BookCasts
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Nov.13, 2008, under BookCasts, Classic, Romance, Student Reviews
Listen to a bookcast by Chance!
Who would like this book?
I think this book is is probably for ages 13 plus, for its sometimes confusing text. However, I think everyone would enjoy it; after all it is definitely a classic!
Why? When Mr. Lockwood decides to rent a house by a Mr. Heathcliff, he has no idea of the family’s horrid past, full of love, death, and tragedy. But, when he sees the ghost of a Heathcliff family member, his curiosity inspires him to ask an old family maid of the past. However, as Mr. Lockwood will soon find out, the past is usually not so bright, but what of the future? This book follows the maid’s sometimes chilling, and always intoxicating tale, of love, despair, and glory. With conflicts that will chill your bones, and warm your heart, Wuthering Heights is a definite classic that will make your head swim with pleasure. Read to find out more.
The details: 303 p. 1847 Submitted by Chance
Peak by Roland Smith
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Aug.10, 2008, under Adventure, Battle of the Books 2008-2009, BookCasts, Sam's Reviews, Sports, Thriller, YRCA
Watch a 30-second trailer for Peak by Sam!
Who would like this book? Anyone who likes mountain climbing, adventure, or survival stories would appreciate this book by Oregon author Roland Smith.
Why? The title Peak has a couple of significant meanings. I won’t say anything more about these meanings (and don’t read the back of the book) so that you can discover them for yourself. The main character starts out by getting in trouble for illegally climbing skyscrapers in New York City and escapes juvenile detention when his father, a famous mountain climber, comes to take him to Mount Everest. Peak is a multi-leveled adventure with heart-stopping climbing challenges, gut-wrenching family problems, and mind-bending political turmoil. Whether or not you’re part of the 08-09 Battle of the Books, this book is a worthwhile read.
The details: 246 p. 2007 Review by Samrarian
Eyes of the Emperor by Graham Salisbury
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Mar.30, 2008, under Adventure, Battle of the Books 2008-2009, BookCasts, Historical Fiction, Multicultural Fiction, Sam's Reviews, War
Listen to a Bookcast by Sam!
Who would like this book? Teens – both guys and girls – who want a gripping adventure story that is based on the events of World War II and highlights the racial discrimination that took place against Japanese Americans.
Why? If you have read Graham Salisbury’s Under the Blood Red Sun, you won’t want to miss Eyes of the Emperor. They both focus on the experience of Japanese Americans in Hawaii during World War II, and they both draw on the experiences of his own family as well as on eye-witness accounts given to him by other Japanese Americans. Salisbury is convincing as he weaves this historical information into the lives of his fictitious characters. In Eyes of the Emperor, young Eddy Okubo enlists in the army after the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor. Instead of being sent into combat, he and his fellow Japanese soldiers are sent to a remote island in Mississippi where they are faced with a terrifying, top-secret assignment. The spirit and courage of the Japanese soldiers, their loyalty to each other, and their way of coping with impossible situations with humor combine to make this book a powerful tribute to them and a reminder of the dangerous consequences of faulty, racist thinking.
The details: 229 p. 2005
Fablehaven by Brandon Mull
by Sam Arnold-Boyd on Feb.16, 2008, under BookCasts, Fantasy, Sam's Reviews
Who would like this book? Pre-teens and teens who like fantasy, mythical creatures (especially fairies), danger, adventure, and some sibling rivalry.
Why? Kendra and Seth’s parents get to go on a vacation and need some place for the kids to stay. After much convincing, their grandfather agrees and the two siblings arrive at the house in the countryside. Kendra and Seth are full of insults for each other and unhappiness over their grandfather’s seemingly arbitrary rules. Seth, of course, has to break them right away and plunges into trouble. Through events that follow, Seth and Kendra discover that their grandfather is the caretaker of “Fablehaven,” a preserve for mythical creatures who are in danger of extinction. Ancient laws hold the preserve in harmony, but the “celebration” of Midsummer Eve threatens to upend this harmony, with perilous consequences for the caretakers, Seth and Kendra. Though some of the plot and characterizations are predictable, developments related to their grandmother and Lena, the housekeeper, lead to some good surprises. Also, I now take a second look at various insects! The Cal Young Library also has the sequel, Fablehaven: The Rise of the Evening Star (2007).
The details: 368 p. 2006
