Becoming Muhammad Ali (a novel)

by James Patterson and Kwame Alexander

Scott County Library hardcover 308 pages

Published: 2020

Genre: YA historical fiction

Maud Hart Lovelace nominee 2022-23

 

Based on Cassius Clay's childhood and youth, the book alternates between Patterson's prose as best friend "Lucky" and Alexander's prose poetry as Ali. I was disappointed to go online after reading the book to find that this best friend was not one real person, but rather a fictional construct. Too bad, because that character served to show a better side of Ali than what I knew of him already.

 

 In the poem "Early Christmas" on page 120, I love how the surprise gift of a brand new Schwinn bicycle was set up. What a delightful gift for a youngster!

Then on page 152, the bad news happens. It reminded me rather forcefully of what I felt when Nick called me after his first night at the U of Minnesota. Ick when bad things are done to people . . . 

Page 168 - "I don't know what made him think that in a million years a black man could ever be president. In most places around where we lived, black people could hardly even vote!"

There were lots and lots of references to racism and social justice but they were not preachy or judgemental. They were just part of the consciousness of the character as he grew up seeing so much discrimination all around him.

Page 181 - 

"Boy, don't you dare blaspheme the Good Book. 

I'm just saying, I don't need church to tell me what I already know. 

What you know and what you think you know is two different things."

I love how Ali's mom stood firm on her faith and tried to get the young boxer to understand.

Page 232 - "Not many people could make Cassius Clay feel humble. But his mother did. Every day."

I'm not curious enough to do more research, but IF Ali did go with his mom to her job as a domestic and help her clean all day, that would be amazing. It is very effective in terms of the storytelling of this book.

This is another of those "liked, didn't love" books. It is a quick read and even a worthwhile read. I'm not sure how much is fact and how much is fiction.

The Murder of King Tut

by James Patterson and Martin Dugard
Scott County Library audiobook 5 CDs
read by Joe Barrett
genre: historical fiction

Ugh. This book both bugged and fascinated me. Patterson writes it as though it is a highly researched representation of how King Tut actually died, but it reads much more like fiction with some basis in history. He divides the story into present day (him as author), the 1920s and Howard Carter's work, and Ancient Egypt when Tut lived and died.

I had forgotten that Patterson is notorious for many, many very short chapters. As a middle school media specialist, I appreciated that the short chapters helped some reluctant readers to stay more focused. Listening to this, I was appalled that a few paragraphs constituted an entire chapter, especially when the next chapter had the exact same setting, time period, and characters. Just irritating.

The vocal work by Barrett was decent, but accents were not consistent. Howard Carter sometimes sounded British, sometimes American, sometimes exactly the same as the narrator voice.

It was especially irritating when Ancient Egyptians were given modern day sensibilities. Tut was so in love with his half-sister wife that he didn't want to upset her by bedding a different woman. Really?! Does that seem at all realistic, given his culture and station in life? What an incredibly kind and sensitive Pharaoh he was.

I most enjoyed the Howard Carter thread of the story. In fact, I got a children's book on Tut's tomb and read it. That author had some different information from Patterson's book. (For example, according to this book, the autopsy was very poorly done, damaging Tut's mummy. The children's book said it was very carefully handled.)

The modern day part included how much Patterson enjoys golfing at Trump's course in Palm Beach, Florida. Yuk. Why do we need this perspective?

I was disappointed, but find Ancient Egypt to be fascinating. His ruminations on how (and who) killed Tut are interesting, but I don't know that I am confident of his research and conclusions.

I Funny TV: A Middle School Story

by James Patterson
Hennepin County Library audiobook 3 CDs
read by Frankie Seratch
genre: YA humor

I have a bunch of these books but had never read one before. I listened to this while sewing on Saturday in my quilting studio. Interesting, but incredibly farfetched. Just heard a student today describe the "I Funny" books as soooo funny!

Guess you need a middle schooler sense of humor. I enjoyed young Jamie Grimm and his friends. I did *not* appreciate the bullies who would punch a kid, especially a kid in a wheelchair. I could not fathom adults who observed such bullying ignoring it. And Hollywood may be crazy to normal people, but it does *not* give a million dollar advance to a teenager based on winning a contest and as an advance for a pilot . . . which is shot in front of a live audience . . . with a teenage director.

I could go on, but I don't think I need to. I'm glad I have these in my collection and that they appeal to middle schoolers. Patterson is a very talented man.

Witch & Wizard

by James Patterson and Gabrielle Charbonnet
PRMS hardcover 307 pages
genre: YA fantasy, dystopian

Wisteria (Wisty) and Whitford (Whit) are siblings of 14ish & 17 who do not realize that they are actually a witch and a wizard. I have heard people rave about these books and I was curious . . .

Likes - quick read / action-packed / unique
Dislikes - lack of character or story development / 103 chapters . . . short and not much to them / role of witchcraft / parents never really helped their children understand their immense powers

At least now I "get" the appeal for so many people.

Witch & Wizard: Battle for Shadowland

by James Patterson & Dara Naraghi
Victor Santos, artist
PRMS hardcover unpaged
genre: YA graphic novel, fantasy

I read this to see if I should use it with 6th grade book club. I was also curious about the novel & the graphic novel . . . since I've heard rave reviews about the book. A student wanted the book, so I just read the first 40 pages (after reading this graphic novel). Here's what I found: this graphic is definitely NOT the same as the first book in the series. (In fact, it says, "An original graphic novel adventure" on the front cover.) I wish I had had time to read the entire novel to see how it fits . . . but I'd rather get it to the student and read it later.

In this book, siblings Wisteria (Wisty) and Whitlock (Whit) are part of a group of kids who live in "Freeland" - a kind of wasted futuristic landscape. They are fighting against the "One who is the One." Sigh. I'm out of time to blog. Interesting graphic novel, but I don't think I'll use it for book club.

The Dangerous Days of Daniel X

by James Patterson
Hennepin County Library, audioCDs, 4 discs

Glad I finally read it. Odd story of an alien boy whose parents are murdered when he is three years old. At 15, he is on his own as an alien hunter. Lots of violence and improbable scenarios, but an entertaining story in some ways. I dislike the super-short chapters (but that's perhaps what some reluctant readers like) but enjoyed the ultimate triumph of good over evil. Not a very well-developed story, but an appealing fantasy / action tale for some middle school readers.