June 11th 2007
Who would like this book? Teens and adults who want a richly redemptive story that does not flinch when looking at the dark side of humanity.
Why? The Author’s Note at the end of the book states: “In Chile, the death penalty was given for the last time in 1985, and was officially abolished in 2001.” This story is an argument in favor of that action. Angel, the murderer, comes to the house at the end of the world where Paolo lives with his mother and father. Angel kills the parents but cannot do the same to Paolo. Instead, he begins to care for Paolo and finds that he is more than a murderer: “I’m just a murderer,” Angel whispered, “but I know one thing. When you’re sad and have the good fortune to find a shoulder to cry on, you shouldn’t hesitate.” (p. 79) Don’t let the grisly subject matter keep you away from this book.
The details: 162 p. 2003; Translation from the French in 2006.
June 11th 2007
Who would like this book? Teen or adults who are interested in reading and discussing rape and its psychological effects.
Why? A party during the summer before high school ends in tragedy for Melinda when she is raped and then calls the police. This response seems reasonable except that she cannot talk about the rape, so the students ruthlessly blame her for ruining the party and shun her throughout the school year. She withdraws inhto silence and is beset by trouble at every turn. The administration and teachers of her school are, for the most part, despicable, and she has no one to confide in and no resources to deal with her pain and guilt. Her story could be good as a discussion starter for the issue of rape.
The details: 197 p. 1999.
June 11th 2007
Who would like this book? Zuzak fans! It’s aimed at teens, but adults who like Zuzak won’t be disappointed. It’s an early work (2001) and not as richly complex as I am the Messenger or The Book Thief, but it’s a satisfying read.
Why? It’s hard not to like Cameron, the Rube’s younger brother and the narrator of the story. He’s quiet and observant and finds satisfaction through writing in his journal (included in the text). Cameron’s appeal makes it very clear that Rube is a self-centered jerk, making it all the more important to the reader that Cameron “get the girl.” As with all of Zuzak’s books, Getting the Girl is much better than this plot summary indicates. His style of writing, characterizations, and dialogue are finely honed and paced. It doesn’t hurt that it’s set in Australia, with many fascinating asides and colloquialisms.
The details: 250 p. 2001
June 11th 2007
Who would like this book? Younger teens who are interested in what life was like for teenagers in the early 1960s in a small town, and who can navigate a book with two narrators and multiple forms (prose, haiku, poems, questioln-and-answer).
Why? There’s a mismatch in this criss-cross. The narrators, Debbie and Hector, are 14 and each in their own way self-counsciously waiting for their lives to begin. So, the plot would be interesting to a pre-teen or one in her/his early teens. Problem is, the format might be difficult for the audience who would be interested in the plot. Or, perhaps if read with a bit of guidance, the book could act as a springboard to different forms of creative expression. I got bored with the plot and characters, but humorous situations kept me reading.
The details: 337 p. 2005
June 7th 2007
Who would like this book? Teens and adults who love a good mystery and want to experience the Queen of the mystery novel at her finest.
Why? Murder on the Orient Express, published originally in 1934, is the classic mystery, with a movie from 1974 that is brilliant in its own right. This book and movie was a choice for our Bookworm Club, and I am elated because I somehow have missed both the book and movie. I love both of them. The book, with detective Hercule Poirot uncovering a murder that occurs on the Orient Express just as the train becomes snowbound, is an entertaining and fascinating invitation to follow the clues. The movie, with an incredible cast, stays true to the book and provides fun insight into Peter Sellars’ Pink Panther.
The details: 245 p. 1934 (2000 c.)