I Am David by Anne Holm

This is a short historical novel that takes place during WWII and starts at a concentration camp somewhere in Eastern Europe. David has lived in the camp since he was an infant. There is a prison guard who seems to hate him but makes sure he is well cared for. There was Johannes who was appointed his guardian by the guard. When Johannes died David was 12 and the guard told him how to escape, told him to go to Denmark. What if you were like David and suddenly found yourself free after never being free before. What if you had never heard music, seen a real bed, seen a book, green pastures, mountains, the ocean, seen a church, a town, bought anything in a store, could you manage? He slowly makes his way to the ocean, to a cargo ship going to Italy. Then makes his way through Italy, Switzerland, Germany. He learns much along the way like how to smile, laugh, earn a little money, hitch a ride. He never really trusts the people he meets, would they turn him in to the police? Send him back to camp where people arrived looking clean and healthy but soon became dirty, weak, despaired, and died. He hopes to find goodhearted people who will preserve his freedom and teach him to all the things he needed to know and would love him.

Life of Pi By: Yann Martel

This novel starts out slow moving, and ends up so exciting. The action takes place in a lifeboat, where we have one human, and three animals. trying to survive a ship wreck four days out of the port of Manila, Philippines. It is quite an ordeal to read, and feel the way Pi the main character is able to manage his food, and water intake. Pi resorts to eating fish, and even turtle meat. The three animals on board the small lifeboat
are a zebra, hyena, and a bengal tiger. Imagine being capsized in the Pacific Ocean for more than six months
without being rescued by another ship, or any other rescue vehicle.

One's imagination runs wild when exposed to the open sea. This situation is desperate day after day. You begin to see visions, and things that come to your mind of hope, and belief, that really is not there. You dream of things that are not realistic. In the end, the lifeboat lands on land, and the animals are dead, but the human Pi, survives the whole experience.


This is an excellent book for teens, and adults.



L.D.
12/22/04

Gothic! Ten Original Dark Tales - Various Authors

Having only heard of three of the ten authors and having read only one of the ten authors I didn't know what to expect. I kept an open mind about these short stories and enjoyed all of them except the first short story Lungewater by Joan Aiken. It is about a messenger boy delivering notes to a woman his master is attracted to. The boy dies in the river, and the brother takes it upon himself to deliver the final letter. The style of the story along with the time placement (not set in the present, more like the early 1900's) made this one unenjoyable. I knew what was going to happen half way through the story. The other nine short stories were a great read. All of the authors drew upon the Victorian style of writing done by Mary Shelly and Edgar Allen Poe. They were also set in the modern times, which makes them more appealing to teens, and the main character is a teenager. Overall this was a good read and I would recommend it to anyone who likes dark tales, Poe, or Mary Shelly.

The authors of the short stories in this collection are Joan Aiken, M.T. Anderson, Neil Gaiman, Caitlin R. Kiernan, Gregory Maguire, Garth Nix, Celia Rees, Janni Lee Simner, Vivian Vande Velde, and Barry Yourgrau

Tom Burnham

A Million Little Pieces by James Frey

Frey, a one time drug addict relates his struggle to quit using. He went from alcohol to crack to meth and more. He used to the brink of death. His memoir is a very gritty relating of the bad old days. He tells it straight and hard. Of all the men in rehab with him only one besides himself still lives. Eleven men and one woman he called friends have died, many times theirs were horrible violent deaths. The other survivor is in prison - for life. Frey makes it clear that it was his decision alone, no one made him, to use - and his decision to recover. Highly recommended, especially if you have already begun to use-recreationally.
Buggy Lady

The Garbage King by Elizabeth Laird

This novel is based on the main personalities, Mamo & Tiggist, brother and sister with all their esperiences in Ethiopia. They encounter many hardships, hunger, and nowhere to live, but on the rocky streets facing all kinds of weather. Most of this book takes place in Addis Ababa the capital of Ethiopia.

These street kids in order to receive birr(the money in Ethiopia) to buy food. They have to beg outside Churches, or famous restaurants, or offer to watch a car while the owner went about their business. The kids live in a group, and share whatever they had amongst themselves. Most of the children were barefoot, and their clothes so dirty they looked like rags.

When money was scare, some of the children hung out in the back of a restaurant waiting for any morsels being tossed out, so the group of children could eat something.

This novel can apply to any country in the world. Some of the children were runaways, and thought life would be better than their situation at home. The novel was interesting because it portrayed the reality of life on the go on the streets. The moral of this story is think twice before you run away from home. Your home life could be better, than trying to figure out where your next meal is coming from.

Cruise Control by Terry Trueman

A companion book to Stuck in Neutral, Cruise Control is told by Paul, Shawns brother. Paul is athletic, smart, and normal. Shawn is mentally handicapped and has seizures frequently. Paul, his mom, and his sister Cindy all take care of Shawn, and it is now starting to take its toll on him. He is going to college soon and he feels that he is abandoning the family. Their father ran out on them and it seems he doesn't care but he does. Through out the book you get a sense of the hardship this family goes through, and the emotion each character goes through is felt by the words the author uses. Cruise Control shows the other side of what it is like to have a mentally handicapped sibling. It is a quick read and will be enjoyed by all who read it.

Tom Burnham

Margaux with an X by Koertge

Two teens- hurt teens-Margaux who plays hard to get with guys and Danny who can't bear to see anything hurt are surprised to find that like each other and like holding hands with each other and like long quiet nights reading. This is a quiet beautiful story - and very short. Other books to try might be KEESHA'S HOUSE, STONER AND SPAZ, LONG NIGHT OF LEO AND BREE and Koja's STRAY DOG

Vote For Larry by Janet Tashjian

This novel is so up-beat for teens, and reaches the topics interesting to teens way of thinking. It stretches the imagination of the reader that it is hard to put the book down. It covers many subjects that dwell inside the soul of the teenager.

The main character of the book Larry Swensen is so real, but loveable too. It is intriguing to follow the the ins, and outs of the particular personality of the novel. He has his good days, and his bad days like we all do during our lifetime. Larry's creativity, and determination to accomplish his goal pays off in the end. We the reader, see this throughout the novel. This is what makes the book worth reading. It captures your attention. The book is super interesting, and very worthwhile reading. The main character Larry is portrayed as a bright adolescent with insight, and the humor reaches near perfection.

I recomend this book for any teenager with a good imagination, and a sense of humor.


L.D.