Literary Feast Discussion: I Am Number Four (Chapters 22 - 28)

For you, Faithful Readers. It's all for you. Shel and I are slogging our way through the endless -- ENDLESS -- pages of I am Number Four so that you at least have a little advanced warning before you open the darn thing yourself.

Don't say we didn't love you... and warn you.

Onward!

Shel: For some strange reason, I cannot stay away from the IMDb movie page. I think it's a sickness. My current distraction? The fact that Timothy Olyphant is going to play Henri. I love him! At first I thought he was shaming both of us by being a part of this movie. Then I realized, if his time on Deadwood is any indication, he could easily portray Henri's calmness. Here's how I imagine him looking:


He's in disguise, of course, he is on the run, after all. Henri, not Timothy Olyphant. I don't know anything about the actual actor's personal life.

Monica: But how could he keep a straight face (in the movie, not... not as he's wearing that outfit) during what I assume will be cliched and absolutely ridiculously written dialogue!? Stay away, Timothy! Stay awaaaaaaaaaay!!

Shel: But can you imagine him, doing the dialogue with a sexy French accent? Yum. It's clear that I am not a Timothy Olyphant stalker, right? I don't even know when he was born or his middle name.

Monica: Honey... you're a stalker. I love you, but it's true.

Shel: What is Timothy Olyphant's middle name?

Monica: David! His middle name is David! And he was born in Hawaii, and he likes long walks on the beach, and... and... and... Timothy! Call me!

Shel: Hey! Stay away from my stalkeree. Stalkey? Whatever the name is.... Also, IMDb kinda gave away the true identity of our "Pittacus Lore" author. Jobie Hughes (who?) and James Frey (of memoir vs. fiction fame?) are both listed with the novel credits. The book actually plays with this fact, because on page...268, one of John/Four's future alias's could be Jobie Frey.

Monica: Of course it's James Frey's fault! It makes total sense now! (Actually, I'm way happy about this. My Creative Nonfiction prof spent an entire semester bashing poor Frey, so I'm prepared to keep the loathing going if necessary.) However, I'm sort of confused. I guess I have no idea who Jobie Hughes is, but Frey is a decent author -- did they just... lose their way, writing this one?

Shel: They must have. I am so sick of reading the phrase,"kisses her on the cheek." Poor Sarah's cheeks must be dripping alien slobber. I get that they're lovey-dovey. Check. Message received. I also could have done without hearing how Sarah's lips taste like strawberry lip gloss. Lame.

Monica: You really are done with this book, aren't you? Taking your frustrations out on poor Sarah -- she can't help that she has been cast as the ultimate "Help me I'm a useless female" role! She'd probably way rather be getting gauges and dying her hair purple and developing her computer hacker skills, but she's stuck with Lip Smackers and whining.

Shel: But hang on! Speaking of Sarah, what's this? A casual mention that there may be an alien out there for John/Four to drool over? I sense a love triangle for book two!! (Not that I'll be reading book two. As my soul has been sucked enough. And we still haven't finished book one.)

Monica: You're not going to keep reading!? But there are going to be five more books!!! The adventure will not end until, you know, the world is saved!!!!

...

Seriously, I was done with this book after the first five chapters. I can't imagine if we had to keep reading, through the entire series. Do you think, Shel, that this will legitimately catch on? I know it was ranked high for a week or so on the Bestseller's List, but I can't decide if it was just hype that propelled it upward, rather than kids have a real interest in the book itself.

Shel: I think, whether or not we like it, it's still going to do well. Curse you, movie tie-in! Curse you for legitimizing an otherwise terrible book! Honestly, though, do you know what the growing fascination with the number four is about? Here's another sci-fi book that's due out in 2011:


Monica: Girl... I may need to look more carefully at it before I let you talk me into reading it. Don't want a repeat of this one!

Shel: I'm sorry! I'm so, so sorry! Is the book over yet?

Monica: Um. No. Not quite yet. Stay tuned for the dramatic conclusion.

We're really excited about it, obviously -- join us on Friday for our final thoughts on the book!

REVIEW: 14 Cows for America

Deedy, C.A.  (2009).  14 Cows for America.  Atlanta, GA:  Peachtree Publishers.

9781561454907

This picturebook hit the streets last year and became very popular as the go-to narrative to discuss the events of September 11, 2001.  And for good reason.

Appetizer:  Based in truth, When Kimeli arrives home to his Maasai tribe in Kenya from his trip to the United States (where he's studying to become a doctor) he must share the story of September 11th, 2001 with the members of his tribe.

One of the many strengths of this picturebook is the fact that it shares the story of September 11th with the expectation that children Kimeli speaks to, and by extension the reader, doesn't have knowledge of 9/11.  It shows how people on the other side of the world reacted to hearing about the tragedy.  A reader can gain other lessons from the text, making 14 Cows for America a wonderful introductory text to the events without seeming to scary.  Instead the book focuses on kindness and community.  It's up to the teacher whether or not they want to have a more extensive discussion of 9/11.

Okay, I absolutely love that this book addresses the art of oral storytelling.  The way the children sit to listen to to Kimeli's story of September 11th parallels the way a read aloud would look here in countless early elementary classrooms.  That tends to be a technique that we lose focus of as educators fixate on literacy.

Another of the strengths of this story is the fact that 14 Cows for America shows the way that others have offered assistance to the U.S.  So often Americans are bombarded with images of how we need to help others.  But I like that this picturebook show that sometimes the U.S. needs help too and that other nations and people are in positions to help us.

The illustrations are done in colored pencils.  The style is interesting.  The images are realistic, but there's often a softness to the edges, making the faces of people seem blurred (as though they could be anyone perhaps?).


Dinner Conversation:

"The remote village waits for a story to be told.  News travels slowly to this corner of Kenya."

"Once they were feared warriors.  Now they live peaceably as nomadic cattle herders.  They treat their cows as kindly as they do their children."

"He must return to the faraway country where he is learning to be a doctor.
He thinks of New York then.
He remembers September."

"Building so tall they can touch the sky?
Fires so hot they can melt iron?
Smoke and dust so thick they can block out the sun?"


To Go with the Meal:

This is a good book to trigger a lesson on September 11th.  Since the book only alludes to it, a teacher will have to provide more details and facts about the events of that day.  Another route to go would be to discuss the history of Kenya and the way that the Maasai tribe has evolved with time.  A teacher could direct students to research the culture of the Maasai and other African tribes.  Or a teacher could focus on how cultures and people are connected across great distances.

Lots of options!

To try to encourage American readers to relate to the experiences of the Maasai people, a teacher could begin by having students consider how they treat their pets, giving them names and talking to them.  A teacher would then encourage students to compare that to how the Maasai treat their cows.  To try to think of what the Maasai tribe sacrificed by the *ahem* (trying to be vague here) choices they made to help others, a teacher could propose the idea of how it would feel for students to give up their pet or favorite toy to assist others. (A teacher should also emphasize the fact that the Maasai people gave up a portion of their livelihood to help as well)


Tasty Rating:  !!!!

Literary Feast Discussion: I Am Number Four (Chapters 16-21)

Good afternoon, Few But Dear Readers!

I'd like to take this moment to remind you of how brave, amazing and committed Monica and I are to the cause of tearing apart badly written first books in YA series.

We actually have to suffer through reading this shiz so you don't have to.  No, you all just have to suffer through the movie...but more about that in the commentary below:

Shel: So, I finally bothered to google the series. it's already listed on imbd as having a movie version. And guess who's playing my FAVE character: Dianna Agron. That's right peeps, Quinn from Glee. Which I guess is perfect casting. I mean, she's pretty, blonde, and she already has practice playing a high schooler from Ohio.

Monica: Boo! BOO! Pittacus Lore, I'm ashamed of you! This is so obviously a promotional book made solely to milk teenagers of their money and create a spin-off film series! You don't even have the decency to put your real name on this novel!!


Shel:  You mean this series isn't actually being written by the leader/ruler/president-like man of Lorien Land Planet Place?!  My illusion is shattered!

Shel: The website is also rather built up as well. Not that I read most of it. Mostly, I clicked on the link by chance and was all "holy shiz! the YA alien counting book has attacked the internets!"

Monica: Wow. Seriously, allow me to echo my above comment -- could this get any more "I wrote this solely to make tons of cash"-ish? That is not the website of a book -- that's the website of a gigantic advertisement.

Shel: Sam pulls a gun on John?! WTF! Really? Really?!

Monica: To be fair, Henri pulls a gun on some poor dude tied to a pole....Plus, I love me some Sam. Anyone who brings Silly Putty just to "be prepared" is okay in my book.

Shel: I bet you 20 cents that silly puddy will kill all Mogodo-whatsits on sight. Silly puddy is the key! It's the rifle resting above the fireplace, just begging to be used.

Monica: It's better than most of the other ways we defeat aliens. (Let's give them the common cold, anyone?)

Shel: Colds are vicious, for the win!  I love Independence Day.  Who puts and/or keeps bacon in his backpack? *Glances at Monica* Is this something many meateaters feel driven to do?

Monica: Duh! You can buy it pre-cooked, in a sealed can, for all bacon emergencies. Besides, everyone knows Mogodorians hate the delicious flesh of pigs.

Shel: Chapter 18 (the Thanksgiving meal) is way too tell-y! Dialogue! Show me!

Monica: Sweetie, were you not reading the text? "Dinner takes forever. Time is moving slowly again." You're supposed to feel like it's a chapter that will NEVER END. It's on purpose!

Shel: Wow, these alien conspiracy writers are violent. The Lone Gunman from X-Files would shame them.

Monica: Seriously, who knew people living in dark basements would be so antagonistic? Even all messed up by the Mogodorians, they seem unnecessarily cruel. And.. again, guns. Guns everywhere.

Shel: Hmm, bullets suspended in mid-air. In how many movies and TV shows have I seen that happen?

Monica: The Matrix... Superman... Heroes... um... Korn's Freak on a Leash video... the soon-to-be-released I Am Number Four....

Shel: These Mogado-whatsits kind of remind me of the Nordic aliens from Dude Where's My Car? Monica, would you like to join me in singing a round of "I Wear My Sunglasses at Night"?

Monica: You got it made with the guy in shaaaaaaaaaaaaaaades!

Shel: Abuse of power! Abuse of power! I am not okay with John bullying Henri.

Monica: I'm not okay with any of this. Readers, are YOU enjoying this book? Because I'm starting to feel like my Legacy is being able to sense trashy writing by the way my eyes start to burn....

So, Monica and I want to get finish up this book as fast as possible to save our eyes and souls from as much pain as possible.  We're going to continue our discussion with chapters 22-28 on Monday.  We hope you'll be ready for some more mockery then.

As always, let us know what you're thinking.  We are not internets mind readers.

REVIEW: Powerless

Cody, M.  (2009).  Powerless.  New York:  Alfred A. Knopf.

277 pages.

So, I've been dropping the ball when it comes to remembering to read and review middle grade novels.  Of course I love them dearly, but with realizing I wanted to write YA full-time, novels for younger readers have been forgotten in the middle of my to-be-read piles.  (Picturebooks, however, I'm doing better at keeping up on, if only due to the fact that they are usually a short 32 pages and faster reads)

But, I will fail you no longer, middle grade books!  It is time to show some love again.  Starting with a superhero book!

First off, I really liked the cover of this book.  I thought the falling superhero did a good job of presenting the content.  The colors and the fact that the superhero resembles a toy will attract the targeted age of male readers.  But of course, I am not an easily swayed reader.  I chose to read this book for other reasons too.

For those of you who don't KNOW ME, know me, I LURVE superheroes.  I used to be in the closet about my love for Batman, Wolverine, Rogue, Spiderman back in the day, but NO MORE!  Say it loud, say it proud.  I love superheroes and the fun lil' adventures they have.

I had a crush on Batman for most of grade school.  I designed my own costume (called the Ravin) and one night I tearfully informed my parents that I was going to become a superhero and that they should be prepared to assist in my plans to fight crimes.  (I imagined they would serve some "Alfred" type role, for which their first duty would be to raise the funds for me to afford similar weapons to those that Batman had.  As well as invent a new vehicle that would take me around the country in a matter of minutes to fight crime.  Even then I grasped that my Michigan hometown didn't have much in the way of supervillains.)

I'm always looking for new takes on superheroes.  So, when I heard that Powerless is about a town of superpowered kids who all lose their powers and memories of their powers when they turn 13, I had to investigate.

Fun!  Right?


Appetizer:  Noble's Green is the safest town in the world.  And it's all due to the young superheroes that live there.  But when those heroes turn thirteen, they lose their superpowers.  It's up to the new boy in town, Daniel, who is powerless, to figure out why.

Daniel, his little brother and parents have all moved to town to help his grandmother who is losing her battle to cancer.  He adjusts to town quickly, making both friends and enemies.  But he can't help but notice that some of the kids...well, they seem to be able to do impossible things, like reach Daniel's little brother more quickly than oncoming traffic, or save Daniel when he is bullied off the side of a mountain (true story).


So, to begin the story, the reader is first presented with Michael's experience of flying (which is awesome!) and then the story shows Michael forgetting about his superpower on his thirteenth birthday.  And then AND THEN the story introduces Daniel, the new kid in town, who is the protagonist for the rest of the story.
And while Michael appears for one scene mid-book, he kinda disappears from the story...forever.

I didn't know how I felt about this run-around to finally meet Daniel.  I'd been prepared to spend the next 260 pages with Michael.  So, the shift surprised me.  And since the reader witnesses another superhero turn thirteen later in the text, I wasn't certain the Michael bits were even necessary.

On top of that, I had some SERIOUS trouble getting into this book at first.  Have you noticed that it's been listed on my Goodreads "Currlently Reading" list for like, three weeks?  I kept getting distracted by other books, movies, bits of paper.  Of course, that sounds tragically awful, to say that a book was "put down-able."  I'd rather focus on the fact that I kept picking it back up.  (This is not always the case with me.  Technically I began reading Terry Pratchett's Nation in January...I'm still on page 50-something.  You all should start placing bets on whether I'll ever finish that one.  I finally decided to take out out of the Goodreads "currently reading" shelf, because I figured you, my few readers, would assume that I'd slipped off the curve of the planet if I didn't note some change.)

Now, you could argue that the first 100 pages are essential.  They show Daniel making friends and being bullied.  Those pages show how fun having superpowers can be, allowing the reader to have fun with the characters as they play a super-powered version of hide-and-seek.

But personally, I only got into the book once we started seeing the bad guy.  He kind of had an eerie Voldemort in Sorcerer's Stone vibe:

"It was dark inside, and through the open window Daniel smelled something new--a pungent odor, like burnt hair.  As he peered over the ledge, a blast of cold air hit him in the face and he saw a hooded shape standing in the darkness.  It was tall, like an adult, but only vaguely human-shaped.  In the blackness of Simon's room, this figure stood out in its absence of light--a thing darker than the dark itself" (p. 107).

Cool right?  That's pretty much when I got hooked.

From there on out I became more impressed with the book.  This this fun fear-of-aging tension.  The Supers, as they're called, fear their thirteen birthday (Sidenote--that was actually my bestest birthday ever!  The Dad took me to see my first rated R movie in the theater (Face Off) and I had a birthday sleepover in which we didn't go to sleep until 8 AM.  Good time!).  Turning thirteen is associated with the end of childhood and the loss of freedom.  Plus, there are also a couple of older characters who describe their dislike of having aged.

And on that note, there are also some situations that present class and issues of loss and death that could trigger discussion.  Plus, there are a lot of references to the Sherlock Holmes books.

By the end, I was much more impressed with the book than I thought I would be.  I'm glad I stuck it out.

But having said that, I did have some trouble with the "mystery" aspect of the book.  Daniel is presented as a detective (I liked that), he does research and seeks out someone who may have information on how the Supers' powers are being stolen (also liked), he suspects someone for no particular reason (No!) and then someone kind of hands him the answers he needs (hated!).  Whether or not the information given to him is true remains to be seen, but I just felt like the mystery had already been pronounced dead, shipped off to the morgue and put in its coffin by then.  I think there were a number of red herrings that the author could have used to challenge Daniel and the reader more.

As to whether or not I will be picking up the sequel that will inevitably follow and was hinted at...well, if you have a prognosticating superpower, you can tell me.


Dinner Conversation:

"The wind howled in Michael's ears.  He would be picking bugs out of his hair for days, but he didn't care" (p. 1).

"As he took a step back, he realized that they were all pictures of the same thing, repeated over and over again: the boy soaring above the rooftops or over the mountains or through the clouds.  It was a little frightening.  Though he couldn't remember drawing them, they looked like his--they all had the same awkward hands that he could never get right.  And each one contained the same message written in his own messy scrawl:
You can fly" (pp. 4-5).

"Welcome to Noble's Green, Pennsylvania--The Safest Town on Earth!
The safest town on earth? thought Danile.  Couldn't sound lamer" (p. 11).

"No one keeps their powers past their thirteenth birthday."
"You mean you give up your powers?" asked Daniel.  "Just like that?"
"No, not exactly.  We don't give them up....  The truth is, we got these powers, and we also don't know how we lose them.  But when I wake up on my thirteenth birthday, I will be just like you, and with no memory of ever even having powers.  It all just disappears" (p. 52).

"You're the only one who can save us."
Daniel was stunned, and he was pretty sure that Mollie was crazy.  If the Supers of Noble's Green couldn't stop whatever was happening to them, what could he do?
"But how?  I'm nothing special."
"And that's why you're perfect" (p. 86).

"But the whole idea of being a superhero is not about any of that.  It's about being a better person.  And Johnny is an example that shows me what it is to be brave.  And I'm not even talking about having powers or being a Super or anything.  I'm just talking about being the best person that you can be, and that means not giving in to anger, or fear.  It's what keeps me going" (p. 173).


Tasty Rating:  !!!

REVIEW: Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life

O'Malley, B.L.  (2004).  Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life.  Portland, Or:  Oni Press, Inc.


So, I'm the type of person who likes to read a book before I watch the movie version.  It's not that I'm a book snob (okay, I am a book snob.  But not about this.).  I don't always assume that the book is better.  Rather, I just like to know how a story ends before I reach the ending in the traditional way.  With books I can flip ahead.  That's not so easy in the movie theater.

So, I picked up the first book in the Scott Pilgrim graphic novel series after I heard some good reviews of the movie.


Appetizer:  Scott Pilgrim has a new girlfriend.  He's dating a seventeen-year-old high schooler named Knives.  They met on the bus.

I'm going to interrupt my own review right there.  Speaking as someone who has just transferred beyond the point when she can be declared to be in her "early twenties" (sigh), the thought of a 23-year-old dating a highschooler is the sceeviest thing in the world.  The sceeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeviest!  I thought it was icky when I was in high school too.  I always wonder about twenty-somethings that date teens.  My exact question is usually, "Why can't this person get someone closer to their own age?"

So, imagine my love for the character Kim, a friend of Scott's, when she calls him on it:

Whenever anyone does anything, I'm now going to ask, "Are you evil, or are you really happy?"  Like if a student is late for class, "Are you evil or are you really happy?"  If a barista asks me if I want whipped cream on my soy white mocha, I will answer, "Are you evil or are you really happy?"

So, after having rambled about the disturbing age difference, Scott and Knives are really cute together.  She was embarrassed to hold his hand on the bus.  Scott takes Knives to see his band practice and she winds up with stars in her eyes.  Plus, Scott's roommate, Wallace, and all his friends give him a hard enough time that I feel like that the reader won't walk away feeling that such an age difference is a good plan for their own future relationships.

But despite the cuteness, Scott's dreams are haunted by another girl...one he sees around town, one who rollerblades outside in winter.  Scott goes out of his way (spends some of Wallace's money) to meet her and, despite seeming crazy/stalkery manages to snag a date with the mystery girl, Ramona.

Reread that last paragraph.  There was a step missing.  Between being cute with Knives and going out with Ramona, Scott fails to break-up with his current girlfriend.  And I know Knives is all first-romance-naive and Scott is all I-don't-want-to-hurt-her, but his inability to end one relationship before starting another made me like Scott less as a character.  A lot less.

But of course, this inability to break up with Knives comes back to haunt him when he and his band have a gig.  Both Knives and Ramona are there.

Complicating Scott's life further, he's started getting messages from a guy he doesn't know, insisting they have to fight (and what I imagine to be the plot of the movie ensues).  But I don't know for sure--I still haven't seen the movie.  And the book ends with a cliffhanger.

While personally I finished the book feeling only mildly entertained, I can see the appeal.  Scott has a lot of amusing conversations with the (totally awesome!) and less-than-supportive secondary characters.  Scott is a music-loving young guy who has a lot of friends to joke with and who struggles with romance.  I think Scott's experiences reflect the interests of just about every guy I was friends with in high school.  So, I'm definitely keeping this series in mind as a good YA recommendation.  And I was amused enough to request book two (Scott Pilgrim Versus the World) from the library.

So, dear readers, do I read volume two next or give in and see the movie?

Dinner Conversation:


Scott:  Just so I tell you before you hear some dirty lies from someone else, yes, I'm dating a 17-year-old.
Wallace:  Is he cute?
Scott:  Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
Wallace:  Does this mean we have to stop sleeping together?

Scott:  No, it's cool.  Chill out.  It's like in Trainspotting [, dating a teenager].
Wallace:  Okay, first of all, in Trainspotting, remember how he was freaking out and all worried?  That was because he knew it was sick and wrong and illegal.  Secondly, remember how she was coercing him into dating her?
Scott:  No, Dude, it's not like that at all.
Wallace:  You just said it was like that!
Scott:  Okay, maybe I didn't watch that movie very carefully.

Ramona:  Um, I guess you have to fight my--seven?--evil ex-boyfriends.  Um, if you want to like, date me.
Scott:  Seven evil ex-boyfriends?
Ramona:  Six or seven.
Scott:  You dated seven evil dudes?
Ramona:  Not all at once.


Tasty Rating:  !!!

"Good Morn-" "Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!"

I'm going to blog about something that has absolutely nothing to do with children's literature, reading or writing.

You can wander away if that unnerves you.

I wouldn't characterize myself as being a morning person or a night owl.  I am a "gets up whatever time she needs to" person.  But having said that, no matter what time I wake up, I need to be left alone for at least an hour or two after I wake.

For serious.

This is normally not a problem for me.  I live alone.  I get plenty of alone time.  In undergrad, none of my roommates were prone to talking beyond a grunted "mornnnnnnnnmph," as we all opened our laptops and sat in silence until one of us suggested, "breakfast?" sometime around noon.

No, this is only a problem when I come home to visit my parents.  They are morning people.  Talkative, inquisitive, morning people.

I long ago learned to just stay in bed after I woke-up when I visited home.  I'd usually read or write in bed (there!  Mentioned BOTH reading and writing!), while silently hoping that my dad would sense I was awake and bring me coffee...but not speak to me--at all!--while setting it on my bedside table.

If I didn't venture out until I'd been up for a couple of hours, that'd mean The Parents would have been up for three or four hours and not only would have eaten their breakfast, but they also could have been napping by then.

This morning (alas!) I disobeyed my own rule.  Mere minutes after waking, I ventured out with my pillow cases and sheets in hand to be washed.

This was a mistake.

As I entered the kitchen (which is near where the clothes washer is stored) THE PARENTS ATTACKED.

THE MOM:  Oh hey, you're awake!
THE DAD:  Good morning!
ME:  ...

I walked past them and dumped my sheets on the floor.

THE MOM:  Do you want some breakfast.
ME:  No.
THE DAD:  I can make you eggs and bacon.

(Even worse than just talking to me and asking me questions, The Dad is attempting to be humorous.  I know it doesn't seem like it, but he is.  I've been a vegetarian for over nine years.  Dad knows this.  So, by offering to make bacon he knows that he is safe from having to cook for me.)

ME:  No.

At this point, I began to retreat back down the hall, feeling the grumpy vibes rising.

The Dad followed me.

Actually stalked me down the hall to the bathroom.

THE DAD:  Do you want a blueberry muffin?
ME:  No.

And I closed the bathroom door.

THE DAD:  Mom got them just for you.

I take great offense to The Dad yelling this through the bathroom door.  I believe in the bathroom cone of silence.  When someone is in the bathroom and the door is closed, no sounds originating from either side of the door are to be acknowledge or discussed.  Ever.

It seems polite.

So, since I was the one in the bathroom, I had expected The Dad to respect the cone of silence.

THE DAD:  So, do you want a blueberry muffin?
ME:  NO!

The Dad continued to talk at me through the door, but I was soon distracted by another problem.  There was a cat hair ball on the carpet of the bathroom.  It was particularly fresh and icky.

The instant I saw the cat puke, my grumpiness that had taken root with the first "good morning," blossomed into RAGE.  This was going to be a bad day.  I should have stayed in bed.

My brain was slow, so I tried to decide if I could just ignore the cat puke and allow one of the parents to find it, so one of them could clean it.  Then I remembered The-Dad-Stalking and that he was still asking me questions through the door about how I slept and my plans for the day and saying that he loved me and that he was so glad I'd decided to visit him and The Mom.

I was going to have to pretend to be an adult and clean the cat puke myself.  Even worse, I'd have to go back down to the kitchen to get the cleaning supplies, where The Mom, while more sedate than The Dad, could ask what I was doing.

The reason I share this story with you, few but dear readers, is so that I can make a public pledge:

I, Shel HungryReader, vow to always stay in bed reading for at least an hour after I wake.  That way I can avoid conversing with The Parents and they can find the cat puke.

Happy holiday weekend!

Literary Feast Discussion: I Am Number Four (Chapters 9-15)

Good evening, few but dear readers!  

Monica and I are fighting our way through I Am Number Four.  (Poor guy has some self-esteem issues, he doesn't even see himself as number two...kidding!)  

Our thoughts about chapters 9-15 are below.  Be warned, dear readers, there are a few spoilers (and a bit of mockery) below.


Shel: So, I'd set this book off to a side and tried to ignore the fact that I had to read it. I have to admit, I'm not very impressed by the writing of this book.

Monica: I... sort of agree. I'm not hating it, but I definitely have that "Gah, am obligated to finish this now that I have started it" kind of feeling.

Shel: So, when Sarah shared about her background, how she lost touch with her friends as she dated what's-his-name, and then vowed to be nice to EVERYONE, I couldn't help but feel I was reading the plot line for an after school special.

Monica: You just HATE her, don't you? I don't think she's really anything special either, but I'm not quite at the level of loathing you seem to be. Poor Shel. There are lots and lots of pages left, and I'm pretty sure she's just going to get worse.

Shel: What do you think are the chances that this Hadley beasty could just maybe, possibly be (the badly named) Bernie? Hmm, what are the chances?

Monica: GASP NO WAY!! IT IS NOT POSSIBLE!!!!! I would be so surprised. (Really though? I kind of like Bernie's name. Don't like the creeping deus ex machina feeling I get whenever he comes up, but like the name.)

Shel: I find myself writing "Ugh!" in the margins whenever I find something vaguely ridiculous. There are a lot of Ugh!s.

Monica: I just keep looking for inadvertent jokes. Sam's mom is described as "petite," and she also speaks French! Yay!

Monica: Reading this, though, you know what I've decided? There should be a spin-off, where there's a Cepan who wants to be a warrior, but he can't, because it's not his caste, so he has to disguise himself as a Garde, and along the way he comes to realize that honestly there's no difference between the two groups, and it's only because the Cepan have to focus so much on training the Garde that they're never allowed to develop their own powers, and then there's a revolt, and, and, and....

It's probably bad that I'm writing my own version of this in my head, while I'm reading the book. One would have hoped that I'd be engrossed enough in the real plot to not have to develop my own.

Shel: I think I would like to read that book.  It just doesn't seem fair to those poor Cepans...forced to only teach.  


Shel:  The bullying in this book is a little ridiculous. If this weren't a sci-fi superhero novel, we'd have all the ingredients for yet another school shooting book.

Monica: But the last book we read was a school shooting book, and I actually enjoyed it! I really enjoyed it! That's probably why I'm not so much into this one -- if we'd just read Eternal or something like that, maybe I wouldn't notice the difference... but doesn't it sort of feel like Mockingbird was actually meaningful to the author, whereas this one seems to have been written solely on the "Let's write a series that teens will enjoy that will make me a ton of money" angle?

How do you like my demented heart?

Shel: I'm so reminded of the TV show Smallville. But the old school Smallville, back when Sexy Lexy was still on the show. In fact, I think I'd rather watch old Smallville episodes. Who's with me? DVD marathon, yes?

Monica: YES! Except, honestly, I think Smallville was better. Perhaps because we were able to actually see Lana with our own eyes -- we didn't need to listen to Clark waxing eloquent about the beauty of her hair and the way she smiles with kindness at the entiiiire world. Sigh.

We're almost half-way, kids!  We'll discuss chapters 16-21 on Thursday.  In the meantime, the in between time, feel free to leave your thoughts about the books in the comments.  Are Monica and I missing something?

Literary Feast Discussion: I Am Number Four (Part 1)

Ahahaha... remember when Shel was all, "We'll have the first 8 chapters posted on Monday," and you were like "YAY OUR LIVES HAVE MEANING!"
Um.
Just don't look at the date on this, okay?
It's completely my fault, anyway -- Shel was assuming her co-reviewer would be a responsible sort of person. ;)

Anyway!


Are y'all ready for some I Am Number Four action? Yes? Then let's get to it.

CHAPTERS 1-8

Monica: Shel, I’m not sure about this book already. You know why? Because it’s a series. It’s so series-ish that they’ve got the series name stamped on the outside pages, so that no matter how you shelve the book, you can see the name. I’m nervous, no lie.

Shel: Be strong, Monica. We're living in a series' world. Of course, having said that, I didn't realize it was a series when I first ordered it online. From now on, I guess we should just assume any and all books are the start of a series.

Monica: Sigh. Oh, and CREEPY BEGINNING! It’s like.... like the start of Jurassic Park, you know? With the nighttime, and the scary noises, and people being torn apart by things with big teeth?

Shel: Egad, when I was a wee little child whose parents decided to ignore the fact that that movie may be somewhat terrifying for their daughter, I found that movie beginning disturbing. I was terrified by swan sounds and giant cages for years. But thinking of IAN4, I thought the beginning of the book was very visual as well.

Monica: For sure. Even after the Attack of the Mogadorians, it's pretty crazy. Poor #4. I thought my middle school experiences were bad, but at least my leg never caught fire mid-date....

Shel: I wish my leg would have caught fire mid-date. That would have been an excellent excuse to leave that football game. And the ankle scars don't sound too awful...but maybe that date was just that much worse... Hmm. What do you think of the use of the present tense?

Monica: I'm okay with it. Honestly, out of all the things that are currently irritating me about this book (like the fact that "WE!!!" is written out so many times on the back cover I'm starting to feel cultish) the tense isn't even on the top ten. Plus, it gives everything a little more immediacy -- this is all happening right now. I could be Mogadorianed at ANY MOMENT.

Shel: I don't like all the shiz they're saying about my adopted state. Ohio is a cool place. You all need to realize.

Monica: Seriously! I mean, apparently Ohio is currently filled with aliens! That's cool, right? Aliens who have glowing hands... and crystals.... Okay, they're kind of boring aliens, I'm not going to lie.

Shel: I was expecting a more original name than John Smith. I mean, really? REALLY?! You change your name dozens of times and you think John Smith will be a refreshing change?

Monica: It makes me wonder what he was called the other thirty-seven times. "Bojangles McGee"? "Alex Frittata"? "Translucent Elvandovich"?

Shel: Right, back to the book, the scene when 4 meets Sarah made me want to roll my eyes. Please. Seriously, I had to roll my eyes so much that The Mother had to ask me if I was okay.

Monica: I was mostly wondering why on earth she was wandering around taking photos on a random day on a random morning. Is the school newspaper that desperate for spreads? (Also, really? Soft blue eyes and charming? In Ohio?!) (Sorry Shel! Couldn't help it!)

That's it for today, kids -- but don't fret! We'll be back on Saturday with comments to chapters 9 - 15.

For reals, this time.

REVIEW: Pop! The Invention of Bubble Gum

How did it become September?  I don't understand.  I thought I was going to read tens upon tens of books this summer.  And I tried....

But I don't know quite where the time has gone.

I do know that while I was off being distracted or losing time or something, I did manage to see this book in an email from my library.

It's been way too long since I got off my bum-bum to write a picturebook review.  This particular title interested me enough to break my stupor.

Let me just say, I absolutely LOVE picturebook biographies and histories.  They tend to involve wonderful and interesting topics that answer questions only kids would think to ask.  I love how many of them still incorporate a story, while providing information, while also drawing the reader in.

These books are how I learn stuff about stuff.

And clearly there is more stuff I need to know...about stuff.



McCarthy, M.  (2010).  Pop!  The Invention of Bubble Gum.  New York:  Paula Wiseman.


Appetizer:  How exactly was bubble gum invented?  Pop! tells the story of Walter Diemer, who devoted himself to developing bubble gum in the candy factory where he worked as an accountant.  It took many attempts for Walter to finally get the formula right, to finally give the world bubble gum.

I was entertained by this book on several counts:  1.  It was a book about bubble gum.  2.  The book does briefly allude to the history of regular chewing gum.  3.  I was kind of reminded of a historical Willy Wonka.  And that made me want to pair the book as a read aloud with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  It could work, my friends, it could work.  4.  The story emphasizes curiosity, perseverance and love of science.  All excellent characteristics that I like to see in me picture stories.

Having said that though, I didn't think the book was perfect.  A sentence here or there felt clunky.  While I understood that Walter's recipe was top secret (and still is) I wanted a few hints of which ingredients were involved in making bubble gum.  I also hoped that the end pages would include a simple recipe that students could try. (But on that note, what a book will not provide, google will.)

The illustrations really helped to maintain the book's sense of whimsy.  They kind of provide a spoon full of sugar to help the knowledge be absorbed.  But in a few ways, I did wish they were a little more old-school information book-y.  First off, there is no portrait of Walter Diemer, not even in the fun facts last page.  I wanted a photo!  I also felt like the illustrations could have filled in some more historical details.  That'd give students a reason to share at the pages longer.

I also wanted to hear more about how Walter and the other first bubble gum chewers figured out how to blow bubbles.  When I was a kid, it took me forever to finally manage to blow a bubble, and that was with knowledgeable bubble-makers giving me advice.  I think I finally figured out how when I was in the seventh grade.  I have no idea why it took me so long.  Maybe I'm a little slow.  I still can't tie a cherry stem in a knot or unwrap a Starburst candy with my tongue (unless I cheat a little).

...Not that I've tried recently.

Just saying.


Dinner Conversation:


"On a small street in Philadelphia in the 1920s, there was a factory owned by the Fleer family...Inside the factory, lots of gum and candy were made...."

"Ho hum.  Gum wasn't that exciting.  But what if gum chewers could blow bubbles?  Now that would be something--a world full of bubble gum blowers!"

"But Walter didn't give up.  Back to work he went!  After many more months of adding this and that...(top secret ingredients he would never share!) Walter found what he was looking for."

Tasty Rating:  !!!


I've actually wrote a couple of picturebook biographies and histories while I was still working on my MFA.  Nothing came of them, but I absolutely loved writing them.
They are such a challenge.  You do all this research and you have to reduce it all to a manageable 32 pages that can be paired with dynamic illustrations and can incorporate a couple of quotes.

Whenever a random question about the world enters my head, I inevitably hope that there is a picturebook out there to answer it.  Right now, I'm most curious about toilet paper.  When did we invent it?  Anyone know?  I'm not certain there's a book about that yet.  I'm a little frightened of what the illustrations would be.  Although I have come across one about the history of underwear.

Are there any random questions you have about the world that you would like answered in picturebook world.

(Kinda) Review: Mockingjay

So, I'm having trouble putting my thoughts about Mockingjay into words.

But since I did review both The Hunger Games and Catching Fire, I couldn't just ignore Mockingjay.

So, my thoughts are below.  Be warned on two counts, few but dear readers:  I ramble and there are spoilers.

Collins, S.  (2010).  Mockingjay.  New York:  Scholastic.

390 pages.

Appetizer:  For those of you not in the know, Mockingjay is the final installment in The Hunger Games trilogy.  The books follow a teenage girl named Katniss who takes the place of her younger sister in a televised fight to the death among children and teens from poor districts for the amusement of the rich Capitol.

Mockinjay is set during the districts' rebellion against the capitol.  Katniss is now seventeen and must decide whether she wants to accept the role of becoming the "mockingjay" or the face of the rebellion and encourage the people to rebel.

As you can imagine, it's very dramatic.  Dark.  Beautifully written.  Tense.  Dark.  Captivating.  And dark.

As a whole, the Hunger Games books have done an AMAZING job of capturing the interest of students who generally don't like to read ever.  I've had undergraduates admit that they started reading for fun again because of The Hunger Games.  It is so exciting to see.

Having said all of this, I had some trouble with Mockingjay.

I was fine for the first two-thirds of the book.  As with the other books, I enjoyed Katniss's emotional struggle with what she has done and what has been done to her.  I loved the realization that it is through Katniss's authentic-ness that she won over people to her cause.  I thought it was tragic what Peeta had to endure while held prisoner by the Capitol.  I liked that Gale finally had more of a role.  I also liked that the hunger games became a metaphor for the larger battles in Katniss's life.  I liked some of the new characters introduced (Boggs!).  Although, I was very disappointed that some other characters disappeared from the story entirely after a quick sentence that they'd died tragically.

My big problem was....

WE INTERRUPT THIS POST TO REMIND YOU THAT THERE ARE SOME BIG SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!!!!

My big problem was with when Katniss became a soldier.  As she and others traveled through the capitol to reach President's Snow's mansion I was more reminded of the movie Black Hawk Down than a YA novel.  I was fine with the messages about war and peace that were included, but I felt like those messages were shared at the expense of a story I had been captivated by up until that point.

And with the Katniss's uncertainty over who to trust--Snow or Coin--I couldn't help but be reminded of the Chaos Walking series.  And to be honest, I thought that book did a better job of constructing foils between leadership styles and the conclusion that pretty much all war leaders aren't exactly super-awesome-straight-forward peeps who will be content with only a tiny taste of power.

I also had a lot of trouble with the bombs that were sent down in little parachutes in front of the president's mansion and who those explosions killed.  After the ending of that chapter, I honestly thought the following seven or eight pages were a dream sequence.  Honestly.  It wasn't just that I didn't want to believe what had happened had...happened.  But the language about it as Katniss recovers was just so vague and metaphorical that it made the events hard to believe.

Now, having said all of this.  I did still find the ending of the book to be satisfying.  All my questions were answered and I did feel like (those left alive) could find peace (kinda).

So, yeah, rambling done.

What did all-ya-few-alls think?




Dinner Conversation:

"I stare down at my shoes, watching as a fine layer of dust settles on the worn leather. This is where the bed I shared with my sister, Prim, stood.  Over there was the kitchen table.  The bricks of the chimney, which collapsed in a charred heap, provide a point of reference for the rest of the house.  How else could I orient myself in this sea of gray?" (p. 3).

"I'm going to be the Mockingjay" (p. 31).

"And now Coin, with her fistful of precious nukes and her well-oiled machine of a district, finding it's even harder to groom a Mockingjay than to catch one.  But she has been the quickest to determine that I have an agenda of my own and am therefore not to be trusted.  She has been the first to publicly brand me as a threat" (p. 59).


Tasty Rating:  ????????  Two stars, four stars...I can't decide.  Internets, help me make sense of how I feel about this book!

Literary Feast Invitation: I Am Number Four

Hello again, few but dear readers.

I'm sorry it's been so long between posts.  But I was distracted.  By a mother-daughter road trip.  And by Mockingjay.  And by how I would be a bad daughter for ignoring The Mother on the mother-daughter road trip by reading Mockingjay instead of paying attention to The Mother or all of the pretty places she was attempting to drive me to see.

I did manage to find the fine balance between looking up and saying "ooh" from time to time, acknowledging The Mother's existence AND reading Mockingjay.  It was difficult work.

But that's not actually why I'm blogging.

Since I am a little less distracted now, Monica and I would like to invite all-ya-few-alls to our next book tour.

We will be reading I Am Number Four, a YA sci-fi story of alien superheroes.  And I do love me my alien superheroes, FBDR.

The blurb on the dust jacket is as follows:

Nine of us came here.  We look like you.  We talk like you.  We live among you.  But we are not you.  We can do things you dream of doing.  We have powers you dream of having.  We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen.  We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books--but we are real.


Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them.  But they found us and started hunting us first.  Now all of us are running.  Spending our lives in shadows, in places where no one would look, blending in.  We have lived among you without you knowing.


But they know.


They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.


I am Number four.


I am next.

(to which my response is, "Way to count."  My understanding from the movie Contact was that aliens would be STELLAR at math.)

I kid.  I kid.

Also on the book jacket, Michael Bay (director of transformers) has called Number Four "a hero for this generation."  I do wonder about about Mr. Bay's knowledge of YA literature and I do have to question his judgement...I have sat through Transformers:  Revenge of the Fallen.  But I won't let that stop me.

I kid some more.

I am greatly interested in this book's premise.  And so was monica after I typed the winning combination of "sci-fi..superhero...alien...DEATH!"

Monica and I will have comments posted for you on Monday of the first eight chapters.

Hope to see you back here!

May I Emboss That For You?

Excuse the continued lack of posting, my few but beloved readers.  I have been slacking.  So, instead of sharing with you the grown-up books I've been slacking with, I thought I'd share about one of the non-reading (but still book related!) ways that I have been slacking.

So, for my birthday I had asked my parents for an embosser.

This request came out of nowhere for both my parents and me.  As a child I could remember playing with my dad's embosser of his initials (which also happened to be mine--thus making all of his books mine according to my logic) but I'd never really thought seriously about getting my own.  Until I wanted one.  NOW.

So after my dad gave me the embosser (he chose one that looks like a fat baby stapler) I got to choose the design.  I went with a complex leafy one that includes the phrase "from the library of" under my name (whole name!  No way my books will be confused for belonging to my Dad.  Although Coffeehouse Angel,  The Birthday Ball and The Cinderella Society would be very tempting for him, I have no doubt).

I'd show you a picture, but the emboss does include my full legal name.  We mustn't make it too easy for the stalkers of the world, mustn't we?

The insert arrived a few days ago.

I've discovered I derive great joy from trapping a leaf of paper between the embosser's mouth and imprinting my name upon it.  It could be the joy of putting my name on something, similar to the joy I used to have of running around scribbling on the insides of book covers when I was four.  I suppose it's also the joy dogs feel with marking their territory.  But that's gross, right?  So, let's not go with that analogy.

Or it could be the sound itself.  I can actually hear the the paper 'chshhhs' as it's being scrunched, which gives me the same feeling I get when I pop a particularly icky zit.  Very satisfying.  (But still with the gross analogies.  I am sorry, FewButFaithReads.)

There's also a slight fear that comes with embossing.  Mid-press, the thought, "Oh shiz, is this my book of did I borrow it from the library or a professor?!" regularly enters my mind.  The risk makes it that much more enjoyable.

The problem is, few but faithful readers, I've run out of books to emboss.  I'm cut off from the hundreds of books I share with my students (the intended target) and even my own home library.  I'm left starving to emboss something.  My parents seem to have grown vaguely disgruntled by all of the embossed post-it note and stationary piles throughout the house.  I could emboss each of the books I do have with me several times.  But I fear that'd look tacky.  Like I expect gnomes to sneak into my room and steal my books (and my understanding is that the gnomes get pissy when they know that you suspected their arrival.  Gnomes love a good surprise).

And this brings me to the reason for this post, FBFRs.  Who among you would like their books to read that they are from my personal library, to forever feel that their personal books were, at some time, stolen from me, hmmm?  I would bring the embosser to your home.  I may even let you push down on it for a few of your books?

Doesn't that sound like fun?

Literary Feast Discussion: Mockingbird (The End!)

Hello again, dear readers!  Monica and I have zoomed through the end of Mockingbird. Despite the initial angst, we both definitely enjoyed the book.  You can see our specific comments below.  And we'd love to read what you have to say about the story as well.  But be prepared readers, there be spoilers here!

Shel: I was surprised Caitlin's dad was originally so hesitant to complete the chest. I had visions of them sawing wood, hammering nail..doing other construction=y type stuff...dancing with sugarplum fairies, I don't know. But then even when Dad was FINALLY on board, we didn't really see much of the process.

Monica: I laughed. So hard. When she showed up at school covered in slashes and gashes from trying to cut down a tree with a quarter. I know I shouldn’t laugh, really, but picturing Mrs. Whatshername’s face as Caitlin blithely announces that she “was cutting” is just too funny.

Shel: I know! I thought that whole section was wonderful. Caitlin was so determined and proactive. It really set an energetic pace. I feel like this book has changed to an angst-light diet.

Monica: Thank goodness. I didn't think I would be able to take much more -- and it's always a relief when a book contains healing ideas, rather than just misery.

Shel:  I LOVE the exchange between Josh and Caitlin on page 154: "He turns his head to me and whispers, Loser.
I know, I tell him, but I'm going to keep trying." Cuteness and perseverance alert, Batman!

Monica: You have to wonder what Josh thinks of her at that moment. Because her response makes sense to *me*, but he... must kind of have the wind knocked out of his bullying sails.

Shel: I know and that's part of the fun of that moment.  But speaking of Josh, the playground scene where everyone is all "this is why we hate you, Josh" and then they're like "we do see the potential for good in you, Josh." felt a little forced. I had trouble picturing the kids actually having that conversation.

Monica: Eh. I agree. It makes me wonder if the author has ever seen a group of kids interacting -- maybe the ones she hung out with as a child had really rocking interpersonal skills, but if it was my class, everyone might have kicked some stones around awkwardly with their feet, and then said, "We still sort of think you're okay," and then went and played on the jungle gym.

Shel: I also really, really dislike the author's note. REALLY. I feel like Erskine did an AMAZING job of getting her messages across without ever teetering off into annoying preachy-land. And then there is the note, camped in annoying preachy-land, explaining the messages that were already beautifully articulated in the story. I would have preferred if the story stood alone at the end. Like the cheese that stands alone at the end of the song.

Monica: THANK YOU! I am so glad it wasn't just me. I have decided to ignore it altogether and pretend I never read it, because seriously? "Ignore and ignorance share the same root"? Sigh. I was much happier when I was coming to those conclusions on my own, not being walloped over the head with them.

And there you have it, few but beloved readers.  Our last words about Kathryn Erskine's Mockingbird.

Of course, these don't have to be the last words if you decide to post a comment or two, we can keep the conversation going.  And you all should know my now, I'm always happy to talk books more.

Also, don't wander to too far away.  We'll be announcing our next literary feast book within the next few days.  I won't tell you the title yet.  But I will say that three are dead and the number four figures prominently.

Cryptic enough for you?

Literary Feast Discussion: Mockingbird (Chapters 12 - 24)

All right, friends! We are up to chapter 24 in Kathryn Erskine's occasionally heartbreaking Mockingbird, and thus far, I have to say I'm impressed. Not just that I'm enjoying the book, but that Shel managed to convince me to read something not featuring unicorns. ;)

Ready to jump on in with the feast? As usual, spoilers abound, so reader beware!

Shel: Okay, after a few days away from this book, I feel better equipped to handle any and all angst. Bring it on, I sayz.

Monica: I had to hide it in my car and not think about it for a few days. And then, when I hit that part in chapter 16 -- "Practice teaching woodworking steps to Scout" -- I lost it again. However, I armed myself with chocolate and soda and kept on keeping on. Caffeine is a beautiful distraction from sorrow....

Shel: Aw, I wish I'd thought of chocolate.... I also kind of wish some of Caitlin's drawing were included throughout the book. I want to see that girl's art skillz.

Monica: Shel, that would make this book too happy. Drawings are happy. We don’t do happy, here.

Shel: I don't know. A portrait without eyes...I see some creepy potential there.

Monica: Good point – and wasn’t that an awesome scene? Watching the art teacher through her eyes, where she notices that his mouth is smiling but his eyes aren’t? I literally cheered for her. Way to notice the disparity in emotions, Caitlin!

Shel: I know. I think she'll like working with that teacher next year. They could really help each other. All of this talk about searching for closure kind of reminds me of The Higher Power of Lucky. The more I think about it, the more the books feel like they have a similar vibe.

Monica: Is... is this a book I should read? Is it bad that I haven’t?

Shel: Not at all. It was a Newbery winner a few years ago. I assigned it to my students a couple of times. They were 'eh' about it. And apparently there's been a sequel. Anyway. I really love the conversation between Michael and Caitlin in chapter fifteen. They're talking on two completely different wavelengths, but they still manage to say just the right words. Adorable!

Monica: I’ve been amazed at how the author has managed to get across such basic ideas as “Look, we can all get along even if we come from different backgrounds and have different ways of looking at the world,” without getting preachy.

Shel: Yeah, that is very impressive. Especially since I HATE preachy with the hate of...10,000 things that are hateful. Oh! And take note! Pages 98 and 149: Reading woodworking books and connecting closure with the chest. IT HAS BEGUN!

Monica: Of course, poor Mrs. Johnson thinks she's having a fit. No, Mrs. Johnson! She has just discovered Closure!!

Shel: I really love all the focus on empathy in the book. I feel like it's not only a major theme of the book, but that it's also the underlying ideology driving the story: empathize with Caitlin's experience, empathize with members of a community who have survived a school shooting, EMPATHIZE!

Monica: You have to admit, it would solve pretty much every problem. If you're able to completely see where your neighbor is coming from, it makes most disagreements nonexistent. Unless your neighbor is a total jerk. Obviously.

Shel: P.S. So, now I'm starting to get why this book is called Mockingbird. But I still feel like "Devon's Chest?" or something is just as fitting and symbolic. Do you think an earlier version of the manuscript was titled that? I choose to believe it was. *looks up to the sky with hopeful thoughts*

Monica: But “Devon’s Chest” is a boring title. I would never read something called “Devon’s Chest.” Plus, honestly… I have to hope that they’re going to get past the chest – I recognize that is has now become the symbol for closure, but… to have the title focus only on Devon, rather than the struggle of his family / community, would sort of cheat everyone, I think. So huzzah for “Mockingbird”!

Shel: True, but I think if "chest" were somehow involved in the title, some twelve-year-old boys who hate books would give this one a chance. They would, of course, become disappointed when they finally figure out the chests are metaphorical.

Okay. We'll drift away from the topic of chests, metaphorical and otherwise, and head back to the book. Join us on Monday, kids, when we'll tackle chapters 25 to the end! Hasn't this book whipped by? Feel free to drop in with your thoughts, or with ideas on what we should read next. Can't wait to hear from you!

Literary Feast Discussion: Mockingbird (Chapters 1-11)

Hey tweety birds!

So, we've made our way through the first third of Kathryn Erskine's Mockingbird. Monica and I have found ourselves immersed in Caitlin's perspective. You can find our conversation below. Keep in mind that Monica and I lurve to talk over the details of books' plots, so there are spoilers below.

So, look over what we have to say about the book, then feel free to share your own insights about Mockingbird.

(And by the way, each time I type Mockingbird, I almost type MockingJAY. Who has Hunger Games on the brain? I do! I do!)

CHAPTERS 1-11

Shel: I think Erskine did an amazing job of getting in Caitlin's perspective. At the funeral I really felt like I was seeing it through the character's eyes. I felt overwhelmed like she did.

Monica: Ditto. I was looking for a sweater to stick my head under, for sure. Plus, I love how we can see how overwhelmed everyone is – her father (letting her hide under his shirt even though he normally doesn’t), the completely useless relatives and neighbors (offering food and sympathy and getting on Caitlin’s nerves), the teachers….

Plus, best of all, there are only a few run-on sentences! I admit, that was my one worry about this book, brought about by my experiences with The Curious Case of the Dog in the Night Time…..

Shel: Have you ever eaten a salad with apple sauce as the dressing? That does not appeal.

Monica: I too would pick out all the green stuff and just eat the apple sauce. Or, honestly, I might just have eaten more Pop Tarts and skipped the semi-natural food altogether. (Her poor father. I suppose it’s hard to explain “No, I don’t want to eat dinner at dinner time” to someone who requires such consistent scheduling.)

Shel: Those peeps had better finish building Devon's chest before this book ends.

Monica: I think we can be pretty confident they will. I feel like I’ve been beaten over the head by a Totally Not Subtle stick, myself. (Broken chest! Shot in the chest! Unfinished chest!) If they don’t, it will *only* be because we’re waiting for the upcoming sequel, “Devon’s Chest.”

Shel: SCHOOL SHOOTING?!!!!!! REALLY?! No!!!!!! I'm school shooted-out. I just finished Hate List. And I'm still getting over the emotional drain from that book. *Weeps* Ugh. And after I'd reviewed that book, you were all "Shel, I could never read that book." And now I'm making you read another book with similar themes. I'm sorry, Monica.

Monica: Sheeeeeeeeeeeeel! SHEL WHY!? Seriously!? I was assuming car crash, and you give me a school shooting?! Sigh. I wonder if they’re going to go into more detail, or if (because of the way we experience things through Caitlin’s point of view) the adults will keep us pretty much in the dark about the specifics of the event.

Shel: We need fluff STAT!

Monica: None. There will be no fluff at all. The fluffiest that I’m seeing on the horizon is when I close the book and see the cute little cartoon bird on the back cover.

Shel: Okay, I do like the scene where she tries to teach Josh manners. I foresee a friendship between those two.

Monica: Gaaah, I can’t handle how every single child in this book is going through major emotional upheavals. I can’t wait to see more of him, though; so far, I really appreciate the way Caitlin hates him because he’s a bully and a jerk, rather than for the fact that his cousin happened to kill her brother. At least she’s loathing him for something he can control. ;)

Shel: Also, her exchange with Michael is so cute! Aw, wee little boys with mourning Bambi eyes. Cute!

Monica: I have to laugh, because I’m finding her interactions with him so frustrating. I want to know WHY he has mourning Bambi eyes, and she’s just talking to him about manners! It makes sense that it doesn’t cross her mind to find out why he is sad, which of course makes the book even more realistic, but… darn it, Caitlin! Act totally out of character and delve into that poor boy’s issues for me!

Shel: Also, I want gummy worms.

Monica: Sour ones for me, please!!

Okay, after we're done with our run to pick up some gummy worms, we'll being venturing through chapters 12-24 of the book. We'll post the discussion sometime on Wednesday. Hope to see you back here (with your comments!) then!