![]() So, the premise of this novel is a little disturbing and may not be suitable for all. it is set in an alternate reality in the future where humans have achieved immortality and must be "gleaned" by Scythes in order to keep the population growth in check. The storyline centers around two teenagers, Rowan and Citra, who have been chosen to by Scythe apprentices and must be taught the skill of "gleaning". The novel includes lots of action and plot twists and kept me engaged. I also enjoyed the interplay between Rowan and Citra. I don't want to say too much about the story because I do not want to give any of the plot twists away, but if you like dystopian novels that are a bit dark in nature, you will likely enjoy this book. My son has read the entire series and gives it a thumbs up. Approximate Reading Level - 7th-10th grade
0 Comments
![]() Last school year my reading intervention students and I read Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick, and although it did not hold the attention of every students, the vast majority of them loved the book. The book is told from the perspective of Max who is a very large 7th grade boy who has gone through some trauma in his life (the death of his mother). As the story unfolds, the reader learns that Max has been labeled as having a "learning disability" and he has very little confidence in his abilities. Max lives in his grandparents basement and leads a somewhat uneventful adolescence until he gets some new neighbors. His neighbor turns out to be Kevin who is also in the 7th grade and has some challenges of his own. Kevin has Morquio Syndrome which causes him to be small in stature and wear leg braces; however, the reader soon learns that Kevin is a genius. As Kevin and Max become friends, Freak the Mighty is born. This book has a little of everything - friendship, adventure, overcoming obstacles, and dealing with loss. There are some harrowing scenes as Max's father comes back into the picture. There are some topics within this book that may not be suitable for everyone. Max's father is in jail for killing Max's mother (something the reader and Max do not know until later in the book) and there are some "unsavory characters" Max's father pals around with. There are mentions of beer, smoking, and criminal activity so be forewarned. Approximate Reading Level - the reading level of the book would be suitable for students as early as 4th grade; however, I would not suggest it for students under 6th grade simply because of the content. My suggestion would be 6th-8th grade for this one. ![]() In this novel which is reminiscent of Rick Riordan's mythology-based novels, Charlie Hernandez discovers some family secrets that lead him to his role in Latin American myths. Charlie's abuela raised him on Latin mythologies from Central and South American, and he has always loved them as stories, but over the course of this novel, Charlie learns that the monsters he loved learning about are true. Charlie has to use the knowledge his abuela gave him of these myths and monsters to save himself and his family. This is a fun book with an action-packed storyline. I enjoyed the Spanish words interspersed within the story as they add to the authenticity of the story and help build Charlie's character. This book is the first in a series. Some of the monster's Charlie faces are a little creepy, so be advised! Approximate Reading Level - Grades 5th-8th ![]() Lore by Alexandra Bracken centers on the protagonist of Melora Perseous, a descendent of the mythological hero, Perseus. In Lore reality and Greek mythology meet on the streets of New York City as Lore struggles with her decision to leave her past behind her and live as a mortal. But as you might expect, leaving her past behind is not such an easy task. Lore is wrapped back up in the world of the gods when the Agon begins which is a time when the original nine Greek gods walk the earth as mortals and vie for each other's powers. Lore is an action-packed book with some interesting and well-developed characters. I enjoyed the premise of the story and got caught up in the world Bracken creates and would recommend it to those of you who enjoy Greek mythology and action. There is a lot of fighting in the story which leads to some graphic scenes, violence, and death, so it may not be a book for everyone. There are also some romantic threads woven throughout the storyline and a couple of romantic scenes including both hetero and homosexual couples. There is nothing graphic about any of the "love" scenes, and in fact, they are more a passing reference, but they may be objectionable to some readers so I am mentioning them here so you can make an informed choice. If you have not read any of Alexandra Bracken's books before, I would also suggest looking into The Darkest Minds Trilogy. Approximate Reading Level - 8th-9th grade |
Archives
August 2022
Categories
All
|