I know that it has been a little while since my last post, but I am finally feeling like I have a good plan and schedule in my life. As such I have been able to read more, and I just finished a very powerful book called Give a Boy a Gun.
The book is very powerful for several reasons, but the most powerful reason might be the fact that I am a teacher and the book hits very close to home.
The book is the story of a small town, and the horror that took place there one evening, in form of a school shooting. The book tells the story of Gary and Brendan, two bullied and ostracized boys. who go from merely angry and lonely to violent and aggressive.
An interesting piece about the book is that the book is not a clean and straight forward narrative. Instead the story is told from the point of view of a reporter, who has been collecting information on the shooting, trying to understand what happened in her hometown. The book is a collection of facts gathered from research inserted at the bottom of the page, and small sections of recollections from interviews with witnesses.
The witnesses tell both sides of the story, the people who were friends or supporters of the perpetrators and those who are angry at what happened. The heart of the book is trying to understand that which can not be understood, what can drive two people to believe that killing others and themselves is the only solution.
This book should be praised for the realism it portrays and when I first read it, I had to confirm that it was a work of fiction, instead of a non-fiction.
The book also lists incidents of gun violence that occurred prior to the book being published and while the book was being written.
Overall, this a very good book that draws people in and really makes you question our society. One of the most powerful quotes from the book is this..."Time and time again, the gun industry has injected into the civilian market new guns that are specifically designed to be better at killing." pg. 167
For all that this is a young adult/teen book, it is a book that I would recommend for all people to read, in order to think about our society and our current and future actions.
Sunday 13 December 2015
Tuesday 18 August 2015
Stones, By William Bell
I read this book, Stones, a while ago, after having read it for the first time when I was in Grade 9. My Eng;lish teacher that year had a reading project for us, that saw us reading a variety of books all year, and this was one of them. I started that year with other books like Give a Boy a Gun and Down the Rabbit Hole. Stones, however, is one book that has stood out from that year.
Stones is by a Canadian author and is set in Ontario. The book combines a modern story, of a struggling high school student, Garnet and the strange new girl he befriends, Raphaella. They are both outsiders in their school, but before they know it, they are haunted by a mystery out of history. The book delves into Canada's past, dating back to the Underground Railroad and the prejudice that still existed towards people of colour. The book mixes an element of the supernatural with a story of struggling to discover who you are and what your place is in the world.
The book is well written, it was even named the CLA Young Adult Book of the Year, and keeps the reader engossed in the mysteries and twists in the story. The characters are both flawed, struggling to find their place in the world and not always making the best decisions, but this could be said of any high school student. This book would be a good fit for a supernatural mystery lover, someone who is looking for something a little different.
Stones is by a Canadian author and is set in Ontario. The book combines a modern story, of a struggling high school student, Garnet and the strange new girl he befriends, Raphaella. They are both outsiders in their school, but before they know it, they are haunted by a mystery out of history. The book delves into Canada's past, dating back to the Underground Railroad and the prejudice that still existed towards people of colour. The book mixes an element of the supernatural with a story of struggling to discover who you are and what your place is in the world.
The book is well written, it was even named the CLA Young Adult Book of the Year, and keeps the reader engossed in the mysteries and twists in the story. The characters are both flawed, struggling to find their place in the world and not always making the best decisions, but this could be said of any high school student. This book would be a good fit for a supernatural mystery lover, someone who is looking for something a little different.
Sunday 5 July 2015
Being Nikki, Runaway
I have finished the Airhead series, with the last two books being Being Nikki and Runaway. The books follow Em Watts as she adjusts to her new life as Nikki Howard. Em tries to sort out how to let go of her old life, and her old crush and best friend Christopher, keep an eye on her younger sister Frida, over-through the evil Stark Cooperation and oh yeah, survive Nikki's modelling jobs, all while trying to pass Grade 11.
These books carry the story strongly, as you just a chance to see just how far people will go to make money, keep secrets and most importantly, maintain something that is fleeting, youth. In reading the books, readers can ask themselves what is more important, beauty or brains? Along with questions like, how far can money realy take you, as human beings where should we stop or limit scientific innovation and when is it okay to push the boundaries and break the rules?
This is a great triogy for young adults, especially if you want to read a book that is both fun and enjoyable to read, due to highly engaging characters, good action and a well written story, but can also lead to a deeper conversation.
To me, books should lead people to aske questions and look at the bigger picture, even if some people see a book as just a silly teen book. Books are doorways to worlds beyond our own world, but more importantly, they should get us to look at our world, our beliefs and our ideas and then expand them, change them or cause them to grow. I hope that the stories I am writing do this, as they can show people that not all heroes wear a cape or having gleaming armour, and not all monsters have claws or fangs. Heroes are all around, and most often they are found in the unlikeliest of places, in the most unlikely people, often those that we would not expect. So when you read, remember, not monsters and heroes are where you see them, and only defined by how you see them.
These books carry the story strongly, as you just a chance to see just how far people will go to make money, keep secrets and most importantly, maintain something that is fleeting, youth. In reading the books, readers can ask themselves what is more important, beauty or brains? Along with questions like, how far can money realy take you, as human beings where should we stop or limit scientific innovation and when is it okay to push the boundaries and break the rules?
This is a great triogy for young adults, especially if you want to read a book that is both fun and enjoyable to read, due to highly engaging characters, good action and a well written story, but can also lead to a deeper conversation.
To me, books should lead people to aske questions and look at the bigger picture, even if some people see a book as just a silly teen book. Books are doorways to worlds beyond our own world, but more importantly, they should get us to look at our world, our beliefs and our ideas and then expand them, change them or cause them to grow. I hope that the stories I am writing do this, as they can show people that not all heroes wear a cape or having gleaming armour, and not all monsters have claws or fangs. Heroes are all around, and most often they are found in the unlikeliest of places, in the most unlikely people, often those that we would not expect. So when you read, remember, not monsters and heroes are where you see them, and only defined by how you see them.
Wednesday 1 July 2015
Airhead By Meg Cabot
I am currently reading my way through the Airhead trilogy and I really enjoyed the first book, simply called Airhead. The book is a few years old, but is a very enjoyable read, and is still incredibly relevant.
Airhead is set in New York, where a mega-coorporation called Stark is opening a new entertainment store, like Future Shop or Best Buy. Emerson Watts, the main character, a tomboy who is not a supporter of Stark, but is forced to take her younger sister to the store opening, to see her new favourite musician Gabriel Luna. Unfortunately, there is an accident at the store opening and Em is killed.
Stark however, has a major secret that will change Em's life forever, as her brain is transplanted into the body of Nikki Howard, the "Face of Stark," and teenage supermodel. Em is forced to not only step up as a supermodel in order to keep Stark's secret, but she is also trying to keep connections to her old life and follow her own dreams and desires. Em also finds out that Nikki's life is not nearly as perfect as people think, and Nikki just might have a few secrets of her own.
The book is a great book by Meg Cabot. Cabot has a history of well written young adult fiction, including books like the 1-800-Where-R-You series, the Avalon High series, and the Princess Diaries along with stand alone books like Jinx and Teen Idol. Cabot writes books with vivid characters, full of quirks and faults, making them very realistic and relatable. She also has a knack for creating very interesting plot points and situations for the characters to face, like gaining psychic powers, getting caught up in magic, a brain transplant into a supermodel or a retelling of King Arthur and Camelot.
The main character in Airhead, Em, is a strong young woman, who as firmly held beliefs and ideas. She does not bow to celebrities, in fact, she thinks that they are overly popular and they should not weild the power that they do. She does not bow to established ideas of female beauty and perfection, until she is thrust into the body of a supermodel. In Nikki's body, she learns that modeling and fame are not nearly as easy as they look, and they are in no way shape or form comfortable.
The secondary characters in the story are also very well written, as they grow and change, instead of being static or only following the changes in main character.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good young adult read, that has well developed characters, as well as a well established plot with twists and turns to keep you reading and engaged. Also, if you are a fan of any of Meg Cabot's other books, I can tell you this one won't disappoint.
"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." - Oscar Wilde
Airhead is set in New York, where a mega-coorporation called Stark is opening a new entertainment store, like Future Shop or Best Buy. Emerson Watts, the main character, a tomboy who is not a supporter of Stark, but is forced to take her younger sister to the store opening, to see her new favourite musician Gabriel Luna. Unfortunately, there is an accident at the store opening and Em is killed.
Stark however, has a major secret that will change Em's life forever, as her brain is transplanted into the body of Nikki Howard, the "Face of Stark," and teenage supermodel. Em is forced to not only step up as a supermodel in order to keep Stark's secret, but she is also trying to keep connections to her old life and follow her own dreams and desires. Em also finds out that Nikki's life is not nearly as perfect as people think, and Nikki just might have a few secrets of her own.
The book is a great book by Meg Cabot. Cabot has a history of well written young adult fiction, including books like the 1-800-Where-R-You series, the Avalon High series, and the Princess Diaries along with stand alone books like Jinx and Teen Idol. Cabot writes books with vivid characters, full of quirks and faults, making them very realistic and relatable. She also has a knack for creating very interesting plot points and situations for the characters to face, like gaining psychic powers, getting caught up in magic, a brain transplant into a supermodel or a retelling of King Arthur and Camelot.
The main character in Airhead, Em, is a strong young woman, who as firmly held beliefs and ideas. She does not bow to celebrities, in fact, she thinks that they are overly popular and they should not weild the power that they do. She does not bow to established ideas of female beauty and perfection, until she is thrust into the body of a supermodel. In Nikki's body, she learns that modeling and fame are not nearly as easy as they look, and they are in no way shape or form comfortable.
The secondary characters in the story are also very well written, as they grow and change, instead of being static or only following the changes in main character.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a good young adult read, that has well developed characters, as well as a well established plot with twists and turns to keep you reading and engaged. Also, if you are a fan of any of Meg Cabot's other books, I can tell you this one won't disappoint.
"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." - Oscar Wilde
Thursday 11 June 2015
Of Beast and Beauty - Enter a world of secrets and sacrifice
I have finished another of my bargain book finds and figured I would share it with you. The book is called Of Beast and Beauty, by Stacey Jay. The book is a fractured fairy tale, retelling Beauty and the Beast, with some very major twists.
The story is science fiction, mixed with a fairy tale. The story takes place on a world that is not Earth, in fact, Earth was abandoned when it became uninhabitable and the human race moved to a new world. Once they reached a new world, the spirit of the world tried to help them survive, but in doing so, mutated people at an accelerated rate. The mutation terrified some of the population, so they fought the gift of the new world and created domed cities to protect themselves. The story starts with a curse that is designed to reunite the two groups.
The story is different than the traditional Beauty and the Beast story, as there is no clear Beauty or Beast, insstead Isra and Gem, the two main characters, contain elements of both, as all people do. Both characters have the opportunity to grow and embrace their better natures as the story goes on. Isra, the princess in the story also grows from someone who is very childlike and naive to someone who is strong, curious and thoughtful. Gem, the prince in the story grows from someone who is angry and focused only on his own people to someone who cares for the bigger world, is gentle and caring.
the story is told from three different perspectives, Isra's, Gem's and Bo's. Bo is the second suitor in the story, who is determined to have Isra for himself, even though she comes to love another. The story is also a lot darker than many people may think Beauty and the Beast should be, but it a story that draws you in. The story contains mystery, romance, self-discovery and a dsytopian world.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a read that a spin on a familar story, as well as a rich story with vibrant characters, a rich setting and world and many elements of classic fairytales.
The story is science fiction, mixed with a fairy tale. The story takes place on a world that is not Earth, in fact, Earth was abandoned when it became uninhabitable and the human race moved to a new world. Once they reached a new world, the spirit of the world tried to help them survive, but in doing so, mutated people at an accelerated rate. The mutation terrified some of the population, so they fought the gift of the new world and created domed cities to protect themselves. The story starts with a curse that is designed to reunite the two groups.
The story is different than the traditional Beauty and the Beast story, as there is no clear Beauty or Beast, insstead Isra and Gem, the two main characters, contain elements of both, as all people do. Both characters have the opportunity to grow and embrace their better natures as the story goes on. Isra, the princess in the story also grows from someone who is very childlike and naive to someone who is strong, curious and thoughtful. Gem, the prince in the story grows from someone who is angry and focused only on his own people to someone who cares for the bigger world, is gentle and caring.
the story is told from three different perspectives, Isra's, Gem's and Bo's. Bo is the second suitor in the story, who is determined to have Isra for himself, even though she comes to love another. The story is also a lot darker than many people may think Beauty and the Beast should be, but it a story that draws you in. The story contains mystery, romance, self-discovery and a dsytopian world.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a read that a spin on a familar story, as well as a rich story with vibrant characters, a rich setting and world and many elements of classic fairytales.
Tuesday 26 May 2015
All the Truth That's in Me
A couple weeks ago I went to the bookstore, and for anyone who knows me the next line is: How many books did you buy this time?
I will confess I bought a few books, with a majority of them coming from the bargain book section, so a hardcover book cost $5-6. I have just finished reading my first bargain book from that bookstore run, so I figured I would tell you a little bit about it.
The book is called All the Truth That's in Me, by Julie Berry.
When I first read the book jacket it left me with a lot of questions, and I was definitely curious. What I could not tell is that the book is a historical fiction, and is told in a second person narrative, with the main character Judith talking to her childhood friend Lucas. The book is also not written in a "traditional manner" with set chapters. Instead the book is written in small little sections 1/3 to 1/2 a page long, for the most part. The story also does not reveal all the details in the beginning, in fact the story starts out, like you are looking at a single panel in a cartoon, and as the story moves you can see more of what came both before and after the panel.
The story itself is fascinating, as the main character, Judith, tells her story, both the story of her best friends murder, her own kidnapping and mutilation at the hands of her kidnapper and then the story set several years later, of adjusting to life in a town where she it shunned. Judith is shunned for her inability to speak and defend herself about the kidnapping. The story pushes Judith, as her town and way of life are threatened by invaders, and she is forced to seek help in the last place she would ever want to return to. By dredging up the past, and a person thought dead, she exposes herself to ridicule, scrutiny and persecution. Throughout the story, with the help of her few dear friends, Judith learns to speak again, and to speak up for herself, as through her time as a silent outcast, she was able to observe and learn more than anyone could imagine.
I found the book a very interesting read, as it started slowly, leaving me with a lot of questions and opportunities to make assumptions. As I continued reading, the book drew me in, until I did not want to put it down. The overlapping events of the story, mixing the past and the present keep the story moving at a good pace and draw you in with the complexity. The further I went into the book, the stronger my assumptions became and then in a twist at the end, many of them proved to be false and I was actually happy about that (this story does not follow a predictable, tired plot line).
The book also has strong characters, both in Judith, the protagonist and in the supporting cast of characters. Judith is a character who has had the world turn against her, including her own mother, but she does not let this turn her hard and bitter, instead she grows strong. Her strength is quite literally a quiet strength, but there is no denying that she is the hero of her own story. She also offers a lot of interesting observations as the story progresses, form her role as an observer of everything, without truly being a part of her community. The supporting characters offer Judith a quiet support, her provide her with very believable opportunities to grow and be strong.
This book is described as a romance, but really that is a secondary story line to the growth, strength and changes in Judith. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking to read something a little different, a little challenging and something that will make you think and feel.
Note: This book is most definitely a teen book, and I would not recommend it for students under Grade 9/10, based on both the reading level of the book and the content of the book.
We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another. - Veronica Roth
I will confess I bought a few books, with a majority of them coming from the bargain book section, so a hardcover book cost $5-6. I have just finished reading my first bargain book from that bookstore run, so I figured I would tell you a little bit about it.
The book is called All the Truth That's in Me, by Julie Berry.
When I first read the book jacket it left me with a lot of questions, and I was definitely curious. What I could not tell is that the book is a historical fiction, and is told in a second person narrative, with the main character Judith talking to her childhood friend Lucas. The book is also not written in a "traditional manner" with set chapters. Instead the book is written in small little sections 1/3 to 1/2 a page long, for the most part. The story also does not reveal all the details in the beginning, in fact the story starts out, like you are looking at a single panel in a cartoon, and as the story moves you can see more of what came both before and after the panel.
The story itself is fascinating, as the main character, Judith, tells her story, both the story of her best friends murder, her own kidnapping and mutilation at the hands of her kidnapper and then the story set several years later, of adjusting to life in a town where she it shunned. Judith is shunned for her inability to speak and defend herself about the kidnapping. The story pushes Judith, as her town and way of life are threatened by invaders, and she is forced to seek help in the last place she would ever want to return to. By dredging up the past, and a person thought dead, she exposes herself to ridicule, scrutiny and persecution. Throughout the story, with the help of her few dear friends, Judith learns to speak again, and to speak up for herself, as through her time as a silent outcast, she was able to observe and learn more than anyone could imagine.
I found the book a very interesting read, as it started slowly, leaving me with a lot of questions and opportunities to make assumptions. As I continued reading, the book drew me in, until I did not want to put it down. The overlapping events of the story, mixing the past and the present keep the story moving at a good pace and draw you in with the complexity. The further I went into the book, the stronger my assumptions became and then in a twist at the end, many of them proved to be false and I was actually happy about that (this story does not follow a predictable, tired plot line).
The book also has strong characters, both in Judith, the protagonist and in the supporting cast of characters. Judith is a character who has had the world turn against her, including her own mother, but she does not let this turn her hard and bitter, instead she grows strong. Her strength is quite literally a quiet strength, but there is no denying that she is the hero of her own story. She also offers a lot of interesting observations as the story progresses, form her role as an observer of everything, without truly being a part of her community. The supporting characters offer Judith a quiet support, her provide her with very believable opportunities to grow and be strong.
This book is described as a romance, but really that is a secondary story line to the growth, strength and changes in Judith. Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone looking to read something a little different, a little challenging and something that will make you think and feel.
Note: This book is most definitely a teen book, and I would not recommend it for students under Grade 9/10, based on both the reading level of the book and the content of the book.
We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another. - Veronica Roth
Friday 22 May 2015
Jumping Back In
Well, I have graduated from university and have settled into a new apartment. Now it is time to start blogging again.
To start I think I want to talk about a project that I have had on the go since I was in Grade 12. My project is a set of books that I have called "Dragon Clan." These books, so far there are four, are the story of an ancient race of beings that have the ability to change back and forth between a human form and a dragon form. They can also stop the change at any point they choose.
In the story, this race was the last ones left standing in a fight against an ancient evil, and they did not win the fight, but at the same time they did not lose.
The members have Dragon Clan have the ability to stop their transformation at any time, leaving them half human and half dragon. This might mean claws, scales, wings or fangs. It is very easy to recognize a member of Dragon Clan, as when they are human they have reptile eyes and when they are dragons they have human eyes.
More to come...
To start I think I want to talk about a project that I have had on the go since I was in Grade 12. My project is a set of books that I have called "Dragon Clan." These books, so far there are four, are the story of an ancient race of beings that have the ability to change back and forth between a human form and a dragon form. They can also stop the change at any point they choose.
In the story, this race was the last ones left standing in a fight against an ancient evil, and they did not win the fight, but at the same time they did not lose.
The members have Dragon Clan have the ability to stop their transformation at any time, leaving them half human and half dragon. This might mean claws, scales, wings or fangs. It is very easy to recognize a member of Dragon Clan, as when they are human they have reptile eyes and when they are dragons they have human eyes.
More to come...
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