Friday, August 10, 2012
Troubled Males Book Talk
Book Talk for grades 9-12
Troubled Males in Popular Fiction Book Talk
Script:
Acceleration by Graham McNamee
How would you handle trying to save a drowning person? How would you feel if that person died anyway? Would you feel guilt? Remorse? Would you become a troubled youth looking for a chance at redemption?
In Acceleration, the main character, Duncan watches as a girl drowns. Duncan feels haunted by it. He gets a job working in the lost and found of the underground Toronto subway. While in the dusty aisles of the lost and found unclaimed items, Duncan uncovers a strange diary bound in leather. He is able to put aside his guilt as he reads the terrible things in the diary.
This is where the book turns. Do you like chilling, page turning mysteries? Duncan believes he has found the diary of a serial killer. There are entries describing all kinds of evil: arson, animal torture, stalking. The diary writer has been stalking women on the very subway where Duncan works. Duncan takes the journal to the police, but they could care less. He wants a chance at saving another person’s life and redemption. When he figures out the killer is trying to decide between three women, 17 year old Duncan takes initiative. He and his friends decide to track and try to trap the murderer before he gets his next victim. When the killer comes to the lost and found to pick up his diary, Duncan follows him home and takes him on without a plan or backup. Smart . . . or stupid?
This is a fast-paced trip into the mind of a cold-blooded killer. The hunt will keep you on the edge of your seats! Would you do what Duncan did?
What would you do if you found a journal like this?
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
How many of you have seen “Grease?” Can you picture a “greaser?” Why do you think Danny was called a “greaser?” What do you think Seth Rogan’s all time favorite book is? It is The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton, the ultimate “greaser” book. Ponyboy Curtis is a 14 year old “greaser” who tells readers about the violence and conflict going on between the “greasers” and the preppie “Socs,” (Socials) two groups of troubled boys.” Ponyboy tells of rumbles, beatings, fires, and pointless deaths. Ponyboy is sensitive, though. He struggles with the hatred between the two groups.
Guess how old Hinton was when she wrote this book. 16! The same age as a bunch of you! She wrote about the world around her in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In her world people were defined by their jobs and their looks. The Socs were the West-side rich kids: preppies driving new sports cars. Do you know anyone like that? The greasers were the East-side wild poor boys wearing jeans and white tees. Do you know anyone a little wild? I don’t know about you, but I would want to be a hybrid: rich, driving a new sports car but cool in jeans and a tee shirt.
Ponyboy says the greasers are almost like hoods; they steal, “hold up gas stations and have a gang fight once in a while” (p. 3). Not a fun life for Ponyboy, although he doesn’t question it; he thinks it’s just the way things are. His gang is a tough bunch. They’re like a tight knit family, looking out for one another and taking on each other’s battles. Ponyboy is younger than most of them but accepted because of his two older brother, Darry and Soda. Fights and switchblades are everyday occurrences in Ponyboy’s life, as are the police. But, Hinton wants the reader to recognize the potential in Ponyboy. He is smart and creative. He understands the people around him. But his potential and smarts can’t save him.
When Darry gets mad one night and hits Ponyboy, tragic events are set in motion that rock Tulsa. In the end Ponyboy wonders if things have to be the way they are. He wonders if Socs and greasers can be friends. What do you think?
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
East of Eden is a complicated and sometimes controversial novel used in English classes. It makes the reader say, “That’s messed up!” over and over again. It is a story of love, hate, and indifference. It has elements of racism and sociopathic behavior. It has biblical themes, too: Cain and Abel, the prodigal son, Adam and Eve, the tree of good and evil. The name itself is biblical and refers to the family farm in Salinas Valley. At times East of Eden is shocking. At other times the descriptive elements and text are beautiful.
East of Eden is a saga that follows the Trask family through several generations. Much of the book focuses on Adam Trask; a man hated by his brother and wife (both sociopaths), loved but abused by his father, and someone who completely ignores his twin sons their first year of life. The sons, Aron and Cal, act like the biblical Cain and Abel. The wife is a sadistic, extortionist. The only families I know like this are on soap operas!
Racism is a theme apparent in the character of Lee, Adam Trask’s Chinese servant. The racism is evident in the stereotypical portrayal of a Chinese man. It is controversial because some present day educators feel that Lee is a poor role model for students of Chinese ancestry. What do you think? Should a character from the early 1900’s be a role model for Chinese students four generations later? Does Lee’s characterization cast disparity on the Chinese people? The irony of Lee being the servant for this family of dysfunctional people is quite ironic. Who, indeed, is the better person? The well educated Chinese man who takes care of everyone, or the dysfunctional but rich white man? Can a Chinese servant be the hero of this novel?
Another theme in this book is the extreme realism. One of the first scenes is Cyrus getting his leg shot and amputated. Kate uses a knitting needle to try to abort her twins. She poisons people, shoots her husband, and does whatever it takes to get what she wants with no emotion whatsoever. Adam is beat to a pulp by his brother, becomes a hobo and escaped convict, and completely looses it mentally. Samuel loves one woman and marries another, leading a double life behind the barn. Lee is a philosopher and intellect trapped in a minority servant role. There are fights, murders, abuse, and misery all written in a very realistic fashion. Steinbeck’s characters are almost depressing. These Trask’s are definitely troubled males. I don’t know about you, but I like a little happiness and humor in my books.
Fat Kid Rules the World by K. L. Going
Another troubled kid is Troy. Troy is 17, fat, miserable, and contemplating suicide. His idea is to jump off the platform in front of a New York Subway train. He is saved by skinny, brilliant, homeless, druggie guitarist Curt. Anyone heard of Kurt Cobain from Nirvana? This Curt loosely based on Nirvana’s Kurt. Troy is amazed that someone as cool as Curt would bother to save him. They make an interesting pair when Curt decides Troy should be his drummer.
Curt inserts himself into Troy’s dysfunctional family. Troy’s dad is an ex-Marine who doesn’t get his fat son. Troy’s younger bother is a pain. Yet, when meeting to practice, Curt always wants to go to Troy’s home. The family dynamics are interesting, and just what the troubled boys need.
When Curt takes Troy to his first concert at The Dump, Troy first feels like he doesn’t fit in. Then as the night goes on, he starts to realize that here is a place where nobody notices his size. When Curt and Troy get their first gig things are horrifying and gross. Let me read you a bit . . . (read pages 113, 126, 131-133).
When things go from bad to worse, Troy’s dad becomes an unexpected savior. All three of them Troy, Curt, and Troy’s dad go through complex personal growth making this a funny, gritty, and realistic story.
Evaluation:
Getting a group of teenagers together in the summer for something that has to do with school is painful. To lure them in, I used one of their mandatory reading novels, East of Eden, in my Book Talk. I did not want them to feel uncomfortable or like they were cheating, so I talked to their teacher ahead of time to get permission.
I picked books for the Book Talk that I enjoyed reading, and that I thought had themes that would go with East of Eden. It ended up that my theme was “Troubled Males.” My group was half boys, so they could relate. I worried at first that the themes were too mature for 15 and 16 year olds, but after talking to their English teacher I was reassured.
After reading the four books, I thought I would check out some internet sources to get more information and insight. There is a lot of information out there for controversial books like these. Two of the books, Acceleration and Fat Kid Rules the World, I found in my elementary school library, which surprised me. Classics like The Outsiders and East of Eden have whole websites dedicated to them. After sifting through the information I found, I wrote my script with the kids I invited to the Book Talk in mind.
Once there and sitting around a table at Starbucks, these loud, obnoxious teenagers were absolutely silent. I offered to buy them drinks and they loosened up a bit. I told them to relax, that the only one I would bite was my daughter. They laughed a bit at that. I set out my books and tried some small talk to get things going. It was a tough crowd.
I started my script with Acceleration. None of the kids had read this excellent mystery, and I think a few of them will now. Next time I think I would cut my narrative short and read an excerpt or two from the book. Also, one kid asked me about the author: what else he’d written, etc. and I didn’t have an answer for that. So next time a little more research is called for.
The second book I talked about, The Outsiders had not been read by any of the kids, either. Three of the girls, however, had watched the movie because they like Tom Cruise. I really played up the part that Hinton was the same age as them when she wrote the book. They were surprised, and one kid who is in journalism said, “Hey! I could do that!” They had all seen the movie “Grease” so they could relate to the greaser/Socs thing.
East of Eden was third. This is a super tough book to read and most of these kids have a huge English assignment about it to do before school starts. This book brought out a lot of discussion. I was asked if I thought it was an appropriate book for kids to read. I was honest and said, “Not really.” The themes of good and evil and brother against brother are OK. It is the graphic nature of the beatings, prostitution, and other things having to do with human nature that make this book contentious. For their assignment, we talked a lot about themes and literary devices. Next time I would pick a different book in this position because, in my opinion, it is altogether too heavy for kids to read.
My last book was my favorite of the four, Fat Kid Rules the World. I like the fact that a totally non-popular kid gets to rock out with someone totally cool. I think this is a fantasy geeky Honors English kids can relate to. I picked this one to do last because my script was short and I wanted to read some of the passages out loud. This ended up being a great way to end the session. The passages I picked had enough humor and grossness to appeal to these teenagers. This is one book I think they all will read.
Overall I feel this Book Talk was successful. My theme and the books I chose were ones 15 and 16 year old kids can relate to. Throwing in their mandatory reading was smart in that it got more kids there and I think made them feel better about their assignments. Adding humor at the end worked to lighten the mood before we left. The kids were awesome and polite, thanking me before they left. Two ladies from the next table over wanted a book list! I thought that was great! I was so focused I hadn‘t even noticed they were listening. The best thing about the whole experience was the look of respect for what I was doing from my daughter.
References
Corey. (2011). East of Eden [Book Review]. Reviews From Me.
http://coreysbooktalk.blogspot.com/2011/08/east-of-eden.html.
Going, K. (2003). Fat kid rules the world. New York, NY: Penguin Putnam Books.
Hinton, S. (1967). The outsiders. New York, NY: The Penguin Group Inc.
Hofmann, M. (2005). Fat Kid Rules the World [Book Review]. School Library Journal, 51(11), 59.
Jandy. (2004). East of Eden [Book Review]. Jandy’s Reading Room.
jandysbooks.com/genfic/easteden.
Martin, H. (2003). Acceleration [Book Review]. School Library Journal, 49(11), 142-143.
McNamee, G. (2003). Acceleration. New York, NY: Random House Children’s Books.
Milton, M. (2011). The works of John Steinbeck. Bookstove Book Talks.
http://bookstove.com/book-talk/the-works-of-john-steinbeck/
Roberts, K. (1999). How to create an unmistakable voice. Writing, 22(1), 13.
Scales, P. (2007). Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. School Library Journal, 53(1), 28.
Shettler, A. (2004). Acceleration [Book Review]. Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy,
47(8), 708-710.
Smith, D. (1991). Sanitized fiction and cultural diversity. Independent School, 50(2), 13.
Stars’ Book Picks. (2009, September, 7). Bookshelf. Scholastic Scope, p. 5. Scholastic Inc.
Steinbeck, J. (1952). East of Eden. New York, NY: The Viking Press.
Steinberg, R. (2003). Fat Kid Rules the World (Book). School Library Journal, 49(5), 152.
Woolworth, J. (2010). East of Eden. Book Review. http://marketingjesus.net/east-of-eden-
book-review/
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Week 10: The Sons of Liberty
- Week: 10
- Book Title: The Sons of Liberty by Alexander Lagos and Joseph Lagos, illustrated by Steve Walker and Oren Kramek
- Book Cover Image:
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| Copyright (2010) Random House |
- Book Summary: An interesting blend of history and fantasy, this graphic novel makes superheroes of two runaway slaves. The premise is that the boys are experimented on by Ben Franklin's son and change in amazing ways. They take on injustices in this book . . . with more to come.
- APA Reference: Lagos, A. & Logos, J. (2010). The sons of liberty. New York, NY: Random House.
- My Impressions: This is an amazing example of graphic art and a great story rolled into one. The artwork practically tells the story by itself. A lot of the text is actually back story for the reader's benefit. Many of the frames are beautiful enough to be stand alone art. The story is excellent and engaging, appropriate for middle school students. I can see this graphic novel as an entry to Revolutionary War history. From here a teacher could talk about Ben Franklin and the amazing things he did for America that are brushed upon in the story. One would have to carefully make sure the students understood that the story line here is fantasy, though. There are many subjects brought up that would make for fascinating discussions in the classroom. Slavery, for instance, and how the slaves were taken from Africa and shipped to North America. What happened on plantations and what were the repercussions of trying to escape are also excellent discussion questions. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading any sequels.
- Professional Review:
From Booklist
*Starred Review* The superhero, once the embarrassing social outcast of American culture, has lately been recognized as a potent metaphor adaptable to an array of themes and, now, historical eras. Two young slaves on the run, pursued by a bounty hunter and his ferocious pack of dogs, are experimented on by Ben Franklin's heinous son William and wind up with electrically charged superpowers. Overseen by Ben himself as well as true-life abolitionist Benjamin Lay, the slaves bring some hurtin' back to their tormentors. History offers few villains as vile as slaveholders, but this graphic novel is far from being a simple revenge thriller. The use of historical figures and well-researched (but embellished) history, and a willingness to flesh out characters and set up situations to pay off in future installments, makes for an uncommonly complex, literate, and satisfying adventure. The slick art, with wiry figures reminiscent of Mark Bagley's Ultimate Spider-Man work, feels more modern than the story suggests and will be inviting to teen readers. In the style of Robert Morales and Kyle Baker's Captain America: Truth (2004), this first installment of a series respects history (with some dramatic liberties taken) and uses superpowers effectively as an empowerment allegory. Grades 8-12. --Jesse Karp --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Karp, J. (2010). [Review of the book The Sons of Liberty by A. Lagos and J. Lagos]. Booklist. Retrieved from amazon.com.
- Library Uses: I am envisioning a graphic novel display with student work on a bulletin board above. Students can use moments from history to make their own graphic cells with text. This would be a great way to get kids reading graphic novels and historical non-fiction.
Week 10: The Perks of Being a Wallflower
- Week: 10
- Book Title: The Perks of Being of Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
- Book Cover Image:
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| Copyright (2012) Simon & Schuster |
- Book Summary: Charlie, a freshman in high school looses a friend to suicide and an aunt in an accident. What results is a series of choices that make him question many things in his life. He experiments with writing letters and essays along with drugs and alcohol.
- APA Reference: Chbosky, S. (1999). The perks of being a wallflower. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Inc.
- My Impressions: Although this book's main character is a freshman in high school, I feel there are many things in this book that would make it more appropriate for people over 18. It is a censored book for many reasons: rape, suicide, homicide, drugs, sex, homosexuality, alcohol, partner abuse, child abuse, etc. Charlie, the main character, is a kid, who to my uneducated mind, is suffering from manic depression. He is exceptionally bright and observant. He is a good student, but doesn't seem to fit in anywhere. When two older kids befriend him, Charlie is introduced to a great many things that make him question and wonder about his place in the world. Depression in young people is nothing to mess around with, and I was glad to read that Charlie's parents do get him the help he needs. This is a book I couldn't put down. I kept wondering, "What else can this kid deal with?"
- Professional Review:
| School Library Journal ( June 01, 1999; 9780671027346 ) | |
Gr 9 UpAn epistolary narrative cleverly places readers in the role of recipients of Charlies unfolding story of his freshman year in high school. From the beginning, Charlies identity as an outsider is credibly established. It was in the spring of the previous school year that his best friend committed suicide and now that his class has gone through a summer of change, the boy finds that he has drifted away from old friends. He finds a new and satisfying social set, however, made up of several high school seniors, bright bohemians with ego-bruising insights and, really, hearts of gold. These new friends make more sense to Charlie than his star football-playing older brother ever did and they are able to teach him about the realities of life that his older sister doesnt have the time to share with him. Grounded in a specific time (the 1991/92 academic year) and place (western Pennsylvania), Charlie, his friends, and family are palpably real. His grandfather is an embarrassing bigot; his new best friend is gay; his sister must resolve her pregnancy without her boyfriends support. Charlie develops from an observant wallflower into his own man of action, and, with the help of a therapist, he begins to face the sexual abuse he had experienced as a child. This report on his life will engage teen readers for years to come.Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Goldsmith, F. (1999, June 1). [Review of the book The Perks of Being a Wallflower by S. Chbosky]. School Library Journal.
Retrieved from Bowkers booksinprint.com.
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- Library Uses: In a library this book could be used, with parent permission, as a book club read. When finished with the book, the club and library could sponsor a movie night with the film coming out this year.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Week 9: Indian Shoes
- Week: 9
- Book Title: Indian Shoes by Cynthia Smith
- Book Cover Image:
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| Copyright (2002) Harper Collins Children's Books |
- Book Summary: This is a series of short stories about Ray, an orphan being raised by his Grandpa Halfmoon. In one story he brings all of his money he has saved in a jar to a junk store to buy his grandpa a pair of moccasins. A librarian (!) offers the shop owner a few dollars more than Ray and gets the moccasins. Ray offers her some authentic Indian-worn shoes (his sneakers) in trade for the moccasins and gets a gift for Grandpa Halfmoon.
- APA Reference: Smith, C. (2002). Indian shoes. New York, NY: Harper Collins Children's Books.
- My Impressions: Here in Montana we have an initiative where all students will be taught about Native Americans and especially the Montana Tribes. While Indian Shoes is not a Montana Indian book, it is a good example of modern Indian life. We have been fighting the false image of Indians today being the same as Indians in the 1600s. Books like Indian Shoes give our Native students good role models and a sense of normalcy. As an educator, I am always on the lookout for books with strong characters that are of Native American ancestry. I will be putting this book on my list. My favorite story is the one where Ray's ring-bearer tux pants are missing and he wears his grandpa's pants down the aisle.
- Professional Review:
Indian Shoes | |
| Publishers Weekly ( April 01, 2002; 9780060295318 ) | |
Ray Halfmoon, a Seminole-Cherokee boy living with his grandfather in Chicago, is at the center of Smith's (Rain Is Not My Indian Name) slim collection of six tales. In the title story, Ray tries to take the edge off Grampa's homesickness for his native Oklahoma by buying him a pair of Seminole moccasins, which the two spy in an antique shop. But when he arrives at the store, a librarian offers the shopkeeper more money for the shoes than Ray has to spend. The boy then trades the woman his own hightops for the moccasins (which, says a grateful Grampa, "put me in the mind of bein' back home") and the woman displays the sneakers in her library, labeling them "Cherokee-Seminole Hightops." In other selections, the duo cares for neighbors' pets on Christmas Day, Grampa finds a solution to the dreadful haircut he gives Ray on the day of a big baseball game and the two share a special moment while fishing at night. Though the author affectingly portrays the strong bond between grandson and grandfather, the narrative bogs down with flowery or overwritten passages (e.g., "Ray's and Grampa's breath puffed cloudy as they trudged next door to the Wang home. In the driveway, Mrs. Wang's VW Bug waited to be freed from the snow like a triceratops skeleton embedded in rock"). Kids may have trouble sticking with this collection. Ages 7-10. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review (2002, April 1). [Review of the book Indian Shoes by C. Smith]. Publishers Weekly. Retrieved from Bowker booksinprint.com.
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- Library Uses: This is an excellent book to add to a Native American unit. I also think it would be cool to have students bring in shoes for a writing project like, "Where did your shoes take you this summer?" These stories could be put into a book to keep in the library for future classes to read.
Week 9: Geektastic
- Week: 9
- Book Title: Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd edited by Holly Black and Cecil Castellucci
- Book Cover Image:
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| Copyright (2009) Little, Brown and Company |
- Book Summary: This is a funny series of short stories about all kinds of geeky people. There are Klingons getting together with Jedis, cheerleaders wanting to know what the geek world is all about, gamers meeting up to party, convention geeks, trekkers (not trekkies!) and more. All of the stories are by well known authors.
- APA Reference: Black, H. & Castellucci, C. (Eds.). (2009). Geektastic: stories from the nerd herd. New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company.
- My Impressions: This is a zany look into the world of all things geeky. Where in the world would a Jedi Knight and a Klingon get together? How could Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff actually meet in real life? What do you do if your mom has an affair with a graphic novel writer? These are all questions answered in the short stories found in Geektastic. My favorite is the story of an in-girl cheerleader wanting to know about all things geeky so she can communicate with her boyfriend better. This short story is called One of Us by Tracy Lynn. the cheerleader goes to the high school media room to meet with Springfield High's Genre and Nonsense club (the SPRIGGAN). She pays $100 for classes on all things nerdy. She learns everything she wants to know. Plus she learns that geeks are people with whom she has things in common and can be friends with. My next favorite story is the very first one where a girl dresses as a Klingon for a convention. She and her Klingon family growl and glare at all the other beings; Stormtroopers, Jedis, Star Trek cadets, aliens, etc. Yet somehow she, Klingon, ends up with a hangover and missing her pants in the bed of a Jedi. She kind-of shrugs and says, "I'm a Klingon, of course I'm attracted to my enemy" (p. 4). That pretty much sums up the theme of the whole book.
- Professional Review:
From School Library Journal
Grade 9 Up—From Trekkers to science geeks, Buffy fanatics to Dungeon Masters, nerds of all persuasions are sure to find themselves in the pages of this anthology. It contains fun reads such as Black and Castellucci's "Once You're a Jedi, You're a Jedi All the Way" in which a Klingon wakes with a Jedi in her hotel room while at a sci-fi convention, and Tracy Lynn's "One of Us," in which a cheerleader enlists the school nerds to teach her the basics of geekdom so she can impress her Trekker boyfriend. The collection also includes more profound fare such as Kelly Link's moving and masterful "Secret Identity" about a 15-year-old girl who has pretended to be her 32-year-old sister on an online RPG. She must face the consequences of her lies when she arranges to meet the man with whom she has developed a relationship. Also included are stories by YA lit greats such as John Green, Libba Bray, Scott Westerfeld, and M. T. Anderson. Each story is followed by a comic-book-style illustration offering information or advice such as "What Your Instrument Says About You" and "How to Look Cool and Not Drool in Front of Your Favorite Author." Simultaneously addressing the isolation and loneliness that geeks can feel as well as the sense of camaraderie and community that can be found when one embraces a world or ideology in which he or she can completely invest, Geektastic is a completely dorky and utterly worthwhile read.—Heather M. Campbell, formerly at Philip S. Miller Library, Castle Rock, CO
Campbell, H. (n.d.) [Review of the book Geektastic: Stories from the Nerd Herd edited by H. Black and C. Castellucci]. School Library Journal. Retrieved from amazon.com.
- Library Uses: This would be a fantastic book to use as a reference for anyone wanting to know more about any of the genres included like sci-fi and fantasy. If a student wanted to know what gaming is all about, here are some great stories. In small towns, the descriptions of conventions might come in handy because they are hard to imagine. It would be fun to have your own convention in the library. Students could man "booths" for their favorite genres: sci-fi, fantasy, comic books, graphic novels, etc.
Monday, August 6, 2012
Week 8: The Maze of Bones
- Week: 8
- Book Title: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan
- Book Cover Image:
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| Copyright (2008) Scholastic, Inc. |
- Book Summary: The first book of the 39 Clues series, The Maze of Bones introduces readers to the orphans Dan and Amy. Their grandmother dies and in her will sends them on a worldwide scavenger hunt for "the greatest secret of the Cahills" and a mission to save the world. In this first book they discover that their relatives pretend to help, but really hinder. In fact, their relatives try to kill them while they search for their first clue.
- APA Reference: Riordan, R. (2008). The maze of bones. New York, NY: Scholastic Inc.
- My Impressions: I am hooked! As of the writing of this post I am on book seven of the series. Amy, Dan, and Nellie (their au pair not babysitter!) are on the adventure of a lifetime. They go places I only dream of going. Dan has a photographic memory that I am totally jealous of and Amy is an excellent problem solver. Nellie, it turns out, is more than she seems to be and a mystery to be solved. Amy and Dan's relatives have their positive points, but are truly out for themselves. I think any child will find something in these books to enjoy; from catacombs full of skeletons to falling into a deep pit in a cemetery. The 39 Clues are addictive.
- Professional Review:
| Booklist ( October 15, 2008; 9780545090544 ) | |
| In a bold leap forward in marketing strategy, this first book in the 39 Clues series introduces readers to what promises to be a sensational mix of reading, online gaming, card-collecting, and even a grand-prize sweepstakes. The premise of the book: Grace Cahill, matriarch of the world's most powerful family, dies and leaves behind a challenge to her descendants. They can either inherit one million dollars, or forgo the money and receive the first of 39 clues that will lead them on an around-the-world adventure in search of, well, that's a secret. But it's an earth-shattering secret, and with 10 books planned for the series (each by a different author), it had better pay off in the end. Riordan, who has plotted the main arc for the series, gets the ball rolling nicely with likable brother-and-sister heroes, a cast of backstabbing relatives, and a smattering of puzzles and clues to decipher in the quest for the ultimate secret. Whether this intriguing book represents the first major event in a shifting world of publishing, or is simply a clever money- and attention-grabbing ploy remains to be seen, but it will be fascinating to see what kids make of it. (Library edition does not include game cards).--Chipman, Ian Copyright 2008 Booklist | |
| Chipman, I. (2008, October, 15). [Review of the book The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan]. Booklist. Retrieved from Bowkers booksinprint.com. |
Loading Retailers List - Library Uses: The 39 Clues books would be excellent to use as a scavenger hunt in the library. Clues could be hidden within books like puzzle pieces to be put together. This could be used as a school wide contest pitting grade levels or classes against each other.
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