[115] Books Reviewed
by author:

Showing posts with label read. Show all posts
Showing posts with label read. Show all posts

Thursday, June 12, 2008

A Crack in The Line by Michael Lawrence

() If you like reading philosophy-based sci-fi books, this might be your pick. Although it does not contain very original in ideas: the concept is that multiple realities of the same instant layer over each other in time, while still existing in a linear fashion. This results in the story following a girl and boy being born with the same genes, house, and parents; the only differences between them are their genders and family circumstances. The boy's mother died in a car crash and has a weird aunt. The girl's mother was in the same accident, but lived; she doesn't have an aunt. They meet each other through a an emotional time "crack" while touching the same wooden figurine their mothers carved. Things are confusing and mysterious; I think the main point of this was to illustrate a possible option for time that was imagined by the author. Because it doesn't really seem to have a main idea or lesson.

Sunday, March 23, 2008

Fresh Girl by Jaïra Placide

() This is the world as seen through the eyes of a 14-year-old female, Haitian refugee. She pours herself into her class work and deals with the typical issues of bullying and popularity at school. The catch is that she has far more threatening, secret experiences in her past that she is dealing with. Since then, her only ways of coping have been to quietly damage herself and shut her mouth. Only the surprise appearance of her trustworthy uncle brings anything out, and only then does she start to realize her independence and own will!
Reading stories told from less-common immigrant perspectives are always a joy. This book does that and more by revealing some of the horrors refugees have to live with in their pasts. It's witty, insightful, and personal. Definitely a very enriching, thought-provoking read!
Won the Golden Kite Award
All books reviewed can be obtained at the
Santa Clara County Library
Many of these reviews can also be found at Amazon.com