Reader: Gwyneth P.
Age: 13
Title: Nil
Author: Lynne Matson
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Pub Date: 03/04/14
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: I thought it was a wonderful book. The elements
of desperation for survival and questioning things we take for granted as lucky
as we are were fantastic. I loved the way that it was never predictable and
there was never anything that seemed cliché. It surprised me, which I enjoy
thoroughly. I also loved the rushed feeling of it - the realistic time
frame of what it would actually be like and the survival elements with all the
desperation blended together were very interesting. The way the plot was
designed and set about was very well articulated and logical which I always
appreciate. It is a great and very original example of survival, its effects,
and all the emptiness inside of it; the parts after the thrill where people
process. I do wish that there would be more description of emotions and
exploration of the island and history of the people on it, but other than that
it was thoroughly enjoyable and held a great message for me. The main characters
weren't very developed. I felt I
understood background characters much more and I realize it was supposed to be
rushed. The dialogue I found very emotional and compatible with my own
experiences which I thought was also quite amazing.
Memorable or Forgettable: I loved the process of thought that I knew was
there behind all of the plot's secrets that I always wanted to discover. It
never left me wishing for more interesting content and it was always full of a
new mystery just itching to be solved. I loved the way all the characters were
very relatable and I felt I always knew what they were experiencing.
Cover: The cover, I think, is beautiful and definitely
reflects Nil's beauty and her ugliness and desperation lying in waiting
underneath as the days tick by.
Age Range: 12 through 18 and up
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal
Annotation: Charley is swept out of a Target parking lot to
an Island and wakes up naked in the middle of a field of rocks. She discovers
other people like herself and learns she is on Nil, an island where there is no
escape unless through elusive gateways.
She must catch one within 365 days of her arrival on the Island or she
dies. She meets the Island leader, Thad, and they become very involved even as
she helps him try to leave the Island with his limited time left.
tags: dystopian romance / science fiction / adventure / survival / ya lit
Reader: Gwyneth P.
Age: 13
Title: Grasshopper Jungle
Author: Andrew Smith
Publisher: Dutton Books
Pub Date: 02/11/14
Galley: Yes
Top 25: Yes
Convince us to read the book: The writing style was very original and is
something I'd love to read more of. I loved how the book was very well put together
and flowed nicely with its intriguing use of history and more modern events and
ideologies. The plot, I felt, wasn't necessarily about the end of the world; it
seemed more in the background. I think that was because it was seen through the
eyes of a sexually confused teenager who was quite ignorant to even the most
dire needs of others. The dialogue was fun and witty, but did have some quite
serious and emotional moments. I thought it was quite well thought out and
articulated. I thought the character development could use some more work. I
wish we could get to know all of the main characters in more detail, especially
Robby and Shann. I understand that Austin was mainly focused on himself, as he
had many issues at the time. I did love the way that everything was out in the open,
there were no secrets. Everything was known and everything was shared at
some point and that truthfulness in the writing was very surprising but very
appreciated. I also loved the way that everything was consecutive almost like a
time line, which I guess it was.
Memorable or Forgettable: Grasshopper Jungle was very memorable because of
the eccentric and beautiful way that it portrayed the truth, in all sense of
the word, to its readers.
Cover: Yes, the cover did tempt me to pick up the book
because it was so simple. It was so simple that it stood out with its
simplicity. The yellow pages made the gritty, almost dirty, and old effect that
the writing style portrayed, but that kind of gross look also drew me in.
Age Range: 12 through 18 and up
Quality: 5Q Hard to imagine a better book
Popularity: 3P Some teen appeal
Additional Comments:
This book was beautiful.
Annotation: In a miniscule town known as Ealing, Iowa,
sexually confused Austin Scerba and his two best friends Shann and Robby (of
whom he is sexually confused about) accidentally let loose a plague strain that
turns humans into giant praying mantises that only want to do two things.
Austin, Robby, Shann, Robby's mother, and a pancake house owner then must learn
how to stop these beasts from ending the world by uncovering their concerning
history, somehow resolving their personal problems, and making history
themselves.
tags: realistic science fiction / coming of age / GLBT / ya lit
