Enchanted

Works Cited:

Kontis, Alethea. Enchanted. Boston: Harcourt, 2012. Print.

Summary:

Sunday Woodcutter, the youngest of seven sisters, befriends a talking frog during an afternoon visit to the forest. She does not realize that Grumble, the frog, is actually a prince who has been enchanted by a fairy. Sunday begins to fall in love with Grumble as the two continue to share stories over several afternoons. A kiss breaks the spell, but the transformation takes place once Sunday has left for the day. Prince Rumbold (Grumble) becomes determined to find Sunday after he returns to his castle and hosts three balls for the chance to see her once again and profess his love. The only problem is the fact that Sunday’s family very much dislikes the royal family due to some unfortunate events from the past.

Critical Analysis:

Enchanted incorporates so many different fairy tales in the story, it almost seems impossible to keep count. Each character represents some various tale most might recall from their childhood. The main character, Sunday Woodcutter, is the traditional heroine who might be seen in any Disney movie, complete with beauty, whit, and a few magical abilities. Many tales are woven throughout the novel including Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Snow White, and Sleeping Beauty to name a few. Author Alethea Kontis creates an imaginative world full of romance and sorcery and in true fairy tale fashion, naturally, leaves the reader with a happy ending.

While it can be fun picking out the various fairy tale references made as the story unfolds, it can also be overwhelming at times. The story seems to slow down when certain tales are mentioned. Following a storyline can be difficult when a reader is constantly going back and forth between a story and memory. At times, the story seems disorganized and is confusing. Following the plot might be difficult for some experiencing information overload from so many fairy tales mentions.

Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition

Citation:

Blumenthal, Karen. Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition. New York: Roaring Brook, 2011. Print.

Summary:

Alcohol and the debates related to drinking have plagued American life for centuries. Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition follows America’s complicated history concerning alcohol from the Pilgrim’s use of hard liquor on the Mayflower to the controversial addition (and ultimate removal) of the eighteenth amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The book provides a detailed look considering both the “wet” and “dry” sides of the issue chronicling how the two sides have clashed over the past few centuries.

Critical Analysis:

Author Karen Blumenthal has written an effective historical timeline recounting the various events that have attributed to the tumultuous history of alcohol and the hard fought battles for and against it. Bootleg: Murder, Moonshine, and the Lawless Years of Prohibition is an engaging work of nonfiction that is an ideal introduction to Prohibition, organized in a manner that is easy to follow. The various drawings, photographs, and documents Blumenthal incorporates throughout the book provide the reader with a visual representation of the time periods covered and add so much to the authenticity of her research. The inclusion of “A Prohibition and Temperance Glossary” is a helpful addition to the book, while the “Bibliography and Source Notes” is thorough and provides a great deal of information useful for those who would like additional sources for research.

One particular aspect of the work that is especially interesting are the various photographs of mementos Blumenthal includes such as campaign buttons, Carrie Nation’s hatchet pin, and science textbooks endorsed by the WCTU. It would be an added bonus to see more of these photographs incorporated. There were only a handful throughout the work and a greater visual representation of the actual artifacts from the temperance movement, for example, would strengthen the historical account.

My Brother Sam is Dead

Citation:

Collier, James Lincoln, and Christopher Collier. My Brother Sam Is Dead. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1974. Print.

Summary:

 The Meeker family considers themselves Tories. They remain loyal to the king during the American Revolution. When their oldest son, Sam, enlists with the Rebels, the family is divided and young Timothy is torn between supporting his older brother, or being allegiant to his father and denouncing Sam and the war. As the war begins to come to their small town, the Meeker family and their neighbors’ lives change drastically. Food is scarce and Tim experiences the horrors of war as the town of Redding becomes a staging ground for the Continental Army.

Critical Review:

My Brother Sam is Dead not only historically brings the American Revolution to life, but also emotionally addresses the hardships and nightmares that those involved endured as the war raged through civilian territories. We see Tim mature from a particularly naïve boy of 12 into a determined young man working to keep the family alive. He is apathetic to the war in the beginning and is unsure which side he is on, with his brother fighting for the Rebels and his mother and father remaining loyal to the king. He changes his mind on numerous occasions based upon the violence he witnesses from both sides and the novel details these instances well. He ultimately decides against the war in general: “It seemed to me that everybody was to blame, and I decided that I wasn’t going to be on anybody’s side any more: neither one of them was right” (p. 167).

The Colliers’ have written a thoughtful historical novel with effective descriptions and honest, raw emotions. The section at the end of the story entitled “How much of this book is true?” is particularly helpful in adding to the historical accuracy of the novel. The only weaknesses to be seen with the novel are the long descriptive sections. At times, these sections seem to ramble on with little action taking place. For example, many readers might find themselves zoning out after reading a page long description of the Connecticut countryside. 

My Darlin' Clementine

Citation:

Gregory, Kristiana. My Darlin' Clementine. New York: Holiday House, 2009. Print.

Summary:

Clementine Kidd lives in the small mining town of Nugget in the late 1860’s with her mother, father, and younger sister, Josie. In the Idaho Territory at this time, gold mining was the driving force behind settlements and The Kidd family earns extra income by cooking meals for the prospectors. Her father’s drinking becomes a major burden on the family and his debts mount exponentially with each late night poker game. Clementine is forced to choose between a life outside of Idaho as a doctor or staying in Idaho and marrying a man she doesn’t love in order to pay off her father’s debt.  

Critical Analysis:

Based on the song “Oh My Darling Clementine”, the novel My Darlin’ Clementine is written as a lead up to the tragic end Clementine faces on her wedding day in the original ballad. However, author Kristiana Gregory finds a way to make the story work with a more optimistic outcome for the protagonist. The novel begins with Clementine’s younger sister Josie describing the search for her sister along the riverbank, just as the song mentions. We see the point of view flip to Clementine. Through her eyes we see a rugged, gritty west and a small settlement in the Idaho Territory with a definite lack of refinement. In most cases, Clementine seems numb to the rough elements of the setting, and murder, gambling and prostitution are things that are normal and expected. The novel gives the reader a vivid, historical account of a young girl trying to survive the rough mining towns of the west. Clementine’s devotion to her family and her dreams make for a refreshing and inspirational character.

One drawback to the novel is the lack of emotion between Clementine and Boone Reno. The relationship is rather bland and the romance is never fully emphasized. Clementine overall is a well-rounded character with much emotion and thought. An additional relationship, like one with Boone, would have been an added bonus to the story.

Chime

Citation:

Billingsley, Franny. Chime. New York: Dial. 2011. Print.

Summary:

17-year-old Briony Larkin is able to communicate with the spirits in the marshes that surround her home and from what her recently dead step mother has led her to believe, she is also a witch. For fear of being put on trial and hanged, Briony desperately tries to keep her identity a secret. She feels responsible for her twin sister, Rose, and lives with the constant guilt of a childhood accident that left Rose emotionally disabled. Eldric Clayborne comes to live at the Larkin residence after he is expelled from college. Briony and Eldric become close and a fragile romance begins. Evil spirits from the swamp begin to threaten Rose’s life and Briony must make the decision to reveal her unique gifts and risk being sent to the gallows.

 Critical Analysis:

Author Franny Billingsley has created a complex protagonist wrought with guilt and self-loathing. Briony’s sense of self-worth is obviously low which is evident through an exceptional first person account. While Briony often shows disgust for herself and her past, there is evidence of occasional hope and promise for the future. Her defensive wall is temporarily taken down after Eldric arrives and their playful antics (their “fraternity” and Briony’s wine binge, for example) alleviate tensions throughout the novel. Briony and Eldric’s romance develops slowly and readers will find themselves anxious to see if Briony and Eldric end up together at the book’s conclusion.

One thing that might be a nice addition to the novel would be further descriptions for the swamp spirits. Billingsley does a fantastic job describing the swamp itself, creating a dark, murky setting for unusual beings. However, the creatures themselves lack vivid descriptions. For example, the “brownie” is a spirit that follows Briony. The only descriptors the reader is given is the fact that the Brownie has twig legs and a long nose. Further development may be helpful to some readers and would definitely enhance the story.

I Will Save You

Citation:

Peña, Matt De La. I Will Save You. New York: Delacorte Press, 2010. Print.

Summary:

After fleeing a foster home, Kidd Ellison takes a summer job at Cardiff by the Sea, a beach campsite in Southern California. After settling into his new job and then seeing the most beautiful girl he has ever laid eyes on, Olivia, Kidd begins to leave behind painful memories and feel somewhat normal which is something he hasn’t experienced in some time. Once his ex-best friend Devon shows up, everything changes. Kidd knows that Devon is not good company and he continually threatens Kidd’s chance at recovering from his past. As Kidd grows closer to Olivia, he begins to become more protective as Devon’s destructive behavior increases. Kidd must find a way to keep Olivia safe while not allowing Devon to destroy the perceived stability he now has in his life.

Critical Analysis:

I Will Save You addresses emotional and social issues faced by many teens today. We see Kidd’s desperate attempts to run from his past and the continuous fight he has dealing with his insecurities: “I imagined talking to her next time. I had to sound smart. And normal. I had to make her think I was a regular kid.” Devon is essentially the evil conscience Kidd tirelessly battles and embodies every painful aspect of his life including his abuse as a child and suicide attempts. Kidd’s father has contributed to Kidd/Devon’s behavior through his drug use and intolerance against the rich. The significant relationships Kidd forms through Olivia and Red create hope in such tragic circumstances.

Matt de la Pena has written a particularly thoughtful and complicated story told through the eyes of Kidd Ellison using flashbacks, dreams, and letters similar to those you might find as journal entries. Because we only see the side of an emotionality disturbed teen, the truth is something we question and some elements often don’t add up. The format de la Pena uses can be confusing at times and it often seems like solving a puzzle using the little clues given as the novel progresses. I Will Save You is a novel that requires heavy concentration by any reader and young adults definitely should take this into consideration. A potential hindrance to the novel is the fact that it doesn’t follow a traditional flow. This can definitely be a drawback for weaker readers.

Looking for Alaska

Citation:

Green, John. Looking for Alaska. New York, NY: Speak, 2008. Print.

Summary:

Miles Halter has decided to leave behind his uneventful life in Florida and attend the Culver Creek Boarding School in Birmingham, Alabama, in an attempt to seek “a Great Perhaps”. Miles quickly befriends a group of misfits, the most intriguing of all being Alaska Young. Not only is Alaska incredibly hot, she is also someone who is extremely complicated. Her unexpected mood swings, sexual exploits, and self-destructive behavior, leave Miles constantly searching to find out who she is and why she continually searches for answers as a means of escaping reality.

Critical Analysis:

John Green has created a particularly honest, first person dialogue in the novel Looking for Alaska. Miles (nicknamed “Pudge” early in the novel), is an authentic character and his witty and sometimes awkward commentary is easily readable as a typical sixteen year old boy with a desire to fit in. While his hobby collecting famous last words might seem a little odd and slightly morbid to most, the idea that the main character has quirks only creates more of a relatable character. The mystery of Alaska and the events surrounding her death are what most readers will find themselves desperate to solve; unfortunately there will not be a concrete solution. In a way, this aspect is one the most authentic within the novel. After all, how many men will ever fully understand a woman’s reasoning?

The novel does contain explicit language and sexual content. While this does contribute to the authenticity of the story, it no doubt might eliminate some younger readers. This can be seen as a weakness because the potential audience has become more focused and parental discretion is something that should be considered.