From the Book Jacket"In this captivating debut novel, Lindsey Lee Johnson unleashes a cast of compelling characters in a realm known for its cruelty and peril: the American high school. The wealthy enclaves north of San Francisco are not the paradise they appear to be, and nobody knows this better than the students of a local high school. Despite being raised with all the opportunities money can buy, these vulnerable kids are navigating a treacherous adolescence in which every action, every rumor, every feeling, is potentially portable, shareable, viral. Lindsey Lee Johnson's kaleidoscopic narrative exposes at every turn the real human beings beneath the high school stereotypes ... In this complicated web, an idealistic young English teacher arrives from a poorer, scruffier part of California. Molly Nicoll strives to connect with her students - without understanding the middle school tragedy that played out online and has continued to reverberate in different ways for all of them. Written with the rare talent capable of turning teenage drama into urgent, adult fiction, The Most Dangerous Place on Earth makes vivid a modern adolescence lived in the gleam of the virtual, but rich with sorrow, passion, and humanity." StrengthsToday's students are so much more connected to their phones and the internet than any generation ever before. I'm a connected educator on social media, online news sources, and two email accounts throughout the day, but I feel that a majority of my students are consumed by their personal or school-issued electronic devices. The Most Dangerous Place on Earth captured this lifestyle of my students very well with the students of Marin High School. Ms. Nicoll, the new English teacher, cannot wrap her mind the idea of centering your life around technology as seen early on in the novel: "When she circled the room, she'd peer over their shoulders at the phones in their palms, catching flashes of photos and texts. What were they doing? she wondered. What lives were they living on those little screens?" (45). Within "those little screens", Johnson's characters were built through their tone, word choice, and vernacular on their electronic media, specifically social media and the comments section of a news article. These instances of electronic media were sprinkled into the novel's story and provided the reader with a play-by-play of the electronic interaction.
WeaknessesAt some point in Lindsey Lee Johnson's life, a teacher crossed her. How do I know this? Check out her depictions of the American high school teacher:
As an American high school teacher, I cringed every time Johnson began to dig into and belittle the profession of teaching. I'm not sure if she was trying to connect with a younger, teenage audience that hates school and the adults that run it or if she was trying to get back at a teacher or two who criticized her writing with red pens in either high school or college. If the latter is the case, I can see why. As the book jacket states, Johnson writes in a "kaleidoscopic narrative." This is not a good thing, in my opinion. While the sections of the book are in chronological order, the rest of it jumps around from the present to backstory that attempts to fill in the reader on missing details that ultimately mean nothing. Johnson also focuses on minor characters for too long. The book does not wrap up well to boot. RecommendationIf you are a fan of high school drama or are looking for a quick beach read for Spring Break, this is the book for you. If you look at the weaknesses I pointed out and find them to be aspects of books that you like or can look over, then pick up this book. Ultimately, if you want to read it, borrow it from a friend or the library. Why Did I Read This Book?The Most Dangerous Place on Earth was my Book of the Month selection for January 2017.
I am also able to count The Most Dangerous Place on Earth for the following reading challenges:
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From the Book Jacket"After eight long years, an abducted daughter suddenly reappears harboring deep secrets. Her mother wrestles with the ultimate guilty question: Do I really know my daughter? Julie was kidnapped from her own bedroom when she was thirteen years old, while her mother, Anna, slept just downstairs, unaware that her daughter was being ripped away from her. For eight years she has lived with the guilt and void in her family, hoping against hope that Julie is still alive, but realizing just how unlikely that is. And then one night the doorbell rings. A young woman who appears to be Julie is finally, miraculously, home safe. Anna and the rest of the family are thrilled, but as Anna hears Julie's story, that happiness turns again to guilt and sadness over what has happened. As Anna tries to reconnect with Julie, she begins to see holes in her story. Things just don't add up. She hates to think it, but is her daughter lying to her? When Anna is contacted by a former detective turned private eye, she starts to wonder if this young woman is even her daughter at all. And if she isn't Julie, what does she want?" StrengthsThis book was a solid psychological thriller with plenty of twists and sudden turns, so it was a page turner for me. The biggest strength was Gentry's descriptions that made the book easy to read, even if some of the plot developments were not the easiest to read about.
WeaknessesThe biggest weakness of Good as Gone was the chapter layout. While the chapter layout allowed Gentry to create a developing plot, I found it to be more of a jigsaw puzzle that had me confused until the middle of the book when pieces started to fit together. The two opening chapters were from Anna's perspective. Chapter three began with Anna's perspective and ended with Julie's perspective. Chapter four, again, began with Anna's perspective, but another woman's name and perspective were introduced. Who were these women? How do they connect to the rest of the story? I'm not going to give away the secret, as you may also have to struggle through these questions during your read. The limited use of the c-word in this book caught me off guard and I felt like it wasn't necessary, If that word offends you, especially when used at unnecessary times, be warned. It doesn't ruin the book, but I said, "Really?" outloud and shook my head every time it was used. RecommendationIf you enjoy the detailed and often messed up backstories of characters in crime-themed TV shows like Law and Order and Criminal Minds then this book is for you. As a frequently Criminal Minds watcher, I felt like portions of the book would be great episode starters or were inspired by a plot line that I've seen before. The detail and care that Gentry used throughout the book to build the worlds, characters, and plot were comparable to these shows. Why Did I Read This Book?This is the first book I have read AND finished from my Book of the Month subscription. I have been reading along with my classes a lot this semester and needed a break from the classics for something different. This is exactly what I needed.
I am also able to count Good as Gone for the following reading challenges:
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The Avalanche of Books
As an educator and avid reader, I am constantly hearing about books. I feel like I am being chased by a giant, rolling avalanche of titles and authors. Rating System
5 books - New fave! Read it now!
4 books - Shelf worthy 3 books - Quality read, but ... 2 books - Borrow it 1 book - Skip it Archives
December 2017
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