While I can't say I would have enjoyed this book when I was ten (I would have been too scared), kids now seem to love it and I, as an adult, also enjoyed it very much. I would say that fifth grade is the right age to introduce this book, both for word choice and content. It's a great style of writing and a very entertaining story. Definitely looking into Adam Gidwitz's second book of the Grimm Tales.
A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz is a different take on fairytales, focusing on Hansel and Gretel as the main characters and while they do encounter an old witch who tries to bake them, they encounter a whole lot more as well. While Gidwitz described this book as being extremely bloody, he also focuses on the fact that there is a great deal of comic relief--and boy is he right! While this book has tons of blood, gore, and unattached body parts, it is also written in such a way that there are frequent interruptions by Gidwitz to 'check-in' on his reader, make sure everything is okay, and tell readers to make sure there are no little kids around!
While I can't say I would have enjoyed this book when I was ten (I would have been too scared), kids now seem to love it and I, as an adult, also enjoyed it very much. I would say that fifth grade is the right age to introduce this book, both for word choice and content. It's a great style of writing and a very entertaining story. Definitely looking into Adam Gidwitz's second book of the Grimm Tales.
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So Matched by Ally Condie is a pretty typical teenage star-crossed lovers story. The twist on this story is that it is set in the future where "Society" runs everyone's life; same houses, same clothes, same everything. People are not educated fully but only educated about their "work position", the are alloted only so much free time, supervised free time of course, and they can no longer write, only type (that's actually not so far from the truth nowadays....). The other major difference is that you are arranged into a marriage by "matching"; Society matches you with your optimal mate for best life and children. The problem with main character, Cassia, is that she ends up seeing two people on her match card--her best friend, Xander, and one of her mysterious acquaintances, Ky. How will she choose? Is she even allowed to choose?
The book, while being an romantic adventure, also brings up societal norms and government power as a discussion point. The question that I kept thinking was 'What if...'; what if the world was really like this? The semi-problem is that the story is not finished at the end of the book. You have to read to sequel, Crossed, to continue and find out what happens. 2 of 5 stars Neal Shusterman was at the school I work at today for an author visit, including presentation, lunch with students, and a writing workshop. He is such an awesome author presenter; I've seen different authors present to students and I must say that he was one of the best. He opened right up for question because he wanted to talk about what the students wanted and not just give a presentation. His answers were honest, witty, and passionate. I think he inspired some kids to read and write, which is always good. One point I particularly liked was how much he stressed how many drafts he completes; he stated many times that it takes him 6 months and a year to finish a book and 6 drafts before he's even ready to submit a first draft to a publisher. He also talked about how important feedback is on his books. He gives his drafts to people to read and comment on, but he doesn't want "I love your book!" to be the response, but rather he wants to know what he can fix. He said that on one of his books, the publisher sent it back with over 900 notes of things to fix. So often kids want to write one, maybe two, drafts and be done so I always think that hearing it from someone they admire and someone they see as being a "real autho
I would definitely recommend him. I have not read any of his books at this point, but I'm pretty sure one of his will be my next read. Bruiser and Ever Lost seem like they would be the ones I would enjoy the most so we'll see. I've heard a lot of good things about Bruiser and I know that multiple books of his have been nominated for the Nutmeg Award. Have you found your savvy yet? In the novel Savvy, written for upper elementary/ early middle school students, Mibs is turning thirteen, the age when people in her family find their "savvy". Savvy is their special talent, but not, as the book points out, some magical or supernatural thing but rather just a know-how that most people don't focus enough to ever acknowledge. Her brothers both already found theirs, electricity and controlling water/weather and now it's Mibs turn!
I enjoyed this book--it was a quick and easy read. The characters are likable and relatable with a heartwarming storyline mixed with adventure. There's some cute little romance connections and numerous primary characters so lots of personality to relate to and think about. Since it is said that savvy isn't magic or supernatural, it's fun to think about what your own savvy would be, if you were tuned in enough to discover it. There were parts that had a religious undertone but not anything crazy; Mibs prays to God a couple of times, the bus they semi-run away on is a Bible delivery bus, and little things like that but that's it. Pretty much if you're between the ages of 9 and 13, you should give this book a try! 3/5 stars |