Book Review: Unwind

Unwind by Neal Shusterman was the TLC's latest read. I have never read a book quite like this one. It definitely questions the value of life, who has the power to make choices about life, and what happens to your soul after you die or after parts of you are taken away. But it does so in a round-about way which is appropriate for teens to read but is enough to get you thinking about the issues which are really at the core of Shusterman's plot.

The story takes place in a future America after an amendment was added that lets parents choose to "unwind" their children once they reach 13. This is the result of a destructive war over pro-life, pro-choice which wasn't ending. A compromise had to be made. Abortions (although that word is never actually used in the novel) are not allowed but "storking" your unwanted baby is as long as you don't get caught. This is exactly what it sounds like: dropping off your baby at someone's door and now it is legally their responsibility to take care of it. Of course, there are still unwanted babies who are wards of the state; lots of them, including one of the main characters, Risa. Once her talent seems to reach its peak and her age is appropriate to be unwound, she is sent to a harvest camp. Obviously, she doesn't get there so easily or we wouldn't have much of story. Connor is another main character who is sent to be unwound since he causes too much trouble. Luckily he discovers this is about to happen before it does so he formulates a plan. Lev is our other main character who has known from birth he would be tithed for God. But, that doesn't mean he isn't struggling with the idea. All of these kids come together to rebel against the system in one way or another.

What I liked most was the juxtaposition of morals and logic. It is legal to send your child to be unwound but isn't that just like abortion after the fact? Does it make you a murderer if you send your child to be unwound? Or, if part of your body is still alive, does that mean your soul is still a part of it? Does this process actually reduce the amount of underground abortions and unwanted children? Is it really better to let someone live a life and then take it from them? Do you value life if you are willing to take it from someone else in order to make yours better?

A good book should leave you wanting more. This one left me wondering about all of those questions and whether or not something like this is in our near or far future. What was extremely disturbing is the real stories at the beginning of each section. They are meant to give some "history" that leads up to this point but they are in fact real history, things that have actually happened.

There are sequels to Unwind. UnWholly is a second book in the trilogy(?) and UnStrung (out in October 2013) is an expansion to Lev's story from Unwind. I don't believe sequels or a trilogy was the plan when the book was first written in 2007 but this is now the way with adolescent literature. (If it keeps kids reading, I guess I shouldn't complain!) Also, like all other good adolescent novels, this one will also be made into a movie yet it seems it is only at the beginning stages. So that gives you plenty of time to read it first! I highly recommend this one.

Summer Reading List

This will be a busy summer for me so I keeping my reading list to a manageable five books, especially with the possibility of some monthly reads from my book club, TLC. Diversifying my reading styles is key this summer as is reading some books I have talked about diving into but have yet to do so! Here is what I am thinking:

• The British Classic: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
• I can't believe I have never read this book, but I haven't and I really don't know why. One would think I have read it because I teach high school English. I love the movie and I vaguely know Mr. Darcy and the Bennet Family. But it is about time I become more acquainted with these timeless characters which have been sitting on my bookshelf, unopened for far too long. It is about time I get this ultimate classic checked off my must-read list.

• The Pulitzer Prize Winner: Empire Falls by Richard Russo
  
• This book has also been sitting on my bookshelf for a while. Its length is daunting at 480 pages and that could just possibly be the reason I haven't read it. But I have recently made it a mission to read books I have bought or received as gifts in the past before getting new ones. Therefore, it is time to read the book which won a Pulitzer Prize more than 10 years ago and focuses on a blue-collar town in Maine. This seems to have more mature themes or perspectives than the book choices below so I am really hoping I don't whisk this to the side since it is summer, it has been a rough year, and I might not feel like reading serious, thoughtful commentary on middle-lower class America. Or, maybe it will provide some inspiration!

• The Series Closer: Reached by Ally Condie
  
• This book was released in November. I can't wait to read it and finish up the Matched Trilogy but I just haven't had the time. The other two books were decent adolescent literature yet what I liked most was the strong female protagonist. Although she is mostly chasing love, she is also chasing a new life. It took her a bit to realize it was okay to be who she wanted rather than who society forced her to be. But she got out and I am definitely ready to see what this new world has in store for her.

•  The Series Continuer: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
  
• The Luner Series started off with Cinder, a modern take on the classic "Cinderella". It involved cyborgs and androids living in a futuristic world yet the universal themes of acceptance, wanting for love, and family issues were still there. Now we have the next book which takes on another classic fairy tale, "Little Red Riding Hood". I am looking forward to the mix of old and new again as well as the mixing of two fairy tales since Cinder's story will no doubt be incorporated. This idea of 'fairy tales made new' is quite popular now and I love it.

• A Fan Favorite: Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
  
• I keep hearing how great this book is and I have even recommended it to some of my students because of all the rave reviews, but I haven't actually read it myself. Leaving clues in the forms of tapes as to why a girl killed herself is the premise for this novel. I have a funny feeling this will eventually be made into a movie with all the teenage love it has received. So I better get a move on it or I will be rushing to finish before seeing the movie.

Book Review: Sarah's Key

The TLC book for December was Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay. It is a historical fiction novel that spent more than two years on the New York Times Bestseller List and is definitely a must-read! The novel begins with two perspectives: one is a little girl who lives in Paris during the Jewish round-up of 1942 and is taken (along with her parents) by the French police. The second is an American woman and journalist who resides in Paris with her French husband and daughter during 2002. The two stories come together when Julia, the American, must cover the 60th anniversary of the much-forgotten round-up for an article. She discovers a strong connection between her husband's family and the little girl which eventually leads to a strong connection for her.

I was engaged in this book from the first few pages. Both perspectives were equally interesting and kept me wanting to know more. The unsuspecting connections as well as the stories of the lives both females lived were captivating. I also had no idea that Jewish families living in Paris were arrested by their own police and sent to concentration camps. To see how others in the community responded was a saddening observation on human nature. From the novel, it is clear that many French civilians are not aware of the round-up or those who lived through it may have pushed it from their minds.

While this novel is historical, it is also current. The relationship between Julia and her husband are relevant and complex just as the story of Sarah (the young Jewish girl) is sad but honest. Normally, I am not interested in Holocaust literature as I feel I read quite a few in school or through teaching (Number the Stars, The Diary of Anne Frank, Night) but this was a different perspective from which I appreciated learning. Additionally, I am fascinated by French culture, more-so now that I am planning a honeymoon there, so the mentioning of streets, French ways, and traditions were appealing. I would absolutely recommend this novel to teens and adults. There is also a movie version I have yet to watch. Let's hope it lives up to the book!

Book Review: Prada and Prejudice

Mandy Hubbard's Prada and Prejudice was our July's TLC Book. Definitely a book for middle school girls and the occasional naive 9th or 10th grader, it was still an enjoyable read for an adult. Callie is your typical nerdy 15-year-old with a quick wit and potential to be popular. She ends up trying to seek acceptance of her cool peers by getting permission to travel to London on a school trip where she goes off and buys authentic Prada shoes. She can't actually walk in the heels so she almost immediately falls, hits her head, blacks out, and wakes up in a forest. Not knowing where she is or how she got there, she walks until she finds the castle of a duke. Quickly, Callie pretends to be Rebecca, a guest the duke's family was expecting from America, and realizes that she is in 1815 rather than the 21st century. From here, Callie questions the lifestyle and status of women during that time while going on a discovery of self-worth and ultimately falling for the duke, Alex. 

Admittedly, I am tired of the "Callie" character. We are seeing her in different forms all over the place - Bella from Twilight and Mia from The Princess Diaries come to mind first. But even other genres have her too - Taylor Swift's "You Belong with Me" (the song and video) embody this character. One Direction's "You don't know you're beautiful" is a song which millions of young girls feel could be sung to them. Sure, she is relatable at some level - girls feeling different, being clumsy and uncool - and she is something they strive to be - unknowingly beautiful and intelligent which is recognized by a handsome boy of higher-status. But can't we be a little more creative? It was fine at first, but now it is annoying and I am over it.

Beyond that, this an innocent romance story with time travel involved. It is interesting to see the change in etiquette from those day to now as well as the little touches of 1800's life. I did get swept away in the story of the past and read through it rather quickly. The imagery Hubbard provides of the fashions, people, landscape, and castle made it easy to imagine the setting and action. From reading, I suppose we could learn, or be reminded of, the fact that assumptions are not always right as Callie kept distance from Alex because of what she thought she knew about him. (This could be the title connection to Pride and Prejudice.) In the end, it only stopped her from what could have been a great relationship which lasted longer than a few days. We could also learn that we don't need what everyone else has to be accepted by others. One must find contentment within himself or herself and embrace qwirks instead of trying to hide them. So, if you can stand another clumsy teenage girl and want an easy, light-hearted summer read, then Prada and Prejudice is a good one to choose.

Summer Reading List

Summer is right around the corner and that means I will have more time to read! In addition to my TLC books, I will be attempting to read the listed books. Let me know if you have any other suggestions!

Black Sun Rising
C.S. Friedman

If you look at my reading list for last summer, you will see this book. I read most of it but then ran out of summer and the daily grind kept me away from getting back into this very long yet very interesting fantasy novel. But I will finish it, first thing in June so my fiance will be happy, and so will I! Then I have two other lengthy ones to read to finish the trilogy.

Juliet, Naked
Nick Hornby

High Fidelity was a good read and I know Hornby is a well-respected author so I will read another one of his.

Crossed
Ally Condie

This is the second book in the Matched Series. I enjoyed reading Matched so I hope this one does not disappoint.

It's Not Really About the Hair
Tabatha Coffey

Memoir is not a genre I read much but when I do, I usually enjoy it. And I absolutely love Tabatha Takes Over. So put those together and we get Tabatha's memoir. She's tough, she's talented, and she's taking over! Tabatha really knows her stuff and I can't wait to read about her.

The Glass Castle
Jeannette Walls

Many people have recommended this book and I have yet to read it. So, it looks like I will be going with two memoirs this summer.

You Suck: A Love Story
Christopher Moore

I bought this years ago and haven't read it yet. It's another one that is out of my reading realm - comedy/satire - so I am looking forward to something different!

A few books from the Sookie Stackhouse Series
Charlaine Harris

Sticking with the vampire theme - I love, love, love True Blood. I have been waiting to read the book series for a while now and the first 3 books are sitting in my "Reading Room" just hoping to be read this summer.

Book Review: Leverage

Leverage by Joshua Cohen is a teen literature sports fiction novel that I highly recommend reading. If I had the time and eye power to sit down and read a book all at once, I would have done it with Leverage. The novel focuses on two boys, a gymnast named Danny and a football player named Kurt. Kurt has an abusive past as an orphan with a severe stutter but uses his size and muscle to get him status. Danny is small but strong and like the rest of the gymnastics team, is bullied by three relentless, brutal, massive football players who try to pull Kurt into their group. They run the school, are not punished for their outrageous behavior, are adored by girls, and like that Kurt is a powerful athlete who could help lead them to a state title. However, they quickly realize Kurt is not evil like them. In my mind, these three characters are equivalent to Iago from Shakespeare's Othello - as villainous as villainy gets.

Danny and Kurt come together through Kurt's amazement at Danny's ability as a gymnast and desire to learn a back handspring for a touchdown celebration. Their friendship grows as the bullying intensifies and we get to learn about the boys' varying pasts through the honesty of their fears, memories, and motivations. When the bullying reaches its height in a disgusting act, the boys must figure out how to deal with the overwhelming outcome of the situation yet not be harmed themselves.

I will warn that there are very difficult parts of this book. If I were to recommend it to a student in high school, I would tell them in advance that the novel involves extreme cases of physical abuse, drug/alcohol use, rape, and foul language. With that said, it is very well-written and tells a gripping tale that should be read by teens and adults. 

I would never have picked up this book if it wasn't my Teen Lit Club read of the month. While I love sports, sports fiction is not my cup of tea. Yet this is captivating and real. Cohen does not sugar-coat anything and I am glad he didn't. While some parts were challenging to read without crying and other parts I experienced difficultly in refraining from yelling at the characters, I appreciate the genuine quality of this novel. There are characters you will hate and characters you will love. There is sports action and there is a deeper level which questions humanity and how much injustice should be overlooked for a "bigger cause". Put this one on your summer reading list. You will not be disappointed!

Book Review - The Lover's Dictionary

I chose The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan for this month's Teen Literature Club Book. There are a few reasons I chose this novel. One, it was an ALA Alex Award winner for 2012 and since everyone in my book club works or has worked with literature and students, this perfectly fits into our adolescent book genre. The second reason is because of its structure. The novel is written like a dictionary, hence the title, and I was interested to see how I would like this sort of organization. Thirdly, I have yet to finish a book on time for the book club and since I chose the text, I needed to finish it. This is a short, simple read because like I said before, it is written in brief entries. Some are just a few sentences while others are a few paragraphs.

I recommend The Lover's Dictionary for mature teens and adults alike. Although the title includes "lovers", do not be misled. This is not a mushy, fairy tale ending love story. It is real. They have ups and downs, annoyances, quirky jokes, extreme happiness, and anything else a normal couple would experience. As the gender of the narrator's partner is unclear, the reader is left to imagine it as they want. And does it really matter if we know the gender of the unnamed partner? Possibly, what should matter is the idea that feelings are universal in relationships of all kinds. The idea that we all experience relationships in similar ways pleasantly shines through and it is a much needed lesson amongst a world where bullying and hate run rampant.

Another area of discussion at our TLC was the emotion behind the word choices. Levithan did not define the words but created examples of the words. Figuring out the connection was enjoyable and added depth to the storyline. Numerous time I found myself chuckling because I absolutely understood the emotion he was trying to convey in such a small amount of words. It would be interesting to find out whether Levithan wrote the stories and then found words to fit them or thought of words and created stories that way. Whichever it was, this is a book which should be part of your home library (or at least borrowed from the public library).

Book Review: The Westing Game

After playing the video game, Heavy Rain, I wanted to continue in the mystery genre. So, going off of my anticipated summer reading list, I picked up The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. This is a short book (about 180 pages) and is full of puns and other types of word play. I would have loved it for this reason only but the story was great too! After wealthy yet mysterious Sam Westing is murdered, his inheritance of 200 million dollars is offered to the winner of his final game. His Will is actually clues for different residents of Sunset Towers, his residential building of which he hand-picked the occupants. Who will successfully put together their clues and win the game? Who is the murderer? It's a quick read and a good murder mystery connecting people together who seem so different yet all have something in common.

This is a cute site in case any teachers want to use this book with students. It would probably be better for late elementary or middle school but I will recommend it for my high schoolers as an easy, quick read.

Book Review: Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen is a great, fast read with a satisfying ending. We have two settings in the novel. The first takes place in the present from the perspective of a nursing home occupant named Jacob. His repetitious routine is startled by an attention-seeking new resident who upon seeing the circus in town claims he used to bring water to the circus elephants. Jacob knows for a fact this is untrue but none of the workers nor fascinated women residents care to listen to his ranting protests. This leads into our other setting, the 1930's, where Jacob recalls the death of his parents and the end of his upper-middle class life as he knew it. He unknowingly boards a train of The Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth and his life is turned upside-down.

What I liked most about the novel wasn't the love story between Jacob and the star performer, Marlena. I was expecting it to dominate the story but found it to be slightly undeveloped. What caught my attention most were the unusual setting and the reflections of a 90 or 93 year-old. From Gruen's detailed account of the hierarchy of circus workers, it is obvious that to present such an extravagant show took its toll on all types of workers. In reality, circus life of the 1930s was much more grueling and political than glamorous. The realizations of the elderly lifestyle Gruen revealed were honest and saddening but the sarcastic tone in which they were presented helped lessen the truth.
"When you are five, you know your age down to the month. Even in your twenties, you know how old you are. I'm twenty-three you say, or maybe twenty-seven. But then in your thirties, something strange starts to happen. It is a mere hiccup at first, an instant of hesitation. How old are you? Oh, I'm--you start confidently, but then you stop. You were going to say thirty-three, but you are not. You're thirty-five. And then you're bothered, because you wonder if this is the beginning of the end. It is, of course, but it's decades before you admit it."

I also have to add in that I was fascinated to read about the animals, especially Bobo the orangutang and Rosie the elephant. They provided some heartbreaking moments but also some necessary happiness to the story. Here's one:
"I open the orangutan's door and set a pan of fruits, vegetables, and nuts on the floor. As I close it, her long arm reaches through the bars. She points at an orange in another pan.
'That? You want that?'
She continues to point, blinking at me with close-set eyes. Her features are concave, her face a wide platter fringed with red hair. She's the most outrageous and beautiful thing I've ever seen.
'Here,' I say, handing her the orange. 'You can have it.'
She takes it and sets it on the floor. Then she reaches out again. After several seconds of serious misgivings, I hold out my hand. She wraps her long fingers around it, then lets go. She sits on her haunches and peels her orange.
I stare in amazement. She was thanking me."

I have yet to the see the movie version. Obviously, the love story will be amplified but I won't complain about that. What I am most interested in seeing are how the train and circus sets will look. Hopefully, it will not disappoint and will do the novel the justice it deserves.

Book Review: The Happiness Project

This book started my summer purely because the title contained 'happiness' and I was not disappointed. Gretchen Rubin decided to experiment with different ways to make her life happier and broke the year-long experiment into monthly focuses such as "February: Remember Love", "April: Lighten Up", and "October: Pay Attention". She ended the year with a December Happiness Boot Camp where she realized that, "I could change my life without changing my life. When I made the effort to reach out for them, I found that the ruby slippers had been on my feet all along; the bluebird was singing outside my kitchen window." We all have the ability to lead lifestyles where we are mindful of others, where we sometimes leave negativity unsaid, where we try new activities, where we bring people together, where we clean out clutter, and actually show up to/in our lives. But many people don't take advantage of the energy it takes or think about their lives enough to accomplish these. I enjoyed reading this book because I, like Rubin, see the benefits of self-reflection/self-awareness, of setting resolutions to constantly work on rather than just setting goals, and of being grateful for what I have (although I don't always show it). She often discussed living in an atmosphere of growth and how that is generally better and "happier" than the final result or achievement. This struck a cord with me. Sometimes the journey to get somewhere or accomplish something is sweeter than the end reward itself. I also found the vast amount of outside readings she discussed from Tolstoy, Samuel Johnson, and Saint Therese to name a few, the incorporation of her personal experiences and experiences of those who commented on her blog, as well as her candid accounts of "failures" to be useful in applying her resolutions to my own life.

While there were times Rubin discussed behaviors which I already try to do, for example - Buy needful things, Stimulate the mind in new ways, Use good manners - it helped to know someone else thinks these are important and necessary to live a balanced lifestyle. So what did I really get out of reading this novel? Mostly it was a question: What is necessary for me to feel like I lead a happy, balanced life while also making those closest to me happy at the same time? We often project emotions or attitudes which we don't mean to and this book helped me think about how others might interpret the way I act or react. It helped me think about what I could do to make my attitude, openness, and overall self a little better. And as a result I hope to find that "One of the best ways to make myself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy myself" just as Rubin did.

If you are interested in learning more about The Happiness Project, you can visit Rubin's blog or pick up the book! Rubin says, "The days are long but the years are short" so what are you waiting for? Join me and try a happiness project of your own!

Summer Reading List. Yes...already!

As I see the light at the end of the tunnel to this not-so-great school year, I am starting to contemplate my summer reading list. To put me in a better mood and lead me on the relaxing path of enjoying my much deserved summer, this will be the first book I delve into: The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. Even the blog associated with the book makes me happier. Check it out!

The rest of my list so far (any suggestions are welcome!):

Water for Elephants

The Pillars of the Earth

The Alchemist

The Coldfire Trilogy

Three Cups of Tea
(for my current career)

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

How to Read Literature
Like a Professor
(for a future career)

Everything Matters

The Help