Karma

Karma
By Cathy Ostlere

I have read three novels which have taken place in India, and this is the most entertaining of the three.  Although there is a lot of religious references that I needed to look up, I found this novel very intriguing.  The story is of a 15 year old girl named Maya and her Indian parents.  They all live in Canada. One parent is Hindu while the other is Sikh, creating tension between them and confusion for Maya as to her true identity.  When her mother kills herself, Maya and her father return to India.  Maya is separated from her father during the deadly Delhi riots, and her survival is left into the hands of strangers, especially a charming young man named Sandeep.  Maya spends the novel questing faith, humanity, and her fate to overcome the horrors she sees in India.

I highly recommend this book to high school juniors and up.  It is written in free verse, making it emotionally packed and entertaining.  I chose this age group because of the context.  To reach the maximum understanding of the novel, it requires quite a bit of knowledge about Indian culture, which would require some research.  Karma was a page turner, and I enjoyed every minute.

Water For Elephants

Water For Elephants
By Sara Gruen

This historical novel is one of my favorites.  Obviously, it is an excellent book because it has been made into a movie, but the novel has amazing depth of characters that Reese and Robert could not portray in the film.  Jacob Jankowski is an elderly man watching the circus arrive into town from the window of his nursing home.    He remembers fondly his days working as a vet for the Benzini Brothers Circus.  There he falls in love with the wife of the head trainer, makes new friends, and even enemies.  His true love is Rosie the elephant, a stubborn and abused star attraction to the ring master, Uncle Al.

I highly recommend this novel for anyone who enjoys historical fiction.  The style reminds me of The Notebook which makes you love both the young and old Jacob and his memories.  Because of some sexual content and the reading level, I would recommend this novel to anyone in high school and older.

Bronx Masquerade

Bronx Masquerade
By Nikki Grimes

This novel is a celebration of slam poetry.   Bronx Masquerade is the story of eighteen inner city kids who learn to express themselves in their English class.  Each vignette is a different student's point of view written in poetry or narrative form.  As the novel progresses, the students discover new things about their peers and themselves.

I suggest this novel for anyone in need of a fresh story and style.  The short chapters progress the plot quickly, keeping the reader's attention and curiosity.  Although there is references to teenage pregnancy, drug use, and gang violence, I believe any high schooler could handle the content with maturity.

Brown Girl In The Ring

Brown Girl In the Ring
By Nalo Hopkinson

This was, by far, the book I've read most outside of my normal taste.  It takes place in the future with a Caribbean-Canadian woman as its protagonist.  Ti-Jeanne had recently had a baby after the economic crash and the city of Toronto is run by the gangster Rudy.  The father of her baby is supposed to kill a stranger to steal organs for the corrupt Premier of Ontario, leading him to turmoil, especially knowing it would be against Ti-Jeanne's wishes.  Mixed in with this story are rich cultural details, duppies (ghost-like spirits), and witchcraft.

I suggest this book to anyone interested in Caribbean culture, science fiction, or novels with strong female leads.  At first, I did not fully appreciate the book, but with proper background knowledge and a little research,  Hopkinson's novel is an entertaining and rich read.

To Kill A Mockingbird

To Kill A Mockingbird
By Harper Lee

This is by far one of the most classic novels of all time.  The first time I read it, I was in ninth grade.  I didn't catch everything in it and remembered some of the vocabulary was hard to tackle.  Now, reading it about 6 years later, I have a new appreciation for the book.

Not only do I find it more interesting the second time around, but it was far less intimidating.  The length and difficulty were easily overlooked.  The story is of Atticus Finch and his two children.  Atticus is the attorney to a black man accused of raping a white women and the family journey through the trial.  The unseen Boo Radley, whom has never left his home, is also an ongoing mystery throughout the novel.

Although this novel is taught in ninth grade, I would suggest it to tenth graders.  Some of the language and content is very mature, but is a critical part of our past.  It appeals to history buffs, justice seekers, and the everyday reader who enjoys a young protagonist.  This is also a great novel to analyze, with endless symbolism and racial issues to pick apart.

World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War

World War Z- Max Brooks

This book, written at the beginning of the zombie apocalypse hype, will continue to be an engaging and entertaining read.  Written in an interview format, Brooks has enabled readers to analyze what a war with zombies could potentially be like.

What fascinates me about this book, after carefully reading the military-esque accounts, is the great deal of thought Brooks put into the book.  He clearly did his research, making responses from the US government, Korea, Iran, and every day people very plausible.

I highly recommend this book for juniors and seniors.  Anyone younger should be ready for a challenge with vocab and technical writing.  This book will surely not bring you disappointment.

Maus I: My Father Bleeds History and Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began

Maus I & Maus II by Art Spiegelman

These two novels about the author's father were the first graphic novels I have ever read.  I found it an interesting and effective way to portray a Holocaust survivor's story.  It is written as a flashback and jumps between the the WWII era and the late 80's.

The first volume is about Vladek Spiegelman's experience hiding from Nazi Germans.  His son, Art, is a comic artist and author of the book.  The tension between father and son is heavy throughout the novel.  As the interview progresses, Art learns about his father's endeavors and relationship with Art's mother, who killed herself years before the interview takes place.

The second volume focuses on Vladek's life after arriving at Auschwitz and his poor health in the present day.  As his illness progresses, his story ends after his emancipation and return home.  The most interesting part of this novel was the present day struggles between father and son and how the Holocaust may have permanent changed Vladek's personality.

I recommend this novel to any high school student.  I especially recommend it to students who enjoy graphic novels or enjoy comics.  I like that these two novels go against what you would think a graphic novel would be.  I also think they would be appropriate for an interdisciplinary course or even a History class.

Night

Night by Elie Wiesel

Wiesel's story of his struggle through concentration camps as a young Jewish boy is truly heartbreaking.  Being such an honest account of the Holocaust, it is sometimes a difficult story to read.  Even after reading it for a second time, I am surprised by the lack of emotion some of the characters experience.  As Wiesel explains, it was as if they had cried all of their tears early in the war and had none to shed as their family and friends died in front of them.

The scene that sticks out in my mind the most would be the young boy the guards hanged in front of all of the prisoners.  The cruelty of the act, to me, encompasses the who genocide.  It was unjustified, violent, and inhumane.  It was one of the moments that Wiesel truly lost his faith.

I recommend this book for 8th graders and up.  This memoir is an honest look into the lives of a Jewish family during WWII.  Although it has pretty graphic stories, it is an important story and a significant piece of history.

Power

Power by Linda Hogan

Although this is not one of my favorite books I have read so far, it is still well written.  It is heavily saturated in description, so there is not much dialogue.  It is the story of Omishto and Ama and their experience killing an endangered species, a panther.  Trapped between the modern and traditional worlds, Ama and Omisto is on trial for killing a panther.

What I do like about the novel is that it emphasizes the importance of nature.  Most of the description is centered around things Omishto finds in nature, how the wind is a living breath, or how the plants wait for the redemption of rain.  Obviously, the importance of the panther is also help tell the story of a healthy and balanced nature.

I would recommend this book to tenth grade and up.  The novel is a little bit longer and its descriptions might be a little bit much for ninth graders and younger.  I also recommend it to anyone who likes Native American novels, especially ones centered around the modernization and disappearance of traditions.

Flight

Flight by Sherman Alexie

As a Native American writers, Alexie is one of the most popular of the small but elite community.  As an admirer of many of these writers, this is the first Alexie book I have read, and I thought it was extremely interesting.

"Zits", a troubled teen, battles to find his identity has him not only fighting his own fights, but those of others whose body he inhabits throughout the novel.  Zits does not discriminate between race or point in history during these experiences.  As he travels through bodies, he learns more about himself.

My favorite chapter is chapter 11.  I like it because Zits has realized the importance of Native American names, and he introduces us to Bow Boy and Small Saint.  He views these two people with hope, respect, and longing.  They are brave, and I am not sure if he even realizes he named them Native names, despite being in a white man's body.  He admirers these people more than anyone else in the book at this point, and sacrifices his life for them.

I would recommend this book for teens.  Despite the language and some obscene material, I think it is an extremely colorful book with a great world view.  It also might inspire people to read more Native American literature.

The House on Mango Street

The House on Mango Street
By Sandra Cisneros

I love this book for many reasons.  One is, I can read it in a day and still feel like I've read a substantial novel..  Another is that it is told not in chapters or a chronicle timeline, but in short little snips of Esperanza's life.  To me, it is how memory really works.  We would never be able to remember everything a year has given us, but it is like triggers.  Esperanza remembers her neighbors shoes and writes about them.  She remembers a person, a car, or a garden, and can show you their meaning to her in two pages or less.

The main reason I love this book is Cisneros' descriptions.  They are absolutely charming and unconventional.  My favorites are when she is describing the small windows of her house, like they are "holding their breath" or how Sally is sad like a "burning house."  These descriptions, to me, are extremely intriguing and memorable.  They tie into Esperanza's poetry and how she likes to color all of her words.

I would recommend this book to adolescents in sixth grade and up.  The story is a great "belonging" scenario I feel like a lot of people struggle with or like to reflect upon.  It is also a coming of age story that shows how much Esperanza grows up in a single year on Mango Street.

Rainy Lake

Rainy Lake
By Mary Francois Rockcastle

This novel, set during the Vietnam War, was the honest and relatable coming of age story of Danny Fillian.  I loved how the only developed during the summers spent at Rainy.  This reminds me of my own Minnesota summers I spent at friends' cabins (except her experiences were much more exciting).

I particularly enjoyed watching the shifts in Danny's interests and needs form summer to summer.  Whether it be making new friends, the hardships her family faced, or even her first, and forbidden, love, Danny evolved slowly over the years she spent at Rainy without even realizing it.  She takes the readers through not only her perspective, but the views of the country on civil rights and the Vietnam War.

I would suggest this novel to anyone who wants to take a closer look at the 60's.  It is very relatable to both male and female audiences, but I would suggest the reader be able to handle its mature content.