-be. Yet Daisy is surprised by how well she fits into her odd grouping of new family members. As war looms she draws closer to this group of cousins. While her aunt becomes trapped in another part of the country, violence arrives at the farm. A taboo love blooms even as the family members are torn apart by the conflict. It will take all of Daisy’s emotional, physical and mental power to survive the fight that follows to reunite with her family of the heart. As a winner of the Guardian Award, the Whitbread Children’s Book of the Year Award and the coveted Michael L. Printz Award of 2004, much has been written and said about how I live now. The excitement brewing about this book was rewarded in its reading with both amazing and troubling aspects. The initial chapters were rather jarring and difficult to read. The style of stream-of-consciousness first person writing that hinges on excessively long compound sentences was difficult to fall into. I found myself struggling to be enveloped in the story-line as I was constantly trying to edit sentences in my mind. I understand the writer’s technique as a means of authenticating the teenage voice of daisy, the protagonist. Still, it made the book much more difficult to read. I would most certainly not choose this book for struggling or second language readers as trying to follow the story line would be very hard for them. An additional issue surfaced with the incestuous relationship of Daisy and her cousin Edmund. While the author worked to show that the relationship was non-traditional it is still the significant romantic enouncter of the book, and one which the entire story and its aftermath are predicated on. “The real truth is that the war didn’t have much yto do with it except that it provided a perfect limbo in which tewo people who were too young and too related could start kissing without anything or anyone making us stop…There was nowhere to go and nothing to do that would remind us that this sort of thing didn't happen in the Real World” (pg. 50). As an adult reader I can see where some concern might arise over this relationship being glamorized. Also of concern for parents might be Daisy’s devotion to an anorexic lifestyle which is only mitigated by the demands of fleeing from a war zone. These three elements can make the book a difficult read, or a difficult choice for adults to give to young people. As always, adults should thoroughly preview texts they that might be of concern before giving them to their children. Ensure the child is mature enough to handle the subject matter. The story line itself, the adventure that develops when the children flee the farm in the English countryside and fall in with various groups controlled by or running from the occupying forces, is an amazing tale. Determination, wits, special abilities and love and caring all surface as we follow Daisy and her younger cousin, Piper, especially. They grow into their abilities and Daisy begins to see how resilient she is when she takes on the responsibility of keeping Piper safe and reuniting the family. The story elements are satisfying enough to make this a very good read, however adults should again preview the text to ensure their young readers are mature enough and prepared for the violence, incest and adult issues that are infused through Rosoff’s award-winning story. Rosoff, Meg. How I Live Now. New York, Random House Digital, Inc., 2004. Digital.

Bridge to Terabithia-Novel Review-TWU LS5623-20-SU2012

Paterson, Katherine. Bridge to Terabithia. Rev. ed. New York: Harper Trophy, 2003. Print. ISBN 0690046359. 163p. Jess Aarons’ dreams of being the fastest boy in his grade are shattered the first day of school when he is beaten by the new girl in town, Leslie. In quick time, however, experience bonds them into fast friends. As Jess’ neighbor Leslie uses her imagination to open Jess’ mind to an amazing land of their own creation, Terabithia. When tragedy strikes, however, Jess is left to struggle with the understanding that relationships don’t last forever, and we learn to grow, or we lose ourselves. This award winning piece of young adult literature is a staple of English courses, surviving numerous challenges over the course of its thirty-plus years in circulation. Listed as one of the ALA’s 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books complaints have been waged against the book for possible occult references, the inclusion of death in the story line, and a number of other issues (Top 100). Still, the popularity of the story as a great piece of YA literature keeps it popular. Central to the story is the growth of Jess Aarons from a somewhat shy, introverted and self-limiting young man to one who grows to trust his own imagination, creativity, courage and selflessness. Seeking only to make a name for himself through his running, with Leslie’s help and the experiences she gives him he begins to challenge what he knows and believes of others, and himself. In their magical land of Terabithia which Leslie originates and is the driving force for, Jess begins to see possibilities for himself and even begins to create the world along with her. Previously hiding his artwork, one of his true talents, he grows in his courage to share it and the value he places on it himself. Both Jess and Leslie are the crowning jewels of the book. Their frankness, their honest friendship and the challenges that they face and master together are what make this work such a model for stories of growth, development and finding faith in oneself that are such a staple of young adult literature. Please be aware that the remainder of the review contains spoilers. Do not read further if you wish to avoid pivotal information about the climax of the book. In considering possible faults for this novel the truthfulness and real-to-life nature of the children’s experiences are somewhat tarnished by the complete neglect of dealing with guilt Jess would feel at being away with his choir teacher at the time of Leslie’s death. This element of Jess’ confrontation with the loss of his friend is essentially glossed over and, especially for modern readers, an expression of that guilt seems necessary. While we see Jess grow after losing Leslie, as embodied by his bringing of his little sister into Terabithia, we see little to no crisis or self-doubt related to Jess being with the woman he has a crush on at the moment Leslie needs him most. We see the reality of teenage emotions related to the feeling of closeness to and “owning” a friend more so even than her family in this passage: “That meant Leslie was gone. Turned to ashes…How could they dare? Leslie belonged to him. More to him than anyone in the world. No one had even asked him. No one had even told him” (pg. 145)” The realness of this passage as a common young adult response to a loss like this is so honest. Yet I felt myself constantly searching for the struggle of guilt that would naturally come with the scenario of Leslie’s death that Paterson portrays in the novel. Overall however the popularity of the book shows the extent to which young adult readers find commonality between themselves and the young protagonists of the book. Growth, a true friendship, memorable times and new beginnings keep this book in print and in the hands of readers year after year. Paterson, Katherine. Bridge to Terabithia. Rev. ed. New York: Harper Trophy, 2003. Print. "Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009." American Library Association. American Library Association, 2012. Web. 20 June 2012. .

Novel Review - A Day No Pigs Would Die-TWU LS5623-Su2012

Novel Review - A Day No Pigs Would Die Peck, Robert N. A Day No Pigs Would Die. New York: Laurel-Leaf, 2000. Print. ISBN 978-0-394-48235-4 In a moment of fear-induced bravery Rob saves the life of a neighbor’s cow and her unborn calf. The sweet white piglet he is given as a gift of gratitude becomes his friend, confidant and pride and joy as Rob grows to manhood through the struggles of farm living. As the son of a pig slaughterer Rob is no stranger to hard times but the true test of his courage comes when becoming a man conflicts with the desires of his heart. As a work of classical young adult literature A Day No Pigs Would Die is considered a model of the coming-of-age story. Both joy and sorrow are woven through its pages as the author shares moments of his life growing up hard on a 5 acre Vermont family farm. By its very nature this work may connect more with some young readers than others as urban children may find the tale of growing up a farmer foreign to their understanding. Additionally certain elements of the language specific to both the Vermont country vernacular as well as farm life can make more reticent readers pause. “With a handturn, papa sunk holes into the fresh planks at both ends, and into the old wood beyond. In each hole he used a mallet to pound in a trunnel peg of white oak that he had soaking in linseed oil. And the sty was done” (pg. 39) Struggling readers and readers whose native language is not English may find drawing meaning from the context more difficult, however this book provides all of the knowledge necessary for understanding and enjoyment to the capable young adult reader. The story of Rob and his sweet pig Pinky still has the power to draw readers in, though, as the care and love given to and received from an animal can transcend urban and rural boundaries. This story line, more than those related to farm life and rural education, specifically makes this book still viable for most young adult readers. That being said the violence of Rob’s difficult choice and the loss of his father as well as the abruptness of the conclusion can be somewhat jarring. Reality sets in quickly for readers of this book and the subtleness of the relationship of Rob and his father may be less tangible than modern readers are accustomed to. This book has much to offer as a classic description of Vermont farm life in the 1930’s and still holds value for modern readers, even if there are moments that may be painful or slightly difficult to grasp. In many ways the story is timeless and the boy’s love for both his family and his pig still communicate even in the 21st century.