I am an avid reader, and when I first saw this project I was thrilled. I envisioned perusing my bookshelves, finding some of my teen favorites to start out with, and then heading to the library for more. Unfortunately, at least for this assignment, I've always been an avid reader, and I routinely read books well above my age level. By the start of high school I had left the YA section behind, unless I needed a quick read to tide me over for just an hour or two. Because of my advanced reading skills, I developed a rather skewed impression of just what most 15-18 year olds were reading. I was reading Mercedes Lackey, Piers Anthony, Tamora Pierce, Anne McCaffrey, and others. I was reading about love, loss, and magic, and I preferred my books good and long. In the absence of good and long, I would settle for part of a large series, such as the Animorphs, Seventh Tower, Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, and Everworld. While I liked a happy ending, I also loved a book that made me cry as the heroes tried to pick themselves up after their whole world collapsed around them. I particularly liked books where there was some sort of hidden magic that gave the main character some kind of freedom, a moment of beauty they could hold in their heart, something that could keep a spark of bittersweet joy alive inside of themselves, even as they grew up. I think I grew up too quickly, at least as far as my reading choices went. Many YA books do have this spark, this little bit of magic, and most have some sort of happy ending.
To start my project, I took a quick look at my bookshelf, and realized that I had no real idea just what a YA book actually was. From there I went to the Sacramento Public Library and asked the children's librarian for help. After a quick redirect to the YA specialist I spent the next hour finding thirty YA books in a variety of topics. I would have taken out more, but my card had a limit of thirty books. As a general rule, I was advised to look for books with a main character within my age range. In general, people like to read about people like themselves, and so a book will be written with main characters about the same age as the target audience. Of course, there are many exceptions, but this gives me a starting point. While I recognized some of the books, and even found a few I wanted to read but hadn't gotten around to, most of these books were strangers to me. I started my reading with City, a Smallville "could have been an episode" story, and ended with Magic's Pawn, a book that I read when I was a teen and that I still consider my favorite.
I have decided to include both brief non-spoiler teasers, as well as summaries that have extensive spoilers. Challenge issues are not things I found objectionable, or necessarily things I felt were grounds for a challenge. Rather, they are issues that might possibly offend some parents, and they are intended to be looked at more like rating warnings given for movies. Age recommendation is based on the youngest I'd feel comfortable recommending the book, not necessarily the age the book is aimed at. Just because there is nothing that would be too mature for a 12 year old does not mean the book was written for a 12 year old, or that a 12 year old would enjoy the book. A book I'd recommend for a 15 year old might be something that an advanced 13 year old could read and enjoy, but without talking to the 13 year old first to see where their reading interests were, I would not suggest that book first. In many cases, I have chosen to recommend books to an age where I think teens can handle them, not at the age parents would want their teens to read them.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
50. Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey
Magic's Pawn by Mercedes Lackey
ISBN: 0886773520
DAW, New York, 1991
352 pages
Adult Crossover
Teaser: Sixteen year old Vanyel, firstborn son and heir apparent of the large Forst Reach hold, doesn't meet his father's expectations. In an attempt to teach him to be more manly, Vanyel is sent to stay with his Aunt Savil, one of the king's advisors. Will Vanyel become more than just another noble?
Summary: Vanyel may be the firstborn son and heir apparent of Forst Reach, a large holding, but he doesn't fit in at all. Smaller and slimmer than his sturdy father and brothers, Vanyel would much rather be a bard than a lord holder. Vanyel ends up being sent to the capitol, Haven, to stay with his Aunt Savil, in hopes that she will be able to force Vanyel to fit his father's ideas of manliness. This backfires rather spectacularly, as Vanyel ends up finding his soulmate, who happens to be one of Savil's male students, Tylendel. Unknown to even themselves, Vanyel and Tylendel form a lifebond, a tie between two soulmates that is so strong that one half rarely lives on if the other dies. Savil is supportive, and even helps the two keep their relationship a secret, as all of them know that Vanyel's father would be furious if he found out.
Vanyel's happiness is shattered when Tylendel's twin is murdered. Through the bond the twins shared, Tylendel felt his twin die, and the shock drives him a little mad. He becomes obsessed with revenge, and convinces Vanyel to help him. The plan goes horribly wrong, and Vanyel ends up having all of his latent magical gifts blasted open. The pain of his magic being awakened is quickly overwhelmed by an even greater agony when Tylendel snaps completely and commits suicide. The lifebond is shattered, and Vanyel attempts to follow Tylendel. His aunt and others stop him, and Savil takes Vanyel to a reclusive group of healers living outside the kingdom. Eventually, Vanyel realizes that Tylendel would want him to live, and that furthermore, he has a duty to use these new magical gifts to help people.
Evaluation: I first read this book in my freshman year of high school, and it remains my favorite book. Vanyel has lived a very sheltered life, and the thought of two boys falling in love is one that has never crossed his mind. Nearly a third of the way through the book Vanyel and readers alike discover that Vanyel is gay. The situation is dealt with very tastefully, with the most risqué moment being a candle getting snuffed out as a chapter ends and Savil later raising an eyebrow and remarking that there was no doubt of what had happened, but not actually elaborating. While Savil and her other two students are very supportive, the general public opinion is decidedly homophobic. When Vanyel nearly dies, his father is more upset about the rumors that his son is gay than the fact that his son nearly died. By the end of the book, Vanyel has realized that his magical gifts come with a responsibility to help others, and has decided to devote his life to doing so. The emotions are very well written, and I cried at several points during the story. This book was the first I read with a gay main character, and helped shape my opinion that love is love, regardless of gender.
Challenge issues and age recommendation: The main character is homosexual, and suicide and attempted suicide are a major part of the story. Sexual themes are present, but there are absolutely no steamy scenes, not even mild kissing or petting. Some violence is also present. Death, loss, revenge, and healing and hope are major themes in this story. While I read this book when I was 13, it is an adult book rather than a teen book, and I was a fairly advanced reader. I would probably recommend it for teens 15 and up.
ISBN: 0886773520
DAW, New York, 1991
352 pages
Adult Crossover
Teaser: Sixteen year old Vanyel, firstborn son and heir apparent of the large Forst Reach hold, doesn't meet his father's expectations. In an attempt to teach him to be more manly, Vanyel is sent to stay with his Aunt Savil, one of the king's advisors. Will Vanyel become more than just another noble?
Summary: Vanyel may be the firstborn son and heir apparent of Forst Reach, a large holding, but he doesn't fit in at all. Smaller and slimmer than his sturdy father and brothers, Vanyel would much rather be a bard than a lord holder. Vanyel ends up being sent to the capitol, Haven, to stay with his Aunt Savil, in hopes that she will be able to force Vanyel to fit his father's ideas of manliness. This backfires rather spectacularly, as Vanyel ends up finding his soulmate, who happens to be one of Savil's male students, Tylendel. Unknown to even themselves, Vanyel and Tylendel form a lifebond, a tie between two soulmates that is so strong that one half rarely lives on if the other dies. Savil is supportive, and even helps the two keep their relationship a secret, as all of them know that Vanyel's father would be furious if he found out.
Vanyel's happiness is shattered when Tylendel's twin is murdered. Through the bond the twins shared, Tylendel felt his twin die, and the shock drives him a little mad. He becomes obsessed with revenge, and convinces Vanyel to help him. The plan goes horribly wrong, and Vanyel ends up having all of his latent magical gifts blasted open. The pain of his magic being awakened is quickly overwhelmed by an even greater agony when Tylendel snaps completely and commits suicide. The lifebond is shattered, and Vanyel attempts to follow Tylendel. His aunt and others stop him, and Savil takes Vanyel to a reclusive group of healers living outside the kingdom. Eventually, Vanyel realizes that Tylendel would want him to live, and that furthermore, he has a duty to use these new magical gifts to help people.
Evaluation: I first read this book in my freshman year of high school, and it remains my favorite book. Vanyel has lived a very sheltered life, and the thought of two boys falling in love is one that has never crossed his mind. Nearly a third of the way through the book Vanyel and readers alike discover that Vanyel is gay. The situation is dealt with very tastefully, with the most risqué moment being a candle getting snuffed out as a chapter ends and Savil later raising an eyebrow and remarking that there was no doubt of what had happened, but not actually elaborating. While Savil and her other two students are very supportive, the general public opinion is decidedly homophobic. When Vanyel nearly dies, his father is more upset about the rumors that his son is gay than the fact that his son nearly died. By the end of the book, Vanyel has realized that his magical gifts come with a responsibility to help others, and has decided to devote his life to doing so. The emotions are very well written, and I cried at several points during the story. This book was the first I read with a gay main character, and helped shape my opinion that love is love, regardless of gender.
Challenge issues and age recommendation: The main character is homosexual, and suicide and attempted suicide are a major part of the story. Sexual themes are present, but there are absolutely no steamy scenes, not even mild kissing or petting. Some violence is also present. Death, loss, revenge, and healing and hope are major themes in this story. While I read this book when I was 13, it is an adult book rather than a teen book, and I was a fairly advanced reader. I would probably recommend it for teens 15 and up.
49. Gunslinger Girl by Yu Aida
Gunslinger Girl by Yu Aida
ISBN: 1413900208
ADV Manga, Houston, Texas, 2003
176 pages
Alternate Format: Manga
Teaser: The Social Welfare Agency "rescues" crippled, damaged little girls who have been orphaned or abandoned and provides expensive and miraculous cybernetic enhancements to restore their bodies. It isn't out of the goodness of their heart, however. No one will miss these little girls, and with a little brainwashing, they have the perfect tools for certain "special" tasks. Who would ever suspect a little girl as an assassin?
Summary: Henrietta survived the horrible attack that killed all six other members of her family. She is horribly traumatized, and badly injured. Giuseppe selects her to become his partner, and she receives the surgery that replaces her lost arm and leg, and enhances the rest of her body. She also receives a large dose of the conditioning agent, which erases all memory of her past and leaves her with a strange innocence. Henrietta is fiercely protective of her handler, Giuseppe, and utterly loyal.
There are several girls that have undergone this process, each with a handler of their own. Each chapter in this first volume focuses on a different girl, starting with Henrietta. Each girl has some past that brought her to the agency, and each handler has a different way of treating the cyborg girl he is in charge of. Henrietta is given a minimum of the brainwashing drug after her past was erased, and is treated like a little sister by Giuseppe. Rico was given very little of the brainwashing drug at the outset, so she still recalls her past. Her handler gives her fairly high maintenance doses however, which leaves Rico pliable and obedient, and he treats her as a tool. Triela's past is not revealed, but her past was erased at the outset, followed by low maintenance doses, which allows her somewhat snarky attitude to shine. Triela is the most "teen" of them, and her handler acts as her mentor and guardian.
Each girl gives another glimpse into the mindset of the main players in this story, as the girls and their handlers consider what it really means to be human.
Evaluation: The story of Gunslinger Girl focuses on what it means to be human, as the emotional innocence of the girls is juxtaposed against their bloody "jobs." This strange balance of innocence and cold killer is strangely compelling, and thoroughly enjoyable. The characters have a great deal of depth, and the emotions don't feel at all contrived. The manga format works well with this story, allowing the expressions of the characters to tell the story just as much as the words do. Readers should be prepared for frequent gunfights and quite a lot of mild gore, however. While the black ink blood is not terribly shocking when compared to the special effects full color blood seen on your average crime drama on television, there is still quite a lot of it, and fairly frequently. If you are looking for a good story about what it means to be human, and can take the gore and violence associated with the government-assassins-fighting-terrorists part of the plot, Gunslinger Girl is an excellent choice.
Challenge issues and age recommendation: This story is focused on little girls that are brainwashed, cybernetically enhanced, and used as assassins. Most of these girls were the victims of horrible crimes, and these and other crimes are not glossed over. There is quite a bit of violence and gore, but most of the gore is in the form of black and white blood spatter and bullet injuries, without any real detail. Due to the subject matter, violence and gore, I'm recommending this for readers 16 and up.
ISBN: 1413900208
ADV Manga, Houston, Texas, 2003
176 pages
Alternate Format: Manga
Teaser: The Social Welfare Agency "rescues" crippled, damaged little girls who have been orphaned or abandoned and provides expensive and miraculous cybernetic enhancements to restore their bodies. It isn't out of the goodness of their heart, however. No one will miss these little girls, and with a little brainwashing, they have the perfect tools for certain "special" tasks. Who would ever suspect a little girl as an assassin?
Summary: Henrietta survived the horrible attack that killed all six other members of her family. She is horribly traumatized, and badly injured. Giuseppe selects her to become his partner, and she receives the surgery that replaces her lost arm and leg, and enhances the rest of her body. She also receives a large dose of the conditioning agent, which erases all memory of her past and leaves her with a strange innocence. Henrietta is fiercely protective of her handler, Giuseppe, and utterly loyal.
There are several girls that have undergone this process, each with a handler of their own. Each chapter in this first volume focuses on a different girl, starting with Henrietta. Each girl has some past that brought her to the agency, and each handler has a different way of treating the cyborg girl he is in charge of. Henrietta is given a minimum of the brainwashing drug after her past was erased, and is treated like a little sister by Giuseppe. Rico was given very little of the brainwashing drug at the outset, so she still recalls her past. Her handler gives her fairly high maintenance doses however, which leaves Rico pliable and obedient, and he treats her as a tool. Triela's past is not revealed, but her past was erased at the outset, followed by low maintenance doses, which allows her somewhat snarky attitude to shine. Triela is the most "teen" of them, and her handler acts as her mentor and guardian.
Each girl gives another glimpse into the mindset of the main players in this story, as the girls and their handlers consider what it really means to be human.
Evaluation: The story of Gunslinger Girl focuses on what it means to be human, as the emotional innocence of the girls is juxtaposed against their bloody "jobs." This strange balance of innocence and cold killer is strangely compelling, and thoroughly enjoyable. The characters have a great deal of depth, and the emotions don't feel at all contrived. The manga format works well with this story, allowing the expressions of the characters to tell the story just as much as the words do. Readers should be prepared for frequent gunfights and quite a lot of mild gore, however. While the black ink blood is not terribly shocking when compared to the special effects full color blood seen on your average crime drama on television, there is still quite a lot of it, and fairly frequently. If you are looking for a good story about what it means to be human, and can take the gore and violence associated with the government-assassins-fighting-terrorists part of the plot, Gunslinger Girl is an excellent choice.
Challenge issues and age recommendation: This story is focused on little girls that are brainwashed, cybernetically enhanced, and used as assassins. Most of these girls were the victims of horrible crimes, and these and other crimes are not glossed over. There is quite a bit of violence and gore, but most of the gore is in the form of black and white blood spatter and bullet injuries, without any real detail. Due to the subject matter, violence and gore, I'm recommending this for readers 16 and up.
48. Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson
Prom by Laurie Halse Anderson
ISBN: 0670059749
Viking Juvenile, New York, 2005
224 pages
Teaser: When the money for prom is stolen by a teacher, students scramble to find a way to have their prom.
Summary: Ashley may not care about the prom, but she is in the minority. When a teacher steals the money that was going to pay for prom, she steps up to help her friends make sure the prom will still happen. This story is set in an inner city high school, things like sex, drugs, drinking, and even Ashley's plan to move in with her boyfriend after graduation, are just part of life. During the course of the story Ashley and other teens work to make prom happen, and eventually succeed. Funny and fun to read, this is an interesting take on a not quite Cinderella story.
Evaluation: I liked this book. The tone felt real, like a teen from a huge family, with a steady if not stellar boyfriend, and a distinct lack of respect for authority was telling the tale. Ashley seems like the stereotypical disinterested teen with no real future. She works at a pizza place where she wears a rat costume, has a dropout boyfriend, and has no real plans for the future other than moving out of her crowded home to live with her boyfriend. By the end of the book she has moved beyond the apathetic rut she was in, dumped her loser boyfriend, and is attending a community college. I don't have any major complaints about this book. Some secondary characters were a little underdeveloped, but honestly, some people are a little underdeveloped, so I didn't find myself too bothered by the shallower characters. It was a quick and easy read, but it delivered laughs and its message well. Despite the gritty details, this book was very funny overall, and ended on a hopeful but realistic note.
Challenge issues and age recommendation: Sex, drugs, and underage alcohol consumption are all talked about with a kind of blunt nonchalance in this book. Despite this, nothing was too shocking or graphic, so I would recommend this book for ages 12 and up.
ISBN: 0670059749
Viking Juvenile, New York, 2005
224 pages
Teaser: When the money for prom is stolen by a teacher, students scramble to find a way to have their prom.
Summary: Ashley may not care about the prom, but she is in the minority. When a teacher steals the money that was going to pay for prom, she steps up to help her friends make sure the prom will still happen. This story is set in an inner city high school, things like sex, drugs, drinking, and even Ashley's plan to move in with her boyfriend after graduation, are just part of life. During the course of the story Ashley and other teens work to make prom happen, and eventually succeed. Funny and fun to read, this is an interesting take on a not quite Cinderella story.
Evaluation: I liked this book. The tone felt real, like a teen from a huge family, with a steady if not stellar boyfriend, and a distinct lack of respect for authority was telling the tale. Ashley seems like the stereotypical disinterested teen with no real future. She works at a pizza place where she wears a rat costume, has a dropout boyfriend, and has no real plans for the future other than moving out of her crowded home to live with her boyfriend. By the end of the book she has moved beyond the apathetic rut she was in, dumped her loser boyfriend, and is attending a community college. I don't have any major complaints about this book. Some secondary characters were a little underdeveloped, but honestly, some people are a little underdeveloped, so I didn't find myself too bothered by the shallower characters. It was a quick and easy read, but it delivered laughs and its message well. Despite the gritty details, this book was very funny overall, and ended on a hopeful but realistic note.
Challenge issues and age recommendation: Sex, drugs, and underage alcohol consumption are all talked about with a kind of blunt nonchalance in this book. Despite this, nothing was too shocking or graphic, so I would recommend this book for ages 12 and up.
47. Sucks to be Me by Kimberly Pauley
Sucks to be Me by Kimberly Pauley
ISBN: 0786950285
Mirrorstone, New York, 2008
293 pages
Teaser: Sixteen year old Mina's parents are vampires, and the time has come for Mina to decide if she will become a vampire as well.
Summary: Almost 17 year old Mina has to decide if she wants to become a vampire like her parents, or stay a human. Mina wavers back and forth, trying to decide if she really wants to take the plunge. Meanwhile, she is trying to work out her feelings for several boys, do well in her classes, and figure out what she is going to do for prom. This is a light, fluffy read for vampire fans.
Evaluation: This book was a fun, light read, but it wasn't really to my taste. I liked how it was different from the dark, broody vampire books, but it just didn't seem to have a good enough foundation for me to really believe the author's premise. I was constantly reminding myself to just go with it, and ignore the various things that felt underdeveloped, shallow, or just plain illogical. I didn't feel like there was any real moral message or purpose to the story, the conflicts felt a bit too straight forward, and it just didn't feel like something I could sink my teeth into.
The fact that any secret vampire society would not only encourage, but require, teens who found out about vampires to become one while still a teenager, struck me as a major plot hole. While the book discussed the need to move every decade or so to avoid detection, this would only work for older vampires. For a 16 year old, the longest they could realistically expect to stay put would be three years, at the outside. Careful work with makeup, clothing, and hairstyles might be able to fool people into not realizing that a teenager hasn't changed much for a few years, but the rapid changes teenagers go through will work against her. MC has essentially chosen to continually repeat high school for the rest of her foreseeable future. In addition, while Mina is almost 17, the girl on the cover looks much younger, like a preteen rather than a teen. This feeling of Mina being younger than 17 was also present in the book. While the author claims Mina is just shy of 17, Mina's voice sounds more like a preteen than a high school girl.
Challenge issues and age recommendation: Vampires are the main topic in this book, which may draw protests. Things like drinking blood are mentioned, which should be expected with vampires, but there is no stalking of humans in order to drink their blood. There isn't really much else I could really think of as too offensive. I'd okay this book for readers 12 and up.
ISBN: 0786950285
Mirrorstone, New York, 2008
293 pages
Teaser: Sixteen year old Mina's parents are vampires, and the time has come for Mina to decide if she will become a vampire as well.
Summary: Almost 17 year old Mina has to decide if she wants to become a vampire like her parents, or stay a human. Mina wavers back and forth, trying to decide if she really wants to take the plunge. Meanwhile, she is trying to work out her feelings for several boys, do well in her classes, and figure out what she is going to do for prom. This is a light, fluffy read for vampire fans.
Evaluation: This book was a fun, light read, but it wasn't really to my taste. I liked how it was different from the dark, broody vampire books, but it just didn't seem to have a good enough foundation for me to really believe the author's premise. I was constantly reminding myself to just go with it, and ignore the various things that felt underdeveloped, shallow, or just plain illogical. I didn't feel like there was any real moral message or purpose to the story, the conflicts felt a bit too straight forward, and it just didn't feel like something I could sink my teeth into.
The fact that any secret vampire society would not only encourage, but require, teens who found out about vampires to become one while still a teenager, struck me as a major plot hole. While the book discussed the need to move every decade or so to avoid detection, this would only work for older vampires. For a 16 year old, the longest they could realistically expect to stay put would be three years, at the outside. Careful work with makeup, clothing, and hairstyles might be able to fool people into not realizing that a teenager hasn't changed much for a few years, but the rapid changes teenagers go through will work against her. MC has essentially chosen to continually repeat high school for the rest of her foreseeable future. In addition, while Mina is almost 17, the girl on the cover looks much younger, like a preteen rather than a teen. This feeling of Mina being younger than 17 was also present in the book. While the author claims Mina is just shy of 17, Mina's voice sounds more like a preteen than a high school girl.
Challenge issues and age recommendation: Vampires are the main topic in this book, which may draw protests. Things like drinking blood are mentioned, which should be expected with vampires, but there is no stalking of humans in order to drink their blood. There isn't really much else I could really think of as too offensive. I'd okay this book for readers 12 and up.
46. The Bar Code Tattoo by Suzanne Weyn
The Bar Code Tattoo by Suzanne Weyn
ISBN: 0429395623
Point Thriller, New York, 2004
250 pages
Teaser: What would you do if the law required you to have a barcode tattooed on your wrist containing all of your financial, medical, and genetic information?
Summary: Kayla's life is crumbling around her. Though she is a talented artist, she has been told that no art school will accept her due to her poor computer skills. This is only the tip of the iceberg. The barcode tattoo is the biggest thing, and all 17 year olds, are getting it. The barcode contains all of your financial information, identification, and even your medical insurance. With a barcode you don't need to carry cards, everything is just a swipe of your arm away. Kayla thinks the barcode is creepy, and has no plans to get one after her birthday. Then Kayla's father commits suicide, and her mother blames the tattoo. As Kayla looks for the truth, she discovers that the barcode tattoo contains more than just your identification, medical insurance, and financial information. It also contains a breakdown of your genetic code, and those with undesirable traits or predispositions to illnesses are suddenly fired from their jobs, turned down for loans, and their barcode credit no longer valid at stores. As Kayla delves into the secrets contained within the barcode, a law is passed making it mandatory for all people over 17 to have the barcode tattoo. Kayla's mother snaps, and in an attempt to burn off her own tattoo, sets their house on fire. While Kayla survives, her mother does not. Fearful of being forced to get the barcode tattoo, Kayla goes on the run. Eventually she ends up in the Adirondack mountains with a group of others who do not wish to get the barcode tattoo. The book ends with Kayla resolving to stop hiding and fight against the barcode tattoo.
Evaluation: Creepy and surreal, this book shows a chilling future that we could easily slide into. At the same time, genetics, cloning, and genetic manipulation are much more advanced in this book than they currently are. In the book the US still bans cloning, but a mention of clones in other countries turning 17 indicates that human cloning is possible in this book, and has been for nearly twenty years. Genetic splicing is also briefly mentioned. The action is gripping and fast paced, making it hard to put down this book.
Unfortunately, the characters are a little shallow, and at more than one point I was a little skeptical of some of the situations, events, or science. Legislation also moves too rapidly to be believable, but that can be overlooked as a possible futuristic change. The Bar Code Tattoo also ends without any major resolution of the key issues, but as this is the first of two books, that isn't really a problem. It does set up a solid foundation for the second book, and leaves readers wanting to find the next book to see what happens.
Challenge issues and age recommendation: Cloning may be a controversial issue for some, and while it is only briefly mentioned in this volume, it is a major part of the sequel. Suicide and self-mutilation are frequently mentioned in the book, as a number of people become suicidal, paranoid, and mentally ill after receiving the tattoo, or attempt to remove the tattoo by burning it off or using acid to eat away the tattoo. Mentions of violence are also present. Overall, the book is no more explicit than the evening news, and I think that it would be appropriate for anyone 12 and up.
ISBN: 0429395623
Point Thriller, New York, 2004
250 pages
Teaser: What would you do if the law required you to have a barcode tattooed on your wrist containing all of your financial, medical, and genetic information?
Summary: Kayla's life is crumbling around her. Though she is a talented artist, she has been told that no art school will accept her due to her poor computer skills. This is only the tip of the iceberg. The barcode tattoo is the biggest thing, and all 17 year olds, are getting it. The barcode contains all of your financial information, identification, and even your medical insurance. With a barcode you don't need to carry cards, everything is just a swipe of your arm away. Kayla thinks the barcode is creepy, and has no plans to get one after her birthday. Then Kayla's father commits suicide, and her mother blames the tattoo. As Kayla looks for the truth, she discovers that the barcode tattoo contains more than just your identification, medical insurance, and financial information. It also contains a breakdown of your genetic code, and those with undesirable traits or predispositions to illnesses are suddenly fired from their jobs, turned down for loans, and their barcode credit no longer valid at stores. As Kayla delves into the secrets contained within the barcode, a law is passed making it mandatory for all people over 17 to have the barcode tattoo. Kayla's mother snaps, and in an attempt to burn off her own tattoo, sets their house on fire. While Kayla survives, her mother does not. Fearful of being forced to get the barcode tattoo, Kayla goes on the run. Eventually she ends up in the Adirondack mountains with a group of others who do not wish to get the barcode tattoo. The book ends with Kayla resolving to stop hiding and fight against the barcode tattoo.
Evaluation: Creepy and surreal, this book shows a chilling future that we could easily slide into. At the same time, genetics, cloning, and genetic manipulation are much more advanced in this book than they currently are. In the book the US still bans cloning, but a mention of clones in other countries turning 17 indicates that human cloning is possible in this book, and has been for nearly twenty years. Genetic splicing is also briefly mentioned. The action is gripping and fast paced, making it hard to put down this book.
Unfortunately, the characters are a little shallow, and at more than one point I was a little skeptical of some of the situations, events, or science. Legislation also moves too rapidly to be believable, but that can be overlooked as a possible futuristic change. The Bar Code Tattoo also ends without any major resolution of the key issues, but as this is the first of two books, that isn't really a problem. It does set up a solid foundation for the second book, and leaves readers wanting to find the next book to see what happens.
Challenge issues and age recommendation: Cloning may be a controversial issue for some, and while it is only briefly mentioned in this volume, it is a major part of the sequel. Suicide and self-mutilation are frequently mentioned in the book, as a number of people become suicidal, paranoid, and mentally ill after receiving the tattoo, or attempt to remove the tattoo by burning it off or using acid to eat away the tattoo. Mentions of violence are also present. Overall, the book is no more explicit than the evening news, and I think that it would be appropriate for anyone 12 and up.
45. Terrier by Tamora Pierce
Terrier by Tamora Pierce
ISBN: 978-0375814686
Random House Books for Young Readers, New York, 2006
592 pages
Teaser: Sixteen year old Beka Cooper is a "puppy," a trainee in the law-enforcing Provost's Guard. In her diary she records her adventures and misadventures as she works to bring some measure of justice to the slums she grew up in.
Summary: Beka Cooper grew up in one of the worst slums in Corus, the capital city of Tortall. At age eight, she provides a tip to the Lord Provost, head of the Provost's Guard, that leads to the capture of a nasty gang of aggressive thieves. Impressed by her backbone and intelligence, the lord tracks Beka down and discovers her mother is dying. The lord decides to adopt Beka and her family into his household and provides for the children after the mother passes away. At 16, Beka has joined the guard herself, and is starting her first year. Guards are often referred to as "the Provost's Dogs," and a whole slew of canine slang has developed around this. New trainees, like Beka, are "puppies."
In her first year, Beka must deal not only with the normal thieves, rogues, drunks, and murderers, but also with two serial killers preying on the people in her district. As if that weren't enough, Beka can also hear more than other people can. When Beka claims her information came from a "birdie," she isn't using the dog slang for informant. The ghosts of the dead travel to the afterlife on the backs of pigeons, and Beka can hear them before they complete the journey. Dust spinners also catch voices that only Beka can hear, though only the voices of the living, carried on the wind. Pounce, Beka's cat, is also unusual, able to make himself understood with human words, though he only speaks to Beka. No matter how difficult the job seems, or how crazy her life gets, Beka is determined to catch the killers stalking the poor in her district.
Evaluation: I loved this look into the history of Tamora Pierce's well-established Tortall universe. Terrier is set in the "past" of Tortall, focusing on the six times great grandmother of the king of thieves in Tortall's "present day." Three brief journal entries from various characters lay out the base information for the story, followed by Beka's diary. Beka is an intelligent, determined young woman learning how to uphold the law in a city where the law enforcement field is still developing.
I like the way Pierce takes the time to create a glossary and character list. The developing state of the law enforcement field is explained, as are terms and slang readers might not understand. Major characters have a brief bio as well, so that readers can keep track of the large cast of characters. Beka's entry reads "Rebakah Cooper: "Beka," Puppy, Evening Watch, Jane Street kennel, training Dogs Goodwin and Tunstall, sixteen years old." While readers can pick up all of the info in the back section in the story itself, it is nice to see the extra effort. These details can also help slower readers, who might forget some things over the course of reading the book.
Challenge issues and age recommendation: Crime and magic form the base for this fantasy tale. With the journal format, the crime and violence is a bit less intense than other book formats, while the suspense and adventure remain fully intact. I'd recommend this book for readers 12 and up.
ISBN: 978-0375814686
Random House Books for Young Readers, New York, 2006
592 pages
Teaser: Sixteen year old Beka Cooper is a "puppy," a trainee in the law-enforcing Provost's Guard. In her diary she records her adventures and misadventures as she works to bring some measure of justice to the slums she grew up in.
Summary: Beka Cooper grew up in one of the worst slums in Corus, the capital city of Tortall. At age eight, she provides a tip to the Lord Provost, head of the Provost's Guard, that leads to the capture of a nasty gang of aggressive thieves. Impressed by her backbone and intelligence, the lord tracks Beka down and discovers her mother is dying. The lord decides to adopt Beka and her family into his household and provides for the children after the mother passes away. At 16, Beka has joined the guard herself, and is starting her first year. Guards are often referred to as "the Provost's Dogs," and a whole slew of canine slang has developed around this. New trainees, like Beka, are "puppies."
In her first year, Beka must deal not only with the normal thieves, rogues, drunks, and murderers, but also with two serial killers preying on the people in her district. As if that weren't enough, Beka can also hear more than other people can. When Beka claims her information came from a "birdie," she isn't using the dog slang for informant. The ghosts of the dead travel to the afterlife on the backs of pigeons, and Beka can hear them before they complete the journey. Dust spinners also catch voices that only Beka can hear, though only the voices of the living, carried on the wind. Pounce, Beka's cat, is also unusual, able to make himself understood with human words, though he only speaks to Beka. No matter how difficult the job seems, or how crazy her life gets, Beka is determined to catch the killers stalking the poor in her district.
Evaluation: I loved this look into the history of Tamora Pierce's well-established Tortall universe. Terrier is set in the "past" of Tortall, focusing on the six times great grandmother of the king of thieves in Tortall's "present day." Three brief journal entries from various characters lay out the base information for the story, followed by Beka's diary. Beka is an intelligent, determined young woman learning how to uphold the law in a city where the law enforcement field is still developing.
I like the way Pierce takes the time to create a glossary and character list. The developing state of the law enforcement field is explained, as are terms and slang readers might not understand. Major characters have a brief bio as well, so that readers can keep track of the large cast of characters. Beka's entry reads "Rebakah Cooper: "Beka," Puppy, Evening Watch, Jane Street kennel, training Dogs Goodwin and Tunstall, sixteen years old." While readers can pick up all of the info in the back section in the story itself, it is nice to see the extra effort. These details can also help slower readers, who might forget some things over the course of reading the book.
Challenge issues and age recommendation: Crime and magic form the base for this fantasy tale. With the journal format, the crime and violence is a bit less intense than other book formats, while the suspense and adventure remain fully intact. I'd recommend this book for readers 12 and up.
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