FIC Oaks, J. Adams. Why I Fight, 228 pgs. Richard Jackson Book (Atheneum Books for Young Readers), 2009. RATINGS : Language – PG13 (mostly contains innocuous substitutes for swear words, until the very end). Sexual Content & Violence – PG.Set in an unnamed area, this book contains Wyatt’s narrative of his life as told to you, the reader, someone he has met on the bus at the very end of the story. The language is full of colloquialisms and grammatical errors, at times making it difficult to understand or to get into a rhythm as you read along, but which makes the story very immediate and personal. Wyatt has not had love or acceptance from his parents, and when his uncle Spade offers to take him away, he doesn’t hesitate. For a long time, he reveres Spade. However, Spade isn’t much better of a role model, moving from girlfriend to girlfriend and using everyone he knows to get what he wants. When Wyatt grows into a very large 14-year-old and punches out a pig at a pig-catching contest, Spade sees a chance to make money and has Wyatt fight bare-knuckled on a betting circuit.
Wyatt doesn’t have an education, hasn’t had positive role models, can’t articulate his needs and wants, and has only felt successful when beating up someone. He chokes his only friend from his entire teen years; he doesn’t even get a backward glance from Spade who drops him off at his parents’ house after six years of virtually no contact; and he punches out his dad on the first day of stress. Nevertheless, I am determined to remain hopeful that Wyatt will find his way in the world, that he will be able to follow his naturally tender heart and actually become a gentle, content adult. This story makes me care about him and want him to succeed. Unfortunately, the odds are working against him.
MS, HS – ADVISABLE.
FIC Cross, Sarah. Dull Boy, 308 pgs. Dutton Books (Penguin Group), 2009. RATING : Language – PG13 (over a hundred swear words, no f- word). We meet Avery Pirzwick as he is trying to counteract all the inadvertent trouble he’s been getting into because of his powers – busting his neighbor’s car door, breaking his wrestling opponent’s arm, lying to his friends to keep his powers hidden. He ends up losing these friends, getting caught in the middle of an apparent attempted robbery, and being sent to an alternative school for troubled youth. Though he feels completely isolated and misunderstood because of his powers, others have taken an interest in him exactly because of them. Cherchette Morozov, an adult who can make ice grow as if it’s alive, is the first person with powers he becomes aware of. She contacts him during a fake robbery and promises him sanctuary away from the world. Though he is tempted by her offer, leaving his parents without a word seems a bit extreme. As he is considering what he should do, he starts his new school and meets Darla Carmine and Catherine Drake, two girls he’d noticed before at a diner. Darla wants Avery and Catherine to join their group, but Catherine resists getting close to anyone and Avery doesn’t know whom to trust. Each of these teens has unique powers, too: Darla’s a genius, Catherine has abilities like a cat, Nicholas’s chest opens into a vortex, Sophie can stick to surfaces, and Jacques can freeze things, like his mom. When Nicholas decides to run away with Cherchette, Avery and his new friends finally realize they must work together to save their friend.
The story moves at a good clip and may be enjoyed by readers who like X-Men. However, the plot and Avery’s internal conflicts are pretty predictable, and the connection between the villain and the main characters is left largely undeveloped. The language will keep this title out of my middle school.
MS – OPTIONAL.
No comments:
Post a Comment