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.

Bridge to Terabithia

Citation:

Paterson, Katherine. Bridge to Terabithia. Ill. Diamond, Donna. New York, NY: Harper Collins, 1977. Print.

128 Pages

Summary:

10 year old Jesse Aaron is surprised to see someone moving into the Perkin’s place next door. He soon becomes friends with the new tenant, Leslie Burke. Leslie’s vivid imagination helps create their own imaginary world named Terabithia; a secret world tucked in the woods beside a creek bed where the two friends would be king and queen. Their friendship grows strong and the bond created through Terabithia turns out to be much more meaningful than Jesse could ever imagine.

Critical Analysis:

Author Katherine Paterson has created a very special friendship in the novel Bridge to Terabithia. We see both characters Jesse and Leslie become reliant on one another and the absence of the other only emphasizes this more. The imaginary kingdom of Terabithia serves as a reminder of what was once a great friendship and Jesse clinging to this notion is heartbreaking in the beginning, but uplifting as he heals. Jesse passing along the title of queen to May Belle is encouraging; “…he put flowers in her hair and led her across the bridge- the great bridge to Terabithia- which might look to someone with no magic in him like a few planks across a nearly dry gully.” After such a tragic event, Jesse proves that finding the strength to persevere through such tragedy is possible and honoring a friendship is important. Death is a predominant theme in the novel and Patterson does a great job realistically portraying death and how it relates to the often harsh reality that life continues for the rest of us.

Overall, the novel is a very honest and touching story of friendship. The only weakness to be seen would probably be the lack of dialogue between Leslie and her parents. They didn’t play a large role in the story, but hearing more from them might have given us a better glimpse into Leslie’s world.

Hatchet

Citation:

Paulsen, Gary. Hatchet. Ill. Willis, Drew. New York: Simon and Schuster for Young Readers, 2007. Print.

188 Pages
 

Summary:

Brian Robeson is headed to visit his father in Canada after his parents recently divorced. The pilot flying the small plane Brian is travelling in has a massive heart attack leaving Brian alone and unable to fly the plane. Brian is forced to crash land in a lake and swim to nearby land. He must now survive with no food, no shelter, and no way to contact anyone for rescue. Brian must learn how to survive through various methods of trial and error, while using his only tool, a small hatchet his mother gave him as a gift before his trip.

Critical Analysis:

Hatchet proves to be an incredibly suspenseful novel, leaving the reader on edge wondering what tactic Brian will use next to combat numerous near death experiences. Brian not only must endure the hardships of the wilderness where he has been placed, but also the difficult situation of coping with his parents’ recent divorce. Author Gary Paulsen presents a very real and very vivid account of how a young boy must battle the external elements, as well as the internal emotions attacking him. For example, Brian’s “secret” proves to be just as unbearable as his unfortunate quilling by a porcupine.  

The novel is one definitely geared towards male readers. Adolescent girls might not be pulled into Brian's world as much as a teenage boy might. Brian is a character many adolescent boys can relate to. The reader is given a firsthand account of Brian’s survival, allowing for a realistic read. We see Brian’s evolution as a naïve boy who is inexperienced and frightened in the wilderness, transform into a confident young man with the ability to persevere and survive whatever challenge he encounters. The novel Hatchet is a great adventure story demonstrating a protagonist’s personal struggle not only to adapt to an unknown wilderness, but also discover his own identity.