A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge By Josh Neufeld December 24, 2009

Author:

Neufeld, Josh

Title:

A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge

Publisher & Date:

Pantheon, 2009

Recommended Age Range:

14 and up

Plot Summary:

A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge introduces readers to seven real-life survivors of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.

Reader Appeal:

This graphic novel would appeal to fans of nonfiction, memoir, biography, history and graphic novels such as Persepolis, Maus, The Photographer and Waltz with Bashir.

Literary Merit:

This compelling graphic novel is historically accurate and introduces readers to history, biography, first person narrative and memoir in an innovative way.  The graphic novel is only one piece of this story, as in the afterword, one learns that it was originally published online with links to “podcasts, YouTube videos, archived hurricane tracking reports,” “video and audio interviews with the characters, a Hurricane Katrina resource list, and an active blog,” available at www.smithmag.net/afterthedeluge

Personal Note:

The personal nature of this story really moved me, especially since my first trip to New Orleans was in June 2006, for the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference.  The trip remains one of the most rewarding and humbling experiences of my life.  I was only able to attend the conference and trip through an amazing program – the ALA Spectrum Scholarship.  In an effort to give back, I asked all of my friends from library school who were attending the conference if they wanted to join me in volunteering for a library clean-up project while we were out there.  About ten of us ended up helping to gut the Nora Navra Branch Library so that it could be ready for rehabbing.  The place had not been opened since the flood, so we all had to wear Tyvek suits to help with the gutting. After the gutting, we were given a secret tour of the 9th Ward, much of which was similar to scenes that Neufeld captured in “A.D.”

Neil Gaiman contest and recent reviews August 18, 2008

Sorry I’ve been such a slacker lately about posting, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been reading! Quite the contrary, in fact!

So I’ve got 2 lovely things in store for you all this month:

- an absolutely fabulous Neil Gaiman contest hosted by Fashionista Piranha:

http://fashion-piranha.livejournal.com/23000.html

- my recent book reviews hosted by Goodreads.com

http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/108634

Enjoy!

Feed by M.T. Anderson August 30, 2007

Author:

Anderson, M.T.

Title:

Feed

Publisher & Date:

Candlewick, 2002

Recommended Age Range:

14 and up

Plot Summary:

Feed introduces readers to a troubling future where everyone, who can afford it, that is, is constantly plugged in. What everyone is plugged into is not explicitly stated, but it seems to be a scary, commercial conglomerate that constantly bombards everyone with advertisements. Unfortunately, this situation seems to have grown so slowly, inconspicuously, and insidiously, that no one notices anymore. Everyone, adult, teen, or child is used to the commercialism of their lives.

The novel revolves around two main characters, Titus, who is used to this fast-paced, media-inundated lifestyle, and Violet, who got the feed installed at a relatively late age. Violet’s father was a professor who did not believe in the feed. Thus, Violet did not have the feed installed until she about seven years old. It seems that most people in Violet and Titus’ age group get the feed at birth or very early in their childhood. Violet and Titus meet during a spring break trip to the moon. While hanging out at a club, both Violet and Titus’ feeds get hacked. Titus seems mostly recovered, while Violet, perhaps as a result of her late installation, seems to degenerate further and further. Or does she? Violet starts to struggle against the feed and to grasp the last bits of real life she has ahead of her before her infected feed kills her.

Reader Appeal:

This innovative science-fiction novel and its theme of anti-consumerism and information literacy would appeal to fans of science-fiction, social responsibility, activism, and social justice. This novel would not appeal to anyone looking for romance or action. This book would also not appeal to anyone who does not have patience with annoying fake slang.

Literary Merit:

Feed is a an innovative novel that uses slang, poor grammar and limited vocabulary to place readers into the head of the main character, Titus. Everything that happens does so through Titus’ eyes, so readers experience his struggles to understand the queerness of Violet’s upbringing and beliefs. It is well-written because it works on many levels. It works at face value for reluctant readers due to its limited vocabulary, short chapters and decent amount of white space. It also works for more advanced readers due to the social implications of its anti-consumerism theme.

A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly August 17, 2007

Author:

Donnelly, Jennifer

Title:

A Northern Light

Publisher & Date:

Harcourt, 2003

Recommended Age Range:

13 and up

Plot Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Mattie Gokey has a passion for words, writing, and for her handsome neighbor, Royal Loomis.  It’s 1906.  Mattie, who lives in the North Woods of upstate New York, is the oldest of three sisters and a brother.  Mattie’s mother recently died of breast cancer and her brother has run away after a fight with her dad. Now it’s up to Mattie to handle all of the household duties and keep what’s left of the family together, as their father tries desperately to farm the uncooperative land their family has spent their little money on.  Throughout the book, Mattie struggles to balance duty and responsibility to her family and fulfilling her own personal goals.

Interweaved throughout Mattie’s personal story is the real-life story of Grace Brown, whose drowned body was found on July 12, 1906, in Big Moose Lake.  As the fictional Mattie reads Grace’s letters to her companion, Chester Gillette, she discovers as much about herself as she does about the circumstances leading to Grace’s death.

Reader Appeal:

Due to the time period this book covers and the mild way in which sexual situations are approached, this book would most likely appeal to fans of the Little House on the Prairie series, historical fiction or more conservative or prudish readers. The plot and character development in this book would also appeal to aspiring writers, those who have strict parents or those with heavy family obligations.  It would not appeal to anyone looking for science-fiction, fantasy, or action.

Artistic Merit:
This book does a decent job of introducing readers to issues of race, poverty and feminism in the early 20^th century.  The real-life details of Grace Brown’s life and death are cleverly interweaved and provide ample motivation for Mattie’s ultimate decision to leave her family to attend Barnard College in New York City.  The novel does seem like a realistic if somewhat sedate portrayal of a young woman growing up in 1906.  I did find her slow reactions to Royal’s overzealous hands somewhat troubling and her interactions with her best friend Weaver somewhat unrealistc.  The sources and suggestions for further reading are a good addition, although I am disappointed that the list lacks any books on growing up African American during that time period.

Stoner & Spaz by Ron Koertge (OR) August 17, 2007

Author:

Koertge, Ron

Title:

Stoner & Spaz

Publisher & Date:

Candlewick Press, 2002

Recommended Age Range:

14 and up

Plot Summary:

Sixteen-year-old Benjamin lives with his grandmother, walks with a limp due to his cerebral palsy, and loves to hide at the back of the historic Rialto Theatre watching classic monster films.  In a way, he’d like nothing else than to disappear.  Or at least be “normal.”  This all changes the day that drugged-out alternakid Colleen Minou decides to hide in the theatre, too, and falls asleep with her head on Ben’s shoulder.

Reader Appeal:

This book would appeal to underdogs, anti-romance romantics, dreamers, outsiders, budding filmmakers, Pasadena natives and fans of realistic fiction.  This book would also appeal those looking for a short read or a realistic portrayal of drug addiction.

Artistic Merit:

This brief but well-written novel perfectly captures a brief episode of a teen’s life in a refereshing realistic and respectful way.  The story it tells, that of two teens from different cliques coming together, is not new, but the candor with which it unfolds makes it riveting and delightfully unsappy.

The First Part Last by Angela Johnson August 4, 2007

Author:

Johnson, Angela

Title:

The First Part Last

Publisher & Date:

Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2003

Recommended Age Range:

15 and up

Plot Summary:

On his sixteenth birthday, Bobby’s girlfriend Nia presents him with a surprise that will change his life forever.  Nia is pregnant with their child.  Suddenly, Bobby must grow up fast.  He and Nia initially decide to give the baby up for adoption, but during delivery, Nia suffers from eclampsia, a potentially fatal disease that sometimes strikes pregnant women under 20 years old.  Nia ends up in a “persistent vegetative state” and Bobby decides to keep the baby, who he names Feather.  Now, Bobby must learn to be a father, while struggling to learn how to be a man.

Reader Appeal:

This sensitive portrayal of teenage pregnancy and a young man’s coming of age would appeal to boys, fans of realistic fiction, first-time parents, or those struggling with teen pregnancy themselves.  This book would not appeal to those seeking gritty suspense, mystery, urban crime, or fantasy.  

Artistic Merit:  This novel was a refreshing change from the many books and media that tend to portray urban teens as gangsters and criminals. This sensitive and moving novel was not only written in a boy’s perspective, which is rare enough, it was written with the natural dialogue of a teenager and addresses the fragility and complexity of boys’ emotional states, especially in relation to family, fatherhood, and friends.  The pacing in this book is slow and gentle, like the main character’s interactions with his baby daughter, Feather.  The story flips back and forth with chapters alternately titled “then” and “now,” to show the myriad of ways that Nia’s pregnancy and Feather’s birth have impacted Bobby’s life. This quiet, unassuming book is a meditative look at the silent strength of a young man who decides that he is ready to assume responsibility for his child.  It is a beautifully written book that reassures readers that while mistakes cannot be undone, they can still be dealt with responsibly and with love.

Getting Away with Murder: The True Story of the Emmett Till Case by Chris Crowe August 2, 2007

Author:

Crowe, Chris

Title:

Getting Away with Murder: The True Story of the Emmett Till Case

Publisher & Date:

Dial Books for Young Readers, 2003

Recommended Age Range:

13 and up

Plot Summary:

This excellent non-fiction book introduces readers to the horrifying true story of the August 1955 kidnapping and murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till.  Young Emmett was born and raised in Chicago and was visiting family in Money, Mississippi during the summer of 1955.  It was a tumultuous time in the South.  Simmering racial tensions were exacerbated by the recent ruling against segregation in the Brown vs. Board of Education case.  All of this was most likely unknown to Emmett, who had grown up in Chicago, where Jim Crow laws were not as strict.

One day, on a dare, Emmett talked to Carolyn Bryant, a white woman who worked at a convenience store.  To this day, no one knows exactly what was said, only that the woman took offense to it.  Many believe that at most, Emmett said “Bye, Baby” to Mrs. Bryant after purchasing a candy from her.  Upon hearing of Emmett’s alleged insolence, Mrs. Bryant’s husband, Roy Bryant, and his half-brother, J. W. Milam, kidnapped, beat, and tortured Emmett.  According to an interview with Bryant and Milam years later, Emmett refused to admit to wrongdoing even while being tortured, so they shot him, and threw his body into the Mississippi River.  The aftermath of the murder was even worse, as the entire town knew who had committed the crime, but rallied behind the murderers to proect the “Southern Way of Life.”  The two murderers were found not guilty of all charges by a jury of 12 white men.  The murder and its unjust aftermath was one of the strongest unifying and motivating factors in the budding civil rights movement at the time.

Reader Appeal:

Due to the non-fiction and historical nature of this book, it would most likely appeal to fans of true crime, U.S. history, African-American history, the civil rights movement, activism, and social justice.  It would also be a perfect companion to the moving civil rights documentary series “Eyes on the Prize” as this book is an extremely detailed and contextualized account of the Emmett Till case.

Artistic Merit:

 Chris Crowe’s research and writing breathes new life into Emmett Till.  Rather than focus on the grisly details of Till’s death and the case, Crowe firmly grounds Till’s entire life in the context of greater U.S. history.  Crowe’s book piques readers interest by beginning with the suspenseful details of Emmett’s kidnapping.  Then it goes on to describe the case’s impact on the budding, pre-Rosa Parks civil rights movement.  The book also sheds light on current events during the time that Emmett Till lived and talks about his hobbies, his friendships with other children, his role in his neighborhood and his relationship with his mother, giving the reader a much fuller picture of Till’s life.  The clever integration of photography and maps help to illustrate the important points of Till’s case and introduces readers to first-hand sources and archival materials.  The book’s timeline, bibliography, and lists of additional resources and further reading encourage further research into the case and on African-American history.  Ultimately, this is an empowering book about how a teenager named Emmett Till, even in death, galvanized an entire movement.

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing by M.T. Anderson July 20, 2007

Author:

Anderson, M.T.

Title:

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation

Publisher & Date:

Candlewick Press, 2006

Recommended Age Range:

16 and up

Plot Summary:

Octavian is a young African-American boy born into and living in the lap of luxury in Boston in the late 1700s.  According to his own understanding, his mother is an African queen and he a prince.  They are treated by everyone in their compound as such.  He does not discover until much, much later that he and his mother are living experiments, owned by aristocracy and tested every moment to see if dark-skinned persons are biologically and psychologically the same as light-skinned people. 

The initial coordinators of the project are kinder to he and his mother in the sense that they generally do not mean Octavian and his mother any harm to even if the experimenters ultimately believe themselves superior to them.  The same cannot be said, however, after their main benefactor dies.  The new set of funders and the overseer they hire are intent on crushing the spirits of Octavian and his mother and proving their inferiority.  Before, Octavian and his mother are mostly tested and observed.  The new overseer, however, takes it upon himself to torture them both, assign them backbreaking housework, and attempt to sell Octavian’s mother’s hand in marriage.  When she refuses and Octavian tries to protect her, he beats them both.

Reader Appeal:

This book would appeal to those interested in American history, slavery, the American revolution, politics of race and identity, and social justice.  This book would not appeal to those looking for a light read, romance, fantasy or humor.

Artistic Merit:

This dark and exquisitely written book nearly took my breath away with his heart-breaking detail and psychological revelations.  Since it is written in first person, the reader quickly empathizes with Octavian.  The reader realizes the horrors and true inhumanity of Octavian’s life seemingly at the same time that Octavian does, truly immersing the reader in his world. 

The Queen of Cool By Cecil Castellucci (OR) July 20, 2007

Author:

Castellucci, Cecil

Title:

The Queen of Cool

Publisher & Date:

Candlewick Press, 2006

Recommended Age Range:

14 and up

Plot Summary:

Libby Brin’s life seems perfect. She’s part of the popular crowd and her parents let her do pretty much anything she wants. But she’s bored. Bored of school, bored of her friends, bored of her family.  On a random impulse, she signs up to intern at a local zoo, where she is grouped with two of her seemingly uncool classmates, Tina Carpinteri, a little person, and the shy and nearly-mute Sheldon Black.  At the same time, she has to deal with disruptions to domestic peace as her father decides to quit his lucrative job to pursue his long-standing dream to write the Great American Play.  At first she hates her internship, but soon she learns that there’s more to life and adolescence than being the “queen of cool.”

Reader Appeal:

This book was a fun read and would appeal to outsiders, bored queen bees, realistic fiction and fans of the reality tv show “Little People, Big World.” This book would not appeal to fans of action, adventure, romance, or fantasy.

Artistic Merit:

The characters of Tina and Sheldon were especially well-written, while Sid seemed like an interesting character to get to know.  The character of Libby needed a bit more development, but was realistic in her hypocrisies and character flaws.  Overall, the book was an entertaining and fast read.

ttyl by Lauren Myracle (OR) July 14, 2007

Author:

Myracle, Lauren

Title:

ttyl

Publisher & Date:

Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2004

Recommended Age Range:

14 and up

Plot Summary:

On the first day of 10th grade, best friends Maddie (madmaddie), Angela (SnowAngel) and Zoe (zoegirl) vow two things: 1) that the upcoming school year is going to be fabulous and 2) that nothing is going to shake up their friendship. Of course, they have a much harder time keeping to their second vow, as boys, religious differences, and more popular friends make their way into their lives.

Reader Appeal:

The interesting format would appeal to fans of chat or instant messaging. This format may also appeal to non-traditional readers, as the book and pages are designed to resemble chat windows, thus making it seem as if there is less actual text to be read. The story itself would appeal to fans of books like the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. This book would not appeal to anyone seeking fantasy, action, romance, mystery or complex relationships.

Artistic Merit:

The chat format of the book is intriguing and creative in that the reader is able to easily digest all of the plot points put forth, but other than that, the story itself does not seem that new or interesting. While enjoyable, this book could be considered a much milder version of the Gossip Girls series as there is light discussion of teenage drinking and sexual situations.