Little Brother

Little Brother

by Cory Doctorow

Tor Books, 2008

ISBN 076519853

382 pages

3.5 (out of 5) STARS

Plot Summary

Marcus is a regular, although quite brilliant, seventeen year old just minding his own business when San Francisco experiences the worst terrorist attack since 9/11. Marcus and 3 of his friends are in the wrong place at the wrong time and get hauled in for interrogations. Marcus and two of his friends are eventually released.

Marcus finds himself now living in a police state. Every citizen is considered a terrorist and the citizen's every moves are being monitored. Marcus has no choice but to go after the Department of Homeland Security himself.

Critical Evaluation

The ideas, themes and concepts of this book were very intriguing. I do not understand all the technical language that Marcus used to explain his thinking and procedures with hacking yet I still enjoyed the main concepts. This book was very thought provoking. I pondered personal freedom versus safety. It is an idea that has been highlighted many times in the United States since 9/11.

My only problem with the book was that at times it felt a bit preachy. I understand what Doctorow wanted to put across to his readers. I felt like I was being talked down to and that Doctorow felt like he really needed to spell out his opinions for the reader to be able to understand. However, on the other hand, I felt that the afterwards at the end of the book were quite nicely written. They were nonfiction and the mood was refreshing.

Overall, the book is very interesting and definitely worth the read.

Reader’s Annotation

Marcus finds himself being interrogated and accused of being a terrorist. When he is released he find his city has turned into a police state.

Information about the author

Cory Doctorow (craphound.com) is a science fiction author, activist, journalist and blogger -- the co-editor of Boing Boing (boingboing.net) and the author of Tor Teens/HarperCollins UK novels like FOR THE WIN and the bestselling LITTLE BROTHER. He is the former European director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation and co-founded the UK Open Rights Group. Born in Toronto, Canada, he now lives in London.

http://craphound.com/?page_id=1638

Genre

science fiction

Curriculum Ties

social studies. technology.

Booktalking Ideas

*What would you do if you were falsely accused of committing a crime? *How would you react if America was turned into an emergency police state?

Reading Level

ages 13 and up

Challenge Issues

This book has some anti controlling government themes. Marcus actively works to thwart the department of homeland security.

It is best to be prepared for a book challenge before it is challenged. It is important to read the book all the way through and to have read both positive and negative reviews of the book from professionals and teens as well. Be aware of the library’s collection policy. Also check for any awards the book may have won. It would be beneficial to see how other library’s may have handled challenges for this particular book in the past.

Little Brother has won quite a few awards. Such as:

Hugo Award Nominee for Best Novel (2009), Nebula Award Nominee for Best Novel (2008), John W. Campbell Memorial Award for Best Science Fiction Novel (2009), Emperor Norton Award (2008),Prometheus Award for Best Novel (2009)

Prometheus Award for Best Novel (2009), Sakura Medal Nominee for High School Book (2010), Florida Teens Read Nominee (2009)

Why Included?

Little Brother was one of three required readings for the class.

Green Angel

Green Angel

Author: Alice Hoffman

Copyright: 2003

Publisher: Scholastic

ISBN: 0439443857

pages: 116

4.5 (out of 5) STARS

Plot Summary

In lyrical words that "unfold like white flowers, petal by petal, each in its own time and season," Hoffman introduces us to Green, a gentle teen whose name reveals her connection to the earth and a peaceful beauty that contrasts with her sunny sister, Aurora. Yet when Aurora and her parents perish in tragic, fiery events in town, a solitary Green transforms herself into Ash: hard and closed, cropped hair, thorns on her sweater, with ink roses and ravens drawn on her skin. Facing an apocalyptic future of looters visiting her garden and suspicious looks from townsfolk, Green has only the family dog to keep her company. But when a ghostly greyhound and a hooded boy suddenly appear for companionship, she slowly realizes that "Ash" is only temporary, while "Green" is her soul, her life, healing all this time inside, waiting to be reborn.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/410615.Green_Angel

Critical Evaluation

I often seek out apocalyptic books. For example, I have enjoyed The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, Unwind by Neal Schusterman, and Uglies by Scott Westerfield. I enjoyed this book as well but it does not seem terribly apocalyptic. It is only somewhat applies that the fire that occurs at the beginning is anything apocalyptic.

Green's depression and sadness over her family's death is believable. But over time her soul heals and she is able to be herself again. I think this book can be helpful with dealing with grief. The human spirit is amazing and can heal from nearly everything over time.

Reader’s Annotation

After losing her sister and parents in an apocalyptic fire, Green must survive on her own.

Information about the author

Alice Hoffman was born in New York City on March 16, 1952 and grew up on Long Island. After graduating from high school in 1969, she attended Adelphi University, from which she received a BA, and then received a Mirrellees Fellowship to the Stanford University Creative Writing Center, which she attended in 1973 and 74, receiving an MA in creative writing. She currently lives in Boston.

Hoffman’s first novel, Property Of, was written at the age of twenty-one, while she was studying at Stanford, and published shortly thereafter by Farrar Straus and Giroux. She credits her mentor, professor and writer Albert J. Guerard, and his wife, the writer Maclin Bocock Guerard, for helping her to publish her first short story in the magazine Fiction. Editor Ted Solotaroff then contacted her to ask if she had a novel, at which point she quickly began to write what was to become Property Of, a section of which was published in Mr. Solotaroff’s magazine, American Review.

http://www.alicehoffman.com/hoffman-bio.htm

Genre

science fiction with some fantasy

Curriculum Ties

art. nature. social studies

Booktalking Ideas

*What would you do if you lost your family? *How would you survive if everything around you was destroyed?

Reading Level

ages 12 and up

Challenge Issues

N/A

Received the Michigan Library Association Thumbs Up! Award Nominee (2004)

Why Included?

I found this book on a list of short books to read when your book report is due tomorrow. I thought these types of books would be good to know about as a librarian.