Review #9 Ender's Shadow

Card, Orson Scott. Ender's Shadow. New York: Tom Doherty Associates Book, 1999. Print.

Annotation: 

When Bean, an orphan who struggles to keep him and the other street children fed with his wily tactics, is chosen to become a student at Battle School and ultimately fight the Buggers. Living parallel to Orson Scott Card's novel Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow follows Bean as he grows and learns about his special talents and why he is so incredibly indispensable.



Genre: Science Fiction

Ender's Shadow won the Alex award in 1999. You may have been introduced to Ender Wiggin in Orson Scott Card's first novel, Ender's Game. However, when Bean, an orphan with extraordinary skills, is only a side character in that book. However in Ender's Shadow, the reader focuses on Bean and his special talents which eventually earn him Ender's recognition. In the book, Bean is even smarter than Ender, yet becaue he is not the one who is fated to save the world he is a supporting genius to Ender instead of a savior himself.

The story is mainly told from the point of view of Bean as he 'shadows' Ender but occasionally the view does shift. Bean often criticizes Ender's decisions, yet he states that he is envious of Ender's position but never would want to go through what he did to get that position. Bean has altered DNA, and in the end, it makes him grow faster than other children. That means that Bean is destined for a lifespan of only up until the age of 25. It is a tragic and sad realization that his intelligence will help the rest of humanity be saved from the Buggers, yet he will never fully get to enjoy life as an adult in the world.

I thought this book, as well as the original story Ender's Game is very good. I can see why it would be nominated for the Alex award. It had adult themes even though it was about children, and yet, it could captivate either audience.

Review #8 Lord of the Flies

Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York: Penguin, 2003. Print.



Annotation:
When a plane crashes on an unknown tropical island containing a number of school-aged boys, in a world without rules and adults the boys begin to create their own society. Ralph and Jack, always at each other's throats, throw the group of boys into a tumultuous tribal and brutal society among themselves. Bloodthirsty and savage, the boys slowly begin to turn on their own.

Justification for Nomination (genre: Censored or Challenged, Allegorical)

Lord of the Flies is written by William Golding, a nobel prize winning author. It is narrated in third person and primarily follows the boys in the leadership roles, as well as Simon, the boy who discovers that the Lord of the Flies is not a beast but something that is inside all of them. Following the "tribe" and their self-imposed government you see the challenges and brutality that emerges from each boys natural killing instinct, surfaced by the struggles and situation they are put in. Without any proper leadership, their self-governing lifestyle is damaging to their weak minds and they began to try and pull rank on each other in a viscous and actually, bullying, manner. 

This is the second time I've read this book, the first time was during High School literature class, where we did not choose to read it but it was mandatory. It is extremely difficult to read books that are mandated upon you but for some reason this book is fascinating and I am unsure anyone believed it to be in any capacity boring. 

The end of the book is the most awe-inspiring, as they attempt to hunt and kill Ralph, one of their own, they smoke him out of the forest in an attempt to murder him on the beach. Ralph stumbles upon the beach and is resigned to his fate (in a way) when he runs smack dab into a military officer. The other boys come out onto the beach, ready to kill Ralph, and see him as well. In a humbling act of remorse and tragedy, all the boys being to cry. 

"And in the middle of

them, with filthy body, matted hair, and unwiped nose, Ralph wept for

the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart, and the fall through

the air of the true, wise friend called Piggy."

Review #7 Alanna: The First Adventure

Pierce, Tamora. Alanna: the First Adventure. New York: Random House, 1997. Print.

Annotation:

When Alanna and her twin brother Thom reach the age when their training must begin, they realize that without some intervention, their lives will end up as nightmares. Alanna and the village witch come up with a plan to ensure that she gets her dream -- to become a knight, and Thom instead gets to practice sorcery, as a privilege of being the younger brother. So Alanna begins her journey, can she hide the fact she is a girl from her fellow pages and squires? What kind of magic does she really possess?

Justification for Nomination (genre Fantasty):

Alanna is written by the great (in my opinion) fantasy novelist Tamora Pierce, and is the first in a quartet of books called the Song of the Lioness. I have read this book about four times and several sections more than that, because this book is the embodiment of what a tomboy wishes she could be. A magic girl who can pass as a page, and eventually become a knight? Alanna's magic sword Lightning, and her friendship with the King of Thieves and Jonathan the Prince entwine her into a journey filled in sorcery, physical anguish and triumph. I chose this book immediately upon finding out the genre because I knew that it held a special place.

There are four stages to becoming a knight in the king's palace, and therefore four books to align with Alanna's path to knighthood. There is also a tiny bit of romance hidden in this series as well, although it is not the primary objective of the book and is not prominent especially in the first one, which is the one nominated in this review. 

It is written in third person, and Alanna herself is the main character. The author lets you get close to Alanna's thoughts and feelings. You feel her determination and how let down she is when she loses her temper or a battle with a stronger person. It is exciting that she is able to hide her identity and realize her dream, and these are the kind of novels that make you realize that you could possibly realize your dream. That is why fantasy is such an amazing genre, and why this book is a perfect example of enough magic to make it impossible but enough realism to think you too could someday be a knight. 

Review #6 Blood and Chocolate

Klause, Annette Curtis. Blood and Chocolate. New York: Delacorte, 1997. Print.

Annotation:

Vivan is young, beautiful, smart and classy. When she paints a picture that is published in the school newspaper depicting herself and her pack as wolves, she tumbles into a relationship with a boy who she believes could be the one human to enjoy her secret. She is warned to stay away from him by the rest of her pack...but being the rebellious teen she is, she doesn't listen. Will Vivian and her kind human Aiden be able to withstand the pack? Will Vivian be forced to reveal her secret of being a wolf-shifter?

Justification for Nomination (genre Supernatural/Horror):

Blood and Chocolate, which won the 1998 YALSA Award for Best Books for Young Adults, is a very easy read that keeps you entranced from the tragic beginning to the triumphant and shocking end. It is written in third person, from the perspective of Vivian, a young and beautiful shifter who grows restless dealing with the annoying young wolves her age. Although she is destined to choose a mate from one of her own, she rebels and meets a kind and gentle boy who seems to understand her. I really enjoyed this book, although I had almost no prior fascination with the genre. I found it even easier to read than some of the books I bought on my own accord, and really enjoyed the ease in which I fit into the life of Vivian and her family. Although the reader might wish Vivian was a little more mature at times, as an adult it is harder to shrink into teen's shoes and think that perhaps this behavior is normal for them. I could relate to Vivian and many levels though, generically, and her strong female character presence in the book made it incredibly alluring to read when she was with one of the male characters.

The plot in this book takes several turns, and I think someone can really enjoy this book for that reason. It was not your typical story and without reading the book or a spoiler you will be unsure of how it ends.