The Juvie Three- Gordon Korman
Korman continues to impress with his most recent offerings. A renowned writer from a very young age with the successful Bruno and Boots series (fondly remembered by my son-in-law), he continues to produce excellent novels. His language in The Juvie Three is terse and polished. I don’t believe I missed a word and I sometimes tend to be a skimmer. Douglas Healy wants to help juvenile delinquents, having been one himself. His choice of characters: Gecko, on the hook for stealing a car and abetting in his older brother’s theft; Arjay, a big, gentle giant who has been convicted of murder while acting in self-defence, and Terence, who really is in jail for crime committed, but is really just a lost kid looking for a place to belong, is masterful. The interaction of these characters is crucial to the unfolding story. Several weeks into their time at the half-way house with Healy, a tussle results with Healy taking a fall and sustaining a concussion. Terrified, the boys drop him at an emergency unit and hope things might yet turn out all right. But Healy has suffered amnesia and doesn’t even remember his own name. never mind the boys who are in his care. Transferred to a mental hospital until he regains his memory, the boys, who have been on their very best behaviour, plan to break him out. The rest is left for you to enjoy!
This novel would appeal to male and female readers and would be suitable for a Young Adult section as well as high school. Highly recommended, as are Schooled and Born to Rock, other recent offerings.
High School, Realistic Fiction, Snow Willow, YA | Comments (2)Vampires- a New Genre?
I understand that when there is a lot of hype around a particular series (referring to Twilight, et al), there are many who want to get on that particular bandwagon and cash in on its popularity. In a similar fashion, the Harry Potter series spawned a whole rash of fantasy, some great, some mediocre. The same is true of the new vampire offerings. I contrast two novels: The Night Wanderer:A Native Gothic Novel by Drew Hayden Taylor with Night Runner by Max Turner. Night Wanderer is an exciting and haunting story of sixteen-year old Tiffany who lives on Otto Lake Reserve with her father and grandmother. A typical teenager, she fights with her dad, and is more concerned with her relationship with her boyfriend, a white boy from a neighbouring community. Although she thinks they are in love, there are little signs that make her wonder if he really accepts her into his sphere of friends. Then along comes Pierre, an unusual man from Europe, who is going to board with her family for awhile. He refuses the offer of her room and prefers to lodge in the darkened basement. Although you understand quickly that there is something very different about him, you are left to read the clues and make some judgements for yourself. His and Tiffany’s paths continue to intersect; in fact, the author uses both voices to tell the story which really allows us to enter both of their worlds. Although I don’t want to give much more of the story away, I do believe this story has merit, it is fast-paced and will have wide appeal for our vampire lovers. There are a few language issues so I would recommend you read this before housing it in the YA section of your elementary school but this will suit the high school collections as well.
Night Runner, on the other hand, is not as subtle. It too is action packed but after the rather exciting beginning, it lagged until the end where many loose ends were tied up very quickly. Zach, who lives in a mental institute because of a strange illness he has contracted following the death of his parents, is told to run by a wild man who has broken into the institute. I loved the beginning and then was so disappointed to find out it was a vampire story. I thought it had the potential for breaking new ground if it followed a completely different plot. I also need to say that this is not my favourite genre, so my prejudice may well be showing. He soon discovers that he is a vampire and that his father was a vampire hunter. I thought it really strained one’s credulity (understandably so) but even an unbelievable story needs to seem plausible. I am able to suspend my disbelief quite readily, but really had difficulty with htis one.His best friend’s easy acceptance of Zach’s condition and his willingness to trap animals for their blood just seemed too, too trite. I certainly agree that this will have “kid” appeal and the language was good, so I will certainly house it in my library, but in a search for excellence, this didn’t make the cut for me.
Fantasy, High School, Snow Willow, YA | Comments (2)
