by Tui T. Sutherland
PRMS donation paperback 304 pages
genre: fantasy
I read this (not sure where it came from) because one of the YAC books is #5 in this series and none of my kids wants to read that without reading 1-4. Not sure I want to buy all the books in the series (since my budget for the year is almost gone) . . . but I enjoyed this. It reminded me a lot of the Warriors books, but with dragons instead of cats. Lots of "clans" - SkyWing, MudWing, NightWing, etc. Lots of fighting, the young trying to find their place in the world.
Clay
Sunny
Glory
Starflight
Tsunami
Clay is the clear focus of this first book. I'm going to booktalk this to my 8th grade book club first and then see if there is interest in the series.
Friday, November 28, 2014
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
A Clockwork Orange
by Anthony Burgess
Hennepin County Library audiobook 6 discs
read by Tom Hollander
At first, listening to the author's note, I was really intrigued. Why had the American publishers (back in 1962) agreed to publish Burgess' book, but without the final chapter? He purposely wrote it with three parts, seven chapters each . . . and allowed it to be published in the U.S. without the final chapter. Stanley Kubrick's film was based on this shorter version. The rest of the world knows the original UK version (even the international translations were based on the full work). This is another of those titles that I've heard of for decades, but never read or watched.
Oh my. I kept having to pause the story because it was / is so awful. I was aware that it was a work filled with violence, but it was too horrible to listen to. My curiosity kept me going and I'm glad that I've "read" the whole thing, but I will definitely never see the movie!
I was intrigued by Burgess' choice to use a made-up language. I am fascinated by language and found myself doing two things: one, "translating" as I listened and two, having some of the words like "malenky" crop up in my mind. Words like "ultraviolence" and "horrorshow" were used throughout, as well as:
cancer = cigarette / rot = mouth / lunar = moon / viddy = see / sluishy? = hear / smeck = laugh . . . I should just find a website with a glossary. I'm sure one exists. This playing with the language fascinated me. It was horrifying too . . . "the old in-out, in-out" referring to sex was awful when I knew he was raping someone (especially when he drugged the two ten-year old girls). The cruelty - downright evil - of these amoral marauding teenagers was really, really hard to read.
On 11/19/14, I made a note at a stoplight while listening in my car. This was part two when he went to prison. He was fifteen years old!!! I cannot fathom a group of young teens doing this kind of destruction. When he's in prison, he "befriends" the chaplain and spends time playing music for the services and reading the Bible. He is mostly doing this to avoid some of the nastier parts of prison, but also because the adults see his "reform" and he hopes to get out earlier than his sentence of 18 years. As he reads the Bible, he prefers the Old Testament with all it's fighting and smiting. When he is finally talked into reading the New Testament, he fantasizes about helping to torture Christ.
In part two, he agrees to a treatment that involves conditioning him to feel sick at the mere thought of violence. In part three, he is adjusting to life outside of prison and is taken in by revolutionaries who are protesting the government. I don't want to ruin the ending for anyone who hasn't read it and wishes to . . . but it is truly fascinating in many regards. But horrible, too. And pretty darn depressing if this is what Burgess thought the world was coming to . . .
I'll probably add more to this entry later. I got the print version because I need to return the audiobook. It took me a long time and a lot of renewals to get through it! The narrator's voice was excellent! He really captured the essence of the story and communicated very effectively. Alex's concern that his "droogs" were looking to usurp him as leader, his realization of whose house he was at for recovery after a beating, . . . so much happening in this fairly short book.
22 December 2014
I've had the "restored" print version for over three weeks and I am not eager to re-visit this work. I read the editor's introduction and am again fascinated by what Burgess has done with this book. The use of Nadsat as a created language is fascinating. Burgess' drug references and culture were apparently *not* adopted by Kubrick into the screen version. The number of artists (musicians especially) who reference A Clockwork Orange is astonishing.
I love the quotation from Shakespeare which opens the book. "I would that there were no age between ten and three-and-twenty, or that youth would sleep out the rest; for there is nothing in the between but getting wenches with child, wronging the ancientry, stealing, fighting . . . "(from The Winter's Tale, act III scene 3)
The only known chapter of a non-fiction work on the use of brainwashing written by Burgess was found in 2012 and is included in this book. I didn't take the time to read it . . . too much to do and I'm ready to move on. At least now I better understand allusions to this novel.
Hennepin County Library audiobook 6 discs
read by Tom Hollander
At first, listening to the author's note, I was really intrigued. Why had the American publishers (back in 1962) agreed to publish Burgess' book, but without the final chapter? He purposely wrote it with three parts, seven chapters each . . . and allowed it to be published in the U.S. without the final chapter. Stanley Kubrick's film was based on this shorter version. The rest of the world knows the original UK version (even the international translations were based on the full work). This is another of those titles that I've heard of for decades, but never read or watched.
Oh my. I kept having to pause the story because it was / is so awful. I was aware that it was a work filled with violence, but it was too horrible to listen to. My curiosity kept me going and I'm glad that I've "read" the whole thing, but I will definitely never see the movie!
I was intrigued by Burgess' choice to use a made-up language. I am fascinated by language and found myself doing two things: one, "translating" as I listened and two, having some of the words like "malenky" crop up in my mind. Words like "ultraviolence" and "horrorshow" were used throughout, as well as:
cancer = cigarette / rot = mouth / lunar = moon / viddy = see / sluishy? = hear / smeck = laugh . . . I should just find a website with a glossary. I'm sure one exists. This playing with the language fascinated me. It was horrifying too . . . "the old in-out, in-out" referring to sex was awful when I knew he was raping someone (especially when he drugged the two ten-year old girls). The cruelty - downright evil - of these amoral marauding teenagers was really, really hard to read.
On 11/19/14, I made a note at a stoplight while listening in my car. This was part two when he went to prison. He was fifteen years old!!! I cannot fathom a group of young teens doing this kind of destruction. When he's in prison, he "befriends" the chaplain and spends time playing music for the services and reading the Bible. He is mostly doing this to avoid some of the nastier parts of prison, but also because the adults see his "reform" and he hopes to get out earlier than his sentence of 18 years. As he reads the Bible, he prefers the Old Testament with all it's fighting and smiting. When he is finally talked into reading the New Testament, he fantasizes about helping to torture Christ.
In part two, he agrees to a treatment that involves conditioning him to feel sick at the mere thought of violence. In part three, he is adjusting to life outside of prison and is taken in by revolutionaries who are protesting the government. I don't want to ruin the ending for anyone who hasn't read it and wishes to . . . but it is truly fascinating in many regards. But horrible, too. And pretty darn depressing if this is what Burgess thought the world was coming to . . .
I'll probably add more to this entry later. I got the print version because I need to return the audiobook. It took me a long time and a lot of renewals to get through it! The narrator's voice was excellent! He really captured the essence of the story and communicated very effectively. Alex's concern that his "droogs" were looking to usurp him as leader, his realization of whose house he was at for recovery after a beating, . . . so much happening in this fairly short book.
22 December 2014
I've had the "restored" print version for over three weeks and I am not eager to re-visit this work. I read the editor's introduction and am again fascinated by what Burgess has done with this book. The use of Nadsat as a created language is fascinating. Burgess' drug references and culture were apparently *not* adopted by Kubrick into the screen version. The number of artists (musicians especially) who reference A Clockwork Orange is astonishing.
I love the quotation from Shakespeare which opens the book. "I would that there were no age between ten and three-and-twenty, or that youth would sleep out the rest; for there is nothing in the between but getting wenches with child, wronging the ancientry, stealing, fighting . . . "(from The Winter's Tale, act III scene 3)
The only known chapter of a non-fiction work on the use of brainwashing written by Burgess was found in 2012 and is included in this book. I didn't take the time to read it . . . too much to do and I'm ready to move on. At least now I better understand allusions to this novel.
What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know
by Sonya Sones
PRMS paperback 291 pages
genre: YA prose poetry, romance, realistic fiction
I often recommend Sones' books to my students, but this is only the second one I've read. Told from the boy's point of view, this is a "response" of sort to the Sophie story What My Mother Doesn't Know. Robin Murphy can't believe he is dating Sophie Stein and he worries that she will dump him. When their romance continues, but her former friends start being cruel toward her, he wonders what he should do. He is a talented artist and making friends with other artists at Harvard (he's a high school freshman). That was my favorite part of the story . . . his artwork and the cartooning that he and Sophie did together.
page 168
And Even if I Did Tell Them
They'd probably just say something like,
"We trust you implicitly."
And you know what's really annoying about that?
They actually do trust me.
And, frankly, that pisses me off.
Because, I mean, I'm a teenager.
They aren't supposed
to trust me.
But it's like they think I'm such a loser
that I'd never do anything wrong.
Which sort of makes me feel
like doing something wrong.
Just to show them.
Ah, teenagers. This book reminds me of where they're at developmentally and emotionally. It was a quick read. I removed it from the collection because it's too tattered. I think I have another copy on the shelf. Prose poetry really works well for some readers. Mostly because there's less text on the page . . .
PRMS paperback 291 pages
genre: YA prose poetry, romance, realistic fiction
I often recommend Sones' books to my students, but this is only the second one I've read. Told from the boy's point of view, this is a "response" of sort to the Sophie story What My Mother Doesn't Know. Robin Murphy can't believe he is dating Sophie Stein and he worries that she will dump him. When their romance continues, but her former friends start being cruel toward her, he wonders what he should do. He is a talented artist and making friends with other artists at Harvard (he's a high school freshman). That was my favorite part of the story . . . his artwork and the cartooning that he and Sophie did together.
page 168
And Even if I Did Tell Them
They'd probably just say something like,
"We trust you implicitly."
And you know what's really annoying about that?
They actually do trust me.
And, frankly, that pisses me off.
Because, I mean, I'm a teenager.
They aren't supposed
to trust me.
But it's like they think I'm such a loser
that I'd never do anything wrong.
Which sort of makes me feel
like doing something wrong.
Just to show them.
Ah, teenagers. This book reminds me of where they're at developmentally and emotionally. It was a quick read. I removed it from the collection because it's too tattered. I think I have another copy on the shelf. Prose poetry really works well for some readers. Mostly because there's less text on the page . . .
Greetings from the Flipside
by Rene Gutteridge and Cheryl McKay
Hennepin County Library paperback 307 pages
genre: Christian fiction, realistic
This was a much lighter read than usual. Hope Landon is finally getting married and OUT of Poughkeepsie, NY. But when her fiance' stands her up on her wedding day, she runs out to the parking lot in a soaking rain . . . and the story diverges. In one thread, she is comatose in a hospital. In the other, she is living the life she dreamed of, going to New York City and getting a job at a greeting card company.
I like the background info on Poughkeepsie, especially the part about the game Scrabble and its literal meaning.
I laughed that the honeymoon trip gift from her mom was a trip to Idaho - especially after we had talked about what Idaho does and does NOT offer for visitors. (Makes me think of Stacie J and smile.)
page 47 - I'm struck by the description of her mother's run-down house. The "garage door hasn't worked since 1992" . . . some of us can relate! I love her observation that "I guess everyone needs their mothers when they're in a crisis." Yep. Miss my mom.
". . . give the ComicCon guys a shot, because you and I both know that Nerd is super-hot right now."
page 65, while talking to her pregnant friend Becca, "her belly is swollen with new life growing inside, which changes the chemistry in women's brains to believe they have insight into all life, in any form, in any predicament, regardless of their own life experience. It doesn't say that in What to Expect When You're Expecting, but I'm certain a lot of men can confirm my suspicions."
There were a lot of great laugh lines. Page 248 when her mother shows up in the NYC (coma) work place and grabs hands with all the employees . . . "'Lord!' Everyone but me ducks because nobody ever expects someone's first word in a prayer to sound like the shriek of a vulture."
And despite her mom's habit of praying in a somewhat crazy, super-loud manner, page 304 has a great observation. "Maybe I just saw what my life might have been if I hadn't had a mom who prayed so much for me."
Hennepin County Library paperback 307 pages
genre: Christian fiction, realistic
This was a much lighter read than usual. Hope Landon is finally getting married and OUT of Poughkeepsie, NY. But when her fiance' stands her up on her wedding day, she runs out to the parking lot in a soaking rain . . . and the story diverges. In one thread, she is comatose in a hospital. In the other, she is living the life she dreamed of, going to New York City and getting a job at a greeting card company.
I like the background info on Poughkeepsie, especially the part about the game Scrabble and its literal meaning.
I laughed that the honeymoon trip gift from her mom was a trip to Idaho - especially after we had talked about what Idaho does and does NOT offer for visitors. (Makes me think of Stacie J and smile.)
page 47 - I'm struck by the description of her mother's run-down house. The "garage door hasn't worked since 1992" . . . some of us can relate! I love her observation that "I guess everyone needs their mothers when they're in a crisis." Yep. Miss my mom.
". . . give the ComicCon guys a shot, because you and I both know that Nerd is super-hot right now."
page 65, while talking to her pregnant friend Becca, "her belly is swollen with new life growing inside, which changes the chemistry in women's brains to believe they have insight into all life, in any form, in any predicament, regardless of their own life experience. It doesn't say that in What to Expect When You're Expecting, but I'm certain a lot of men can confirm my suspicions."
There were a lot of great laugh lines. Page 248 when her mother shows up in the NYC (coma) work place and grabs hands with all the employees . . . "'Lord!' Everyone but me ducks because nobody ever expects someone's first word in a prayer to sound like the shriek of a vulture."
And despite her mom's habit of praying in a somewhat crazy, super-loud manner, page 304 has a great observation. "Maybe I just saw what my life might have been if I hadn't had a mom who prayed so much for me."
Monday, November 17, 2014
The Hundred-Year House
by Rebecca Makkai
Hennepin County Library hardcover 335 pages
genre: hard to place - realistic, historical, . . .
I read a review of this book that intrigued me, was on the waiting list for a long time, and had to read it within the three weeks alloted by the public library because there are 37 people still waiting for it!
"In this brilliantly conceived, ambitious, and deeply rewarding novel, Rebecca Makkai unfolds a generational saga in reverse, leading the reader back in time on a literary scavenger hunt as we seek to uncover the truth about these strange people and this mysterious house."
Beginning in 1999, the story focuses on Zee, her husband Doug, her mother Gracie and husband Bruce, and the "Texans" who show up - Cole (Bruce's son) and wife Miriam.
Part II is set in 1955 and focuses on Grace, George, "Max," and Amy. I can't really write what I want to because that would be incredible spoiler material. Actually, my brain is still having a tough time untangling all the threads.
Part III is set in 1929 and focuses on the artists' colony and all the artists themselves. Gamaliel Devohr plans to shut it down and they are determined to keep it open.
Part IV is set in 1900 and is quite short. The house is being planned and we finally, briefly, meet Violet.
I almost feel like re-reading the entire book to have the pieces fit better in my mind! It is an intriguing story. I marked page 172 where Grace is thinking about why she loves the attic so much. "She figured she loved it for the reason we always love attics, for the reason they figure in our dreams: because they are the hidden rooms where we store our pasts. Where we stick the things we can't bear to throw away but hope we never have to see again."
I also marked page 331 - "What is the opposite of memory? What is the inverse of an echo?"
I love how the house is the main character throughout the story. I love the mystery of who's who and what's what. I would have liked to know even more about Violet and many of the other characters.
Spoiler:
(I have to make note of this!)
The poet, Edwin "Eddie" Parfitt faked his suicide by drowning in Wisconsin. He actually came back to Laurelfield (the house) and took on the persona of Max, the caretaker. When Amy had George's baby (I presume) - they named her Zee after Zilla - and they raised her as though they were George and Grace Grant. So Doug trying so hard to learn more about the poet Edwin Parfitt was futile . . . his own wife had been raised by him! And Gracie could have given him first-person perspective on his life and work.
Hennepin County Library hardcover 335 pages
genre: hard to place - realistic, historical, . . .
I read a review of this book that intrigued me, was on the waiting list for a long time, and had to read it within the three weeks alloted by the public library because there are 37 people still waiting for it!
"In this brilliantly conceived, ambitious, and deeply rewarding novel, Rebecca Makkai unfolds a generational saga in reverse, leading the reader back in time on a literary scavenger hunt as we seek to uncover the truth about these strange people and this mysterious house."
Beginning in 1999, the story focuses on Zee, her husband Doug, her mother Gracie and husband Bruce, and the "Texans" who show up - Cole (Bruce's son) and wife Miriam.
Part II is set in 1955 and focuses on Grace, George, "Max," and Amy. I can't really write what I want to because that would be incredible spoiler material. Actually, my brain is still having a tough time untangling all the threads.
Part III is set in 1929 and focuses on the artists' colony and all the artists themselves. Gamaliel Devohr plans to shut it down and they are determined to keep it open.
Part IV is set in 1900 and is quite short. The house is being planned and we finally, briefly, meet Violet.
I almost feel like re-reading the entire book to have the pieces fit better in my mind! It is an intriguing story. I marked page 172 where Grace is thinking about why she loves the attic so much. "She figured she loved it for the reason we always love attics, for the reason they figure in our dreams: because they are the hidden rooms where we store our pasts. Where we stick the things we can't bear to throw away but hope we never have to see again."
I also marked page 331 - "What is the opposite of memory? What is the inverse of an echo?"
I love how the house is the main character throughout the story. I love the mystery of who's who and what's what. I would have liked to know even more about Violet and many of the other characters.
Spoiler:
(I have to make note of this!)
The poet, Edwin "Eddie" Parfitt faked his suicide by drowning in Wisconsin. He actually came back to Laurelfield (the house) and took on the persona of Max, the caretaker. When Amy had George's baby (I presume) - they named her Zee after Zilla - and they raised her as though they were George and Grace Grant. So Doug trying so hard to learn more about the poet Edwin Parfitt was futile . . . his own wife had been raised by him! And Gracie could have given him first-person perspective on his life and work.
Friday, November 14, 2014
My Friend Dahmer
by Derf Backderf
CMSE paperback 214 pages
genre: graphic novel, non-fiction
Told through the author's memories, interviews with others who knew Dahmer in the 1970s, and with research, Backderf tells the story of the Jeff Dahmer he knew as a teenager growing up in Ohio. It isn't as horrid as I had expected, but it is disturbing that Dahmer didn't seem to make strong positive connections to any human beings as a young man. Neither of his parents seemed to know what was going on with their son. Enlightening and sad, this isn't a book that I will get for my collection, but it isn't sensationalistic . . . it would actually be a really good one for teachers to read. We are already aware of kids who struggle to fit in or have unusual interests, but this is a wake-up call to what can happen when no one intervenes.
CMSE paperback 214 pages
genre: graphic novel, non-fiction
Told through the author's memories, interviews with others who knew Dahmer in the 1970s, and with research, Backderf tells the story of the Jeff Dahmer he knew as a teenager growing up in Ohio. It isn't as horrid as I had expected, but it is disturbing that Dahmer didn't seem to make strong positive connections to any human beings as a young man. Neither of his parents seemed to know what was going on with their son. Enlightening and sad, this isn't a book that I will get for my collection, but it isn't sensationalistic . . . it would actually be a really good one for teachers to read. We are already aware of kids who struggle to fit in or have unusual interests, but this is a wake-up call to what can happen when no one intervenes.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Mexican Whiteboy
by Matt de la Pena
PRMS hardcover 247 pages
genre: YA coming-of-age, baseball
Liked:
Overall, this is an amazing story. It follows Danny as he goes to spend the summer with his relatives. His white mom is in San Francisco with her new boyfriend and her daughter. His Mexican dad . . . well, that's part of the story. Danny is a wonderful, complex character.
PRMS hardcover 247 pages
genre: YA coming-of-age, baseball
Liked:
- Danny as a character, struggling with his identity (not "white" enough at his school, not "Mexican" enough with his relatives)
- the baseball! Great descriptions of his pitching and hitting and competition
- his cousin Sofie and how tuned in she was to him
- so many different characters . . . hard to keep them all straight! Ray, Tommy, Cecilia, Raul, Lolo, Liberty, Randy, Carmen, Raquel, Angela, Bee, Juanita, Flaca, Guita, Uno, Chico, Manny, etc. AND many of them have multiple nicknames, too
- more drug and alcohol references than I'm comfortable with . . .
- somewhat confusing story line. Not sure how this works for middle schoolers, but there were times it made me go back to figure out what was going on
Overall, this is an amazing story. It follows Danny as he goes to spend the summer with his relatives. His white mom is in San Francisco with her new boyfriend and her daughter. His Mexican dad . . . well, that's part of the story. Danny is a wonderful, complex character.
Thursday, November 06, 2014
Shades of Blue
by Karen Kingsbury
Hennepin County Library audiobook 10 discs
read by Roxanne Hernandez
genre: Christian realistic fiction
I read this over a month ago, but found notes on it by my computer area. Apparently, I never blogged it. I think the reader's voice was fine, but the story bugged me. It dragged on too long and had too much navel-gazing. Brad Cutler, the main character, is ready to marry the girl of his dreams (coincidentally the daughter of his boss) but he is stuck. Memories from his past are causing him to reflect on what it means to do the right thing. His first love, Emma, was deeply hurt by Brad and he never apologized. Laura, the fiancee', does most of the navel-gazing that bugged me, but both Brad and Emma chew up their tortured thoughts for many pages as well.
My notes:
- repetitive. THREE TIMES (at least), the author writes of Brad something to the tune of "He wanted to turn back time, but he couldn't." (Repeat.)
- text or reader? (I was trying to figure out which was bugging me most.)
- irritating
- Mega-anti-abortion / I can think of people who would love this book simply for that reason!
- Very positive on Scripture and the power of prayer. Emma's students and their situations were my favorite parts of this book.
- Excellent as an anti-abortion "manifesto" - I actually wrote that. Hmmm.
- WAY too introspective
- foot washing - I love this act of love, even though Laura and her attitude were bugging me.
- I love Gavin as a character (along with Frankie and Kristin)
- the author's "forever in fiction" program is neat. Love that!
Hennepin County Library audiobook 10 discs
read by Roxanne Hernandez
genre: Christian realistic fiction
I read this over a month ago, but found notes on it by my computer area. Apparently, I never blogged it. I think the reader's voice was fine, but the story bugged me. It dragged on too long and had too much navel-gazing. Brad Cutler, the main character, is ready to marry the girl of his dreams (coincidentally the daughter of his boss) but he is stuck. Memories from his past are causing him to reflect on what it means to do the right thing. His first love, Emma, was deeply hurt by Brad and he never apologized. Laura, the fiancee', does most of the navel-gazing that bugged me, but both Brad and Emma chew up their tortured thoughts for many pages as well.
My notes:
- repetitive. THREE TIMES (at least), the author writes of Brad something to the tune of "He wanted to turn back time, but he couldn't." (Repeat.)
- text or reader? (I was trying to figure out which was bugging me most.)
- irritating
- Mega-anti-abortion / I can think of people who would love this book simply for that reason!
- Very positive on Scripture and the power of prayer. Emma's students and their situations were my favorite parts of this book.
- Excellent as an anti-abortion "manifesto" - I actually wrote that. Hmmm.
- WAY too introspective
- foot washing - I love this act of love, even though Laura and her attitude were bugging me.
- I love Gavin as a character (along with Frankie and Kristin)
- the author's "forever in fiction" program is neat. Love that!
Monday, November 03, 2014
This One Summer
by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki (cousins)
YAC book paperback 319 pages
genre: YA graphic novel, coming-of-age
Rose and her parents are heading to Awago Beach for the summer, just like they always do. Only things feel different this summer. There's a tension that Rose doesn't know how to deal with. She and her younger friend Windy are in that painful gap between childhood and adulthood. As they check out horror movies at the convenience store and listen in on the older teenagers' dramas, they are both drawn toward and horrified by some of the messages they see and hear. This has some swearing and mature content, but is very appropriate for a serious-minded teen.
Added 8.11.15
I re-read this for Litwits 2015. I concur with my earlier (11.3.14) comments. The "F" word was used more than I remembered, and the artwork is sometimes confusing but overall this is a solid coming-of-age graphic novel. A bit edgy for some of my middle schoolers, but realistic as Rose's parents deal with marital issues and Rose isn't sure how to handle it all.
YAC book paperback 319 pages
genre: YA graphic novel, coming-of-age
Rose and her parents are heading to Awago Beach for the summer, just like they always do. Only things feel different this summer. There's a tension that Rose doesn't know how to deal with. She and her younger friend Windy are in that painful gap between childhood and adulthood. As they check out horror movies at the convenience store and listen in on the older teenagers' dramas, they are both drawn toward and horrified by some of the messages they see and hear. This has some swearing and mature content, but is very appropriate for a serious-minded teen.
Added 8.11.15
I re-read this for Litwits 2015. I concur with my earlier (11.3.14) comments. The "F" word was used more than I remembered, and the artwork is sometimes confusing but overall this is a solid coming-of-age graphic novel. A bit edgy for some of my middle schoolers, but realistic as Rose's parents deal with marital issues and Rose isn't sure how to handle it all.
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