The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Hugo, an orphan living in Paris in the 1930s, is good with building and repairing mechanical things. He devotes himself to repairing a special automaton and many secrets are brought to light by his efforts. The inspiration for the book was a real automaton. In the acknowledgments, Selznick gives this address for watching the original automatons write and draw: http://www.fi.edu/learn/sci-tech/automaton/automaton.php?cts=instrumentation. Pretty cool!

This book is most easily defined as a graphic novel, but it is more a hybrid between a novel and a graphic novel. The drawings have their own pages as do the written parts which read like a traditional story, not like cartoons with speech bubbles. The drawings inform the reader as much as the text. They are not simply illustrations but are a part of the narrative. Reading the book is similar to watching an old silent movie with black and white pictures followed by text. This is fitting since the book explores the work of early movie maker Georges Melies as well as other early films. Original pictures from these early movies are in the book including a picture of the very first film of a train pulling into a station. I can envision this book being very popular with elementary students who are interested in how movies were invented and why people began making them. There is a lot of interactive material available via the web to enhance the reading experience.

The Invention is unique because of the way it presents the story. However, the story was a little slow. I was disappointed with the “secret” that is unveiled. I expected something more dramatic considering all the effort that Hugo gave in order to reveal it. But it is a really cute story and Hugo is a likable character.
Publisher: Scholastic, 2007     Recommended Age: 8 and up
Source: IC Public Library        Pages: 533 (284 are drawings)
Rating: 3.5 Stars                    More on this author at: http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/index.htm

Maus: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman

Another great graphic novel! Maus II picks up where book one left off. Art, the graphic novelist, is still recording conversations with his father. Vladek Spiegelman begins his story again, entering the gates of Auschwitz to endure unimaginable terrors. The novel opens with Art’s misgivings about drawing Vladek’s experience during WWII and about the man he became after the war. Art admits feeling presumptuous and feels the weight of his project. Perhaps more than the first novel, Maus II highlights Art’s conflicted feelings for Vladek. He feels deep respect for his father but struggles to love the miserly and racist man his father is. Moments of such honesty keep readers from idolizing Vladek but to respect his story, to learn what we can from it and to understand each person has his or her own history. And from our personal histories we construct our world view. I think that is one lesson (even though the novelist says he intended no “message”) I get out of reading Maus. Art finds it difficult to be around his father and I think he wants to know Vladek’s story so badly because he desires to understand Vladek’s history, to know the whole person who is his father. Vladek and his wife survive the war but are forever altered.

Maus I/II is a wonderful text to introduce young people to WWII/ the holocaust. It is honest about war cruelties but is not gory. There is some swearing and a few naked mice but nothing graphic or sexual. My recommended age is 13 only because I feel kids much younger may not appreciate the relationship between Art, a grown man, and his elderly father. But don’t let the YA tag fool you. Adults can appreciate Maus as much as young people. It's not strictly a children's story by any stretch. Highly recommended!
Publisher: Pantheon Books, 1991 Recommended Age: 13 and up
Source: IC Public Library              Pages: 136
Rating: 5 Stars

On the Future of Books: Physical vs Digital Format

I thought I'd share Mr. Scalzi's ideas on the digital book phenomenon. But first, my comments. Many bookaholics, such as myself, are skeptical of the digital books via iphones, kindles, sony readers, etc. I honestly don't think I'd ever buy one for the simple fact that I wouldn't be able to share and loan books with friends not to mention I like having the physical books. Here's what I think should become of books in the future: As with vinyls anymore and many DVDs, when you buy a book you should get a digital copy, something you can download onto a reader of your choice. This nonsense of only having one format or another is silly becuase when you purchase the title you own it for your personal use. If I want Amy Tan on my PC/reader and on my bookshelf I should get to for one purchase price. I want my cake and I want to eat it, too.
http://whatever.scalzi.com/2010/02/25/this-manuscript-hires-people/
http://whatever.scalzi.com/2010/02/25/handing-you-off-to-charlie-stross-today/

The Book of Genesis Illustrated by R. Crumb

From the creation of the world to the death of Joseph, Crumb displays the first book of the Bible with blunt black and white drawings. The depictions sway from respectful to sardonic but on the whole Crumb appears to have presented the text without adding much of his own commentary. Of course, any artistic interpretation of Biblical passages, from Bernini to Crumb, cannot help but reflect personal readings. In the intro, Crumb plainly states that he believes the Bible to be only myth. And he seems to put women into scenes, as active participants in daily life, even if the text doesn’t mention them being there. Obviously, women were there doing something to keep children fed and crops from dying.

What I liked best about this graphic novel is that Crumb didn’t try to sum up an episode by adding his own text of what he felt an individual might say but he draws straight from the Old Testament book– all 50 chapters as the cover advertises. What I didn’t like was all the nudity. If the text says so and so has sex with so and so then I can at least understand why a sex scene is included. But there were a lot of naked women randomly sprinkled throughout the text that just didn’t need to be there. I got tired of looking at boobies. If you haven’t read Genesis in awhile then let me remind you – it is a mature book. We send children to Sunday school to get the G version. Crumb’s text is the R version. It’s one thing to read or hear about people having sex and another to actually see it. But this was Crumb’s artistic license and he chose to depict every sexual reference. There is no use of prolific fig leaves and few strategically placed pillows. So, there you have it. You’ve been warned.

The people appear simple and stocky. Their emotions are easy to read which emphasizes the love, hatred, fear, jealousy, in essence, all the human emotions that are experienced by the first humans and their decedents. I’m not sure why, but Sarah, who’s supposed to be beautiful, looked ugly to me. As with most of the women she was robust and thick legged but lacked the beauty to capture Pharaoh’s attention. In the back, Crumb admits he doesn’t feel a beautiful woman could attract such attention but just look around at the way beautiful women are treated today and it seems perfectly plausible that Sarah was just a sex object to most men. Sarah’s was the only depiction I felt Crumb didn’t do justice. The clothing, living quarters and terrain felt realistic and enhanced the fact that this is an ancient text with very real and normal humans living out the stories. I liked the depictions of the nine hundred-year-old men all wrinkled and shriveled grasping for their last breaths.

My final thoughts: If you’ve never read the original text do so first. After thousands of years of preservation and compilation it would be a shame to miss out on, arguably, the most influential and revered piece of writing in the world. So, read Genesis from the Bible first. It was not meant to be a visual book or that’s how it would have been done in the first place. That being said, I enjoyed Crumb’s version overall and say, take in stride, with the understanding that Crumb is not a believer, what you find objectionable in his depictions.
Publisher: W.W. Norton and Company, 2009     Recommended Age: 17 and up
Source: IC Public Library                                  Pages: 224
Rating: 4 Stars

Maus: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleed's History by Art Spiegelman

Maus (pronounced mouse) is a graphic novel that is easily in my top twenty if not my top ten favorite books. This is not simply a comic book about super heroes. Maus is a true story of love and survival during the Holocaust. The narrative shifts between the present and past while the graphic novelist interviews his father about living in Poland during World War Two. It is a riches to rags story as Spiegelman, Sr. loses all his worldly possessions while dodging the Gestapo for as long as possible. Wars may end but their devastating effects are felt for several generations. The narrative structure allows the reader to see how an entire family, born and unborn, are affected by the persistence of and memory of war. World War Two shaped many lives directly and indirectly as seen in the relationships in the Spiegelman family, especially between father and son.

The graphic part of this novel is genius. Spiegelman chose to portray Jews as mice, Germans (presumably all Nazis) as cats and the Polish as pigs. Apparently, the popular German nickname of Poles was pigs, hence their depiction as such in the novel. The mice motif, depicting Jew as victims hiding in holes in the walls, is challenged by the narrative as we see them, not just as victims but as individuals actively fighting for survival. The way people looked was hugely important, race even more so. Imagine people trying desperately to not “look Jewish” and in the novel trying not to look like a mouse. The symbolism of the animals enhances the feeling of isolation as well as camaraderie in the novel. The art allows for body language to become a visible part of the reading experience which allows emotions to come through in a way that words often fail to capture.

Maus was a big surprise. I didn’t expect this kind of experience from a graphic novel. This is my favorite WWII text for sure followed by The Hiding Place and then Last Man Out. Oddly they are all nonfiction which is something I usually don’t get into. But it makes sense that true stories are the most touching and inspiring. I could go on but if you read it for yourself you’ll understand why I like it.
Publisher: Random House, 1986 (originally, 1973) Recommended Age: 13 and up
Source: IC Public Library                                        Pages: 159
Rating: 5 Stars

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

Dog Days is the fourth (and currently last) book of the Wimpy Kid series. Greg’s family can’t afford a regular vacation this summer so Greg must learn to occupy and entertain himself in his hometown. He and his best friend, Rowley, have a falling out and Greg ends up drifting in the public pool for a long time before they get back together. This separation was sad since Greg and Rowley’s antics were a central feature in the other books. I missed seeing their relationship. Also, Greg becomes slightly distant from his family in the fourth book and I missed seeing more of his brothers. Overall, Dog Days is still funny, but it didn’t have much new to offer and relied a lot on the previous books’ jokes to fill the gaps. I hope Kinney writes one more Wimpy Kid book to end on a slightly higher note.
Publisher: Amulet Books, 2009     Recommended Age: 9 and up     Source: IC Public Library
Rating: 3 Stars                              Pages: 217

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Although this novel is considered science fiction, Flower for Algernon is not your typical “Invasion from Mars” sort of read. This thoughtful novel examines the human need for intellectual and emotional stimuli. Charlie personally experiences all ends of the spectrum as he swings from mentally handicap to genius, from socially loveable to antisocial and hostile.

The narrative is formed entirely of Charlie’s progress reports as he undergoes a medical experiment for increasing intelligence. In this way, the reader sees Charlie’s progress often before he becomes aware of the changes within him. Charlie’s prose becomes more complex as his intelligence increases and then reverts as his mind deteriorates.

In a society that values education and perceived intelligence, Flowers for Algernon makes us question to what extent being smart makes our personal lives better and why people perceived as less intelligent are the butts of jokes and objects of ridicule, even fear. It asks why we are all so afraid of being seen as dumb and what drives us to be thought bright. Through Charlie’s experience, this novel shows that no matter what one’s IQ may be, people deserve to be treated with respect.

The book read fast and I found Charlie’s story interesting. If you appreciate or enjoy psychology this book is for you. I’ve heard of this book being used for 8th graders with the middle racy parts cut out and that may work; however, I think that young readers should wait until they’re mature enough to read the entire novel to fully appreciate the gulf between Charlie’s intellectual and emotional growth.
Publisher: Harcourt, 1994 (first published 1966)    Source: IC Public Library
Rating: 3 Stars                                                       Pages: 311

The Girl Who Fell from the Sky by Heidi W. Durrow

I was drawn to this novel after reading the description: a girl with a white, Danish mother and an African-American father, struggles with her cultural identity in the U.S. At once, it reminded me of Harlem Renaissance writer Nella Larsen’s Quicksand published in 1928. The story background is nearly identical. So, I was curious to see how Durrow would build on Larsen’s classic. Fast-forward sixty years and the basic plot of Quicksand is as culturally relevant (and personally relevant for Durrow) as it was when Larsen wrote her novel.

The Girl Who Fell from the Sky is set in the 1980s and broken into two parts. The first lingers on the childhood of Rachel, the bi-racial protagonist with beautiful blue eyes and creamy dark skin that sets her apart from everyone she knows. Each chapter is written from the view point of a different character. Fitting together several first person narratives made the story much more personal than a traditional third person narrator. Part two brings all the characters full-circle. We watch Rachel try on her “whiteness” and “blackness” until she comes to terms with her heritage and her family.

If you’re familiar with Quicksand you may remember that Helga Crane’s story is similar to Rachel’s. However, Helga’s story ends with an observation – that the time for women of color to be free hasn’t quite come. And it wasn’t until the 1960s that black women’s suffrage rights were upheld throughout the country. The Girl Who Fell ends on a note of hope – people who love Rachel are always telling her she can be what she wants to be, do what she wants to do. And in this way at least we can trust that Rachel's story is true – that things have changed enough to give us hope. This is a coming-of-age story that shows the struggle of growing up outside of preconceived conventions about race. We see this story from every angle: the white mother, the black father, the neighbor boy, the boss and the aunt – which adds an important dimension to this narrative.

Heidi Durrow’s first novel, The Girl Who Fell from the Sky, is an impressive accomplishment. I was skeptical at first, being familiar with Larsen’s novel, but Durrow did not disappoint. I enjoyed the narrative structure and the prose captured the atmosphere perfectly. If you're wondering what the title and cover picture have to do with the book well, they’re part of the mystery and tension that surround Rachel's life. Follow along as Rachel pieces her life together to make sense of it all.
Publisher: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2010      Recommended Age: 16+
Source: IC Public Library                                                   Pages: 264
Rating: 4.5 Stars                                                                  More on this author at: http://heidiwdurrow.com/

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Stranded in the Canadian wilderness, thirteen-year-old Brian overcomes physical and psychological challenges in order to survive. Hatchet is fast-paced with short chapters making it a good choice for reluctant readers. The prose is simple and often repeats itself – the end of phrases being echoed in Brian’s mind. The repetition was frustrating for me and got in the way of enjoying the story. But this is likely a matter of personal preference. The fact that, not only does Brian survive, but he does very well by himself, with only shoe strings and a hatchet is rather unbelievable. That’s an adult talking. Every thirteen-year-old knows he or she is perfectly capable of doing just what Brian does. And that’s the magic of reading – a suspension of beliefs or seeing your “true” self reflected in the character. In the end, I enjoyed Hatchet and recommend it for late elementary/ early middle school students.
Publisher: Simon and Schuster, 1987     Recommended Age: 10 +
Source: IC Public Library                         Pages: 195
Rating: 3 Stars

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw

In The Last Straw, book three in the Wimpy Kid series, Greg pushes his luck as far as he can. His antics have finally caught his dad’s attention. So, Greg tries to impress his dad but always seems to fall a little short of expectations. As usual, the cartoons are just as important as the text. Both formats are meant to be read together. And together, the cartoons and text yield rolling laughter. Book three is another quick and fun read - something you can pick up when you've only got a few minutes to read here and there.
Publisher: Amulet Books, 2009     Recommended Age: 9 and up
Source: IC Public Library              Pages: 217
Rating: 4 Stars

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Jonas lives in a perfect, utopian society. But when he turns twelve, an adult, with special privileges, he begins to question how much perfection is worth sacrificing for. If hunger, disease and even unhappiness were eradicated would you risk bringing them back for certain liberties? Would you risk your life?

“He glanced quickly at the wall speaker, terrified that the Committee might be listening as they could at any time. But, as always during their sessions together, the switch had been turned to OFF” (105).

This unique, young adult novel is in many ways reminiscent of Orwell’s 1984. But instead of being merely a pawn in a larger scheme, Jonas is in a position to risk everything to make a change. The relationship between Jonas and his tutor is endearing and brings a beautiful side of humanity to the forefront. My age recommendation is eleven; however, be warned that there is a mild reference to sexuality in adolescents as well as one short disturbing scene in which Jonas witnesses the euthanizing of an unwanted baby. So, this is somewhat serious for youngsters. Overall, I enjoyed the utopian/dystopian plot seen through a young protagonist's eyes. I can see why this won the Newberry Medal in ’94. The only other kids/YA book The Giver reminds me of is The City of Ember which I enjoyed but I found The Giver to surpass Ember in prose and gravity.
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1993     Recommended Age: 11 and up
Source: IC Public Library                                   Pages: 180
Rating: 4 stars

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

Greg returns in Rodrick rules to continue entertaining kids and adults alike. In book two, Greg learns to get along with his older brother, Rodrick, which often means becoming an accomplice in his brother’s schemes. As usual, Greg tries to finagle events to his benefit. Greg even prepares contingency plans in case things go wrong. And when his plans backfire, reader laughter ensues. Laugh page after page while Greg tries desperately to keep Rodrick from telling the world his biggest most embarrassing secret. If you’ve ever had a bullying older brother or annoying younger sibling, then you’ll know just what Greg Heffley is going through.

Publisher: Amulet Books, 2008        Recommended Age: 9 and up
Source: Iowa City Public Library     Pages: 217
Rating: 4 stars

Diary of a Wimpy Kid, books 1 - 5, by Jeff Kinney

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (book one)

If you haven’t heard about this series from your kids then I’ll assume it’s because you have none. Kinney’s series is hilarious and easily appreciated by adults as well as children. I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions. My husband would say, “Nothing can be that funny in a kids book. You can stop laughing now.” But Diary of a Wimpy Kid is so funny!

Greg Heffley is about twelve years old when he begins writing his journal – NOT to be confused with a diary. Greg documents many of the events that most middle school students experience or encounter: Halloween, the school musical, Christmas, running for student government, and the safety patrol. Throughout the text, Greg’s cartoons provide lots of laughter. Passages like the one below show Greg’s mischievous side and we are often left to wonder if he will ever learn from his blunders since he almost always gets caught.

“I finally figured out how to get some of my games past Rowley’s dad. I just put one of my discs in Manny’s ‘Discovering the Alphabet’ case, and that’s all it takes” (43).

Greg’s inability to see his faults, many of which we find in ourselves, draws readers to him. Greg is young and we expect him to make mistakes. But we know he’s good at heart.

Publisher: Amulet Books, 2007        Recommended Age: 9 and up
Source: Iowa City Public Library     Pages: 217
Rating: 4 stars

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (book 2)

Greg returns in Rodrick rules to continue entertaining kids and adults alike. In book two, Greg learns to get along with his older brother, Rodrick, which often means becoming an accomplice in his brother’s schemes. As usual, Greg tries to finagle events to his benefit. Greg even prepares contingency plans in case things go wrong. And when his plans backfire, reader laughter ensues. Laugh page after page while Greg tries desperately to keep Rodrick from telling the world his biggest most embarrassing secret. If you’ve ever had a bullying older brother or annoying younger sibling, then you’ll know just what Greg Heffley is going through.
Publisher: Amulet Books, 2008        Recommended Age: 9 and up
Rating: 5 Stars                                    Pages: 217

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw (book 3)

In The Last Straw, book three in the Wimpy Kid series, Greg pushes his luck as far as he can. His antics have finally caught his dad’s attention. So, Greg tries to impress his dad but always seems to fall a little short of expectations. As usual, the cartoons are just as important as the text. Both formats are meant to be read together. And together, the cartoons and text yield rolling laughter. Book three is another quick and fun read - something you can pick up when you've only got a few minutes to read here and there.
Publisher: Amulet Books, 2009     Recommended Age: 9 and up
Source: IC Public Library              Pages: 217
Rating: 4 Stars
 
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (book 4)

Dog Days is the fourth (and currently last) book of the Wimpy Kid series. Greg’s family can’t afford a regular vacation this summer so Greg must learn to occupy and entertain himself in his hometown. He and his best friend, Rowley, have a falling out and Greg ends up drifting in the public pool for a long time before they get back together. This separation was sad since Greg and Rowley’s antics were a central feature in the other books. I missed seeing their relationship. Also, Greg becomes slightly distant from his family in the fourth book and I missed seeing more of his brothers. Overall, Dog Days is still funny, but it didn’t have much new to offer and relied a lot on the previous books’ jokes to fill the gaps. I hope Kinney writes one more Wimpy Kid book to end on a slightly higher note.
Publisher: Amulet Books, 2009      Recommended Age: 9 and up           Source: IC Public Library
Rating: 3 Stars Pages: 217

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth (book 5)

Change is in the air. Greg is excited for boy-girl parties and learning about "the facts of life" in his Advanced Health class. But growing up can be a little overwhelming. What's he to do without his best friend, Rowley, at his side? Will he starve to death when his mom goes back to school?  Greg begins to realize that maybe he shouldn't be in such a hurry to grow up. I mean, Greg + Responsibility = disaster waiting to happen.

Greg makes a lot of honest mistakes in The Ugly Truth. In the previous books, Greg makes deliberate plans to cut corners or shirk responsibility. Other times he couldn't help but be a prankster. But in this book we see how hard learning to be responsible is for a free spirit like Greg. The idea is so foreign to him. Greg's growing up whether he wants to or not. He tries and often fails at the most simple of tasks... but isn't that a part of growing up? Slowly, Greg begins to realize how hard being an adult is and how much he has to be thankful for. Of course, Greg does not verbalize this. Instead he gives a sigh of relief when he realizes he has supportive parents to fall back on. But that's what adolescence should be about - testing your wings in a safe environment.

I liked The Ugly Truth more than the previous book, Dog Days. Rowley and Greg are still at odds but they can't hold out much longer. I laughed a lot so if you need a humor break this book should do the trick. My favorite "episodes" were the trip to the dentist, the maid bit, and the miscommunication concerning an elbow.

This is the fifth book in the Wimpy Kid series. They're great books for reluctant readers or anyone with a sense of humor. I wonder if Kinney will continue with a 6th. I'm hoping for one more. Do guys think he should write one  more or should he stop while Greg's young?

Publisher: Amulet, 2010    Pages: 217     Source: IC Public Library
Rating: 4 Stars     Recommended Age: 9 and up

Flight by Sherman Alexie

Put on your seatbelts, you’re in for a ride. Flight takes the reader through time and space on a journey of reflection. Prepare to be transported, living brief moments in the bodies of other people. Encounter the famous and forgotten of the past. Struggle with the choices you are faced with as the character is. While body-swapping, you’ll experience the memories and emotions of white men and Indian men – feeling their rage, grief, fears and loves. When thrown in the middle of a battle, how do you decide who the good guys are? What would you kill for? Flight offers pause in a world of Hollywood violence. None of this reflection, however, slows down the plot. It moves along swiftly with the humor I’ve come to expect from this author. Once again, Alexie makes me laugh and cry on the same page. I think you will too.
Rating: 4 stars                                        
Publisher: Black Cat, copyright 2007     Pages: 181
Source: Iowa City Public Library            More on this author at: http://www.fallsapart.com/

My Writing Update

If you would like to follow my writing progress (slow though it is) check it out at http://www.scribophile.com/. You will need to be a member (free) to view my writing. It's a cool web site that allows writers to post creative work and have it critiqued by other writers. If only I had known about this during school! My pen name is M.J. Wright.