Friday, September 12, 2008

Dead & the Gone, Red Glass

The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer, 2008
A companion book to Life as We Knew It, this book covers the same catastrophic event of the moon being knocked out of orbit but from a different location – this time, New York City. Alex Morales, a senior who has worked hard to be top in his class, must try to take care of his younger sisters when both his parents are caught away from home when the disaster strikes.

Other tags: Puerto Rican American. Survival story. Catholic church.

This story is an interesting imagining of what life might be like should such an event occur, but I didn’t find it as gripping as the first book, maybe because the hardships are very similar. I liked it OK.


Red Glass by Laura Resau, 2007
International Reading Assoc. Award
This book covers the story of 16-year-old Sophie, a hypochondriac whose parents often help immigrants in need as they cross the Arizona border. When 6-year-old Pablo comes to live with them after his parents have perished, Sophie forms a close attachment as she reads him poetry and tries to make his smile. The next summer, she travels with her great aunt Dika, Dika’s boyfriend Mr. Lorenzo, Mr. Lorenzo’s son Angel and Pablo to Pablo’s hometown in Mexico and then on to Angel’s hometown in Guatamala. Along the way, she is able to let go of her phobias as she confronts real life-threatening dangers and inner strength to confront them.

It is a travel story of great growth, love, and friendship. It questions what makes a home, who is family, and how we become confident and complete individuals. I liked it OK.

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