Man and the Moon

Off the Charts Rating:

The Dead and The Gone

by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Cover: A shimmering mirage in the Sahara of books

That’s right. You can even feel the craters in the moon.

Page Turner Factor: Oh no, it’s the last page!

At the Box Office: Worth the price of three gallons of gas.

Ice Cream: Chocolate with sprinkles.

My three favorite scary moments in The Dead and The Gone:

• Alex body shopping with Kevin.
• Julie and Alex thinking they found an intruder in the apartment.
• The sled trek across NYC to meet the convoy.

Best quotation:

Page 118: “When we get home, I want an Oreo,” Julie said. “To celebrate.”

“Two Oreos,” Alex said. “Let’s live dangerously.”

In next week's episode we will be checking out Rosalind Wiseman's novel Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials.

I see the moon, the moon sees me.

And we are on to our next dystopian novel, The Dead and The Gone (aka another world gone mad) by Susan Beth Pfeffer. I read the first novel in this trilogy, Life as We Knew It, last fall. I am also planning in the not so distant future to read the third novel, This World We Live In. For now though, I need a break from dystopias because they are a bit gloomy and I am having some wacky dreams lately that involve chaotic storylines. Lighter fare in the reading department is in order.

So the premise of the trilogy in a nutshell: huge meteor hits moon thereby shoving it closer to the Earth; which upsets the tides and the magnetic flow of the Earth’s poles; tsunamis, tidal waves, earthquakes, and volcanic ash clouds ensue; food supplies, energy, and gas run low; humanity in chaos. Did I miss anything? Nope, that sums it up. In LAWKI, a young girl and her family are trying to survive in small town PA. In TD&TG, a young boy and his two sisters are trying to survive in the Big Apple. Yikes…I think if I had the choice of PA or NYC, I would choose PA. NYC is a scary place when the world is going to pot.

Author’s Website

Below are the top ten survival skills I learned from The Dead and The Gone should a meteor hit the moon.

1. Always have a backup plan. If you are going to a coastal town in Meheco, make sure you know where the high ground is in case of tidal wave.

2. Have a fully stocked pantry of canned and dry goods. You never know when you will need them (several months worth).

3. Quick! Run to an ATM, deplete your bank account and race like a crazy person to the nearest grocery and hardware stores to stock up.

4. Have an alternate energy source other than what is delivered via public utilities. Can we say solar, wind, water, etc?

5. Be willing to barter. Just act like it is the neighborhood yard sale and you’re negotiating for a good price.

6. Shoes and a coat are more valuable than diamonds during a world disaster.

7. Have an "in" with someone who works in the city, state and/or federal government.

8. Have plenty of books and board games on hand. Yes, check that one off the list!

9. Channel your inner boy/girl scout and be prepared.

10. Do not, I repeat, do not be anywhere near Yellowstone.

I have to let you in on one thing about this novel and it predecessor, there are not many happy moments. Author Pfeffer does provide small flashes of hope in the novels, but most of the plots are just scary. I think that is what makes them a good page turner. The novels depict scenes of destruction and loss that are very plausible, and at times, gut wrenching. The novels also covertly speak to humanity’s obsession for possessions and it’s dependence on fast evaporating fossil fuel supplies. If anything, the novels made me think about what is most important in my life and all the many things I can do without.

Catch the next post on the favs from The Dead and The Gone and, of course, my Off The Charts rating.

Unraveled

As promised, noted below are ramblings about my favorite two characters, best quotations, and book rating of Unwind, but first some housekeeping from my last post.

Blog correction: Question number 2 that I most want to ask Shusterman. Sometimes when you are reading a novel that is so intense, small details escape your notice. For me, it was the part in the novel where the future of CyFi is revealed. Don’t worry. No spoiler here. My book group this week helped to clear away the confusion cobwebs about what happens to CyFi and they gave Unwind a stellar rating by the way.

“Off the Charts” Rating--Unwind

Cover: Those graphic artists know what they are doing.

Page Turner: Oh no, it’s the last page!

Movie Potential: Only if J.J. Abrams directs it.

Ice Cream: Haagen Dazs Vanilla Swiss Almond

Why I love the character of Risa—A not so helpless, no damsel in distress kind of girl:

1. She takes on the responsibility of a storked baby at the threat of being captured.

2. She is blunt and honest, most of all with Connor.

3. She fights off an angry mob of teens while trying to protect the admiral.

4. She is not defined by a boy.

5. She is not afraid to make a difficult choice at the cost of her own life.

Why we all need Hayden’s character in our lives:

1. He is the only bright light in the cramp quarters under the antique shop.

2. His willingness to question his own existence and the value of his life.

3. He is a veritable fountain of sarcastic, comic relief.

Best Quotations:

Page 23: Risa can’t listen to them anymore, so she shuts them up by saying what they don’t have the courage to say themselves. “I’m being unwound?”

Page 111: “Maybe, maybe not. One thing you learn when you’ve lived as long as I have—people aren’t all good, and people aren’t all bad. We move in and out of darkness and light all of our lives. Right now, I’m pleased to be in the light.” ~ Sonia

Page 192: “Tell him what he needs to hear!” Lev says. He stands there with such wrath in him he feels that earth itself will split from his anger. He told Cy he’d witness this. But he can’t witness it and not take action.

Page 333: “We will have a voice, and we will use it. We will make ourselves be heard.” ~ Connor

Stay tuned to next week for my ponderings on Susan Beth Pfeffer's The Dead and The Gone.

All that and a bag o'chips!

How does this book stack up?

Some people like numbers, some like letters, and some like stars. So to bring order to chaos, I have scientifically developed (through educational guessing, a touch of smarminess, and a little bit of bippidyboppidyboo) the following rating scale for my reads. Under each category, there are three individual descriptive ratings which equal awesome, good, and just o.k.

The novels will be ranked according to the following categories:

The cover

Page turner factor

Should the novel be made into a movie?

How does it compare to a bowl of ice cream?

See, I told you it was scientifically developed.

The Cover:

• A shimmering mirage in the Sahara of books.
• Those graphic artists know what they are doing.
• Ummm…the colors match.

Page Turner Worthiness Factor:

• I demand a sequel.
• Oh no, it’s the next to the last page!
• I was half way through the book, I had to finish.

Coming to a Theatre Near You:

• Only if J.J. Abrams directs it.
• Worth the price of three gallons of gas.
• Not another moonlight movie?

Better than a bowl of ice cream:

• Haagen Dazs Vanilla Swiss Almond
• Chocolate with sprinkles.
• Just plain vanilla.

Wind Me Up

Unwind by Neal Shusterman is a novel I have had a hankering to read for at least six months. Lucky for me, the book group I host selected this novel as our June read. (Me doing the happy dance.) The cover alone was bait enough for me to be completely interested in reading the novel. And the question on the cover, “What if your parents could unwind you?” Unwind??? What the heck does that mean? Thumbs up on the brilliant marketing and slick advertising by Simon & Schuster. Baited and hooked me right in.

Author’s Website

The book in a nutshell: Le Civil War Due fought over reproductive rights, outcome is no more abortion, instead parents can choose to unwind (process by which an entire person is reused and parted out to help to other people who are ill or injured or who just want a set of nice new bright white teeth or a full head of hair) their children between the ages of 13 and 17. Three teens escape this “death” sentence and are on the run to avoid being unwound. Trust me, read the book and this will all make sense. They just want to stay whole.


And we are off…(drum roll please)

Top Ten Moments of Unwind:

1. Connor finding the order his parents signed for him to be unwound.
2. The 10, no 20, no 30 car…o.k. it was huge highway pile up that felt like a scene from Speed.
3. Conner’s memory of the storked baby.
4. The school yard ruckus and Risa & Connor posing as clappers.
5. Landing and uncrating at the graveyard.
6. The admiral’s teeth.
7. Connor and Risa’s connection realized.
8. Roland and his day of reckoning and unwinding.
9. Connor’s walk of honor.
10. Lev’s sacrifice and subsequent selflessness.

I was so tense through many parts of this book that I felt like I needed to take a yoga class after reading it. This is not a bad thing. Believe me I could use a good yoga class. Shusterman just kept me on the edge of my comfy I-could-sit-for-hours-reading chair. The suspense is cut with a knife thick in every chapter and I had many questions. The true life blurbs (aka soul for sale on Ebay and Ukrainian babies taken for their parts) at the beginning of the chapters are chilling and foretell the events of the story. Awesomeness if they make this into a movie. I kept hearing two songs in my head while I read this book: “Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon during the scenes between Connor and Risa and “Beds are Burning” by Midnight Oil when the characters are at Happy Jack Harvest Camp.

Three questions I most want to ask Neal Shusterman:

1. Where in the h-e-double hockey sticks did you come up with this idea?
2. What happens to Cy-Fi/Cyrus-Tyler/Cy-Ty after Lev leaves him in Missouri? Please tell me he is not unwound!
3. Do you get chills thinking that the human race could be “one rationalization away from reality” and actually implement this kind of horror?

The novel centers on a world that is off kilter. I have read several dystopian tales in the last few months including: Feed, The Forest of Hands and Teeth, and Life as We Knew It. Unwind tops the list for me under the premise of “a world gone mad.”

Stay tuned to my next post about my FAVS: characters and quotations from Unwind.

A Little Soap'll Do Ya

So…a little clarification is in order from my posting on June 3rd. My reasons for blogging about YA Lit are not just to be a walking encyclopedia of YAL knowledge. They are rather, more selfish. I simply love, love, love YAL. And I hate, hate, hate to hear anyone say that the writing is sub par to literature written for adults. I admire the talent, guts and ideals of so many YAL authors. Perhaps one of the things that impress me most about YAL is the broad range of sub genres, topics, characters, environments, and plots. Every time I crack the brand, spanking new spine of a YAL book I get excited about the possibilities that are in store for me.

I willingly agree that there are many books out there that make you want to roll your eyes and use the pages for a donkey piñata. However, you must agree with me that these undesirables can be found in any genre—adult, young adult and children. The good, bad, and ugly can be found anywhere, anytime. Key point: young adult literature appeals to a broad range of readers no matter the age, sex or education level. OK I am off my soapbox for now…

Also it is not my intent to deliver a “review” of the YA novels I read. The blog will serve as more of a way for me to digest, dissect, and muse about the questions, complaints, compliments, and ponderings that I have about the current reading selection. My tirades (good or bad) could contain spoilers, but I will do my best to not reveal too many important parts of the plot.

Blogging a goal...

A friend of mine encouraged me to finally get on the Web 2.0 bandwagon and start my own blog. So here I am...the beginning of a blog life. I have to also admit that I was inspired by the movie last summer Julie and Julia, the book by the same name, and the blog by Julie Powell.

Hmm...but what should one blog about? So many choices and so many interesting things. I had the privilege to meet and hear young adult literature author, Ned Vizzini, speak at an education conference last fall. He gave excellent advice about how to blog based on his own blogging experience and the numerous blogs he follows. I will do my best to expound upon my musings and thoughts using his noteworthy wisdom. Thanks Ned!

I have a goal. I took a young adult literature class last semester and fell in love with the whole genre. My goal is to have an extensive knowledge of young adult literature by the time I begin teaching. Which is roughly two years from now after I finish course work, student teaching, and find a wonderful teaching position. My desire is to cultivate the life of a reader and learner within myself. This will only enhance my ability to be a resource guide for my students in their reading selections/choices. I typically read from a variety of genres, but this blog will focus on my reading choice from young adult literature. In order to meet this goal I must read, read, read!

I also host a young adult literature book group, Books Like Us, once a month. So one week a month will be devoted to the novel I am reading for this book group. No sense in over taxing myself or setting impossible goals right??? OK...I am now going to shamelessly put in a plug for the book group. In case you are interested, we meet once a month in Vestal, NY at Barnes and Noble. Here is the website which includes meeting info and upcoming book selections. Feel free to join us if you live in the area. Plug finished.

For those of you who have stumbled on to this blog or who are my faithful friends, and you are wondering "What is young adult literature?" check out this white paper resource from the YALSA (Young Adult Library Services Association, a branch of the American Library Association) written by Michael Cart. Also an article in the Los Angeles Times provides further information about YA Lit.

Now to the important stuff:

The goals...

1. Read one young adult literature novel per week

2. Blog about the novel I am reading at least twice a week

3. Compile a resource guide for my future students

The first ten novels...

1. Unwind - Neal Shusterman

2. The Dead and The Gone - Susan Beth Pfeffer

3. Chains - Laurie Halse Anderson

4. Banana Heart Summer - Merlinda Bobis

5. The Killer's Cousin - Nancy Werlin

6. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - John Boyne

7. After Tupac & D Foster - Jacqueline Woodson

8. A Long Way Gone: Memories of a Boy Solider - Ishamel Beah

9. Th1rteen R3asons Why - Jay Asher

10. Quiver - Stephanie Spinner

I would like to invite followers of this blog to submit comments and recommendations about their favorite YA Lit reads. This will aid me in making future book selections. Since last fall, I have amassed a YA literature book collection of close to 200 novels (maybe more because they are spilling off of my bookshelves onto the floor--time to recount). I have read a little over a 1/4 of them. So many of my future selections will be based on this existing library, but I would love to receive your recommendations. And who doesn't need more books.

So to all of my fellow book lovers, book worms, and bookies...happy reading!