Laurie Halse Anderson

As you no doubt have figured out by now, I am a huge fan of juvenile and teen fiction. I'd like to talk about an excellent teen writer named Laurie Halse Anderson. Anderson is very good at addressing tough issues and she creates balanced characters with whom the reader can identify. I have read four of her novels, and I would recommend them all.

The novel that introduced me to Ms. Anderson is her masterpiece Speak. Melinda starts her freshman year of high school and it is hell. Her former friends hate her and everyone at school gossips about her. She is burdened with a dark secret and she is unable to tell anyone. Her parents are concerned but preoccupied- and IT is harassing her. Will Melinda find her voice? Will she find the courage to face her fears? This is a powerful, deeply moving novel that tackles a really serious issue for teens.

In Wintergirls, Laurie Halse Anderson discusses anorexia through the two main characters of the novel. Best friends, the girls encourage and enable each-other in their eating disorders, until one girl dies and the other is left behind, plagued by guilt. The surviving girl copes with her grief by continuing to starve herself and sabotage herself. Will she find the strength to survive? While this one didn't have the same impact for me as Speak, I thought that Anderson addressed the issue well.

In Twisted, Laurie Halse Anderson tackles another tough issue, but from a male perspective. A teen's world is shattered when he is falsely accused of rape. Will anyone believe him? This novel tackles some moral issues that are crucial to teen guys and girls. I thought that the author was very believable writing as a male. I could identify with him despite the gender difference. Excellent.

Halse Anderson takes on historical fiction in Chains: Seeds of America. The young protagonist, Isabel, is a slave girl who is responsible for her younger epileptic sister, Ruth. When their mother dies, the girls are cruelly sold to wealthy and calcualting loyalists in New York City. As the intrigues of the revolutionary war rise up around them, Isabel must decide which side she should help- which side will grant her her freedom? She is disillusioned by both the patriots and the Britons as neither side is interested in helping her or her sister. And when the cruel Mrs. Lockton sells Ruth, Isabel isn't even sure if she can find the strength to carry on. I was immediately emotionally invested in the fate of the sisters, and I was unable to put this book down. I finished it in one sitting.

In short, Laurie Halse Anderson is a great teen writer. She is a refreshing change from the superficial, poorly-written novels that have inundated the teen market.

Is anyone else sick of Twilight?

So what do we call the vampire/werewolf/witchcraft/zombies/strangeness genre that is dominating teen novels these days? It may have started with the wonderful Harry Potter series, but it has become darker and weirder and in some cases, just bad. I thought I would highlight the best and worst of the genre that I have personally read.

Okay, I'll admit it. I got sucked into the Twilight craze just like all the thirteen year olds out there. I ended up reading all four books in a mad rush over Christmas. They are highly addictive. They're the kind of novels that are great in the moment, but when you think about them once the Twilight-induced haze has passed, you realize they're really not very good. They're not very well written, the characters can be so annoying (especially Bella) and two-dimensional (again, Bella) and the last couple novels are very anti-climactic. You can tell that Stephanie Meyer was really grasping at straws in the last book especially.

Another series that became very popular (though not as popular as Twilight) is The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. This series also has some vampires, and also witches and demons and other weird things.  I was sad to hear that the first novel in this series, City of Bones just might be the 2010 YRCA winner. These are not very well written either, and yet they became ever so popular.

I recently read another novel, A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libby Bray. This novel was highly recommended to me by a teen at the library, and I was sorely disappointed. In this novel, a young girl (Gemma Doyle) discovers her magic powers at a boarding school in Victorian times. She and three of her schoolmates form a mysterious group called "The Order" and discover a magic world. Gemma must also discover the truth about her mother, who was mysteriously killed at the beginning of the novel. It was just strange and not memorable at all. Yet, this very popular book (first in a series) is reportedly being made into a movie.

Another vampire series is the highly popular Southern Vampire Series by Charlaine Harris. This series is intended for adults, and it chronicles the adventures of Sookie Stackhouse, a psychic barmaid who strikes up a romantic relationship with a vampire. Think of this series as a harlequin romance with vampires. I'll admit it- this series is also highly addictive, but it is certainly not amazing.

Now to discuss some good examples of the vampire/werewolf/witchcraft/zombie/strangeness genre. I recently read The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. In this novel a young girl grows up in a post-apocalyptic society. This society is closed off from the world because of the 'unconsecrated' (aka zombies) that live outside the fence. As Mary is trying to find out where she belongs in the community, the community's very existence is threatened when the fence is breached. I really really enjoyed this novel. I thought it was very well written and the plot kept me engaged and interested. I liked the ending- Ryan stayed away from the tried and true formulas. I'm looking forward to reading the sequel- The Dead-Tossed Waves.

Another post-apocalyptic novel (this one is free of vampires and other magical creatures) is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. This is an absolutely wonderful novel, and one of the nominees for YRCA 2011. In this future society, the nation is divided into thirteen districts- the rich and powerful Capitol and twelve other poor districts. Every year, a boy and a girl from each district is chosen to fight in the Hunger Games- a competition to the death. Katniss takes the place of her younger sister to fight in the games. Can she survive to see her family again? This is a great novel, and the first in a trilogy. I highly recommend. it.

A Curse Dark as Gold, also one of the 2011 YRCA nominees, is a wonderful retelling of the Rumpelstiltzkin fairy tale. Elizabeth C. Bunce combines magic and fairy tale with the history of the industrial revolution, adding other elements to make the story her own. This story had a great twist at the end.

The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel is first in another great series. I mentioned this one in my YRCA 2010 post, so I'll just say that this novel is a great blend of history, mythology, magic and fantasy. Wonderful!

Scott Westerfeld has written a couple of good teen series, The Midnighters and The Uglies, the former being more dark and magical, while the latter is another post-apocalyptic series. Both are enjoyable.

Neil Gaiman, author of Coraline and Stardust has written another great fantasy novel called Neverwhere. In this novel, a young man falls into a secret world under the streets of London. This magical world is dark and vicious and it is uncertain whether he- or the young woman that accompanies him- will survive it.

Before you dismiss Stephanie Meyer altogether, she has written another novel, The Host, which I highly enjoyed. Aliens have come to earth and taken over human bodies. But one girl struggles for dominance of her own body against the creature occupying it to protect her loved ones. This novel puts Twilight to shame.

Finally, if you're dying for a good vampire novel, I do have one for you. It's called Sunshine by Robin McKinley. A young woman is kidnapped by a group of vampires and brought to an abandoned mansion. She is clothed in a red gown and chained to a wall. Chained to the opposite wall - just within reaching distance-is a very hungry and emaciated vampire. Will she survive the night?

So, there are some good examples of the vampire/werewolf/witchcraft/zombie/strangeness genre out there. Now we just need to come up with a shorter name! The Modern Gothic perhaps?

Father knows best?

In a recent conversation with my parents, I mentioned that I wanted to start reading more classics. While I love many classics, including everything by Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters, I find that I need to be in the right mood to read them. Consequently, I have a long list of authors I would like to try but just haven't gotten around to, such as John Steinbeck and Ernest Hemmingway. My Dad, a big fan of John Steinbeck, recommended an author I had never heard of, a Mr. Nevil Shute. The late Nevil Shute has written several books, many taking place during World War II or on the subject of aviation (Shute was an aeronautical engineer as well as a popular novelist). While I have only read two of his novels at this point, I now consider myself a big fan of Nevil Shute. Here is a little taste of the novels I have read- I hope you'll give him a try too.

On the Beach is perhaps the most well known of Nevil Shute's novels. After a nuclear war has wiped out most of the earth's populations, the few survivors await for the radiation sickness to come. Shute introduces some unforgettable characters in this book who all cope in different ways- a young woman who copes with levity and plenty of alcohol, a young couple with a new baby who plan next year's garden and find respite in day-to-day tasks, and an American submarine captain who finds comfort by pretending that his wife and children are still alive and well, waiting for him to return home. Some characters deal with their coming deaths with grim finality, while others cling to hope. Shute writes in a very straightforward, simple manner. He makes every word count, and the pace carries on despite the sometimes mundane events in the novel. This novel is almost anti-climactic, yet somehow that makes it all the more compelling. I found myself clinging to hope at times, while at other times I was overwhelmed with despair. This is the kind of novel that doesn't let go of you once you have closed its pages- it clings to you and makes you think. Wonderful.

The Pied Piper is a more exciting, suspenseful narrative, yet it is written in the same straightforward, highly readable manner as On the Beach. In this novel, an elderly Briton travels to France for a fishing trip during the Second World War. His vacation is cut short, however, when he learns that the Germans are invading France. He agrees to take two young children back to Britain with him, and he soon finds himself in danger as the country becomes increasingly battle-stricken. As he makes the slow and arduous journey, Mr. Howard finds more children who are in danger, and before long he has quite the collection of children to take care of and bring to safety. The old man deals with declinining health, bombs, Nazis and intrigues. This is a wonderful novel - it is highly readable, and it has an engaging, suspenseful plot.

I'm glad I took my Dad's advice and gave this author a try. I'll be sure to take his advice more often in the future- at least on the subject of books!

Young Readers' Choice Awards 2010

There's just sometihng about a children's book that appeals to me. I don't know if it's the magic and innocence or the ability to escape from adult problems for a short while, but I can completely immerse myself in a juvenile or teen novel. This must be why I love the Young Readers' Choice Awards titles. I can still remember voting for my favourites back in elementary and junior high school. Now that I work as a Library Assistant, I have started reading the YRCA nominees again.

For those of you that are wondering, the YRCA nominees are chosen by kids and teens, librarians and teachers in the Pacific Northwest- Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho, Montana and Washington. Once the final nominees have been chosen, it is up to kids to read the nominees and vote for their favourites in each category. Since the voting is now complete and the results will be out any day, I thought it would be fun to put in my two cents.

For the junior division (grades 4-6), my favourite is The Candy Shop War by Brandon Mull, author of the wonderful Fablehaven series. Candy that is both delicious and magical- what could be better? But a group of kids soon learn that the grandmotherly owner of the new candy shop is hiding something more sinister. My second place vote goes to The Mysterious Benedict Society. In this novel, gifted children are handpicked to join said society to help save the world. Think of this one like a clever combination of Harry Potter and Lemoney Snicket, though it certainly has standing power on its own.

For the intermediate division (grades 7-9), two books have my vote for first place. Michael Scott's The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel is a delightful blend of magic, fantasy and history. In this fun read, a brother and sister help Nicholas Flamel keep his secrets of immortality out of the wrong hands. Book of a Thousand Days  by Shannon Hale reads like an exotic fairy tale- a girl and her maid are locked into a tower for refusing a cruel suitor. As the days go by and the supplies dwindle, they wonder if they will even survive, let alone find true love.

I read almost all of the books in the Senior division  (grades 10-12), and only two books really stood out.  My vote for first place goes to Caroline B. Cooney's Enter Three Witches. Whether you enjoy Shakespeare's MacBeth or not, you will enjoy this novel that tells the story through a young girl's eyes. In second place is Laurie Halse Anderson's Twisted. I first encountered Ms. Anderson when I read her stunning novel Speak, and this one packs almost as much of a punch. Like Speak, Twisted tackles some tough teen issues, but from a male perspective.

The nominees for the 2011 nominees have recently been released, and I've read several of them already.   Some of my  favourites so far? Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson, A Curse Dark as Gold by Elizabeth C. Bunce, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix. For more information on the YRCA nominees, go to http://www.pnla.org/yrca/index.htm

In the meantime, happy reading!

Oh big brother, where art thou?

Geroge Orwell's 1984 is one of my favourite novels of all time, and (of course), the inspiration for the name of this blog. I worry that my discussion of the novel can't do it justice, but I'll do my best.

Orwell's masterpiece takes place in a future totalitarian society. The leader of this society is Big Brother- a face plastered on every wall with the slogan  "Big Brother is Always Watching." Through his thought police, Big Brother monitors everything- actions, relationships, work, even language.

Enter Winston Smith- a young man who, discontent with the current situation, decides to enter into a relationship with a young woman. Of course, amorous relationships are banned too. The tension mounts as the thought police learns of Winston and Julia's illicit relationship and try to re-educate the young couple.

What makes the story even more chilling is the resonance it still has today. Orwell wrote the novel in 1948 as a critique of the Soviet Union, yet we can still see parallels to today's governments, even in democratic societies.

As you read it, look for the Big Brothers in our own societies.

And to end my entry, a powerful quote from the novel:

"There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment. How often, or on what system, the Thought Police plugged in on any individual wire was guesswork. It was even conceivable that they watched everybody all the time. But at any rate they could plug in your wire whenever they wanted to. You had to live—did live, from habit that became instinct—in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard, and, except in darkness, every movement scrutinized."

Oh Merde!

Merde Happens is the third installment in the highly-addictive Merde series by Stephen Clarke (If you're not familiar with the term merde, you may want to look it up so you can appreciate the humourous titles). This clever and funny series narrates the adventures of Paul West, a Briton living in France. As Paul tries to adapt to the French way of life, he finds himself in many strange and hysterical situations.

In my opinion, Merde Happens is the best of the series thus far. In this novel, Paul finds himself in a financial tight spot and, in desperation, he takes on a dubious job. Wearing a kilt and driving a Mini (painted with a Union Jack of course), Paul travels across the United States in an attempt to persuade Americans to visit his homeland. Add a liberalist French girlfriend, sabotageurs and competitors, Britain-haters, outsourcing to India, and certain racy photos of Paul in a mini-kilt, and you've got a very funny book.

Stephen Clarke gives the French a (little) bit of a break in this novel, poking fun at Americans as only non-Americans can do. Fellow Canadians will enjoy the author's commentary as Paul encounters guns, silicone, super-sized meals, freeways, red necks and patriots. Americans who have the ability to laugh at themselves will enjoy this too. I found myself giggling aloud at several scenes in the book.

I am looking forward to reading the rest of this series, as well as Stephen Clarke's non-fiction title: Talk to the Snail: The Ten Commandments for Understanding the French.



 Merde Happens Talk to the Snail: Ten Commandments for Understanding the French

Fiction Aficionado

Welcome fellow bibliophiles!

I am a twenty-something female who is passionately passionate about books. Nothing can make me laugh, make me cry, inspire me, disillusion me or make me shut out the rest of the world like a great piece of writing. I don't limit myself to one particular genre either (though of course I have my favourites)- I will read just about anything!

I am brand new to the world of blogging. I am realizing even as I write this that writing a blog is far more difficult than one might think. I hope you will be patient with me as I (hopefully) come into my own as a blogger.

Thanks, and enjoy my literary journey!