Book Review: Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen

Brian Robeson is a thirteen year old boy, traveling by plane to visit his father far to the north in Canada, when the pilot has a sudden heart attack and dies. In his panic, Brian is only able to keep the plane steady until it runs out of fuel and crashes into a lake. Barely escaping from the wreck alive, Brian is at first in shock, but eventually his survival instincts take over and he begins to look for a way to keep himself alive, starting out with little more than the hatchet his mother gave to him as a present.

At first his goal is simply to stay alive for a few days, as he is sure that planes will be looking for him. While his early efforts are clumsy he quickly learns how to fend for himself, finding edible plants, devising methods to catch fish and eventually even game birds. Eventually he realizes that any rescue attempt must have been  abandoned, but rather than surrendering to despair he resolves to continue living. His lessons at the hands of nature are often brutal, but each time he survives he comes out stronger and more in tune with the world, and with himself.

Brian, who started the story as a typical urban teenager, learns how to listen to and understand the sounds of the wilderness, how to see hidden prey, and how to react to dangers before becoming conscious of their presence. Ultimately, after enduring just about everything imaginable, Brian does come across a way back to civilization, though the experience in the wilderness leaves him forever changed.

Cited as the standard by which wilderness survival stories are judged, Hatchet has been a classic for over twenty years. The realistic setting and events of the story are known to appeal to many younger adolescents, as are the ingenuity and tenacity of the protagonist: teens like to imagine they'd be as resourceful and successful as Brian was.

The book is written in simple language which, while not contemporary, is also not terribly dated despite the age of the text. It is simple to read, with a fast pace and frequent action that maintains interest throughout. The reader is always kept wondering how Brian will overcome the most recent threat to his safety, and when salvation comes at the end it is almost as shocking to the reader as it is to Brian himself.

One weak point is the seemingly extraneous sub-plot involving Brian's memories about the reasons why his parents separated. For a time it seems that his primary motivation for survival is so that he can get to his father and tell him what he knows, but by the end of the book, despite several flashbacks revealing the nature of "The Secret", Brian never does tell his father, making these sequences seem like strange interruptions to the narrative  about Brian enduring life in the wilderness. These interludes are short, however, and do not unduly distract the reader from the plot.

It is no surprise to me that this book has remained popular among younger teens for so long. The story has a timeless quality to it, in part due to the infrequent dialogue and remote setting which would be very similar now as it would have been in 1987 when the book was written. That said, it might not appeal to everyone. Older readers are sure to doubt the likelihood that a 13 year old boy from a city would be able to think of and accomplish all the feats that Brian manages to in order to survive, and even some readers in the target age range may prefer books with more dialogue and interpersonal interactions. Still, survival stories have remained popular among readers in the 6th-8th grade range, and this book would count as among the best in the genre for that age group, so for them I would certainly recommend it.

Book Review: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan

Perseus Jackson, known as Percy, is a troubled youth to say the least. He has only vague memories of his real father, his stepfather is an angry lout who abuses his mother, and Percy seems to have several learning disorders on top of being socially awkward. Kicked out of several schools already, he is worried about what will happen when things start to go wrong at his current school. Despite the efforts of his friend Grover and his Latin teacher, Percy seems to be headed for expulsion, when his math teacher turns into a monster and attacks him. Without quite knowing how, Percy is narrowly able to defeat her. At first it seems like no one noticed anything unusual, but it is clear that Grover is hiding something. When Percy goes home to his mother for the Summer, he thinks that things will calm down, but soon he is fleeing for his life with his mother and Grover (who turns out to be a Satyr) for the safety of a place known as "Camp Half-Blood" on Long Island.

Percy is able to reach the safety of the camp, but not before facing off against the Minotaur and seeing his mother apparently crushed to death by the monster. After recovering from his injuries he learns, from his Latin teacher who is actually the centaur Chiron, that he is a demigod, the son of one of the Greek Gods, though no one is sure which. The camp is a safe haven for his kind, where monsters cannot enter unless summoned, and left undisturbed by the Gods, who are alive and well on the mythical Mount Olympus, which has been moved to the top of the Empire State Building.

Just as Percy is getting used to this idea, and coming to terms with life at the camp, a monster appears and nearly kills him. He is only able to defeat it when he's standing in water, and it is then revealed that he is the son of Poseidon. Before he can come to grips with this, he is told that Zeus has been angry and suspicious of Percy's father ever since the Master Thunderbolt was stolen a few months ago. Others suspect Hades, god of the Underworld and Zeus' other brother, are behind the theft, and Percy is sent on a hero's quest to find retrieve the Thunderbolt from the Lord of the Dead. Percy, hoping to bring his mother back to the land of the living, agrees to go and is accompanied by his friend Grover and another demigod, a daughter of Athena named Annabeth.

During their journey, the three heroes learn to trust each other, and discover things about themselves and each other they never suspected. Percy and Annabeth in particular explore some of their feelings regarding their absent Divine parents. Meanwhile, the trio face dangers straight out of Greek myth, and eventually uncover the real lightning thief, though the danger is far from over, with the plot setting itself up for sequels.

While it is easy to see Percy Jackson as a copycat of Harry Potter, the parallels are likely more coincidental than not, the result of two authors drawing on many of the same literary traditions. Hero's journeys are a classic form; Percy and his story are familiar in the way that the stories Joseph Campbell describes in The Hero with a Thousand Faces are familiar, and this is because they are among the most compelling ever told. Without overselling it, this book is at least attempting to follow in that tradition.

The book also succeeds as a way to make Greek mythology and classical literature, often dreaded subjects in school, interesting to kids. While the setting and language are modern, the characters and even form of the story are straight out of the myths. While Percy is certainly the prototypical hero, he is also a teenage American boy, possessing both virtues and flaws, whom young adult readers will find highly sympathetic. Especially compelling to teens is the fact that many of Percy's seeming drawbacks turn out to be hidden strengths. This is something many real kids his age either hope or secretly believe, in some cases correctly, is true about themselves. Furthermore, despite his archetypal traits, he develops a distinct voice and sense of self that sets him apart from his literary contemporaries.

Another feature that is likely to make it popular is the fact that the action almost never stops. While Percy does manage to find some time to reflect on his circumstances, choices, and sense of self, the book moves along at a breakneck pace and danger is never far. Despite Oracular predictions of limited success, the reader never feels Percy is truly safe, even at the conclusion of the book. While this is sure to please many young readers, anyone looking for a more dialogue and character driven stories will be disappointed.

Based on the quality of the writing, and the loving treatment of the mythological source material (Riordan is clearly a big fan of the Classics) and for the sheer entertainment value, I would recommend this book to a wide range of readers. Given the somewhat graphic depictions of violence and the heavy subject matter, especially regarding complicated relationships with parents, I would not recommend this book for anyone below the 7th grade, though much like Harry Potter I think that the series is likely to appeal to readers of all ages above that.

Book Review - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie

Junior is a teenage boy growing up on the Spokane Reservation, a misfit in his own tribe due to birth defects that left him fragile and smaller than average, but determined to learn and grow past the limitations imposed on him and his tribe. His one friend, a boy named Rowdy, is violent and unstable, but fiercely devoted to Junior.

After discovering just how out of date his school books are, Junior becomes determined to attend school off the reservation at the (all white) farming town nearby. Despite being labeled a traitor to his people, angering Rowdy to the point that they become enemies, and facing hostility and racism from students and teachers at his new school, Junior manages to find acceptance from a few of the students there. Eventually he finds his place and begins to thrive, academically and socially.

Meanwhile, his life on the reservation is harder than ever. Outside of his immediate family, few of the reservation residents are kind to him, and Rowdy ignores him apart from attacking him at one point. A series of tragedies strike his family, simultaneously strengthening his resolve to leave the reservation for good, and making him feel bad about spending so much time away from his family.

The book concludes after the end of Junior's first year of high school, with many of the questions posed still unanswered. Will it be possible for Junior to escape the fate of so many of his fellow Spokane tribesmen, or will he fall back into the pattern of despair and aimless existence? Will he be able to maintain a balance between the White world and the reservation, or will he be forced to choose? These questions are left open because, as the author's own life serves as testament to, there often is no definitive way to answer them.

Like all of Alexie's work, one gets the sense of lived experience from the depictions of life on the reservation, and indeed this book is largely based on the author's own childhood. Some people may criticize his occasionally harsh language regarding his fellow tribesmen, but the words and the emotions behind them are authentic. Furthermore, readers of all ethnicities and cultures can relate to Junior's story. Everyone has felt like an outsider at some point, everyone has dealt with uncertainty and apprehension during transitions, and faced negative consequences of decisions both necessary and good. The readers ability to empathize with Junior will let them understand the realities of modern life for Native Americans in a way nothing else can, and for that reason alone this book would be worth reading. That it also deals so well with the themes of acceptance, identity, death and loss is the hallmark of a truly excellent writer.

While the straightforward, personal writing style, fast pace, and Junior's frequent illustrations may appeal to younger audiences, the mature themes make this book more suitable to high school aged kids. The book is strong enough to appeal to adult readers as well, and it carries my highest recommendation.

Book Review - The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate

This is a story of a Gorilla, named Ivan by his human captors, who has lived for 30 years in a tiny enclosure in a "circus themed mall" the owner of which, Mack, is essentially an amateur zookeeper with no real idea how to properly treat animals. Ivan's friends are an elephant named Stella who had to put on performances, a stray dog named Bob (not part of the exhibits), and a young human girl named Julia who teaches Ivan to paint and provides him with supplies. Ivan has all but forgotten his life before the zoo, and while Stella (being an elephant) remembers everything, she is as resigned to this life as he is.

One day, in an effort to renew excitement for the mall, Mack buys a new baby elephant named Ruby. Stella is sad to see another of her kind imprisoned there, and fears what Mack might do as part of Ruby's training. Ultimately, she begs Ivan to find a way to save Ruby, to get her out of the mall and into a better life. At first Ivan has no idea how to do this, though he knows that he must find a way. Eventually he hatches a plan to use his art, which has so far been sold for Mack's benefit, to draw attention to the terrible conditions at the mall.

The One and Only Ivan is a touching story, all the more so for Ivan's unique voice, one that is at once hauntingly human, yet distinctly that of a gorilla. All of the animal characters in this book are appealing for the way in which they highlight those commonplace human behaviors which are nonetheless absurd, but as we see the story from Ivan's perspective we get more insight into his thoughts. They author lets Ivan tell his story in his own way, with a blend of humor and melancholy that allows younger readers to experience the oppression and abuse Ivan, Stella, and Ruby face without becoming overwhelmed or desensitized.

Some may criticize the book for overly anthropromorphizing Ivan, especially as he carries out a very complicated plan while also rediscovering his inner Silverback nature, but this is easy to accept and overlook given that the central message is about the transcendent nature of art, how it can allow us to express ourselves in the way we wish, communicate across language and other barriers, and expose truths in a way nothing else can. As a gorilla, Ivan tends towards thoughtful stoicism, and spends a great deal of time thinking rather than speaking or acting, and it is possible that some readers might feel that this gets boring. On the other hand, the simplistic, straightforward, and honest nature of the animals and the intentionally spare and uncomplicated writing style make this a quick and easy read, and it is unlikely that anyone wouldn't wind up emotionally invested in the fate of the animals.

Animal characters tend to appeal to younger readers, but the themes of abuse, loss, and longing for freedom, as well as some of the more advanced literary techniques, mean that this book might be better suited to middle school aged readers at the earliest. The lessons it holds on empathy, friendship, and the importance of finding one's role and living up to one's potential are ageless, and it is no surprise that this book won the 2013 Newberry medal. I recommend it wholeheartedly to readers of all ages.

Book Review - Wither, by Lauren DeStefano

Wither is a  novel in the popular genre of dystopian / apocalyptic science fiction, not as well known as the more famous Hunger Games or Divergent series, but well enough written that it will likely appeal to fans of those series looking for similar books to read. It is also part of a series, Lauren DeStefano's planned trilogy collectively known as The Chemical Garden.

The story is set at an indeterminate point in the future, after genetic engineering of humans has unintentionally doomed the species. While the first generation of modified humans enjoys extremely long life, excellent health, and other benefits, their male children never live past 25 years old, while their female children always die by age 20. Due to this cataclysmic turn of events civilization has fallen apart, with wars having long since devastated much of the world. The same genetic science that created the problem seems powerless to correct it, and  as society continues to collapse it seems less likely that anyone will be able to save the remnants of humanity that remain.

Among the other atrocities taking place in a world without laws, rich and powerful First Generation parents frequently kidnap young women and force them to marry their sons, hoping that, through luck or persistence, they will generate a healthy generation with a normal life span. Failing that, they seek to keep their bloodline going as long as they can. The protagonist of Wither, Rhine, is one of the victims of this practice. At 16 years old she had no plans or hope for the future, but still savored every day of life with her twin brother Rowan, and from the moment she is taken captive her only goal is to get back to that life.

As the story unfolds we learn more about Rhine's past, the events that have shaped this world, and the history and character of the family to whom Rhine has been unwillingly bound. She develops relationships with her "sister-wives" and other members of the household, much to her surprise, and she learns that she can feel compassion even for her captors while still clinging to her hope for escape. By the story's end, Rhine has matured considerably, learning that people are complicated and tend to possess a mix of good and bad traits. She also learns something about the nature of power, good and evil, and the value of freedom in a dangerous world vs. a sheltered captivity.

Rhine is an exemplary protagonist, having a genuine sense of inner conflict when her loyalties are opposing one another, introspective and thoughtful without being broody or self-obsessed, and deeply compassionate for the suffering of others even as she herself suffers. The book is worth reading just for the experience of seeing the harrowing experiences it details through her eyes. The other characters, especially Rhine's love interest Gabriel, are not so well developed. While this will always be the case for a book written from a single perspective, Gabriel seems particularly two dimensional, which puts the reader in the possibly intentional place of feeling more sympathy for Rhine's husband than for the boy she would chose to be with.

Nevertheless the writing is well-crafted, if not extraordinary. The author manages to expertly present subtle themes, such as the power of the illusion of power, and how one's perspective can change one's understanding of good and evil. These and the central theme, the value of freedom, are treated respectfully with writing that reflects the uncertainties and complexities of real life, but in language that is accessible and familiar to young adults.

Despite the introspective nature of the main character, the book contains a fair amount of dialogue and action that keeps the story moving. While not as fast-paced as books like The Maze Runner, Wither is anything but dull and should hold the interest of most readers. Those interested in stories featuring strong female leads, emotional complexity, or people struggling to overcome feelings of powerlessness (or all three) will find this book particularly compelling. Due to the nature of some of the content, especially the frank (but not graphic) treatments of sex and violence against women, this book may not be appropriate for younger readers, but would certainly appeal to and be suitable for older teens.

Overall I give this book my hearty recommendation. While it is certainly capitalizing on the popularity of other recent YA fiction, it takes a unique approach, premise, and perspective. Rhine is not just another Katniss Everdeen, and her story has unique and important things to tell us about the human condition.

You may be wondering why I gathered you all here today...

Hi there! My name is Mike, and I'm almost a librarian. I'm in my last semester of grad school, which ends in April, so I'm very excited to 1) have accomplished this major step towards starting my career and 2) no longer being quite so busy all the time.

I love libraries, and I've loved working in them for the last several years. I'm currently working part time at the Ann Arbor District Library as an Information Desk Clerk, which is what they call paraprofessionals who do reference and public service work. I love working there, especially when I can get involved in programs, but even working the desk I rarely have a day go by without at least one fascinating question being asked.

My particular interest within public libraries is working with young adults. Last year I got to work at the Clinton-Macomb Public Library as the Young Adult Librarian Intern, which was certainly the most fun I've ever been paid to have, and that more or less made up my mind about what exactly I want to do. Unfortunately CMPL ran out of funding for the position, or I'd still be there, but the kids did give me this fantastic drawing as a going away present:

I still tear up a little

I framed this sucker and will treasure it forever.

So this blog, if I find the self-discipline to actually keep it going, will serve as a place for me to reflect, or muse if you will, on my experiences working in public libraries. If it weren't already clear I'm not going to be writing formally, this is mostly about my personal experiences, impressions, etc. All names (other than mine) will be changed to protect the innocent.

I'll also post some book reviews. The first set are part of an assignment, but my intent is to write more after graduating, mostly to keep in practice, but also to be informative (should anyone actually read this blog).

Oh right, the name of this thing. If you're curious as to just what a "Libratorr" is, I will direct you to Penny Arcade (which as a citizen of the Internet you should know about anyway, honestly) specifically this strip which is one of my favorites