This post will cover books 8 and 9 of my 50 Book Pledge!
Book 8 was called Shooting Kabul by N. H. Senzai. Fadi and his family escape from Afghanistan and the rule of the Taliban. As they are attempting to cross the boarder to Pakistan, the youngest member of the family gets lost and is left behind. Fadi and his family travel to America without his youngest sister. Each member of the family blames themselves for the loss.
This book is a very easy read. It touches on issues of racism, bullying, and fear. This book would be appropriate for grade four students.
Book 9 was called Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. This is Oliver's first book. I have read Pandemonium and Delirium and am anxiously awaiting Requiem's publication next week! I really enjoy Oliver's writing style. Before I Fall is the tale of Sam, a senior in high school, who lives the last day of her life seven times in a row. Sam is caught in a time freeze frame. As she relives her last day on Earth, Sam learns about others, herself, and life.
I really loved the lessons that Sam learned lessons as she had the "do over" of her last day. She was able to learn many things about others that she did not know. Sam discovered truths about her behaviour and how to live a better, less false, life. This book is appropriate for high school students.
Next book: Beautiful Creatures!
I have completed the seventh book in my #50BookChallenge.
Charlie, a student at the beginning of his high school career, is writing letters to an anonymous friend about his experiences. Charlies shares his thoughts, happiness, sadness, struggles, and joys with this friend. Through the story, the reader recognizes that Charlie is a very intelligent boy who lacks quite a bit in the social skills department. As his school year progresses, Charlie makes friends, struggles with first dates and relationships, is challenged by a thoughtful teacher, and learns to participate.
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky, follows a stream of consciousness style of writing. This style of writing is very engaging as it feels like you are really getting an inside perspective about Charlie, the main character. This is a book I really enjoyed. It was very easy to read through quickly. I felt like I was cheering for Charlie. I wanted him to experience success. Anyone who has already lived through high school can relate to some of the experiences and many of the emotions expressed by Charlie.
Now, I will find the movie and compare the quality to the quality of the book!
It always seems to take forever when you are waiting for the publication of the next book in a series. I picked up Legend by Marie Lu on a whim as her book was on a table for "Teens Who Enjoyed The Hunger Games". The jacket sounded interesting and I took a chance. After reading Legend, I have had to wait for Prodigy to be published. Now that I have read Prodigy, I will be eagerly waiting Lu's next book in the series. Like all good series books, just when you think things are wrapping up in a sort of neat way, the author throws a loop at you and you are left with an unresolved ending. Although frustrating to a reader, Lu has perfected this unresolved ending!
Prodigy picks up where Legend left off. June and Day have escaped Day's execution and have ended up in Vegas. They seek the protection of the Patriots (a group of rebels). A plot is formed to bring down the new Electorate that involves Day's and June's implicit involvement.
There are many twists in this book that may or may not see coming. At times, it is difficult to see where the "truth" lies.
I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel and am looking forward to reading the next chapter in the lives of June and Day, the Republic and the Colonies!
Gone by Michael Grant is the fifth book I have read for the #50BookPlegde so far this year.
This is a novel for youth. One day, all adults vanish at the exact same time. Everyone over the age of 14 just poofs! Kids are left to fend for themselves in what becomes knows at the FAYZ - Fallout Alley Youth Zone, so named as the community centres around a nuclear power plant.
The idea behind this book is intriguing. However, as the book progresses, weird animal mutations begin to occur allowing coyotes to talk to humans and kids to be healed with replacement arms that are like whips. This book is the first in a series and I am not hooked enough to learn what happens next even though the ending is a cliff hanger and obviously set up for a sequel.
I will recommend this book to kids in my sixth grade class who like The Hunger Games and Divergent (although I don't think this book lives up to those series). I will be interested to hear what the kids think about Gone.
Book 9 was called Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. This is Oliver's first book. I have read Pandemonium and Delirium and am anxiously awaiting Requiem's publication next week! I really enjoy Oliver's writing style. Before I Fall is the tale of Sam, a senior in high school, who lives the last day of her life seven times in a row. Sam is caught in a time freeze frame. As she relives her last day on Earth, Sam learns about others, herself, and life.
