Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston (book review)

Farewell to Manzanar is the true story of the trials one Japanese-American family faced when they were forced out of their home into the Japanese internment camp Manzanar in 1942. Jeanne Wakatsuki was only seven years old when she and her family left everything behind and began a whole new life in the desert behind barbed wire. At first, life is harsh and unfamiliar in this whole new environment, and even at the best of times it isn't great. But eventually, the inhabitants of Manzanar turn it into a thriving community with churches, schools, bands, and extracurriculars. For some people, Manzanar begins to feel similar to a home. But what will everyone do when the war ends, the camp closes down, and they are forced to start their lives over yet again?

This was an extremely moving book, a true story about love, loss, and a family slowly unraveling at the seams. If you want to learn about the WWII Japanese internment camps, this is a great book to start. It tells the real story of what went on and what life was like at the camps, behind barbed wire.

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (book review)

"I knew then I had to have a house. A real house. One I could point to. But this isn't it. The house on Mango Street isn't it."

And so twelve-year-old Esperanza begins her first year on Mango Street, the first time she and her family have ever had a real house. But it isn't a house that Esperanza feels proud of. She is ashamed of its creaky steps, the cracks in the walls, and the ordinary hallway stairs. She wants nothing more to escape from the barrio, the Latino neighborhood she and her family are now living, where men have all the power and the women around her are trapped in desperate situations from which they can't escape. Take Rafaela, whose boyfriend never allows her to leave the house for fear that she might run away with someone else. Or Sally, who married an abusive husband in order to escape her abusive father. Or Minerva, only a year or two older than Esperanza but already with a husband and two children. Esperanza doesn't want same fate to befall her as has these women. She wants to become someone independent, someone whose power is her own. Someone with a house that she can point to and feel pride. And over the course of a year on Mango Street, Esperanza learns a great deal more about herself and her dreams than she could ever have imagined.

This was a very good book. It was told in a series of short vignettes, none much more than three or four pages, all about Esperanza, her family, or other members of their community. Over the course of the book, which isn't very long, we learn a great deal about the protagonist and the culture she lives in. Esperanza is a complex and meaningful character whom one can really become connected to over the course of the book. The reader will also become attached to the various other characters Cisneros introduces throughout the course of the book, as well as their sad stories.

As far as plot goes, there isn't really a linear plot in this book. Basically, it follows Esperanza as she lives out one year in the barrio, suffering some great losses and finding out a lot about herself in the process. She makes friends and loses them, and struggles to deal with her growing interest in boys. During the course of the story, Esperanza's wish for independence conflicts with her wish for a boyfriend or husband. It soon becomes clear to her that, at least in the barrio, women cannot have one of these things without having to give up the other completely. At least not easily.

The Catcher in the Rye (book review)

The Catcher in the Rye, by JD Salinger, is a story about struggles, loss, and the difficult transition from childhood to adulthood. The protagonist, 16-year-old Holden Caulfield, has just been kicked out of yet another school, and he's wondering where to go next. He doesn't officially get sent home until Christmas vacation a few days later, so he decides to take off on his own. Holden heads to New York City and stays at a series of cheap hotels, calling up and meeting various acquaintances from his past, all the while scorning the "phoniness" of the adult world in which he is immersed. Finally Holden realizes he has to go home eventually, and that he will inevitably have to face the consequences when he does. So he heads back to his house to visit his little sister, Phoebe, but stalls when it comes to meeting his parents. Hastily, Holden decides that he will run away, out to a place where no one knows him and he can start a new life, but an unexpected show of love and innocence will convince him to stay.

This book was very good; the central characters were for the most part complex and well-developed. Holden himself was a very interesting character; he felt real. He wasn't perfect at all, but his flaws made it more possible for the reader to feel connected to him, and it made him much more interesting to read about. The other characters who appeared throughout the book had varying personalities; none of them, except for perhaps Phoebe, were very complex in regards to their character, but then none of them except for Phoebe played a very central role in the book. The plot itself was intriguing and different, and it was interesting to meet all the various characters Holden experienced and to see how he interacted with them. The ending was perhaps what I liked least about the whole book--it wrapped up the book abruptly and didn't provide many actual answers. Also, I would have liked to see the conversation between him and his parents, which wasn't shown. But don't let this deter you from reading the book; it's heartwarming, sad, and exciting all at once, and it will definitely keep you reading.

Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer (book review)

Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer, is a true story about the meat we eat and where it comes from. From tuna to turkey, Foer covers it all in this shocking book about the stuff we put on our plate. When one thinks about where meat comes from, many visualize a family of farmers out in the country, with rolling fields of wheat and a red barn in the background. The truth is that these family farmers are essentially an "endangered species" now, being pushed out of business by enormous, greedy multinational corporations with one thought: money. Money is what runs the meat industry now, not concern for the workers, the animals, the environment, or the health of consumers. But this system obviously can't last; eventually it is going to fall. And it's up to us to determine how many others--animals, workers, and consumers--will fall with it.

This was an amazing book, one of the best I have ever read. It wasn't an easy book to read; there were many sad and difficult scenes, and it is obvious how horribly the animals are treated. This book gives a convincing argument for vegetarianism, both from a moral standpoint but also for health reasons--is this really what we want our children eating? But even if you don't plan on becoming a vegetarian, this is a great book that should be added to everyone's library.

Omen of the Stars: The Fourth Apprentice by Erin Hunter (book review)

*SPOILER ALERT for earlier books in this series*

After the sharp-eyed jay and the roaring lion, peace will come on dove's gentle wing...

This is the prophecy that Dovepaw, a young apprentice in ThunderClan, has received from her ancestors. A member of one out of the four clans of warrior cats living by the lake, Dovepaw has always thought that she was just a normal cat...but she's about to find out that she's very wrong.

After the shocking death of his sister, Hollyleaf, young warrior Lionblaze is struggling to overcome the personal demons that haunt him. His whole life, he has found out, is nothing but lies. His family is not who he thought they were; his father, a warrior in rival WindClan, wants nothing to do with him. And yet he still has one thing: the mysterious prophecy that claims he and his brother, Jayfeather, hold the power of the stars in their paws.

Jayfeather is fighting to live up to the role of ThunderClan's only medicine cat after his mother, Leafpool, left her position when the web of lies she had spun was unveiled. There have been many times in his life that he wished he were simply a normal cat, but now this feeling is even fiercer. His powers are dark, allowing him to peer into the secrets of any cat he wishes. And now the ancient warrior spirits warn him of a storm brewing in the distance, something that will determine the fate of every Clan cat alive...and those yet to be born.

As a horrible drought pushes every cat to the limit of their survival, Jayfeather, Lionblaze, and Dovepaw will struggle to uncover the secrets of their immense powers, powers stronger even than those of their warrior ancestors in the stars.

This was a great start to the next arc in the Warriors series, building up suspense while tying together the shocking events of the last arc. This book is guaranteed to please any fan of the Warriors series and leave them hungry for more!

Dawn of Fear (book review)

Dawn of Fear, by Susan Cooper, is the story of three young boys, Derek, Peter, and Geoffrey, living in a small town outside of London during World War II. For them, air raids are a fact of life, and they happen almost daily. Derek views them as exciting but distant. They are dangerous, but not to him. He, Peter, and Geoffrey are working on a hidden camp in the woods by their neighborhood, and it's taking up all their time and attention...until a fierce attack by a rival neighborhood gang leaves them shocked and angry. And after they carry out a dangerous plan to get revenge on the gang, Derek leaves feeling unsettled, and with new feelings on the war and on fighting in general. And then, one night, after a particularly vicious air raid, his life will be changed forever...

This was a great book! It was very fast, but also very meaningful. There was plenty of action, and the ending was very moving. It was a great war book, but different from many others, focusing on the life of a boy on the home front and how the war affected his life. I would recommend it to readers of all ages!

Saddleback's Illustrated Classics: The Call of the Wild (book review)

Saddleback's Illustrated Classics: The Call of the Wild, transforms this classic survival story into a graphic novel format, allowing the story to take on a whole new level through vivid full-color illustrations. The Call of the Wild is the story of Buck, a gentle, protective dog who watches over the house of a wealthy judge in Santa Clara Valley. But his life changes forever when he is kidnapped and sent to the frozen north to work as a sled dog for men who want to strike it rich in the Klondike gold rush. Although life is harsh and only the toughest survive, Buck manages to find friendship and love in one man, John Thornton, who becomes his new master. But Buck soon finds that he can't ignore the twitch in his blood, the primeval yearning to be free, the call of the wild...

This was a good book, very fast. The pictures were vivid and full-color, and although the characters, especially humans, weren't as well-drawn as they could have been, they were still good, and for me they weren't enough to detract from the book's character.

Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery (book review)

Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery by Russell Freedman, is the story of the wife of one of the most beloved presidents of all time, Franklin D. Roosevelt. But Eleanor Roosevelt herself was a powerful force in the world of politics. She was a champion of civil rights, women's rights, and much more. She traveled the world to learn about ordinary citizens and the problems they were suffering from, then did something about those problems. By the time of her death in 1962, she was just as loved, if not more loved, than her famous husband. This was a very good biography of Eleanor Roosevelt; it was in-depth but easy to understand and very quick to read. The book was descriptive but it wasn't filled with excruciating details, and I would recommend it to readers of all ages who are interested in learning about Eleanor Roosevelt's life.

28 Stories of AIDS in Africa (book review)

28 Stories of AIDS in Africa, is a moving collection of true stories about the raging AIDS epidemic across Africa and its personal effects on the people who live there. From orphans to grandmothers caring for more than a dozen children, from sex workers to truckers to nurses and doctors, men, women and children all across the continent are affected by AIDS. Some of the stories end happily, others not so much.  This book is extraordinary in that it personalizes the AIDS epidemic and makes its readers sympathetic toward the people mentioned in the book. It will inspire you, fill you with hope when you read of those who survived and make you cry when you hear of those who didn't. I would recommend it to anyone interested in the subject...and to anyone in general.

The Grapes of Wrath (book review)

The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck, is the story of the Joad family, who have been forced off the farm they have lived on for generations, in the midst of the Great Depression. They head to California, dreaming of a lush green land of endless opportunity. The jouney is long and hard, and not everyone will survive. But when they get there, the Joads finds that California is not at all like they dreamed it would be. The camps they are forced to live in are crowded, dirty, and unsanitary. Work is scarce and jobs never last long. But the family still clings onto the hope that somehow, someday, they will find another home.

I'm happy to say that this was a very good book. Parts of it read slower than others, but I generally found it very interesting. It was very long, more than 600 pages, but a worthwile read. The ending seemed very abrupt, though, almost as if it was just the end of a chapter as opposed to the end of the book. Overall, however, I would definitely recommend this book. I've only read one other book, by this author, The Red Pony, which I didn't enjoy. This was much better.

Andy Warhol: Prince of Pop (book review)

Andy Warhol: Prince of Pop, by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan, tells the story of the man who was perhaps the most well-known artist in the Pop Art movement. It was impossible not to notice him, with his crazy wigs, wild friends, and huge parties, not to mention his art, which was different from anything the public had seen before. Warhol compared making his art to working in a factory, even naming his studio the Factory. He took images of popular products and people and silk-screened them, mass-producing paintings of soup cans, coke bottles, boxes, and more. Warhol was different, but he wasn't afraid to be so, and he changed the art world forever.

This was a very good overview of Andy Warhol's life, quick but packed with information. Anyone interested in this artist, young or old, would find this to be an interesting and informative book. It covered his life in short chapters, from his childhood to his death, with several pages of pictures in between, of Warhol, his friends, and some of his famous paintings.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Part One (book review)

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Part One, by Akira Himekawa, is the story of a young knight, Link, and his journey to save Princess Zelda, ruler of the kingdom of Hyrule. Link, although young, is highly skilled with a sword, and his confidence in himself has caused him to become arrogant and insubordinate. The only person he will listen to is wise and beautiful Princess Zelda. And when she is kidnapped by an evil, twisted  copy of himself known as "Shadow Link", Link journeys to the ancient temple of the legendary Four Sword, which has the ability to split the hero who draws it into four. But when he draws the Four Sword, he unleashes a powerful demon who will do anything to destroy him! With the help of the Four Sword's mystical powers, can Link defeat the demon and rescue Zelda before Hyrule is turned to darkness?

This book was very good, but a bit confusing (not surprising considering it's the sixth book in a series, and I have no clue which is the first). However, once you get the gist of things it's pretty easy to understand, although I'd actually recommend reading them in order. Link, the hero, is funny and likeable, and Zelda is brave and clever. Of course, being a graphic novel, the book also reads extremely fast. Fans of the game will probably enjoy it, and so will others!

This book is for the Graphic Novels Challenge.

Pride and Prejudice (book review)

This book is going to be hard to write a review for, and it probably won't be very good, but here it is:

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen, is the story of Elizabeth Bennet, a young woman living in England during the early 1800's. Elizabeth is pretty, clever, and smart, regarded by some as second only to her sister Jane in beauty. When a handsome young man, Mr. Bingley, arrives in town, Elizabeth's rather shallow mother can't stop thinking about him and how wonderful it would be if she could marry one of her five daughters off to him. But Mr. Bingley doesn't come alone. A friend has accompanied him, Mr. Darcy, equally handsome, but proud and vain (or so everyone thinks). He even goes so far as to snub Elizabeth publicly when asked by Mr. Bingley if he would dance with her. This is the beginning of an intense dislike on her part, which only strengthens when she meets a handsome young officer named Mr. Wickham, who tells her how cruelly he was treated by Mr. Darcy. But what Elizabeth doesn't know is that Mr. Wickham has a few dark secrets of his own, and that not everyone is to be trusted...could it be that the man she dislikes most will in fact become her future lover? Read the book to find out!

I thought this was a wonderful book. It was much easier to understand than I expected it to be, and although there wasn't a lot of actual action, there was always something going on and there was no pointless dawdling. The characters had very different personalities, and they were complex and many-sided, not flat or cardboard at all. So, if you can't bear to read a book without tons of action, fighting, and blood and guts, I'd suggest you should look elsewhere. But if you enjoy classics, romance, or even historical fiction about this time period, I'm guessing you'll love this book.

Out of the Dust (book review)

Out of the Dust, by Karen Hesse, is the moving story of a teenage girl, Billie Jo, living in Oklahoma in the time of the Dust Bowl. Dust storms blow across the land without relief, creeping through the walls and seeping through the windows, suffocating the cattle and smothering the wheat. Dust is everywhere; there's no escaping it. Billie Jo is freed from the pressure of everyday life through music. When she plays the piano, it seems as if she is transported to a dream world, far away from the dust and the hardships everyone in her town has been suffering. But a terrible accident is about to change her life forever, scarring her hands badly and rendering her unable to play the piano. And in the aftermath, Billie Jo must look to unexpected places in order to find the solace that she needs during this period of hardship and suffering.

This was a very touching book. The protagonist, Billie Jo, is determined and likeable. She is strong-willed and tough, and she doesn't let hard times get her attitude down, despite all her suffering. Her story is moving, and seeing the events unfold through her eyes gives a unique perspective to the whole book. I also thought the fact that this book is told in free verse was very interesting, and at times contributed greatly to the character of the novel. However, at times the short chapter-poems seemed to flow choppily, and I couldn't help thinking on rare occasions that it would have been easier had this book been in typical novel format. On the other hand, however, the poems are tied in so deeply with the book that the story might have been completely if this were changed. So, overall, this was a great book that is worth reading, especially if you enjoy free verse books or stories about the Great Depression, and it's not at all time-consuming.

A Different Day, A Different Destiny (book review)

A Different Day, A Different Destiny, by Annette Laing, is the second installment in the story of three children and a time-traveling professor. Nothing has ever been the same for Alex and Hannah Dias, or their friend Brandon, since they moved to the small town of Snipesville, Georgia. At first glance Snipesville is an ordinary place, but ever since their chance encounter with Kate Harrower, professor of history at Snipesville Colledge, the kids' lives have been anything but ordinary. Kate Harrower, or the Professor, has conquered the ability of time-travel, and she's dragged them along with her! They thought World War II England was difficult enough, but this time they've been dropped off in three different locations in 1851--a Southern cotton field, an English coal mine, and a Scottish factory. And they'll have to use everything they've got if they ever want to see their families again.

This was a very good book; I enjoyed it even better than the first. It was very informative while also fun and exciting to read, and I can't wait for the next in the series. However, I would recommend reading the first book, Don't Know Where, Don't Know When, before this one, as it bases heavily on the first volume.

Affluenza (book review)

Affluenza, by John De Graff, David Wann, and Thomas H. Naylor, is the story of Americans nationwide, who are suffering from a wide variety of "conditions" such as credit card debt, stress, and obsession with shopping. The authors of this book have compiled all of these and much more into a single "disease" called affluenza. Affluenza is, essentially, the craving for more material possessions. The authors of this book show that when given a choice, America chose money over time--higher wages over a shorter workweek, and how that has turned into a giant tangle of greed, materialism, and consumerism. Affluenza is affecting nearly all aspects of life, disrupting communities, alienating family members, and turning citizens, even neighbors, against one another.

This was a great book that can really open your eyes to the truth--that people spend MUCH more time spending money than they do socializing with other people, their friends and family. It is a very moving and convincing book, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in this subject.

Child of the Wolves (book review)

Child of the Wolves, by Elizabeth Hall, tells the story of the young husky pup, Granite. Rebellious from the start, Granite flees his home after a mysterious man attempts to "kidnap" him (he is in fact being sold to a dog-sledder, but he doesn't know this). Lost and alone in the forest, Granite nearly starves to death until he wanders into the territory of a wolf pack. The pack welcomes him, to some degree, but Granite can tell that if not for the female leader's kindness for him, they would shun him. He struggles to please the pack, but despite his eagerness to learn the ways of the wolf, the other wolves either bully or ignore him. It will take a disaster and the near-death of all the wolves for them to realize exactly how valuable Granite is to their pack.

This book was okay. The end was heartwarming, and overall the story was cute, but the plot was a little simplistic. It seemed that whenever Granite got into a bit of trouble, something magically occurred to get him out of it. For example, in one instance, an angry grizzly bear mother was about to maul him, when she suddenly veered off to chase something else. There is no explanation of this. Sure, it's a children's book, but it's marketed to older children, ages 10 and up. Surely they can handle a bit of suspense! I would, overall, recommend this for young animal lovers ages 7-10. I think they would really enjoy it. And I did like the fact that it was very scientifically accurate, providing young readers with information on the feeding habits, behavior, and lifestyle of wolves.

This book is for the What's in a Name Two Challenge.

The Great Gatsby (book review)

The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a defining piece of literature for the Roaring '20's. Set near New York City, it tells the story of a young bond broker named Nick Caraway, who lives next to an enormous mansion owned by the mysterious and elusive Jay Gatsby. At a party one night, Nick has the opportunity to meet Gatsby, and they strike up a strange, curious friendship. Matters are complicated when Gatsby rediscovers his old lost lover, beautiful Daisy Buchanan, and they begin to fall back in love. But Daisy's husband is a jealous man, who will do anything to keep her to himself. And when a horrible tragedy occurs, it opens the perfect opportunity for Tom to get his revenge...

I thought this was a very good book. The characters themselves, as well as the interactions between them, were complex and many-sided. The plot was light and cheerful at points, but it had a distinctly dark undertone, adding to the suspense of the book. The ending was definitely a shock. The only problem I had with this book was that occasionally I found it confusing and hard to follow. But these moments were rare, and overall I greatly enjoyed it.

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl (book review)

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, by Barry Lyga, is the story of two teenage outcasts. Fanboy, thin, studious, and a comic book geek, doesn't have it so good. He's bullied at school, has only one friend (a friend who would choose his jock buddies over Fanboy), and his mother and "the step-fascist", as Fanboy calls his stepfather, are eagerly awaiting a new baby who will become Fanboy's little sibling. But Fanboy does have one thing going for him: the graphic novel he's writing. He knows it will be his ticket out of this town, and into a good college.

Then he meets Kyra, aka Goth Girl. She's sarcastic, witty, and intelligent, shares his love of comics and his hatred of the popular kids, and seems to take an interest in him. Soon they have a strong, if bumpy, friendship, and Fanboy feels as if perhaps his life is finally beginning to look up. But he doesn't know that Kyra has secrets of her own, secrets that could put her life...and perhaps even his...in great danger.

I truly loved this book. The plot was full of twists, the main characters clever and witty. Often I found it hard to put this book down; I just wanted to keep reading! Comic fans will enjoy the various references made to comic book artists in the book, and others will love the curious and sarcastic relationship between Fanboy and Kyra. I absolutely can't wait to read the sequel!

Cry Bloody Murder (book review)

Cry Bloody Murder, by Elaine DePrince, is a true story about love, loss, and the effect AIDS can have on a community. Elaine DePrince, her husband, and her five sons (two biological, three adopted) are a family of hemophiliacs. Their three adopted sons, Cubby, Mike, and Teddy, had hemophilia A. DePrince and her biological sons, Adam and Erik, have a less well-known, yet similar, condition known as von Willebrand's disease. Hemophilia and von Willebrand's disease are conditions in which one's blood cannot clot. In order to prevent them from bleeding to death, DePrince needed to give her sons clotting factor, which would help their blood to clot when they experienced bleeding. However, DePrince was unaware that the clotting factor she gave her children contained the virus HIV--she only found this out after Cubby, Mike, and Teddy had all been affected. The clotting factor, and other blood products--could have been virally inactivated, killing HIV and other viruses in them--but the multi-million dollar corporations making the blood products didn't bother to do this. And as a result, thousands of hemophiliacs and others died, including Cubby and Mike. Cubby was only eleven. Mike was only fifteen. And what makes Elaine DePrince angriest is that their deaths could have easily been prevented, if only an industry cared more about the lives of its consumers than about its profits.
Teddy is still living, thanks to the new drugs available, but DePrince knows that, if not for the drugs, he could have died as well.

Thousands of hemophiliacs have suffered in this way, thousands have lost loved ones. But they cannot get compensation. In many states, so-called "blood-shield laws" have been passed, protecting the product responsible for all these deaths from strict product liability, a legal term allowing a consumer injured by a product to file suit against the manufacturer or seller of the product. As a result, the corporations and the blood banks don't have to pay for what they have done, and the hemophiliacs must suffer on with the ghosts of their siblings, parents, friends, spouses, and children.

This was a wonderful book, but it was also very sad. I would recommend it to anyone interested in AIDS or in hemophilia. The stories pictured in this book, Cubby's and Mike's, as well as those of others with the virus, will inspire you and at the same time, fill you with sorrow, that such wonderful lives had to be lost.