SLIS 5420 - Module 9 - Down the Rabbit Hole

Bibliography

Abrahams, P. (2005). Down the rabbit hole: An echo falls mystery (1st ed.). New York: Laura Geringer Books.

Summary

Ingrid should have waited for her parents to pick her up from the orthodontist’s office, but with her soccer practice time fast approaching and the field not that far away, she decides she can make it on foot. After walking for what she thinks should be the right amount of time, Ingrid becomes aware that she may be lost, and worse than that, she may be lost in the Flats, the worst part of her home town Echo Falls. While thinking about her situation, Cracked-Up Katie, the infamous crazy woman, asks her if she’s lost and offers to call her a cab to get her home. Ingrid reluctantly agrees and enters in Katie’s run down home to wait for the cab. The next day, Ingrid reads in the town paper that Katie was murdered that night in her home. Ingrid is dazed by the news, and becomes even more frightened when she discovers that she had left her soccer cleats in Katie’s home, which contain her name and address. Not wanting to be connected to the crime, Ingrid sneaks back into Katie’s home that night to retrieve them when she accidently arrives at the same time as the killer. Ingrid hides from the killer under Katie’s bed and sees that he is wearing Adidas shoes with green paint on them. Ingrid is compelled to find the person who murdered Katie and clear her own name in the process.

Impressions

The book was very good. The plot was well balanced around Ingrid’s personal life and her role in solving the murder of Cracked-Up Katie. Ingrid’s character was also well balanced between being a thirteen year old girl with braces and being a sleuth trying to solve a problem much bigger than she is. The main thing is that the story was balanced, which is difficult to do in mystery novels. The author didn’t give too much away to spoil the ending, but there were enough clues that with a bit of thinking on the readers part the culprit became more and more apparent as the story went on.

Reviews

“The charming 13-year-old heroine of Abrahams's (A Perfect Crime, for adults) murder mystery will guide readers through its many twists and turns. Ingrid Levin-Hill, who, like her hero Sherlock Holmes, is "a habitual noticer of little things," has just been cast as the lead in Alice in Wonderland when she finds herself in a different role--murder detective. The corpse is that of "Cracked-Up Katie," whom Ingrid encountered when she attempted to get from her orthodontist to soccer practice--and wound up five miles away in the poorest part of Echo Falls. The next day, the local paper states that Katie's body was found soon after Ingrid left her house; realizing she's left her red soccer cleats behind, Ingrid breaks in to retrieve them. But she's not the only one in Katie's house that evening. Ingrid's sleuthing is complicated by a budding romance with the police chief's son, and the dialogue crackles with wit--Ingrid gets the best lines. It's disquieting, however, that big brother Ty, the football star, blackens Ingrid's eye in anger without repercussion, and many of the supporting characters are more fully developed than her nuclear family; the town's newspaper editor, her curmudgeonly Grampy and even Cracked-Up Katie come across as more convincing. And dropped threads abound(e.g., will Grampy stave off developers by populating his farmland with endangered eastern spadefoot toads?) Readers who stick with this intelligent, if overstuffed novel will be clamoring for answers--and more of Ingrid. Ages 10-up.”

(2005). DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE: An Echo Falls Mystery. Publishers Weekly, 252(14), 60.

“Impatient with mother for being late for her ride to soccer, Ingrid Levin-Hill, eighth-grade Sherlock Holmes fan and amateur actress, makes an impulsive decision to walk, inadvertently becoming a witness in the murder case of Cracked-up Katie, the weird lady in the rundown house on the wrong side of town. Ingrid is afraid to come forward with her first-hand knowledge, fearing her parents' reprimand for leaving the neighborhood. Landing the lead role as Alice in the town's playhouse production of "Alice in Wonderland," she becomes more curious about the playhouse's past performers and a possible connection to Katie's youth. As the police investigation gets further away from the truth and the wrong suspects are arrested, Ingrid takes increasingly daring risks to solve the case herself and eliminate the evidence she left behind indicating her own suspicious involvement. Abrahams has crafted a suspenseful page-turning drama complete with misleading clues and gutsy midnight escapades that make for thrilling intrigue right up to the culminating drowning-in-the-river scene. Ingrid's plucky, if not foolhardy, behavior will have readers both rooting and worrying for her simultaneously as she continues, like Alice, to fall deeper and deeper into the mystery's unfolding. Harrowingly absorbing.”

2005. "DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE: An Echo Falls Mystery." Kirkus Reviews 73, no. 7: 411.

Library Use

Very good book for starting a reader in the mystery genre. The language is a bit coarse for younger readers, however, it sounds natural and teenagers will appreciate the fact that the book does not talk down to them.

SLIS 5420 - Module 8 - Redwall and City of Ember

Bibliography

Jacques, B., & Chalk, G. (1986). Redwall. New York: Philomel Books.

Summary

Redwall Abbey is a sanctuary for all peaceful creatures seeking aid and shelter. The peaceful monks are known throughout the surrounding countryside and are allowed to travel unhampered by boarders and are welcomed by all. Life is peaceful for the creatures of Redwall until the day that Cluny the Scourge arrived. Bringing his army of rats and other sly rodents, the giant sea rat seeks to take over the Redwall Abbey and exploit the surround land. Redwall is besieged, but a brave young monk named Matthias remembers the story of Martin, the hero of Redwall, and seeks his legacy to defend the Redwall Abbey. Matthias endures many hardships as he searches for the weapons and armor of Martin the Warrior, but eventually recovers the missing items and makes powerful allies in the process. The conflict reaches a climax when Cluny finally breaches the abbey walls, only to find an army raised by Matthias and Redwall ready to defend their homes. Matthias and Cluny fight to the death, and Matthias is eventually the victor, bringing peace back to Redwall.

Impression

The book was very interesting as the author played on the natural strengths and attributes of all the different animals for their roles in the conflict. The weasels were the sly spies, Constance the badger was the strong arm for the abbey, and Basil Stag Hare was the slightly insane, quick on his feet, war veteran rabbit. The characters were very well developed, and the world was rich and very fun to visit.

Reviews

“What on the surface appears to be just another medieval fantasy peopled with animals enacting the fight to the death between good and evil is actually a rich and thought-provoking novel on the nature of good and evil. The peaceful life of the mice of Redwall Abbey is shattered by the onslaught of the fierce rate, Cluny the Scourge, and his army of rats, weasels, and other vermin. The mice and the other peaceful animals take refuge in the Abbey’s strong walls while Cluny lays siege. Advantage is with the besieged (as long as the food supplies last), and the Abbey defenders are able to withstand numerous attacks. Cluny cannot be completely defeated, however, until the sword of Martin, the legendary warrior who founded Redwall Abbey, can be found. A young novice, Matthias, embarks on a quest and ultimately finds it, but a wise cat reminds him that it is just a sword. It attained its legendary status because Martin used it only in the defense of right and good. Just as Martin’s sword is neither good nor evil, the characters avoid being simply personifications of their attributes. The defenders, even Matthias, have faults, while even Cluny displays characteristics which make him not likeable, but at least deserving of a grudging admiration. The book is violent, and at some times downright gruesome, but the quality of the writing, the rich cast of characters, the detailed accounts of medieval warfare, and Jacques’ ability to tell a good story and make readers think all earn Redwall a place on library shelves.”

Harding, S. (1987). Redwall (Book Review). School Library Journal, 33(11), 96.

“Only the lost sword of Martin the Warrior can save Redwall Abbey from the evil rat Cluny and his greedy horde. The young mouse Matthias (formerly Redwall's most awkward novice) vows to recover the legendary weapon. In the course of his quest, Matthias forges strong ties with various local animals. As much as the magic of the sword, it is the help of these new friends that enables Matthias to defeat Cluny once and for all. Jacques's clever use of detail creates an animal world as compelling as that of The Wind in the Willows. From the beginning, each of Redwall's characters is endowed with a unerringly distinct personality: there is a powerful badger named Constance; a mute squirrel named Silent Sam, who knows the forest better than anyone; and his mother Jess, a champion climber who leads a splendid rescue of a piece of the abbey's tapestry. This epic adventure contains elements of all grand quests, with heroic archetypes that will keep fans of Tolkein and King Arthur tales engaged to the final battle.”

(1987). Redwall. Publishers Weekly.

Library Use

Redwall is a good book for an introduction to the fantasy genre. The characters are accessible by younger readers, but there is enough action to keep older readers entertained as well.

Bibliography

DuPrau, J. (2003). The city of ember (1st ed.). New York: Random House.

Summary

The city of Ember was created by the Builders as a last hope for humanity, a safe place to rebuild society for 200 years. The Builders left instructions with the mayor of Ember on how to leave the town once the time had elapsed, but man’s memory is short and their hearts greedy, and soon the instructions were lost and forgotten, and Ember became all that people knew. In the year 241, it is assignment day for the school in Ember. Once a resident reaches the age of 12, he or she is assigned a job to do for the rest of their lives. When Lina chooses the job of Pipeworks worker, she knows that she has the worst luck. However, when Lina is leaving, her classmate Doon offers to trade his job of messenger, the job that Lina wanted. Lina is thrilled and rushes home to tell her grandmother and baby sister. Lina tells them the news and life continues better than she could hope. As she delivers messages, she notices that things in Ember are getting worse by the day. Power outages are resulting in city wide blackouts, light bulbs are become scarce, and even food is being rationed. With all these things on her mind, she returns home to find her grandmother clearing out her closest, searching for something very important, though she can’t remember what it is. Lina finds a piece of paper that has been destroyed by her little sister with the instructions the Builders left to leave the city. Conspiring with Doon, they plan to leave the city to see what is out in the world and hopefully find the future hope for Ember.

Impression

The book was good, if simply written. The characters weren’t very approachable and were difficult for me to connect with. The story was given away by the prologue where the story explained what was in the instructions so the mystery and anticipation wasn’t there. The book could have been done a lot better, and it felt like it was written for someone below its intended age range.

Reviews

“This promising debut is set in a dying underground city. Ember, which was founded and stocked with supplies centuries ago by "The Builders," is now desperately short of food, clothes, and electricity to keep the town illuminated. Lina and Doon find long-hidden, undecipherable instructions that send them on a perilous mission to find what they believe must exist: an exit door from their disintegrating town. In the process, they uncover secret governmental corruption and a route to the world above. Well-paced, this contains a satisfying mystery, a breathtaking escape over rooftops in darkness, a harrowing journey into the unknown and cryptic messages for readers to decipher. The setting is well-realized with the constraints of life in the city intriguingly detailed. The likable protagonists are not only courageous but also believably flawed by human pride, their weaknesses often complementing each other in interesting ways. The cliffhanger ending will leave readers clamoring for the next installment.”

(2003). THE CITY OF EMBER (Book). Kirkus Reviews, 71(10), 749.

“Unlike the rundown dystopia of Lois Lowry's Gathering Blue, the darkness of Ember is essentially literal. Its people, by and large, are honorable and civilized; its governance is democratic if quasi-theocratic; its economy frugal but fair. But there is no natural light in Ember, and the blackouts of its antiquated electrical grid are coming more and more frequently: "running out of light bulbs, running out of power, running out of time--disaster was right around the corner." So thinks Doon, a curious twelve-year-old who, along with his spirited schoolmate Lina, determines to save the city. On a deliberately limited canvas, first-novelist DuPrau draws a picture of a closed society, all of its resources taken from vast but emptying storerooms, with no travel possible beyond the lights of the city. The writing and storytelling are agreeably spare and remarkably suspenseful, and rather than bogging down in explanations of how Ember came to be and how it functions, DuPrau allows the events of the story to convey the necessary information. There's a contrivance or two in keeping the narrative moving, but even the device of a hidden letter, complete with missing words, is used with such disarming forthrightness that readers will be eagerly deciphering it right alongside Doon and Lina. The two protagonists are good sorts, distinctively if not deeply etched, and fans (note: there will be many) will be pleased to know that while Doon and Lina's mission is triumphantly concluded, there's plenty of room for a sequel.”

Sutton, R. (2003). The City of Ember (Book). Horn Book Magazine, 79(3), 343.

Library Use

The book is a good introduction dystopian literature. The story provides enough hope that the reader would be able to enjoy the ending unlike some books like The Giver.

SLIS 5420 - Module 7 - Hoot and Fat Kid Rules the World

Bibliography

Hiaasen, C. (2002). Hoot (1st ed.). New York: Alfred A. Knopf : Distributed by Random House.

Summary

When Roy Eberhardt moves from Montana to Florida because of his father’s job, he thinks that he is going to hate it there. To Roy, Florida is flat and boring and cannot compare to the mountainous region he has just left. However, on his first day to school Roy sees a boy running beside his school bus but never shows up at school. Roy is fascinated with the boy, and the next time he appears, Roy chases after him. After chasing the running boy across a golf course and getting hit in the head with a golf ball, Roy is confronted by Beatrice Leep, a muscular girl on the schools soccer team. She tells Roy to stay away from the running kid and to mind his own business. Roy doesn’t let up and soon finds where the running kid stays and tries to find out why he is living in the wild and who he actually is. After the running kid makes Roy leave his hiding place, Roy encounters Beatrice who tells him to leave the running kid alone, and that the boy is her stepbrother. Roy ignores her and still tries to help the running boy. Roy discovers that the running kid is trying to prevent Mother Paula’s Pancake House from building a location on the site where borrowing owls live. Roy has to choose whether to follow his head and leave the boy alone, or follow his heart and help the boy do what is right.

Impressions

The book felt a little preachy at places as well as anti-establishment. Several of the secondary characters could have had clearer endings, but they were minor characters, so it didn’t affect the story that greatly. Hiaasen’s story is more humorous than many youth literature books and was easy to read. The problem that the main character faced was a little improbably but the underlying themes, such as doing what is right and what is smart, can be applied to many situations that a young person may experience.

Reviews

“This is novelist Carl Hiassen's first book for young readers (Knopf, 2002). Set in Florida, an intriguing barefoot runner reminiscent in his innocence of Maniac Magee leads middle school student Roy Eberhardt on an eco-adventure that includes snakes, fish, alligators, a student protest movement, and encounters with big business and law enforcement--all in defense of a nesting site for burrowing owls. This barefoot runner remains fairly enigmatic throughout the story, never truly becoming part of the ordinary world of home, school, and community that newcomer Roy finds so limited after having experienced the majestic Montana mountains. But Roy grows to appreciate Florida by experiencing it through contact with this elusive friend whom he helps to accomplish the seemingly impossible. An interesting cast of adult and student characters is brought to life by actor Chad Lowe who uses his voice deftly to express each in clearly discernible ways. His reading is especially well-paced to assist in following and understanding the changes of setting and characters as the plot moves along in two different sequences for quite some time. It's an appealing story focusing on ecological values, giving it nice classroom potential for science tie-ins. It would also make a great book for family listening because of its timely story line, interesting animal details, lots of local color, and effective message.”

Fenn, J., & Mandell, P. (2003). Hoot (Book). School Library Journal, 49(1), 74.

“Hoot is quintessential Hiaasen — a mystery/adventure set in South Florida, peopled with original and wacky characters — with a G rating. Roy Eberhart the new kid in town, hooks up with teenage runaway Mullet Fingers (so named because he can catch fish with his bare hands) and his sister Beatrice, a "major soccer jock … with a major attitude." The three discover that the proposed site for a Mother Paula's All-American Pancake House is also a nesting ground for small burrowing owls, a protected species, and they attempt to halt construction. Initiating a cover-up that reaches all the way to the mayor's office, Mother Paula's executives ignore the owls and try to speed up ground-breaking ceremonies before the public learns their secret. But Mullet Fingers sabotages their efforts: he removes survey stakes; puts alligators in the portable toilets; and releases a mess of cottonmouth shakes to scare away the guard dogs, The narrative carries a lot of frenzied commotion that only becomes more preposterous with each new character's entrance. There's Garrett, "king of phony farts" at middle school; Officer Delinko, not "the sharpest knife in the drawer"; and Kalo, the amiable rottweiler trainer ("That vun dere is Max. That vun, Klaus. That vun, Karl. And that big vun is Pookie Face"). Each individual has a story to tell, sometimes advancing the plot (Officer Delinko's ambitious investigation provides believable access to all characters) and sometimes imposing an earnestness at odds with the humor (Beatrice and Mullet Fingers endure a dismal home situation). Not consistently a hoot, but worthy of a holler. Hiaasen's first YA book succeeds as a humorous diversion.”

Carter, B. (2002). Hoot. Horn Book Magazine, 78(6), 759-760.

Library Use

A good book for someone who is interested in youth standing up about environmental rights. The main focus of the book is getting the Mother Paula’s company to stop building on the new site and the ending lends towards a non-violent means of protest and public knowledge rather than vandalism.

Bibliography

Going, K. L. (2003). Fat kid rules the world. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.

Summary

Troy Billings is fat. So fat that he feels like his life is worthless. While standing at the subway, contemplating jumping (and wondering how much of the train his fat would cover), a homeless music legend from his school, dropout Curt MacCrae, stops him from jumping and insists that he be repaid by Troy buying him dinner. After dinner, Curt follows Troy home uninvited, where he tells Troy’s ex-marine father that Curt and Troy are starting a band. What Troy believes as a lie actually becomes true as Curt helps Troy conquer his self-esteem issues and helps Troy with his appearance. Troy finds out that Curt is abusing prescription drugs and tries to help Curt after he passes out by taking him to the hospital. Troy convinces his father to allow Curt to stay with their family to help Curt straighten out, but Curt refuses the offer. Troy becomes angry with Curt and decides to prove to Curt that he is serious by conquering his own self image fears and performing with the band.

Impression

The book uses a lot of coarse language, but for the age group, nothing is too inappropriate. The book is written from Troy’s point of view, so you only see and feel what Troy feels. It gives the reader a more personal experience and allows greater empathy with the character.

Reviews

“Big, fat, miserable, insightful Troy, 17, is contemplating suicide but is saved by Curt, a cadaverous, brilliant, homeless, druggie guitarist and neighborhood punk rock icon. Determined to make Troy his drummer, Curt becomes a sometimes part of Troy's truncated family. Troy's dad, a bitter ex-Marine who cannot fathom his fat son, undergoes subtle growth to become the pair's unlikely savior. Funny, frightening, gritty, passionate, and real, this is an amazingly textured study of complex personal growth of almost symbiotic characters in crisis.”

Hofmann, M. (2005). Fat Kid Rules the World. School Library Journal, 51(11), 59.

“Overweight and friendless, high school senior Troy Billings is standing on the edge of the subway tracks contemplating suicide when a dirty and disheveled young man engages him in conversation and prevents him from taking the plunge. He's Curt MacCrae, a legend at Troy's school for being "the only truly homeless, sometimes student, sometimes dropout, punk rock, artist god among us." For reasons that Troy does not at first understand, Curt invites him to join his band as a drummer, even though Troy has only minimal experience with music. Both characters are strongly defined. Hyperactive and frustratingly enigmatic, iconoclastic Curt has the soul of an artist, as well as a self-destructive streak fed by incessant pill-popping. Troy's obesity is over stated (references to his sweating and huffing-and-puffing seem to appear on every page), but his emotional neediness is palpable and genuinely moving. As the friendship between the boys develops, Troy explores New York's punk music scene (about to give his debut performance, he throws up on the stage; the audience loves it) and comes to a better understanding of both his brother and (wonderfully portrayed) widowed father. But his emerging sense of self-worth also leads him to make a decision that could destroy his friendship with the increasingly troubled Curt. In this gritty and intense novel--perhaps more of a character study than a plot-driven story--these two disparate and desperate teenagers attempt to save each other and, quite possibly, end up saving themselves as well.”

Sieruta, P. (2003). Fat Kid Rules the World. Horn Book Magazine, 79(4), 456-457.

Library Use

A very good book for high school students who are dealing with weight problems. The main character figures out that because everyone is trying so hard to not look at him, they aren’t actually paying him any attention. It’s a great revelation that most people don’t care what you look like and the moral plays out well in the end.