Matched

Matched by Ally Condi

If you’re looking for the next Hunger Games, it is not here. Go to Divergent by Veronica Roth instead. If you hail The Giver as a classic, go reread it. It really is that good and worth multiple readings. If those books are too graphic for you, if you are a sensitive reader, or if you enjoy romance, here IS Dystopia Lite meets Chick Lit.

Matched isn’t about a girl rebelling against society who happens to acquire a love interest along the way. In such a case, the girl’s primary objective is to defeat the ruling government and hope that her friends will survive to be reunited with her in the end. The heroine’s goal is to save many and right a wrong.

No, Matched is about a girl who lives in a dystopian society who thinks she has fallen in love. The society will restrict her from being with her boy of choice and she will lie and sneak and cheat in order to be with him all the while hoping she doesn’t get caught breaking the rules. This girl will rebel against society for her own selfish desires and feel bad about the people she hurts along the way. Her goal is the boy.

And is a boy really worth it? A boy that the heroine has known since she was a child, but never paid a bit of attention to until a mistake is made. A mistake made by a supposedly infallible Society.

In The Giver, the “government” chose to eradicate pain, both emotional and physical. In Matched, the Society chooses to eliminate choice. The Society makes choices for the people. They choose where a person lives, what job a person works, when a person marries and has children and when a person dies. The Society has a system in place to do this with accuracy.

The Society uses statistics and probability to determine what best fits each citizen. The Officials are able to predict where the people will be the most efficient. The Officials can also determine the best matches among people so that they will give life to the strongest, healthiest, smartest children. Society aims for the best life for all citizens.

Cassia, our protagonist, (for I wouldn’t give her the title of heroine yet,) believes in her Society. Her parents seem happy. Her friends seem happy. She is well on her way to acquiring a data-sorting position somewhere someday that will likely make her happy. And she is nervously excited to attend her Match Banquet tonight! It is her eighteenth birthday and today she finds out who is her match – the boy she will marry when she turns twenty-one.

It surprises Cassia and her family that her match is a boy she knows and has grown up with - her best friend in fact. It is extremely rare for that to happen. Usually the newly matched boy and girl have years of courtship to get to know each other under the direct supervision of the Officials. With the excitement of the unknown taken from her, Cassia must begin to look at Xander, her match, in a new light. Or rather, that is what should happen, but it doesn’t because there is another surprise in store for Cassia.

At home, alone in her room, and eager to look at Xander on her microcard – will she swoon over him? After all he is handsome. She watches her match replay on the microcard, but Xander’s face fades to be replaced by another boy, Ky, also a childhood friend. Two matches? How can she have two matches? And know them both?

The Officials are quick to jump in and admit that a mistake has been made. Xander is her match. Ky’s face was added by mistake. Ky shouldn’t even be in the matching pool because he is an Aberration. He has an infraction against him and he must remain single.

And from here on, the book seeks to answer the question: Xander or Ky? Not Society or Choice. Not right or wrong. Not safe or risky. Xander or Ky? Until it builds up to a litany of Ky, Ky, Ky, Ky, Ky.

This novel is romance with a unique setting. But it speaks to a microcosm and it gets old pretty fast. It doesn’t answer the bigger questions that Hunger Games fans will be asking. I want to know more about the Society and the people. What has been lost. What has been gained. And why?

I don’t really care about where the Officials have taken Ky. Nor do I care if Cassia throws caution to the wind to follow and find him. I want to know - where is the heroine who takes on Big Brother!?

Inheritance

Inheritance by Christopher Paolini

This holiday season I have been absolutely, positively drained of life and not by the usual stresses and anxieties of Christmas. No, I have been sapped by a book – a book of 847 pages with over a hundred requests for it. I had until December 21^st to finish it. I thought I had plenty of time – 28 days. If I had enjoyed the book, I would have had more than enough time. As it was, I forced 300 pages down my throat on the 20^th and 21^st. I hadn’t even realized that my brain was marking the book as one more obstacle to conquer before I could relax and enjoy “vacation”.

Why did I read it? I had hope, however faint, that Christopher Paolini would improve with age. I had faith, however meager, that a professional editor would reign him in and tighten up the ship. I wanted to love, in the same manner that his fans do, a great epic fantasy. Fantastical epic? It is because I am stubborn. And it is because I can. And I might be just a little too quick as well as happy to criticize.

The Eragon series has always been derivative and tedious. Inheritance is no different from its prequels. I wasn’t drawn into the story until around 600 pages. Most would have given up long before. But even after I was finally somewhat curious to see how the series would play out and wrap up, I still really only cared for about half of the chapters. I like Eragon, the boy-hero, okay. I really have no desire to read any more about his cousin Roran. But Murtagh could really be my favorite character given time, a better storyteller and a hard-working editor.

In the end, my favorite chapter – yes, I actually have a favorite chapter – was titled King Cat and it was towards the beginning. The werecats, led by King Grimr Halfpaw, decided to add their forces to Eragon’s side against King Galbatorix. Why did I like it? It was hilarious. I think Paolini was thinking of Antonio Banderas’ Puss in Boots at the time. Even the ridiculously, over- flowery language worked well. I noticed this particularly when I read it out loud on two occasions. Maybe that is the trick. Inheritance needs to be read out loud to appreciate the language? I wouldn’t have a voice when I was through!

When I was finally done… I was like, really? Seriously? I understand the choice of ending. I think it was a very mature and realistic ending. Classical. Tragic. But was I happy with it? I felt cheated. I only hope he doesn’t begin a new cycle to carry it further. If he does, I hope God grants me the ability to just say NO. Emphatically.

I found the following literary review very helpful in understanding why kids, boys in particular, continue to be drawn to this … this… I don’t know what to call it. I find it inferior writing. A lovely daydream carried out very poorly. I would be embarrassed to put this amateur attempt beside the pros. I would be embarrassed to be the editor of the finished piece. But, obviously, he’s the one getting published and making the big bucks.

The Dragon’s Egg: High Fantasy for Young Adults by Adam Gopnik published in The New Yorker.

Cabin Fever

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney

I admit I can be a bit of a snob about books. I have never, not ever, read a Captain Underpants book. I have never, not ever, recommended a Captain Underpants book. But then, I don’t really have to. They have their own built-in audience. Potty humor – ew – yuck!

And… I am not a fan of graphic novels. All of the hurvy-scurvy, chaotic, colorless (in most cases), frenetic and frantic pictures send my brain for a spin. But they do have their audience as well and I am delighted by the niche they fill.

While I’m at it, I might as well confess that I don’t particularly care for books written as diary or journal entries. Been there. Done that. Can we come up with something different now? Please? It’s old and tired – to me. But there is still an audience for them. A new group every year.

I don’t like poetry! Really don’t like it. Especially the sappy kind. Okay, perhaps that was a bit unnecessary.  But while I’m venting… I’m an English major who simply cannot stand Shakespeare. Do you still like me?

Pant, pant, pant. Deep breaths. Drumroll please… I really do, honest and truly, get excited for another Diary of a Wimpy Kid, (DWK). It has taken me, what, five years? to be able to say that. Let’s see… tweenage boy humor; goofy-little, comic-book illustrations; and, duh! DIARY format!

But I do like the series for at least three reasons. First one! In the age of the gargantuan, epic, children’s tome… I didn’t say Inheritance … here we have short and sweet. The book can be read in one sitting. And it doesn’t tax the brain. I guess I’d call it leisure reading.

Second reason! It’s laugh out loud funny. Even for me and by that I mean that adults can find the situations hilarious because we were young once too. Yes, times have changed, but siblings are still just as obnoxious and parents are still as clueless.

Reason the third! Cabin Fever has a true beginning and a true end. No cliff hanger. Read DWK  book one, then three, or maybe five - order isn’t crucial. When a child comes in looking for a DWK book, he’ll usually take any one that is available with a smile.

I did say “at least.” Number four! Not only will my own child read it, but she can earn Accelerated Reader points for her trouble! It is a great series for the reluctant reader and nobody gets killed.

Finally, the fifth reason that I like (DWK). The Heffley family regularly attends church. When Greg’s best friend, Rowley, sleeps over on Saturday night, he attends church with them on Sunday morning. In Cabin Fever, Christmas is coming and the Heffley’s attend worship service.

It was so subtle. Church is just a part of their lives. It snuck up on me. Then I looked back and church has always been a part of the (DWK) series. Sometimes there are laughs involved - “Peas be with you.” I like that. It rings true! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Goliath

Goliath by Scott Westerfeld

Strangely, this week, I have been forced to relive the anxiety of school work. Let me explain. I was in an art class with my six-grader and we had the opportunity to watch a video about the artist Andy Warhol. The teacher wrote out five questions, (later it grew to seven,) on the board. The kids were to discover the answers to the questions as they watched. Oh dear, active listening! My blood pressure rose and not just for the classroom, but also for myself. I felt an obligation to do the same.

Not only this, but then afterward I felt called upon to not only regurgitate what I had watched, but further to elaborate. What did this biography of Warhol mean to me? How could I compare him to his peers? And, finally, consider what about his life speaks to me in the present time. Let’s put that Liberal Arts degree through its paces! How many big words can I use… How scholarly can I sound… JOKING! A little.

Reading Goliath, I recalled taking history classes. Memorize dates. Recite facts. What event precipitated the Great War? What were the names given to the two sides at war? Which countries belonged to which side? When did the United States of America join and why? What event brought about the end of the war? Who were the major players? Anybody? Anybody?

We did that every year until we finally achieved High School and things got a bit harder… Pick an event in history and discuss what would have happened had things played out differently. What if America had never joined the war? What if America had entered the war sooner? What if Archduke Ferdinand had a son who was legal heir to the Habsburg throne?

How tedious. How daunting.

Not anymore.

Scott Westerfeld must have aced his history finals.

I reviewed the prequels, Leviathan and Behemoth, which you can peruse to discover the scope of these novels. Goliath completes the trilogy and I was left, not only satisfied, but pleased as well. There were several cameo appearances made by notable men in history, Pancho Villa for example, that made me want to go back and find out more about the real person.

Nicola Tesla has a much greater presence as the creator of Goliath – the machine to end all wars! Tesla is an anomoly. The crew of the Leviathan does not know if he is a madman, a megalomaniac, or a mastermind. Tesla says that a demonstration of Goliath’s power will force Germany to back down. But which city will Tesla choose to destroy? Whose side is he really on if he is on one at all? Should Alex, the legal heir to the Habsburg Monarchy, assist or prevent Tesla from pulling the lever?

For kids who think they’ve outgrown the Children’s Department.

The Rogue Crew

The Rogue Crew by Brian Jacques

I just reread my review of The Sable Quean by Brian Jacques to remind myself of what I thought of it. That’s not entirely true. I know what I thought. I liked it. I always like the Redwall books. I had to remind myself what I wrote. I remembered that Jacques had just died, but I didn’t remember how I reacted or responded. What I found was uncertainty. Would there be another Redwall book? Maybe? Possibly? Yes!

The Rogue Crew seems shorter than its predecessors, but it’s not. The Redwall books take more time to read. They are not for reluctant readers. I’ve had a hard time trying to put a finger on why you have to invest more time with this series. A fellow librarian – you know who you are ;) – helped me to figure it out. Actually she helped me admit that they do require more time. You cannot just whip through them. You have to set the time aside. You must accept that they are every bit as “full” as adult novels. There is more description. The feasts are given just as much weight as the action sequences. Every meal – it is like you are at the table. Vocabulary rich!

It just seems that there is less. And I will not find fault due to circumstances, but there are fewer feasts and fewer Dibbuns. There are just as many characters, but I felt I knew them less. There is less time spent at the Abbey and more time spent with the villains. I am not certain who the hero was or rather, the character that I would think would become the unexpected hero, didn’t do all that much. I might go so far as to call this book a shadow. The outline is there, but it is not as substantial as the real thing.

The last thing I want to do is steer you away from this extra magnificent series. Granted, it is not for everyone. After all, the mice talk, sing and dance. If you love Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, or Wind in the Willows, try Redwall. It really is like The Lord of the Rings, with animals as the main characters! Now that I think about it, it is also right up there with The Chronicles of Narnia – talking animals!

It’s good versus evil where even the most unlikely of beasts can be the hero!

Tends to be a favorite with 3^rd-5^th grade boys, but there are plenty of female characters and heroines for the girls as well.

Tears of a Tiger

Tears of a Tiger by Sharon Draper

Every once in a while, I get the next book on my list only to discover it is a sequel. My personality doesn’t allow me to skip the first (second, third…) book. No, I feel it is necessary to go back. My next book doubles, or, in this case, triples. I ordered a new edition of Tears of a Tiger and the cover states, “The first book in the powerful Hazelwood High Trilogy.”

Now the nice thing about this book is that it is a very quick read - two evenings. I’m guessing that the sequels will be equally relaxed in readability. I would say that the prime target for this trilogy is reluctant high school readers and more specifically, African American teens. The sequel is a Coretta Scott King Award winner.

While the actual reading of the book is painless, topics covered cause unrest and discomfort. The book begins with a fatal car crash caused by drunk driving, and the book ends with a suicide born out of guilt and depression. Some books will use such subject matter clearly for sensationalism. That is not the case here. It can be read as a moral warning. This edition includes a Reader’s Guide of discussion topics as well as activities and suggestions for research.

Sharon Draper is a skilled storyteller and therefore, this novel is so much more than a moral warning. Ms. Draper has chosen to tell the story through multiple high school friends so that we see a bigger picture of what is going on. We can see how everyone was affected by the unexpected death of a friend, from a would-be girlfriend to his best friend. And then, that best friend, Andy, takes center stage. And we watch his downward spiral after the accident from multiple viewpoints including his own.

It’s not easy to “watch”. The omniscient reader squirms as mistakes are made and opportunities are missed. The reader is not surprised by the suicide. Everyone else is.

I see this book as a useful instrument for all those who are involved with teenagers. It can be used as both a preventative tool as well as a tool for healing in the aftermath.

So what we have here are four close friends, three of which are on the basketball team, two of which are stars of the team and one who is the captain. They decide to celebrate their victory after a game and there is beer in the trunk chilling. They enjoy a pleasure drive down the highway and they are really enjoying themselves. They’re just having fun and trying to freak out the other drivers. They seem to be succeeding as proved by all the honking. But then Andy, the driver, loses control and drives into a retaining wall. Three of the four manage to get out, but the fourth, Rob, the captain, is stuck – his legs through the window. Rob is coherent and screaming for help, but the car explodes into flames. Andy can still hear Rob screaming his name.

The judge won’t punish Andy enough. The charge of vehicular homicide is dropped. His parents, teachers, friends don’t blame Andy enough. They try to support him and the coach even makes him captain. Rob’s parents don’t hate Andy enough. Andy knows he deserves everyone’s anger and scorn, but instead they either want to help him mourn OR help him move on. Andy’s chooses to heap the guilt upon himself and drown in it. Meanwhile he attempts to convince everyone that he is okay and is handling the situation fine on his own. He succeeds in deceiving everyone. Unfortunately, if anyone had just taken one step further to help Andy, his life might have been saved. Instead the close-knit community must deal with another dead young person. And who is to blame now?