The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Chbosky, Stephen. The Perks of Being a Wallflower. MTV Books/Pocket Books, 1999. 213 pages. ISBN-10: 0671027344. ISBN-13: 978-0671027346.

Plot:

15-year-old Charlie is afraid to start his freshman year of high school. His best friend has committed suicide, his brother is away at college, and he and his sister are no longer as close as they once were. On top of this, Charlie has emotional problems that make it difficult for him to relate to people. To cope with everything, he begins to write letters to an anonymous recipient that he heard was a good listener. Charlie’s letters detail his experience with his family, friends, and the new people he meets. He writes about his Advanced English teacher, who gives him extra reading and encourages him to share his ideas. He reveals information about his family’s past and how it affects who they are now. He writes about learning to “participate” in life and his difficulties with doing so. Perhaps the biggest focus of his letters is his new friendship with two seniors, Patrick and Sam. He loves them both and they are an important part of helping him deal with his life, as well as figure out where he fits in. Charlie changes a lot throughout the course of his letters, but he is faithful in relating every experience along the way.

Critical Evaluation:

The most interesting aspect of this book is the format in which it was written. By choosing to write it as a series of letters to an anonymous recipient, Chbosky personalizes the story in a way that traditional narrative or even journal style could not. It allows readers to truly feel as if Charlie is speaking directly to them. Chbosky also chooses to eschew proper grammar and sentence structure in many instances, but it’s obvious that this is a stylistic choice meant to convey a more authentic teenage voice rather than simply a mistake or poor writing.

There is a sinister undercurrent to this book, which really shows Charlie struggling with emotional issues due to the death of his aunt and (as we later find out) her sexual abuse of him. Charlie seems much younger than his actual age. He’s shy and unconventional, but also socially and emotionally delayed in many ways. Though the content is more appropriate for older teens, Charlie is a character to which younger teens could probably more easily relate. Despite being written almost more than a decade ago, most of the characters could easily have been created today. The parties, friendships, relationships, and other experiences Charlie has ring true.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower has been considered a modern young adult classic since its publication in 1999. It’s the epitome of a coming-of-age novel. Just as my generation loved it when it was published, current and future generations will enjoy and relate to it, as well.

Reader's Annotation:

15-year-old Charlie relates the ups and downs of his freshman year of high through letters written to an unknown recipient.

Author Information:

Stephen Chbosky was born January 25, 1970 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended public school in St. Clair, Pennsylvania at a high school that is a three times nominated Blue Ribbon school. He then attended the University of Southern California as part of their screen writing program. He has worked as a screen writer on a handful of films including Rent, the television series Jericho, and his first film The Four Corners of Nowhere, in which he also acted and directed.

Though he has written several screenplays and edited a collection of short stories, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is his only novel. It is semi-autobiographical and also deeply influenced by Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye. His writing is also influenced by the works of Tennessee Williams, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Stewart Stern, the screen writer for Rebel Without A Cause.

Genre:

Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties:

English: Writing Style, Journaling

Booktalking Ideas:

• Discuss who you think Charlie is writing to and if it really matters.
• Discuss whether their situation determines the person or the person determines their situation.
• Introduce Charlie and the book plot in letter form.

Reading Level/Interest Age:

15 and older

Challenge Issues:

Depiction of homosexuality
Profanity
Sexual content
Drug, alcohol and tobacco Use
Suicide
Molestation
Rape

Challenge Defense Ideas:

• Require the challenger to fill out a written challenge form with clear reasons stated and examples given.
• If not already familiar with the content, become familiar.
• Refer the challenger to the library's collection policy.
• Refer the challenger to reputable reviews of the books, as well as reviews by those in the book's target audience.

Reasons for Selection:

This is one of the more well-known YA books of modern times. It is also being adapted for a film in 2011.

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Elkeles, Simone. Perfect Chemistry. Walker Books for Young Readers, 2008. 368 pages. ISBN-10: 0802798233. ISBN-13: 978-0802798237.

Plot:

On the surface, Brittany and Alex couldn’t be more different. She is a popular cheerleader, from perfect family on the rich side of town, and part of the school’s golden couple. He is a member of the Latino Blood gang, poor, and dangerous. When the two are paired up as lab partners, they are both unhappy with the situation. To prove himself, Alex makes a bet with his friends that he can get Brittany to have sex with him by Thanksgiving. As the two get to know each other, they start to see that their perceptions were very wrong. Brittany’s family is actually pretty dysfunctional and her perfect exterior is her defense to hide that. Alex is actually a smart boy who longs to go to college, but is trapped in the gang in order to help his family. As they discover more about each other, they begin to fall in love. Their friends and family aren’t ready to accept them as a couple, however. As Brittany’s family situation spins out of control and Alex is forced to go deeper into the gang life, they’re not sure if their love will survive.

Critical Evaluation:

Perfect Chemistry is a pretty predictable novel. The storyline isn’t especially original. The good girl and the bad boy who hate each other but slowly fall in love has been done many times over. The characters are stereotypical, both on the surface and underneath. She’s the “perfect” girl with the difficult home life. He’s the bad boy who wants to escape his circumstances and better himself. They’re also very frustrating at the start of the novel. The ending of the story isn’t especially shocking or original. Despite all this, Perfect Chemistry is a sweet and engaging read. Presenting it in alternating viewpoints allows the reader insight into each of the characters, especially since they hide so much from each other and the world around them. After the initial frustration, the characters become endearing as they fall in love, almost as if their love is what redeems them both. It’s impossible to not cheer them on as they take on a world that isn’t ready to accept them for who they are and certainly isn’t ready to accept them being together. They encounter what should be extremely dangerous and almost impossible challenges, but the ending is tied up neatly. Rather than being annoying in its lack of realism, the ending is satisfying. This is a touching and romantic read; realism isn’t necessary.

Reader's Annotation:

Brittany and Alex come from vastly different backgrounds, but fall in love after being paired as chemistry lab partners.

Author Information:

Simone Elkeles was born and raised near Chicago, where many of her books take place. She attended the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign where she received a degree in Psychology in 1992. She then went on to attend Loyola University-Chicago to study Industrial Relations. Following graduation, she worked creating diversity programs for a manufacturing company.

Her first book was published in 2006. She writes solely for young adults because she enjoys writing about the excitement of teenage love and romance. She tries her best to make sure her characters and situations are realistic, including actually spending time in a juvenile detention center to research her Leaving Paradise series.

Genre:

Romance

Curriculum Ties:

English: A modern comparison to Romeo and Juliet.

Booktalking Ideas:

• Discuss the idea of stereotypes and first impressions.
• Talk about being trapped by your situations and deciding to break free.
• Discuss the similarities between Brittany's life and Alex's life.

Reading Level/Interest Age:

15 and older

Challenge Issues:

Profanity
Sexual content
Violence
Gang activity
Drug and alcohol use

Challenge Defense Ideas:

• Require the challenger to fill out a written challenge form with clear reasons stated and examples given.
• If not already familiar with the content, become familiar.
• Refer the challenger to the library's collection policy.
• Refer the challenger to reputable reviews of the books, as well as reviews by those in the book's target audience.

Reasons for Selection:

I was first attracted to this book because of the alternating narrator style in which is is written. It's a sweet twist on the Romeo and Juliet plot-line, but written for modern audiences.

The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Salinger, J.D. The Catcher in the Rye. Little, Brown and Company, 1951. 277 pages. ISBN-10: 0241001870. ISBN-13: 978-0241001875.

Plot:

Holden Caulfield recounts his experiences during a December weekend the previous year. Due to his failing grades, he has been kicked out of yet another boarding school. Instead of waiting for the semester to end, he decides to spend the weekend in New York hiding from his parents. He takes a train in the middle of the night and ends up at a dodgy hotel. After arriving, he spends his time drinking and dancing with tourists in a bar. He is lonely and hires a prostitute, but after seeing her he decides he only wants to talk. She finds him weird and leaves, but Holden pays her anyway. Later she returns with her pimp, demanding more money. They beat up Holden and take the money, so Holden decides to leave the hotel. He spends the next few days wondering around the city, visiting with old friends and attempting to meet up with his younger sister, Pheobe. Eventually he decides to sneak into her room to talk to her, but leaves before his parents can discover him. He then visits an old teacher, but after deciding that the teacher is coming on to him, Holden runs yet again. He decides he will leave for good and head out west alone, but Pheobe has other plans.

Critical Evaluation:

The Catcher in the Rye is a classic for a reason. Despite being written more than fifty years ago, the dead-on teenage voice and attitude is something to which readers of any time period have been able to relate. Salinger captures teenage apathy and idealism perfectly. The stream of consciousness writing and stylistic choices he makes result in a narrative that feels as if the reader is sitting with Holden and listening to him tell his story. Though it might seem as if writing it in that way is a result of laziness, The Catcher in the Rye is expertly crafted.

Everything and nothing happens in this novel. Holden spends three days wandering New York where many of his experiences aren’t incredibly out of the ordinary. It’s his commentary and restlessness while engaging in the activities, along with the extreme importance he attaches to even the most mundane of occurrences, that make it feel as if there is more involved in the weekend than what really happens. This weightiness is unsurprising given that Holden is narrating the experience from a year later, after being hospitalized immediately after that weekend. It also falls in line with the adolescent feeling that every experience and every thought is of the utmost importance. Because of the voice of this character, it is appropriate that this is considered one of the first young adult novels ever.

Reader's Annotation:

After failing out of yet another prep school, Holden Caulfield decides to spend the weekend hiding in New York to avoid being around when his parents find out. He spends his time drinking, looking up old friends, and expounding on his theories on life.

Author Information:

J.D Salinger was born January 1, 1919 and died at the age of 91 on January 27, 2010. He was raised in Manhattan and attended both public and private schools before transferring to Valley Forge Military Academy, where he first started writing short stories. He then attended New York University to study Special Education, but soon dropped out. After a stint working in meat-packing in Austria and attending two more colleges, Salinger began submitting his short stories for publication. In 1942, he was drafted into the Army and was present at Utah Beach on D-Day.

After the war, Salinger returned to his writing. The Catcher in the Rye was published in 1951. The novel was both lauded and vilified, but by the late 50s it was wildly popular, especially among teenagers. The success of the novel and the attention it earned him was overwhelming to Salinger. He withdrew from the public and his writing suffered as he began to publish fewer and fewer stories. Later in life he was involved in several lawsuits involving biographers and copyright violators, including an author who wrote a novel about Holden Caulfield as an adult.

Genre:

Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties:

English: Writing Style

Booktalking Ideas:

• Discuss what Holden means when he calls so many people "phonies"
• Read the first paragraph and then introduce Holden in character
• Talk about how this has simultaneously been the most challenged and most taught book

Reading Level/Interest Age:

14 and older

Challenge Issues:

Unsuitable role model
Profanity
Sexual content
Blasphemy
Undermining of family values
Encouragement of rebellion
Alcohol and tobacco use
Association with high profile murders

Challenge Defense Ideas:

• Require the challenger to fill out a written challenge form with clear reasons stated and examples given.
• If not already familiar with the content, become familiar.
• Refer the challenger to the library's collection policy.
• Refer the challenger to reputable reviews of the books, as well as reviews by those in the book's target audience.

Reasons for Selection:

It has been credited with helping create the category of young adult literature. It still remains one of the most popular YA novels.

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

Yancey, Rick. The Mostrumologist. Simon and Schuster, 2009. 448 pages. ISBN-10: 1416984488. ISBN-13: 978-1416984481.

Plot:

After his parents death, 12-year-old Will Henry was taken in my his father’s employer, Dr. Warthrop. Dr. Warthrop is a monstrumologist - someone who studies and hunts monsters - and Will Henry becomes his assistant. He has seen many things that he never believe he would, but when Erasmus Gray, a local man, arrives in the middle of the night with a gruesome discovery, Will Henry’s life becomes considerably more dangerous. The man has discovered a dead Anthropophagus, a terrifying monster that survives by eating humans. Dr. Warthrop is shocked, because it is a creature that is only seen in Africa. Dr. Warthrop believes there can’t be many more live ones around, but when he, Will, and Erasmus are attacked, resulting in Erasmus’s death, they discover that there is a massive pack of them living under the cemetery. Through he already suspects the cause of their appearance in America, Dr. Warthrop sets out to discover exactly where they came from and how to destroy them. Before he can do so, they viciously attack and slaughter a family, leaving behind only one boy. Dr. Warthrop is then forced to involve the local police and a notorious monster hunter to kill the monsters before they can attack anyone else. In the process, Will Henry’s life in endangered, leaving him to wonder whether the creatures were the only monsters or if men can be monsters, too.

Critical Evaluation:

Monstrumologist is beautifully written, well-plotted, and full of interesting characters and fascinating situations. It is also far too long. It isn’t even the length itself that is so daunting, but rather the density of that length. Unfortunately, this means that only the most intrepid of readers will be exposed to this otherwise wonderful novel. If they do finish the book, though, they will have experienced a many-layered story with an excellent ending.

The novel would certainly fall under the umbrella of gothic horror with its eccentric characters, dark situations, and metaphorical monsters challenging the actual monsters. It is gruesome; there were scenes, such as that with the maggots, where I had to skim in order to finish them. The violence and macabre descriptions aren’t gratuitous, but instead serve to further the plot. The story wouldn’t be complete without them.

Rick Yancey is a very talented writer. His prose is reminiscent of more classic novels, but not so much that it won’t still appeal to modern readers. He successfully conveys the voice of an elderly man recounting the story of his youth to a new generation. Choosing to frame his story in this manner lends it a feeling of “truth.“ It also allows him the ability of omniscience in certain situations, which creates a suspenseful atmosphere appropriate to the horror of the subject matter. Though the middle of his book is sometimes difficult to wade through, it is worth it for both the beautiful writing and the ending.

Reader's Annotation:

After being orphaned by a fire, Will Henry is taken in by his father's former employer, Dr. Pellinore Warthrop. Dr. Warthrop has an unusual and dangerous profession and he expects Will Henry to help.

Author Information:

Rick Yancey was born in Florida and has spent most of his life there. He attended Roosevelt University in Chicago and majored in English. After graduating, he returned to Florida where he was a part time teacher and worked in theater. He then took a job as a field officer for the Internal Revenue Service, where he worked for 10 years. He had always wanted to be a writer, however, so he decided to pursue that dream with working for the IRS.

His first book was published in 2004. It’s a memoir of his years working for the IRS and has been named by the Wall Street Journal as one of the 5 best books on taxes ever written. He followed this by a novel for adults before moving on to writing for young adults. He has written 2 series for young adults and another series for adults.

Genre:

Horror

Curriculum Ties:

English: Plot Development, Writing Style, Character Development

Booktalking Ideas:

• Explain what monstrumology is.
• Discuss whether or not the creatures were the only "monsters" in the book
• Discuss Will Henry's and Dr. Warthrop's relationship

Reading Level/Interest Age:

14 and older

Challenge Issues:

Violence
Graphic and nauseating content

Challenge Defense Ideas:

• Require the challenger to fill out a written challenge form with clear reasons stated and examples given.
• If not already familiar with the content, become familiar.
• Refer the challenger to the library's collection policy.
• Refer the challenger to reputable reviews of the books, as well as reviews by those in the book's target audience.

Reasons for Selection:

It was the 2010 winner of the Michael L. Printz Honor Award.

Cry-baby (Movie)

Cry-baby. Universal Studios, 1990.
Cast: Johnny Depp, Ricki Lake, Amy Locane, Susan Tyrrell, Polly Bergen.
Director: John Waters.
Rating: PG-13.
Length: 85 minutes.
ASIN: B0009IOR6Q

Plot:

In 1954 Baltimore, the town is divided between the Squares and the Drapes. The Drapes are led by Wade “Cry-Baby” Walker, named for his ability to shed a single tear. One day after school, Cry-Baby is approached by Allison, a Square who is tired of being good. He comes by her house to take her to Turkey Point, the hangout for the Drapes, which is owned by Cry-Baby’s grandmother. Despite her disapproval, Allison’s grandmother allows her to go. While there, Allison gets a “bad girl” makeover by Cry-Baby’s friends. While Cry-Baby and Allison are kissing, Allison’s jealous boyfriend, Baldwin, and his friends attack Turkey Point and the police break everything up, arresting Allison and the Drapes. Allison is released, but Cry-Baby is sent to juvenile hall. Allison swears to be loyal to him, but changes her mind after Lenore, a Drape with a crush on Cry-Baby, claims to be pregnant with his child. Allison then goes back to Baldwin, while Lenore decides to claim that she is a Square, as well. Her grandmother and the Drapes convince Allison that Cry-Baby is really the boy for her and they all set out to convince the judge to release him from juvenile hall.

Critical Evaluation:

John Waters created a cult classic with Cry-baby. This hilarious tongue-in-cheek musical good-naturedly mocks more traditional films such as Grease, West Side Story, and The Outsiders. The story is a familiar one, that of the good girl falling for the bad boy and both of them being redeemed in the process, but with an irreverent take on everything from their relationship to the reaction of the town. The characters are caricatures with often ridiculous dialogue, but they never fail to entertain. The movie invites the viewer to laugh along with it as it makes fun of the genre, the time period, the storyline, and even itself. It’s evident that the cast is having fun with the performance, but they’re still taking their parts seriously. Johnny Depp and Amy Locane manage to take what could have been over-the-top characters and play them with a sincerity that balances the humor perfectly.

Though the music could have easily been overshadowed by the story, the songs stand on their own. They’re catchy, fun, and advance the plot rather than distracting from it. The combination of rockabilly, doo-wop, and 50s pop leave the viewer wanting to sing and dance along. Johnny Depp’s dancing and James Intveld’s singing are reminiscent of Elvis and offer another throwback to the 50s. This parody of typical teen musicals is something teens will definitely appreciate.

Annotation:

Allison, a Square is tired of being good when she meets and falls in love with Wade “Cry-baby” Walker, a Drape from the wrong side of town.

Director Information:

John waters was born April 22, 1946 in Baltimore, Maryland. As a child, he saw the movie Lili, which spawned his interest in puppets. Growing up, he also loved violent and gory movies and would often watch adult-only movies playing at the drive-in by using binoculars. Both of these had a large effect on his film-making as an adult. He attended NYU for film-making, but was unsatisfied with the program and quickly left.

He made his first film at the age of 18. He would go on to write 16 more films and direct 15 of those. His films are almost always set in his hometown of Baltimore and often are cast with the same core group of actors, including his childhood friend, the drag queen Divine. Another childhood friend, Mary Vivian Pearce, has appeared in every one of his movies. His core group of actors is referred to as Dreamlanders, named after his production company Dreamland Productions.

Genre:

Movie: Musical Comedy

Curriculum Ties:

Music: 1950s Music
Theater: Musicals

Movie Talking Ideas:

• Describe the Squares and the Drapes.
• Compare Cry-baby to Baldwin.
• Discuss the evolution of Allison's character.
• Focus on its satirization traditional teen musicals.

Interest Age:

13 and older

Challenge Issues:

Teen pregnancy
Tobacco use
Delinquency
Casting of Traci Lords

Challenge Defense Ideas:

• Require the challenger to fill out a written challenge form with clear reasons stated and examples given.
• If not already familiar with the content, become familiar.
• Refer the challenger to the library's collection policy.
• Refer the challenger to reputable reviews of the books, as well as reviews by those in the book's target audience.

Reasons for Selection:

This movie was first shown to me when I was 17 and I've loved it ever since. It remains one of my favorite films from my teen years.

Nightwood by Patricia Windsor

Windsor, Patricia. Nightwood. Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2006. 256 pages. ISBN-10: 0385903316. ISBN-13: 978-0385903318.

Plot:

Rather than go on the class trip to Washington, D.C., Casey, Gena, and Maryann decide to skip and spend a week in a cabin on the lake. They think it will be a harmless week of parent-free fun; Casey hopes to meet her boyfriend who will be there fishing. After they arrive at the lake, weird things start happening. A cabin full of mutilated animals is found, prompting the local sheriff’s son to investigate a string of similar incidences across the south. A local boy goes missing and another out-of-towner is attacked.

The girls are oblivious to what is happening until the day they decide to visit Casey’s boyfriend and his friends. They arrive only to discover that one of his friends is missing. While searching for him, they stumble upon the mangled body of the missing local boy instead. The girls decide to go back to their cabin and leave the boys to deal with the police, but while on the way back a storm begins, causing Gena to fall out of the boat. The other two girls decide to go back to the cabin and wait the storm out before looking for her. Unfortunately, someone else finds her before they can. The deranged killer has a plan and he will deal with anyone who gets in his way, including the girls.

Critical Evaluation:

This book is written with alternating narrators, which allows the reader to have information the characters do not. This lends a feeling of suspense and dread, as the reader is able to connect events that are occurring in multiple places. Windsor’s descriptions of the mutilation and violence are sparse, leaving most of it up to the reader’s imagination. The setting is appropriately remote and the perfect combination of idyllic and sinister. This all comes together to create a creepy atmosphere perfect for the events.

The story actually has substance, too. The smaller plots involving the relationship between the sheriff and his son or those of the girls’ home lives flesh out what would otherwise be a stereotypical teen slasher. Including the point of view of the killer in a way that can almost make him sympathetic at times is an interesting and effective choice. Any time the reader begins to feel sorry for the killer, the feeling of horror intensifies once we are reminded of what he has done. Unfortunately, the book does suffer from the fatal flaw of many in the genre: an unsatisfying ending. Windsor attempts to add a twist, but does so in a way that is confusing rather than shocking. Aside from that mistake, however, the book is a scary and entertaining read.

Reader's Annotation:

Six teenagers head to the lake for a relaxing week only to be terrorized by a dangerous killer.

Author Information:

Patricia Windsor was born in New York on September 21, 1938 and died July 1, 2010. She began writing as a child and submitted several of her pieces to Seventeen magazine. After receiving 35 rejection notices from them by the time she graduated from high school, she decided that writing was not the career for her. Instead, she studied dance at Bennington College and Westchester Community College. After graduation, however, she began work as an editor and copywriter working for both Mademoiselle magazine and Harper and Row.

Her first novel was published in 1973. She has since written 16 more novels, the last being Nightwood published in 2006. Her books tend to have elements of mystery, the supernatural and horror. She has received several awards including the Edgar Allan Poe Award.

Genre:

Horror

Curriculum Ties:

None

Booktalking Ideas:

• Discuss the points of view of each of the characters as the story unfolds.
• Compare the three girls' personalities.
• Read the first short chapter as a teaser about the killer.

Reading Level/Interest Age:

15 and older

Challenge Issues:

Violence
Profanity
Alcohol and drug use

Challenge Defense Ideas:

• Require the challenger to fill out a written challenge form with clear reasons stated and examples given.
• If not already familiar with the content, become familiar.
• Refer the challenger to the library's collection policy.
• Refer the challenger to reputable reviews of the books, as well as reviews by those in the book's target audience.

Reasons for Selection:

Many teens really enjoy horror as a genre. This book contains all the traditional elements of the teen slasher genre, but with a moral complication.

The Maze Runner (The Maze Runner Trilogy #1) by James Dashner

Dashner, James.. The Maze Runner. Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2009. 384 pages. ISBN-10: 0385907028. ISBN-13: 978-0385907026.

Plot:

Thomas first wakes up in a dark elevator below The Glade with no memory other than his name. He is pulled out by a group of boys around his age who all arrived in The Glade in the same manner. Every thirty days for the last 2 years a new boy has arrived. They learn to live together, surviving by farming the land and using the supplies that periodically arrive from the same mysterious elevator. Surrounding The Glade is a large and dangerous maze that several of the boys spend each day exploring. These “runners,” as they’re called, are attempting to find a way out. They must return each night before the doors close or risk being caught out in The Maze at night with its deadly nocturnal inhabitants. Thomas decides that he needs to become a runner and, partly through a heroic act, manages to maneuver himself into that position.

Quickly following Thomas’s arrival, a girl, Theresa, appears in the elevator. She is the first girl ever and bears a message saying that she will be the last person sent and that things are about to change. Thomas immediately feels a connection with this girl and soon learns that they can communicate telepathically. Her arrival triggers a change in The Maze. The doors no longer close and those living in The Glade are now victim to the creatures that live in The Maze. They soon decide that they will make a run for it and try to escape The Maze as a group. Though they know it will be a dangerous mission and they aren’t sure that what awaits them outside The Maze is any better than being in it, the boys and Theresa decide they will risk it to escape their imprisonment in The Glade.

Critical Evaluation:

Dashner’s characters and setting descriptions are adequate, but the unfolding of the mystery is where his talent truly lies. From the opening paragraph the reader is hooked. He is able to slowly reveal answers to the many questions the story brings about, but each answer introduces a whole new set of questions. There is very little extraneous detail, so the story moves at a quick pace that fits the urgency of the characters’ situation, especially towards the end of the book. He also manages a tight and suspenseful feeling that keeps the reader engaged until the very end. The ending is abrupt, but in a way that leaves the reader immediately hungry for the next book in the series.

Thomas is the only character that is truly well-developed, but the other characters aren't completely flat. His relationship with Theresa and where the two of them came from is one of the more interesting aspects of the book. He’s a relatable character, especially in that despite making numerous mistakes and hiding many secrets, he’s sincere and good. It will certainly be exciting to see where he will go from here.

Reader's Annotation:

Trapped, with no memory, and surrounded by a maze designed to kill them, Thomas and the boys who arrived in the Glade before him are desperate to find a way out and back home. When a girl arrives - the first ever - she brings a message that changes everything.

Author Information:

James Dashner was born in Georgia in 1972. He attended Brigham Young University and now lives in Utah with his wife and children. In 2003, he published his first book, A Door in the Woods. This, as well as the rest of the his Jimmy Fincher series, were done with a small publishing company out of Utah. His dream has always been to be a full time author, which he was able to accomplish in 2008 with the publication of his second series of books.

His inspiration comes from many places, including his own childhood. He based part of the relationship between Tick and his parents in The 13th Reality series on his own relationship with his parents. He also names many of his characters after people in his own life or people he admires, whether real or fictional.

Genre:

Science Fiction

Curriculum Ties:

Logic: Solving of Problems and Puzzles
English: Plot Development

Booktalking Ideas:

• Read the first page and talk about waking up with no memory of where you came from or how you got there.
• Present it as one of the runners returning for the day.
• Describe The Glade, The Maze, and The Grievers.

Reading Level/Interest Age:

14 and older

Challenge Issues:

Violence

Challenge Defense Ideas:

• Require the challenger to fill out a written challenge form with clear reasons stated and examples given.
• If not already familiar with the content, become familiar.
• Refer the challenger to the library's collection policy.
• Refer the challenger to reputable reviews of the books, as well as reviews by those in the book's target audience.

Reasons for Selection:

I read a profile of the author that mentioned the trilogy. I was interested in reading the books after seeing a teaser for the plot.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7) by J.K. Rowling

Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Arthur A. Levine Books, 2007. 784 pages. ISBN-10: 0545010225. ISBN-13: 978-0545010221.

Plot:

Harry has been left a task by Dumbledore: find and destroy the Horcruxes to defeat Voldemort. After fleeing Ron’s brother’s wedding, Harry, Ron, and Hermione set off to search the country for the remaining Horcruxes. The only problem is that they don’t know what they are, let alone where they are or how to destroy them. The three spend months on the run as they try to figure out what to do. They receive help from some unlikely places, including a goblin, Dobby the house elf, and some former classmates. Harry also learns more about his past and that of Dumbledore. Despite many near misses and one wild escape from the Death Eaters, the three friends eventually discover all the Horcruxes, including one hidden at Hogwarts.

After arriving back at Hogwarts they find that many things have changed under the leadership of Snape. One thing remains the same, however. Many at the school still support Harry and are willing to join him in the fight against Voldemort. This is made very clear when Voldemort and the Death Eaters attack Hogwarts. Harry, his friends, and many of the students and staff of Hogwarts take a stand against Voldemort. It’s been building for seven books and the final battle comes down to Harry and Voldmort while everyone learns what it means that “Neither can live with the other survives.”

Critical Evaluation:

Rowling outdoes herself in this epic finale to the Harry Potter series. It’s evident that she has thoroughly planned every detail of the series. Plot points, character traits and story lines from the previous six novels had not been introduced in vain, as they come together to form a conclusion worthy of the series thus far. Though the novel is really two stories in one - that of the journey and that of the war - they join together in a very cohesive way and neither would form a complete picture without the other. Despite its daunting length, the novel moves along at a quick pace. There isn’t any unnecessary exposition to distract from the central plot, but there are enough side stories to fill out book.

Though the reader has watched Harry, Hermione, and Ron grow throughout the series, it is in this novel that they truly come into themselves. Their friendship isn’t always an easy one, but their loyalty and love for each other is a wonderful example for readers of any age. In their honor and willingness to fight for what they believe is right in the face of dangerous and overwhelming circumstances, Rowling has created three characters that are the very definition of hero. She is a good character writer in that even her lesser characters are well-developed and substantive. She also doesn’t hesitate to kill a beloved character when it is necessary to the story, something that should be respected as many authors are afraid to do so. The characters and the plot complement each other rather than it seeming as if one is only there to support the other. This excellent finale exceeded my already high expectations.

Reader's Annotation:

In the final book of the series, Harry Potter and his friends set out to defeat Lord Voldemort once and for all.

Author Information:

J.K. Rowling was born on July 31, 1965. She began writing fantasy stories as a child, the first of which she remembers creating at the age of five. She was an avid reader and has said that the character of Hermione is based on herself as a child. She attended college at Exeter where she studied French and the Classics. After receiving her degree, she worked as a bilingual secretary and a researcher for Amnesty international. Following the death of her mother in 1990, Rowling moved to Portugal to teach English. While there, she married and had a child. After her daughter’s birth, she and her husband divorced and she and her daughter moved to Edinburgh, Scotland. Her famous rags to riches story is based on what happened while she was there. She was living off welfare and struggling with depression while she finished the first of the Harry Potter books. She used her depression, her grief over her mother, and instances from her childhood as inspiration for her novels.

Today, Rowling is one of the most famous authors in the world. She is the first person to become a billionaire by United States standards solely through writing novels and is the second wealthiest female entertainer in the world. She's been credited with helping revitalize the young adult genre and making reading a popular pastime for children and young adults again. Her books have won countless awards and been translated into 67 languages. They have spawned a series of movies, video games, clothing lines, numerous products, and even an amusement park.

Genre:

Fantasy

Curriculum Ties:

English: Plot Development, Creative Writing
Mythology: Allusions to Mythology/Mythological Archetypes

Booktalking Ideas:

• Focus on the friendship between Harry, Hermione, and Ron and what that has meant for the over the past 7 years.
• Discuss the prophecy “neither can live while the other survives” as how it pertains to the final book.
• Focus on the connection between Voldemort and Harry.
• Acting as each of the characters, discuss the mission that starts the book.

Reading Level/Interest Age:

12 and older

Challenge Issues:

Witchcraft/Magic/The Occult
Violence
Anti-government
Anti-family
Anti-religion
Poor role models

Challenge Defense Ideas:

• Require the challenger to fill out a written challenge form with clear reasons stated and examples given.
• If not already familiar with the content, become familiar.
• Refer the challenger to the library's collection policy.
• Refer the challenger to reputable reviews of the books, as well as reviews by those in the book's target audience.

Reasons for Selection:

This is a wildly popular series with many age groups. The movie based on this final book is being released this fall. It's also one of my favorite series.

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

Doctorow, Cory. Little Brother. Tor Teen, 2008. 384 pages. ISBN-10: 0765319853. ISBN-13: 978-0765319852.

Plot:

17-year-old Marcus and his friends decide to skip school to participate in an online scavenger hunt, which results in them being on the streets of San Francisco when a terrorist group attacks. As they look for help for his friend Darryl who was stabbed in the melee, they’re all taken captive by the Department of Homeland Security. They spend days in a detention facility where Marcus is interrogated, tortured, and threatened into silence before they are finally released, without Darryl. They then discover that San Francisco has turned into a police state. Marcus and his friends decide they’re going to take on the DHS for what they did to them and Darryl.

Marcus uses technology to organize a group of teenagers to fight back against the DHS and the tracking tools they’re using. As he does this, his relationship with his friends becomes more and more strained until they become too afraid to continue helping him. Marcus is left with only the help of his new girlfriend Ange and the army of faceless teenagers who are quickly getting out of control. As the DHS closes in, Marcus decides that he’s unable to handle it all alone anymore and reveals what happened to his parents and a journalist. This only serves to further anger the DHS and Marcus soon learns that he has nowhere else to hide. He can only hope that telling his story can help him before it’s too late.

Critical Evaluation:

I hadn’t expected to enjoy this book as much as I did. I went into it biased because of the description and subject matter, but found myself reading it voraciously after the first chapter. Doctorow manages to weave together an interesting story, descriptions of a large amount of technology, and a political message in such a way that each only serves to enhance each aspect. Marcus could have easily been written as a cipher or fallen flat, but instead he’s a deep and complex character. He’s also a character to which many readers can relate, whether they have the same rebellious and righteous streak that he does or not. Doctorow gives him foolhardy fearlessness that comes with youth and believing in your cause, but also a vulnerability that adds tension to the reading.

The inclusion of descriptions a vast number of technologies is another area where the book could easily have become dry and unreadable, but instead Doctorow explains them in a way that is both easy to understand and incredibly interesting. In fact, I found some of the technology so fascinating that I was inspired to do more research on the subject myself. It’s a great way to introduce the reader to many of the technological options that are in use today or could be in use in the near future.

Reader's Annotation:

When Marcus and his friends decided to skip school, they had no idea they would end up being interrogated and tortured by the Department of Homeland Security in the aftermath of a terrorist attack. Now Marcus is mad and he’s going to make the DHS pay for what they did.

Author Information:

Corey Doctorow was born July 17, 1971 in Toronto, Canada. His parents were very active in many causes and Doctorow inherited that passion. As a child he campaigned for Green Peace and was involved in the movement for nuclear disarmament. He also volunteered with the Youth Challenge International. As an adult, Doctorow is a big proponent of intellectual freedom and the loosening of copyright laws.

He has written over 20 novels, anthologies, and non-fiction books many of which are licensed under Creative Commons. Technology, intellectual freedom, digital rights management, and post-scarcity economics are common themes in his books. He offers several of his books, including Little Brother, as free downloads on his website. He encourages his readers to remix his books through their Creative Commons licenses and send him the results to post.

Genre:

Science Fiction

Curriculum Ties:

Computer Science: Technology
Government: Terrorism, Freedom and Rights, Torture and Interrogation Tactics
English: Character Development, Plot Development

Booktalking Ideas:

• Introduce each of the characters using their online personas.
• Focus on the scene where they’re picked up by the DHS.
• Discuss Marcus’s idea of freedom vs. safety.
• Focus on some of the technology mentioned in the book.
  

Reading Level/Interest Age:

14 and older

Challenge Issues:

Sexual content
Profanity
Anti-government sentiment
Violence
Positive view of hacking

Challenge Defense Ideas:

• Require the challenger to fill out a written challenge form with clear reasons stated and examples given.
• If not already familiar with the content, become familiar.
• Refer the challenger to the library's collection policy.
• Refer the challenger to reputable reviews of the books, as well as reviews by those in the book's target audience.

Reasons for Selection:

It was a required reading for the class. It has also now become one of my new favorites.