My Name is Not Easy

In Short 

My Name is Not Easy by Debby Dahl Edwardson is historical fiction about five different students attending a Catholic boarding school in Alaska during the 1960s. It was published in 2011 and has 352 pages. It won many honors, including being a National Book Award Finalist.

Summary  

My Name is Not Easy has five diverse narrators describing life at Sacred Heart School. While each character faces different challenges, the tension between Indian and Eskimo students is a central theme.

My Take 

This is a book that opened my eyes to a culture and history I hadn't heard much about. My Name is Not Easy is well written with characters that will make you laugh and make you cry. An important book about understanding others.

  
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Persepolis

In Short 

The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is a memoir about growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. It was published in 2007 and has 341 pages. Though not published as a young adult book, its graphic novel format and subject matter make Persepolis accessible and intriguing to teens.

Summary  

Persepolis tells the story of Marji's childhood in Iran, her adventures attending high school in Austria, and then her bitter-sweet homecoming.  Through it all, Marji searches for her place in the world.

My Take 

Persepolis is a rare glimpse into life in Iran. Marji is relatable and honest protagonist, and her struggles are real and heart-wrenching. The graphic novel format tells her story brilliantly. I recommend it highly. 

 

Also, if you enjoy the book, check out the movie with the same title.

 

 Have you read this book? What did you think? Please post your comments.

Ship Breaker

In Short 

Ship Breaker by Paulo Bacigalupi is a dystopian novel set in the American Gulf Coast. It was published in 2010 and has 336 pages. It won a Printz Medal and was a National Book Award Finalist.

Summary  

Nailer's life is a constant struggle for survival as he and a small group of teens work to gather and sell scraps from old, abandoned oil ships. After a huge hurricane, he discovers a wrecked clipper ship and its sole survivor: a rich and beautiful girl. He has to chose whether to claim the ship and all its wealth or take a chance and help the girl.

My Take 

Ship Breaker is a fast-paced book that will appeal to fans--especially male fans--of other dystopian novels. It's well-written with lots of action and many unexpected twists and turns. I personally would have preferred more romance and a little less violence, but not every book can be The Hunger Games.

Have you read this book? What did you think? Please post your comments.

Witches: The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem

In Short
Witches: The Abosolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem by Rosalyn Schanzer is a short history of the Salem Witch Trials. It was published in 2011 and has 144 pages. It was a Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor Book. 

Summary  

In a small town in colonial Massachusetts, two girls started to twitch, choke, and speak gibberish. At first it seemed like a strange illness, but soon the girls and their families had convinced the town that they were bewitched by three neighbor women. Thus began an outrageous witch hunt that resulted in the imprisonments, trials, and deaths of many falsely accused "witches". 

My Take 

I think Witches! is a perfect introduction to this dark moment in U.S. history. It's well-paced and has a lot of interesting details. I especially like how Schanzer wove excerpts from the actual trials throughout the story, and the black and white illustrations add a fun touch. If I have one complaint, it's that I had a hard time keeping all the characters straight...but I guess that's to be expected with the insane number of witch accusations flying. 

Have you read this book? What did you think? Please post your comments.

Dead End in Norvelt

In Short
Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos is historical fiction. Set in the summer of 1962, this book tells the story of Jack's adventurous summer despite being "grounded for life" by his parents. It was published in 2011, has 352 pages, and won the 2012 Newberry Medal and the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction.

Summary  

Jack (yes, same name as the author) is supposed to be grounded all summer. His mom will only allow him out of the house to help their fiesty old neighbor type up obituaries for the local newspaper. Soon Jack starts to realize that an unusually large number of long-time Norvelt residents are dying this summer, and he suspects foul play.

My Take 

I wanted to like this book, but the truth is I didn't. The pacing was too slow, and I didn't particularly connect with the characters. That said, there were interesting bits of history and parts that made me laugh out loud. I would recommend it for fans of Richard Peck's writing, which has a similar feel to me.

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Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith

 

In Short
Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith by Deborah Heiligman tells the (true!) love story of Charles Darwin and his wife Emma, and how it survived despite their opposing views on religion. The book was published in 2009 and has 272 pages. It won multiple awards, including being a 2010 National Book Award finalist.

Summary  

As a young man, Charles Darwin didn't believe in the Bible's creation story. Instead, he was creating a new and very controversial theory on the origin of species. His cousin Emma, a very religious person, accepted his proposal for marriage anyway. That decision--to marry despite opposing religious views--was a "leap of faith" that proved to be both heart-breaking and beautiful.

My Take 

I loved this book. Heiligman did a great job making heavy topics (science, religion, the debate on evolution) interesting and accessible to her audience. Though the book never had my heart pounding, the story was thought-provoking and well-paced throughout. Charles and Emma now feel like lovely, old friends.

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Entwined

 

In Short
Entwined by Heather Dixon is a dark retelling of The Twelve Dancing Princesses. It was published in 2011 and has 480 pages.

Summary
After their mother's death, Azalea and her eleven younger sisters find themselves confined to their castle for a year of mourning. Though dancing is strictly off limits during this time, they can't resist when they stumble upon an enchanted pavilion where magical figures dance each night. What begins as innocent fun soon spirals out of control, putting the princesses in grave danger.

My Take 

The book began a bit slowly, but by the time I was halfway through I couldn't put it down. The characters began to round out and the tensions rose. Unexpected plot twists kept me guessing until the very end. 

 

A great book for fairytale fans.

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