Pain...Pain...Pain and the Start of the Semester

Yes, the semester has started here in the cold and snow. However, at least one day last week was above freezing! And I didn't wear my hat or my gloves! I should really sit in a corner and explain to myself (again) why I didn't go to library school in Hawaii. It's a tough one.

Right. So for my YA lit class we read The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier. Let me start out by saying it's one of the most talked about books in YA lit since its publication in 1974. It's well written, well thought out and very real. That said, it wasn't my favorite book I've ever read.

In it, Jerry Renault is a freshman at Trinity, a school where the not so secret society, The Vigils rule the school. Archie, the brains behind this group gives Jerry an assignment, to not sell chocolates in the annual chocolate sale. The problem is, however, that Jerry continues to refuse to sell chocolates, making him into a sort of hero. This upsets one of the teachers, Brother Leon, who puts pressure on Archie. In turn, Archie and the rest of the school puts pressure on Jerry.

It's really rather painful to read. Especially in that you think that this could possibly happen. Not that you want it to happen. But that it could. Depressing. And I've got to say, I tend to like depressing. I devoured Lurlene McDaniel books when I was younger. I enjoy books when the main character doesn't always win. I'm not sure what it was about this one that really turned me off.

However, I do think that there is a large group of readers who would really enjoy this book. Guys might like the realism a little more. There are YA readers who need something that isn't as happy as some of the other books I've been suggesting. I would definitely suggest it for older readers who don't believe that the authority is always right.

Imagine This!

I am back! Michigan and I kind of broke up but it's the kind of break up that means we'll always love each other because I plan on going back to the state next winter. In other words, I am back from a ski vacation in the Upper Peninsula.

Anyway, when I was not downhill skiing or cross country skiing I managed to read in front of a fire. This was one of the best vacations ever, by the way. One of the books that I read was Here, There Be Dragons by James A. Owen. It's the first book in The Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica. I think that it's a trilogy but I am not entirely certain.

The book starts on a dark and stormy night when three people: Charles, Jack and John are brought together by fate and suspected murder. They, Oxford men all, manage to go to their club to discuss things when they are found by Bert, who is an...interesting man. They join Bert on his daughter Aven's ship, The Indigo Dragon and their lives change forever.

John didn't know that he was being groomed to be a caretaker for the Imaginarium Geographica, a map that shows all the lands in the Archipelago, a chain of islands beyond our world. They include places like Avalon and Prydain (I was really disappointed that they never came upon an assistant pigkeeper in their travels).

But sadly, the Archipelago is in chaos. The dragons have left and all the members of the royal human family have been murdered. And of course, there is a villian, The Winter King, who wants one of the rings of power to call the dragons.

The plot is fast moving and the book is well written. Owen manages to make it seem like it's a British children's book from years ago. There is humor and danger and many interesting characters, both historical and original.

It's wonderful how many allusions that Owen makes to classic fantasy and adventure books. One of the previous caretakers is always referred to as Jamie and it's not until later that you learn that he is actually Sir James Barrie, author of Peter Pan.

I would recommend this book to older children and younger teens who were familiar with fantasy books. I'm actually having a hard time with some of my thoughts here. On one hand, one of the most charming and interesting things about the book is the fact that I could recognize so many people from mythology and books so it may be best for readers familiar with those as well. On the other hand, however, this book could serve as a good gateway to the fantasy world for readers. I think that, in the end, the book assumes a basic familiarity that it is likely that many readers would have, even through TV and movies by the time they pick this up.