Such an amazing world...

Photo courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net

An excerpt:

     "Look at something small," Lina said. "Like a leaf or a bug."

     Doon riffled among the leaves on the ground and found an ant, which he set on the palm of his hand. Holding the glass above the ant, he looked through it. "Oh!" he said. "Look! You can see its knee joints! And even..." He trailed off, absorbed in looking. Then he raised his eyes to Lina. "It's like a miracle!" he said. He blew the ant from his palm and looked around until he found a beetle. "Look at this!" he cried. "You can see it chewing!" He tried a feather, and a bit of moth wing, and a blade of grass.

     "This is such an amazing world," he said finally, putting the glass and the magnet into his pocket. "I love it here, except for the troubles with people."

~ from The People of Sparks,

written by Jeanne DuPrau

Have you ever looked at nature through a magnifying glass, like Doon does in this excerpt? There are so many little details that we normally overlook or can't even see without one. We really do live in an amazing, wonderful world -- except for the troubles with people.

2012 Banned Books Week: Young Adult/Adult Books

Image courtesy of the
American Library Association

Today is the final day of this year's Banned Books Week. Last year, I wrote about several picture books that have been banned or challenged, as well as a few books for older kids. Earlier this week, I featured some more picture books and middle grade books.  Now I'd like to share some novels for teens and adults that have been challenged or banned over the years.

All of the books in this post are classics, and are often recommended (or required) reading for high schoolers.  I read them all when I was in high school myself (with the exception of Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl -- I read a version of that in elementary school) and have read them all again in the past month:

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,

written by Mark Twain, 1884

Set in the Missouri of the 1830's, this story is narrated by Huck Finn, a 13-year-old boy.  His father is an abusive drunkard, leading Huck one day to fake his own murder and run away.  At the same time, he helps Jim, a slave, escape. The two runaways ride a raft down the Mississippi River, hoping to make it to Cairo, IL where Jim can then continue on to Ohio, a free state.  It doesn't take long before the two run into trouble, however.

This book has been challenged for "objectionable language and racist terms and content".

***

Brave New World,

written by Aldous Huxley, 1932

A dark, satiric story of a 'utopian' future,  the brave new world Huxley writes about is filled with "humans [who] are genetically designed and pharmaceutically anesthetized to passively serve a ruling order".  Bernard Marx is an outcast of this society, having only one friend -- Helmholtz Watson. He is in love with a young woman, Lenina, and finally manages to convince her to go on vacation with him.  The two visit a "Savage Reservation" where they encounter a way of life very different from their own....

"Negative activity, language and moral content, and anti-family, anti-Christian themes" are the reasons this novel has been challenged.

***

Of Mice and Men,
written by John Steinbeck, 1937

Two friends, George and Lennie, are migrant ranch workers, moving from place to place in order to find work during the Great Depression. George is intelligent but uneducated. Lennie, a very large, strong man, has limited mental abilities. The two dream of one day being able to buy their own land and settling there together.  Unfortunately, there are forces at work in the world around them that make this dream impossible.

This tragic story has been challenged for "vulgar language".

***

The Catcher in the Rye,
written by J.D. Salinger, 1945

Sixteen-year-old Holden Caulfield narrates the story of the few days following his expulsion from an expensive prep school.  Themes of teenage angst, alienation, loneliness, and rebellion are present throughout the book.  Without telling his parents that he's been expelled (yet again), Holden leaves his school and travels to New York City.  He stays by himself in a hotel there, going out at night to clubs and meeting all sorts of people.  Later he sneaks into his own home to see his little sister Phoebe.  He wants to leave and head out west, but in the end he stays.

Reasons for challenging this classic include "occultism, violence, sexual content, and being dangerous and vulgar".

***

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl,

written by Anne Frank,

originally published in 1947,

this version published in 1991

and edited by Otto H. Frank and Mirjam Pressler

An autobiography, this is the actual diary of Anne Frank, a young Jewish girl living in the Netherlands during the time of the Holocaust.  Anne, her family, and a couple of others went into hiding, sequestering themselves in hidden rooms inside her father's office building.  They lived there for two years before being discovered and taken to concentration camps.  (Anne later died of typhus, only a few weeks before her camp was liberated by British soldiers.)  Anne received a diary as a gift about a month before going into hiding.  She made several entries during that time, and then continued writing about her life after the family moved to the hidden rooms.

This book has been challenged because of "offensive passages" and for "being a real downer".  Apparently it paints too realistic a picture of the Holocaust.  I guess Anne should've left the depressing parts out of her diary?

***

1984,

written by George Orwell, 1949

This dystopian novel takes place in Oceania, "where society is tyrannized by The Party [-- headed by Big Brother --] and its totalitarian ideology".  Winston Smith works for the Ministry of Truth, and his job is to revise past newspaper articles (destroying the old ones) so that the historical record always supports the current party line.  Secretly, Winston hates The Party and dreams of rebellion.  He later meets Julia, another "thoughtcriminal" like himself.   The two develop a relationship and make plans to help out The Brotherhood, a secret organization bent on bringing down The Party.

People have challenged this sci-fi novel for containing "pro-Communist material and explicit sexual matter".

***

Fahrenheit 451,

written by Ray Bradbury, 1951

In a world where books are illegal and buildings have been made fireproof, Guy Montag's job as fireman is to start fires (burning confiscated literature), not put them out.  He never questions the societal rules he follows until he meets Clarisse, a young girl who talks about the ideas she's read in books. Soon Montag himself starts saving books from fires and hiding them in his home -- but what will happen when his actions are discovered?

I find it quite ironic that this book about censorship has been challenged, for being "offensive".

***

Lord of the Flies,

written by William Golding, 1954

An airplane full of English school boys crashes into the sea near a deserted island.  The survivors, including Ralph and Piggy and Jack, make their way to the island and then try to live together there with no guidance from adults.  They start out with rules and cooperation, but their little society quickly degenerates into two groups, the hunters and the hunted.

Apparently, this book has been challenged for being "demoralizing, inasmuch as it implies that man is little more than an animal".

***

Flowers for Algernon,

written by Daniel Keyes, 1959

Charlie Gordon, a mentally disabled man, is eager to learn and longs to become smart, like other people.  He agrees to submit to an operation on his brain, a scientific experiment that has dramatically increased intelligence in the laboratory mouse, Algernon.  The experiment works and in a short amount of time, Charlie goes from an IQ of 68 to genius, creating many unexpected difficulties in his personal life. Then, ominously, Algernon begins deteriorating.  Will the same thing happen to Charlie?

I've read this book at least four different times, and it leaves me crying every time.  "Explicit, distasteful love scenes" is the reason given for challenging this touching, classic novel.

***

What are some of your favorite banned/challenged young adult novels?  Banned Books Week may end today, but I plan to keep on reading books from the lists of challenged books throughout the year.  How about you?

2012 Banned Books Week: Middle Grade Books

Image courtesy of the
American Library Association

Banned Books Week continues here on Blue Sky, Big Dreams.  On Sunday, I shared some of the picture books that have been banned or challenged over the years.  Last year, I wrote about other picture books and also some novels for older kids, all of which have been challenged at one time or another.  I'm planning to write a post about some young adult novels for tomorrow, if I get the chance, but today I have a few more middle grade books to share with you:

From the Mixed-Up Files of 
Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler,

written by E. L. Konigsburg, 1967

Claudia Kincaid feels misunderstood and unappreciated at home -- and just plain bored, too.  She decides to do something exciting with her life.  Convincing her younger brother Jamie to run away with her, the two make plans to sneak into New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art and live there.  

Once they are settled into life at the museum, Claudia and Jamie find themselves caught up in a mystery surrounding a recently-acquired statue.  Determined to find out if the sculpture was created by Michelangelo, the pair eventually ends up at the home of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, the statue's former owner.

I'd never heard of this book until my daughter Emmalie read it with her class in elementary school.  She told me the basic plot and said she thought it was a fun book.  Later on, my son Nick's class read it, too.  I finally decided to read it last month, and now I wish I had known about it when I was a young girl.  I found it entertaining as an adult, and I'm sure I would've loved it back then!

I have seen this book title on several lists of banned or challenged books, but have been unable to find out why it was ever challenged.  The only thing I can think of is that maybe some people believe it promotes running away? Or possibly they are upset by a scene where Claudia and her brother take a bath in a public fountain?  I really don't understand.  If you are aware of the reason why this book has been challenged, please let me know.

***

How to Eat Fried Worms,

written by Thomas Rockwell,
and illustrated by Emily McCully, 1973

Billy, who will eat just about anything, bets his friend that he can eat fifteen worms in fifteen days.  If he does, Billy will win $50 and can buy the minibike he's had his eye on.  He quickly realizes that it's easier said than done, and isn't sure if he can actually choke down a worm (and then 14 more of them), no matter how much ketchup and other condiments he puts on top.  After he's consumed several of the worms, however, his friends worry that Billy really will eat fifteen of them and then they'll have to pay him.  They plot and scheme, hoping to prevent that from happening.

I remember my 4th grade teacher reading this book to our class.  We would squirm, giggle, and make faces as she read, very glad that we weren't the one eating the worms. Yet, every day we couldn't wait to hear what silly thing would happen next.  I reread the book this week.  It was every bit as gross -- and engrossing -- as I remembered!

This story has been challenged for "vulgarity and violence".

***

Frindle,

written by Andrew Clements,
and illustrated by Brian Selznick, 1996

Ten-year-old Nick Allen has a reputation in his school for coming up with clever ways to distract his teachers when they are about to assign homework.  When he tries this in Mrs. Granger's class, however, it backfires -- Nick is given a special assignment to learn about the dictionary and how new words are added.  The information he finds gives him an idea, and he sets out to create a new word: frindle (otherwise known as a pen).  Before long, everyone in class is calling pens frindles, but when Mrs. Granger asks them to stop, they refuse.  Trouble soon ensues.

I read this book for the first time last month, and absolutely loved it!  Part of the reason I liked it so much probably stems from the fact that it is about words and language, a subject that (surprise, surprise) interests me!  I also found the story funny and fast-paced.  Not only do I recommend it to middle grade readers, it also seems like it would be a great read-aloud book for teachers (and parents)!

This is another book that I spotted on various banned and challenged book lists -- but never could I find out why it was challenged.  Perhaps it's because the students in the story challenge authority?  (Again, if you know why it was on the lists, please let me know.)

***

Holes,

written by Louis Sachar, 1998

Stanley Yelnats and his family are accustomed to bad luck. They always seem to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, thanks to a curse put on the family generations ago. Stanley has been (wrongly) accused and convicted of stealing.  To avoid jail time, he has agreed to go to Camp Green Lake, a juvenile detention facility.  There, he and the other young residents are forced to dig a hole every single day, five feet deep with a five foot diameter -- supposedly to improve their character.  When Stanley realizes that the Warden may just have an ulterior motive for all that digging, he finds himself in the middle of a mystery and an unexpected adventure.

I have heard many good things about this book since it was first published, but I hadn't read it myself until a few weeks ago.  I ended up enjoying it so much that I am now rereading it -- this time, aloud to my seven-year-old, Ben.  He loves it, too, and eagerly awaits story time each day!  I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for kids his age (it is rated for ten and up), but I knew that he would handle it well.  We always discuss what we've read, what it means, and how we feel about it.  I do think that it's appropriate for most ten-year-olds.

"Themes of violence" is the main reason that this book has been challenged.

***

Are You There, God?  It's Me, Margaret.,
written by Judy Blume, 1970

Eleven-year-old Margaret's family moves to a new home and, in addition to trying to fit in with her new classmates, Margaret struggles with puberty and the concept of religion. Her parents, one raised Jewish and the other Christian, want their daughter to choose for herself whether or not to be religious (and if so, which religion to identify with). Margaret often talks to God, but has never been to church or temple before, to know what they are like.  When she finally attends with her grandmother and some friends, she is left even more confused.

I first read this book when I was ten.  A relative gave me a boxed set of Judy Blume books, including this one, for Christmas.  I read the novel several times back then, and I'm sure all the girls in my class read it, too.  As someone wrote on Amazon: "If anyone tried to determine the most common rite of passage for preteen girls in North America, a girl's first reading of Are You There, God?  It's Me, Margaret. would rank near the top of the list."  It was one of the few books I could find back then that helped me realize all the changes my body was going through were perfectly normal.

When my own daughter was a preteen, I was happy to share my Judy Blume books with her.  I think she enjoyed them, too, even though they weren't fantasy (her favorite genre).  I reread the book again this week and was still impressed with Blume's frank, humorous writing.

This novel has frequently been challenged because it contains "discussion of menstruation and breast development" as well as what some people see as "anti-Christian themes".

***

In addition to the new-to-this-blog books above, here are some more banned/challenged middle grade books that I've featured in other posts over the past year:

Little House series,

written by Laura Ingalls Wilder,
and illustrated by Garth Williams, 1932-1943

Books in this series have been banned for racism, based on comments the characters make about Native Americans. Please see this previous post for more information about the series.

***

Julie of the Wolves,

written by Jean Craighead George,
and illustrated by John Schoenherr, 1972

Frequently challenged for "violent sexuality, profanity, and supposed socialistic, evolutionist, and 'anti-family' themes", this book was featured on this blog in this post.

***

Anastasia Krupnik,

written by Lois Lowry, 1979

This book has been challenged for "use of vulgarity and references to underage drinking".  To find out more about it, check out this post.

***

Because of Winn-Dixie,

written by Kate DiCamillo, 2000

This novel has been challenged for "profanity".  To learn more about the story, please see this post.

***

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,

written by Roald Dahl

and illustrated by Quentin Blake, 1964

Apparently, this book was once placed in a locked reference collection because a librarian thought the tale "embraced a poor philosophy of life".  To read more about Dahl's classic, see this post.

***

The Witches,
written by Roald Dahl,
and illustrated by Quentin Blake, 1983

Challenged because of its "reference to witchcraft, the occult, and Satanism", this book was featured in my post on fun books to read for Halloween.

***

Charlotte's Web,

written by E. B. White
and illustrated by Garth Williams, 1952

It amuses me (and disturbs me at the same time) that this classic has been challenged because of its "unnatural depiction of talking animals".  Check out this post to learn more about the story.

***

Coraline,

written by Neil Gaiman
and illustrated by Dave McKean, 2002

This novel has been challenged for "being inappropriate and too scary for young children".  To learn more about it, please check out this post I wrote last year.

***

The Giver,

written by Lois Lowry, 1993

This book has been banned from middle schools for "supporting sexuality and for scenes of violence."  For more information about the story, please read this post.

***

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry,

written by Mildred D. Taylor, 1976

This historical novel has been challenged frequently for "being inappropriate and racially based".  For more information on the story, please see this post.

***

The Great Gilly Hopkins,

written by Katherine Paterson, 1978

This book has been challenged for "curse words and taking the Lord's name in vain".  I wrote about it earlier this year in this post about books with girl power.

***

Then Again, Maybe I Won't,

written by Judy Blume, 1971

Due to "sexual content", this story (along with many of Blume's other books) has been challenged several times.  To read more about the book, please see this post.

***

Artemis Fowl series,
written by Eoin Colfer, 2001-2012

These books have been challenged for "not promoting good character".  To learn more about the series, check out this post.

***

What are some of your favorite banned or challenged books for middle grade readers?  I'd love to hear about them!

Official censors, judges, and executors...

Photo courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net

An excerpt:

     "[...]  We must all be alike.  Not everyone born free and equal, as the Constitution says, but everyone made equal.  Each man the image of every other; then all are happy, for there are no mountains to make them cower, to judge themselves against.  So!  A book is a loaded gun in the house next door.  Burn it.  Take the shot from the weapon.  Breach man's mind.  Who knows who might be the target of the well-read man?  Me?  I won't stomach them for a minute. And so when houses were finally fireproofed completely, all over the world (you were correct in your assumption the other night) there was no longer need of firemen for the old purposes. They were given the new job, as custodians of our peace of mind, the focus of our understandable and rightful dread of being inferior; official censors, judges, and executors. That's you, Montag, and that's me."

~ from Fahrenheit 451, 

written by Ray Bradbury

I have been afraid of fire ever since I was a little girl.  I don't even like to look at the photo above -- it scares me.  I thought this would be a good excerpt to share during Banned Books Week, though, because the world Montag lives in not only bans books, but burns them.  They burn all books.  It is illegal to even read one.  Thank goodness this is a fictional world.  Let's hope it stays that way!

Another Time, Another Place

Image courtesy of PublicDomainPictures.net

I've mentioned it before, but I'll say it again: I don't read a lot of science fiction.  It's not a genre I generally gravitate towards.  Because of that, it's a bit surprising to me (I still don't know how it happened exactly), but I did end up reading several middle grade and young adult sci-fi books over the summer.  I even enjoyed them, for the most part, and wanted to share them here with you:

Ender's Game,

written by Orson Scott Card, 1985

In the universe of this book, the world government has been breeding military geniuses in the hopes that they will one day be able to defeat the aliens (Buggers) who have attacked Earth twice and almost destroyed humankind.  Ender Wiggin is one of these geniuses.  As a young boy, he is sent to Battle School where he learns military strategy and much more.  Training takes the form of games, which Ender successfully completes.  Can he use what he's learned and save the planet?

Card has written a whole series of books based on this one, including Speaker for the Dead (1986), Xenocide (1991), Children of the Mind (1996), Ender's Shadow (1999), Shadow of the Hegemon (2000), Shadow Puppets (2002), Shadow of the Giant (2004), and First Meetings (2005).  I have not read any of these sequels yet.

If someone had handed me this book, explaining that the story was a combination of science fiction, military maneuvers, and video games, I would've said (politely, but firmly), "No, thanks."  All I knew about it ahead of time, however, was that it is a popular book and that it's on our library's list of recommendations for teen boys.  Though reading (or watching movies) about people fighting space aliens is not really my cup of tea, I did find this to be an engaging story.  I got caught up in it right from the beginning, and was reluctant to put the book down.  I couldn't wait to find out what happened next!

***

NUM8ERS,

written by Rachel Ward, 2009

Whenever 15-year-old Jem, an orphan, looks into someone's eyes, she sees a number there -- the date of that person's death. A difficult "gift" to deal with, this contributes to Jem's reluctance to grow close to others.  She tries to avoid people and eye contact whenever possible.  Then she meets a classmate, Spider, and despite Jem's best efforts, a bond forms between them.  When the two take a trip into the city (London), Jem is horrified to discover that a huge number of the people they see are destined to die that very day....

I found this to be a gripping book with an interesting premise.  I was less than thrilled with the ending, but enjoyed the rest of the story quite a bit.

NUM8ERS: THE CHA0S, 2010

This sequel takes place several years after the ending of the first book, and is told with two voices.  Adam, an orphaned teen, lives with his grandmother.  Like Jem before him, he can see a person's death date by looking into his or her eyes. He also feels the circumstances of the death.  Sarah is a runaway who has very disturbing dreams of the future yet to come.  When the two meet up, they are both aware that a catastrophe is coming soon, on New Year's Day -- but can they stop it from happening?

I thought this was an even better book than the first.  I was satisfied with the whole story -- beginning, middle, and end. Ward's writing is exciting and compelling; I read this all in one sitting!

NUM8ERS: 1NF1N1TY, 2011

It's been two years since the Chaos, and Adam and Sarah are struggling to survive in the new world they find themselves in.  Adam grew up thinking that he understood the numbers he sees in others' eyes, but now he knows that those numbers can change.  It seems that some people -- including Sarah's young daughter, Mia -- have the ability to trade numbers with someone else.  It may just be possible to live forever. But at what cost?

This book was a great ending to the trilogy!  It was another fast-paced, intense read, filled with ethical questions for its readers.

***

The Maze Runner,

written by James Dashner, 2009

Thomas wakes up in a dark elevator, knowing nothing of his past except for his name.  When the elevator opens, he finds himself with 60 other boys in "the Glade", basically a large courtyard surrounded by a giant maze.  Many of the other boys have been there for two years, trying to find their way out of the maze.  (The maze changes regularly, and they can only try to solve it during the day because vicious creatures -- the Grievers -- enter the maze at nighttime.)  A new boy has arrived in the Glade every 30 days, so the others are expecting Thomas.  When a girl shows up the following day, however, they are all surprised -- especially after she delivers her message.

I have seen some people compare this book to The Hunger Games (which I wrote about here), but in my opinion, that story is much better.  Still, I found this to be an action-packed, entertaining book, filled with tense moments and a few surprises.

The Scorch Trials, 2010

The Gladers have finally escaped the maze, but now they've been thrown into a brand-new environment, even more dangerous than the last.  Zombie-like creatures, the Cranks, run amok in this world, creating havoc for Thomas and the others as they try to pass their latest test.

I did not care for this book very much.  I thought that the plot and the writing were not up to the same level as the first book, and I just wasn't very interested in it.

The Death Cure, 2011

The trials, supposedly, are over now.  WICKED (the organization of the people in charge) wants to restore the Gladers' memories so that they can help create the cure to the Flare (the disease that turns humans into Cranks). However, Thomas doesn't trust WICKED.   He isn't sure he even wants all of his memories back.  As it says in the book description on Amazon, "The time for lies is over.  But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine."

I debated whether or not to read this book after disliking the second, but finally decided to give it a try. While I still prefer The Maze Runner, I did enjoy this third book more than The Scorch Trials.

Dashner also wrote one more book in this series, Prequel: The Kill Order.  It was just published last month (August 2012), and our library doesn't have a copy of it yet so I have not read it.  I do plan to read it when it comes in, and see if it answers any of the questions left hanging by the other three books.

***

Pod,

written by Stephen Wallenfels, 2010

Told in alternating first-person chapters, this alien invasion story describes how the PODs (Pearls of Death) arrive out of the blue one day -- giant black spheres that hang in the sky. Any human who ventures outside is immediately vaporized by the PODs.  Fifteen-year-old Josh is trapped in his house in Washington with his father and their dog.  Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, 12-year-old Megs -- who said goodbye to her mother earlier in the day and is now alone -- has taken shelter in their car, inside a parking garage.  What do the PODs want and how will the humans survive?

I found this to be a riveting story, a real page-turner.  I think that Wallenfels did a good job bringing his characters to life and keeping his readers in suspense.  The ending begs for a sequel, and I read on the author's website that he is currently working on one.  I will be anxious to read it when it comes out!

***

Black Hole Sun,

written by David MacInnis Gill, 2010

This "space western" takes place on Mars.  Sixteen-year-old Durango and his crew of Regulators has been hired to protect a group of miners from the cannibalistic Dreau and their evil queen.  The Regulators are hugely outnumbered and this could very well be their last mission.  Durango needs to come up with a plan -- fast.

Reading this plot synopsis would not lead me to pick up this book, but I'm glad that the cover caught my eye one day and I gave it a chance.  While there is more fighting and other violence than I would usually choose to read about, the story itself was intriguing and I loved Durango's sarcastic wit. This book had me laughing out loud in several spots!

Gill has also written a sequel called Invisible Sun (2012).  I have not read it yet, but plan to as soon as our library acquires a copy.

***

 Fourth World,

written by Kate Thompson, 2000

Fifteen-year-old Danny has always been different.  He's slower than other people and flies into a rage at the drop of a hat.  When he decides to reunite with his scientist mother, Danny convinces his younger step-brother Christie to join him, and the two set out on a strange journey across the United Kingdom.  Soon they are joined by Tina, a homeless girl, as well as a dog and starling -- both of whom can talk!  When they finally reach Fourth World (Danny's mother's home and laboratory), they discover that she has been performing secret genetic experiments that explain the animals' ability to talk, as well as Danny's behavior.

This first book in the Missing Link Trilogy is a fun, thought-provoking story, filled with interesting, appealing characters.  Thompson does a good job of drawing her readers into the story and keeping them engaged.  I enjoyed it more than I expected to, and once I'd finished, I was eager to read more.

 Only Human, 2001

The search for the missing link continues as Christie, Danny, and other Fourth World characters head off to the Himalayas in an effort to find the elusive Yeti.

Although I preferred the first book, I still thought this one was good -- a decent sequel.  For me, this story required even more suspension of disbelief than its predecessor, but in the end, Thompson does a satisfactory job of explaining how this world she's created is possible.

There is one more book in this trilogy: 

Origins, 2003  

It has been checked out of our library for the last couple of months, but I finally had my chance to check it out last night.  I'm only about 50 pages into it right now (you can see my makeshift bookmark in the picture above!), but so far I am enjoying it as much as the other two books.  The story is told by "two intertwined parallel narratives" -- one part unfolds through Christie's diary and the other is seen through the young Cat Nessa's eyes.

***

Have you read any of the books mentioned above?  If so, what did you think of them?  What are your favorite sci-fi novels?  I'm always looking for new reading material! :)

Spotlight on Lois Lowry: Author

Just a few weeks ago, I had only read two of Lois Lowry's books -- probably the two that she is best known for, The Giver and Number the Stars.  I enjoyed both of them quite a bit, and decided at the beginning of May to check out some of her other work.  I'm very glad that I did!  I am happy to recommend each of these books to you:

A Summer to Die, 1977

Meg and her older sister Molly are very different people.  Now that they've moved to the country, they have to share a room -- not an easy thing to do.  Then one day Molly is rushed to the hospital.  Meg assumes her sister merely has a temporary illness, but after awhile, she realizes that something is very wrong with Molly.

Lowry's first book is a moving story about love and loss.  It is beautifully written, by someone who has experienced loss firsthand.  (Lowry's own sister passed away when she was a young woman.)  Though she wrote it over 30 years ago now (and there are a few minor passages in the book that seem outdated today), the story itself is timeless.

***

Anastasia Krupnik, 1979

Ten-year-old Anastasia is constantly writing things down in her notebook -- poetry, lists, and more.  Between problems with her teacher, boy troubles, and a new sibling on the way, she has a lot to write about!  Anastasia keeps an "I love" list and an "I hate" list in the book, but the items on them change frequently, depending on the day.

I loved this book, and it made me laugh out loud on several occasions!  Anastasia seemed very "real" to me.  I could picture a 10-year-old girl doing all the things that she does in the story.  In fact, I think that if I had read this book back when I was ten (it actually came out when I was 11), I would have felt an instant connection with her. 

Lowry has created an entire series around this fun character.  I haven't read these yet (I hope to soon), but the series includes: Anastasia Again! (1981), Anastasia at Your Service (1982), Anastasia, Ask Your Analyst (1984), Anastasia On Her Own (1985), Anastasia Has the Answers (1986), Anastasia's Chosen Career (1987), Anastasia at This Address (1991), and Anastasia Absolutely (1995).

Lowry has also written these books about Anastasia's little brother: All About Sam (1988), Attaboy Sam (1992), See You Around, Sam! (1996), and Zooman Sam (1999).

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Autumn Street, 1980

When Elizabeth's father goes off to fight in World War II, she and her mother move into her grandfather's house in Pennsylvania.  While living there, she befriends the servant, Tatie, and Tatie's grandson, Charles -- a friendship that ultimately ends in tragedy.

I think this is probably my favorite of Lowry's books.  (At least, so far.)  It is a vivid, poignant tale that made my heart ache.

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The One Hundredth Thing About Caroline, 1983

Caroline, an overly imaginative 11-year-old, is trying to learn about the Mystery Man in her apartment building, Frederick Fiske.  She discovers an opened letter of his in the apartment trash can,  and she reads it.  To her surprise, it is from an Agent, telling Mr. Fiske to "eliminate the children".  When Caroline finds out her mother is dating the Mystery Man, she and her brother J.P. worry that they will be the targets of a brutal crime.

This is a fun little mystery that kept me chuckling throughout!

Lowry has written two other books about these same characters, Switcharound (1985) and Your Move, J.P! (1990).

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Number the Stars, 1989

I wrote about this book, which won a Newbery Medal, in a previous post.

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The Giver Quartet:

The Giver, 1993

I also mentioned this Newbery Medal-winning book in a previous post.

Gathering Blue, 2000

This second book in the series could easily stand alone.  It doesn't seem to have anything to do with the story of The Giver -- until you read the book that follows.  It takes place in the future, during the same time period as The Giver, but in a very different Community.  Following some unnamed disaster known as the Ruin, the village in this book has reverted to a primitive, technology-free way of life.  

The story follows Kira, a newly-orphaned girl who has been lame in one leg since birth. Kira has good reason to fear that she will be cast out of the village, left in the Field to die, but then the society's Council of Guardians brings her to live in the Council Edifice, because of her embroidery skills.  They give her the task of restoring the historical pictures on the Singer's robe, worn by him every year at the Ruin Song Gathering.  Two other young artists have also been brought to the Edifice to live and work on their crafts -- Thomas the Carver, who carves pictures in the Singer's wooden staff, and Jo, the tiny girl being trained as the next Singer.  With the help of Kira's friend Matt, the three begin to learn that everything is not as it seems, that mysteries and secrets abound in their small village.

Messenger, 2004

This is the third book in The Giver Quartet, and is the story that links the two books above.  Matty (Matt from Gathering Blue) is now living in Village, a place not too far from Kira's home.  He has been taken in by the blind Seer, Kira's father.  The Leader of Village turns out to be Jonas, from The Giver.  It has long been the policy of Village to gladly welcome any outcasts from other communities... but now something sinister is at work, and things are changing.  Leader, Seer, and Matty must try to reverse these changes and save the Village they love.

Though I prefer The Giver to its companion books, I still appreciated the others.  Both kept me interested and eager to find out what would happen next.  I am also looking forward to the fourth (and supposedly final) book in the series, Son -- scheduled to come out in October 2012.

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Looking Back: A Book of Memories, 1998

Filled with old photos and glimpses of her life,  this memoir shows how Lowry's past has inspired much of her writing.

I read this book after reading all the others listed here.  I found it to be a very interesting and insightful look into Lowry's life, and it made me appreciate her other books even more.  I also loved looking at all the old photos, watching the progression from little girl to mother and author.

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Gooney Bird Greene,  illustrated by Middy Thomas, 2002

With the name Gooney Bird, this second grade girl can't help but be a little eccentric. Gooney Bird admits that she loves to be the center of attention.  Her classmates and teacher don't mind, though.  They are always ready to hear another one of her "absolutely true" stories, like "How Gooney Bird Came From China on a Flying Carpet".  In the end, Gooney Bird teaches the class that everyone has the makings of a good story inside them.

I thought this was a cute book, appropriate for a younger audience.  I liked the humor throughout, as well as Gooney Bird's many insights about storytelling.

There are four other Gooney Bird books that I haven't read yet, including: Gooney Bird and the Room Mother (2006), Gooney the Fabulous (2007), Gooney Bird is So Absurd (2009), and Gooney Bird on the Map (2011).

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The Silent Boy, 2003

According to an author's note at the beginning of this book, Lowry found inspiration to write this historical novel through several old photographs she had in her possession... pictures of both family members and complete strangers.  

The narrator of this story, Katy, is the bright and curious daughter of a doctor, growing up in the early 1900's.  She is intrigued by other people, especially Peggy (a farm girl hired by Katy's parents to help with the housework) and Peggy's brother Jacob, a silent, gentle boy who loves animals and is "touched in the head".  She befriends them both, even though Jacob never once says a word to her (or anyone else).  When tragedy strikes, only Katy can unravel the mystery behind what really happened and why.

Lowry really brought these characters to life for me, and touched my heart with her story.

***

Gossamer, 2006

Littlest One, a small delicate spirit, is learning how to give dreams to humans.  She and her teacher, Thin Elderly, visit an old woman every night.  They touch items around the house and gather good memories to give back to the woman in her dreams.  But then the woman takes in an angry, troubled foster child, John.  The Sinisteeds, creatures who inflict nightmares on sleeping humans, invade the home.  Can Littlest One protect John from the bad memories of his past?

I thought this was an intriguing story idea, and, as always, I loved Lowry's poetic writing.

***

The Willoughbys, also illustrated by Lois Lowry, 2008

The Willoughbys -- Timothy, the twins Barnaby A and Barnaby B, and Jane -- are "old-fashioned children" who crave old-fashioned adventures.  Their mother and father are not very fond of them, and it seems the feeling is mutual.  When the parents take a trip and leave them behind with a nanny (never actually intending to return), the Willoughby children are happy to be rid of them.  At the end of the book, Lowry provides a Glossary, filled with words used throughout the story and her own amusing definitions.

I found this hilarious parody of many "old-fashioned" stories to be thoroughly entertaining.  The dark humor reminded me of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, and I cackled aloud at many of the tongue-in-cheek moments.

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Crow Call, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline, 2009

Lowry's first picture book is based on a memory from her own life.  Lizzie's father has just returned from serving in World War II, and she is getting to know him all over again.  One morning they go out into the woods, just the two of them, to hunt the crows that have been getting into farmers' crops.

When I first read that Lizzie and her father were going to go hunting, I was afraid I wouldn't like this story.  I should have known that Lowry would take the subject and turn it into something heartwarming!  Lizzie loves watching the crows they've come to hunt.  When her father sees that the thought of killing them distresses her, he never raises his gun, but merely enjoys spending the time with his young daughter.  Ibatoulline's beautiful illustrations complement the story perfectly.

***

The Birthday Ball, illustrated by Jules Feiffer, 2010

In this twist on the old "The Prince and the Pauper" tale, Lowry introduces us to Princess Patricia Priscilla, who will soon turn 16 and then be required to marry a nobleman.  Several (hideous) suitors have already been invited to her birthday ball.  The princess decides to disguise herself as a peasant for a few days (getting advice on being a commoner from her chambermaid) and attend school in the village.  There she meets the sweet and handsome school teacher, Rafe.  What will Rafe do when he discovers that his pupil Pat is really the princess?  And how will the princess decide which perfectly awful suitor to marry, when the only man she wants is Rafe?

This is such a fun fairy tale, filled with delightful word play and descriptions.  Though some of the plot was predictable, I wanted to keep on reading, just to see what would make me laugh out loud next!

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Bless This Mouse, illustrated by Eric Rohmann, 2011

Hildegarde, the Mouse Mistress of Saint Bartholemew's Church, must keep all the other church mice safe and out of sight.  When a few of the mice are spotted by parishioners, Hildegarde and the others face  the dreaded Great X (pest exterminators).  To top it off, the ceremony called Blessing of the Animals is coming up, and soon the church will be filled with pets, including cats!

I prefer Lowry's other books to this one, but still thought it was worth the read.  I imagine it appeals more to younger readers than older ones (like me).

For more information about the author and her many books, please visit the Lois Lowry website.  Also, don't forget to look for Lowry's wonderful stories at your local library and in bookstores.