Crank

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

I sometimes turn my nose up at Young Adult literature. Don't get me wrong. There are plenty of excellent titles down there. I've read them and loved them. But when I am reading the reviews from a magazine and a title is suggested for 9th-12th, I always try to find what makes it unsuitable for younger kids rather than accept that the reading level is that of a high schooler. What I mean by this is that I look for sex, drugs, and homosexuality. I might have to read several reviews to find it, but I usually succeed.

Yes, I'm a juvenile literature snob. Madeleine L'Engle is quoted as saying ''I never write for any age group in mind. ... When you underestimate your audience, you're cutting yourself off from your best work.'' She also said “You have to write whichever book it is that wants to be written. And then, if it’s going to be too difficult for grownups, you write it for children.” Successful children's books pull it off with out the taboo and sensationalistic.

So what does Crank have? 3 parts drugs, 2 parts sex, and a pinch of homosexuality. Add a tablespoon each of violence and rape. And now let me sell it.

This book is based upon a true story – the story of the author's daughter. This is a book written by the Mom hoping to help her family and save someone else's. Many of the characters ring true because they are based upon real people.

With over 500 pages of free verse, I devoured it in the course of two days. I could not put it down. I ate and read. I walked and read. I read in stolen moments and during commercials.

I was particularly impressed with the author's ability to narrate the book in the voice of her daughter. It could not have been easy to view herself and write about herself in her daughter's voice. It is not a pretty picture.

I would want to share with my daughter how very dangerous drugs are and how very quickly they can not only ruin, but run your life. Very hard to share without personal experience. The book does an incredible job of showing how a very normal, intelligent teenager can get caught in an unexpected downward spiral. It could have very easily been me … That's a frightening thought.

More frightening for me is how spot on the girls three "boyfriends" are. I've met them in high school and college. Multiple times, unfortunately. For me, they more than ring true. They are blaring horns. I would much rather share this book with my daughter so that the flags go up when she meets such young men, than for her to read this book later, like I did, and wonder why she wasn't warned.

It is so easy to identify with this young girl from a broken family. She is in need of love and since she isn't getting it at home, she goes in search of it. She finds a substitute who provides her with affirmations she's never been given before. And she follows the White Rabbit. But books aren't her escape. The Monster, drugs, is.

Not preachy. Horrible and Hopeful. Ugly and Beautiful. Educational. For when they won't listen to us.

Pentecost and the Chosen One

Pentecost and the Chosen One by W. J. Corbett

I was weeding books months and months ago and I found these two books that hadn’t been checked out in a really long time. The Song of Pentecost and its sequel Pentecost and the Chosen One are both by W. J. Corbett. If a book isn’t circulating, we try to find a redeeming quality. Perhaps it received a *starred review* once upon a time. Maybe it was an honoree, Newbery or Caudill. Maybe the story is much more attractive than its cover. Can we book talk it or sell it? Can we think of someone else who would enjoy it? Sometimes, we simply have to try it out for ourselves and that is what I did.

It was the word “Pentecost” that caught my eye. Pentecost looks and sounds important. In reality, it merely means “the fiftieth day” or “fifty-count”. In the books, Pentecost is not just a name, and certainly not a numbering system, it is the title of a mouse. The Pentecost Mouse is the leader of the harvest mice that live on Lickey Top Hill to be precise. The Pentecost Mouse of the first book led the family there. The Pentecost Mouse of the second book learned how to be a good leader and mediator on Lickey Top.

Upon reading the jacket summary, I was further intrigued. One of my favorite cartoon movies growing up was The Secret of NIMH which I later learned was based upon a Newbery Award winning book called Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien. Excellent book AND movie if you’re shopping. (Secret crush on Justin. Yes, I know. A rat. But knight in shining armor no less.) Song of the Pentecost sounded similar. Encroaching humans force harvest mice to move. A brave mouse leads them. Predators like owls and foxes help or hinder along the way.

So I took them home thinking to save a couple of books.

Right off the bat, I realized that these books were from a different time and a different speech pattern. They were hard to get into. For instance, when I watch a British flick, it takes me at least 15 minutes or so to find my "footing". Actually the same thing can be said for talking to a 2 or 3-year-old. They can be very hard to understand until your brain has cataloged all of their quirks, lisps, misinterpretations. Most books, I can read 50-100 pages a night depending upon how big they are, size of text, etc.. The Pentecost books were requiring me to handle only about 25 pages a night. My mind just couldn’t find the rhythm.

The characters are SO complex. I can’t even explain their many facets. Some say one thing and mean entirely the opposite. Some say exactly what they are doing and why like their secret thoughts spoken out loud. A character might take a moment to narrate to the reader. Another character might switch allegiances multiple times in a heartbeat. And then there is the rare seven-legged cockle snorkel. Need I continue?

The cockle snorkel is the brains of the bunch. He is owl’s best friend. He is a sometimes conscience to many. Think Jiminy Cricket only untrustworthy. He is a messenger to the masses. He is the proverbial fly on the wall. AND he’s a double agent. Maybe triple. Perhaps quadruple. Every house needs a cockle snorkel to keep us on our toes or egg us on, either one. I think he’s my favorite character. In the second book, he takes on Destiny! And nearly gets eaten by a spider! The characters alone make this a series worthy to keep.

I believe there is a religious allegory to be had here. If I gave it enough time and effort, I could define it and write papers about it.

Unfortunately, I think the books will probably remain on the shelf, uncirculated, until the next librarian must decide if they’re worthy of the space they take up … and if I wrote papers concerning them, they would be lost in academic oblivion.

The Day That Elvis Came to Town

The Day That Elvis Came to Town by Jan Marino

How fitting that I review this title on the 33rd anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley.

Yet another Caudill Nominee from 1996, this book has been sitting on my shelf for months. There is always something better to grab. I think the cover dates it older than the 90s. The setting is the 60s and so maybe that is it.

Wanda lives in a large beautiful house with her mother and father. Wanda’s mother supplements her husband’s income by taking in boarders much to Wanda’s chagrin. But it is necessary, because Wanda’s father is known for drinking away the family’s money. It wouldn’t be so bad if Wanda’s own room wasn’t rented out. She has a lovely room in the attic where the most recent occupant was a spiteful Aunt.

The book starts with Wanda cleaning her attic room and changing her bed sheets for a new boarder, Mercedes Washington. The newcomer is a jazz singer with an ongoing gig in a nearby town. She is young, talented, glamorous, generous, and most of all – sparkling! She has plenty of her own costumes and costume jewelry. Mercedes enjoys sharing the sparkle. Wanda is thrilled to be on the receiving end. Even more exciting to Wanda than a life on stage is the fact that Mercedes attended Hume High School with Elvis Presley for two whole months. Wanda is convinced that Mercedes and Elvis have remained friends.

She needs this bit of fantasy in her life. Her mother believes her to be grown up enough to help around the house. And her mother uses her to keep an eye on her own father. Wanda has not missed this fact and she is ashamed to be her father’s keeper. When the going gets tough, Wanda retreats to her makeshift bedroom. A little screened in sunroom attached to her parents’ bedroom. It is like sleeping in a goldfish bowl. There is only a curtain on the glass door for privacy.

In this small sanctuary, Wanda can listen to her records, those small 45s, of Elvis and gaze at his poster, her dearest treasure. Sometimes she even pretends to dance with him. Momentarily she can escape to a place where her father not only promises to quit drinking, but carries his promise through.

Remember that spiteful Aunt? She may no longer live in the attic, but she still has a room in the house. She keeps her nose in everyone’s business and is sure to share it with passers-by. She happens to know Mercedes secret and reveals it to Wanda with vicious words. Part of the book is about Wanda coming to terms with whether or not Mercedes lied to her by withholding information.

Another portion of the book deals with Wanda’s father slowly earning the trust of his family again.

My favorite part of the book is Wanda’s father’s attempt to marry off the spiteful Aunt, his sister, to get her out of his house. What a family won’t do to keep the peace!

Storm Warning

Storm Warning by Linda Sue Park

Spoiler Alert
When the 39 Clues were first introduced, readers were misled to believe that each book would lead them on an adventure to find one of the 39. Soon after, it was announced that there were exactly ten books in the series. And we had a hard time accepting that. We had already read a few of the books, and indeed, each one led us on a wild goose chase for exactly one clue. So some of us, well at least I, had to acknowledge that the adventure wasn’t really about the 39 clues, but something bigger. Something bigger was at stake.

Several books back, I determined that the race was to bring the family back together.

Could I have been right?

Quite possibly.

Why did I think this?

Because the children began working together a little at a time. The evil children began to grow consciences. Tenuous trusts were created our of need. Strange loyalties were forged.

A recurring theme in children’s literature is the inability of the adults to work together both peacefully and intelligently. It is up to the children to lead the way.

The 39 Clues is about the Cahill Family. Centuries ago, a scientist, Gideon Cahill, discovered a serum to create a superhuman. The serum was broken down into smaller serums that when combined back together would make the ultimate superhuman serum. Each of the smaller serums was given to an heir of the family to protect.

And there the family tree collapsed due to treachery and betrayal among the siblings.

The Ekaterina branch of the Cahill Family was founded by Katherine Cahill. Their serum produced incredible scientists and inventors.

The Janus branch was founded by Jane Cahill. Their serum produced amazing artists.

The Lucian branch was founded by Luke Cahill and produced exceptional leaders and spies.

The Tomas branch was founded by Thomas Cahill and created extraordinary athletes and explorers.

But there is a little known branch called the Madrigals and it was founded by the unknown fifth Cahill child Madeleine. Madeleine was born after her father had died. Her mother instilled in her the desire to bring the branches of the family back together at all costs. More than half of all the Nobel Peace Prize winners are of the Madrigal branch.

In the last few books we have discovered that Amy and Dan are a part of the Madrigal branch following in their parents' footsteps. At first they believed this to be the worst possible identity. Madrigals were considered murderers. But things are not always what they seem.

In the ninth book, they have earned the right to work as Madrigal operatives. Their mission is to prevent the discovery of the 39 clues!

Finally some answers!

Only one book left!

Keys to the Demon Prison

Keys to the Demon Prison by Brandon Mull

I apologize for my absence. My girls and I were on vacation last week. And even though I took vacation time, I'm actually working an awful lot this week. And I'm exhausted. Can barely keep up with laundry and sleep, let alone a blog. And of course, I finished two or three books while on vacation, so I'm almost five books behind in reviews. A daunting task that I haven't been able to face. So instead, I've read more and obsessively.


The other problem is that I have gushed so much about Fablehaven I may be all gushed out. Or perhaps complete mush. I like the series so much that I've become possessive of my opinion. I hate conflict. Anyway …

The Fablehaven series is finally complete with book 5 and "Well Done!!" to the author. Even better, there is an author's note at the end that confirms he does not intend to write a book 6. Fablehaven is done. Not that he might not choose to write another series with some of the characters from Fablehaven. Apparently that thought has run through his head.

I'm about to offend. This series is better than Harry Potter. This series is better than The Lightning Thief. I am hoping it does not get purchased for the big screen. I WILL NOT watch it. I am learning to be bored with movies. Case in point: I fell asleep thrice during The City of Ember one of my favorite books. The industry ruined it for me. I returned it unfinished. I fell asleep during Where the Wild Things Are which started out much better than anticipated, but fell into the category of "how did a picture book become this?" I returned it unfinished.

When I read a book, I easily become one with the main character regardless of gender, age or ethnicity. I judge a book often by how seamlessly I become the protagonist. I've been Kendra through five books. It's even been hard to see the rare illustration of her because she doesn't have my long hair (from when I was her age.) I don't recognize my face in the illustrator's rendition of her. But in my mind, we blend together and I stutter.

The wonderful thing about Fablehaven is that I was able to identify with Seth as well. Mull writes both characters equally well. I felt defeated when Seth is tricked and all seems lost. Loving encouragement provided as needed when needed, lifted me back onto my feet and gave me the courage and energy and motivation to attempt the impossible. I mean Seth … Switching from one character in a chapter to the other in the next chapter was neither jarring nor jumpy. I was always excited to see the next move made by the next character.

Yes, I am Kendra. But that is because, between the two, I'm a female. I'm an older sister. I feel timid. I choose the safe path. I worry when others follow what I feel to be the wrong path. And I wish that I could do something important and heroic instead of stand on the sidelines.

This is a series I might just have to purchase. GASP!