I skipped around, not reading cover-to-cover (because of time, not disinterest), and I loved it! I loved the pictures, the reworking of the European fI skipped around, not reading cover-to-cover (because of time, not disinterest), and I loved it! I loved the pictures, the reworking of the European folktales, the retelling of the African stories, and the modern stories. Must get for my classroom, and use during my hero's journey/mythology unit!...more
Very fun story, awesome world-building, and great characters - except I just can't get into the intrusive narrator voice (Hoid/Wit). Really unlikeableVery fun story, awesome world-building, and great characters - except I just can't get into the intrusive narrator voice (Hoid/Wit). Really unlikeable to me, and those parts marred the otherwise fun read....more
Tyler & Markus's dad recommended this book. I can't remember whether I read this one or the adult version, but it was really intense -- sometimes so mTyler & Markus's dad recommended this book. I can't remember whether I read this one or the adult version, but it was really intense -- sometimes so much so that I almost abandoned it. Fascinating story, though, and I definitely learned a lot about the Japanese arena of WWII....more
This was a teacher gift from a lovely parent. Excellent choice and I'm glad I read it! Marketed as YA but more of an adult book, I felt, than a teen bThis was a teacher gift from a lovely parent. Excellent choice and I'm glad I read it! Marketed as YA but more of an adult book, I felt, than a teen book (in terms of the writing, not the content)....more
The two students who read this book during our immigration unit RAVED about it, one insisting that I read it, so I did. Well-written, riveting... and The two students who read this book during our immigration unit RAVED about it, one insisting that I read it, so I did. Well-written, riveting... and DARK. I'll be keeping it on the list with a high rec, but a content warning....more
Very disappointed that the author, early readers, and publishing company didn't flag (and cut) one parLoved this all-too-real biotech/ethics dystopia!
Very disappointed that the author, early readers, and publishing company didn't flag (and cut) one paragraph at the bottom of page three, though. It basically perpetuates the "pretty = blond & blue-eyed" stereotype, immediately contrasting it with the narrator (whose name suggests Indian descent), who has "dark" hair and eyes.
Why was this not caught and revised?!!!!
It led to a super class discussion, however, which was a huge win for at least those 15 kids....more
A 5th-grader raved on and on and insisted I read this book, so I did... great cautionary tale about meeting strangers online, with a creepy dystopian A 5th-grader raved on and on and insisted I read this book, so I did... great cautionary tale about meeting strangers online, with a creepy dystopian twist at the end (which is a bit pat but fine)....more
My 7th grader enjoyed it, and I found it a bit slow at first, but a great read for a kid who's experienced the death of a friend (in this book, the naMy 7th grader enjoyed it, and I found it a bit slow at first, but a great read for a kid who's experienced the death of a friend (in this book, the narrator's twin). Also, nice green themes....more
A friend read this to her 6th grader and highly recommended it. I didn't think Coby or Sean would be all that interested, but they were highly engagedA friend read this to her 6th grader and highly recommended it. I didn't think Coby or Sean would be all that interested, but they were highly engaged. My 7th grader immediately saw the connections to Communist U.S.S.R. (thanks, Tom Clancy), and both kids decided to finish the book on their own rather than go at the plodding pace of a read-aloud (though for this one, I insisted on finishing the read-aloud so we could discuss it).
Valuable! I kept thinking, "This reminds me of another book I read..." and it was _1984_. Would be great to read aloud in a social studies class while learning about totalitarianism and communism....more
Very entertaining narrative voice, and a subject that as the author found, doesn't exist in middle grade fiction: a narrator with a younger sibling whVery entertaining narrative voice, and a subject that as the author found, doesn't exist in middle grade fiction: a narrator with a younger sibling who has cancer.
Rated as 12+, but I'd be comfortable with my 10-yr-old reading it. He just may not relate to Steven's obsession with girls....more
Interesting premise, and I loved the gender-fluid character of Grandy. Felix is also gay, though it's not a traditional struggling-with-one's-sexualitInteresting premise, and I loved the gender-fluid character of Grandy. Felix is also gay, though it's not a traditional struggling-with-one's-sexuality book....more
I enjoyed parts of this book, thought not nearly as much as I loved _Pioneer Girl_ (Laura Ingalls Wilder's biography). I am surprised that one (actualI enjoyed parts of this book, thought not nearly as much as I loved _Pioneer Girl_ (Laura Ingalls Wilder's biography). I am surprised that one (actually two, I think) of my sixth graders actually read any part of this, because it is not kid-friendly at all. Still, I learned some interesting things about Tolkien and his writing community (with C.S. Lewis) and his books....more
Ms. Stephens
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