Revier: Exodus by Julie Bertagna

genre: young adult

Imagine our world if the ice caps really do thaw - what would it be like? What would we do to survive when we see the ocean creep up to the places we love? In Exodus, the cities and land that we know are now deep underwater and in the commencing chaos, Mara's ancestors settled on the tip of the island of Wing. As yearly storms rage and the water rises, her community realizes that soon there will be nothing left - and Mara has a crazy idea that might save them all.

What a plot! This post-apocalyptic story takes us all over the place, from ocean-bound islands to cities in the sky, Mara's search for a safe refuge will require a strength she's never needed before. It stretches the imagination a little bit and despite the narration feeling a teensy bit stagnant at times, I really enjoyed the people she meets and the tough decisions she makes. I really liked those glimpses that she gets of OUR life and what it really tells about us.

While the love interest didn't really blossom in this book (it actually fell a little short) I have a feeling it will continue in the next one. The book is full of ethical questions that I think would lend itself to an interesting discussion among young people. I've found myself thinking about this one when I'm not reading it, which is a sure sign that it's captured my attention. I'm glad I've got the sequel already out from the library!

book 3 of 8 for the Orbis Terrarum Challenge

Review: Charlie's House by Clyde Robert Bulla

genre: children's literature

I picked up this book because we really loved Sword in the Tree by Bulla. This one is also historical fiction, but this time set in pre-Civil War America and England. Charlie's hard life in England is the impetus for him to travel to America as an unknowing indentured servant. He comes up against villains, of course, who treat him poorly and he has to work his way out of the situation. My son that I read it to was always interested, but the plot seemed a little mature to me but not as exciting. I liked Sword in the Tree better, but like I said, it kept the interest of an eager 7 year old, so what do I know.

It's apparently not one of his more popular books since I can't even find an image for it on the internet!

Review: Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

genre: play - Comedy

How many 17th century dramatic works can make you laugh out loud with mirth? Not many I'd guess, but I tell you what, this is one of them. It's the story of Benedick and Beatrice, both of whom are adamantly anti-marriage, both experts of the witty retort and whom for all intents and purposes, loathe each other.

That Shakespeare, though, of course has a trick up his sleeve and this time, Benedick and Beatrice's friends conspire to convince each one that the other is desperately in love with them. OH the hilarity of the interactions between these two that are "too wise to woo peaceably."

This is just one of the plots, the other main one is less humorous - namely Beatrice's cousin who is falsely accused of infidelity and the following tumult resolves with an interesting twist. There are villains and inane constables, empty graves and masked dancing. It's a story of love and forgiveness (or not), friendship and betrayal.

If you've never read a Shakespeare but wanted to give it a shot, this would be a great one to start with - and, as a recommendation, watch the Kenneth Branagh movie along with it. Really, you should.

Review: The Compound by S. A. Bodeen

genre: young adult

If your dad was one of the richest men in the world, do you think he'd be forward-thinking enough to build a giant bunker to protect you and your family from a nuclear holocaust? Eli's Dad did, and when the unthinkable happens, they end up living the next six years underground. Soon, though, little problems arise that could turn into big problems - and Eli's not thrilled with his dad's proposed solutions, enough to wonder if maybe it's time to take their chances in the outside world.

What a page turner! Eli is a character that's hard to come to love (typical teenage angst plus rich boy attitude plus living underground for six years...), but somehow by the end we care about him and his family. Parts of this book FREAKED me out, other parts disgusted me - but always I was interested. It's an intriguing idea and puts a teenager in a role that really allows him to grow, with some good plot twists along the way. I want to go pick up something else by this author now.

book 17 of the 2010 Young Adult Challenge

Review: Lips Touch Three Times by Laini Taylor

genre: young adult

The power of a kiss, the longing for one and the consequences when lips finally touch. The three stories in this book take us to fantastical places - the realms of goblins and demons, where your soul may not be alone and one bite of fruit may tie you to creatures that would sooner see you dead. Curses and mysteries, mothers and grandmothers and the ties that bind them - this is an amazing piece of work.

The language fairly drips with beauty. I love that it isn't just a story she's telling, it's art, as though each sentence was crafted to paint a picture. It's not always a pretty picture, to be honest, and while there IS love, these stories are just as much about the world in which they take place and horrible things happen. Yet somehow, she convinces us that all the horrible things that happen are okay - our minds are twisted and reformed as the stories reach their conclusions and in the end, even without a tied-with-a-bow happy ending, we are satisfied.

book 16 of the Young Adult Challenge 2010

review: The Line by Teri Hall

genre: young adult

What is the Line? It's the invisible but very real border that the government built to keep the people of the U.S. safe - nobody (and nothing) can walk or drive or fly in. No one can really get out, either - unless the government says so, but that's good for everyone, right? If it keeps us all safe?

Rachel always felt like the line was a good idea. Her life outside the city, on the Property, with her mother and the woman they work for, was pretty isolated from the heavy hand of the government until events on The Property begin making her question, even deeper, the way things are. And while she's curious about the Line and, of course, what's on the other side, she fears it, too. Especially when she finds something that makes her think that someone out there is trying to contact those within the Line, she starts asking questions and seeing things that make her mom seem more nervous than usual. What the heck is going on?

So, it's a way interesting premise - that's why I picked it up. Dystopian all the way with an in-your-face nosy government and an intriguing history that takes our fear of "the other guys" to the nth degree by just closing them out completely. Interesting, yes? Disappointing, though, is the fact that the narrative voice just never got off the ground for me - the language was rote and unembellished, but not in a sparse way - more in a flat way. Maybe it was just designed to appeal more to middle grade readers than to young adults, since there wasn't even a spark of romance until the last two pages (when I finally knew for sure that this was yet another book with a sequel, dang it) and I never could really tell what age Rachel was. I liked the premise enough though (despite being vaguely predictable and obvious at times), and it wasn't BADLY written - it just wasn't beautifully written. A nice three star book introducing younger readers to ideas of national security and government. I'll read more to find out what happens.

book 15 for the YA Challenge 2010

Review: The Story of the World: Ancient Times by Susan Wise Bauer

genre: history

The full title of this book is The Story of the World: History for the Classical Child Volume 1: Ancient Times, From the Earliest Nomads to the Last Roman Emperor.

Wow.

This book was a companion text for the study of ancient history that I did with my 7 year old home-schooled son this year. We began, as did our first civilizations, along the Tigris and Euphrates River, explored ancient Egypt and China, traveled to Babylon and India, fought with the ancient Greeks and ended in Rome. We met Buddha and Gilgamesh, Alexander the Great and Confucius, Caesar Augustus and Tutankhamen. Along the way we learned basic geography and political history, as well as cultural and social anecdotes that enthralled my boy and, let's be honest, me as well. The chapters are short with a lot of subheadings, so you can either read it straight through (as we did) or use the very detailed Table of Contents and Index to just read what you're interested in.

I loved this book.

I don't think it's perfect, sometimes it got slightly long-winded and a few chapters felt a bit out of chronological order (hard to REALLY put things in chronological order, though, when you are doing a history of the ENTIRE ancient world) but in all, it was pretty dang close. I feel like it was written RIGHT on his level, he was engaged and interested, he enjoyed the political history as well as the included folktales and myths. Sometimes he would make me read and read - an hour at at time? A history book? I know not all kids are that into history, but the breadth of this book is pretty incredible and if you are a history buff like my son (or like me) and are looking for a simplified (but not simple) introduction to ancient history, I highly recommend it.

Review: The Help by Kathryn Stockett

genre: adult fiction

It would be hard for me to believe that you haven't heard about this book yet. It's "the" book to be reading right now, and because I am a pill, it's the reason I haven't read it - until my book club picked it. And after being #160+ on the waitlist at the library for quite some time, I finally just borrowed a copy.

The place? Jackson, Mississippi.
The time? 1960s
The people? White women and their African-American housekeepers.

What would it have been like to be an African-American living in the hotbed of racial tension, raising the children of people that think you are filthy and unintelligent? Or what if you were white and you came to be disillusioned with the status quo you'd observed all your life? Would you do anything about it?

"Skeeter," the daughter of a white plantation farmer, decides to take her typewriter and begins a secret project involving some of the housekeepers in town. Aibileen is one of these women, sturdy, hard-working and loving to the white babies that she raises. Between her and her smart-mouthed best friend Minny, we see a world where everything is black versus white. We're at the meetings and with the help behind the scenes - seeing things from both points of view.

There are things to like about this book. Some characters are as lovely as others are rotten - there is a depth to our narrating women that shines light on both their strengths as well as their weaknesses. I loved the relationships that were created throughout the book as well as the ones that were thick with time. The racial tension was so palpable, it was a frightening time to do any crossing of the lines between black and white - and there is such a dignity in the larger plot of this story. It's what you would HOPE would happen.

On the other hand, it took me way longer than I'd thought to get into it. Maybe more than 130 pages - if it hadn't been for book club, I might have put it down. The dialect felt forced for a long time and I think more than I had to get used to it, I had to believe it and I'm not sure I ever completely did. Some of the mysteries that really piqued my interest ended up resolving themselves a bit flatly while others were interesting and others cringe-worthy.

Shall I try to sum up these thoughts? I liked it. I wish that some of the people in it were real and were my friends. Some of the plots were more interesting to me than others. I couldn't always do a great job of loosing myself in the story - maybe I just over-thought it. I didn't take it as the gospel truth about what life was like back then, but I appreciated the slice of life it portrayed.

Probably you've already read it :)

Review: The Courage of Sarah Noble by Alice Dalgliesh

genre: children's literature

Sarah's father is going to build her family a new home out in Indian Territory. He takes Sarah, his oldest child, with him to cook and be a companion for him. This story is their journey to that new land and their experiences with the native people who live there. Sarah, as an eight year old, sees and hears many things that are worthy of her fear, but she works so hard to be brave and "keep up her courage."

This is a charming book. I read it out loud over a couple nights to my 7 and 1/2 year old son and we both really enjoyed it. The language is sparse but not boring and it doesn't drag (it's easy enough that he could have read it to himself with no problem, but I wanted to read it too :). The adventures are mild but it's an interesting enough time period with interesting enough things happening that it kept his attention. I really loved its message that children can do hard and brave things - and that just because someone looks different, it doesn't mean we have to be afraid of them. No wonder this is a classic.