The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton

The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton fits into the Juvenile Fiction genre. It was first published in 1967 and is recommended for people age 12 and up.

Summary and Review: The Outsiders tells the shockingly realistic story of two gangs, the Greasers and the Socs (as in Socials). Ponyboy Curtis tells the story from the side of the Greasers because, as he puts it, “Someone should tell their side of the story, and maybe people would understand them and wouldn’t be so quick to judge a boy by the amount of hair oil he wore.” Ponyboy is the youngest of the Greasers and is being raised by his two older brothers, the oldest no more than twenty, after the untimely death of their parents. Hinton’s novel had a fresh view on an old topic and it was interesting to read about these boys’ adventures. They stuck together through everything from drive-in movies to murder in self-defense. There are some components of this book that would make people shy away from it but I think it is worth the read for anyone who shows interest. A boy is murdered but it does not dwell on the scene for more than a paragraph, it deals mostly with what happened after. While it was not a page-turner it did go quickly and it was interesting even though it didn’t draw me from the beginning. It reminded me of West Side Story without the love story element.

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Genre: Science Fiction

Published in 2008

Recommended Age Group: 16 and Up

Summary: The Host begins with the insertion of an alien into a human’s body. Some of the aliens were afraid of using this particular body because Melanie Stryder was part of the resistance that formed after the initial alien invasion. However, it was deemed necessary so they could have access to her memories but they got a lot more than they bargained for. Against the norm Melanie did not fade into obscurity with her memories as the only evidence that she lived. Melanie fought to keep control of her body against the alien Wanderer that now occupied her body. It was only because of their mutual hatred toward their Seeker that they bound together and eventually found a settlement of humans that had escaped the invasion. At first it was hard for the humans to trust that Melanie was still there with Wanderer, nicknamed Wanda by the humans. One by one they started to believe and they saw how she could be helpful. In the human colony they reunite with Jared, Melanie’s companion before the alien encounter. They also meet Ian who becomes their unofficial bodyguard while the other humans get used to the idea of a non-hostile alien. Complications arose because of Jared’s love for Melanie and Ian’s love for Wanda. They could not all have what they wanted. Wanda and Melanie must solve the problem while doing what’s best for everyone, the only question is what will happen to Wanda?

Personal Notes: I don’t know if it’s fair to compare this book to Twilight because they are not even the same genre. However, I think our enjoyment of Twilight is why most of us picked up, or will pick up this book. The Host was an amazing book. It did grab me from the start but not as strongly as Twilight because I actually slept that first night instead of reading it all night long, but I bought it only yesterday and here I am finished so it did grab me. This book was also intended for adults and it has a different feel to it but by no means inferior.  Even though it is written for adults I do not think that I would exclude any age group.  In a recent interview for All Things Girl Stephenie Meyer said, "The only reason it’s considered “adult” is the ages of the characters."

It was an amazingly complex and interesting story. I think it was a stroke of genius to combine the alien and the human in one body so we can get the perspective of both from the same experiences. It was fascinating to see how they could view the same thing so differently. I also enjoyed their internal interactions, the struggles between what is right and wrong and the love they have for different men. Overall it was a captivating story and it surpassed even my high expectations.

Other reviews available:

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Genre: Juvenile Science Fiction

Published in 2005

Recommended Age Group: 14 and Up

Summary: Uglies is set about three hundred years in the future and is about a culture where at the age of 16 everyone gets changed from being ugly (or normal) into supermodel beautiful through an operation and then they move to New Pretty Town. We follow the story of Tally, an ugly who is about to change. She and her best friend Peris make a deal that they’ll stay friends even though he gets to change over three months ahead of her. Tally is surprised when he doesn’t keep his end of the bargain and acts weird when she sneaks over to New Pretty Town to see him. On the way back she meets Shay and they spend the next three months becoming fast friends. Tally is surprised at Shay’s lack of enthusiasm about the change but thinks nothing of it until about a week before they are to change Shay tells her about Smoke, a secret city, and her desire to run away and not be pretty. Tally then must pick sides and decide which she wants more, to be pretty or to keep her new friend.

Personal Notes: This book was not at all what I expected it to be but it was much better. My sister recommended it to me and I've been surprised how often it's come up since.  I was pleasantly surprised by the unexpected sci-fi element. I also enjoyed that the plot didn’t go how I anticipated it to. There were surprises along the way that definitely kept me reading with interest. Overall a great read and a captivatingly fresh breeze in the literary world.

Other reviews available:

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld

Specials by Scott Westerfeld

Extras by Scott Westerfeld

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

Genre: Fiction

Published in 1989

Recommended Age Group: Adult

Summary: The Pillars of the Earth covers the building of the Kingsbridge cathedral in twelfth century England.  There are five people who guide us through this journey.  Philip, an ambitious monk that serves God through his intelligence; Tom, master builder of the cathedral; Ellen, Tom’s second wife and a practicing witch; Jack, Ellen’s son who later becomes the master builder of the Kingsbridge; and Aliena the destitute daughter of a former Earl who rises unexpectedly to triumph.  It is from these five views, and a few others, that we learn of Kingsbridge and the struggle to build the cathedral amidst threats of weather, poverty, and numerous malicious enemies.

These enemies also play an important role in the book.  The principal villains are: Waleran Bigod, a monk who thinks that the end justifies the means in service to God, and William Hamleigh, a power-hungry man who will stop at nothing to ensure that people fear him because he feels this is the only way to lead.

Through the tale we also learn of the miracles of building of the Middle Ages and the ingenuity of the men at the time.  We are led through time and space on this expedition that not only built a cathedral, but a town.

Personal Notes: I was interesting in the book right from the start.  A friend recommended it to me and wanted me to read it and let her know if it was worth finishing.  This intrigued me because not only do I love recommendations but it was flattering that she wanted to know what I thought.  For me it started well enough but it was slow.  Around 250 pages into it I started reading it because I wanted to and I was thinking about it when I wasn’t reading and thus showing interest.  By page 400 I decided I had to finish because it was so good and I was thoroughly engaged in the story.  It was also at this point that many of the horrible and disturbing scenes with William Hamleigh stopped.  I have to admit that was the only failing the book presented to me.  William rapes quite a few women and I feel that there is needless detail and while it does secure the readers hate for William it also removes some of their virtue.  I feel that the book would have been better if these scenes were smaller because I do see the need for them but not the length.

Overall it was a great book not something to be taken on lightly as it will demand time but it is well worth the effort.

Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause

Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

Published in 1997

Recommended Age Group: 14 and Up

Summary: Blood and Chocolate is the story of a sixteen-year-old werewolf named Vivian. After the death of her father, who was also the pack leader, the pack moved to the suburbs of Maryland. They have a difficult time deciding on who should be the new leader and the pack fights and bickers constantly. At her new school she meets a human boy named Aiden who is sweet and hangs out with a group of people who rarely bicker and accept Vivian readily. Vivian welcomes the change and spends more time with them than with the pack.

Eventually Vivian realizes she is in love with Aiden and wonders what this will do to the already struggling pack. She wants to reveal herself to Aiden, who loves things like werewolves in books, but at the same time doesn’t want to put the pack in danger. On the night she reveals herself there is a brutal murder. Vivian wonders if she is the murderer because she has no memories from the time that the murder took place. It becomes clear that the murderer is a werewolf and the pack must catch the murderer without revealing the murderer or the pack. In the end a pack leader is chosen, Vivian finds love and peace, and the murderer is brought to justice.

Personal Notes: I devoured this book starting and finishing on the same day. There were many aspects of it that were interesting to me. It shows Vivian’s struggles with acceptance and relationships both in and out of her family/pack. I was captivated by the story and loved that it was told from a werewolf’s perspective instead of the human’s. Many of the books I’ve ready about supernatural creatures are from the human’s point of view and it was a welcome twist. There were some parts that made me uncomfortable while I was reading them, Klause was a little explicit in some of her descriptions and maybe took it a step too far for the age group. There was nothing serious (like descriptions of sexual encounters) but some groping and nakedness in descriptions that never lasted longer than a sentence. Overall it was a great book, exciting, romantic and suspenseful, all the right elements for a teen reader.

Megan by Jack Weyland

Megan by Jack Weyland

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

Published in 2001

Recommended Age Group: 16 and Up

Summary: Megan, seventeen and a senior in high school, was basically a good girl who just wanted to be liked. She went to church and believed in God but did always live the way she thought she should or the way that her parents taught her. One day her best friend Thomas sets her up with a friend named Kurt that graduated from their high school a year before. In an effort to impress Kurt, Megan does things that she’s not comfortable with but wants him to be happy and wants to make sure he has a good time. Eventually with a lot of smooth talking on Kurt’s part and a lot of giving in on Megan’s she gets pregnant. Megan struggles with what to do with the baby. Kurt seemed experienced with this problem and told her about how to get an abortion but Megan decided it wasn’t right for her. Though the support of her family and friends Megan is able to get though the pregnancy and makes the toughest decision ever, who will care for her baby?

Personal Notes: This was a captivating and interesting book and in spite of the difficult subject matter it was enjoyable. Weyland got down to some deep core issues without being preachy. I felt like I could understand and empathize with Megan and her decisions and suffering. It would be a good book for young women to read because of the valuable lessons it teaches about morality and chastity but also how it teaches about forgiveness and the love of God for each one of us.

Other reviews available:

Nicole by Jack Weyland

Brittany by Jack Weyland

Camilla by Madeleine L'Engle

Camilla by Madeleine L’Engle

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

Published in 1965

Recommended Age Group: 14 and Up

Summary: Camilla is about a 15 year-old girl by the same name. She is at the age where she doesn’t get any of the privileges of adulthood and none of those from childhood. Her life, which was relatively easy, suddenly gets harder when she realizes her parents are not only people but imperfect people at that. Her mother Rose is dating another man while still married but she thinks she is fooling everyone and that no one knows, even though he comes to the house. Her father Rafferty tries to ignore the situation or he blames it on himself. Meanwhile Camilla is becoming a woman and although she knows she wants to be an astronomer she doesn’t know about the rest of her life and the problems with her parents make her unsure that she’ll make the right choices.

Luisa, her best friend, helps Camilla on her way to finding out who she is and what she wants from life but she also gets in the way. When Camilla starts seeing Luisa’s brother Frank Luisa tries to tell her he’s a bad guy and not to spend time with him, but Camilla ignores her. Camilla learns from Frank and Luisa about life, love, and God and in the end decides who she is and that it’s not always possible to know and control everything about anything.

Personal Notes: The summary on the back of this book did not do it justice. I bought it because I am a big fan of Madeleine L’Engle.  I wasn’t too excited about reading it but I loved it. Even though it was written over forty years ago it really ties in to life in today’s society where divorce is so common. It was realistic and true to life. I think a lot of people would relate to how Camilla was trying to find out who she was and how to cope with the problems her parents added to the ones she had herself. It was interesting and entertaining with just the right amount of love story mixed in.