(no subject)
Finally, the last post!
#11
Title: Saint Iggy
Author: KL Going
Pages: 257
Grade: B+
Reason: For school
Summary: From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 9 Up-Iggy Corso, 16, doesnt do drugs, even though he was born addicted to crack. He lives in a city housing project, in an apartment filled with furniture that his stoned and drunken father collects from the street. Iggys mother is an addict who has been AWOL for a month. The cool thing about the teen is that, despite his parents and his environment, he doesnt feel sorry for himself. A freshman who has failed two grades and been suspended eight times, he takes things for what they are, until he gets suspended again, pending a hearing. His principal says to him, Youve had a lot to overcome...but....We can all...do something that contributes.... After listening to this, Iggy realizes that his only chance for the future is to get back into school. The principals statement haunts him throughout the book. He enlists help from his so-called mentor/friend, Mo (who was suspended from pre-law school after being caught smoking pot), but his association with this disaffected youth from a wealthy family creates a whole new set of problems. Thick pencil lines run down the inner margins of the pages; Iggys life is like these lines, on the edge, reaching out, searching for somewhere to go. The story is told in widely spaced paragraphs, making it a good choice for reluctant readers. Like Troy Billings in Goings Fat Kid Rules the World (Putnam, 2003), Iggy Corso is unforgettable.
Review: This was a good book that inspired a lot of thought. I'm not sure what all to say about it. It was written in a very elementary style, from the point of view of a 16 year old who is a little slower than others due to his being born addicted to drugs. It's very crude in places, but in a realistic way. The ending is surprising. I would recommend this to anyone who works with juveniles.
#12
Title: Angels All Over Town
Author: Luanne Rice
Pages: 309
Grade: B+
Reason: For pleasure
Summary: Book Description
New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice made her triumphant debut with this delicately drawn but emotionally powerful portrait of a woman’s extraordinary journey of the heart and soul-a timeless story of love, sisterhood, and the hope that emerges even out of heartbreak....
Una Cavan doesn’t believe in ghosts. But ghosts seem to believe in her. At least, her father’s ghost does, walking into and out of her life as casually as if he were entering and exiting a room. Una has always believed the Cavan women had the power of witches, and from the beaches of Connecticut to the bustle of New York City they’ve shared the special unbreakable bond of sisters. No man has been able to come between them…until Lily marries the “perfect” man and begins to drift away and Margo gets engaged. With another failed relationship behind her, and a thriving career as an actress ahead of her, Una wonders if she’s destined to be alone-or if there isn’t something more, something magical that life has in store for her. Then an unexpected encounter gives her the answer she’s been seeking….
Review: A nice, light read. While it definitely isn't my favorite Rice book, she is one of my absolute favorite writers and I would recommend this book to anyone who's a fan of hers.
#13
Title: Moby-Dick
Author: Herman Melville
Pages: 427
Grade: B-
Reason: For school
Summary: Ishmael decides to go whaling and ends up on the Pequod, which is captained by a raving lunatic by the name of Ahab. Ahab is manically seeking Moby Dick, the whale that took off his leg.
Review: Melville's language is a joy to read, but the novel goes by really slowly because of the many, many chapters focusing on the science of whales and whaling. It's a good book to have read, but you really have to take your time with it.
#14
Title: Sense and Sensibility
Author: Jane Austen
Pages: 349
Grade: B
Reason: For school
Summary: Jane Austen’s first published novel, Sense and Sensibility is a wonderfully entertaining tale of flirtation and folly that revolves around two starkly different sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. While Elinor is thoughtful, considerate, and calm, her younger sister is emotional and wildly romantic. Both are looking for a husband, but neither Elinor’s reason nor Marianne’s passion can lead them to perfect happiness-as Marianne falls for an unscrupulous rascal and Elinor becomes attached to a man who’s already engaged.
Startling secrets, unexpected twists, and heartless betrayals interrupt the marriage games that follow. Filled with satiric wit and subtle characterizations, Sense and Sensibility teaches that true love requires a balance of reason and emotion.
Review: This was a decently interesting book. Austen's verbosity can be tiresome, but it also lends to nice descriptions. I have a really difficult time remembering that in 1811, women's place in society was much different, and I find myself getting angry at the attitude that women are less important than men. The story was engaging, most of the time, but reading "And then we visited this house, and then this house" for 349 pages got dull. I liked the characters of Elinor and Marianne, and somewhat fell in love with the stodgy Colonel Brandon.
#15
Title: Story of a Girl
Author: Sara Zarr
Pages: 192
Grade: A-
Reason: For school
Summary: From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 9 Up-When Deanna's father catches her having sex in a car when she is 13, her life is drastically changed. Two years later, he still can't look her in the eye, and though Tommy is the only boy she's been with, she is branded the school slut. Her entire family watches her as though she is likely to sleep with anyone she sees, and Tommy still smirks at and torments her when she sees him. Her two best friends have recently begun dating, and Deanna feels like an intruder. She tries to maintain a close relationship with her older brother, but Darren and his girlfriend are struggling as teenage parents. Deanna learns to protect herself by becoming outwardly tough, but feels her isolation acutely. Her only outlet is her journal in which she writes the story of an anonymous girl who has the same experiences and feelings that she does. Through this, readers see the potential that Deanna cannot identify in herself. This is a heartbreaking look at how a teenager can be defined by one mistake, and how it shapes her sense of self-worth. This is realistic fiction at its best. Zarr's storytelling is excellent; Deanna's reactions to the painful things said to her will resonate with any reader who has felt like an outsider. It is an emotionally charged story, with language appropriate to the intensity of the feelings. Story of a Girl is recommended for both teens and the adults who live and work with them.
Review: This was an enjoyable book. I think I would have liked it better if it were longer...the end seemed really abrupt, even if the loose ends did get nicely tied. There are a lot of things I would have liked to see developed further. But all in all, it was a good story of a teenage girl who messed up and is still paying the price three years later. Recommended.
Next Up:
Englist Lit: Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
American Lit: Daisy Miller by Henry James
Young Adult Lit: Knights of the Hill Country by Tim Tharp
Pleasure: Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah; Light of the Moon by Luanne Rice
#11
Title: Saint Iggy
Author: KL Going
Pages: 257
Grade: B+
Reason: For school
Summary: From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 9 Up-Iggy Corso, 16, doesnt do drugs, even though he was born addicted to crack. He lives in a city housing project, in an apartment filled with furniture that his stoned and drunken father collects from the street. Iggys mother is an addict who has been AWOL for a month. The cool thing about the teen is that, despite his parents and his environment, he doesnt feel sorry for himself. A freshman who has failed two grades and been suspended eight times, he takes things for what they are, until he gets suspended again, pending a hearing. His principal says to him, Youve had a lot to overcome...but....We can all...do something that contributes.... After listening to this, Iggy realizes that his only chance for the future is to get back into school. The principals statement haunts him throughout the book. He enlists help from his so-called mentor/friend, Mo (who was suspended from pre-law school after being caught smoking pot), but his association with this disaffected youth from a wealthy family creates a whole new set of problems. Thick pencil lines run down the inner margins of the pages; Iggys life is like these lines, on the edge, reaching out, searching for somewhere to go. The story is told in widely spaced paragraphs, making it a good choice for reluctant readers. Like Troy Billings in Goings Fat Kid Rules the World (Putnam, 2003), Iggy Corso is unforgettable.
Review: This was a good book that inspired a lot of thought. I'm not sure what all to say about it. It was written in a very elementary style, from the point of view of a 16 year old who is a little slower than others due to his being born addicted to drugs. It's very crude in places, but in a realistic way. The ending is surprising. I would recommend this to anyone who works with juveniles.
#12
Title: Angels All Over Town
Author: Luanne Rice
Pages: 309
Grade: B+
Reason: For pleasure
Summary: Book Description
New York Times bestselling author Luanne Rice made her triumphant debut with this delicately drawn but emotionally powerful portrait of a woman’s extraordinary journey of the heart and soul-a timeless story of love, sisterhood, and the hope that emerges even out of heartbreak....
Una Cavan doesn’t believe in ghosts. But ghosts seem to believe in her. At least, her father’s ghost does, walking into and out of her life as casually as if he were entering and exiting a room. Una has always believed the Cavan women had the power of witches, and from the beaches of Connecticut to the bustle of New York City they’ve shared the special unbreakable bond of sisters. No man has been able to come between them…until Lily marries the “perfect” man and begins to drift away and Margo gets engaged. With another failed relationship behind her, and a thriving career as an actress ahead of her, Una wonders if she’s destined to be alone-or if there isn’t something more, something magical that life has in store for her. Then an unexpected encounter gives her the answer she’s been seeking….
Review: A nice, light read. While it definitely isn't my favorite Rice book, she is one of my absolute favorite writers and I would recommend this book to anyone who's a fan of hers.
#13
Title: Moby-Dick
Author: Herman Melville
Pages: 427
Grade: B-
Reason: For school
Summary: Ishmael decides to go whaling and ends up on the Pequod, which is captained by a raving lunatic by the name of Ahab. Ahab is manically seeking Moby Dick, the whale that took off his leg.
Review: Melville's language is a joy to read, but the novel goes by really slowly because of the many, many chapters focusing on the science of whales and whaling. It's a good book to have read, but you really have to take your time with it.
#14
Title: Sense and Sensibility
Author: Jane Austen
Pages: 349
Grade: B
Reason: For school
Summary: Jane Austen’s first published novel, Sense and Sensibility is a wonderfully entertaining tale of flirtation and folly that revolves around two starkly different sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. While Elinor is thoughtful, considerate, and calm, her younger sister is emotional and wildly romantic. Both are looking for a husband, but neither Elinor’s reason nor Marianne’s passion can lead them to perfect happiness-as Marianne falls for an unscrupulous rascal and Elinor becomes attached to a man who’s already engaged.
Startling secrets, unexpected twists, and heartless betrayals interrupt the marriage games that follow. Filled with satiric wit and subtle characterizations, Sense and Sensibility teaches that true love requires a balance of reason and emotion.
Review: This was a decently interesting book. Austen's verbosity can be tiresome, but it also lends to nice descriptions. I have a really difficult time remembering that in 1811, women's place in society was much different, and I find myself getting angry at the attitude that women are less important than men. The story was engaging, most of the time, but reading "And then we visited this house, and then this house" for 349 pages got dull. I liked the characters of Elinor and Marianne, and somewhat fell in love with the stodgy Colonel Brandon.
#15
Title: Story of a Girl
Author: Sara Zarr
Pages: 192
Grade: A-
Reason: For school
Summary: From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 9 Up-When Deanna's father catches her having sex in a car when she is 13, her life is drastically changed. Two years later, he still can't look her in the eye, and though Tommy is the only boy she's been with, she is branded the school slut. Her entire family watches her as though she is likely to sleep with anyone she sees, and Tommy still smirks at and torments her when she sees him. Her two best friends have recently begun dating, and Deanna feels like an intruder. She tries to maintain a close relationship with her older brother, but Darren and his girlfriend are struggling as teenage parents. Deanna learns to protect herself by becoming outwardly tough, but feels her isolation acutely. Her only outlet is her journal in which she writes the story of an anonymous girl who has the same experiences and feelings that she does. Through this, readers see the potential that Deanna cannot identify in herself. This is a heartbreaking look at how a teenager can be defined by one mistake, and how it shapes her sense of self-worth. This is realistic fiction at its best. Zarr's storytelling is excellent; Deanna's reactions to the painful things said to her will resonate with any reader who has felt like an outsider. It is an emotionally charged story, with language appropriate to the intensity of the feelings. Story of a Girl is recommended for both teens and the adults who live and work with them.
Review: This was an enjoyable book. I think I would have liked it better if it were longer...the end seemed really abrupt, even if the loose ends did get nicely tied. There are a lot of things I would have liked to see developed further. But all in all, it was a good story of a teenage girl who messed up and is still paying the price three years later. Recommended.
Next Up:
Englist Lit: Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
American Lit: Daisy Miller by Henry James
Young Adult Lit: Knights of the Hill Country by Tim Tharp
Pleasure: Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah; Light of the Moon by Luanne Rice