The Blue Sword

The Blue Sword
by Robin McKinley
Published by Berkley Books, New York
1982
image retrieved - http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/images/n1/n6562.jpg

Plot Summary

This Young Adult fantasy book is the story of Harry Crewe, a young 'Homelander' woman who has grown up in the nation of Damar. When her father suddenly takes ill and dies, Harry moves to an army camp on the edge of the desert, with her brother, a soldier in the army. Harry has difficulty adjusting to this new life. She no longer has the freedom to romp and roam, instead she is expected to act as a proper girl should. This leaves Harry feeling restless and unfulfilled.Her life suddenly changes when the golden-eyed king, Colrath, of a neighboring people, the "Hillfolk", rides to the camp to request millitary assistance against the pending threat of attack from the Northeners; an evil and newly-strengthened people over the mountains. The "Homelanders" commanding officer refuses to help.
Colrath leaves the meeting in anger, however, his kelar (magical intuition) insists that Harry is the one that must carry the blue sword and fill his people with hope.The book is a magical and epic adventure that spans across the desert and over mountains.

Comments

This coming-of-age story is a great book for a young adult readership. McKinley includes enough detail in the character and plot developments to allow the reader to thoroughly enjoy the epic adventures, without getting bogged down with details. This writing style of this book is successful in as much as it encourages reading beyond its pages.

Harry, the protagonist is a good role-model for young women. She is a risk taker, and she learns throughout the book to listen to her intuition, even if sometimes others do not agree wtih her. Throughout the book, she struggles with her loyalties between both of her cultures. Many young adults, especially those coming from a multi-cultural background could relate to her situation.

I would recommend this book to any reluctant reader (well, only those with fairly strong literacy skills), especially girls.

Age Range: 12 - 18

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Abel's Island

Abel's Island
By William Steig
Published by Square Fish Publishing
1976
image retrieved - http://www.scls.lib.wi.us/sunprairie/images/AbelsIsland.jpg

Plot Summary

During a lovely picnic, a rainstorm sweeps Abel (a mouse) away from his wife. He finds himself stranded on a deserted island in the middle of a river and far from home. Abel must now learn to survive, alone, in the wild. He has shelter and food, but finding a way off the island proves to be a challenge. He comes up with many creative plans for his escape over the fast flowing river. Abel ends up staying on the island for one year for he has many failed attempts to cross the river. Abel never gives up hope. He builds himself a comfortable and safe sleeping place, he takes up carving as a passion and pass time and he continuously brainstorms new ways to escape his island to rejoin his wife.

Comments

Although Abel faces challenges as a survivor on a lone island, his challenges can represent those that face us as young people. Life can often times throw many surprising siturations that had previously not been anticipated. This is the story of just that. Abel learns to make the best of his situation by remaining creative and focused on his end goal, that of getting off of the island. He learns to foster and accept himself as he is and he remains calm and optimistic through all of his alone time on the island. This book enabled me to escape onto the island with Abel as he learned many of life's lessons. Found in many young adult sections in libraries, I think that this book is most suitable for older children or young teens. It is written in the same way a fairy tale is conveyed and it offers several positive morals. I think that older teens would find this book too juvenile, however they may like it for its simplistic approach.

Age Range - 8-12

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The Golden Compass

The Golden Compass
by Philip Pullman
Published by Alferd A. Knopf, Inc.
1995
image retrieved:
http://accordingtoheather.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/golden-compass.jpg

Plot Summary

Lyra Belacqua, the young protagonist of this book has grown up in an Oxford monastery as the only child of her 'rank' in the institution. As a spunky, outgoing and adventurous girl, she hides in a closet and eavesdropes on her uncle's telling of his studies and adventures in the arctic. This is when she first hears the term 'dust' and learns about the aurora borealis, and the so-called city in the sky.
The book recounts the adventures and travels of Lara as she finds herself in various dangerous and tumultuous scenarios as she searches for the children in her community that have gone missing. Her inquiries reveal that 'dust' and the dissapearances are linked. As she embarks on this extensive search, her true destiny is revealed.

Evaluative Comments

This book captures escapism and fantacy at its best. Written in a toned-down language so that it can be followed and enjoyed by an eclectic age range, the book encompases many aspects of a gripping mystery novel. With fantastic characters that range from a talking armored bear, to flying witches and demons, this book it suitable for a diverse readership. I think that anybody could enjoy this book, even those who have an aversion to fantacy. The book is clever, it has great twists and turns and the suspense is enough to keep one awake until the wee hours.

Age Range - 10--adult...........

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Annie On My Mind

Annie on My Mind
by Nancy Garden
Published by McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd., Toronto
1982
imgae retrieved - http://www.sd68.k12.il.us/schools/orchard/lmc/annie.jpg

Plot Summary

Annie On My Mind is the story of a seventeen year old teen named Liza who lives in New York City. One day she meets Annie, a girl her own age, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan. They quickly develop a close friendship that soon turns into romance. The story revolves around their feelings for each other and their struggle to keep their relationship a secret. When their secret is harshly revealed to the school and to their families, the two girls deal with the challenges and the struggles of 'coming out'. The book is a romantic story where love prevails.

Comments

Well written and thought provoking, this book was a page turner. I loved the book, the characters, the setting and the situation. Garden's use of language compels the reader to care for the characters and their romantic situation.
This book is largely a romance novel, dealing with real-life situations and scenarios. I would highly recommend it to any girl who may be questioning her sexuality. Teenagers today are seemingly much more open to issues of sexual identity, therefore I think that anybody, no matter how they sexually identify themselves would enjoy this book.

Age Range - 14-19

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Maya Running

Maya Running
by Anjali Banerjee
Published by Laurel-Leaf
2005
image retrieved - http://www.sfsite.com/gra/0502/mrlg.jpg

Plot Summary

Maya Running is the story of Maya, a thirteen year old Indian-Canadian girl who is growing up in Manitoba in 1978. Being a teenager, she is struggling with her identity, and when her beautiful cousin, Pinky ,visits from India, Maya is faced with many overwhelming emotions; jealousy, confusion and longing for something other than what she has and is experiencing. With these feelings, she turns to the Indian God ,Ganesh for support. Ganesh, who appears in the form of a candy-eating, wish-granting god, grants Maya her wish for a life without obstacles, difficulties and insecurities.

Comments

When I began this book, I thought that I would find it quite interesting. The summary suggests that the reader will embark on an adventure along with Maya, however, I was never able to loose myself in the writing or the story. I had difficulty relating to the main character even though I have lived through many similar feelings of angst.
The fairytale componant of the book was not very exciting, and I found myself questioning the author every step of the way.
The book did offer a positive lesson-learned - embrace what you have - live in the present.

Age Range - 10 - 12

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