Recommended for ages 13+ due to complicated plot structure
4/5 stars
3/5 on the Happiness Meter
Genre: Mystery
Although I can understand why people do not like Agatha Christie novels (I was once one of them), they really are wonderful books. True, you must invest some time in them (unless you are very good at remembering details/names) but they are worth it. Hickory, Dickory Dock is no exception to this as Hercule Poirot is asked to solve a mystery in a boarding house. Poirot knows something is wrong when his usually efficient and unemotional secretary makes a few spelling mistakes. Upon inquiring on her state of health/mind, Poirot discovers that his secretary, Miss Lemon, is concerned for her sister. The sister works as a sort of house mother for a contrary woman who runs a boarding house. The sister had recently called Miss Lemon and expressed concerns over some recent thefts that happened at her place of work. None of the objects seems to be related and Miss Lemon's sister is utterly puzzled. Poirot agrees to look into the matter and very soon he finds himself in the middle of a murder.
The Suspects:
-From the West Indies, Elizabeth Johnston is determined to study hard and succeed in life. She is the victim of a malicious prank.
-Sally Finch seems to be a perfect student, after all, she is a Fulbright scholar but is she as perfect as she appears?
-Patricia Lane is utterly devoted to the moody Nigel. She would do anything to protect him.
-Valerie Hobhouse is sure to have a few enemies due to her frequent acerbic comments.
-Len Bateson is a medical student with a fiery temper.
-Colin McNabb is a student of psychology and can't resist anyone exhibiting a complex.
-Nigel Chapman is a moody history student who loves getting on people's nerves.
-Celia Austin loves Colin McNabb but she knows she hasn't a chance with him.
-Jean Tomlinson works at a hospital and has access to various types of poison.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks
Recommended to 15+ due to high school issues, underage drinking, and discussion about sex
2/5 stars
2/5 on the Happiness Meter
Genre: Realistic Fiction/Boarding School Novel
This book tells the tale of Frankie Landau-Banks, a girl who is tired of being viewed as young and innocent by everyone. And so, without really trying (at least not at first), she reinvents her image. Over the summer of her freshman year and her sophomore year she becomes beautiful, gone are the images of an awkward, gawky girl, replaced by that of a confident woman who knows what she wants...and she wants senior Matthew Livingston. What luck that she finally draws his attention! But when Matthew refuses to take her seriously she takes things into her own hands. She's heard of the mysterious Order of the Basset Hounds, after all, her father was one of them. When Frankie realizes that Matthew is the leader of the Bassets, she quickly figures out how to infiltrate the club without the boys even knowing.
What to say about this book....I suppose it can best be said in an Adbook post I wrote:
...I find the tone of the narrator condescending and irritating. It is as if the author is playing at making sociological assessments and, in my opinion, failing dismally. While the narrator does not outrightly say, "Domestic arts are a waste of time and only 'boy' pursuits matter," her tone says it for her. For example, when Frankie is talking to her roommate Trish about going out to the woods to drink beer with the ever so amazing Matthew (who, frankly, is really a jerk). Just to recap, Frankie feels bad that Trish is not invited and Trish says that that is not really her
scene anyway. She tells Frankie that, while she was at home, she had stopped going to her older brothers' booze parties in favor of watching movies with her parents and making crumbles. Frankie's reaction:
"Frankie found her friend's attitude infuriating. By opting out of what the boys were doing in favor of a typically feminine pursuit, Trish had closed a door...[s]ure, she was still invited. She could open the door again. But another summer spent making crumbles in the kitchen, and the boys would stop asking her to come out. Instead they'd expect warm dessert to be waiting for them on their return" (68)
First of all, I do realize that this is Frankie's opinion and not that of the narrator. Nevertheless, it is rather maddening. Does she really think that A) boys still subscribe to such old-fashioned ideas? That they would really expect their younger sister to be meeting them at the door a la stereotypical 50s housewife with a smile on her face and a crumble in her hands? Really? I don't think I've ever met a boy that would express such expectations. B) The way in which this paragraph is written is...well...infuriating. Frankie clearly thinks that drinking beer is superior to crumble making simply because whatever the boys are doing has to be better than anything girlsare doing. I suppose I should make allowances as Frankie is a fictional character, only a
sophomore in high school, and clearly hasn't been to a party that has lots of alcohol.
The second example is much to long to quote in full but can be found in its entirety on pgs. 84-86. The narrator describes three type of women: those who do not try to understand stereotypical male pursuits, those who participate half-heartedly because they are the girlfriends of these boys and want to seem supportive, and finally those girls who participate whole-heartedly and therefore earn the respect of males. What to say... First of all, I think this is an extreme oversimplification of male/female relationships. There are men who clearly respect females when they don't participate in making cherry-bombs or whatever the author has identified as overwhelmingly male. Second of all, I wish I could exactly pinpoint what about the
author's language makes her descriptions of fiber arts/baking seem so derogatory. Sadly, I cannot and simply must state that I walk away from said descriptions feeling like the author has disparaged that whole group of hobbies.
Apart from this sort of language/depiction of social interactions I
have a few other bones to pick with this book.
-"Like Senior Banks, they [the boys belonging to the Bassets] thought of themselves as Bassets more than they thought of themselves, for example, as tennis players, TV watchers, Caucasians, Protestants, East-Coasters, decent skiers, heterosexuals, and attractive young
men..." (151). Really? Are you telling me that all...what is it? 11 members?...of the Bassets are truly this shallow? I do not claim to be an expert regarding the sociology of teenage boys but I have a hard time believing that out of all of the Bassets, not one boy would value his religion or his sexual orientation over being a Basset.
My ultimate problem with this book is that Frankie does the exact same thing that makes Matthew so very unattractive: she judges people and subcultures without trying to understand them. Matthew refuses to involve himself in Frankie's world. She realizes this is a problem and
yet doesn't mind. Frankie has the same character flaw as she dismisses the geek world and Trish's feminine world. She doesn't even attempt to understand the stereotypical female outlook and still condemns it. Also, I don't feel that Frankie really changes by the end of the novel, or at least changes in a positive way. For example, she still wishes she could be Matthew's girlfriend despite how rotten he's been to her and she doesn't ever make an effort to know Trish better
(although I suppose it can be argued that Trish does not make an effort either). It's rather a nebulous, sad ending.
2/5 stars
2/5 on the Happiness Meter
Genre: Realistic Fiction/Boarding School Novel
This book tells the tale of Frankie Landau-Banks, a girl who is tired of being viewed as young and innocent by everyone. And so, without really trying (at least not at first), she reinvents her image. Over the summer of her freshman year and her sophomore year she becomes beautiful, gone are the images of an awkward, gawky girl, replaced by that of a confident woman who knows what she wants...and she wants senior Matthew Livingston. What luck that she finally draws his attention! But when Matthew refuses to take her seriously she takes things into her own hands. She's heard of the mysterious Order of the Basset Hounds, after all, her father was one of them. When Frankie realizes that Matthew is the leader of the Bassets, she quickly figures out how to infiltrate the club without the boys even knowing.
What to say about this book....I suppose it can best be said in an Adbook post I wrote:
...I find the tone of the narrator condescending and irritating. It is as if the author is playing at making sociological assessments and, in my opinion, failing dismally. While the narrator does not outrightly say, "Domestic arts are a waste of time and only 'boy' pursuits matter," her tone says it for her. For example, when Frankie is talking to her roommate Trish about going out to the woods to drink beer with the ever so amazing Matthew (who, frankly, is really a jerk). Just to recap, Frankie feels bad that Trish is not invited and Trish says that that is not really her
scene anyway. She tells Frankie that, while she was at home, she had stopped going to her older brothers' booze parties in favor of watching movies with her parents and making crumbles. Frankie's reaction:
"Frankie found her friend's attitude infuriating. By opting out of what the boys were doing in favor of a typically feminine pursuit, Trish had closed a door...[s]ure, she was still invited. She could open the door again. But another summer spent making crumbles in the kitchen, and the boys would stop asking her to come out. Instead they'd expect warm dessert to be waiting for them on their return" (68)
First of all, I do realize that this is Frankie's opinion and not that of the narrator. Nevertheless, it is rather maddening. Does she really think that A) boys still subscribe to such old-fashioned ideas? That they would really expect their younger sister to be meeting them at the door a la stereotypical 50s housewife with a smile on her face and a crumble in her hands? Really? I don't think I've ever met a boy that would express such expectations. B) The way in which this paragraph is written is...well...infuriating. Frankie clearly thinks that drinking beer is superior to crumble making simply because whatever the boys are doing has to be better than anything girlsare doing. I suppose I should make allowances as Frankie is a fictional character, only a
sophomore in high school, and clearly hasn't been to a party that has lots of alcohol.
The second example is much to long to quote in full but can be found in its entirety on pgs. 84-86. The narrator describes three type of women: those who do not try to understand stereotypical male pursuits, those who participate half-heartedly because they are the girlfriends of these boys and want to seem supportive, and finally those girls who participate whole-heartedly and therefore earn the respect of males. What to say... First of all, I think this is an extreme oversimplification of male/female relationships. There are men who clearly respect females when they don't participate in making cherry-bombs or whatever the author has identified as overwhelmingly male. Second of all, I wish I could exactly pinpoint what about the
author's language makes her descriptions of fiber arts/baking seem so derogatory. Sadly, I cannot and simply must state that I walk away from said descriptions feeling like the author has disparaged that whole group of hobbies.
Apart from this sort of language/depiction of social interactions I
have a few other bones to pick with this book.
-"Like Senior Banks, they [the boys belonging to the Bassets] thought of themselves as Bassets more than they thought of themselves, for example, as tennis players, TV watchers, Caucasians, Protestants, East-Coasters, decent skiers, heterosexuals, and attractive young
men..." (151). Really? Are you telling me that all...what is it? 11 members?...of the Bassets are truly this shallow? I do not claim to be an expert regarding the sociology of teenage boys but I have a hard time believing that out of all of the Bassets, not one boy would value his religion or his sexual orientation over being a Basset.
My ultimate problem with this book is that Frankie does the exact same thing that makes Matthew so very unattractive: she judges people and subcultures without trying to understand them. Matthew refuses to involve himself in Frankie's world. She realizes this is a problem and
yet doesn't mind. Frankie has the same character flaw as she dismisses the geek world and Trish's feminine world. She doesn't even attempt to understand the stereotypical female outlook and still condemns it. Also, I don't feel that Frankie really changes by the end of the novel, or at least changes in a positive way. For example, she still wishes she could be Matthew's girlfriend despite how rotten he's been to her and she doesn't ever make an effort to know Trish better
(although I suppose it can be argued that Trish does not make an effort either). It's rather a nebulous, sad ending.
Emma series by Kaouri Mori
Recommended to 11-12 + for social situations and general content that might go over the heads of younger readers
4/5 stars
3/5 on the Happiness Meter
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance
The Emma graphic novels are a pleasure to read due to their rich backdrops and the abundance of swirly skirts. Kaouri Mori's books tell the tale of reserved, duty-bound Emma, a housemaid/companion for an elderly lady. Emma begins to have feelings for the lady's former pupil, a rich, well-to-do young gentleman. Of course, she knows that they can never be together because of her inferior social status but she quietly harbors her feelings for him all the same as she goes about her daily duties. Things quickly become complicated when the young man starts having feelings for her. Add in some disapproving parents, death, an upset fiance (and family), and a visiting prince and you're in for a good read (several reads really as the eighth book in the series is coming out soon).
4/5 stars
3/5 on the Happiness Meter
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance
The Emma graphic novels are a pleasure to read due to their rich backdrops and the abundance of swirly skirts. Kaouri Mori's books tell the tale of reserved, duty-bound Emma, a housemaid/companion for an elderly lady. Emma begins to have feelings for the lady's former pupil, a rich, well-to-do young gentleman. Of course, she knows that they can never be together because of her inferior social status but she quietly harbors her feelings for him all the same as she goes about her daily duties. Things quickly become complicated when the young man starts having feelings for her. Add in some disapproving parents, death, an upset fiance (and family), and a visiting prince and you're in for a good read (several reads really as the eighth book in the series is coming out soon).
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Brief Thoughts on Early Readers
While at the local library, I thought I would sit down and look at some of the early readers atas I don't know much about them. While I did not read them all the way through most of them, I did think some were better than others:
1) Dragon Slayers Academy by Kate McMullan--RL 3.4
The series starts with a young boy who dreams of becoming a hero. A minstrel tells him that he has the makings of a hero and over the course of a winter teaches him useful skills such as reading and writing. One day the young boy sees an advertisement for the Dragon Slayers Academy who will, for seven pennies, take in any boy and turn him into a hero. Enter our young boy complete with his talking pet pig!
It seems to be pretty well-written and some of the details are historically accurate. I think this is a good series, especially for boys. It seems like there are plenty of well-written early readers targeted towards girls but a lack of good books written for boys. The ones intended for boys seem primarily have techo-machinery or toilet humor. Maybe that's unfair...
2) The A-Z Mysteries by Ron Roy--RL 3.4
The first book had good writing, good pacing, and a good mix of characters--2 boys and 1 girl. I am not very clever when it comes to solving mysteries so the solution was surprising to me. The mystery is solved in a logical manner and concludes satisfactorily. I would happily recommend this series to a beginning reader.
3) Geronimo Stilton series by Geronimo Stilton--RL 3
Eh. They struck me as OK. The plots could be interesting enough as Geronimo travels to different countries and mysterious places. The illustrated words could be an attraction to some children but could also serve to be annoying as they might distract from the story. I wonder if the way the words are laid out/drawn out have helped children learn the more complicated words? I could see that.
4) Mermaid S.O.S. series by Gillian Shields and Helen Turner--RL 3?
Another eh book series. It seems like a more complex and better written alternative to the Rainbow Fairy series by Daisy Meadows. This is by no means a bad thing. Mermaid S.O.S. will be sure to make young girls excited about reading. I can fully support that and I would recommend this series to girls that want something princessey.
5) Secrets of Droon series by Tony Abbott--RL 3.1
These seem OK. Two boys and a girl get transported to a fantasy land through a door in one of the boy's basements. The writing was OK. It just didn't wow me. Of course, to be fair, I did not read very far into the book.
6) Ivy & Bean series by Annie Barrows--RL 2.7
I wouldn't recommend these books simply due to how bratty Bean acts during the first few chapters of the book. I skimmed a bit of the middle and the two girls flout authority and don't seem to respect all their elders. Call me old-fashioned but I don't think 2nd/3rd graders need to be exposed to that.
7) The Time Warp Trio by Jon Scieszka--RL 4.1
The first book didn't really impress me. The beginning was off-putting as the reader was immediately thrown into the middle of the action. The premise of the series seems to be three boys who use a book to travel back in time. I think I would be more supportive of this series if the Magic Treehouse series wasn't already out there. However, it's not Jon Scieszka's fault that everyone and their brother seems to read Magic Treehouse books. I think I would recommend this series to fans of Magic Treehouse but I honestly think there are better things to read out there that are near the same reading level.
1) Dragon Slayers Academy by Kate McMullan--RL 3.4
The series starts with a young boy who dreams of becoming a hero. A minstrel tells him that he has the makings of a hero and over the course of a winter teaches him useful skills such as reading and writing. One day the young boy sees an advertisement for the Dragon Slayers Academy who will, for seven pennies, take in any boy and turn him into a hero. Enter our young boy complete with his talking pet pig!
It seems to be pretty well-written and some of the details are historically accurate. I think this is a good series, especially for boys. It seems like there are plenty of well-written early readers targeted towards girls but a lack of good books written for boys. The ones intended for boys seem primarily have techo-machinery or toilet humor. Maybe that's unfair...
2) The A-Z Mysteries by Ron Roy--RL 3.4
The first book had good writing, good pacing, and a good mix of characters--2 boys and 1 girl. I am not very clever when it comes to solving mysteries so the solution was surprising to me. The mystery is solved in a logical manner and concludes satisfactorily. I would happily recommend this series to a beginning reader.
3) Geronimo Stilton series by Geronimo Stilton--RL 3
Eh. They struck me as OK. The plots could be interesting enough as Geronimo travels to different countries and mysterious places. The illustrated words could be an attraction to some children but could also serve to be annoying as they might distract from the story. I wonder if the way the words are laid out/drawn out have helped children learn the more complicated words? I could see that.
4) Mermaid S.O.S. series by Gillian Shields and Helen Turner--RL 3?
Another eh book series. It seems like a more complex and better written alternative to the Rainbow Fairy series by Daisy Meadows. This is by no means a bad thing. Mermaid S.O.S. will be sure to make young girls excited about reading. I can fully support that and I would recommend this series to girls that want something princessey.
5) Secrets of Droon series by Tony Abbott--RL 3.1
These seem OK. Two boys and a girl get transported to a fantasy land through a door in one of the boy's basements. The writing was OK. It just didn't wow me. Of course, to be fair, I did not read very far into the book.
6) Ivy & Bean series by Annie Barrows--RL 2.7
I wouldn't recommend these books simply due to how bratty Bean acts during the first few chapters of the book. I skimmed a bit of the middle and the two girls flout authority and don't seem to respect all their elders. Call me old-fashioned but I don't think 2nd/3rd graders need to be exposed to that.
7) The Time Warp Trio by Jon Scieszka--RL 4.1
The first book didn't really impress me. The beginning was off-putting as the reader was immediately thrown into the middle of the action. The premise of the series seems to be three boys who use a book to travel back in time. I think I would be more supportive of this series if the Magic Treehouse series wasn't already out there. However, it's not Jon Scieszka's fault that everyone and their brother seems to read Magic Treehouse books. I think I would recommend this series to fans of Magic Treehouse but I honestly think there are better things to read out there that are near the same reading level.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Paper Towns
Before I jump into Paper Towns I wanted to note that I am adding a Happiness Meter to my reviews simply because there are just some days where I feel like reading happy, and sometimes fluffy, books.
Paper Towns by John Green
Recommended for 14+ due to sexual jokes, underage drinking, a graphic description of a dead man and raccoon.
4.7/5 Stars
3/5 on the Happiness Meter
Genre: Realistic Fiction
This book is dangerous. I don't recommend starting it unless you have most of the day to read it because you won't want to put it down. I've heard many great things about John Green's books. Afterall, Looking for Alaska has won the Printz Award and an Abundance of Katherines sounds very intriguing. However, I had no idea how great an author he truly was until I picked up Paper Towns. The book tells the story of a geeky boy named Quentin (goes by Q) who hangs around with the band crowd. He can't be in band himself due to his unfortunate lack of talent when it comes to instruments and singing but he is happy enough. He has two close friends, Ben, who is convinced that he is could please a girl if only given a chance, and Radar, who spends most of his free time editing an online encyclopedia (along the same lines of Wikipedia). Q lives next door to Margo Roth Spiegelman, the hippest, boldest girl in school who, when she is not off galavanting around the country, is keeping the social scene under control. Q and Margo used to spend time together as kids but you know how that goes--Margo becomes popular, Q becomes a nerd. End of friendship. But Q is still intrigued by Margo and her vivacity so imagine his surprise (and excitement) when Margo knocks on his window one night, dressed in ninja gear, wanting his help to run some mysterious errands.
By the end of the night, Q feels more connected with Margo and even believes that she will start hanging out with him and his group of friends. However, the next day Margo is missing. This, in and of itself, is not unusual. Hadn't Margo disappeared for a week or so when she was invited to join that circus or when she took off to Mississippi? But as Q starts adding up the clues Margo has left behind he starts to fear the worst. Soon Q's life consists of one goal: find Margo Roth Spiegelman, dead or alive.
I have to admit that despite all the wonderful things I've heard about John Green's books I was a bit reluctant to pick up Paper Towns. I knew that he didn't have a problem using a fair amount of swear words and sexual jokes and frankly, I'm usually too prudish a reader to pick up a book that contains that sort of thing. In this case, however, it was worth it. Sure it has some of that stuff in it but it's put into context. That's what lots of teenagers do: drink underage, swear, make witter sexual banter (if such a thing is possible). As a result, Green's characters are authentic. We've all known a perverted Ben, a knowledge obsessed Radar, an insecure Lacey who, despite all her best efforts, sometimes falls short of the best friend mark. Maybe we're even one of those people! Green not only develops his characters well, the plot surrounding them is plausible. They all do things that they would be expected to do. Green's writing flows smoothly and evenly, even if the pacing becomes a little slow in the middle of the book. If that is not enough to make you pick up the book, the author interweaves Whitman's Song of Myself throughout the book in a deft and satisfying way.
The only reason this book isn't 5/5 stars is the small problem with pacing and my hesitation as to whether or not this is the sort of book I would read over and over. I suppose only time will tell.
JHunt: 2/11 finished
Next Up: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau by E. Lockhart
Currently Reading: Don't Bet on the Prince. ed. by Jack Zipes, two versions of the Nutcracker, and soon, Beedle the Bard.
Paper Towns by John Green
Recommended for 14+ due to sexual jokes, underage drinking, a graphic description of a dead man and raccoon.
4.7/5 Stars
3/5 on the Happiness Meter
Genre: Realistic Fiction
This book is dangerous. I don't recommend starting it unless you have most of the day to read it because you won't want to put it down. I've heard many great things about John Green's books. Afterall, Looking for Alaska has won the Printz Award and an Abundance of Katherines sounds very intriguing. However, I had no idea how great an author he truly was until I picked up Paper Towns. The book tells the story of a geeky boy named Quentin (goes by Q) who hangs around with the band crowd. He can't be in band himself due to his unfortunate lack of talent when it comes to instruments and singing but he is happy enough. He has two close friends, Ben, who is convinced that he is could please a girl if only given a chance, and Radar, who spends most of his free time editing an online encyclopedia (along the same lines of Wikipedia). Q lives next door to Margo Roth Spiegelman, the hippest, boldest girl in school who, when she is not off galavanting around the country, is keeping the social scene under control. Q and Margo used to spend time together as kids but you know how that goes--Margo becomes popular, Q becomes a nerd. End of friendship. But Q is still intrigued by Margo and her vivacity so imagine his surprise (and excitement) when Margo knocks on his window one night, dressed in ninja gear, wanting his help to run some mysterious errands.
By the end of the night, Q feels more connected with Margo and even believes that she will start hanging out with him and his group of friends. However, the next day Margo is missing. This, in and of itself, is not unusual. Hadn't Margo disappeared for a week or so when she was invited to join that circus or when she took off to Mississippi? But as Q starts adding up the clues Margo has left behind he starts to fear the worst. Soon Q's life consists of one goal: find Margo Roth Spiegelman, dead or alive.
I have to admit that despite all the wonderful things I've heard about John Green's books I was a bit reluctant to pick up Paper Towns. I knew that he didn't have a problem using a fair amount of swear words and sexual jokes and frankly, I'm usually too prudish a reader to pick up a book that contains that sort of thing. In this case, however, it was worth it. Sure it has some of that stuff in it but it's put into context. That's what lots of teenagers do: drink underage, swear, make witter sexual banter (if such a thing is possible). As a result, Green's characters are authentic. We've all known a perverted Ben, a knowledge obsessed Radar, an insecure Lacey who, despite all her best efforts, sometimes falls short of the best friend mark. Maybe we're even one of those people! Green not only develops his characters well, the plot surrounding them is plausible. They all do things that they would be expected to do. Green's writing flows smoothly and evenly, even if the pacing becomes a little slow in the middle of the book. If that is not enough to make you pick up the book, the author interweaves Whitman's Song of Myself throughout the book in a deft and satisfying way.
The only reason this book isn't 5/5 stars is the small problem with pacing and my hesitation as to whether or not this is the sort of book I would read over and over. I suppose only time will tell.
JHunt: 2/11 finished
Next Up: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau by E. Lockhart
Currently Reading: Don't Bet on the Prince. ed. by Jack Zipes, two versions of the Nutcracker, and soon, Beedle the Bard.
Monday, December 1, 2008
The Adoration of Jenna Fox
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson
Recommended to 14+ due to discussion about sexual maturation and heavy issues
4/5 stars
2/5 on the Happiness Meter
Genre: Science Fiction/Futuristic
This isn't a book I would normally pick up as it's a Sci-Fi novel, however, I can't deny that it's very well done. The writing is crisp, simple, and beautiful, the plot is compelling, and if the jarring use of language is at first off-putting, the reader quickly grows accustomed to it. The Adoration of Jenna Fox tells the tale of a girl who wakes up after a year in a coma without any memory of who she is. As pieces of her past slowly return to her she questions what sort of person she was and who she is now. The more she remembers, the more she becomes convinced that not all is right. Some of her returning memories are ones she should not have, such as her memory of almost drowning when she was two years old, or her baptism when she was a toddler. She keeps hearing pleading voices in her head which leads her to question if they are real voices are just figments of her imagination. Things quickly don't add up--her grandmother's dislike of her, her parents' whispers, the missing scar on her chin, her shortened height. This book is certainly creepy, particularly as some of the facts presented in Jenna's futuristic world hit a little too close to home. For example, people have been taking too many antibiotics and have helped create monster viruses that ravage people's bodies. A possiblity for the present?
If you read this book expect your ideas to be challenged, your values to be questioned, and your mindset to be, very possibly, broadened.
Nota Bene--This is one nominees on the AdBooks list. One down, eleven to go (or nine since I'm not reading them all):
Paper Towns by John Green <-----This one's next!
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
Nation by Tery Pratchett
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
Recommended to 14+ due to discussion about sexual maturation and heavy issues
4/5 stars
2/5 on the Happiness Meter
Genre: Science Fiction/Futuristic
This isn't a book I would normally pick up as it's a Sci-Fi novel, however, I can't deny that it's very well done. The writing is crisp, simple, and beautiful, the plot is compelling, and if the jarring use of language is at first off-putting, the reader quickly grows accustomed to it. The Adoration of Jenna Fox tells the tale of a girl who wakes up after a year in a coma without any memory of who she is. As pieces of her past slowly return to her she questions what sort of person she was and who she is now. The more she remembers, the more she becomes convinced that not all is right. Some of her returning memories are ones she should not have, such as her memory of almost drowning when she was two years old, or her baptism when she was a toddler. She keeps hearing pleading voices in her head which leads her to question if they are real voices are just figments of her imagination. Things quickly don't add up--her grandmother's dislike of her, her parents' whispers, the missing scar on her chin, her shortened height. This book is certainly creepy, particularly as some of the facts presented in Jenna's futuristic world hit a little too close to home. For example, people have been taking too many antibiotics and have helped create monster viruses that ravage people's bodies. A possiblity for the present?
If you read this book expect your ideas to be challenged, your values to be questioned, and your mindset to be, very possibly, broadened.
Nota Bene--This is one nominees on the AdBooks list. One down, eleven to go (or nine since I'm not reading them all):
Paper Towns by John Green <-----This one's next!
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan
The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart
The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness
Nation by Tery Pratchett
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
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