Brendan Halpin. Donorboy. New York: Villard, 2004
The story is about two strangers: how to deal with grief, understand each other and eventually develop a family relationship.
Rosalind is 14 years old. She loses both her mothers in a car accident. She is angry, sad and confused. While dealing with her grief of losing both parents, she also needs to handle school and friends, just as other regular teens.
Sean is Rosalind’s biological father who donates his sperm for Rosalind. He is a 35 years old lawyer, single male who is still grieving the loss of her own mother 26 years ago.
When Sean first takes over the custody of Rosalind, they do not talk and the only communication means is email. As life goes on, they learn how to come to terms with each other and build a family.
The entire story is told in journal entries, emails and IM. The plot is very simple but it is filled with rich emotions. The setting is based on a tragedy but the author is able to tell the story in a humorous manner. Readers can easily be absorbed into their every day life.
I highly recommend this book to readers who are looking for a delightful, heart-warming easy read.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Book Review - Boy Meets Boy
David Levithan. Boy Meets Boy.
Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary
The story is set in a gay-friendly town where homosexuality is not just tolerated but embraced. The main character is 15 years old Paul who knows he is gay at his kindergarten age. The story line is about Paul’s friends, his school life and love life in a November, being told by Paul, the narrator.
In his school, gay and straight are well mix. There is a ‘gay straight alliance’. Paul is elected as the class president with the campaign slogan ‘Vote for me…I’m gay’. The school’s homecoming queen and star quarterback is a drag queen (Infinite Darlene, who is also Paul’s friend).
Paul’s friends are interesting people with lots of characters. They include Joni (straight forward and wants to know everything) and Tony (he is also gay but they are just friend. He and Paul swap doing each other’s homework).
What makes that particular November interesting is the appearance of Noah. The artistic Noah who can ‘paint the music’ is new to the town and school. He becomes Paul’s love interest once they meet. However, on the other hand, Kyle, Paul’s ex-boyfriend is not able go away from his mind and space…
The author has told a gay teen’s story in a fictional ideal world where people are free to express their identity without the worry of discrimination and hate. The story is humorous and touching that will make readers smile and upset.
Due to the sexuality concept of this book, I would recommend it to age 14 up.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
My Little Water Feature
This little water feature is a ceramic pot and saucer. Perfect for my little patio.
Book Review - The Blue Helmet by William Bell
William Bell. The Blue Helmet. Toronto: Doubleday, 2006.
Genre: Young Adult - Bildungsromans
The story is set in Hamilton, Ontario. Lee Mercer is a rebellious 16 years old teen. His mother died of cancer when he was seven and he lives with his father who spends most of his time working. Lee likes to resolve problem with violence and wants to become a member of the most powerful gang in Toronto. In order to save his son from further trouble, his father sends Lee to New Toronto to live with his aunt Reena who runs a small café.
While working at Reena’café, Lee meets many people in the neighbourhood and establishes a friendship with them. He also helps people running errands. Bruce Cutter is one of his customers.
Cutter is a mysterious, paranoid person living by himself with no relatives. Although Cutter is suffered from some sort of mental disorders, he is very intelligent, a computer genies. Very soon, Cutter and Lee becomes close friend. Their friendship ends when Cutter committed suicide in his own house. What confuses Lee is Cutter leaves him the house and money in his will.
Lee takes much courage to explore the house. He then finds out that Cutter is actually a war veteran who fought in Balkans as a UN peacekeeper. From Cutter’s diary, Lee understands that Cutter is anti-war. He does not want to fight or kill. All he wants is to be a peacekeeper. But the war destroys Cutter.
This incident enlightens Lee that violence is not a way to solve problems. You have a choice between a green helmet and a blue helmet. At the end of the story, Lee changes his attitude towards his father and takes the initiative to reconcile and rebuild the family.
It is a fast paced, touching novel with a bit of mysteries and adventures. Although I would say it is a plot driven novel, it also fills with vivid characters. Lee is a loveable teen. Although he starts out as a trouble kid, underneath, he is helpful, approachable, easy-going and hardworking. Therefore, he soon becomes a good help at the café and able to make many friends. Throughout the story, readers can see Lee’s gradual growing up and becomes mature. It is a wonderful coming-of-age novel.
Genre: Young Adult - Bildungsromans
The story is set in Hamilton, Ontario. Lee Mercer is a rebellious 16 years old teen. His mother died of cancer when he was seven and he lives with his father who spends most of his time working. Lee likes to resolve problem with violence and wants to become a member of the most powerful gang in Toronto. In order to save his son from further trouble, his father sends Lee to New Toronto to live with his aunt Reena who runs a small café.
While working at Reena’café, Lee meets many people in the neighbourhood and establishes a friendship with them. He also helps people running errands. Bruce Cutter is one of his customers.
Cutter is a mysterious, paranoid person living by himself with no relatives. Although Cutter is suffered from some sort of mental disorders, he is very intelligent, a computer genies. Very soon, Cutter and Lee becomes close friend. Their friendship ends when Cutter committed suicide in his own house. What confuses Lee is Cutter leaves him the house and money in his will.
Lee takes much courage to explore the house. He then finds out that Cutter is actually a war veteran who fought in Balkans as a UN peacekeeper. From Cutter’s diary, Lee understands that Cutter is anti-war. He does not want to fight or kill. All he wants is to be a peacekeeper. But the war destroys Cutter.
This incident enlightens Lee that violence is not a way to solve problems. You have a choice between a green helmet and a blue helmet. At the end of the story, Lee changes his attitude towards his father and takes the initiative to reconcile and rebuild the family.
It is a fast paced, touching novel with a bit of mysteries and adventures. Although I would say it is a plot driven novel, it also fills with vivid characters. Lee is a loveable teen. Although he starts out as a trouble kid, underneath, he is helpful, approachable, easy-going and hardworking. Therefore, he soon becomes a good help at the café and able to make many friends. Throughout the story, readers can see Lee’s gradual growing up and becomes mature. It is a wonderful coming-of-age novel.
Book Review - The War Within by Carol Matas
Carol Matas. The War Within. Ontario: Scholastic, 2001.
Genre: Young Adult - Historical Fiction
The story is set in Holly Springs, a Southern town in America during the Civil War. Hannah Green tells her story from December 26, 1862 to January 15, 1863 in a diary form.
Hannah is 13 years old living in a Southern lady style. All she cares about is how to transform herself from a girl to a lady. She gets used to be looked after by her servants (slaves) and she believes that slavery is normal. She is furious ever since the Union army occupies her home town because she thinks the war interfere their rights.
Her life changes when General Grant orders all the Jews to evacuate from his territory and follow the Union army to Memphis. During their harsh journey, Hannah and her family encounter unfair discrimination because they are Jews. She also gets very sick and is nursed by a union soldier and her slave. All these events give Hannah a different perspective about the war and make her rethink about her belief on slavery and human equality.
Matas introduces a number of conflicts in the plot: Northern states and Southern States, Slaves and Masters, Jews and non-Jews, Negros and Whites, Hannah and her sister Joanna who is in love with a Union solder. And last but not the least, the conflicts Hannah battling internally herself.
Very often we have a wrong belief or perception on something and we don’t even realize. As in the case of Hannah, since she grows up being served by slaves, she does not think that slavery is something unjustified. However, she is able to keep her mind open and have the courage to admit her own fault.
I enjoyed this book. It is such a fast and easy read.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)