Uglies. By Scott Westerfeld

Title: Uglies
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Date: February 8, 2005
ISBN: 0689865384

Critical Analysis:

This novel is set in the future where children are altered upon their sixteenth birthday to become pretty. All of their imperfections and blemishes are erased and they live in a society where everyone is a mirror image of beauty and the younger children who are deemed as the uglies are kept away.

The story is told through Tally Youngblood’s views and how she is longing to become pretty when she turns sixteen and to live with her best friend Peris in Pretty Town! Tally is forced to come to the harsh realization of her society’s evil intentions when she is blackmailed by Dr. Cable to find out where her friend Shay has gone. Tally knows Shay has run away to the rebellion town called Smoke. In Smoke you are accepted as you are…non-pretty. Tally is forced to make difficult decisions that will affect the lives of many innocent people and her love interest David.

Westerfeld created a mind-blowing science fiction novel that sci-fi fans will enjoy! You connect with the characters in the story. Tally’s character is very believable and strong. The setting is in a futuristic world and you will even have the benefit of hover boarding throughout the novel. This world seems very pretty but you find out fast that beauty is only skin deep. The government of this society implants mind altering lesions on the pretties in order to control the Pretty Town society. You will be introduced to the “Specials” in this book which are “Pretties” gone extreme. Specials have been altered to have super human strength to carry out the law enforcement in this futuristic society. I really liked the theme of looks are not everything. Jennifer Mattson of Booklist wrote, “Teens will sink their teeth into the provocative questions about invasive technology, image-obsessed society, and the ethical quandaries of a mole-turned-ally” (Booklist, Mar. 15, 2005 (Vol. 101, No. 14)).

Fans will eagerly want to read the rest of the books in this series to see what will happen next!

Review Excerpts:

Carlee Hallman (Children's Literature):

"In this sci-fi allegory, normal-looking people are called 'uglies.' Tally looks forward to her 16th birthday, after which she can have the operation which will make her a 'pretty.' Her boyfriend had the operation a short time before which allows him to live in another city where only pretties can live and where pretties party from morning till night. Then Tally meets a girlfriend who is looking for another life-style. As Tally follows this friend to an outpost of rugged outdoor living, she begins to see things differently and learns a disturbing truth about the 'pretty' operation. A new boyfriend adds interest. Which lifestyle Tally will choose and which side she will betray, is not completely clear at the end of the book which leads to a sequel. Surprising plot twists and dangerous circumstances keep the reader guessing. 2005, Simon Pulse/Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division, $6.99. Ages 12 to 16" Retrieved from the Children's Literature Database (accessed on October 25, 2009).

Jennifer Mattson (Booklist, Mar. 15, 2005 (Vol. 101, No. 14)):

"Fifteen-year-old Tally's eerily harmonious, postapocalyptic society gives extreme makeovers to teens on their sixteenth birthdays, supposedly conferring equivalent evolutionary advantages to all. When a top-secret agency threatens to leave Tally ugly forever unless she spies on runaway teens, she agrees to infiltrate the Smoke, a shadowy colony of refugees from the "tyranny of physical perfection." At first baffled and revolted by the rebels' choices, Tally eventually bonds with one of their leaders and begins to question the validity of institutionalized mutilation--especially as it becomes clear that the government's surgeons may be doing more than cosmetic nipping and tucking. Although the narrative's brisk pace is more successful in scenes of hover-boarding action than in convincingly developing Tally's key relationships, teens will sink their teeth into the provocative questions about invasive technology, image-obsessed society, and the ethical quandaries of a mole-turned-ally. These elements, along with the obvious connections to reality programs such as Miami Slice, will surely cause this ingenious series debut to cement Westerfeld's reputation for high-concept YA fiction that has wide appeal. Suggest M. T. Anderson's Feed (2002) and Westerfeld's own So Yesterday (2004) to readers antsy for the next installment. Category: Books for Older Readers--Fiction. 2005, Simon & Schuster/Simon Pulse, $6.99. Gr. 7-10. Starred Review" Retrieved from the Children's Literature Database (accessed on October 25, 2009).

Awards:

Florida Teen Read, 2008.
Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award, 2007.
Hal Clement Award, 2006.

Connections:

I found a great website that offered discussion questions booktalk for this book. You can access this website by clicking on: http://www.multcolib.org/talk/guides-uglies.html (accessed October 25, 2009).

Other books that may be of interest:

Pretties. By Scott Westerfeld. Publisher: Simon Pulse. Date: 2005. ISBN: 9780689865398.

Specials. By Scott Westerfeld. Publisher: Simon Pulse. Date 2006. ISBN: 9780689865404.

Extras. By Scott Westerfeld. Publisher: Simon Pulse. Date: 2007. ISBN: 9781416951179.

New Moon. By Stephenie Meyer

Title: New Moon
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Publisher: Little Brown
Date: August 21, 2006
ISBN: 0316160199

Critical Analysis:

This is the second novel in the Twilight saga. Set in Forks, Washington, this book focuses on Bella’s depression following Edward’s abandonment. Bella is forced to live in her world without her beloved Edward. She finds comfort and emotional support from Jacob Black who is a werewolf that lives on the local Indian reservation with other werewolves and protects the town’s folk from the blood-sucking vampires. Bella is torn between her feelings for Jacob and her longing for Edward to come back.

Stephenie Meyer did a great job of introducing the possible love triangle of Bella, Edward and Jacob for new readers. While Edward’s character is absent for most of the text, readers will not be disappointed. This novel is clearly darker due to Bella’s depression but will keep readers engaged because of the introduction of the werewolf pack and the constant danger from other vampires that accompanies Bella throughout the story. Cindy Dobrez of Booklist wrote, “Romantics will miss Edward's presence, but the suspense created by a pack of werewolves bent on protecting Bella from a vindictive vampire will keep them occupied until the lovers can be reunited” (Booklist, Jul. 1, 2006 (Vol. 102, No. 21).

Meyer carries the Romeo and Juliet romance between Edward and Bella in this installment by creating a race against time for Bella to save Edward from killing himself in Italy because he believes Bella has died. Fans will eagerly want to read the sequel.

Review Excerpts:

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2007):

"To protect his girlfriend, Bella, vampire Edward leaves town. As a result, a broken-hearted Bella deepens her friendship with the earthier Jacob--who turns out to be a werewolf. Bella is little more than a passive stand-in for fantasy-happy readers, but the grandiose emotional arc begun in Twilight continues to entice, and Jacob's character development sets up a promising triangle. Category: Older Fiction. 2006, Little/Tingley, 563pp, 17.99. Ages 12 to 14. Rating: 4: Recommended, with minor flaws" Retrieved from the Children's Literature Database (accessed on October 25, 2009).

Cindy Dobrez (Booklist, Jul. 1, 2006 (Vol. 102, No. 21)):

"Which is tempting you more, my blood or my body?" Things are heating up between Bella Swan and her vampire boyfriend, Edward Cullen, in this sequel to the immensely popular Twilight (2005). Then Bella is injured at her birthday party, and the Cullens' reaction to her blood sends Edward's family packing. Bella is inconsolable until she discovers that reckless behavior allows her to hear Edward's warning voice in her head. To keep him close, she decides to live as dangerously as possible, acquiring two motorcycles and developing a close friendship with Jacob, who helps her rebuild them. Romantics will miss Edward's presence, but the suspense created by a pack of werewolves bent on protecting Bella from a vindictive vampire will keep them occupied until the lovers can be reunited. The writing is a bit melodramatic, but readers won't care. Bella's dismay at being ordinary (after all, she's only human) will strike a chord even among girls who have no desire to be immortal, and like the vampires who watch Bella bleed with 'fevered eyes,' teens will relish this new adventure and hunger for more. Category: Books for Older Readers--Fiction. 2006, Little, Brown, $17.99. Gr. 8-11." Retrieved from the Children's Literature Database (accessed on October 25, 2009).

Awards:

Young Reader's Choice Award, 2009.

Soaring Eagle Book Award, 2008.

American Booksellers Book Sense of the Year (ABBY) Award, 2007.

Connections:

You can access a reading guide by clicking on: http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/_assets/lbyr/text-pdf/NewMoon_ONLINERGG_RVSD.pdf (accessed October 25, 2009).

Other books of interest:

Twilight: a novel. By Stephenie Meyer. Publisher: Little Brown. Date: 2005. ISBN: 9780316160179.

Eclipse. By Stephenie Meyer. Publisher Little Brown. Date: 2007. ISBN: 9780316160209.

Breaking Dawn. By Stephenie Meyer. Publisher Little Brown. Date: 2008. ISBN: 9780316067928.

The Hunger Games. By Suzanne Collins

Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Date: September 14, 2008
ISBN: 0439023483

Critical Analysis:

In the future, North America’s children are selected in what is called a “Reaping” to become contestants in the Hunger Games tournament. The main character Katniss is distraught to hear her younger sister Prim has been selected and instead insists that she takes Prim’s place. Katniss is paired up with another member of her district 12 community, a boy named Peeta who has loved Katniss since she was five. Both Katniss and Peeta will embark in a dangerous Hunger Games tournament where there will be a fight to the death among each other to determine the winner.

Collins created a terrifying, nail biting and suspenseful science fiction novel with strong characters. You read the story through Katniss’s narration. You will connect with all the characters in the Hunger Games tournament due to their struggle of survival. Even though Katniss wins, the author did a good job presenting the toll this had on her mental state. For example, on page 348, “I startled when I catch someone staring at me from only a few inches away and then I realize it’s my own face reflecting back in the glass. Wild eyes, hollow cheeks, my hair in a tangled mat. Rabid. Feral. Mad. No wonder everyone is keeping a safe distance from me” (Collins, 2008). The connection made from a child who just survived the most violent atrocities leaves you with goose bumps. Courtney Elrod of Children’s Literature commented, “The futuristic and horrific elements of the novel provide unique and intense components to the setting and the characters, but these elements could turn away readers uninterested in these images as they are graphic and terrifying.”

The setting of the story takes place in a futuristic arena which is controlled by the game makers. Everything from the weather, violence, food, water and medical supplies are controlled while the civilian population watches each terrifying or romantic sequence unfold via television. Reality TV in extreme cruelty! This book will keep readers engaged to the very end to read how far human nature will go in order to survive. Fans will eagerly want to read the sequel.

Review Excerpts:

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Spring 2009):

"Katniss volunteers to represent her district in the Hunger Games, a compulsory, government-sponsored reality-TV show from which only one of twenty-four teenage contestants will emerge alive. A fierce, resourceful competitor, Katniss also displays great compassion and vulnerability. The twists and turns are addictive in this compulsively readable blend of science fiction, romance, and social commentary. Category: Older Fiction. 2008, Scholastic, 374pp, 17.99. Ages 12 to 14. Rating: 1: Outstanding, noteworthy in style, content, and/or illustration" Retrieved from the Children's Literature Database (accessed on October 25, 2009).

Francisca Goldsmith (Booklist, Sep. 1, 2008 (Vol. 105, No. 1))*Starred Review*:

"This is a grand-opening salvo in a new series by the author of the Underland Chronicles. Sixteen-year-old Katniss poaches food for her widowed mother and little sister from the forest outside the legal perimeter of District 12, the poorest of the dozen districts constituting Panem, the North American dystopic state that has replaced the U.S. in the not-too-distant future. Her hunting and tracking skills serve her well when she is then cast into the nation’s annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death where contestants must battle harsh terrain, artificially concocted weather conditions, and two teenaged contestants from each of Panem’s districts. District 12’s second “tribute” is Peeta, the baker’s son, who has been in love with Katniss since he was five. Each new plot twist ratchets up the tension, moving the story forward and keeping the reader on edge. Although Katniss may be skilled with a bow and arrow and adept at analyzing her opponents’ next moves, she has much to learn about personal sentiments, especially her own. Populated by three-dimensional characters, this is a superb tale of physical adventure, political suspense, and romance. Grades 9-12" Retrieved from the Children's Literature Database (accessed on October 25, 2009).

Awards:

Children's Choice Book Award, 2009.

Indies Choice Book Award, 2009.

Cybils, 2008.

Connections:

You can access a discussion guide by clicking on: http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collateral.jsp?id=36164 (accessed October 25, 2009).

Other books of interest:

Catching Fire. By Suzanne Collins. Publisher: Scholastic. Date: 2009. ISBN: 9780439023498.

A Darkling Plain. By Philip Reeve. Publisher: Harper Collins. Date: 2007. ISBN: 9780060890551.

I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You. By Ally Carter.

Title: I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You.
Author: Ally Carter.
Publisher: Hyperion.
Date: April 1, 2007.
ISBN: 1423100042.

Critical Analysis:

Ally Carter wrote a fast paced funny spy thriller adventure of a teenage girl named Cammie Morgan who attends a posh private school called the Gallagher Academy where gifted girls learn how to become top rate spies. Cammie and her friends set out to perform covert operations but unfortunately a local boy named Josh spots Cammie and she develops a crush on him. Her friends help her find out more information on Josh and to help her figure out if he likes her or not without letting Josh or the outside world know their Gallagher Academy’s secret identity.

Readers will enjoy the humor in this story! The plot takes a little while to fully develop, but the humor will keep the reader engaged. According to the Publishers Weekly Review, “Though the plot takes a while to unfold, fun details and characters will keep readers engaged (Cammie and her friends speak 14 languages, take classes in Covert Operations, can rappel down buildings and plant tracking devices)” (Publishers Weekly, vol 253, issue 20, p73). The characters in this story were very interesting, funny and full of surprises. Unfortunately, this story lacked the one true hated villain which results in the story not having such a climatic hero finale. Miranda Doyle of the San Francisco Public Library wrote, “The stakes never seem very high since there are no real villains, and the cutesy dialogue quickly becomes grating” (School Library Journal, vol 52, issue 7, p98).

The literary style of the first person narrative through Cammie Morgan was easy to follow and the co-ops reports that she included gave a James Bond type feel. While I would not associate this book as a realistic fiction novel, I would say there are realistic relationships between some of the characters to which readers could relate. The story lacks the intensity of a deep plot but is enjoyable to read especially for a young teenage audience looking for a good clean fun chick lit book!

Review Excerpt:

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2006):

"Cammie attends Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a school allegedly for geniuses but actually for spies. The coursework is rigorous, the teachers are experts in their fields, and her mother is the headmaster. Disappointingly, Cammie's undercover skills are only used to investigate a boy she likes, but the book--more romance than spy thriller--is still entertaining. Category: Older Fiction. 2006, Hyperion, 284pp, 15.99. Ages 12 to 14. Rating: 4: Recommended, with minor flaws" Retrieved from the Children's Literature Database (accessed on October 10, 2009).

Claire Rosser (KLIATT Review, May 2006 (Vol. 40, No. 3)):

"Carter introduces The Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women--a school for spies, actually, but no one outside the school knows that. The main character is Cammie Morgan, and she is preparing for a life as a spy by learning how to speak many languages, how to collect information from many sources, and how to kill quickly, and in many ways. She is happy in her life, surrounded by equally brilliant friends. The plot revolves around more typical situations: she meets a boy in town and falls for him; and a new girl who thinks she is better than anyone else has difficulty fitting in. Cammie's mother is the principal of the school and she is supportive and loving. The teachers are nothing if not fascinating and different. This is escapist fiction for those who like unusual school stories. Category: Hardcover Fiction. KLIATT Codes: JS--Recommended for junior and senior high school students. 2006, Hyperion, 284p., $16.99. Ages 12 to 18" Retrieved from the Children's Literature Database (accessed on October 10, 2009).

Awards:

Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2009.

Kansas Notable Book, 2007.

Connections:

I found an intersting website that had a short quiz on the story which could be used to get the thought process started for discussion. You can access this quiz by clicking on: http://www.allthetests.com/quiz26/quiz/1220820945/Id-Tell-You-I-Love-You-But-Then-Id-Have-To-Kill-You (accessed on October 10, 2009).

Other books that may be of intrest:

Cross my heart and hope to spy, by Ally Carter, Publisher: Hyperion Books, Date: 2007, ISBN: 9781423100058 (second book in the Gallagher series).

Don't judge a girl by her cover, by Ally Carter, Publisher: Hyperion Books, Date: 2009, ISBN: 9781423116387 (third book in the Gallagher series).

Private, by Kate Brian, Publisher: Simon and Schuster, Date: 2006, ISBN: 9781416918738 (first book in a nine part series).

Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes. By Chris Crutcher.

Title: Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes.
Author: Chris Crutcher.
Publisher: Greenwillow Books.
Date: March 18, 2003.
ISBN: 0060094893

Critical Analysis:

Chris Crutcher wrote a heart pounding story that involved realistic character experiences that many teens can relate to even today. The story revolves around a teenage boy named Eric Calhoune and his best friend Sarah Byrnes. Sarah is hospitalized in a catatonic state and Eric visits her on a daily bases in hopes that she come back to reality. Both Eric and Sarah are experiencing hardships to everyday life. Eric has a weight issue and Sarah has a facial disfiguration due to an accident that she had when she was little or was it an accident?

While reading this story you will connect to the rich characterization and sports theme throughout the story. The story has a good mixture of humor and serious tensions that will assist in keeping the reader engaged. The literary style of the first person narrative through Eric Calhoune was very easy to follow and helped in the character connection process. There were some characters in this story that I felt dragged the storyline in the beginning but later helped the story come full circle in a fast pace suspense mixed with much emotion. Each character had some sort of issue or secret they were hiding or trying to deal with. According to the Kirkus Review, “Though Crutcher doesn't always play fair in developing his themes--all the conservative Christians here are humorless dupes or hypocrites, and one tries to commit suicide after it comes out that his girlfriend had an abortion--his language, characters, and situations are vivid and often hilarious”( Kirkus Reviews, 1993). Once the plot picks up, you will be hooked until the very end! The characters are believable and the reader will be able to relate or connect to them well.
The back drop of the swim team gave an emotional break in the seriousness of the plot, which was refreshing. The readers will have a great surprise at the end when they find out who is the vigilante savior at the end!

Review Excerpt:

Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, 1993):

"Eighteen-year-old Eric's success on the swimming team and the weight loss that is the by-product of his strict physical regimen are so threatening to his longstanding friendship with Sarah Byrnes -- who, at the age of three was severely burned on the face and hands when her father pushed her into a wood stove -- that he forces himself into gluttony in order not to jeopardize it. Eric's attempts to help his friend find her way back into the world after she is institutionalized make up the bulk of the narrative. The characters are real and believable. Category: Fiction. 1993, Greenwillow, 216pp.. Ages 14 to 18. Rating: 2: Superior, well above average" Retrieved from the Children's Literature Database (accessed on October 9, 2009).

Susie Wilde (Children's Literature):

"After years of fighting humiliation for being overweight, Eric Calhoune, alias Moby, begins swimming in high school. Moby describes his absent, overweight father, "(he's) not a guy who should have gone light on desserts and between meal snacks...(but) a guy who should have spread Glue on his lips before showing his face outside his bedroom each morning." Weight and wit have bonded him in long-term friendship with Sarah Byrnes, a girl who has faced the shame of horrible facial burn scars she's borne since the age of three. Against a swimming backdrop Crutcher places the issues of shame, narrow-mindedness, and abuse. Once the story takes hold you move along at such a rapid clip that by the end you're holding on for dear life. 1993, Greenwillow, $16.00, $4.50 and $2.49. Ages 13 up" Retrieved from the Children's Literature Database (accessed on October 9, 2009)

Connections:

I found a nice group of discussion question from the Multnomah County Library. You may access these discussion question by clicking on: http://www.multcolib.org/talk/guides-stayingfat.html (accessed on October 9, 2009).

Other books that may be of interest:

Firegirl, by Tony Abbott, Publisher: Little Brown, Date: 2006, ISBN: 0316011711.

Wintergirls, by Laurie Halse Anderson, Publisher: Viking, Date: 2009, ISBN: 9780670011100.

Looks, by Madeleine George, Publisher: Viking, Date: 2008, ISBN: 9780670061679.

Dairy Queen. By Catherine Murdock

Title: Dairy Queen
By: Catherine Murdock
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Date: May 22, 2006
ISBN: 0618683070



Critical Analysis:

Catherine Murdock wrote a fascinating story about a girl named DJ Schwenk and her quest to become a football player on her school team. DJ has to overcome positive and negative obstacles while working on the family dairy farm, living in dysfunctional family relationships, loving Brian Nelson (an opposing school quarterback), passing English and worrying about being accepted by her peers when they find out she wants to be on the football team.

While reading this story you will connect with DJ and the sports theme will keep you reading, especially if you like football. The story has a great mix of humorous and serious storylines that will keep you engaged. Amy Pickett from Ridley High School commented on the humorous behaviors that DJ’s character provided by concluding, “D.J.'s tongue-tied nature and self-deprecating inner monologues contribute to the novel's many belly laughs. At the end, though, it is the protagonist's heart that will win readers over” (School Library Journal, vol 52, issue 4, p145).

The setting of this story takes place in a small rural town in Wisconsin which makes the story have a realistic feel and the literary style of the first person narrative through DJ Schwenk was very easy to follow and helped in the character connection process. Jennifer Hubert wrote, “This humorous, romantic romp excels at revealing a situation seldom explored in YA novels, and it will quickly find its place alongside equally well-written stories set in rural areas” (Booklist, vol 102, number 15, p36). This story is not only believable but is refreshing due to the lack of the “girly-girl” nature. Readers will be able to not only connect with the characters in the story but find the read enjoyable!

Review Excerpts:
Horn Book (The Horn Book Guide, Fall 2006):

"Coaching the rival high school's quarterback in a summer fitness program, farmgirl D.J. realizes she's attracted to Brian; winning a place as a defensive linebacker for her own school, D.J. realizes she'll face Brian on the field. D.J.'s practical, understatedly humorous voice drives this memoir of her fifteenth summer--an engrossing tale of love, family, and football. Category: Older Fiction. 2006, Houghton, 278pp, 16.00. Ages 12 to 14. Rating: 2: Superior, well above average" Retrieved from the Children's Literature Database (Accessed October 10, 2009).

Megan Callahan (The ALAN Review, Spring/Summer 2007 (Vol. 34, No. 3)):

"D.J. Schwenk has always done as she’s told. When her older brothers left home after a family fight, she let it happen. When her father had surgery, she took over the family farm. And when Brian Nelson, quarterback of Red Bend’s rival football team, begins working at her farm . . . she falls in love. When Brian first shows up at Schwenk Farm, D.J. is disgusted, but as the two work together, they confide in each other. Soon, they become much more than friends; however, D.J. strains her new relationship with Brian, and with her family, when she makes the Red Bend football team. Readers will fall in love with D.J.’s humor and will relate well to her emotional epiphanies. While initially slow-paced, the story becomes quite interesting as it progresses. For those who think that small-town life is dull, Dairy Queen will offer a new perspective. Category: Family/Romance. YA--Young Adult. 2006, Houghton Mifflin, 275 pp., $16.00. Ages young adult.Bartlett, IL" Retrieved from the Children's Literature Database (Accessed on October 10, 2009).

Awards:

Pennslyania Young Reader's Choice Award, 2008.

Great Lakes Great Book Awards, 2007.

Borders Original Voices Award, 2006.

Connections:

I found a nice group of discussion questions from the Manitowoc Public Library. You may access these questions by clicking on: http://www.manitowoc.lib.wi.us/readers/guides/dairy%20queen.htm (accessed on October 10, 2009).

Other books that may be of interest:

The Off Season, by Catherine Murdock, Publisher: Houghton Mifflin, Date: 2007, ISBN: 9780618686957.

Amazing Grace, by Megan Shull, Publisher: Hyperion, Date: 2005, ISBN: 9780786856909.

Playing with the Boys: a pretty tough novel, by Liz Tigelaar, Publisher: Razorbill, Date: 2008, ISBN: 9781595141132.