Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return

Author: Marjane Satrapi, translated by Anjali Singh
Rating:
Reading Level: 8th and up

Pages: 187
Publisher: Pantheon Books, Random House
Edition: Paperback, 2005 (2002 - 2003)

This 2nd installment (which was the 3rd and 4th Persepolis comic strip collections originally) does not have the same impact on my psyche as the first, the story of a childhood. In the first collection, the juxtaposition of the extreme cruel suffering of the Iranians and the ultimate innocence of a young child creates at once a surreal and truly clear view of the society. The somberness interjected with the accute humor made reading Persepoli 1 an unforgetable emotional rollercoaster ride. This one, although is as honest and intelligent, lacks both the anguish and the childlike clarity. It nevertheless allows readers a glimpse of the contemporary (up to 12 years ago) Iranian life and to ponder the meaning of "freedom."

River Secrets

Author: Shannon Hale
Rating:
Reading Level: 5th and up

Pages: 290
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Edition: Galley, 2006

This is the third installment in the series started with Goose Girl and followed by Enna Burning. I put down everything else I was going to read because I so enjoyed the first two books. I liked this one, but was slightly disappointed that the water magic (after wind and fire, water is a natural element to follow) is not as prevelant and powerful in this one as the other two in the previous volumes. It is also less satisfying that the main character is not the one who learns and wields this power -- I missed the passages that would have been there to describe the sensation and emotion of the process of calling, forming, and controlling water, if Razo has been the water-speaker.

The characters are definitely well defined and likable; the secrets and the final revelation didn't come to me as a total shock but made the read entertaininig; the puppy love is so sincerely and deftly presented that I had to smile at Razo and his love. There are a couple of holes in this "detective" story that should have been addressed (for instance, the girl who baked the tart was never questioned after the accidental death of the poisoned dog...)

Shannon Hale is a wordsmith, just reading these sentences made me happy: "People opened their doors and shutters, pulled chairs and tables outside, and gossiped with neighbors as they ate, serenaded by a crooked moon." "Warehouses crammed together, elbowing for a bit of river side." "The Ingridan autumn air was pleasant and cool and carried with it a round feeling like something complete -- a full moon, a full plate, the end of a good day." Many many more vivid imageries and poetic descriptions. Maybe some readers find this slowing down the pace, but I just enjoyed reading them.

Gregor and the Marks of Secret

Author: Suzanne Collins
Rating:
Reading Level: 4th and up

Pages: 343
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Edition: Hardcover, 2006

This 4th installment in the Underland series is more powerful than the previous. The plot is tight. The characters are more developed and complex and the dangers are even more real now. I don't know how young readers without much knowledge of the holocaust might react to the scene where the Nibblers (the mice) are lured unsuspectingly to be mass-murdered. I was shocked at the brutality of this scene, although I think Collins did a superb job.

I believe this is supposed to be the second to last book and am eagerly awaiting the concluding volume!

The Mouse and His Child

Author: Russell Hoban
Rating:
Reading Level: Adult?

Pages: 165
Publisher: Faber and Faber, UK
Edition: Paperback, 2005 (1969)

I was thoroughly engrossed by this tale of many horrors. It's funny how it never dawned on me that the "mouse" is the father -- and of course, it's him and HIS child who have to go through all the hardship in the story. The killing fields, the betrayal, the maiming and the ill-luck -- on my goodness, how much they must endure before the triumphant finale could be rewarded!

This is a story that I as a children's literature student would have loved and thought to be exemplary as the highest form of children's literature: a story featuring tin toys with a very grown-up sensibility. What a wonderful work for children and their adults! But as a practitioner in the library field, I kept wondering whether ANY child would have the heart and stomach to go along on the arduous journey and not feeling too bogged down or burdened.

Flush

Author: Carl Hiaasen
Rating:
Reading Level: 5th and up

Pages: 295
Publisher: Corgi Books, Random House, UK
Edition: Paperback 2006 (2005, Knopf)

Unlike in Hoot, Hiaasen's tone is much more relaxed in telling this story to young people: the forced "juvenile" atmosphere is gone for this humorous tale of detective story -- here the detectives are two teenagers (whose exact ages are never disclosed, so they can be quite young or almost college aged) and their unlikely allies: a female gun-wielding bar-tender and a strange old "pirate" guy! It is pure fun -- and a little bit of heart, pleading for the caring of our endangered nature.

A Mango-Shaped Space

Author:Wendy Mass
Rating:
Reading Level: 5th and up

Pages: 220
Publisher: Little, Brown
Edition: Paperback 2005 (2003)

Even though there is quite a bit of novelty on the subject of the rare physical condition that Mia suffers from, the story was not over-shadowed by it. Mass tells a story that is genuine on its emotional level and appeals to many young people. Mia is a likable character and her family is quirky and supportive. Of course, I had to cry over the couple of deaths of family pets!

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

Author: Marjane Satrapi
Rating:
Reading Level:

Pages:
Publisher:
Edition:

This is a book that every single person should read. Satrapi has the gift of injecting much humor into a story that is ultimately tremendously disturbing and sad. The images (being a Graphic non-fiction) are fittingly simplistic and yet so expressive: the war dead, the tortured, the rebellious teens, the loving parents, the everyday people. I cried at least 3 times in different places. If I hadn't been reading it in the crowded school cafeteria, I probably would have cried more than that -- but I also laughed out loud a few times at the wit and comical situations Marji experienced. What an amazing accomplishment.