Uglies

              

Uglies

Author: Scott Westerfeld

Published: In 2005 by Simon Pulse

ISBN: 978-0689865381

Synopsis: 

      Tally Young lives in a supposedly utopian society, where everyone has the chance to become beautiful at the age of 16; no one has to worry about discrimination based on looks anymore.  Once you become pretty you are transferred to New Pretty Town, where life is always a party.  Tally is impatient to have her surgery and rejoin her school friends in New Pretty Town.  But then she meets Shay, another ugly.  Although Tally and Shay share a number of things in common, they have one fundamental difference; Shay does NOT want to become pretty.  Right before Shay's 16th birthday she runs away to find The Smoke --a secret place were the people stay ugly forever.  Unfortunately, Shay's escape creates nothing but trouble for Tally.  Instead of being turned pretty on her 16th birthday, Tally discovers her operation has been indefinitely placed on hold.  She is given two choices: betray Shay and the Smoke or remain ugly for the rest of her life.  What would you pick?

My Reaction: 

      This is an average, run of the mill science fiction thriller, espeically when the book is compared to the other two books in the series: Pretties and Specials.  Although the plot is interesting, the author's decision to use names such as "New Pretty Town" and the "Smoke" makes the world seem somewhat childish.  Furthermore, it is really redundant to her the characters talk about becoming pretty and going to New Pretty Town.  I heard the words "ugly" and "pretty" so many times that it actually started to annoyed me, which doesn't often happen.       
     Overall, the first book is definitely better than the later books in the series, because at least it's the first time you've read the adventure plot.  A good portion of Uglies is spent with Tally attempting to tough through the wilderness as she attempts to locate the Smoke.  Unfortunately, both of the subsequent books follow the same basic plot: Tally leaves or escape the city, she meanders through the wild trying to locate the Smoke.  At the moment I am still currently reading the third book, Specials, so I'm still a little hopeful that the author will deviate from the pattern she set in the last too books, where Tally sacrifices herself and is brought back to the city, where she becomes a Pretty at the end of the first book and a Special at the end of the second.   I was really surprised how predictable and juvenile these books seem to me after all the hype and praise I had about them.  Everyone kept saying it was such an original story, but when I read these books, I just see a less compelling version of the Giver.  Does anyone else feel this way?

 

My Rating (1-5 stars):

Still Curious: 

 Here's links to the other blogs in the series:

 

         Pretties                                                    Specials                                                      Extras 

             .                                                                                                       

Soldier Bear

Author: Bibi Dumon Tak

Illustrator: Philip Hopman

Published: In 2008 by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers

ISBN: 978-0802853752

 

Synopsis: 

Baby Voytek probably drinking milk from a Vodka bottle 

      This Batchelder Award winning book, is based on the curious and almost unbelievable true story of a Syrian brown bear named Voytek, who has a nose for adventures, loves luxuriously long showers and, believe it or not, was enlisted as a Private in the Polish Army during World War II!  He was found by his five human friends (Peter, Stanislav, Lolek, Janusz and Pavel) in the middle of the Iranian desert, when they were transporting a load of equipment to Palestine for the British Army.  As a tiny bear cub, Voytek instantly stole the men's hearts.  He was a ray of light who brought smiles and hope to many soliders during a time of great angish and desolation, when all of Europe was in the throws of war.  Soldier Bear is a delightful and uplifting story you can loose yourself in.  It's one of those you may read only once but will never forget.    

  

 

My Reaction: 

Emblem of the Transport Company of the 2nd Polish Corps

      I've struggled to find the words to  accurately describe how I feel about this book.  The characters and events are so endearing and unbelievable that it makes me want to share their entire story with people.  I mean, how often do you hear about a bear who was enlisted as an actual solider in the army?  You don't!  Which is why it's so difficult for me to decide what I want to share about Soldier Bear.  Truth be told, I don't really want to talk about the writing in the book at all.  There is nothing particularly notable about the literary style or plot development of the book.  What is remarkable, is content of the story itself.  Soldier Bear is an unusual historical fiction book because it largely focuses on the life and relationships of an animal.  This fact makes it very easy for people to mistakenly dismiss Voytek's life as a piece of fanciful fiction.  A narrative like Soldier Bear, really requires the author to convince their audience of the story's factual nature ahead of time, before they even begin reading the book.  In many cases the best way to do this, is by sharing primary source material with the audience. 

Voytek as a full grown bear

     Luckily, Bibi Dumon Tak was able to include a few reprinted photographs of Voytek at the back of the book.  For readers this is definitely a good starting point.  Unfortunately, I was unsatisfied with the limited collection of photos she provided.  I needed to know more about this bear who had stolen my heart as I read.  Fortunately, the internet provides many venues in which to do this.  I really wish more tangible evidence had been provided in the book itself, because the epic and full experience of the story comes from appreciating and embracing it's historical truth.

My Rating (1-5 stars):

 

Still Curious: 

You can see actual footage of Voytek the bear when you watch the following clip:

The following video clip is an excerpt form The One Show which discusses Voytek's life :

 

Learn how to pronounce two of the characters names (I'm working on trying to find links for the other characters):

Stanislav

Janusz

One-Minute Favorite Fairy Tales

Author: Shari Lewis

Illustrator: Benton Mahan

Published: In 1985 by Doubleday & Company, Inc.

ISBN: 978-0385193221

Synopsis: 

      Do you find yourself too busy to sit down with your child at night because normal bedtime stories simply take too long to read?  Are you looking for something quick and easy that the whole family can enjoy?  If the answer is yes to either  of these questions, you might want to try One-Minute Favorite Fairy Tales, by Shari Lewis.  Within this book are 21 well known fairytales, all of which can be read aloud in about one minute.  Each story is short and sweet and to the point.  A very useful solution for families who run on a tight schedule.

 

My Reaction: 

      When I found this book the first thing I wanted to do was test the claim that these were "one-minute" fairy tales.  I didn't believe you could really write a one minute version of classic stories like "Sleeping Beauty," and "Rapunzel,"  and if you did manage to, they certainly wouldn't be any good.  So, I took up the challenge.  I sat down and timed myself reading a variety of the stories.  As it turns out, when the stories are read aloud, they are not quite as short as the title would lead you to believe, but they are pretty close.  On average, each story took me about a minute and a half to read.  Regardless of time, I had to admit these stories are truly concise.  Which raises a second question, did Shari Lewis manage to shorten the stories without loosing their essence?
      For the most part I think she did.  Since the original versions of the stories tend to be fairly formulaic and proscriptive in nature, without any significant character or plot development, they are relatively easy to shorten without drastically altering the content.  Shari Lewis simply includes the most important and crucial elements of the story.  It's fun to see how thoroughly entertaining these bare bones can be without any decorative embellishments.  This really demonstrates one delightful quality about fairy tales and folktales; the power of a good and simple plot line.
       I think these adaptions of the stories would be particularly interesting if you had a chance to read them in tandem with other versions.  I think children would especially enjoy making observations about the similarities and differences between them.  They may even decided they want to try and write their own "One-minute" fairy tale.   So I guess I have to concede, and give Shari Lewis credit for crafting nice and concise versions of these classic fairy tales.  

My Rating (1-5 stars):

 

Still Curious: 

Here are some collections of other Shari Lewis "One-minute" tales:

 One-Minute Greek Myths           One-Minute Bedtime Stories           One-Minute Animal Stories

           

Do Like Kyla

Author: Angela Johnson

Illustrator: James E. Ransome

Published: In 1993 by Scholastic

ISBN: 978-0531070406

Synopsis: 

      Do Like Kyla is a story about sibling admiration.  The narrator loves her older sister Kyla, in fact she wants to be just like her.  Like a little bird picking at a trail of breadcrumbs, the narrator eagerly follows her sister, from the time they wake up to the moment before they go to sleep, Kyla is everything to the narrator.  What's particularly interesting about this is book, is the fact that Kyla isn't bothered by her little sister's constant copying, and echoing shadow.  She never is short or gets upset at her little sister, she simply lets her follow, and sometimes even encourages her sister's mimicry.  In this way, it sets a good example for older sibling, because it models what it's like to have a patient and accepting relationship with your younger siblings.

 

My Reaction: 

      Although this story is supposed to be about a sibling pair it's really difficult to actually see any bond between the two of them.  The fact that Kyla never looses her temper or says something unpleasant to the narrator, despite her incessant copying, suggests that the two siblings must have a pretty strong bond.  Most normal older siblings would have had enough of their mockingbird sister, but not Kyla; at least not the Kyla expressed in the narration.  The illustrations, however, tell as different story.  The fact that Kyla is more often in the foreground of the illustrations than her little sister, creates a kind of standoffish vibe.  It makes it feel as if the narrator maybe an unwelcome shadow; one that always tries to stay one step behind her older sister.  Furthermore, as a review in science library states: both Kyla's and the narrators' expression are difficult to read --sometimes they seem downright annoyed or upset.  Therefore, through the narration a very different view of the relationship begins to form.  Unfortunately, I don't think it's a particularly positive modification, because it contradicts the overall caring tone of the story.
       I think I would have preferred that the story had illustration depicting Kyla and her sister actually interacting.  I feel this would have better matched the book's tone, because there needs to be interaction in order for a meaningful relationship to form.  As it is, the book gives the impression that the adoration the narrator feels toward Kyla is unbalanced and one sided; Kyla is not really interested in entertaining her sister.  Overall, she appears a bit indifferent.  This indifference makes the book a less useful tool for modeling healthy and positive siblings relationships.  Although, the narration has the potential, the illustrations fail to embody this theme.  

 

My Rating (1-5 stars):

 

Still Curious

Although I wasn't very found of the overall synthesis of this book I did thoroughly enjoy the narrative.  So I'm interested in looking into other books she has written.  The book below has one the Coretta Scott King Award (an award bestowed upon outstanding African American authors and illustrators of children and young adult books, who demonstrate and appreciation of African American culture and universal values) and the Michael L. Printz Award (an award given to the teen book with the best literary merit)

Other books by the author:

 The First Part Last 

 

Angela Johnson also has a number of other picturebooks such as:

              Rain Feet                                           Violet's Music                     When I Am Old with You

                

 

Louise, The Adventures of a Chicken

Author: Kate DiCamillo

Illustrator: Harry Bliss

Published: In 2008 by HarperCollins

ISBN: 978-0060755546

Synopsis: 

      Louise the Chicken longs for adventure.  She wants to explore the world beyond the uneventful farm where she lives.  So one day, she decides to leave the henhouse in search of them.  As she travels she finds herself in a number of dangerous situations --she barely escapes the clutches of some nasty pirates, is almost swallowed by a tiger and even finds herself trapped, in a Chicken Prison.  At the end of all her marvelous adventures, Louise begins to realize that, although adventure is fun for awhile where she'd really rather be is with her friends in their warm, dry chicken coop on the farm.  Join Louise through each chapter of her journey in this delightfully illustrated Odyssey Award wining story.

*Note the Odyssey Award is for an Excellence in Audiobook Production

 

My Reaction:  

    Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken is quite an epic and hilarious story --something I quite unexpected.  Maybe it is because Louise is a chicken.  Maybe it is because Louise is not only a chicken, but also a chicken with guts.  I think there is something amusing and inspiring about stories of animals with ambitious dreams.  Whatever the case, this is definitely an entertaining story.  

      The only difficulty I had with it was the fact that, as a reader, I never had the chance to see any of Louise's travels.  She would suddenly decide to go on an adventure and there she would be on the deck of a ship or in the middle of a circus.  I think this jump from place to place made it harder for me to accept Louise's stories.  What I really wanted to know was, "How in the world did that chicken get there?!" This question was particularly salient when she makes it all the way "to a land far away, where she discovered a fabulous bazaar."  I felt like I didn't have enough information to truly believe she had traveled that far.   Furthermore, because the actual locations were always ambiguous you never knew where she was to begin with.  The only clues you got were in the illustrations on Louise's way home from each adventure.  I really wish the author, or illustrator had provided that same traveling context at the beginning of the story as they did at the end.    

       However, despite this fact, I love how the story is told in a series of four installments or chapters because it sets each of her adventures apart from one another.   It also allowed me a glimpse at Louise's traveling because she always returns home at the end of each chapter.  Breaking up the book in to separate episodes makes Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken a wonderful introduction to the concept of chapter books.  Furthermore, the chapters are ideal stopping points in the book, making it a perfect bedtime story book.

My Rating (1-5 stars):    

Still Curious:  Listen to these excerpts of the award winning audiobook versions the of each of Louise's stories.  

Chapter One: Louise At Sea

 Chapter 2: Louise Up High

Chapter 3: Louise Unbound