IT’S NOT ABOUT THE BIKE by Lance Armstrong

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Armstrong, Lance. 2001. IT’S NOT ABOUT THE BIKE. New York: Berkley Books. ISBN 9780425179611

PLOT SUMMARY/CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This nonfiction book tells the story of Lance Armstrong from childhood to adulthood.  Armstrong faced many challenges throughout his life.  He was raised by a teen mother who made many sacrifices in order for Lance to have a better life.  He struggled to fit in as a young child since he grew up in a town where football was a favorite among the town.  Lance began riding and racing bikes.  He went on to win a multitude of races, triathlons, and the Tour de France seven times.  His struggles became even greater when he was diagnosed with testicular cancer, and this is when the battle for his life began.  Today he is a cancer survivor…he beat the cancer the cancer did not beat him. 

This book is told in first person from the perspective of Lance Armstrong.  Since he is tell his own story it makes the reader relate to him on a different level.  He is an expert on cycling therefore he gives the reader real insight into the sport.  However he tells the stories and explains the topic to where the reader is able to completely understand.  His expertise and deep knowledge of the sport provides the reader with accurate information.  The use of photographs also allows the reader a greater understanding.

The story of his struggle with cancer and survival is the main theme of this book.  This biography lets the reader deep into the secrets of his life and just how low his odds of survival were.  This story of survival will touch the hearts of all who read this book, and will feel as if you are going through this with him all over again.  Against all odds Armstrong was going to fight until he won his battle with cancer.  "Winning my life back would be the biggest victory."  This is a book where Armstrong shares his journey through victory, tragedy, and survival with his readers.

  

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

*SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, January 2001

*LIBRARY JOURNAL, June 2000

*PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, May 2000

*BOOKLIST, March 2001

EXEMPLARY OR FAVORITE LINES

*“During our lives...we experience so many setbacks, and fight such a hand-to-hand battle with failure, head down in the rain, just trying to stay upright and to have a little hope.”
*“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.”
*“My mother told me...if you're going to get anywhere, you're going to have to do it yourself, because no one is going to do it for you.”
*“Hope that is the only antidote to fear.”
*“For most of my life I had operated under a simple schematic of winning and losing, but cancer was teaching me a tolerance for ambiguities.”
*"Winning my life back would be the biggest victory."

BODIES FROM THE ICE by James Deem

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Deem, James. 2008. BODIES FROM THE ICE. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 9780618800452

PLOT SUMMARY/Critical Analysis

Most of us probably do not think of mummies or dead bodies when we think of glaciers.  As a husband and wife went for a climb they stumbled upon something which ended up being a human corpse near the surface of a melting glacier.  It is truly amazing that science can take you back 5,300 years.  Take a journey from South America’s Andes Mountains to the European Alps to Asia’s Himalayas where glaciers are rapidly melting.  As the melting occurs new discoveries are made.  From rocky terrain to bodies of people who died in the glaciers.  With the help of scientists we learn more about the past of our world dating back thousands of years.

Deem’s writing brings a level of interest that any reader can enjoy.  The facts are amazing for the simple fact we are learning what earth was like thousands of years ago.  This well organized table of contents will guide the reader through this book with ease.  There are seven informative chapters with some being Iceman of the Alps, Dragons in Ice, Frozen Children of the Andes, and Saving the Past.

Deem’s use of access features including both visual and verbal make this book easier to understand and interpret.  He uses almost every feature to capture the true beauty of the glaciers and their finds.  Maps show specific locations, sidebars provide information you probably wouldn’t have knowledge of, photographs show the glaciers and the bodies, and their captions explain in much detail.  With over 65 photographs in color and black-and-white and many of them being rare the reader is able to get an accurate understanding of the glaciers and their findings.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

*BOOKLIST: “There are books about melting glaciers and books about frozen bodies, but this attractive offering combines the topics in a way that will intrigue readers.”

*Starred review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL:  “With its extensive bibliography, suggested websites, and a listing of glaciers to visit, Bodies is a fantastic resource.  Deem superbly weaves diverse geographical settings, time periods, and climate issues into a readable work that reveals the increasing interdisciplinary dimensions of the sciences.”

*THE HORN BOOK: “Glaciers—and the preserved past they off up—give us an intriguing peek into various cultures, yielding information on everything from human sacrifice to occult superstition to sporting endeavors.”

*Starred review in KIRKUS REVIEWS: “An intriguing read, complementing the author’s highly commended BODIES FROM THE BOG (1998) and BODIES FORM THE ASH (2005), with a bonus environmental message”

*The Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

EXEMPLARY OR FAVORTE LINES

*“In 1991 a husband and wife climbing a mountain in northern Italy stumbled across what appeared to be trash left by carless hikers.”

*“On closer inspection they realized that it was a human corpse lying near the surface of a melting alpine glacier.”

“…glaciers are rapidly melting. Their disappearing ice uncovers not only the rocky terrain that has lain beneath for thousands of years, but also the long-hidden bodies of people who died in the glaciers.”

*“As their bodies are revealed, scientists study them to learn more information about the earth’s past.  But what will happen if our grinding, gliding glaciers disappear altogether?”

A HOLE IN MY LIFE by Jack Gantos

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Gantos, Jack. 2004. A HOLE IN MY LIFE. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. ISBN

9780374430894

PLOT SUMMARY/Critical Analysis

Jack Gantos was looking for adventure and wanted to go to college to be a writer.  He did not have the money and was looking to cash to go to college.  Needing and wanting money extremely bad caused Gantos to make a bad decision.  He was asked to help sail a yacht carrying a ton of hashish from the Virgin Islands to New York City.  After arriving in New York City Gantos and his partners began selling the drugs until the federal agents caught them.  Gantos was sentenced to serve up to six years in prison for the crimes he committed. 

The book takes the reader through the fifteen months he spent in jail between high school and college.  Because of the mature nature of this book it is meant to be read by mature high school students.  Gantos wants kids to know they can make it through anything even if they have many some bad choices in their lives.  He also wants adults to not give up on the kids and to help them make a better life for themselves. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

*SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, May 2002

*BOOKLIST, April 2002

*HORN BOOK, May 2002

*PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY, February 2002

*KIRKUS REVIEWS, February 2002

EXEMPLARY OR FAVORITE LINES

*“Counted in.  After breakfast I was counted.  Before dinner I was counted.  After dinner.  Before lights out.  Then while I slept.  And even then I turned that phrase over and over in my mind: “Count me in.”  Those were the words I’d take back if I could.  They were my words to Ken and Hamilton. “Count me in.”  Now I was counted in my cell every day, and I was counted to be there morning, noon, and night.”

TWLGHT by Stephenie Meyer

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Meyer, Stephenie. 2005. TWILIGHT. Maine: Little, Brown Young Readers. ISBN 0316015849

PLOT SUMMARY/CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This vampire themed fantasy novel tells the story of Bella.  Her parents divorced at an early age and eventually she moves from Arizona to Washington to live with her father.  Bella finds herself attracted to a boy named Edward.  From here the book and Bella’s life take an interesting turn.  Edward is actually a vampire and comes from a family of vampires who drinks animal blood.  He has always been able to keep his secret quiet until now.  Bella and Edward fall in love, and Edward wants nothing more than to protect Bella.  James, another vampire, wants to hunt Bella down and kill her.  Even though Edward and his family long to protect Bella, James is able to get his hands on Bella and wounds her badly.  Edward is able to rescue Bella.  Out of anger Edward has James killed.

Meyer’s writes this novel primarily from the perspective of Bella.  This novel has the perfect mixture of romance and horror making this book enticing.  One of the restrictions on Edward and Bella’s relationship is not having sex despite their desires. Throughout the novel Bella describes her desires and Edwards attempts to curb these desires.

Readers will be able to relate to trying to fit in at school, love and relationships that occur in this book.  The events in this novel will keep readers intrigued and on the edge of their seats.  In a 2005 review, School Library Journal states: “As a result, the novel's danger-factor skyrockets as the excitement of secret love and hushed affection morphs into a terrifying race to stay alive.”

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

*SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL starred review: “The novel’s danger-factor skyrockets as the excitement of secret love and hushed affection morphs into a terrifying race to stay alive.  Realistic, subtle, succinct, and easy to follow, Twilight will have readers dying to sink their teeth in to it.”

*PUBLISHERS WEEKLY starred review: “Propelling by suspense and romance in equal parts [this story] will keep readers madly flipping the pages of Meyer’s tantalizing debut.”

*BOOKLIST starred review: “In the tradition of Anne Rice…this dark romance it gripping.”

Exemplary or Favorite Lines

*“Surly it was a good way to die, in the place of someone else, someone I loved.  Noble, even.  That ought to count for something.”

*“I said it would be better if we weren’t friends, not that I didn’t want to be.”

*“I was prepared to feel…relived.  Having you know about everything, not needing to keep secrets from you.  But I didn’t expect to feel more than that.  I like it.  It makes me…happy.

*“I don’t seem to be strong enough to stay away from you, so I suppose that you’ll get your way…whether it kills you or not.”

*“I love you.  I will always love you, no matter what happens now.