Fiction-L
I knew this existed and once in awhile we've used it to answer a tough RA question - usually one we treat as a reference question. I signed onto the listserv during this week's lesson for the digest version. I have looked at the entries briefly but just don't see the time to keep up with it. I also feel someone intimidated by the amount of author/RA knowledge these people have . . . but need to remind myself that the answers come from multiple librarians. One week I was thinking about a particular series and ah-ha moment came when reading the listserv . . . there was someone asking about the series: the female minister/cop mystery series: And the author is Spencer-Fleming, Julia and the characters are: Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne
LibraryThing
Here's what I wrote in the forum:
Are you using social networking book sites like LibraryThing and GoodReads as professional resources? If yes, in what ways are they helpful for RA purposes?
I'd looked at LibraryThing before, had thought I would use it, but forgot about it and didn't. It's good that you're including Web 2.0 things in this course. If we don't make an effort to use these - will we be as helpful to our customers as possible and/or marginalize ourselves. I did try to use LibraryThing for a recent book ref. question - customer wanted a book post-9/11 and teens in New York City - not necessarily about 9/11 but how life changed in the years since--fiction or nonfiction. I didn't really find much on LibraryThing compared to more traditional sources.
To add now later in the course - so I sound fairly disappointed in LibraryThing. However, I can add at the end of the course that I have found LibraryThing quite helpful. In doing the Reader Recommendations assignments for each lesson, I've turned to LibraryThing quite frequently. Tag searches have worked quite well for me and led me to titles or authors similar to the book I'd read for the assignment. The recommendations from LibraryThing and from members have been helpful and helped expand my knowledge of similar books to recommend - like a learning tree - you find a title and branch out to other titles and then onto other titles - and you don't get lost, you can always get back to the original book you were looking up. I also think that once the public gets accustomed to tags on many web sites, our library catalog searching, especially by subject, must seem very difficult and clunky and not likely to lead to quick, easy matches.
I do like the idea of creating tag clouds for Read-Alikes and hope to find the time to do this in 2009.
for my own information I copied my answers to the discussion forum:
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Having read about Web 2.0 what are some of the ways we can put the technology to use?
We are currently using blogs for our Readers Recommendations and Staff Picks as well as Hot Topics, which has nothing to do with RA--perhaps we should try "hot authors". It is a struggle for us to get readers to add to our website. Most of our reviews by readers are turned in on paper as part of the summer or winter adult reading programs. So, we're still frustrated about the lack of activity. Maybe finding a core group of people who will write reviews will provide our web site with a body (quantity) of reviews and a momentum to build a successful Web 2.0 reader reviews section. I'm thinking about: we have a local writers group - might they volunteer some reviews; maybe the schools would work with us and assign students for an assignment or extra credit to write reviews on our web site; maybe some of our steady customers could be approached . . . for example, one man requests interesting nonfiction . . . .
I like the idea of a tag cloud for Read-Alikes. The visual nature of a cloud seems more appealing to me as a user than scrolling through a list of authors. We have started a nonfiction "neighborhood" called Green Living. There's a massive bibliography of titles and hundreds of subject headings. I could see using Del.icio.us with the neighborhoods. Perhaps starting with our next neighborhood that will be smaller in terms of number of titles and subjects to give us a chance to play with Del.icio.us without being overwhelmed with content for our first try.
Are you using social networking book sites like LibraryThing and GoodReads as professional resources? If yes, in what ways are they helpful for RA purposes?
I'd looked at LibraryThing before, had thought I would use it, but forgot about it and didn't. It's good that you're including Web 2.0 things in this course. If we don't make an effort to use these - will we be as helpful to our customers as possible and/or marginalize ourselves. I did try to use LibraryThing for a recent book ref. question - customer wanted a book post-9/11 and teens in New York City - not necessarily about 9/11 but how life changed in the years since--fiction or nonfiction. I didn't really find much on LibraryThing compared to more traditional sources. I did sign up for FictionL because of this course and may send in the question there. To me, FictionL is a fabulous resource - if only the public knew librarians, as a group, know so much about reading and authors. They'd be amazed.
One of the strengths of these social networking resources is meeting the readers where they live. Though these are not your customers, can you think of ways they can help you help your readers?
Obviously, we can let people know about these but they are somewhat intimidating -- the volume -- number of reviews and reviewers; the brevity of some of the reviews - which may mean they don't really help enough to pick titles; the oddity of lists you'll get -- Harry Potter and classic literature. What I see in our library are people that ask for lists--what is popular -- so they don't miss out on a best-seller; ask for read-alikes; ask for "good" titles that haven't made the best-seller list. Could a library or a group of libraries try a more focused LibraryThing -- Wisconsin authors; books with Wisconsin settings, etc. Maybe Wisconsin isn't those most glamorous or popular thing to try but I'm still struggling with a winning idea to use the technology and bring people to our web site.
Showing posts with label Read-Alikes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Read-Alikes. Show all posts
Friday, November 28, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Horror Fiction - Reader Recommendations
Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King
Horror title - I read the Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Janice Dibble Nov 28, 2008 4:32 PM
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The main character, a nine year-old girl, who is out hiking with her mother and brother, wantders of the trail during the hike for just a moment and ends up getting lost. At first she thinks she'll hook up with them further along - that the 2 trails will join together but soon realizes she hears no humans and sees no path-joining. She faces challenge after challenge - as I read I kept thinking oh, no, she's only a little girl, and then, I couldn't deal with the fear and figure out what to do next as well as she is! She's very plucky and uses her brain -- a stream runs into a bigger stream or a river and will lead me to civilization. She gets stung and wet and hungry and thirsty and hurt and keeps going. And, worst of all - what else is in the forest and is following her and what will it do when it catches her. So, there's lots of Fear in this fast-paced novel. She thinks about her broken family - loves her mom and dad but they're not together. She had a llittle food and water and found things to eat but best of all she has a walkman/radio so she can listen to baseball games and her favorite player Tom Gordon. As things get worse Tricia talks and walks with Tom Gordon but she knows she's hallucinating. And does she survive . . . .? And what supernatural or natural being was following her and will it harm her ?
This was a great book - very frightening, very easy to identify with this lost little girl, you'd think a walk in the woods with your family woud be great - and why did it have to Rain?
This is a great psychological horror novel. Would make a great TV movie.
Fiction Recommendations:
First I would recommend other Stephen King novels because he is such a good writer and storyteller. If you like Stephen King, you are likely to read other titles by him even if they aren't in the same subgenre. A lot of our readers who read all of Stephen King also read all of Dean Koontz and Peter Straub so I would ask the reader if he/she has tried Dean Koontz or Peter Straub.
There are lists of Psychological Horror that I could check. Hooked on Horror has a Chapter on Psychological Horror. However, when I looked at the "similar titles" list under The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, there weren't many book titles and two of suggested titles had reviews/synopsis that didn't seem to match that much and had mixed or bad reviews as books to read. The closest in storyline that was suggested is Thunderland by Brandon Massey, which has a 12 year-old boy as the protagonist and some mixed reviews - with some good reviews. So, I would show the reader the synopsis and book review(s) for the reader to consider.
I did find some library lists for psychological horr as well, here's one although there are no annotations to guide the reader: http://auburn-hills.lib.mi.us/Adult/Booklist/PsychHorror.htm
If the person was interested in the character focus of a young child, I would ask if he/she had read To Kill a Mockingbird. With Scout, a young child, who faces terror and the unknown especially regarding Boo Radley and the house, the reader might find this a good match. I would describe the storyline since that is quite different from Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.
Nonfiction recommendations:
I would recommend Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, a story about a recent college graduate--so young but not as young as King's character - who goes into the wilds of Alaska and faces a tragic end. So, not only is there a relatively youthful figure, but the setting of the wilderness and storyline of surviving or not surviving in the wild. Into the Wild is well-written so the appeal of wrting skill may be a bonus.
I would also recommend A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson if the reader found the setting of walking a trail intriguing and wanted to learn more. More particularly, it is also about the Appalachian Trail. And similarly, it's a story about the "adventure" of going into nature and succeeding on the walk. Also, well-written. Differences are that this is an adult and has lots of humor.
I could also head into the world of baseball for nonfiction.
Horror title - I read the Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon
Janice Dibble Nov 28, 2008 4:32 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The main character, a nine year-old girl, who is out hiking with her mother and brother, wantders of the trail during the hike for just a moment and ends up getting lost. At first she thinks she'll hook up with them further along - that the 2 trails will join together but soon realizes she hears no humans and sees no path-joining. She faces challenge after challenge - as I read I kept thinking oh, no, she's only a little girl, and then, I couldn't deal with the fear and figure out what to do next as well as she is! She's very plucky and uses her brain -- a stream runs into a bigger stream or a river and will lead me to civilization. She gets stung and wet and hungry and thirsty and hurt and keeps going. And, worst of all - what else is in the forest and is following her and what will it do when it catches her. So, there's lots of Fear in this fast-paced novel. She thinks about her broken family - loves her mom and dad but they're not together. She had a llittle food and water and found things to eat but best of all she has a walkman/radio so she can listen to baseball games and her favorite player Tom Gordon. As things get worse Tricia talks and walks with Tom Gordon but she knows she's hallucinating. And does she survive . . . .? And what supernatural or natural being was following her and will it harm her ?
This was a great book - very frightening, very easy to identify with this lost little girl, you'd think a walk in the woods with your family woud be great - and why did it have to Rain?
This is a great psychological horror novel. Would make a great TV movie.
Fiction Recommendations:
First I would recommend other Stephen King novels because he is such a good writer and storyteller. If you like Stephen King, you are likely to read other titles by him even if they aren't in the same subgenre. A lot of our readers who read all of Stephen King also read all of Dean Koontz and Peter Straub so I would ask the reader if he/she has tried Dean Koontz or Peter Straub.
There are lists of Psychological Horror that I could check. Hooked on Horror has a Chapter on Psychological Horror. However, when I looked at the "similar titles" list under The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, there weren't many book titles and two of suggested titles had reviews/synopsis that didn't seem to match that much and had mixed or bad reviews as books to read. The closest in storyline that was suggested is Thunderland by Brandon Massey, which has a 12 year-old boy as the protagonist and some mixed reviews - with some good reviews. So, I would show the reader the synopsis and book review(s) for the reader to consider.
I did find some library lists for psychological horr as well, here's one although there are no annotations to guide the reader: http://auburn-hills.lib.mi.us/Adult/Booklist/PsychHorror.htm
If the person was interested in the character focus of a young child, I would ask if he/she had read To Kill a Mockingbird. With Scout, a young child, who faces terror and the unknown especially regarding Boo Radley and the house, the reader might find this a good match. I would describe the storyline since that is quite different from Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon.
Nonfiction recommendations:
I would recommend Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer, a story about a recent college graduate--so young but not as young as King's character - who goes into the wilds of Alaska and faces a tragic end. So, not only is there a relatively youthful figure, but the setting of the wilderness and storyline of surviving or not surviving in the wild. Into the Wild is well-written so the appeal of wrting skill may be a bonus.
I would also recommend A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson if the reader found the setting of walking a trail intriguing and wanted to learn more. More particularly, it is also about the Appalachian Trail. And similarly, it's a story about the "adventure" of going into nature and succeeding on the walk. Also, well-written. Differences are that this is an adult and has lots of humor.
I could also head into the world of baseball for nonfiction.
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Romance Fiction - Reader Recommendations
I read Snowbound about a teacher and veteran who meet because of a blizzard. The teacher and her students, partcipating in a tournament, get caught driving in a blizzard. One of the students remembers a B&B/hotel in the area and they are lucky to find it. The veteran, scarred physically and emotionally, is not happy to have these unexpected guests. Naturally, he and the teacher, fall in love. They each have issues and end up splitting up, come together again, help each other deal with their issues and will live happily ever after following their marriage - which the students will attend!
Fiction Recommendations:
What other titles might I suggest:
If the person liked the story because it was a love story that involved a teacher and would share whether she liked the romance level - love at first sight with some sexuality - mostly "off-camera" but not entirely, then I would recommend another romance in the same Harlequin series, which is the Harlequin superromance series:
One of the titles in that series is called Son's Teacher so this would be a possibility:
Title : His son's teacher Author : Stockham, Kay.
Publisher : Toronto ; New York : Harlequin, c2008.
Subject Heading(s) : Single fathers--Fiction.
Teachers--Fiction.
Dyslexia--Fiction.
Tennessee--Fiction.
Love stories.
Series Title : Harlequin superromance ; 1502
I haven't had a chance to read it - it's been checked out since I read Snowbound!
If reader of Snowbound said she was interested in the female teacher story but found Snowbound a little tame both in the romance and depth of characterization, if the reader has also read chick lit or would be willing to try chick lit, I would recommend that she try the following: Everything Nice
She could read the Syndetics Publishers Weekly review available in our web catalog to see if this would be a good fit:
Title: Everything nice Author : Shanman, Ellen.
Publisher : New York : Bantam Books, c2008.
Subject Heading(s) : Single women--Fiction.
Risk-taking (Psychology)--Fiction.
Women teachers--Fiction.
Love stories.
NONFICTION RECOMMENDATIONS:
For nonfiction, again if reader a teacher or interested in teaching:
I could recommend a title written by a teacher, but would check to see if the reader was interested in something that focuses on day-to-day experiences with a focus on our troubled school systems, This might not be what the reader is looking for:
Title: Inside Mrs. B's Classroom : courage, hope, and learning on Chicago's South Side
Author : Baldacci, Leslie.
Publisher : New York : McGraw-Hill, 2004.
Subject Heading(s) : Baldacci, Leslie--Career in education.
Urban schools--Illinois--Chicago.
Public schools--Illinois--Chicago.
Women teachers--Illinois--Chicago.
Problem children--Education--Illinois--Chicago.
One of more interest, with a well-respected author, if reader interested in teaching would be by Jonathan Kozol: From the Booklist review of 9/1/2007 by Vanessa Bush:
A beautiful book that offers an intimate look at the challenges and joys of teaching and one that will inspire and inform teachers and all those interested in public education. Bush, Vanessa.
Title : Letters to a young teacher
Author : Kozol, Jonathan.
Publisher : New York : Crown Publishers, c2007.
Edition : 1st ed.
Subject Heading(s) : Teaching
Teachers--Anecdotes.
Teaching--Anecdotes.
We have biographies of teachers, many are biographies with an historical bent and I would explore those with the reader if she was not interested in the 2 I mention above. I haven't yet found a nonfiction teacher/love story book but I'd need to do more searching - especially the biographies or perhaps a classic I can't think of. More work to do on this!
I could also explore the Veterans or Blizzards aspect of the title Snowbound. There are fiction and NF books on blizzards but that really wasn't the focus of the novel - really a plot device to bring the characters together rather than the setting. There are books on health impacts on Iraqi veterans - more than any of would like to see - but a reality that readers may want to read.
The other romance I read was a historical romance and I enjoyed that more:
Title: Chances
Author : Nowak, Pamela.
Publisher : Waterville, Me. : Five Star, c2008.
Edition : 1st ed.
Subject Heading(s) : Women telegraphers--Fiction.
Undertakers and undertaking--Fiction.
Suffragists--Fiction.
Women--Colorado--History--Fiction.
Denver (Colo.)--Fiction.
Love stories.
Fiction Recommendations:
What other titles might I suggest:
If the person liked the story because it was a love story that involved a teacher and would share whether she liked the romance level - love at first sight with some sexuality - mostly "off-camera" but not entirely, then I would recommend another romance in the same Harlequin series, which is the Harlequin superromance series:
One of the titles in that series is called Son's Teacher so this would be a possibility:
Title : His son's teacher Author : Stockham, Kay.
Publisher : Toronto ; New York : Harlequin, c2008.
Subject Heading(s) : Single fathers--Fiction.
Teachers--Fiction.
Dyslexia--Fiction.
Tennessee--Fiction.
Love stories.
Series Title : Harlequin superromance ; 1502
I haven't had a chance to read it - it's been checked out since I read Snowbound!
If reader of Snowbound said she was interested in the female teacher story but found Snowbound a little tame both in the romance and depth of characterization, if the reader has also read chick lit or would be willing to try chick lit, I would recommend that she try the following: Everything Nice
She could read the Syndetics Publishers Weekly review available in our web catalog to see if this would be a good fit:
Title: Everything nice Author : Shanman, Ellen.
Publisher : New York : Bantam Books, c2008.
Subject Heading(s) : Single women--Fiction.
Risk-taking (Psychology)--Fiction.
Women teachers--Fiction.
Love stories.
NONFICTION RECOMMENDATIONS:
For nonfiction, again if reader a teacher or interested in teaching:
I could recommend a title written by a teacher, but would check to see if the reader was interested in something that focuses on day-to-day experiences with a focus on our troubled school systems, This might not be what the reader is looking for:
Title: Inside Mrs. B's Classroom : courage, hope, and learning on Chicago's South Side
Author : Baldacci, Leslie.
Publisher : New York : McGraw-Hill, 2004.
Subject Heading(s) : Baldacci, Leslie--Career in education.
Urban schools--Illinois--Chicago.
Public schools--Illinois--Chicago.
Women teachers--Illinois--Chicago.
Problem children--Education--Illinois--Chicago.
One of more interest, with a well-respected author, if reader interested in teaching would be by Jonathan Kozol: From the Booklist review of 9/1/2007 by Vanessa Bush:
A beautiful book that offers an intimate look at the challenges and joys of teaching and one that will inspire and inform teachers and all those interested in public education. Bush, Vanessa.
Title : Letters to a young teacher
Author : Kozol, Jonathan.
Publisher : New York : Crown Publishers, c2007.
Edition : 1st ed.
Subject Heading(s) : Teaching
Teachers--Anecdotes.
Teaching--Anecdotes.
We have biographies of teachers, many are biographies with an historical bent and I would explore those with the reader if she was not interested in the 2 I mention above. I haven't yet found a nonfiction teacher/love story book but I'd need to do more searching - especially the biographies or perhaps a classic I can't think of. More work to do on this!
I could also explore the Veterans or Blizzards aspect of the title Snowbound. There are fiction and NF books on blizzards but that really wasn't the focus of the novel - really a plot device to bring the characters together rather than the setting. There are books on health impacts on Iraqi veterans - more than any of would like to see - but a reality that readers may want to read.
The other romance I read was a historical romance and I enjoyed that more:
Title: Chances
Author : Nowak, Pamela.
Publisher : Waterville, Me. : Five Star, c2008.
Edition : 1st ed.
Subject Heading(s) : Women telegraphers--Fiction.
Undertakers and undertaking--Fiction.
Suffragists--Fiction.
Women--Colorado--History--Fiction.
Denver (Colo.)--Fiction.
Love stories.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Graphic Novels Reader Recommendations
Read Deogratias A Tale of Rwanda a graphic novel
Reader Recommendations - for this unit I'm separating graphic novel and "regular" book recommendations. I admit to being a little confused by applying "graphic novel" to fiction and nonfiction but that is the label I'm finding in various places!
GRAPHIC NOVEL RECOMMENDATIONS:
If the reader wanted a graphic novel also about Africa,Irecommend the award-winning Aya, by Marguerite Abouet and Clement Oubrerie. The book is about Africa and involves a teenage girl and her friends and family. There isn't the horror as found in the GN about Rwanda. Indeed the author of Aya, when interviewed said she intentionally wanted to show an Africa without famine or war.
The book is lighter in storyline, is humorous and described as a fun read, and has light, vibrant, colorful illustrations. As to location and time, this takes place in the Ivory Coast in the 1970s. There's a second book about Aya if the reader enjoys this. I enjoyed Aya very much and did read it as a contrast to the harrowing tale of Rwanda.
If the reader was interested in other graphic novels that dealt with historic events and would be educational but didn't need to deal with Africa or the 1990's: I would recommend:
The Pulitizer Prize winning classic graphic novel, Maus, about the Holocaust.
Another GN I would recommend is Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis, which is about an Iranian girl from 10-14 yrs (so you'd have the youth interest if a teen wanted another GN or an adult was interested in stories with teens/tweens) who is there during the Iranian revolution in the 1970s and whose family escapes Iran during the Iraq/Iran War.
"Regular" book recommendations:
I'd recommend Over a Thousand Hills by Hanna Jansen. For someone interested in more on the Rwanda genocide and focus on a child (8 during genocide so younger than teen) and suitable for Grade 9-up per SLJ. Jansen's book is a ficionalized biography of an 8 year girl who was the only member of her family to survive.
Although not a graphic novel, this would be of interest to readers, particularly teens, since a child is the focus. It also has the same setting Rwanda and the storyline - the genocide in Rwanda.
Review from Teen Ink website: Over a Thousand Hills I Walk with You by Hanna Jansen
This inspirational book is based on the true story of Jeanne, who is caught in a war of ethnicities in Rwanda. The trials Jeanne endured are shocking; she was only eight when the atrocities occurred. Jeanne experiences the deaths of her mother and brother, which are forever engrained in her memory.
The root of the Rwandan genocide is ethnic violence between the Tutsis and Hutus. The Tutsis were hunted down and betrayed by their neighbors and friends, the Hutus. And so Jeanne learns whom she can and cannot trust.
Through many trials of doubt Jeanne becomes wise for her age. The story is told by Jeanne’s adoptive mother, who graciously becomes her guardian. This book showcases the will of a girl to survive and overcome the past to create a positive future.
This piece has also been published in Teen Ink's monthly magazine.
NONFICTION Books for adults
A 2008 book by foreign correspondent Stephen Kinzer, A Thousand Hills:Rwanda's Rebirth anf the Man Who Dreamed It, would update the reader on what's currently happening in Rwanda if that's what the reader asked me for. Kinzer describes progress and the country's President, Paul Kagame. A PW reviewer expresses some caution -- that Kinzer may be too optimistic about the country's rebirth and Kagame.
Recommendation: Nonfiction Book
And not to be too confusing with another Thousand Hills title!!!!!!
An older book but well worth reading:
Land of a Thousand Hills: My Life in Rwanda by Carr, Rosamund Halsey (Author), with Halsey, Ann Howard
Carr describes her life as a young bride who ends up in Africa and stays even after her divorce. Her love of Africa and the people is warmly portrayed. She knew Tutsis and Hutus and both ethnic groups worked on her African "farm." It was shocking to her and is to the reader to see the rapid descent into violence and how Tutsis and Hutus who worked together amd were neighbors quickly turned into enemies and engaged in shocking violence. Obviously, this is a book I read and could describe it to the reader -- if the reader wants to read about Africa, know more about the history of Rwanda, read an eyewitness account of the violence, this would be an excellent book. It's also an account by an adult and by an outsider--non-African who grew to love Africa if these would be appeals for the reader.
Reader Recommendations - for this unit I'm separating graphic novel and "regular" book recommendations. I admit to being a little confused by applying "graphic novel" to fiction and nonfiction but that is the label I'm finding in various places!
GRAPHIC NOVEL RECOMMENDATIONS:
If the reader wanted a graphic novel also about Africa,Irecommend the award-winning Aya, by Marguerite Abouet and Clement Oubrerie. The book is about Africa and involves a teenage girl and her friends and family. There isn't the horror as found in the GN about Rwanda. Indeed the author of Aya, when interviewed said she intentionally wanted to show an Africa without famine or war.
The book is lighter in storyline, is humorous and described as a fun read, and has light, vibrant, colorful illustrations. As to location and time, this takes place in the Ivory Coast in the 1970s. There's a second book about Aya if the reader enjoys this. I enjoyed Aya very much and did read it as a contrast to the harrowing tale of Rwanda.
If the reader was interested in other graphic novels that dealt with historic events and would be educational but didn't need to deal with Africa or the 1990's: I would recommend:
The Pulitizer Prize winning classic graphic novel, Maus, about the Holocaust.
Another GN I would recommend is Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis, which is about an Iranian girl from 10-14 yrs (so you'd have the youth interest if a teen wanted another GN or an adult was interested in stories with teens/tweens) who is there during the Iranian revolution in the 1970s and whose family escapes Iran during the Iraq/Iran War.
"Regular" book recommendations:
I'd recommend Over a Thousand Hills by Hanna Jansen. For someone interested in more on the Rwanda genocide and focus on a child (8 during genocide so younger than teen) and suitable for Grade 9-up per SLJ. Jansen's book is a ficionalized biography of an 8 year girl who was the only member of her family to survive.
Although not a graphic novel, this would be of interest to readers, particularly teens, since a child is the focus. It also has the same setting Rwanda and the storyline - the genocide in Rwanda.
Review from Teen Ink website: Over a Thousand Hills I Walk with You by Hanna Jansen
This inspirational book is based on the true story of Jeanne, who is caught in a war of ethnicities in Rwanda. The trials Jeanne endured are shocking; she was only eight when the atrocities occurred. Jeanne experiences the deaths of her mother and brother, which are forever engrained in her memory.
The root of the Rwandan genocide is ethnic violence between the Tutsis and Hutus. The Tutsis were hunted down and betrayed by their neighbors and friends, the Hutus. And so Jeanne learns whom she can and cannot trust.
Through many trials of doubt Jeanne becomes wise for her age. The story is told by Jeanne’s adoptive mother, who graciously becomes her guardian. This book showcases the will of a girl to survive and overcome the past to create a positive future.
This piece has also been published in Teen Ink's monthly magazine.
NONFICTION Books for adults
A 2008 book by foreign correspondent Stephen Kinzer, A Thousand Hills:Rwanda's Rebirth anf the Man Who Dreamed It, would update the reader on what's currently happening in Rwanda if that's what the reader asked me for. Kinzer describes progress and the country's President, Paul Kagame. A PW reviewer expresses some caution -- that Kinzer may be too optimistic about the country's rebirth and Kagame.
Recommendation: Nonfiction Book
And not to be too confusing with another Thousand Hills title!!!!!!
An older book but well worth reading:
Land of a Thousand Hills: My Life in Rwanda by Carr, Rosamund Halsey (Author), with Halsey, Ann Howard
Carr describes her life as a young bride who ends up in Africa and stays even after her divorce. Her love of Africa and the people is warmly portrayed. She knew Tutsis and Hutus and both ethnic groups worked on her African "farm." It was shocking to her and is to the reader to see the rapid descent into violence and how Tutsis and Hutus who worked together amd were neighbors quickly turned into enemies and engaged in shocking violence. Obviously, this is a book I read and could describe it to the reader -- if the reader wants to read about Africa, know more about the history of Rwanda, read an eyewitness account of the violence, this would be an excellent book. It's also an account by an adult and by an outsider--non-African who grew to love Africa if these would be appeals for the reader.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Science Fiction - Reader Recommendations
Read 1 SF or Fantasy: MY 4 FEADER RECOMMENDATIONS follow comments about Maximum Ride, the book I read for Science Fiction - so keep reading!
I read The Final Warning by James Patterson; the 4th book in the Maximum Ride series. Patterson wrote the Maximum Ride series for YA audience. I didn't read the first 3 in the series but the same characters are in all the books. Maximum Ride is a 14-year old girl - part of the Flock, a group of kids of varying ages - and Max is the leader. What's uniques and SF about these kids: they've been genetically modified (such a genteel term, isn't it) an are human/bird "people" - they have wings and can fly and have great eyesight. Their sidekick is a talking dog, who sprouts wings in this title in the series. I can see the appeal for both boys and girls of teen or younger years: first there's the tight group/comradeship aspect of being part of the Flock, and the kids seem smarter then the adults, although there are times when "good" adults help them out; they have lots of adventures and face danger (most of the violence is off camera); it's cool to think about -- what if humans had wings and could fly any time. Girls probably like the idea of Max, the oldest girl being the leader but there is an equally strong boy, Fang, for the boys to like. There's also a budding romance between the 2 of them. On the other, teen readers will relate to the times when the Flock feel like freaks when they're with all-human groups--the Flock is different and people stare and treat them differently. And not all the evil in the story is caused by humans - there are machines as bad guys. Those who like humor will enjoy the bits with the kids outsmarting the adults and the witty remarks Total, the dog, makes -- and Total also falls in love with a real dog. So, lots of aspects for teens/tweens to enjoy, including the SF aspects. As with other Patterson books, the book is fast-paced, with adventure/action and plot surprises.
How did I choose the book? At PLA this year, copies of a Maximum Ride title were handed out, not sure which one in the series. When I came back to the Library, I saw the interest in the series by Teens, Tweens, and Adults! There aren't many bestsellers that develop loyalty to a series across the generations. I also read it because I've read other James Patterson books - Alex Cross, etc. mysteries/suspense novels - and wanted to see how this would compare. I picked Final Warning because it was about global warming. (I'd say the global warming plotline was the lamest part of the book.) How does it fit in the genre: I would call it Science Fiction rather than Fantasy; I think you could call it Science Fiction sub-genre Adventure as well as the sub-genre Earth's Children, Bioengineering -- where it is listed in Genreflecting.
The Final Warning is the 4th in the Maximum Ride series. Book 5 is due to come out in March 2009.
I'm not sure if it's out yet but one of the titles has been optioned for a movie. I can see this series being popular as a movie. The set design - especially in The Final Warning - could be amazing -- flying kids, talking dogs, machines--some who look like humans, Antarctica, penguins, etc.
There is an interesting article in Booklist, 5/15/06, by Stephanie Zvirin, the Story Behind the Story . . . in which she writes about Patterson's motivation for writing the Maximum Ride series. He wanted to encourage kids to READ. The article also mentions that Patterson donates funds to bookstores, communities, libraries and schools to encourage reading.
FOUR BOOKS TO RECOMMEND
FICTION -- I'm listing more than 2 possibilities
For either adults or teens, I'd recommend the rest of the Final Warning series. Even if they started near the end of the series, as I did, I think the earlier books would be of interest -- reader could fill in the gaps on the earlier adventures of the teens and the way they were "raised".
This is what I found using NoveList
2 fiction under teenage adventure using currency of publication date and popularity as limiters:
So if I was suggesting titles to teens:
Alex Rider graphic novel series by Anthony Horowitz
or
Thieves till we die by Stephen Cole
I also added the limiter adult in NoveList if I was making a suggestion for an adult who'd read Final Warning:
Secret Country by Pamela Dean
Summary: Each vacation a group of cousins--Patrick, Ruth, Ellen, Ted, and Laura--play a game they invented called "Secret," in which they are transported to a world of wizards, magic, dragons, and court intrigue. Summary from NoveList So, this book is more magic-oriented than the Patterson series and their may be some adults not interested in magic and so this title might not be their choice.
And from the Library Journal, 11/15/2008 SF/Fantasy column by Jackie Cassada -- and I skipped over SciFi-Fantasy in every issue until this onine class --
I could suggest:
GreensWorld: A Tale of Extreme Global Warming by Donald Bingle should appeal especially to adults who were interested in the global warming storyline similiarity to Final Warning although the writing style--review describes author demonstrating his talent for dark comedy--would be different.
A second recommendatin from Cassada that might appeal to Final Warning readers might be Sunborn byJeffrey Carver. I'd recommend this to someone who really likes to read adventure stories, with some scientific bent -- this story inpart deals with artificial intelligence -- but again the story would be more complex and not be a fast-paced Patterson book that could be finished in a very few sittings.
Nonfiction Books to Recommend
If someone enjoyed Final Warning because of its setting - Antarctica
I would recommend a new title, Antarctica Secrets of the Southern continent by David McGonigal for the reader who wants information and photos and maps of Antarctica. It's not a true nonfiction read -- most people will read part of the books or page through what interests them - it may end up in reference departments of some libraries. Written by McGonigal, a travel writer.
Antarctica : the global warning by Copeland, Sebastian. Would be another title on the scientific front. Or perhaps a biography on Shackleton if the person likes biographies - this would be an adventure story in the "setting" of Antarctica.
I'd look for a book on genetic engineering, here's one with good reviews, but I'd need to find a newer title too:
Retooling of Human Life.
Lyons, Jeff (author) and Peter Gorner (author).
Mar. 1995. 800p. Norton, hardcover, $27.50 (0-393-03596-4). 660.65.
REVIEW. First published March 15, 1995 (Booklist).
Lyons and Gorner present the science, scientists, and ethics of a technology destined to have as great an impact on humanity’s fate as nuclear weapons: genetic manipulation. Behind all the sci-fi horror of genetic eugenics, this pair of Chicago Tribune reporters unveil the tangible possibility of curing thousands of inherited diseases, in addition to viral ones such as AIDS. The geniuses of biochemistry have developed the techniques of gene therapy--conceptually, the transplant of properly coded genes for defective ones--and have already applied them to such inheritable afflictions as cancer and coronary disease. However, the ethical questions cascade as the microbiological trail reaches the current frontiers where lie the human genes--all 100,000 of which are now being mapped by the Human Genome Project--that control aging, psychology, and intellect. Will cloning embryos, now a definite possibility, enable scientists not merely to create twins, but to leapfrog evolution by inventing a supersentient branch of the Homo genus superior to our sapiens species? Given the enthusiastic propensity of the scientists to push on for the renown of a Nobel Prize, who of them will heed calls for restraint? New dawn or new Pandora’s box, gene surgery is established fact, and the lay public following recent developments can scarcely be better informed than by Lyons and Gorner’s skillfully written, pathbreaking portrayal. (Reviewed Mar. 15, 1995)— Gilbert Taylor From Booklist Online
I read The Final Warning by James Patterson; the 4th book in the Maximum Ride series. Patterson wrote the Maximum Ride series for YA audience. I didn't read the first 3 in the series but the same characters are in all the books. Maximum Ride is a 14-year old girl - part of the Flock, a group of kids of varying ages - and Max is the leader. What's uniques and SF about these kids: they've been genetically modified (such a genteel term, isn't it) an are human/bird "people" - they have wings and can fly and have great eyesight. Their sidekick is a talking dog, who sprouts wings in this title in the series. I can see the appeal for both boys and girls of teen or younger years: first there's the tight group/comradeship aspect of being part of the Flock, and the kids seem smarter then the adults, although there are times when "good" adults help them out; they have lots of adventures and face danger (most of the violence is off camera); it's cool to think about -- what if humans had wings and could fly any time. Girls probably like the idea of Max, the oldest girl being the leader but there is an equally strong boy, Fang, for the boys to like. There's also a budding romance between the 2 of them. On the other, teen readers will relate to the times when the Flock feel like freaks when they're with all-human groups--the Flock is different and people stare and treat them differently. And not all the evil in the story is caused by humans - there are machines as bad guys. Those who like humor will enjoy the bits with the kids outsmarting the adults and the witty remarks Total, the dog, makes -- and Total also falls in love with a real dog. So, lots of aspects for teens/tweens to enjoy, including the SF aspects. As with other Patterson books, the book is fast-paced, with adventure/action and plot surprises.
How did I choose the book? At PLA this year, copies of a Maximum Ride title were handed out, not sure which one in the series. When I came back to the Library, I saw the interest in the series by Teens, Tweens, and Adults! There aren't many bestsellers that develop loyalty to a series across the generations. I also read it because I've read other James Patterson books - Alex Cross, etc. mysteries/suspense novels - and wanted to see how this would compare. I picked Final Warning because it was about global warming. (I'd say the global warming plotline was the lamest part of the book.) How does it fit in the genre: I would call it Science Fiction rather than Fantasy; I think you could call it Science Fiction sub-genre Adventure as well as the sub-genre Earth's Children, Bioengineering -- where it is listed in Genreflecting.
The Final Warning is the 4th in the Maximum Ride series. Book 5 is due to come out in March 2009.
I'm not sure if it's out yet but one of the titles has been optioned for a movie. I can see this series being popular as a movie. The set design - especially in The Final Warning - could be amazing -- flying kids, talking dogs, machines--some who look like humans, Antarctica, penguins, etc.
There is an interesting article in Booklist, 5/15/06, by Stephanie Zvirin, the Story Behind the Story . . . in which she writes about Patterson's motivation for writing the Maximum Ride series. He wanted to encourage kids to READ. The article also mentions that Patterson donates funds to bookstores, communities, libraries and schools to encourage reading.
FOUR BOOKS TO RECOMMEND
FICTION -- I'm listing more than 2 possibilities
For either adults or teens, I'd recommend the rest of the Final Warning series. Even if they started near the end of the series, as I did, I think the earlier books would be of interest -- reader could fill in the gaps on the earlier adventures of the teens and the way they were "raised".
This is what I found using NoveList
2 fiction under teenage adventure using currency of publication date and popularity as limiters:
So if I was suggesting titles to teens:
Alex Rider graphic novel series by Anthony Horowitz
or
Thieves till we die by Stephen Cole
I also added the limiter adult in NoveList if I was making a suggestion for an adult who'd read Final Warning:
Secret Country by Pamela Dean
Summary: Each vacation a group of cousins--Patrick, Ruth, Ellen, Ted, and Laura--play a game they invented called "Secret," in which they are transported to a world of wizards, magic, dragons, and court intrigue. Summary from NoveList So, this book is more magic-oriented than the Patterson series and their may be some adults not interested in magic and so this title might not be their choice.
And from the Library Journal, 11/15/2008 SF/Fantasy column by Jackie Cassada -- and I skipped over SciFi-Fantasy in every issue until this onine class --
I could suggest:
GreensWorld: A Tale of Extreme Global Warming by Donald Bingle should appeal especially to adults who were interested in the global warming storyline similiarity to Final Warning although the writing style--review describes author demonstrating his talent for dark comedy--would be different.
A second recommendatin from Cassada that might appeal to Final Warning readers might be Sunborn byJeffrey Carver. I'd recommend this to someone who really likes to read adventure stories, with some scientific bent -- this story inpart deals with artificial intelligence -- but again the story would be more complex and not be a fast-paced Patterson book that could be finished in a very few sittings.
Nonfiction Books to Recommend
If someone enjoyed Final Warning because of its setting - Antarctica
I would recommend a new title, Antarctica Secrets of the Southern continent by David McGonigal for the reader who wants information and photos and maps of Antarctica. It's not a true nonfiction read -- most people will read part of the books or page through what interests them - it may end up in reference departments of some libraries. Written by McGonigal, a travel writer.
Antarctica : the global warning by Copeland, Sebastian. Would be another title on the scientific front. Or perhaps a biography on Shackleton if the person likes biographies - this would be an adventure story in the "setting" of Antarctica.
I'd look for a book on genetic engineering, here's one with good reviews, but I'd need to find a newer title too:
Retooling of Human Life.
Lyons, Jeff (author) and Peter Gorner (author).
Mar. 1995. 800p. Norton, hardcover, $27.50 (0-393-03596-4). 660.65.
REVIEW. First published March 15, 1995 (Booklist).
Lyons and Gorner present the science, scientists, and ethics of a technology destined to have as great an impact on humanity’s fate as nuclear weapons: genetic manipulation. Behind all the sci-fi horror of genetic eugenics, this pair of Chicago Tribune reporters unveil the tangible possibility of curing thousands of inherited diseases, in addition to viral ones such as AIDS. The geniuses of biochemistry have developed the techniques of gene therapy--conceptually, the transplant of properly coded genes for defective ones--and have already applied them to such inheritable afflictions as cancer and coronary disease. However, the ethical questions cascade as the microbiological trail reaches the current frontiers where lie the human genes--all 100,000 of which are now being mapped by the Human Genome Project--that control aging, psychology, and intellect. Will cloning embryos, now a definite possibility, enable scientists not merely to create twins, but to leapfrog evolution by inventing a supersentient branch of the Homo genus superior to our sapiens species? Given the enthusiastic propensity of the scientists to push on for the renown of a Nobel Prize, who of them will heed calls for restraint? New dawn or new Pandora’s box, gene surgery is established fact, and the lay public following recent developments can scarcely be better informed than by Lyons and Gorner’s skillfully written, pathbreaking portrayal. (Reviewed Mar. 15, 1995)— Gilbert Taylor From Booklist Online
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