Just One Year Book

39.  Just One Year by Gayle Forman Book Review

Type: Book Review
Title: Just One Year (Just One Day #2)
Author: Gayle Forman
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
ISBN: 978-0525425922
Pages: 336
Genre: Romance

Reader's Annotation: "Just One Day. Just One Year. Just One Read.  Before you find out how their story ends, remember how it began..."

BookTalk Ideas: Ideas about romance. Ideas about finding your one true love and never letting her go.

Summary: This is the sequel to the book Just One Day, by Gayle Forman. Unlike that book, this one is written through the point of view of the male character, Willem.  He must find Lulu and relive his wonderful experience he had in Paris.

Critical Evaluation: This is an excellent companion to the book, Just One Day by Gayle Forman.  Willem's perspective provides the audience a deeper view of his way of life.  We are able to understand what he is going through as a musician, and how it is for a male character of falling in love with Lulu.  

A good quote that represents Willem's love for Lulu is when he states that "only after I'd been filled up by her, by that day, did I understand how empty I really was" (Forman).  The themes of happiness, excitement, sadness, and emptiness are what Willem goes through for a whole year after he never saw Lulu again. What we experience in the novel is more about Willem discovering things about himself and less about an actual romance or love story.    

Challenge Issues:

• Romance
• Sadness

Challenge Defense Ideas:

• Be familiar with the themes in the material and how they relate to young adults today.
• Stay calm and remember to not be personally offended by their comments or concerns.
• Libraries provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.  Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• LISTEN to what they have to say and reiterate our freedom to read and be without censorship.
• All material for young adults are under the review of the branch manager and even further up, the Library Director and even City Council members.

Just One Day Book Review

29. Just One Day by Gayle Forman

Type: Book Review
Title: Just One Day
Author: Gayle Forman
Publisher: Speak
ISBN: 978-0142422953
Ages: 12 and up
Genre: Romance

Reader's Annotation: We were all young once. We made mistakes. We loved. We cried. And in the end, we were better for it.

Summary: Allyson Healey's life is exactly like her suitcase—packed, planned, ordered. Then on the last day of her three-week post-graduation European tour, she meets Willem. A free-spirited, roving actor, Willem is everything she’s not, and when he invites her to abandon her plans and come to Paris with him, Allyson says yes. This uncharacteristic decision leads to a day of risk and romance, liberation and intimacy: 24 hours that will transform Allyson’s life. - Amazon

Critical Evaluation: It seems like we have already read this story.  A girl gets lost and then is 'found' through romance and adventure.  However, readers will be whisked away on this love journey through experiences and love, all in a 24 hour period.  

An interesting take on the teenage romance novels, the point of view of the girl will make readers read the other book, Just One Year, which is from the perspective of Willem.  Critics agree that this book will make female readers swoon about the perfect day she spent with Willem. They will feel joyful and sadness and appreciative at the same time.  This good story line is part of the well created narration of Forman.  She is a talented writer who makes you feel for Allyson's character, and her growth as a young woman going through love, heartbreak and eventual self-identity.

BookTalk Ideas: Ideas about how to be careful of how and with who you fall in love with.

Challenge Issues:

• Sexual content

Challenge Ideas:

• Be familiar with the themes in the material and how they relate to young adults today.
• Stay calm and remember to not be personally offended by their comments or concerns.
• Libraries provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.  Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• LISTEN to what they have to say and reiterate our freedom to read and be without censorship.
• All material for young adults are under the review of the branch manager and even further up, the Library Director and even City Council members. 

Fault in Our Stars Book

5.  Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Type: Book Review
Title: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
ISBN: 978-0525478812
Published: 2012
Genre: Romance

Reader's Annotation: "The Fault dear Brutus, is not in our stars, but in ourselves, that we are underlings."

Plot Summary: This book is about two teenage kids, Hazel Grace and Augustus Waters, who meet in Support Group for the different cancer that they each have. They both have feelings for each other and their journey together creates meaning in each others' lives. 

Critical Evaluation:  A New York Times Best-Selling book, that book is about to be created into a movie.  This is a very intelligent book that deals with difficult issues: illness, family, relationships, Teenage love that is very gritty and reality of terminally ill people and specifically cancer.

As a male writer, writing from the point of view from a female character, it definitely keeps my attention.  Hazel's character sounds genuine and incredible witty and smart.  John Green was able to make Hazel into a character that was wise beyond her years, and very aware of her surroundings. This  form of thinking is what we would expect from people who don't have a lot of time on this Earth, and have cancer.  

This love tale is very inspiring and sad at the same time.  John Green is able to create meaning between the relationship of young love. It's innocent and so pure, and the fact that they both have cancer elevates their experiences together even more.  Even the characters of Hazel's parents seem very believable, and as an adult reading this novel, gives me the perspective of what go through with all of their sacrifices and their persistence to stay positive in this difficult situation.   

Challenge Issues: 

• Cancer issues for teens
• Romantic 

Challenge Defense Ideas: 

• Become familiar with the made-up world and the its' positive contents.
• Refer to the imagery and artwork, which can inspire Young Adults to take up drawing.
• Stay calm and remember to not be personally offended by their comments or concerns.
• Libraries provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.  Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• LISTEN to what they have to say and reiterate our freedom to read and be without censorship.
• All material for young adults are under the review of the branch manager and even further up, the Library Director and even City Council members.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

1. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Type: Book Review
Title: Cinder (Book One of the Lunar Chronicles)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Publication/Year: Feiwel & Friends (January 3, 2012)
ISBN-13: 978-0312641894
Ages: 12 and up
Grade: Level 7 and up
Pages: 400 pages
Genre: Romance, Adventure, Sci-Fi

Reader's Annotation: Cinder's desire to not only be human, but free herself of the slavery of being a cyborg pushes this novel forward. Her romance with Prince Kai can possibly solve the struggle of the Commonwealth and of her own cyborg identity.

Plot Summary: This book is the first of the Lunar Chronicles series, which are a twist of the classic fairy tales.  This book, based loosely on Cinderella, takes place in a futuristic Earth about a young girl cyborg named Cinder.  This book takes place in New Beijing, after World War IV, on Earth, which is now governed by the King in the Commonwealth.  Her struggle to be free from her adopted mother, Pearl, and their two sisters is what makes you keep reading this novel.  The relationship between Cinder and the Prince Kai will keep you on your 'mechanical' toes.

Critical Evaluation:  Teens, this is the book for you!  After reading this novel, I can tell you that this book does cater to both sexes.  Considering that I am a 27 year old male and I really like this book tells you something about the various themes that resonate for the reader.  Not only that, but the fact that its in a technologically advanced society, with some of the similar issues that the U.S. is going through, makes this book an easy and exciting read.

This book deals with very intimate themes such as love, slavery, independence, technology and manipulation. Based on Cinderella, this re-telling is forward-thinking and puts you in the world that is the Commonwealth.  It deals with the spreading of a new killer plague, a threat from the planetary Queen Levana from planet Lunar, and her own struggle to escape her enslaved life.

Cinder herself deals with very relatable issues.  She is both a cyborg and a person, but struggles with both of these two cultures.  Young adults can relate to this idea because she's still a teenager, and as such, are changing who they are and what they are expected to be in the world.  She also struggles with romance, which can be seen with her relationship with Prince Kai.  Cinder's journey and her final realization that know who she truly is will keep readers wanting more in this series of books.

Book talking Ideas: Teenage girl meets her Prince and hopes to escape her cyborg life as a slave.

Challenge Issues: 

• Fantasy 
• Fairy tale  

Challenge Defense Ideas: 

• Become familiar with the made-up world and the its' positive contents.
• Be familiar with the themes in the material and how they relate to young adults today.
• Stay calm and remember to not be personally offended by their comments or concerns.
• Libraries provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.  Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
• LISTEN to what they have to say and reiterate our freedom to read and be without censorship.
• All material for young adults are under the review of the branch manager and even further up, the Library Director and even City Council members.  

Author: Marissa MeyerMeyer was born in Tacoma, Washington and attended Pacific Lutheran University, where she received a degree in creative writing. Before writing Cinder, Meyer worked as a book editor for five years and wrote Sailor Moon fan fiction under the pen name of Alicia Blade.

Meyer states that she was initially inspired to write Cinder after participating in a 2008 writing contest where she wrote a story focusing on a futuristic Puss in Boots. The Lunar Chronicles is a four book series (quartet) with volumes based on Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White. The first book, Cinder, was a New York Times bestseller. -  Wikipedia