Showing posts with label Identity. Show all posts

The Mud Girl by Alison Acheson

Title: The Mud Girl

Author: Alison Acheson

Publish Date: October 2006

Publisher: Coteau Books

Pages: 328pp

IBSN: 1550503545

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Annotation: Aba Zytka Jones—Abi—doesn’t expect anything from anyone. Her mother has abandoned her and her father, whom remains in his chair. She doesn’t have much, but she wants to figure out her life on her own.

Plot Summary: Aba Zytka Jones (Abi), sixteen, has a long summer ahead of her. Her mother has left and her father remains sitting in his chair, leaving her with several responsibilities to shoulder. With a burning need to figure out her life, Abi has numerous questions. A woman from the Big Sister organization, Ernestine, attempts to befriend her. The cute guy from the paint shop, Jude, becomes her boyfriend. And a girl named Amanda offers offers her a summer job cleaning houses. When Abi discovers that Jude has a son, Dyl, who’s mother has taken off (mirroring her own sistuation), she has is faced with her past pain and forced to deal with her issues by taking care of Dyl.

Personal Response: A poignant story about a girl who was abandoned by her mother and whose father is somewhat useless. The novel is slow-moving with beautiful descriptions of the land, in which play a potent counterpart to the symbolism of Abi’s, the protagonist, pain.

~Reader’s Advisory~

Themes: Identity, finding out who you are and what you want in life. Uncovering the past pains of your life by helping another in need.

Age Range: 12 and up

Subjects: Identity, Abandonment, Adult Responsibilities, Relationships, Love, Dysfunctional Family, Outreach, Coming of Age, Realistic Fiction

Similar Titles:

Rockbound by Frank Parker Day

No Great Mischief by Alistair MacLead

The Birth House by Ami McKay

The Witches of Willowmere by Alison Baird

Title: The Witches of Willowmere

Author: Alison Baird

Publish Date: September 2003

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)

Pages: 224pp

ISBN: 0141313730

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Annotation: Sixteen year old Claire is having dreams of the 17^th century Salem witch trials. As she struggles to understand why she is having these dreams, she becomes increasing fascinated with magic and the Wiccan belief system.

Plot Summary: Clair is sixteen years old and basically living on her own. Every time she passes by the Willowmere, her curiosity arouses as she is intrigued by the beautiful and mysterious estate. The owner of the estate, Dr. Myra Moore, befriends Clair and tells her about the Wiccan belief system. As Claire learns about this belief system, she wonders if this can help her understand why her mother left her. In addition, she wonders why she is having vivid dreams of the Salem witch trials of the 17^th century—and what her connection is to the girl in her dreams.

Personal Response: I really loved this story and look forward to reading the next two books in the series. Alison Baird does an excellent job at weaving in teenager dialog and keeping the reader intrigued. The ending definitely left you hanging—I am glad I don’t have to wait for the next book to come out.

~Reader’s Advisory~

Themes: Self discovery. Good verses evil.

Age Range: 14 and up

Subjects: Wiccan, Abandonment, Witches, Urban Fantasy, High School, Identity, Teenager, Reincarnation, Good verses Evil,

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Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison

Dime Store Magic by Kelly Armstrong

Taltos by Anne Rice

Awake and Dreaming by Kit Pearson

Title: Awake and Dreaming

Author: Kit Pearson

Publish Date: September 2008

Publisher: Penguin Group

Pages: 240pp

ISBN: 0143056379

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Annotation: Nine-year-old Theo in Vancouver, Canada and desperately wants a new family, in fact she dreams and wishes for one, and one day her dreams and wishes come true.

Plot Summary: Theo is nine years old and lives with her mother in Vancouver, Canada. They are extremely poor and Theo is often neglected by her immature mother, so she decides to go live with her aunt in Victoria. While aboard the ferry, Theo falls into a deep sleep. When she awakes, she finds herself in a big comfortable bed—in a big comfortable house with a wonderful and nurturing family with four perfect siblings who are always happy. At first, Theo is confused, but eventually she becomes accustomed to this new life with her new family—all her dreams came true and she has everything she ever wanted. Until she is awaken by a strong gust of wind, and her dreamworld is gone. Theo feels she cannot live without her new family and decides to go searching for them and is amazed at what she finds.

Personal Response: A beautiful story about finding happiness wherever you are. Kit Pearson does a fantastic job at weaving fantasy into reality. Theo is a charming character with applicable emotions. I found the prevalent theme of finding happiness wherever your at to be a wonderful message for youth and young readers may learn from Theo’s experiences.

~Reader’s Advisory~

Themes: Be thankful for what you have. No matter how bad your situation is, there is always someone in a worse situation.

Age Range: 9-12

Subjects: Adventure, Identity, Family Relationships, Dreams, Imagination, Poverty, Contentment

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Pick-Up Sticks by Sarah Ellis

Adam and Eve and Pinch-Me by Julie Johnston

Kate by Jean Little

Odd Man Out by Sarah Ellis

Title: Odd Man Out

Author: Sarah Ellis

Publish Date: February 2008

Publisher: Groundwood Books

Pages: 162pp

ISBN: 0888997035

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Annotation: When Kip’s mother remarries, he is sent to stay with his grandmother for the summer, along with five of his girl cousins. During his stay, Kip finds a notebook made by his late father when he was a teenager, things begin to change as Kip becomes entranced by the story as it leads him to self discovery.

Plot Summary: While Kip’s mother vacations on her honeymoon, he is sent away for the summer to stay with his Grandma and five girl cousins. At first, Kip finds himself struggling to find his place as he is not used to being around a spirited group of girls, and so he spends a lot of time in his attic bedroom where he discovers a notebook his late father had kept as a teen. As he begins to read the notebook, he becomes engrossed by the story, in which leads Kip to learning about his past, present, and what the future might hold.

Personal Response: An insightful story about the growing pains of an almost teenage boy, Kip. As the protagonist, Kip is easy to identify with, along with the additional characters consisting of the five girl cousins –although we don’t get too much depth of their views as we stay with Kip throughout the entire novel. The illustrations within the novel are detailed pertinent to the story.

~Reader’s Advisory~

Themes: Growing up and accepting change.

Age Range: 9 through 13

Subjects: Deceased Father, Identity, Family, Coming of Age, Mental Illness, Grandmother, Mystery, Death, Remarriage, Acceptance, Change, Fitting In, Mental Illness

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Rules by Cynthia Lord

Finest Kind by Lea Wait

The Way of the Wildeking by Jonathan Rogers

The Secret Under My Skin by Janet McNaughton

Title: The Secret Under My Skin

Author: Janet McNaughton

Publish Date: 2000

Publisher: HarperCollin Children’s Books

Pages: 262pp

ISBN: 006008989X

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Science Fiction

Annotation: It is the year 2368, and Blay Raytee, a government work-camp orphan who has no birthday, no real name, and almost no memories. In fact, her future seems as glum as her past. Until she is selected to help a powerful young bio-indicator, in which sets Blay on a path of discovery.

Plot Summary: The world has just suffered from a technocaust that has left a generation of orphans. Blay Raytee, one of those orphans, is chosen for a special mission to help a powerful young bio-indicator name Marrella. This sets Blay into a world of discovery as she is finding out that all may not be what it seems. The secrets she uncovers may be the elements to help restore her past and the human race.

Personal Response: A compelling story about a possible future. Janet McNaughton warns people that too much technology can have a dangerous and devastating affect on the human race.

~Reader’s Advisory~

Themes: Things are always as they seem. You have the power to change them and/or help people. Too much technology is not necessarily a good thing.

Age Range: 13 and up

Subjects: Identity, Bravery, Courage, Orphan, Confidence, Acceptance, Government, Humanity, Dsytopia, Post Apocalyptic,

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Skybreaker by Kenneth Oppel

The Convicts by Ian Lawrence

The Speed of Light by Elizabeth Rosner

The Watcher by Margaret Buffie

Title: The Watcher

Author: Margaret Buffie

Publish Date: September 1, 2000

Publisher: Kids Can Press

Pages: 264pp

ISBN: 1550748319

Classification: Fiction

Genre: Fantasy

Annotation: Emma is set apart from the rest of her dark-haired family with exotic white hair and skin. She senses an intense emotion to protect her little sister Summer, who is prone to weakness. Suddenly, the world Emma has always known isn’t the world she thought it was, rather a Game.

Plot Summary: The first book of the Watcher’s Quest trilogy introduces Emma suspenseful tale about a girl, Emma, and her little sister, Summer. To begin with, Emma is nothing like the rest of her family, in fact she doesn’t even look like them as they all have dark features and Emma bears pale skin and hair. Emma is concerned about her little sister Summer as she has been passing out and getting weaker and weaker. Emma does not trust her mother, a new-age, bee-keeper or her impractical environmental artist father to keep Summer safe. Through dreams, Emma finds herself between two worlds and comes to find out that what she thought was reality is really just a Game. Upon finding this out, she learns what her role is in this Game and

Personal Response: A suspenseful tale with a strong storyline about identity, courage, and sisterhood. I thought the whole changeling element was interesting as Emma, a great character by the way (very relatable), felt so much need to protect her family. I found this to be a fantastical read! The open ending was a little difficult but luckily the next book was available at the library.

~Reader’s Advisory~

Themes: The bond of sisterhood

Age Range: 12 and up

Subjects: Magic, Other Worlds, Outcast, Supernatural, Identity, Sisters, Games, Myth, Changeling, Courage