I'm always surprised when I read a book by Neal Shusterman, mainly because I never know what to expect from his books. What I do know, however, is that each time I read one of his novels I always have a different, fresh reading experience that leads me to think about the book much longer after I have finished it. His latest title, Bruiser, is no exception.

Description: Tennyson is furious when he learns that his twin sister, Bronte, is dating the odd and somewhat frightening Bruiser (real name Brewster), but Bronte insists that Bruiser is just misunderstood. Tennyson, like many of his peers, think Bruiser is a psychopath in the making, but his sister insists her boyfriend is not. After observing Brewster, Tennyson eventually realizes that Brewster is a sensitive, intelligent guy. The twins can't help but notice unusual and unexplainable events happen whenever they are near Brewster. Brewster refuses to talk and keeps to himself, but how long can he hold on to his secret before being exposed by new friends? What will Tennyson and Bronte do after they find out Brewster's secret?

Review: Bruiser is one of the rare books where I didn't really like any of the characters per se, but still enjoyed the book. For me this is odd, because I have a hard time enjoying a book where I don't like or care for the characters but I think that is the very point that Shusterman is trying to make in his novel. Bruiser is a philosophical, ethical, exploration of friendship. The novel is told from 4 point of views: Tennyson, Bronte, Bruiser aka Brewster, and Brewster's little brother Cody. Although it is very easy to lump these voices together, Shusterman does a great job in making each voice unique and distinct. He also juggles with prose, tone, and Brewster's novel in verse format which is something that I haven't read before. The writing style Shusterman chose for his character is fitting to their personality and voice while not interfering with his fast pace plot.
  Tennyson and Bronte are twins and children of two English professors whose marriage seems to be falling apart. Both characters are very observant of their surroundings. I did not like Tennyson from the very start. He is arrogant, a bully, and very condescending to those around him. Unlike Tennyson, Bronte seems to be a bit more likable, however, her "let's save the strays" attitude irked me. Nonetheless, I enjoyed how these characters interacted with Brewster. Both siblings view Brewster as 'their' project with a very similar tone to My Fair Lady (a musical that has always irritated me). While we praise Tennyson and Bronte for changing their misconceptions of Brewster, we can't help but question their motives and the basis of their friendship. Are they really, truly his friends or is he a charity case for them to take on so they could feel good about themselves?
   Brewster is a very unique character that I have not read in a really long time. I felt sorry for him when I witnessed him being bullied in school and by his guardian uncle yet I was angry at him for being so passive. I didn't understand why he simply let things happen to him until his supernatural secret is discovered. The supernatural aspect of the book is suitable for Brewster's character and it actually come off as if it was plausible. I just wanted more information as to how it got started, but nonetheless it made me understand why Brewster prefers to be a outsider yet he is grateful for having 'new found' friends. Even though his friends might be using him, Brewster can't help but feel like he is using them too.
    Bruiser can be read as an homage to Ginsberg's Howl poem. Brewster's desperation, loneliness, and the yearning to be normal leaps off the page and tugs at our heart strings much like the emotions that stir us when we read Howl. I couldn't help but wonder what would I do if I were in Brewster's place.
  Shusterman poses a lot of food for thought questions for his readers: Are Brewster's abilities a gift or a curse? Should Tennyson and Bronte take advantage of Brewster's abilities once they discovered what he can do? Is there power in friendships and if so, who is abusing theirs?  Even after finishing this book over the weekend, I still don't have the answers which is why I think this book would make a great book discussion.
 
Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: There is some language and scenes of child abuse. Recommended for 8th grade and up.

If you like this book try: Rules of Survival by Nancy Werlin

  I enjoy reading survival fiction books where humans are up against nature. One of my favorite children's books of all time is Gary Paulsen's Hatchet. I remember being in fifth grade and riveted by watching Brian survive on his own in the wilderness. Last year, I felt like my old fifth grader self when I read and loved The Great Wide Sea by M.H. Herlong, which combined both survival fiction as well as family drama into an emotionally powerful book. So when I came across Lost in the River of Grass by Ginny Rorby on Netgalley, I was excited to read this title, which will be available on March 1, 2011, and hoped for the best.

Description (found on Netgalley): A science-class field trip to the Everglades is supposed to be fun, but Sarah's new at Glades Academy, and her fellow freshmen aren't exactly making her feel welcome. When an opportunity for an unauthorized side trip on an airboat presents itself, it seems like a perfect escape—an afternoon without feeling like a sore thumb. But one simple oversight turns a joyride into a race for survival across the river of grass. Sarah will have to count on her instincts—and a guy she barely knows—if they have any hope of making it back alive. 

Review: Lost in the River of Grass is one of those books where the description doesn't match or live up to the book's content. Readers anticipate a character driven novel where the character grows after surviving a harrowing ordeal of being lost in the animal infested Everglades, but what we get instead is a plot driven novel where we don't learn much about the characters until the very end of the book. Even when we do learn about the characters, we don't seem to care which leads us to being not wholly satisfied.
  Sarah is a new student at Glades Academy. Unlike many of her classmates, she is only able to attend the school by winning a swimming scholarship. Being from a 'working family' status makes it hard for Sarah to integrate with her classmates. She is always found in the background and seems to only get attention from her teachers. It is not until the very end of the novel is Sarah's race revealed. I thought revealing her race and economic status at the same time would have made more sense instead of the other way around. When her race is revealed, I couldn't help but think "Well, ok" which I'm sure is not what the author intended, especially when Sarah and Andy's relationship grows.
   Andy is a cute boy who lives in the Everglades and does not attend school. We get hints of his troubled family situation, but again, it is not known until the last few chapters of the story. I wish the author incorporated his background throughout the story. He is suppose to be the complete opposite of Sarah and his relationship with her is suppose to be meaningful but instead it lacks an emotional punch. While we see them work together in order to stay alive, they seem so far apart despite how physically close they are. I expected the characters open up to one another during their days of survival or at the very least some inner monologue so I could get inside the character's heads for a while.
  The scenes that describe Sarah and Andy's five day trip to reach land is quite good. Rorby knows her environment and animals. It is only during these days that the pace of the book picks up and holds our interest. The climax was predictable and solved way too easily for my taste. I had hoped there would be more discussion of Sarah and Andy's poor decision making from their parents, but nothing came out of it and it bothered me. Overall, Lost in the River of Grass had an okay plot, but its one dimensional characters left me unsatisfied. Due to the main characters' age and tone of the book, I would recommend it to reluctant readers and those of middle grade.
 

Rating: 2 stars


Words of Caution: There is some PG language in the book. Recommended for Grades 7 and up.


If you like this book try: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, Everest by Gordon Korman, The Great Wide Sea by M.H. Herlong

  Shakespeare. Love him or hate him, but you can't deny his influence on our literature and pop culture. The most common complaint against Shakespeare is his language. Many readers are unable to understand what his characters are saying. The lack of action and more character introspection seems to turn off lots of people. I guess I'm in the minority that I don't mind the tough language. I like to observe what his characters are doing or aren't doing. Shakespeare's plays weren't made to be read, but to be seen and felt with all of our senses. My favorite thing about Shakespeare is that there is no one single, correct interpretation to his plays, which I know infuriates a lot of readers. It also made me incredibly frustrated when I had to write papers on his play for my classes. So when I came across a book aptly called Kill Shakespeare that seems to bring Shakespeare lovers and haters together, I knew I had to read it.

Description: The heroes of William Shakespeare's plays, Hamlet, Juliet, Othello, and Falstaff, attempt to overcome his most infamous villains, Richard III, Lady Macbeth, and Iago, in order to find and kill the reclusive wizard William Shakespeare and take his magic quill that is said to give immortality and power.

Review: The concept behind Kill Shakespeare is nothing new. Taking well known characters and setting them in a new environment has been done before quite successfully in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore and more recently the Fables graphic novel series by Bill Willingham. While this narrative approach could have failed miserably for Kill Shakespeare, I actually found it very interesting and an enlightening exploration of Bard's well known plays and characters.
  As we begin the graphic novel, Hamlet's father has been murdered and his uncle has taken the throne. A distraught Hamlet is tricked by the incredibly foul, powerful tyrant Richard III and the seductive Lady Macbeth to kill the mysterious wizard known as William Shakespeare and to retrieve his magical quill. If Hamlet is successful in his quest, the leaders promise that they will rise Hamlet's dead father from the grave. Although left in the care of the king’s adviser Iago, Hamlet soon finds himself in the company of the deceptively clownish Falstaff, who brings him before Othello and Juliet, leaders of a rebellion against the king and claims Hamlet as the Shadow King, the chosen one who can only protect William Shakespeare.
  Kill Shakespeare is full of action scenes while keeping an authentic interpretation of the cast while simultaneously adding another layer of complexity to them. For example, Juliet has survived from her disastrous relationship and vows never to give in to her emotions again. She is now a strong, female leader of a rebellion. Like wise Lady Macbeth uses her sexuality to gain an upper hand on the males who think they are in power. She controls the three witches and plays an insiders game. At first I will say that the selection for heroes piqued my interest. I don't really consider Hamlet, Juliet, Othello, or even Falstaff heroic. For the authors to choose them makes me wonder how a hero is defined and whether or not Shakespeare himself would agree with their selection. I actually found myself more interested in the so-called villains and how they try to outsmart one another through their manipulations and games.
   I think Kill Shakespeare has successfully showed Shakespeare-phobic readers what makes the Bard so special. Readers who are unfamiliar with the Bard or his plays are able to follow the story because there are enough context clues given. While some of his original dialogue are retained, it doesn't seem misplaced but flows naturally in the story. I think the combination of drawing and text allows readers to understand what is happening instead of relying on the foot/side notes. I, personally, loved the various connections to many plays and loved seeing characters from other plays pop up in the story. The art, all in color, opens up the world and offers some great background sets that don't overwhelm the characters or their dialogue. I told my English teachers about this graphic novel and already have one reading it. I look forward to hearing their reviews and reading more from this series.

Curricular Connection: English/Shakespeare

Rating: 4.5 stars


Words of Caution: There is some language and allusions to sex throughout the novel. There are also many scenes of bloody violence. Recommended for high school students and adults.


If you like this book try: Fables by Bill Willingham or The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen by Alan Moore

  As you all are probably aware, Chicago was hit with a blizzard. I currently have about 2.5 feet of snow at home. I can't tell you where my driveway ends and where the road begins, but I'm very thankful to have electricity, a warm house, and my family close at home. Now that I had today as a snow day and one tomorrow too, I hope to catch up with my reading. Today I finished Silas Marner by George Eliot for my first book of the Victorian Literature Challenge. I first stumbled upon George Eliot during sophomore year in high school where I picked up her The Mill on a Floss for independent reading. I remember loving the story and wanting to read another book by the author, but never had the chance until now.

Description: The people of Raveloe always thought there was something strange about Silas Marner. With his bent back, strange eyes, and his tendency to have cataleptic fits, Silas was always in the background until he is wrongly accused of a heinous theft. Shattered and shaken by this incident, he exiles himself from the world until he finds redemption through his love for an abandoned child who mysteriously appears one day at his isolated cottage. When the child's parentage is revealed, will Silas lose his only comfort from life once again?

Review: Silas Marner is probably the shortest, most straight-forward Victorian novel that I've read so far. Right from its very first page, readers are transported to the pastoral English countryside of the early 19th century. Raveloe, the setting of the novel, is far away from the large towns and roads. It is an isolated community that seems to be unaware of the advancement of the Industrial Revolution. It represents what England has lost since the revolution. 
  Despite his miser appearance, Silas Marner is actually a very sweet, simple, and honest man. Since he is a weaver by profession and has a working knowledge of medicinal herbs that causes him to have fits (and claimed by many town folks to have supernatural powers), he has always been on the fringe of his society which allows Eliot to use him to explore the themes of community, religion, and family which are important themes in all of her novels. Due to his innocent nature, we are outraged when Silas is falsely accused of theft. We demand justice and are sickened when it is not given to him. Like Silas, our very own faith is shattered and we long to seek comfort in something. For Silas, it is monetary money which he counts every night.
  Unfortunately for Silas, his world is once again shaken one wintry night when his money disappears. Though he is distraught about his wealth gone, it only seems temporary when he finds a lonely baby girl who has been left on his door step. He quickly becomes attached to the girl, who he names Eppie, and she becomes his world. Silas' love for Eppie is genuine and unselfish. He finds redemption and his faith is restored by her; however, Eppie's love for Silas is tested when she finds out who her real parents are and are given the opportunity to live in comfort. The relationship between Silas and Eppie is what makes this novel a truly sweet and sad story.
  Unlike many novels that I've read so far this year, the main characters in the novel are quite passive. The only active character seems to be destiny, who judges and serves punishment or reward as they seem fit. Like many Victorian novelists, morality and order are very important in society. We are reminded that who we are determines not only what we do, but also what is done to us.
  If you are thinking about reading a Victorian novel or even a novel by George Eliot, I would highly recommend Silas Marner. It's clear, medium paced plot, numerous themes and symbolism, would make it a great selection for a book club or even a sneak peak into Victorian society.


Rating: 4.5 stars

Words of Caution: Eppie's biological mother was an opium addict. There are also some alcohol references in the book. Recommended for high school and adults.

If you like this book try:

I'm in the middle of a blizzard here in Chicagoland so I hope this blog post posts. I apologize in advance if I can't read your comments and posts right away. I do hope to catch up when the weather is better and my DSL connection isn't finicky. As you know the Top 10 Tuesday weekly feature is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where bloggers get together and discuss their lists. This week's topic is our top 10 author debut novels.

1. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte- Hands down my favorite book of all time. A ghost story/ tragic love story/revenge story set upon the English Moors. I try to read this book every year and with every reread I always find something new.
 
2. Frankenstein by Mary Shelly- The first gothic, horror novel that I've ever read. While not gory or violent, the very idea of a human trying to play God is frightening.

3.  The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde- Incredibly witty yet disturbing at the same time. A critical look at our obsession with youth and beauty.

4. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy- A beautifully and masterfully told tale about contemporary India through the eyes of young twins Rahel and Estha and the rest of their family.

5.  Brick Lane by Monica Ali - We watch Nazneen grow and evolve from a passive Bangladeshi woman who has been taught to let fate take her course into a strong, confident, and determined woman who decides to make her own life.

6. Looking for Alaska by John Green- This was my first YA book that I picked up when I started library school. Green's fabulous writing, honest characters, and the right touch of humor with provocative questions made me a Green groupie. I loved everything he has written so far and I credit him for changing my perception of YA literature.

7. Graceling by Kristin Cashore- A phenomenal feminist fantasy story with terrific world building and characters. I have been recommending this book constantly ever since I finished its last page. Looking forward to reading other books by Cashore.

8. 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher- A tragic story of a girl detailing thirteen reasons why she committed suicide and those responsible for her death. Gritty, provocative, and hard to put down. This book is always checked out both at my high school and public library.

9. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver- I never had a book that made me experience a wide range of emotions. I went from hating the main character to feeling sympthatic towards her and then finally cheering her on as she learns from her mistake by living the same day that she dies over and over again.

10. Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan- One of my favorite books from 2010 pre-blogging. A pitch perfect teenage boy voice that has humor, insecurity, and introspection all rolled into one. A story of friendship and the different shades of love made this book an enjoyable read.