The October List, Jeffery Deaver (2013)

I apologize for being so quiet.  I have been reading!  Some haven't been worth the blog space.  (I actually quit reading a book--good heavens!  I don't think I'll share the title, it was a great disappointment from a favorite author.  Just a hint--watch out for successful authors who begin to write co-authored books in which they are the second author!)

Back to The October List

I began composing (in my mind) a negative review of the book.  I thought Deaver had jumped into a writing experiment that spun out of control.  If you pick up the book--be warned.  At first you'll think Deaver has gone over the edge.  About one third of the way in you'll get hooked.  By the end you'll be breathless.

I got this as an audio book.  (Old age is not kind.  If you want to live to read all the books on your list you have to start walking while reading so that you can live long!)  For a bit of time I thought it was the audio format that was diminishing my enjoyment.  That turned out not to be true--but be warned.  There are photographs that accompany the book.  I could have looked at PDF files that were included in the audio book, but my library loan period expired before I got to opening that file.  A great reason to visit my local bookseller!

I can't say much about the book--it would spoil it.  The story starts and the end and then works backward.  Deaver will keep you reading!  I recommend planning to lose track of time (or walk a few extra miles like I did!)  The plot begins with a single mom whose daughter is kidnapped.  It sounds predictable--but is far from it.

I'd love to use this as a cross-over adult/YA book.  There are a couple of topics introduced that might make some students uncomfortable.  Make certain you read it first.  If you want to explore issues of narrative structure and text complexity this book is a great example of how limited CCSS and most "curriculum" is.  Authors are endlessly inventive!

Kudos Mr Deaver!

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, by Jacqueline Kelly

2009
This books has received numerous awards including a Newberry Honor designation and an International Reading Association Book Award. It is historical fiction that explores life as experienced by an eleven year-old girl living in a small Texas town in 1899. (I may be over-generous with the historical fiction designation.  This may be realistic fiction set in an historical period.  But, it also has very nice connections to the history of science, so I'll be calling it historical fiction.) She does not easily fit into the expectations for a pre-teen girl in this time period.  She is something of a "tom-boy" and interested much more in exploring nature than working on her embroidery or tatting. 

Miraculously, her grandfather shares a passion for science with her.  They discover this shared interest when Calpurnia is "forced" to consult with him in an attempt to discover the difference between two types of grasshoppers that are plaguing the countryside in an unusually hot summer.  Once consulted, Grandfather helps Calpurnia on her path to learning scientific method and the research habits of a scientist. 

Much of the book details the research projects that Calpurnia and her grandfather undertake in this year.  It is a well crafted book that takes a broad look at life at the turn of the 20th century through the eyes of a preteen who doesn't quite fit in the role that society would dictate for her.  The International Reading Association calls this "intermediate fiction" but I think it may be better for older readers.  I shared information about this book with a friend who loved it so much she is now seeking out "used" copies to send to family member.  She suggested that it is really an adult book.  I do think that some "intermediate readers" would find the weight of this book a bit daunting.  It is not as "action packed" as other popular intermediate books.  However, with good teacher scaffolding it could come alive for this age group.  I can easily see this as a shared reading in an interdisciplinary unit looking at US History, biology, scientific method, and women's rights.

Gray Matter by Nick Pirog

I've been buying some inexpensive books recommended by a service called Book Bub--it sends me a daily list of "bargins."  Some of these have been really good reads, others I abandon.  This particular title is somewhere in between.  There were many flaws in the book, which made me a little agitated as I read, but overall I think Pirog is a promising author.  I finished the book in spite of the occasional lapses.  This is a "detective fiction" book with murder investigation as the primary plot. It is set primarily in the Northwest United States.

Pirog needs a good (and ruthless) editor.  The main character should be a relatively mature adult, certainly the life experiences that he has had would season someone of his intelligence and background.  However, he consistently behaves and thinks as a "semi-adult"--more like someone in their early twenties that the more early 40s that would be suggested by the book.  There are numerous technical errors in the book which should have been resolved through better research and editing.  One research lapse that I found particularly offensive was the extremely casual research about the wolf reintroduction programs in the Northwest and the habits of wolf packs.  I have a middle stand on wolf reintroduction, however this hot topic is not aided by inaccurate representations of the dangers of wolves.   Other irrelevant sub-plots should have been eliminated including the girl-friend at the beginning of the book and "Harold's story."

Still, the book shows that Pirog is a promising young author.  I have plenty of other options and still I was willing to keep reading.  I see from Internet searches that he has several other books out.  I think perhaps I'll give another one a try and see if he has worked on his author's craft since his first book.

Star Island, by Carl Hiaasen

The Governor and Jim Tile are at it again!  This time Hiaasen takes on pop music and real estate developers.  If you haven't read any of the books in this series I strongly recommend starting at the beginning.  It will be difficult to fully understand many of the character and plot twists if you do not have the history of these two characters.

Hiaasen generally writes amusing and slightly outrageous tales set in Florida.  That's true of this book as well.  The governor's antics are somewhat predictable, but still amusing.  This is a good book for relief from high-stress weeks.  It will offer diversion and a few chuckles.  I've added "ecology" as a tag because of the Governor's choice of "residence" and his mission.

This is definitely an adult book.  I don't think I would probably mention it in schools.  (Does that make it a guilty pleasure for me?) 

Crater, by Homer Hickam (2012)

My son is considering astro-physics as a career path.  When I came across this title I knew immediately that I needed to read it.  Hickam is most known for his book Rocket Boys  that was used as the base for the film October Skies.  Rockets, spaceships, and outerspace are not my first choice of settings in fiction.  However, Hickam has captured my imagination.  His possible world, mining for inexpensive energy on the Earth's moon, is believable and in the opinion of many scientists, likely.  His background as the son of a miner and as a NASA engineer makes the underlying science trustworthy.  I'll admit--the science is way beyond my knowledge level, but I'll trust Hickam to know what he's talking about.

This appears to be a promising series that will appeal to both boys and girls.  There is a love interest, strong family/community themes, and the adventures that the main character, Crater Trueblood survives.  I am actually looking forward to the next book.  As someone with more interest in biology and ecology Hickam conveyed the geology and energy science topics in an interesting and understandable fashion.  He even discussed the main object of the mining on the moon, helium-3, in a way that got me interested in this isotope. 

I recommend this book strongly to teachers as a good choice for a book club selection or even a whole-class reading.  If English language arts and science teachers are collaborating this is a great choice for physics and energy related units.

Amped, by Daniel H. Wilson (2012)

I've just become a Daniel Wilson fan!  This is a great read and addresses several important technology/bioethics issues.  Wilson has  Ph.D. in robotics from Carnegie Mellon.  I assume that the science is pretty sound.  The story, of humans with neuro-implants that amplify their abilities (the Amps) has many interesting routes that readers can follow.  There is of course, the bioethics that are the focus of the story.  This is done well and will help us see a bit into the future.  I don't think we can quite "amp" humans the way Wilson portrays, but I expect it will be possible in the future.

A second theme relates to genocide/discrimination.  I can easily see this as a companion piece to any holocaust unit or study of other genocides.  (Those of you who know me are aware that I'm weary of the Anne Frank units that I read each semester.  I think it's time to expand our explorations of genocides and discrimination.

The secondary character, Lyle, is also a good study in the effects of power on a human.  Between Lyle and Senator Joseph Vaughn the exploration of what power does to our politicians and CEOs could lead to some fascinating discussions.  This theme in the book can also easily fit into studies of extremist groups and terrorism.  The government reactions to amps is well done and makes for a nice platform for exploring our current concerns about the Patriot Act and digital surveillance. 

Of course the science elements of this book could fit nicely in any study of scientific trends and issues.

Also, there may soon be a film connection to his other book Robopocalypse.  Robopocalypse was purchased by DreamWorks and is currently being adapted for film by Steven Spielberg.

Every Day, by David Levithan

The quotation on the front of this book from Entertainment Weekly is true..."Wise, wildly unique."

"A," the narrator and protagonist of this book is a traveler.  His consciousness lives for a day in the body/mind of another human being.  Each day a different one.  Male, female, GLBT, fat, think, depressed, silly, artistic, athletic, mean, generous....  A has learned to adapt to this nomadic life.  He moves through each savoring what is good and trying to do no harm.  Sort of accelerated reincarnation.

Until...he meets a girl.

Then, he is drawn to a place, drawn to a person, no longer completely nomadic.

Levithan tells a wonderful story that will encourage all readers to consider point of view and moral choices.  Those of you unfamiliar with Levithan's work should be alert that he is one of the writers most loved by GLBT youth for offering them realistic (or semi-fantasy) literature to help them cope with their lives.  He has written spectacular books and brings joy to readers--including straight readers.  Levithan's writing is a marvel.  There are many fragments, sentences, phrases, paragraphs that I will treasure of many years.  (I fact--I probably need to reread it immediately and begin recording them.  I'm torn--there are several teachers whom I would like to loan the book to right away.

I won't say too much--this book needs to be discovered on its own by each reader.  Just be prepared to lose yourself.  Don't begin it when you have big responsibilities looming!  You'll miss deadlines.