After by Amy Efaw

BookTalk

What if you did it?…Could you have done it?…This can’t be happening to you…You get good grades, like, really good grades, 4.15 GPA good grades…And you’re the star of the soccer team, like, a super star. You’ve been playing varsity goalie since your freshman year. People stop you in the halls to congratulate you…people you don’t even know. You’re responsible, an indemand babysitter, a tutor, a soccer coach to little kids. This does not happen to people like you.

But now you’re in jail. With girls who have obviously done really bad things to get here. Things someone like you is incapable of doing…right?…But then there was THAT NIGHT…the blood…the pain…it all came from you. IT came out of you. IT was found in a dumpster. Did you do it?…Could you have done it?…What if you really did it?

Review

Oh My God, was the first thing I thought reading this book. As a reader you are just as hazy as the protagonist Devon for the first few pages of this book but long before Devon snaps back to reality the reader realizes the full horror of the situation.

In After Efaw tackles the subject of “Dumpster Babies”. A trend that the Author’s Note explains is nothing new. We’ve all seen the news stories run of women who dump their newborns in the trash after concealing a pregnancy for 9 months. The horror of the situation rarely allows a true look at what the mother may have been going through. No one wants to believe that a woman couldn’t realize that she was pregnant. I’ve sat through a few “I Didn’t Know I Was Pregnant” episodes myself (what can I say, I’m a lover of train-wrecks) and always end up thinking “really, you were using the ‘rhythm method’ as birth control, didn’t have a period for 9 months, gained weight, and seriously never considered pregnancy as an explanation?!” Between trying to reconcile a missed pregnancy and killing a baby it seems almost impossible to understand the actions of these women.

Efaw does a spectacular job of showing the mother’s point of view. What happened during the 9 months leading up to the birth and the birth itself are painstakingly revealed as the character of Devon is able to deal with them. This means that for the first third of the book you are extremely frustrated. After page 5 as the reader you know what has happened and you want the instant knowledge of the details. The beauty of this plot (and the frustration) come from not learning them right away. To know Devon’s whole story immediately would not allow the reader to see Devon’s point of view. Because Devon has issues…issues I ended up understanding…issues I wanted Devon to overcome and rehabilitate. I really didn’t want to see Devon go to jail for life. Amazing but true, by the end you’ll not only feel for Devon, you’ll understand psychologically why some women do things like this.

This is a heavy book, be warned of that. It’s one of those books that’s good, but takes some emotion to get through. Know that it’s worth the journey.

Rating: 9/10

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Fallen by Lauren Kate

As much as I loved this book, I don’t know that I’d booktalk it to a class of students. My reasons are as follows: 1. I work at an Orthodox Jewish school and while I’ve never run into problems suggesting books with Christian themes I think a book based on the hierarchy of heaven and hell may not be appropriate for a school project. 2. It’s just not strong enough in its theme or literary value to supersede the Christian content structure.

That being said I would most definitely add this series to my collection. And in a reader’s advisory capacity I would definitely talk this series up to the bulk of my female population. It’s not as addictive as Twilight (the ever-present romance standard) but it is super juicy!

In the book we have Luce and Daniel, the star-crossed lovers. Luce finds herself at the Sword and Cross reform school after becoming involved in the death of a boy at her previous academy. She was the only other person with him as he died, but no one can prove she didn’t do it. In addition to her creepy past Luce is plagued by a history of mental illness. She isthisclose to being listed as unstable due to her visions of shadowy creatures. However, because this is a paranormal romance the reader sees Luce’s shadow visions as reality…not crazy talk. Plus, the prologue makes it clear that Luce and Daniel have known each other in another life…and have a very strong attraction. I quote: “I could feel the heat of her stare.” Seriously, there is a lot of intense staring that goes on between these two and enough sexual tension you may wish it was an adult book and not a teen read.

Not to make it too simple, Kate also throws in Cam, another student who has the hots for Luce. Cam is the obvious choice. He’s outgoing, attractive, smooth, and literally a golden boy. Plus, he’s actually nice to Luce versus Daniel who flips her the bird the first time they meet. While Daniel spends most of the book pushing Luce away, Cam is giving gifts and kisses ASAP.

What weakens the lover’s triangle is that while Cam is the logical choice, both the reader and Luce can’t tear themselves away from Daniel, who is the obvious love of Luce’s life. Just a warning, the secrets of this plot are slow to unveil themselves. By the end of this first of four books both the reader and Luce are not clear on most of the details. It’s obvious that we know very little and that much could change with knowledge…even the adoration of Daniel. But instead of leaving the reader frustrated it just makes me want to rip into the next book!…That being said…I’m off to read…

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Bruiser by Neal Shumsterman

BookTalk

On the outside he was The Bruiser, Voted Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty. A big, lumbering, withdrawn kid from the wrong side of the tracks. A kid who looked like he could take you down with one punch just for talking to him.

On the inside he does the impossible. He takes away all pain. He absorbs all physical and emotional anger, frustration, and bruises from those he cares about.

Brewster has begun dating Bronte. Bronte has always had a soft spot for strays and what begins as a mission quickly becomes real romance. Bronte’s twin Tennyson doesn’t like this development at all. With their parents on the brink of divorce, lacross championships to win, and girlfriends to keep, Tennyson has enough on his plate without worrying about a loser like Brewster ‘The Bruiser’ dating his sister.

But Bronte fights for the relationship and Tennyson begins to find a soft spot for Brewster. And unfortunately, Brewster finds room in his heart for the twins. A tale told from the alternating perspectives of these three characters, you’ll watch as they learn Brewster’s secrets slowly…and realize their implications when it’s almost too late…

Review

I was excited for this book. It’s such an interesting idea…watching someone who could take all pain away from another become intertwined with other people for the first time in his adult life. This is bound to end badly right?…you have to love a book where you can see the train wreck coming from a mile away. The family Brewster becomes involved in has it’s crisis…however they’re all pretty standard: divorce, teenage relationship dramatics, general stress. It appears as though Brewster’s life with his Uncle’s alcoholism and the random beatings of Brewster’s brother Cody (which obviously become absorbed by Brewster) are a bad thing. And a move to this seemingly normal suburban family would be a good thing. This is just what Shumsterman wants you to see in the beginning.

What the novel eventually manifests as its central topic, is the discussion of our ability to walk away from a painkiller. Brewster unwittingly becomes a buffer for anyone he cares about. Wanna play harder in a game? Have Brewster come watch, he’ll take all the hits for you. Girlfriend hurt your feelings? Sit next to Brewster he’ll take the pain away and leave you with contentment. The characters figure out the connection between their emotional happiness and Brewster’s ability much slower than the reader. They focus on the standard abuse of Brewster’s Uncle rather than see how their lives are ruining Brewster’s in a far greater capacity. In the end the reader wonders which situation was worse for Brewster and if anyone can give to Brewster what he naturally allows other people to have…Happiness.

Shumsterman wants the story to culminate with the question of: If we never feel pain how will we recognize happiness? I think the question has merit but isn’t one that Shumsterman asked early enough to really answer. The characters take so long in realizing Brewster’s ability and what their lives have done to him that adding this philosophical question to the plot kind of feels like it was simply tacked on. A stronger ending might have resulted from allowing the characters to truly deal with their drug-like addiction to Brewster’s ability. I much preferred when the character of Tennyson realizes that he’s not strong enough to walk away from Brewster’s gift. I wanted everyone to deal with that…I wanted vindication for Brewster! But in my eyes it never happened. Well, obviously something happens, the book ends, but I wish it would have been more of a breakthrough for the characters.

I did enjoyed the book. The format of various character views as well as varied writing formats (Brewster shares his story in free verse) kept the delivery fresh. This also helped Shumsterman pace the plot so the reader has revelations way before the characters. The knowledge of what this family is doing to Brewster is what drives the reader on…You’re waiting for everyone to realize what they’re doing and to fix the situation. But, like I said, I didn’t really feel that that happened in this story. I don’t know that in the end the characters are really ready to look out for Brewster’s best interests…I don’t think they learned their lesson at all. But maybe that’s the point.

Rating

8/10

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The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Warning: This book is slow to start.

Warning: This book is confusing for at least the first 30 pages.

Warning: This book will become so addictive you’ll shut out the world to finish it…

Seriously, Think Hunger Games addicting…

Like The Hunger Games, The Maze Runner is a dystopian fantasy teen trilogy. I’d recommend it to the same audience with the warnings above.

Because…

It is confusing. The main character of Thomas wakes up in a pitch black elevator…heading to who knows where…with his memory wiped. He’s then spit out into a world completely populated by teenage boys who have their own jargon: “Shank”, “Klunk”, “Shuck” (I’ll give you two guesses what that last word stands for *wink*). If the folksonomy and disorientation weren’t enough, no one explains anything to Thomas (or the reader) well. Thomas is constantly being told to “wait” that he’ll understand “later”, and on top of it all to “stop asking questions”. I had issues with this as a reader. I understand we are to feel as disoriented as Thomas, but I don’t think the author cleared up details through experience fast enough. The result is about 30 pages of confusion.

But I’m willing to overlook this. In fact by page 90 I’d completely forgotten about it…I was hooked.

It becomes obvious that Thomas is not a normal Glade newbie. He becomes aware that he has had prior experiences with this place. Also, he seems to have a connection to the comatose girl delivered by the lift (the only girl, the last person to enter the glade, the beginning of the end). Thomas shares a telepathic link with her. While this would be enough to set him apart, Thomas realizes that he knows the maze. He knows things other Gladers (even those who had been there for 2+ years) don’t know.

Oh, did I not mention the eponymous Maze. The relative safety of the Glade is surrounded by a labyrinth of shear stone walls, filled with creatures called Grievers. The Grievers can kill you, or poison you causing a painful recovery process called ‘The Change’.

It becomes apparent early on that this whole world is more of an experiment than a prison. For two years the boys have been trying to solve the maze…attempting to map its changes and find an exit. With the arrival of the final girl it is clear the experiment is ending. Solve the puzzle or die trying. It makes for delicious reading.

BookTalk:

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by boys who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls. The walls being the inner edges of a seemingly unsolvable maze.

Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Runners trace the changes in the maze endlessly trying to solve the maze’s puzzle. The boys must also outwit the Grievers inside that might kill them. Every night the walls close tight, protecting the Gladers from death by Griever. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. She is the last person to enter the Glade and…that Everything Will Change.

Uses:

This could make decent companion reading for Lord of the Flies as the boys in both books had to create their own society. The difference is that The Maze Runner is based on the idea of a social experiment. By the end of the book not only will the reader be aware of this, but you’ll briefly meet the scientists conducting the experiment, and read a memo. This opens the novel up to a wider range of uses. It could be used in a sociology/psychology class as an example of social experiments or as a jumping point for discussions about them. If the content doesn’t merit enough to be part of a curriculum (and it may not) it would most definitely make for great extra credit.

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Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause

Publisher’s Weekly gave this the enticing review of: “darkly sexy prose and suspenseful storytelling”. On Amazon and Barnes and Noble hundreds of readers give the paranormal novel a combined star rating of 4.5 stars along with reader reviews titled things like “Highly Recommended”, “Yummy”, and “My Absolute Fav”. 12 years after it was originally published I still had to wait list the title from my local library’s e-book collection. Needless to say, I had high hopes of a Twilight-esque read. I wanted that sexual tension that can only come from the combination of hormonally charged characters who can’t consummate anything…due to being of different species…and the restrictions of sex in YA lit. I’m telling you, it creates a tension you could cut with a knife!

But…

I was utterly disappointed with this book. Such a fail for me that I felt as though I was literally choking down the pages. During the reading I sought out every distraction possible…I responded to e-surveys for goodness sake. I felt the main character of Vivian Gandillon was difficult to connect to. I understand the author’s premise, teens in a love triangle, two-thirds of which is paranormal. What makes it unique is that this time it’s the girl who is the creature of legends: The Werewolf. Vivian is rebelling against her pack by dating (and loving) a human boy, Aiden. She attempts to stay in a relationship with him while fending off the far more interesting relationship of ‘Queen Bitch’ to the older, but super sexy ‘Pack Leader’ Gabriel. The problem is Vivian loves apparently loves Aiden’s sweetness. Why, I’m not quite sure, because Klause includes very few scenes of the two interacting. Instead the reader is generally told that they had some type of date/conversation/make-out session and it was beautiful, sweet, and perfect. But as the reader I never really felt the connection.

What makes it difficult is that Vivian has a fully imagined, wolf-like, internal dialogue. This thought process, while realistic, alienated me as a reader. I didn’t get Vivian, she was more wolf than human, and spends the better part of the book distracted by sex and mating. If in Vivian’s head I didn’t like her or understand her, I was unsure how other humans were responding to her so well. I was left wondering about the human response because there were so few scenes involving interaction! Klause does give explanations for all of her character’s motivations, but they fall flat because the reader never feels that they ring true.

Another issue I had with the book was that the mother was so sexual and open with her daughter. Like, slinky dress wearing, alcohol offering, knowing look exchanging, open. Again, I’ll chalk it up to the wolf mentality…but lets just say that Vivian and her mother end up going for some of the same men…And everyone is ok with it. Weirded me out!

My advice is to skip this one. There is far better YA lit out there to read. If you want teen paranormal look in another direction.

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before i fall by Lauren Oliver

I’ll admit, I didn’t like this book in the beginning. Samantha and her friends are complete and total mean girls. Not the Tina Fey, funny, socially satirical, Mean Girls. No, Oliver’s mean girls are realistically annoying; examples of pure teenage self-centeredness. After watching a day of their narcissism, bullying, and general lack of empathy for other humans…let’s just say I was not so sad to see that drunken car careen off the wet road into a tree…I mean really, the final straw was letting the seventeen-year-old who claimed to “not feel drunk” after a bottle of vodka drive the car…I could have stopped the book right there…

But then Samantha wakes up. It’s the same day, same dialogue, same chain of events…but she knows what happens at the end of the day. It’s a day she’ll live again and again. Readers will watch as Samantha goes through stages of grief: Disbelief, Anger, Sadness and finally Understanding. Oliver gives her character the unique experience of learning her place in the world. Samantha will become painfully aware that every action causes an effect in others lives. The book centers around the themes of The Butterfly effect (though the Ashton Kutcher movie is never referenced, odd given the amount of cultural references Oliver manages to drop within the pages) as well as the idea that what we leave behind in this world after our death is only our memories. Again, after the first 50 pages you’ll know why this is of such concern to Samantha…her memories will not be good.

No spoilers here, there are many ways this story could have ended. As a reader you’ll probably narrow it down to a strong 2 or 3 variations. But, by the time you and Samantha reach the end of her final day, you’ll both understand why this was the right way to go. This book is a little slow to start, but in the end it has a strong message and a smart, poignant finish.

BookTalk

Samantha Kingston is popular. She has it all…The best of best friends, the hottest boyfriend in the school, total and complete power over the student body. Freshman quake in their shoes during a mere conversation with her. It’s easy to see in a single day that popularity pays off…who cares if to get the best parking spot you had to smash that other girl’s bumper?…Why not send that loser a fake rose message, she knows she’s a psycho right? Flirt with the hot young teacher, hike up your skirt a little more, blow off your family, find a dark room with your boyfriend, drink the vodka, and party hard…To look at this one single day you’d have to admit popularity has a certain delicious flavor. But what if this day was your last? How would you feel about the memories you leave?

This single day is Samantha’s last day on earth. One she’ll live again and again, revealing hard truths about herself and untangling the mysteries surrounding her life, and her death. If This is the end, the question is: Will she finally discover the true value of everything she is in danger of losing?

Grades: 9-11

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You by Charles Benoit

This novel is short, sweet, and mysterious. Benoit has won an Edgar Award for a past novel and it shows. There is a tension within the novel that drags you onward. I was pleasantly surprised by the creativity in the construction and writing of the book. The plot opens with what appears to be a gruesome death scene, and is one of the major components of the tension factor. Beyond this first bloody scene there is very little horror or mystery until the end of the novel. But, because you’ve read that prologue, you’re viewing everything through a horrific lense…you know what’s coming.

Adding to the tension (and unique writing style) is that the narrative is written entirely in the second person. For those of us trying to place what the second person narrative is it’s the use of You (get the title now?). While this takes a few pages to get used to, the awkwardness quickly fades and instead motivates a uniquely personal experience for the reader. Not only is the reader being shown the main character Kyle’s motivations they are experiencing them as well. If you don’t believe me wait till you hit the part where he overhears his mother talking about him…shot to the heart, I swear. And the end is as always a twist.

BookTalk:

You’re surprised at all the blood.
He looks over at you, eyes wide, mouth dropping open, his face almost as white as his shirt.
He’s surprised too.
There’s not a lot of broken glass, though, just some tiny slivers around his feet and one big piece busted into sharp peaks like a spiking line graph, the blood washing down it like rain on a windshield.
He doesn’t say anything cleaver or funny, doesn’t quote Shakespeare, he just screams. But no one can hear him, and it would be too late if they could. You’re thinking, this wasn’t the way it was supposed to go, this shouldn’t be happening. And now things are only going to get worse.
You’re just a kid.
It can’t be your fault.
But then there’s all that blood.

You are Kyle Chase. You are a hoodie, a freak, a burnout, a member of the F-U tribe. Your life has jumped track at some point, the days of honor roll and science club long gone. This year something in you will snap, Zach will make sure of it, but neither you nor him expected this…

Useful Ideas:

This book has lots of Catcher in the Rye themes. Discontent teen having difficulty growing up, sister protection issues, a notion of being too intelligent for the system without the maturity to handle it, etc. You would make a great companion to the classic. It could be taught beside Catcher and would make a great mode for discussion. Also, I think it would go a long way to placing Caulfield’s issues in a more modern light, as we all know teens can have trouble getting past dated scenes and languages. Plus, it has the added benefits of mystery, unique writing style, and the fact that it’s only 89 pages! Seriously, an 89 page book is a major selling point to most high school readers…the fact that it’s actually a good book is just an added bonus.

Grades: 8 through 12

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