I picked this up because it appeared on a list of recommended books about gaming. I'll have to change the search to video-gaming. The plot of this book centers around the older version of gaming involving cards and face-to-face activities. The main character, Mercer, is an 8th grader. He is totally absorbed in a game similar to dungeons and dragons.
He persuades the school authorities to have a gaming fund raiser. One of the other students on the planning team is a conservative Christian who begins a political/religious initiative to ban the game on school grounds based on the idea that it is devil/demon worship.
Meanwhile, Mercer begins to attract a following of homeless folks who believe themselves to be wizards. At the end Mercer ends up having to deal with all these various special interest groups.
Lubar has written an accessible book that will prompt deep thinking about conservative Christian pressures, gaming, and our perceptions of reality. Even though it wasn't really what I was looking for, I will include it in my recommended reading list. It does deserve a warning. There are some parents who would object to its treatment of "demonic influences on children" and apparent questioning of religious groups. With that warning, I think there are a lot of 6th & 7th graders who would really enjoy the book. Some older students with reading delays would also find it enjoyable. Although I don't see as many students playing the card-based fantasy games any longer, I think they will find the premise compatible with the video games they play.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
State of Fear, by Michael Crichton (2005)
I listened to this on CD and think I missed many of the footnotes that support the assertions about climate change Crichton makes in this book. When I return the CDs to the library I am going to take a look at the paper copy and evaluate the science. However, Crichton does have a strong science background (is that an understatement?) and I have no real reason to disbelieve him.
The plot line is about a nonprofit environmental group's initiatives and activities. It includes scenes of polar ice caps, tsunamis, earthquakes, and flash floods. The science of each is explained and resonates with current events. I worry a little about the book creating a following of paranoids that doubt everything. But, I hope that these will be few, and folks that don't need much prompting to go into the land of paranoia. The X-Files would be more dangerous to those sorts.
For me the best part of the book was the author's note at the end in which he presents a strong argument for major changes in the ways that scientific research is conducted. Every assertion he makes about experimental bias, the effects of corporate and government funding, and the problems with the university systems rings completely true in my own experience.
Besides being a really good techno-thriller, this is a great book to use in exploration of current scientific research.
The plot line is about a nonprofit environmental group's initiatives and activities. It includes scenes of polar ice caps, tsunamis, earthquakes, and flash floods. The science of each is explained and resonates with current events. I worry a little about the book creating a following of paranoids that doubt everything. But, I hope that these will be few, and folks that don't need much prompting to go into the land of paranoia. The X-Files would be more dangerous to those sorts.
For me the best part of the book was the author's note at the end in which he presents a strong argument for major changes in the ways that scientific research is conducted. Every assertion he makes about experimental bias, the effects of corporate and government funding, and the problems with the university systems rings completely true in my own experience.
Besides being a really good techno-thriller, this is a great book to use in exploration of current scientific research.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Full Dark House, by Christopher Fowler 2003
This is the first in the Bryant/May detective series and introduces us to the two detectives on their first case, and what seems to be their last case. The book begins with an explosion at their police station and Bryant's death in the blast. Throughout the book we are watching two plots unfold--that increasingly appear to be linked.
The first story begins with a sort of Phantom of the Opera case set in the Palace Theater during World War two. The period details are masterful and add to the overall story. The second mystery is, of course, who blew up the police station and why.
I enjoy the cast of the Peculiar Crimes Unit, and cast they are. All police officers, they create an ensemble cast that engages the reader. I look forward to the next book in the series (which is of course about a 2004 copyright, so it's hardly "next").
This is a book written for an adult audience. I don't see much in it that would prompt me to suggest it as a cross-over book for high school students. Although there is no explicit sex there is quite a bit of "violence" and not much I would connect it to in a secondary school curriculum.
The first story begins with a sort of Phantom of the Opera case set in the Palace Theater during World War two. The period details are masterful and add to the overall story. The second mystery is, of course, who blew up the police station and why.
I enjoy the cast of the Peculiar Crimes Unit, and cast they are. All police officers, they create an ensemble cast that engages the reader. I look forward to the next book in the series (which is of course about a 2004 copyright, so it's hardly "next").
This is a book written for an adult audience. I don't see much in it that would prompt me to suggest it as a cross-over book for high school students. Although there is no explicit sex there is quite a bit of "violence" and not much I would connect it to in a secondary school curriculum.
Nobel Genes, by Rune Michaels (2010)
I read this after having read Michaels' first book, Genesis Alpha. That book still haunts me. The ethical dilemmas Michaels presents chilled me and has caused me to think carefully about whether or not I should recommend the book to younger teens. I had my son (21 years old) read it and he agrees that 6th-8th graders might not be mature enough to handle the subject matter.
Nobel Genes is nearly equally challenging, but in a different way. The main character, who is never given a name, is caring for his mentally ill mother. She has told him that he was conceived with a sperm donation from a Nobel Prize winner. He has grown up with a poster about the Nobel Prize framed in his room and searching the pages of a book about the Nobel Prize winners for an image of his father.
We watch as his mother becomes more and more disabled and the care he has to provide increases. I don't want to say more--it would spoil the book.
This is a compelling book probably again best for more mature teens. It is recommended for grades 6-12 with a Lexile of 940, but the topics and issues are emotionally challenging.
Not everyone appreciates Michaels magical realism has put off some reviewers. I think Michaels could have resolved the plot issues without resorting to the use of this technique, but it is a part of her style. I appreciate the genre and do not fault her for using it.
Nobel Genes is nearly equally challenging, but in a different way. The main character, who is never given a name, is caring for his mentally ill mother. She has told him that he was conceived with a sperm donation from a Nobel Prize winner. He has grown up with a poster about the Nobel Prize framed in his room and searching the pages of a book about the Nobel Prize winners for an image of his father.
We watch as his mother becomes more and more disabled and the care he has to provide increases. I don't want to say more--it would spoil the book.
This is a compelling book probably again best for more mature teens. It is recommended for grades 6-12 with a Lexile of 940, but the topics and issues are emotionally challenging.
Not everyone appreciates Michaels magical realism has put off some reviewers. I think Michaels could have resolved the plot issues without resorting to the use of this technique, but it is a part of her style. I appreciate the genre and do not fault her for using it.
The Contest, by Gordon Korman, 2002
This started a bit slowly for me. It begins with a contest to climb Everest that Dominic Alexis is determined to win. The adventure is for a famous mountaineer to guide a team of teens to the top of Everest, the youngest climbing team ever. Dom's older brother, Chris has already been accepted into the training camp by virtue of his status as a climber. Dom wins inclusion in the camp by finding the letters spelling out EVEREST in a contest sponsored by a sports bar/drink manufacturer.
The first part of the book is all about picking the four teens who will climb from the initial pool of ten. Lots of drama, some climbing. But, when the finalists have training run in Alaska the adventure begins. I was reading sort of complacently--teen drama etc. I was planning to take a bit of a nap part way through.
Then I hit the Alaska climb. I don't know if Korman's descriptions of climbing strategies is accurate, but they sure are thrilling. I will be reading the next two books in the series.
Book one in Korman's Everest series. Lexile 690, Ages 9-12.
The first part of the book is all about picking the four teens who will climb from the initial pool of ten. Lots of drama, some climbing. But, when the finalists have training run in Alaska the adventure begins. I was reading sort of complacently--teen drama etc. I was planning to take a bit of a nap part way through.
Then I hit the Alaska climb. I don't know if Korman's descriptions of climbing strategies is accurate, but they sure are thrilling. I will be reading the next two books in the series.
Book one in Korman's Everest series. Lexile 690, Ages 9-12.
The Skull Mantra, by Eliot Pattison, 1999
This was part of my reading for a book set to accompany Peak, by Roland Smith. I enjoyed the book, but it is definitely an adult book. Able high schoolers could read it, but it is relatively dense prose for the age group.
Pattison introduces a Chinese detective, Shan Tao Yun. He has been sentenced to a Tiberian prison for an offense against the Chinese Communist party in Beijing.
Much of the book focuses on the Buddhist monks and monasteries in Tibet. As someone who has been reading Thich Nhat Hanh for a couple of years now I was fascinated.
The book challenged me as a reader. The characters and motivations were were complex and I didn't take careful notes--that would have helped. I also faced some issues with the copy of the book I was reading. Some library patron before me had "edited" the book for "correctness" (and I disagreed with the corrections) and left fairly long notes written in the margins predicting plot and criticizing the author's writing. They mostly made me mad that someone would be so inconsiderate as to interrupt my "flow" while enjoying the book. It did however prompt me to find out more about the author. Pattison is an attorney specializing in international law. He has published five nonfiction books on international law and nine novels. This first novel received the Edgar Allen Poe award in 2000. I'm going to follow up with my local librarian.
I will be reading the next book in the inspector Shan series. And--hope that the local librarians can hunt down this book vandal.
Pattison introduces a Chinese detective, Shan Tao Yun. He has been sentenced to a Tiberian prison for an offense against the Chinese Communist party in Beijing.
Much of the book focuses on the Buddhist monks and monasteries in Tibet. As someone who has been reading Thich Nhat Hanh for a couple of years now I was fascinated.
The book challenged me as a reader. The characters and motivations were were complex and I didn't take careful notes--that would have helped. I also faced some issues with the copy of the book I was reading. Some library patron before me had "edited" the book for "correctness" (and I disagreed with the corrections) and left fairly long notes written in the margins predicting plot and criticizing the author's writing. They mostly made me mad that someone would be so inconsiderate as to interrupt my "flow" while enjoying the book. It did however prompt me to find out more about the author. Pattison is an attorney specializing in international law. He has published five nonfiction books on international law and nine novels. This first novel received the Edgar Allen Poe award in 2000. I'm going to follow up with my local librarian.
I will be reading the next book in the inspector Shan series. And--hope that the local librarians can hunt down this book vandal.
The Malifex, By Steve Alton 2002
I've long been a passionate reader of anything related to King Arthur and especially Merlin. This book takes the Arthurian legend into the present with new heroes and wizards. The main character, Sam, a notable gamer, turns out to be the new Arthur. With his supporting wizard, Amergin.
The plot is engaging and the characters are relatively well developed. It helps a lot to have background knowledge about the Arthurian legends, the British countryside, and things magical. Students who have read The Hobbit, and watched or reading the Lord of the Rings trilogy will feel comfortable with the necessary background knowledge. There is a second book with the same characters available The Firehills.
I had picked this up as a book I might recommend to gamers. It is a possibility, but the video gaming plot threads are minimal. Gamers who like the magical themed games or LOTR game will find the book engaging.
The book is recommended primarily for grades 5-8 and I agree with that. The readability estimates by Perma-Bound are around mid-5th grade. The main character's age is not made explicit. However, he is old enough to have a romantic interest in his companion in adventure--Charly (Charlotte).
The plot is engaging and the characters are relatively well developed. It helps a lot to have background knowledge about the Arthurian legends, the British countryside, and things magical. Students who have read The Hobbit, and watched or reading the Lord of the Rings trilogy will feel comfortable with the necessary background knowledge. There is a second book with the same characters available The Firehills.
I had picked this up as a book I might recommend to gamers. It is a possibility, but the video gaming plot threads are minimal. Gamers who like the magical themed games or LOTR game will find the book engaging.
The book is recommended primarily for grades 5-8 and I agree with that. The readability estimates by Perma-Bound are around mid-5th grade. The main character's age is not made explicit. However, he is old enough to have a romantic interest in his companion in adventure--Charly (Charlotte).
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