The Danger of Silence

Speak 
By Laurie Halse Anderson 
YA Realistic Fiction

"Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops, so her old friends won't talk to her, and people she doesn't know hate her from a distance. It's no use explaining to her parents; they've never known what her life is really like. The safest place is for Melinda is to be alone, inside her own head. But even that's not safe. 

"Because there's something she's trying not to think about, something about the night of the party that, if she admitted it and let it in, would blow her carefully constructed disguise to smithereens. And then she would have no choice. 

"Melinda would have to speak the truth." 

I've never been much into realistic fiction because who would want to read about real life, when you can read about dragons, mermaids, and time travel? But I heard great things about this book, so I gave it a go. And I'm SO glad that I did! This book was exceptionally-well written about a hard topic that is often glazed over. 

The main subject in the book (which I won't give away) has the tendency to be depressing, and the book was at times, but Melinda's sardonic humor mitigated the somber feelings. Sometimes I even laughed out loud. Anderson, the author, did a wonderful job of leaping into a high schooler's brain and describing the tedious, difficult world of a high schooler from her opinionated perspective. Anderson handled the delicate balance between melancholy and humor magnificently, while remaining true to her point. 

The symbolism woven throughout the novel also helps deepen the story line and shows how Melinda changes. It was neat to see her healing, or lack thereof, in a tangible way. I love symbols, but I'm an English nerd, so I guess that's to be expected. But they add so many layers and meaning to the story, when done well, and these symbols were written expertly. 

The themes of silence, being rejected, the self-centered world of high school (and the world in general) were not too conspicuous and hit truth spot-on. Good job, Anderson, for speaking out about important, often pushed-away matters, and doing so in a gentle, loving way! 

It's probably obvious, but this book definitely deserves a five at minimum. It's appropriate for fifteen year olds and older, though you might want to check me on that (especially if you're a mom reading this). 

What I learned: We must give people time and space to speak and to truly listen. Our thoughts and words are always worth sharing (sometimes it just takes a while to find out who that 'safe' person is!). 

Lost Princesses

I’ve been living for the last two years in Papua New Guinea, working for Wycliffe Bible Translators (if you want more information on that organization, you can click on their link above). In PNG the internet is expensive and sketchy, so this blog has pretty much died. But since I’m about to return to the land of internet, I’m attempting to resurrect it. Hence the book review below. 

A Little Princess 

By Frances Hodgson Burnett

Genre: YA/Children’s Fiction

“Sarah Crewe seemed to have everything, including a rich father who was willing to spend a lot of money on his little daughter. The story tells how she copes when disaster strikes while she’s living as a ‘little princess’ at a girl’s boarding school in 19^th century England.”

I loved this movie as a child: the exotic stories the girl told herself and her companions at her school, the unfair difficulties her life later revolves around, the thought of every girl being a princess, and the magical-like happy ending.

Since I loved the movie, I realized I should probably read the book. I finally did, and it did not disappoint! In fact, I like the book better. It is more realistic, and the relationships are fuller and deeper. I do miss the dramatic, India-based stories in the movie and scenes from that magical land, but the book makes up for it by exploring another family not in the movie and being able to see more of Sarah’s antics.

The ending of the book differs from the movie’s, but it is more believable (especially to an adult), and still ends almost magically for the main character.

Although the theme of being a princess is touched upon in the movie, it is more explored in the book, as Sarah tries to act like a princess even when others treat her horribly. She is a heroine with flaws who knows about them, but tries to shake them off and emulate kindness and goodness even to those who treat her inhumanly. We can all learn something from this ‘little princess’.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 (yes, it was that good!), and recommend it for ten year olds and up.

What I learned: How important and possible it is to act like a princess even when one doesn't feel like it. Also, the importance and magic of imagination. 

Light and Love

This Raging Light
By Estelle Laure
Genre: Realistic YA

"Her dad went crazy. Her mom left town. She has bills to pay and a little sister to look after. Now is not the time for level-headed seventeen-year-old Lucille to fall in love. But love-messy, inconvenient love-is what she's about to experience when she falls for Digby Jones, her best friend's brother."

I don't usually read realistic novels (YA or adult), especially ones that revolved around love, because that kind of story doesn't usually appeal to me. But, I saw this book in the break-room at the library and started reading it. The situation and Lucille hooked me almost right at the start.

Lucille is an intense girl who's practical but also passionate. I didn't necessarily love her as a character, but I did feel for her and was definitely rooting for her to succeed. And although this book does have romantic love, it's not all about the boy. It's more about the love Lucille has for her cute, funny sister, Wren, the love for her messed-up and missing parents, and the love of two best friends.

This novel was heartbreaking and hard, but beautiful. It is very poetic, and the poetic-ness of her writing took me a while to get used to, but once I did, I could hardly put the book down. The subject and characters in this novel are raw and real, just like life, and will remain with long after the last sentence.

I give this novel a 3 out of 5 and recommend it for 16 year olds and up.

What I learned: If Lucille could face everything she did in this novel, I have no reason to complain about the small bumps of difficulties in my life.

Those who enjoyed this book might enjoy the poem by Dylan Thomas, Do Not Go Gentle.

Stargirl

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli 
Genre: YA Realistic Fiction 

"Stargirl. From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High, the hallways hum with the murmur of 'Stargirl, Stargirl.' She captures Leo Borlock's heart with just one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with just one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. At first.

"Then they turn on her. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and Leo, desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her: normal."

What I Liked: 
I loved the character, Stargirl. She's sarcastic, sweet, and bizarre. Sometimes she seems a little too good to be true, but then she says something funny or dreams something impossible, and she floats back to the earth for a time. We all could probably be more like her.

This novel is spun from some great, deep themes that every human has faced at some point-popularity, and what does it mean to be different and if that identity is worth it. Spinelli also does a good job of portraying the reality of what all humans desire, not just high-schoolers: to fit in and be included. The author also does a good job of outlining the different reactions to people (or things) that are different and the progression that it can make. Also, there are some lovely metaphors and images in this work. I love when authors take the time to make their words beautiful.

What I Didn't Care For: 
The main character/narrator, Leo. Yes, I liked him at times and understood him, but at the end of the novel, I was saying to him out loud, "Stop being a dummie! Man up, Leo!" He seemed weak and didn't change at the end as much as I had hoped, which was a slight disappointment. Because if characters in novels can't change, where's the hope for the rest of us?

Another thing that irked me about this novel was that there was so much summary. Spinelli sums up a lot of things that took place, and some of that is understandable because the novel would be much too long if Spinelli wrote out in scene-form everything that happens. But still. He could have written out a few more of the events that took place. The summary acted like a wall to the reader, separating me from the characters and the world in the novel.

I give this novel a 3 and recommend it for about ten year olds and up.

My favorite quote: "She was bendable light. She shone around every corner of my day."

What I learned: I'm so selfish! I need to care about others and serve them more than myself.

P.S. This novel has a sequel, Love, Stargirl. I haven't read it yet, nor do I have a great desire to read it, although I probably will sometime in the future.

*What books have you guys read lately? Any character traits you want to steal from the main characters? Have a lovely Easter!