Circus Galacticus Book Review

 Author: Deva Fagan. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Harcourt Children’s Books. ISBN: 9780547581361.

Annotation: Fifteen-year-old orphan Beatrix “Trix” Ling hates her life as an outcast, charity case at the prestigious Bleeker Academy for Girls. Tormented by the other students, all Trix can think about are her dreams of following in her parents’ footsteps as an astronomer. What Trix doesn’t realize is that her chance at exploring the stars is closer than she thinks when the mysterious and exciting Circus Galacticus comes to town.

Personal thoughts: This is one of those novels that I had in my pile of “to be read” for a long time. I hadn’t heard much about it so I wasn’t in a rush to pick it up. I am often very surprised by how the novels that don’t get as much attention are some of my favorites. Circus Galacticus is well-written and truly very easy to enjoy. Deva Fagan does a great job with adding the right amount of humor to the story while still managing to portray the more serious aspects of what Trix is going through below surface level. I was intrigued from almost the first chapter, and wish that I had read this novel sooner, as I ended up really liking it. I hope that the author decides to write a sequel. I would definitely read it right away if she does!  

Plot summary: Being an orphan and a charity case at the prestigious Bleeker Academy for Girls isn’t an easy life for fifteen-year-old Beatrix “Trix” Ling. Although she is a talented gymnast, Trix doesn’t feel like she fits in, constantly tormented by the other girls and looked down upon by cruel Headmistress Primwell. To make it through the dreary days, Trix dreams about following in her parents’ footsteps as an astronomer. Although they were killed in an accident when she was six, Trix still remembers the stories her mom and dad told her about the stars, and can’t wait until she can leave Bleeker Academy forever and begin studying the mysteries of the universe. What Trix doesn’t realize is that she is about to leave Bleeker, and Earth, for good. As part of a school fieldtrip, Trix and the other stuck-up Bleeker girls go to see the Circus Galacticus: a mysterious and exciting show held under in a large and beautiful Big Top.  While exploring the tent, and attempting to avoid Primwell, Trix discovers the truth about the circus: the performers are actually from other worlds, all across the universe, and the Big Top is their spaceship. Trix meets the charismatic and charming Ringmaster who invites her to join the rest of the troupe, leaving her humdrum life on Earth forever. Trix is ecstatic, but doesn’t realize that there is more to her life on the Big Top than cotton candy and circus acts. A dangerous presence in the universe is after her, and she must determine why before it is too late.

Review: Set in a universe that is easily traversed via wormhole, where Earth is in a “boondock galaxy” and a strict government controls how all of the inhabitants look and act, Circus Galacticus, written by veteran author Deva Fagan, delivers a likable protagonist, interesting cast of characters, and original story that is entertaining and enjoyable for tween and teen sci-fi fans. The beginning of the novel introduces a premise that is somewhat common: Trix is an orphan who doesn’t fit in and longs for the life she had with her parents. After the first two chapters, however, the story goes in a very unique direction. The author does an excellent job of world building: describing in vivid detail the Big Top and its inhabitants and allowing the reader to experience the excitement of what they hold with Trix. There is also some interesting mythology that goes along with the universe that Trix discovers, including a centuries old conflict between two opposing powers, the key to which appears to lie in Trix’s past. Although a sequel has yet to be announced, Fagan definitely leaves the story open to at least one more novel. Hopefully Circus Galacticus is the first in a series, as it holds the potential of being something very unique and enjoyable for tween, teen and adult readers alike.

Genre: Science-fiction

Reading level: Grade 6+

Similar titles: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams, Counter Clockwise by Jason Cockroft, Have Spacesuit – Will Travel by Robert A. Heinlein, Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson.     

Themes:  Space, circus, spaceships, orphans, friendship, fitting in, war, gymnastics.

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist, School Library Journal and Kirkus.  

Series Information: Sequel not announced, but appears likely.

Discussion questions:

-        Why do you think Della was so mean to Trix? Have you ever been treated the way Trix was at Bleeker?

-        Why do you think Trix was able to pass through the mirror in the Big Top?

-      Do you think Trix belongs on the Big Top? Why do you think she is so unsure?

-       Compare Sirra to Della. How are they similar? How are they different?

-       Do you think Sirra was right in trying to protect her brother? Why or why not?

-    Would you like to read a sequel to Circus Galacticus? What would you like to see happen if a sequel is written?

You’ll Like it Here (Everybody Does) Book Review

Author: Ruth White. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Delacorte Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9780385739986.

Annotation:  The Blue family is forced to suddenly abandon their home in North Carolina when the residents suspect the truth about them: they are originally from the planet Chroma. Seeking a new place to live, the Blues end up in Fashion City, where everything appears harmonious and they are told over and over, “You’ll like it here. Everybody does.” But as they learn more about their new home, they realize that not everything is at it seems.

Personal thoughts:  I have to admit that the title of this novel is really what grabbed me. The creepiness of that phrase really elevated my hopes for the story. I was not disappointed! I really enjoyed You’ll Like it Here (Everybody Does) for many different reasons. It was an incredibly quick read, and I found myself unable to put it down, something that doesn’t often happen for me. I really found the author’s writing-style to be appropriate for young readers but far from juvenile. There are also many references in the novel that only older readers will be able to pick up on, making it even more interesting for parents, teachers or librarians who want to familiarize themselves with the story. I hope that this title makes school reading lists because I really think it has the potential to be a modern classic.

Plot summary: Eleven-year-old Meggie Blue and her older brother, thirteen-year-old David, love their lives in North Carolina. They live with their mother and loving grandfather who they call Gramps on a big ranch in the countryside. After a tragedy strikes their small town, however, the residents begin to suspect the truth: the Blues are not exactly human. Originally from the planet Chroma, they have been forced to relocate after pollution and disease caused their planet to become uninhabitable.  Now the Blues must flee again in the device that brought them to Earth, a “glass rocket-ship” called the Carriage. The Carriage brings them to their new home, a place called Fashion City. At first, everything about the city seems to be harmonious. They are given food, shelter and clothing and told over and over again, “You’ll like it here. Everybody does.” The population of Fashion City may be a bit drab, but the Blues are welcomed into their new lives of factory work, school, and frozen meals. It seems that in Fashion City, violent crime has been eradicated and, in its place, people are punished for things like uniqueness, daydreaming and ambition. As Meggie and David learn more about Fashion City, and the mysterious Fathers who the population praises as ensuring the survival of their town, the Blues begin to wonder if the place is truly as harmonious as it seems.

Review:  Calling to mind such classics as The Giver, Fahrenheit 451 and To Kill a Mockingbird, Ruth White’s You’ll Like it Here (Everybody Does) is a quick but very thought-provoking novel for young readers. The story is told in alternating voices between eleven-year-old Meggie and thirteen-year-old David. Meggie begins narrating the story, and, for the first several chapters, it is not evident that the Blues are, in fact, aliens. The discovery of the truth makes for just one of many exciting twists in the plot. As adult readers are bound to pick up on, there are definite literary references in White’s description of the “utopian” Fashion City. The residents seem to be perpetually locked in a muted, communistic way of life devoid of any creativity, self-expression or ambition. Elders are rounded up for Vacation 65, a form of retirement that takes those who are no longer useful in Fashion City to a tropical paradise. The sinister overtones of the oppression in Fashion City will not be lost on younger readers. At one point in the book, a friend of Meggie’s describes how all of the pets in the city were recently rounded up as animals were found to be carriers of disease. Although the novel does take some dark turns, it doesn’t dive too intensely into the horrors of absolute control and oppression, making it a very appropriate introduction for tweens into dystopian fiction. Overall, You’ll Like it Here (Everybody Does) is a very satisfying and entertaining read for tween, teen and adult readers alike. This title would be especially interesting for a classroom discussion or book group.

Genre: Science-Fiction

Reading level: Grade 4+

Similar titles: The Giver by Lois Lowry, Wrinkle in Time series by Madeleine L’Engle.       

Themes:  Uniqueness, being different, aliens, oppression, race, dystopian, coming-of-age, perfection.  

Awards/Reviews:  Written by Newbery Honor Award winning author.

Series Information: N/A   

Discussion questions:

- Find out what the phrase “unreliable narrator” means. Would you describe Meggie in the first few chapters as an unreliable narrator? Why or why not?

- Were you surprised to learn that the Blues were not from Earth?

- Name four historical figures that appear in Fashion City. Why were they important to society in real life? What do you think the author included them in the novel?

- Which character did you like better: Meggie or David? Why?

- When did you realize the truth about Vacation 65?

- Would you like to read a sequel to this novel? What would you include in a sequel if you were writing one?

The Eleventh Plague Book Review

Author: Jeff Hirsch. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Scholastic Press. ISBN: 9780545290142.

Annotation:  Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his father are two of the few remaining survivors of P-11: a devastating plague that wiped out most of North America’s population. After Stephen’s father is gravely injured, Stephen must ensure that both of them stay alive in the unforgiving wilderness that is now America.  

Personal thoughts:  I wanted to like this novel more than I ended up enjoying it. I thought the teenage perspective on a post-apocalyptic future was interesting, but the pacing issues in the plot really hampered the story at times for me. I wish the author would have expanded more on what caused the plague and describing the post-apocalyptic environment. I think the author did a good idea of inspiring the reader to contemplate the “what-if’s” of Stephen’s future: what if the America of today experienced P-11. Although it is unclear if this novel is part of a series, I look forward to seeing more of what this author has to offer.

Plot summary: In the not too distant future, fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his father are scavengers living in the desolate wasteland that is now the United States. After a plague known as P-11 wipes out most of the population of North America, the survivors now live on the brink of starvation, constantly trying to evade capture by the Slavers: mercenaries who seek to sell their captives to the highest bidder. After the elder is gravely injured, Stephen and his father find themselves being taken to Settler’s Landing: a small town that managed to survive the plague and is now home to other survivors as well. After his father slips into a coma, Stephen lives with a local family to help care for him. Stephen is reluctant to partake in the seemingly normal life of Settler’s Landing, but eventually gets used to attending school and playing games, even though he is far from welcome by Will, the son of the town’s leader. When he meets Jenny, a fellow outcast, Stephen feels like spending his life in Settler’s Landing might be a possibility. But when Stephen discovers that a practical joke has lead the town to the brink of war with a neighboring village, will he be forced to leave his father in Settler’s Landing and return to his life in the harsh wilderness?

Review:  Despite its slow-pacing, The Eleventh Plague offers an interesting perspective on a very real possibility for the future of the United States. Stephen struggles with normal teenage issues while tackling the realities of his situation: coping with the loss of his mother, his grandfather’s recent death, and his father’s injury. By including Stephen’s grappling with things like crushes, bullies, and feeling like he doesn’t belong, Hirsch creates a believable character living in a very harsh future. The novel focuses almost exclusively on Stephen’s thoughts and feelings, leaving the supporting characters slightly underdeveloped. Jenny, Stephen’s love interest, has a small back-story to explain why she is also an outcast in Settler’s Landing, but story could have been improved by working to expand upon the people Stephen encounters. Overall, however, The Eleventh Plague is an enjoyable read for fans of dystopian novels, especially into a post-apocalyptic setting.  

Genre: Fiction

Reading level: Grade 7+

Similar titles: The Road by Cormac McCarthy, Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick.  

Themes:  Dystopian, post-apocalyptic, survival, fitting in, friendship.

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from best-selling author Suzanne Collins.  

Series Information: Unclear, but ending of novel points to possibility of sequels.

Discussion questions:

- Do you think the events of the novel could actually take place? Why or why not?

- Do you think Stephen’s father should have attacked the Slavers?

- If you were Stephen, would you have chosen to stay or leave Settler’s Landing? Why?

- Why do you think Will couldn’t forgive Stephen?

The Perks of Being a Wallflower Book Review

Author: Stephen Chbosky. Release date: 1999. Publisher:  Pocket Books. ISBN: 9780671027346.

Annotation:  Charlie is different from other teens: he’s very sensitive, he doesn’t think of things the way other people do, but he’s determined to participate in the experiences of his freshman year of high school as much as possible. After befriending two seniors, Charlie finally begins to feel a part of something. 

Personal thoughts: I am a fan! This is a classic young adult novel that is also thoroughly enjoyable for adults. Charlie is one of the most endearing main characters ever written particularly because he is utterly quirky.  I am really looking forward to the movie version that is set to come out in 2012.

Plot summary: Charlie starts his freshman year of high school in the fall of 1991 and chronicles his experiences through letters to an unknown person (simply called “Friend”). The story begins with Charlie expressing how upset he is that his best friend, Michael, has recently committed suicide. It is clear that Charlie is an unusual fifteen-year-old. In his letters to his friend, he seems to think about things other people do not. After he is befriended by brother and sister, Sam and Patrick, both seniors, Charlie begins to experience things outside of his own mind. He is introduced to friends of Sam and Patrick, he attends parties and experiments with alcohol and drugs, and he explores his sexuality in his love for Sam. Throughout his letters, Charlie alludes to previous hospitalizations for psychiatric reasons, but divulges little about the nature of his psychological problems. As he encounters typical teen situations, Charlie must deal with them in his own way. Often he cries or says and does the wrong thing, but he is always, simply put, Charlie.

Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a very engaging story about a very endearing character. Almost from the beginning, the reader will fall in love with Charlie and his quirkiness. Although it is clear that he has some deeply rooted psychological issues, Charlie’s zest for his experiences is addicting. Charlie truly values the relationships he has with the people in his life. He discusses in great detail his feelings for his family, his friends Sam and Patrick, and his encouraging teacher, Bill. He also describes other experiences ranging from masturbation to acid trips to fighting. In every detail, however, Charlie provides an unusual but realistic look at what many teens experience. Charlie’s prose is a look at what teens might think or feel if they weren’t inhibited by the need to appear “normal.” Charlie realizes that he’s odd, but it doesn’t change who he is or how he feels. Charlie’s life and experiences draw the reader in, making the book difficult to put down. Teens and adults alike will find something in Charlie or in the people in his life to relate to. Charlie’s friend Sam must struggle with the sexual victimization she received as a child. Her brother, Patrick, is dealing with being a closet homosexual who is in love with the high school’s star athlete. Charlie’s sister has an abusive boyfriend who threatens to abandon her he finds out she’s pregnant. All of the characters in the novel are very relatable and create a rich and compelling cast for the plot. In The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Chbosky has created a fun, interesting, entertaining but also very sweet, sentimental and emotional read.

Genre: Fiction

Reading level: Grade 8+

Similar titles: N/A

Themes:  High school relationships, being different.  

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from Los Angeles Times, School Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus Reviews and Publishers Weekly.

Series Information: N/A

Discussion Questions:

- Who do you think Charlie is writing to? How do you think the letter format enhances the story? Do you think the story would be different if told in the third-person?

- Do you like Charlie? Sam? Patrick? Who is your favorite character?

- Why do you think this book is so controversial?

- How do you think you would feel about the various situations Charlie encounters?

- How do you think the story would be different if it took place in the present day instead of 1991?

Rotters Book Review

Author: Daniel Kraus. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  Delacorte Press. ISBN: 9780385738576.

Annotation:  After his mother’s death, Joey Crouch is sent from his home in Chicago to live with the father he’s never met in Iowa. Ken Harnett is as far from an ideal father as it gets: he lives in a small, filthy shack, is always covered in dirt and a strange, foul odor, and disappears for days at a time leaving Joey to fend for himself. Soon Joey makes a startling discovery about Harnett, however, that explains his strange behavior: his father is a professional grave robber.

Personal thoughts: Wow. This is certainly different from any book I have ever read, and was, at times, very difficult to get through. I’m not sure what to make of it. It is very well written and the characters are engaging, but in a horrifying way. Kraus dives head first into the utterly macabre, and only brave readers should dare to follow him into the world six-feet-under. While the novel will make your stomach turn, you will find yourself unable to wait arriving at the fascinating conclusion. I will definitely remember Rotters for a long time.

Plot summary: Joey Crouch has lived a sheltered life in Chicago with his eccentric but loving mother. After she is tragically killed in a bus accident, Joey is sent to live with the father he has never met in the small town of Bloughton, Iowa. Not sure what to expect, Joey’s worst fears are realized when his new smalltown life fraught with unhappiness: his father, Ken Harnett, is an unkempt and unfriendly man who immediately lets Joey know that his presence is not desired. Joey is treated horribly at his new high school, constantly mocked, bullied, and abused by students and teachers. Joey does find some solace in the company of his friendly band teacher who encourages him to continue playing trumpet, a skill fostered by his mother. But as Joey’s life becomes more and more depressing, even music seems pointless in the endless monotony of torment. One night, Joey decides to learn the truth about his father’s odd behavior and hides in his truck as he leaves for another one of his late night trips. Joey soon discovers Harnett’s secret: he is a professional grave robber, or Digger, who makes a living pawning the treasures he steals from the dead. At first, Joey is horrified. Soon, however, he is drawn into the mysterious world of the Diggers as Harnett teaches him the finer points of uncovering a corpse.

Review:  This tense and often disturbing novel packs a powerful punch on many different fronts. The opening of the novel outlines the strange relationship between Joey and his mother then quickly jumps into the events following her death. After Joey arrives in Middle America, the juxtaposition of his experiences at his new high school and the “adventures” he has with his father makes for an interesting but also horrifying plot. Once Joey learns that he is good at his father’s craft, he uses digging as a means of escaping the torment, abuse, and bullying enacted upon him at his high school. The satisfaction the reader feels at Joey’s overcoming these obstacles is curious in light of the fact that it is obtained through his enjoyment of grave robbing with his long-lost pops. Graphic descriptions of what can be found six-feet-under, including such phrases as “coffin liquor” and “the boneyard blues,” make parts of the novel difficult to get through in a stomach churning way. These horrors, however, are what make Rotters such a unique, utterly original, and highly memorable novel.  Kraus does a fantastic job of turning something as disgusting as grave robbing into a means for a father and son to connect. The novel, while written for young adults, definitely has a place in adult literature as well, and can be enjoyed by any reader who wants something truly different from anything they’ve ever read.

Genre: Fiction/Horror

Reading level: Grade 10+

Similar titles: N/A

Themes:  Father/son relationships, grave robbing, death/loss, high school, bullying, feeling like an outsider, traditions.

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from authors R.L. Stine, Scott Westerfeld, Guillermo Del Toro, Chuck Hogan, and Michael Grant.  

Series Information: N/A

Discussion Questions:

- Had you ever heard of grave robbing before reading this novel? What had you heard? What did you learn?

- Do you think Joey's father's "job" helped the relationship between the two? Why or why not?

- Why do you think Joey was bullied in school? Have you ever been bullied?

- Do you think what Joey and his father did was wrong? Why or why not?

- What does the word "macabre" mean? How does it apply to this novel? 

Stargirl Book Review

Author: Jerry Spinelli. Release date: 2000. Publisher:  Dell Laurel-Leaf. ISBN: 9780440416777.


Annotation: Mica High School is just like any other school until Stargirl moves to town. Stargirl doesn’t act like everyone else: she is free-spirited, perpetually optimistic, and constantly encouraging. Will the students of Mica High force her to conform?


Personal thoughts: I wasn’t sure what to make of this novel initially, but came to find the character of Stargirl to be quite endearing. She is unlike any other character I’ve met in a novel, and I realized that that was likely Spinelli’s intention. I really liked the relationship between Leo and Stargirl, and how he really admired her despite the pressure he felt from his classmates to shun her. I would definitely recommend this novel to ‘tween, teen and adult readers.

Plot summary: Sixteen-year-old Leo Borlock is a junior at Mica High School. He leads a normal life, along with the rest of his classmates who try not to stand out. Everything changes when new-girl, Stargirl Caraway, arrives at Mica High. Stargirl does everything but fit in. She wears unusual clothes (her mother is a costume designer), she carries her pet rat, Cinnamon, with her everywhere, and generally dances to the beat of her own drum. At first the rest of the school isn’t sure what to make of the newcomer, but soon the student body is enchanted by her charm, none more-so than Leo. Just as quickly as her popularity rises, however, it begins to fade when Mica High begins to question the things she does. They don’t understand why she insists upon cheering when rival basketball teams score, why she shows up to the funerals of strangers, or any of her formerly charming actions. Leo’s still madly in love with Stargirl, even if the rest of the school starts to shun them both. But how long will his infatuation last as Mica High School becomes more and more distant?

Review: Stargirl is an interesting and unique story about an interesting and unique, free-spirited girl. Spinelli does an excellent job of setting the stage for Stargirl’s “grand entrance” to Mica High School; it’s akin to when Dorothy steps into the Land of Oz for the first time and everything goes from black-and-white to color. The relationship between Leo and Stargirl is an interesting mix of adoration and confusion. Leo doesn’t know what to make of Stargirl’s strange behavior: her ukulele playing, her unusual clothes, her celebration of all the little things her classmates do. Young readers will be able to appreciate how different Stargirl is from their own peers, just as Leo does. Her rise and fall from popularity will also be interesting for ‘tweens who might witness similar situation in their own schools. Overall, Stargirl’s unique and fun-loving qualities make for an entertaining and heartwarming story that will likely stick with readers for some time.

Genre: Fiction

Reading level: Grade 5+

Similar titles:  Love, Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (sequel to Stargirl).

Themes: Conformity/nonconformity, high school relationships, acceptance, struggling to fit-in.  

Awards/Reviews: Positive reviews from School Library Journal, Kirkus Reviews, and Publishers Weekly. An ALA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults.

Series Information: Sequel, Love, Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli.

Discussion Questions:

- What does the word "conformity" mean to you? Does that concept play an important role in the novel?

- Have you ever known anyone like Stargirl? Would you like to be like Stargirl yourself? Why or why not?

- Why do you think Stargirl becomes popular so quickly? Why do you think she becomes unpopular so quickly?

- Who is your favorite character in the novel? Why?