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:
Like lightning, this review has moved elsewhere in a flash!
At a Glance
About Jon Krakauer
StrengthsAt the beginning of each chapter, Krakauer used snippets of adventure-related works, highlighted portions from books in McCandless's possession, and, on occasion, etchings from the bus where McCandless stayed. These helped to highlight the overall focus of the chapter, reorient the reader if we were going to rejoin Chris, and provide a well-deserved break to Krakauer's lengthy accounts in a previous chapter. "Dark spruce forests frowned on either side the frozen waterway. The trees had just been stripped by a recent wind of their white covering of frost, and they seemed to lean toward each other, black and ominous, in the fading light. A vast silence reigned over the land. The land itself was a desolation, lifeless, without movement, so lone and cold that the spirit of it was not even that of sadness. There was a hint of laughter, but of a laughter more terrible than any sadness - a laughter that was mirthless as the smile of the Sphinx, a laughter cold as the frost and partaking of the grimness of infallibility. It was the masterful and incommunicable wisdom of eternity laughing at the futility of life and the effort of life. It was the Wild, the savage, frozen-hearted Northern Wild. Jack London, White Fang" (9) "The dominant primordial beast was strong in Buck, and under the fierce conditions of trail life it grew and grew. Yet it was a secret growth. His newborn cunning gave him poise and control" Jack London, The Call of the Wild (38) McCandless looked up to Jack London and Krakauer found strong, powerful, and rich lines from London's works to show what McCandless was experiencing throughout his adventure. But what proved to be even more powerful were the lines from McCandless himself. Krakauer sprinkled these both at the beginning of chapters and throughout the book. "Jack London is KING Alexander Supertramp May 1992" (9) "All Hail the Dominant Primordial Beast! And Captain Ahab Too! Alexander Supertramp May 1992" (38) "TWO YEARS HE WALKS THE EARTH. NO PHONE, NO POOL, NO PETS, NO CIGARETTES. ULTIMATE FREEDOM. AN EXTREMIST. AN AESTHETIC VOYAGER WHOSE HOME IS THE ROAD. ESCAPED FROM ATLANTA. THOU SHALT NOT RETURN, 'CAUSE 'THE WEST IS THE BEST.' AND NOW AFTER TWO RAMBLING YEARS COMES THE FINAL AND GREATEST ADVENTURE. THE CLIMATIC BATTLE TO KILL THE FALSE BEING WITHIN AND VICTORIOUSLY CONCLUDE THE SPIRITUAL REVOLUTION. TEN DAYS AND NIGHTS OF FREIGHT TRAINS AND HITCHHIKING BRING HIM TO THE GREAT WHITE NORTH. NO LONGER TO BE POISONED BY CIVILIZATION HE FLEES, AND WALKS ALONE UPON THE LAND TO BECOME LOST IN THE WILD. ALEXANDER SUPERTRAMP MAY 1992" (163) These allow the reader into the mind of McCandless even though they provide no true detail to what he was truly thinking, feeling, and believing, which I believe is a strength. It adds to the mystery of Chris McCandless and the suspense of his journey until his demise. Ultimately, Krakauer does a wonderfully detailed and drawn out job to showcase Christopher McCandless's journeys and final journey. Each piece of the puzzle is introduced well and then woven into the grand scheme of Chris's life. WeaknessesThere were many points while reading Into the Wild that I wanted to shake both Chris McCandless and author Jon Krakauer. I wanted to shake our protagonist for his sheer stupidity and brash, sometimes arrogant attitude towards the world and people around him, but his high school friend, Andy Horowitz hit the nail on the head when he was quoted as saying, "Chris 'was born into the wrong century. He was looking for more adventure and freedom than today's society gives people'" (174). And, the reader learned all about those that did have the opportunity for adventure and freedom, including the author, in plenty of, in my opinion, longwinded and, to an extent, pointless history lessons on previous explorers of Alaska's frontier. There were a few chapters that I fell asleep during (no joke) or just skimmed to get the gist. These chapters and snippets made up about a quarter of the book. Focus on the main character, Krakauer, not yourself. RecommendationIf you have ever enjoyed reading survival-themed books such as My Side of the Mountain, Hatchet, and/or a Jack London classic then this book is for you, especially if you are bored with these fictional stories. Into the Wild is nonfiction and recounts the steps that Christopher McCandless endured until his death. Krakauer goes into extreme depth and analysis, too. If you are interested in all of the details of attempted survival and adventure then this book will be right up your alley. If you like adventure and survival type books, but not the detail, I would still recommend this book to you because it offers a balanced mix of Chris's adventure and the details surrounding it. Why Did I Read This Book?I read this book because of its reputation. Many family members and friends have recommended it to me over the years. I read it to finally say, "I read it, and this is what I think about Chris McCandless."
I know it has been made into a movie, but I am a book-to-movie purist. I enjoy reading the book first then watching the movie, and drawing my conclusions from there. I am also able to count it for the following reading challenges:
About Jeff Kinney
From the Back of the Book"Whatever you do, don't ask Greg Heffley how he spent his summer vacation, because he definitely doesn't want to talk about it. As Greg enters the new school year, he's eager to put the past three months behind him ... and one event in particular. Unfortunately for Greg, his older brother, Rodrick, knows all about the incident Greg wants to keep under wraps. But secrets have a way of getting out ... especially when a diary is involved." WeaknessesThe title of the book and the deep, dark secret that is mentioned on the back of the book are both misleading. Rodrick rarely holds the secret's threat over Greg's head, so it's hard to really make known that Rodrick's rule over Greg is really that monumental. I forgot there was even this mysterious, no-one-needs-to-know event until the end of the book when it is revealed. In the "Weaknesses" section of the first book in the series review, I pointed out the overuse of the sentence starter "so." It was continuously used in the second installment, as well. So, there may be no hope for Kinney in that regard. I also noticed, in both books, Kinney's incorrect use of "me" instead of "I." Let's review (Thanks, Canada!): Here are two examples that I found from Rodrick Rules that I found error with:
Strengths
RecommendationI would recommend this book to elementary and middle school students with an older sibling or close in age cousin. As we began to see at the end of the first book, Rodrick and Greg are forced to interact. In Rodrick Rules, their forced interactions have multiplied and neither are happy. Most kids can relate to the pain and agony of having to hang out with a sibling or cousin that they just don't want to on any given day whether they are the older or younger one. I think this book would evoke a lot of laughs and "oh yeahs!" from kids recalling memories or events with their siblings and/or cousins. Why Did I Read This Book? As I expand my Diary of a Wimpy kid knowledge, I continue to pick up on the strategies and nuances Kinney is using. The power of the pictures are important and the character building is subtle, but there. All of these notes are added to my brain as I continue to plan for my Red Cedar Writing Project Spartan Writing Camp session on creating your own Diary of a Wimpy Kid adventure.
I am also able to count it for the following reading challenges:
About Jeff Kinney
From the Back of the Book"Being a kid can really stink. And no one knows this better than Greg Heffley, who finds himself thrust into middle school, where undersized weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner, and already shaving. In Diary of a Wimpy Kid, author and illustrator Jeff Kinney introduces us to an unlikely hero. As Greg says in his diary: Just don't expect me to be all 'Dear Diary' this and 'Dear Diary' that. Luckily for us, what Greg Heffley says he won't do and what he actually does are two very different things." StrengthsWhen I picked up this book, I noticed that on the cover it read, "a novel in cartoons." This little line explained the premise of the book and series. I think the cartoons in the book help to establish who was who with consistent and unique characteristics of each character. Another strength of the book's cartoons were how they drove the plot. In some instances a cartoon would provide details that the text did not. For example, Greg tried out for the school play and a portion of the tryout was singing: "Mrs. Norton, the music director made everyone sing "My Country 'Tis of Thee" so she could hear our singing voices. I did my singing tryouts with a bunch of other boys whose moms made them come, too. I tried to sing as quietly as possible, but of course I got singled out, anyway. I have no idea what a 'soprano' is, but from the way some of the girls were giggling, I knew it wasn't a good thing" (97-98). The text breaks with Greg telling the reader he gets singled out. The cartoon shows how he was singled out, and then the text picks back up and adds commentary for the situation. This nuance is important because it always readers to read (and analyze) a different type of text. Also, struggling readers may not know what a soprano is, but they would be able to relate to Greg because he does not know either. The book has a lot of these instances. I think they are extremely important because the cartoons add a variety of text development that a regular novel does not have. WeaknessesWhile I realize that Kinney is writing from a middle school student's perspective and trying to be authentic, I don't think that Kinney realizes the consequences of this choice. Students often write in similar ways and styles of that that they read. Recently, my middle school students ended a short story unit. As I conferenced with each student on their writing, I noticed that a lot of them were beginning a majority of their sentences with the word "so." Despite my efforts to correct and teach sentence variety, my students were continuing this practice. I asked myself time and time again, "WHY?" After reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid, I know why. Kinney begins a majority of his sentences with the word "so." Here are several examples from the book. I have purposefully looked for them around every 25 pages.
This book is littered with "so" beginning a sentence. It was difficult to select just one example every 25 pages. And, while it is not against any grammar rules to begin a sentence with "so" or "and" or "but," it can get redundant and unoriginal. RecommendationFirst and foremost, I would recommend this book to educators who teach upper elementary and middle school. Rather than scoff at the title, like I originally did, dig in and see what your students are reading. This book was an eye opener for me, as mentioned above. It is extremely important to know and understand what our students are reading. I would also recommend this book to struggling middle school and even high school readers. The content of this book is easy to understand and the pictures that accompany the text make the plot and characters come to life. Reading this book or a book in the series would provide that struggling reader with a sense of accomplishment that they can read! Why Did I Read This Book?The main reason why I read this book is because I am an instructor for Red Cedar Writing Project's Spartan Writing Camps this summer. I am in the process of creating a writing camp curriculum centered on having students in grades 6-8 write their own adventures that are based on Jeff Kinney's format of the series.
I also read this book because I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. As my students and I participate in Reading Roll Call each week, I hear the Diary of a Wimpy Kid titles constantly. Last week, when I announced that I was reading the first DoaWK (my shorthand of the titles), one student said to me, "You can't read that book." I reminded the student and his classmates that we can read any book we want as long as it is 150 pages or longer. I also said that there is not a filter on a book anyone can read. One of my big goals this school year has been to diminish reading stereotypes in my classroom and encourage lifelong reading. I am also able to count it for the following reading challenges:
Reading Bingo! is back for the spring semester! I made a few changes to the general procedures, the reviews my students write, and, of course, the board is different than the Fall 2015 one. Here is the board for Spring 2016! The changes I made focus on accountability with my students and their reading. For example, when deadlines loomed, I noticed my students were "reading" all sorts of books that they had not been reporting in weekly Reading Roll Calls. I also noticed that students were analyzing their books with the respective course's essential questions in a broad and superficial way. Check out the breakdown of the changes by comparing last semester's expectations to this semester's. Reading Roll Call
This exercise has created a positive reading community. I love it when I hear students say, "That book was great!" or "I couldn't get into that one!" because it gets the conversation started about books and reading. Essential Question AnalysisThe essential question or through line for each class is the same, but I am upping the ante for about half of my students. As was the purpose in the fall, students are practicing the skills associated with finding, analyzing, and connecting textual evidence to larger questions and claims.
What do you think? Feel free to comment below!
From the Book Jacket
"Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds - smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try." WeaknessesMost of the novel is focused on the relationship formed between Eleanor and Park during the 1986-1987 school year. Because I was born a few years after and was a teenager fifteen to twenty years later, I found it hard to relate to some of the pop culture references (Joy Division, XTC, Esprit) and the lack of technology that Eleanor and Park experienced (cell phones, tapes, Walkmans). The novel opens with Eleanor as the new girl riding the bus to school. Seats on the bus were not assigned, but everyone had their predetermined seat based on the pecking order. After Eleanor gets on the bus and realizes this, she was told by the bus driver to find a seat and sit down. As Eleanor searched for an open seat, one of the main antagonists, Tina, badgered Eleanor at every open seat she found because someone else sat there. Park finally intervened in a not-so nice way: "'Sit down,' he said. It came out angrily. The girl turned to him, like she couldn't tell whether he was another jerk or what. 'Jesus-fuck,' Park said softly, nodding to the space next to him, 'just sit down.' The girl sat down. She didn't say anything - thank God, she didn't thank him - and she left six inches of space on the seat between them" (9). Park's outburst and swearing was extremely rude, but it turned out to be very uncharacteristic. His actions opened a door of communication and kindness by "saving" Eleanor from embarrassment and awkwardness, something that many teenagers face daily and loathe. This introduction between the two characters led to a very strained and slow "getting to know each other" phase. I felt that this dragged on and on causing me to become bored and wonder if and when they would finally fall for each other. After they fell in love, I thought that the book ended abruptly and unexpectedly. I'm not one to provide spoilers, but I was disappointed in the ending. StrengthsI've noticed that I have become very attuned to the layout of a book. Eleanor & Park had chapters that began with either "Eleanor" or "Park", but then, within each chapter, had mini chapters where the third person perspective would change within that month, event, or experience that the characters were going through. Most of the events that are highlighted in each chapter are easy to pick out. This is because they focused on the "firsts" that teenagers and relationships experience as they are getting to know each other, such as holding hands for the first time, their first kiss together, or being alone. Some of the perspectives of either Eleanor or Park could be pages long, and some were simple and short, like the following two columns:
Another strength to the text that I hope is obvious from the two examples above is the amount of pop culture and colloquial language that Rowell provides to build deep characters that are relatable and funny. The first page has a character utilizing "fuck" twice to get his point across. Let's be real: Teenagers swear. If all of the dialogue and internal thoughts of Rowell's characters left these types of words out, it would not be an accurate or relatable story for readers to read. RecommendationThis book is a love story no matter how you slice it. I would recommend it to people, more specifically teenagers, who enjoy those types of books. High school girls who enjoy falling in love stories would thoroughly enjoy this book. I also felt that the characterization and internal perspective had more emphasis on Eleanor over Park. It was difficult for me to relate to Eleanor as a male and her home life was nothing like I ever experienced. Why Did I Read This Book?I was first introduced to Eleanor & Park last spring during #BookBracket2015. Enough students nominated it to the bracket, and I remember reading the synopsis to my students when Eleanor & Park opened against Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Regardless, it piqued my interested and I picked it up in November.
I am also able to count it for the following challenges:
From the Back of the Book"Zack Delacruz is unnoticed at his middle school - and that's just the way he likes it. But a school assembly, a typhoon of spit, and an uncharacteristic moment of bravery are all it takes to change everything. Suddenly Zack is in charge of the class fund-raiser. Worse, his partner is the school's biggest bully! If they don't sell enough chocolate bars, there will be no dance for the sixth grade. Zack never wanted to be a hero, but with his classmates' hopes on the line, can he save the day?" WeaknessesIn the opening chapter, Anderson makes it clear that Zack is an outcast and constant victim of bullying. He is made fun of because of how he looks, "'Enrique Potter'", and the clothes he wears, "'Did you see his pants? That little boy needs to shop in the toddler's section next time'" (2). Zack's coping mechanism is through is humor, which took me a while to get on board with it. Initially I took it as being pessimistic and negative. For example, after being berated by his classmates for looking for a seat at an assembly, he finds refuge next to the wall and claims it as a respectful ally. "Walls never kick you or insult your clothes, and they always support you. In fact, I could lean on Gym Wall, and I did" (3). Humorous? Yes. A little sad and weak? Yes. (Also a strength. Keep reading!) I also could not relate to Zack being a child of divorced parents. The divorce was still fresh for Zack as he was still coping with the changes."I navigated the crumbling asphalt as I headed across the street to Dad's new AD apartment. (AD was short for 'after-divorce.' It was like BD, 'before divorce.' My entire family life was forever separated by BD and AD)" (36-37). The weekly switching between parents is something that I have not experienced, so that constant change between locations and rules and expectations is not known to me and, therefore, I cannot relate. StrengthsDespite being unable to relate to Zack initially, the character grew on me. I feel that his whininess and lack of self confidence was an important building block to his overall development. Zack blossomed into a leader who put caring thought into his actions and responses. I feel that Anderson also captured moments that every middle or high schooler could relate to, in some capacity, such as: Not wanting to answer a teacher's question. "'Who can pronounce this exquisite word?' Mrs. Darling cooed, ... 'Anyone?' Her green eyes widened, like a low budget horror film" (11). Being volunteered for something by a teacher, parent, or coach. "'I didn't volunteer, I was volun-told," José reminded her" (25). Knowing that friend or classmate constantly quote lines from movies or TV shows. "'Nobody puts Baby in a corner'... Janie stood in the corner and whispered to herself, 'Dirty Dancing, nineteen eighty-seven, starring Mr. Patrick Swayze'" (66-67). Doing something you know you're not supposed to do, and having a "strong" reason why you did it. "I powered up Dad's computer, even though I wasn't supposed to go online when he wasn't there. But it was an emergency. He'd want to help me if I ever told him my problem. But I couldn't let Dad down. I had to fix my problem on my own" (81).
Why Did I Read This Book?I received this book from Jeff Anderson at the National Council of Teachers of English annual conference in November, so it was a must-read from that moment. I also have a copy in my classroom library, and am looking forward to recommending to my students when I return to school from holiday break. I also read this book for the reading challenges I am participating in:
RecommendationsI would recommend Zack Delacruz: Me and My Big Mouth to two groups of people.
The first being middle school readers looking for something new and refreshing rather than, say, a Diary of a Wimpy Kid book. Anderson's writing style and good natured humor brings out the best in his characters and showcases valuable life lessons. I would also recommend this book to middle school teachers looking to diversify their own reading and their classroom libraries. Jeff Anderson's trusted rapport with teachers is now extended into the genres of realistic fiction and young adult literature. |
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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