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.

PRETTIES by Scott Westerfeld

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Westerfeld, Scott. 2005. PRETTIES. New York: Simon Pulse. ISBN 0689865392

PLOT SUMMARY/CRITICAL ANALYSIS

PRETTIES tells the story of a futuristic world where at the young age of sixteen the teens undergo surgery to transform their looks.  In hopes of transforming from “uglies” to “pretties”.  Tally Youngblood is a girl caught in the middle of this she struggles with the decision to become perfect and beautiful or to leave the world she knows and not alter her looks.  After struggling with herself Tally opts to have the surgery as part of an experiment.  However after she is happy with her new self and has no desire to continue with the experiment and find a cure.  A person from Tally’s “ugly life” shows up and with a message from her “ugly life” except she does not want to listen. 

Westerfeld’s novel is dystopian fiction which focuses on social structures in life. Technology such as these high tech surgeries is very apparent throughout this futuristic novel.  The characters of this book are multidimensional with all of the changes they undergo both physically and mentally.  In a 2005 review, School Library Journal states: “His characters are multidimensional, especially Tally, who wrestles with what she has done in the past and what she will be forced to do in the future.”

Readers will be able to relate to the struggles of Tally and the other teens in this series.  Teens go through many of the same struggles as the characters of this book on one level or another.  Readers will be able to also relate to the characters wanting to be perfect and pretty in order to fit in with a particular group.  As well as the struggles of dealing with one of their friends leaving them and crossing over into a different group.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

*SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, December 2005

*BOOKLIST, September 2005

*HORN BOOK, April 2006

*KIRKUS REVIEW, October 2005

*SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Westerfeld has built a masterfully complex and vivid civilization. His characters are multidimensional, especially Tally, who wrestles with what she has done in the past and what she will be forced to do in the future. Uglies and Pretties are both nearly impossible to put down.”

Exemplary or Favorite Lines

*“It’s just programming.”

“No.  It’s because I love him.”

*“There was a species of middle pretty who smiles at everything: happy smile, disappointed smile, you’re-in-trouble smile.

*“And over all those weeks, the dream always ended the same way, with the dragon coming for the princess saying the same words every time…Face it, Tally-wa, you’re Special.”

LIFE AS WE KNEW IT by Susan Beth Pfeffer

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Pfeffer, Susan Beth. 2006. LIFE AS WE KNEW IT. Orlando, Florida: Harcourt. ISBN 0152058265

PLOT SUMMARY/CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This novel tells the story of a sixteen year old girl, Miranda, and her family’s terror through a series of events.  Everything is normal, or as normal as it can be for a teenager, until a meteor hits the moon forcing it closer to earth.  Miranda’s astonishment of what has just happened quickly turns into fear and panic.  Tsunamis destroy cities, thunderstorms shut off power, other natural disaster begin to affect everyone.  Miranda and her family retreat to their sunroom where they spend a great length of time with limited supplies of food and water. 

Pfeffer writes this novel in first person through the eyes of Miranda.  The novel is written through a series of journal entries.  Pfeffer writes a well developed and plausible plot with such believable details.  In a 2006 review, School Library Journal states: “Pfeffer tones down the terror, but otherwise crafts a frighteningly plausible account of the local effects of a near-future worldwide catastrophe.”  The reader is able to feel like they are in this situation and going through Miranda’s life with her. 

Readers will be able to relate to Miranda on many levels.  Readers can relate to her family issues, wanting love, wanting to date, and possibly the terror of her experiences due to natural disaster or other traumatic events.  In a 2006 review, Booklist states: “…this disquieting involving story depicts one family’s struggle in a world where food, warmth, and well-being disappear in the blink of an eye.”  If the reader has experienced a natural disaster they will be able to relate to parts of this book in great depth. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

*SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, October 2006

*BOOKLIST, September 2006

*PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, October 2006

*HORN BOOK, November 2006

*KIRKUS REVIEW, September 2006

*Starred review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “Absorbing from first page to last.”

Exemplary or Favorite Lines

*“ I guess I always felt even if the world came to an end, McDonald’s would still be open.”

*“I wonder if I’ll ever have to decide which is worse, life as we’re living or not life at all.”

*“We may not have a future, but you can’t deny we have a past.”

*“I hate the moon.  I hate tides and earthquakes and volcanoes.  I hate a world where things that have absolutely nothing to do with me can destroy my life and the lives of people I love.”

*“Here’s the funny thing about the world coming to an end.  Once it gets going, it doesn’t seem to stop.”

DOWNRIVER by Will Hobbs

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Hobbs, Will. 1996. DOWNRIVER. New York, New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0440226732

PLOT SUMMARY/CRITICAL ANALYSIS

DOWNRIVER tells the story of a fifteen year old girl, Jessie, who has a troubled past.  Jessie’s dad sends her to a nine week camp in a desperate attempt to turn his daughter’s life around.  While in the wilderness Jessie and the others decide to escape from their leader the first chance they get.  The teens experience the dangers of the wilderness, raging rapids, and each other.  The self appointed group leader, Troy, struggles to stay in charge creating power struggles between the teens.

Hobbs writes this novel in first person from the perspective of Jessie.  Jessie tells the story of events and how they directly affect her life. This novel is set mainly along the river of the Grand Canyon.  Hobbs describes the river and scenery in such a way that the reader can imagine exactly what it looks like.  These teens face many challenges along the way such as what is going on in their own lives, nature, themselves, and each other. 

Along the way Jessie learns a lot about herself and about life.  Camp did make an impact on Jessie’s life and turned her life around in the right direction.  She learns the importance and significance of family, friends, and working together.  Teen readers will be able to relate to these teens.  Most all teens find themselves in a power struggle with their parents or other adults along the way.  It is part of learning what life is all about.  Teens will realize they are not alone and there is light at the end of the tunnel.  This story will give teens the hope that one day the power struggles will end and differences will be set aside. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

*Starred review in PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “This book should settle once and for all the question of whether thrillers and mysteries can also be literature.”

*Starred review in LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Hart’s sophomore effort surpasses his debut… this work is reminiscent of Raymond Chandler’s novels…. The writing is simply superb.”

Exemplary or Favorite Lines

*“… I found myself wishing my dad could be on the river with me, that it could be like it was in the years before it all got so confusing”

*“I really do love this place, dad… I had no idea it would turn out like this…”