Audio Book Review: Radiance by Alyson Noel

Radiance is a middle grade story that deals with a topic that is hard to broach with this age group: death. It can be difficult to talk about death with children, particularly in cases where the person who dies is very close to a child or where the person who dies is very young.

The main character of this story, Riley (only twelve years old), has just died along with her parents and dog. She references her life on the "Earth Plane" briefly, but does not appear to dwell on his previous life too much. Instead, her days are filled with Here and Now. She has the ability to manifest whatever she desires--clothes, money, food, excitement and entertainment. But, the novelty of this ability does not last long. Quickly, she looks for something to do. And it's not long before the The Council comes looking for her to give her a job.

She's paired with Bodhie, a teen whom she describes as "dorky," but who seems to have been cool at one time. Bodhie takes everything a little too seriously for Riley's taste, and she spares no time in telling him just how lame he is. Their conflict feels more like a sibling rivalry than a thinly disguised flirtation, which is nice in a middle grade story.

On their first mission together as "Soul Catchers,"where they try to convince souls who have remained on the Earth Plane to cross over to the other side. Riley's first assignment is one no other Soul Catcher has been able to crack, despite hundreds of attempts. Lucky for her, it involves spirits of the annoying ten year-old boy variety, a demographic she's dealt with extensively on the Earth Plane. I won't tell you what happens, but it is one of my favorite scenes!

I don't always love to read middle grade novels, but this audio book appealed to me because of the subject matter and its relevance to my life right now. My mother-in-law just passed away on Wednesday after a long battle with a variety of cancers. I listened to this book thinking that it might be of some comfort to the pre-teen nieces in my family. I think that, once they've had time to deal with their grandmother's passing, they will find solace in a vision of heaven where the elderly get to pursue all of their interests and dreams.

The reader for this novel is Kathleen McInerney and she does a wonderful job. It must be hard to find a reader who can capture the spirit and energy of a twelve year-old, but McInerney does it well. Also, this book is a quick listen at less than four hours. I can see this book being a staple of middle school libraries. I bet middle grade readers will identify with Riley and maybe even relate to some of what she goes through in the book.

Details:

Narrator: Kathleen McInerney
Length: 3 hours and 55 mins

**This audio book counts toward my participation in the 2011 Audio Book Challenge from Teresa's Reading Corner and Whisper Stories in My Ear Audio Book Challenge**

Audio Book Review: Dark Life by Kat Falls

In the futuristic world of Dark Life, the world is divided. There are those who live "Topside" or above water, and those who dwell deep under water. On land, the Commonwealth Government rules what is left of the overpopulated Earth. Due to many environmental and natural disasters, there is too little space for too many people.

Under water, life is more like the Wild West. Those who choose to farm on the ocean floor are called settlers, and they have no shortage of dangers and dangerous personalities to contend with. Ty, a teenager who was the first to be born and raised under water, loves the freedom and adventure that his life brings. His days are filled with chores, roaming the wide ocean plains, and swimming with dolphins.

Some who live Topside say that the children born under water have develop Dark Gifts, but Ty and the other children deny it. One scientist supposedly discovered a boy named Akai, who could communicate with dolphins via sonar, but this boy's existence has never been verified. Nevertheless, there is definitely a divide between those who grow up Topside and those who live under water.

The peace and thrill of Ty's life changes completely the day that he meets Gemma. Ty comes across her just after she's gotten herself into a tough situation. She went under water to find her missing brother, but didn't really have a solid idea of where she was going or the amount of danger that she could encounter under the sea. Ty saves Gemma, but is quickly drawn into her quest to find her brother, which leads them further and further into the "darker" side of Dark Life.

The reader of this audio book, Keith Nobbs, does an excellent job. He reads for all of the characters, but still managed to highlight their personalities in his reading. I think that some high schoolers, particularly those who love a good dystopia, will enjoy this book. On the whole, though, I think that this is more of a middle grade read. I was entertained by it, and liked that the subject matter got a little dark at times. The was that great middle grade balance present, between edge and innocence. There was enough material to make you think about the world developed in the story and the ethics and morals (or lack thereof), but there was no language or sexual stuff going on. Definitely middle grade.

Details:

Narrator: Keith Nobbs
Length: 7 hours and 5 mins 

**Listened to as part of Presenting Lenore's Dystopian February Celebration**

**This audio book counts toward my participation in the 2011 Audio Book Challenge from Teresa's Reading Corner and Whisper Stories in My Ear Audio Book Challenge**

Book Review + Book Giveaway: Bamboo People by Mitali Perkins

Bamboo People is the story of two young boys who are on opposite sides of the Burmese conflict. On one side is the Burmese Army, famous for abducting and abusing children to use as soldiers, and on the other side is the Karenni ethnic minority that the Burmese Army is hoping to wipe out.

This story could be very graphic, but it is not. Perkins is more suggestive of the actual horrors and tortures that happen every day in countries like Burma that use children as soldiers and slaves. I love that she addresses both sides of this conflict, and shows the two boys as afraid and fearless at the same time. They are, of course, afraid for their lives, but fearless when it comes to protecting others and maintaining some sense of humanity amongst all of the inhumanity that surrounds them.

Because I have read lots and lots about child soldiers but not a lot about the issues that Burma is facing, I was hoping for more political meat to come out in this story. My students and I have been studying Burma (or Myanmar, as most Burmese call it), and I wanted to supply them with a book that would bring further issues to the forefront of our study. I think that it will bring up more issues for us, but less of the political and more of the basic human rights variety. Which, of course, is important and interesting.

I purchased and read this book because I teach a World Lit course to sophomores in high school. I was hoping that it would fit in with the curriculum that I've already developed, but think that it is a bit too young for all of the learners that I have in my room. I have a bunch of extra copies of this book for use as free reading or as a lit circle text, so I am going to give my personal copy to one of you in hopes that it will land in the hands of a middle school teacher or a librarian. It would be perfect for a younger age group than the ones that I have in my classroom.

To enter, please leave a comment that tells me where this the book would end up if you were to win it. Is there a middle school, public library or classroom that you know of that would accept this book? Or, do you know a middle school-aged child that you could pass it to? It's fine if you'd like to read it for yourself, too!

This giveaway is for US folks only. Please leave your comment telling me what library or classroom this book would be donated to by December 10th (International Human Rights Day). Make sure to leave an email address with your entry.

Book Review: Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony

Canada, 2041. North America, Europe, and (possibly) other parts of the world have suffered a Collapse. Meaning that the economic system of stocks and bonds and bank loans and stores has fallen. People are back to a barter and trade economy, which is good for those who know how to live off of the land and who have some sort of valuable skill set. Not so true for others who are used to ordering out for food and relied on credit cards to get by. But, these people are dying off or are adjusting to life after the Collapse.

This story starts in Canada, with a 16 year-old girl named Molly. She is a talented fiddle played and a hard worker. She lives on her family's farm, and is pretty self-sufficient. She'll have to be, because her mother received some information that Molly's grandmother might have passed away. That leaves Molly's estranged grandfather all alone in Oregon. The United States. Far away in normal life, never mind a world where gas and oil are non-existent.

Because Molly's mother is pregnant, she cannot attempt the weeks-long trip to Oregon. And, the family has little in the way of cash to get Molly to the US safely. Molly will have to make-do with what she has and rely on the kindness of strangers and her ingenuity. So starts Molly's journey into the wold world of a post-apocalyptic United States.

Sounds like a fairly good premise for a dystopian book, right? Well, there were several problems with it that kept me from loving it. Which is strange for me, because I normally love this genre above all others and have a high tolerance for unbelievable plots. But, there was something too gentle and kind about this book. When I started reading it, I was thinking that it would be a YA version (or something similar to) Cormac McCarthy's The Road. I didn't need it to be quite so gruesome, but there had to be some suffering, some vioence, some death, some destruction, right? I mean, people are supposedly going hungry. As in dying. But, there was not a single death in this story. And, that was just a little too chipper for this reader.

Even more painful for me were the lack of emotions expressed by the main character in this book. She would have something horrible or potentially defeating happen to her and just kind of move on. Too shallow, to unrealistic for me.

I'm thinking that this book might be more of a middle grade read than a high school one. I cannot picture my high school readers, who have loved The Hunger Games and The Knife of Never Letting Go series, picking up this book and being satisfied. But, there may be a place for it in a middle school classroom. I'll have to donate it to the library there. I just don't think that it's going to interest any of my dystopia-crazed kiddos. Too neat and clean and nice. My kids aren't into that!

Book Review: The Limit by Kristen Landon

Americans tend to spend more than they earn. We have all read the headlines, watched shows like "The Real Housewives" and MTV's "Sweet Sixteen". We know that America has a problem with buying for pleasure, and some of us have even felt the repercussions of this spending philosophy (whether because of our own doing or because of someone else).

As bad as losing our jobs and our financial security has been, what about losing our children? Kristen Landon's The Limit imagines a futuristic America where parents who overspend lose their children to Dickens-like workhouses. Think Oliver Twist.

Except, not all of the workhouses are created equally. If your child is smart, he or she may live in the lap of luxury, unwittingly racking up more debt for your family. If your child is not so bright, they live a life of menial servitude until they turn 18 and are given their own limit. And the cycle continues.

This story centers around a preteen named Matt and his misadventures in one such workhouse. He is taken away from his distraught parents after they go on wild spending sprees. The saccharine-sweet woman who takes him to the skyscraper workhouse assures Matt that he will leave as soon as his parents pay down their debt and are under their limit. And, he can help by working hard on his computer. Too bad for her. Matt is no dummy and is not fooled with the fun and games for very long. He starts asking questions, demanding freedom, and causes problem after problem for the adults in the workhouse.

But, in a society that sees the spendthrift purchases of its adults as the inheritance of its youth, are Matt and his peers doomed to workhouses no matter how much they protest?

This is a thought-provoking and adventure-filled middle grade/ lower high school read. I think that there are lots of discussions that can come out of a reading of this book. Perhaps we need to start talking more openly with our young teens about money in order to prevent the very society that Landon predicts? I don't think it would hurt!

**Read and reviewed as part of the Y2-D2 Dystopian Books Challenge at Bart's Bookshelf**

Book Review: Return to Sender

Julia Alvarez is one of my favorite Latina writers. When I heard that she had a new book out, I immediately found a way to get it. I had read that her latest book, Return to Sender, was about immigration and took place in the Northeast. I thought it'd be perfect for my junior English class, where we read and talk about immigration issues and migrant labor extensively.

I knew all sorts about this book except that it was written as a middle grade or upper elementary read. This fact became evident within the first few pages. The main characters are all preteen and the issues presented in the book are done so very carefully, so as not to alarm or scare any middle school-aged children.

This will probably not work for my juniors, because it is so innocent and not at all gritty or mature in the writing style. It's hard to picture us talking about A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah, where Beah becomes an AK-47 wielding boy soldier in Africa and then transitioning to the voice of an innocent eleven year-old boy on a Vermont farm.

Don't get me wrong--There are serious issues presented in this book. There is an immigration raid, an imprisoned uncle, and an mother who has gone missing for several months. The way that these topics and situations are addressed in this book is what makes it a middle grade read. I can see this book being used as a whole-class read. I bet that it would promote great discussion and interest in sixth grade students. Juniors, not so much.

Book Review: When You Reach Me

I put off reading Rebecca Stead's When You reach Me for one (unfortunate) reason: I hated the cover. To me, the cover looks washed out and boring. I thought that the book would read this way, but I was wrong.

I had read a bunch of rave reviews from blogs I trust, but I was having a hard time believing that this pastel, surreal-looking cover was going to lead to any sort of excitement. And, it's kinda based on a book I (don't kill me!) hated--A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle. I hated that book. Of course, I haven't read it since I was a preteen, so I might want to revisit it at some point, but I don't truly know that I ever will.

But, When You reach Me is all good. It's about a sixth grader named Miranda, who has just lost her best friend Sal for mysterious reasons. He didn't die or anything--He just stopped talking to her. She doesn't understand why Sal, who's known her since they were little, would ignore her. Eventually, she starts to meet others and make new friends. But, when she starts receiving bizarre letters predicting the future, she's not sure what to believe anymore.

Who could be leaving these letters for her? How did this person get in her bedroom? How can anyone know what will happen in the future?

Though this story takes place in the 1970's, it reads smoothly and holds universal appeal. I think that girls would love this book, and those interested in books like A Wrinkle In Time will find it appealing as well. After reading it in two sittings, I'd definitely classify it as a page-turner.

Audio-Lit: A Thousand Never Evers

My commute to and from work is not a long one. Every day, I drive about a half an hour to work and back. So, I have about an hour's worth of time in my car every day. Recently, I decided that just listening to National Public Radio (NPR) every day was not the best use of my time. I say this because I often end up hearing the same stories repeated or I am driving home while classical music is playing. As much as I try, I cannot listen to classical music. It's almost maddening to me.

Last week, I decided it was high time that I visit my local library to see what they have for audiobooks. I figure that I can listen to a book every week or two as I'm driving. I know that our library is small and I might not be able to hear all of my favorites in this manner, but there are definitely some worth listening to. The first title I chose is called A Thousand Never Evers and it was written by Shana Burg.

In this story, Addie Ann Pickett is in the midst of a Civil Rights revolution. The trouble for Addie is that she doesn't quite understand all that's going on and what her place in this movement should be. She is a poor black girl growing up in the South during the early 1960's. Medgar Evers has just been killed. Lynchings, the struggle for voting rights, Jim Crow Laws, race riots, and overt racism are all a part of her life. It's not until the a representative for the NAACP comes to spur on activism in her town that Addie's awareness of the differences between life for African Americans in other parts of the country and in her small town come into focus.

To help make matters more pressing, a wealthy white landowner dies and leaves six garden acres to the whites and blacks in his community. What happens next is predictable for the time period: The whites disregard the deceased man's wished and declare the acreage "whites-only".

This book is probably most suited to a middle grade audience, though I could see upper elementary students and high school students who're interested in Civil Rights enjoying it as well. There is a ton of historical information contained in this novel. I'm sure that the audio and print versions of this story could inspire many lesson and unit plans.

This first audio adventure has been successful. I'll have to see what other audiobooks the Strong Public Library has in its stacks!

Book Review: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate

There is something quaint and interesting about the cover and the title of this book. Even though I knew that this read was not going to be a favorite of mine, I have been drawn to it. So, when I saw it available at our local library, I decided to check it out.

As I was reading it, I did find myself a little carried away by the plot. I am not a science girl--Not at all, but I am interested in Charles Darwin and I liked that the book focused on Calpurnia's early interest in reading and exploration because of his Origin of the Species. This book takes place at the turn of the century in Texas. Calpurnia's interest in science and reading Darwin is not encouraged by most of the adults in in her life, but her grandfather sees her passion and takes her seriously.

Another interesting subtext to this plot is the societal and familial expectations placed on Calpurnia because she is a girl. Girdles, classes on deportment and the focus on Calpurnia's eventual future as a housewife adds to a sort of sinking feeling that there were all kinds of girls who couldn't realize their dreams because of their gender. In some ways, this book reminded me of To Kill a Mockingbird. They take place in different time periods, but the main characters have quite a bit in common. What Calpurnia lacks is a father like Atticus Finch who allowed Scout the freedom to be a tomboy and use her brain for more than planning dinner parties. Calpurnia does have a supportive grandfather, but he will obviously not be enough to prevent Calpurnia from being sidelined as a housewife and mother.

This is definitely a middle grade read, but I don't know that it would hold the attention of too many middle schoolers. To me, it felt more appropriate for a sentimental (older) reader. I can't imagine that it would be popular enough to compete on a middle school book shelf against more racy, currant titles. But, it is a satisfying read and an interesting look back at the late 1800's.