tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71738493438009308042024-03-13T10:35:42.000-07:00Nerd AlertPhoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-79037523617142623302016-04-17T18:21:00.000-07:002016-04-17T18:21:17.849-07:00An Incomplete History<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IOJ6ZjXJPGU/VttJm7uO9RI/AAAAAAAAAec/oHCGOtYBndg/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-05%2Bat%2B4.03.07%2BPM.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="464" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IOJ6ZjXJPGU/VttJm7uO9RI/AAAAAAAAAec/oHCGOtYBndg/s640/Screen%2BShot%2B2016-03-05%2Bat%2B4.03.07%2BPM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here is my U.S. History textbook from the years 1490 to 1920 in a nutshell: </div>
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1. White Christian male works hard. </div>
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2. White Christian male assumes leadership position. </div>
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3. White Christian male makes world-changing discovery. </div>
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4. White Christian male writes classic piece of literature. </div>
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5. White Christian male makes a decision. </div>
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6. White Christian male fights for his country.</div>
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Etc.</div>
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Now, look. I know what you're thinking. <i>Of course that's the situation, and especially from 1490 to 1920. Women couldn't even vote within that time period.</i> I know that. I know it was difficult to impossible for women to make their voices heard. But a complete absence? I don't buy it. I don't believe that men were the only ones taking action. I don't believe that women didn't participate in the world at all for 500 years, as my history textbook suggests. Instead, I think women <i>did </i>contribute in countless profound ways. They must have produced world-altering inventions and made incredible discoveries. But men probably didn't document these moments -- or gave credit to another man. </div>
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But though I care very much about this issue, that's not really my point. My point is that the few women who <i>are</i> mentioned in our textbooks are so...female.</div>
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Take Cleopatra (I know I started out with U.S. History in the past four hundred years, but she works as a historical female figure, so bear with me). Contrary to what many believe, she was not the first Queen of Egypt (Hatshepsut held that title). Why is she such a well-known figure, then? Not because of her power or strength or her progressiveness, or because she was famously cruel to her servants; instead, her fame comes from an affair with a powerful man: the Roman emperor, Julius Caesar. </div>
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Or take Susan B. Anthony. The suffragette section in my textbook makes me especially frustrated (note: my frustration is not with the suffragette cause, but the category). Why? Because of the way it's introduced, as if women had been asleep for the past couple hundred years of civilization and then immediately woke up at the sound of their names, annoys me. It's as if women hadn't contributed to any cause but their own. It's as if Susan B. Anthony was the first woman in American History.</div>
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Or Elizabeth Blackwell. Incredibly impressive. First woman to graduate from medical school. Admitted into the Medical Register of the United Kingdom. Opened dozens of facilities for women's medical education in the United States, as well as clinics for her own patients (she specialized in gynecology...most of her patients were women and girls). Amazing, right? She isn't in my history textbook. </div>
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Which is especially interesting considering Carrie Nation, the nun who lead the temperance movement (anti-alcohol) in the 1920s, a cause that led to a Constitutional amendment that was later cancelled, got a full two paragraphs. Not that I have anything against Carrie Nation, but I find it a little strange that a woman who devoted her life to the 'evils' of alcohol got more acknowledgement than Myra Bradwell, the first female lawyer who worked her way up to some Supreme Court Cases -- and who received a total of four short sentences as a biography. </div>
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If you're not "The First to" do something or a suffragette and you're in my text book, you're helping the men's cause by doing things like sewing socks and sending care packages. It's like women didn't exist at all until they were legally given their voting rights in 1920.</div>
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This is not right.</div>
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In an attempt to balance things, I'm listing a few feminist novels, lectures, and biographies. I really encourage you to comment on your favorites from your own repertoire. Or even better, to offer your history teacher some supplements. </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/We-Should-All-Be-Feminists/dp/110191176X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460933182&sr=8-1&keywords=we+should+all+be+feminists">We Should All Be Feminists</a> by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (pretty modern, but still a perfect intro to feminism)</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hark-Vagrant-Kate-Beaton/dp/1770460608/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460932926&sr=8-1&keywords=hark+a+vagrant+by+kate+beaton">Hark! A Vagrant</a> by Kate Beaton (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Step-Aside-Pops-Vagrant-Collection/dp/1770462082/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1460932926&sr=8-2&keywords=hark+a+vagrant+by+kate+beaton">Step Aside Pops</a> is awesome too)</div>
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<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Yellow-Wallpaper-Stories-Thrift-Editions/dp/0486298574/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460933201&sr=8-1&keywords=the+yellow+wallpaper">The Yellow Wallpaper </a>by Charlotte Perkins Gilman</div>
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<br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Dalloway-Virginia-Woolf/dp/0156628708/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460933227&sr=8-1&keywords=mrs+dalloway">Mrs. Dalloway</a> by Virginia Woolf</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Room-Ones-Own-Virginia-Woolf/dp/0156787334/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460933405&sr=8-1&keywords=a+room+of+one%27s+own">A Room of One's Own </a>by Virginia Woolf</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Catherine-Called-Birdy-Karen-Cushman/dp/0547722184/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460933524&sr=8-1&keywords=catherine+called+birdy">Catherine Called Birdy </a>(this one's primarily for younger readers, but it's a great starter)</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tenant-Wildfell-Hall-Wordsworth-Classics/dp/1853264881">The Tenant of Wildfell Hall</a> by Anne Bronte</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Notorious-RBG-Times-Bader-Ginsburg/dp/0062415832/ref=pd_sim_14_15?ie=UTF8&dpID=51Kxb0FBu%2BL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR123%2C160_&refRID=13K2P979MQ0Q8DKDH09M">Notorious RBG</a> by Irin Carmon and Shana Knizhnik</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Feminist-Reader-Library-Classics/dp/0812974603/ref=pd_sim_14_33?ie=UTF8&dpID=41UZeiWNKrL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR104%2C160_&refRID=0GCFGHDM7NH4EYKK63S7"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Feminist-Reader-Library-Classics/dp/0812974603/ref=pd_sim_14_33?ie=UTF8&dpID=41UZeiWNKrL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR104%2C160_&refRID=0GCFGHDM7NH4EYKK63S7">The Essential Feminist Reader</a> by Estelle Freedman</div>
Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-50121092741700353732016-02-18T16:32:00.001-08:002016-04-22T09:22:35.027-07:00Birthday Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I turned 14 over February break, and as a reward for being alive for that long, I received, amongst other gifts, four well-chosen books from my parents. Here are my reactions:<br />
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**Also! I now have a Nerd Alert Instagram account (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/nerdalert_readfeed/">@nerdalert_readfeed)</a>. I'll be posting a picture and a quote immediately after I finish a book. Or listen to a new favorite song. Or attend a cool event. Follow if you're interested!<br />
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" 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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Aphorisms-Schocken-Kafka-Library-Franz/dp/0805212655/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1455836736&sr=1-1&keywords=aphorisms+kafka">Aphorisms</a> by Franz Kafka<br />
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<b>Why I'd want this book: </b>Two reasons: Kafka and aphorisms. I've read <i>The Metamorphosis </i>and <i>The Trial. </i>I really enjoy his surreal/kafkaesque (ha) writing style and storylines. Aphorisms, for those of you who don't know, are small, concise, often one or two sentence statements that are ridiculously confusing unless you read them very slowly. It's kind of like taking a literature shot (Sorry, weird comparison). I first encountered them at this camp I go called <a href="http://www.greatbookssummer.com/">Great Books</a> (I've attached a link if you want to check it out) during a philosophy elective when we were studying Friedrich Nietzsche's <i>The Gay Science</i>. We had a lot of fun trying to decipher the meanings behind the aphorisms (Yes, actually, I do realize how nerdy I sound).<br />
<b>You'll like this if you like: </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Essential-Aurelius-Tarcher-Cornerstone-Editions/dp/1585426172/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8">The Essential Marcus Aurelius</a>, anything by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=nietzsche">Friedrich Nietzsche</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Metamorphosis-Franz-Kafka/dp/1557427666/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1455839458&sr=1-1&keywords=the+metamorphosis+by+franz+kafka">The Metamorphosis</a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Trial-Franz-Kafka/dp/1612931030/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1455839488&sr=1-1&keywords=the+trial+by+franz+kafka">The Trial</a><br />
<b>Ages: </b>Depends on your taste. I suggest 13+, but I'd start with some sort of introduction to philosophy. My first real 'philosophical' book was <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Art-Motorcycle-Maintenance-Inquiry/dp/0060589469/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1455837709&sr=1-1&keywords=zen+and+the+art+of+motorcycle+maintenance">Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance<i>.</i></a><br />
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<img class="irc_mi" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71LkLmxqgjL.jpg" height="320" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="211" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Eleanor-Park-Rainbow-Rowell/dp/1250012570/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1455837739&sr=1-1&keywords=eleanor+and+park">Eleanor and Park </a>by Rainbow Rowell<br />
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<b>Why I'd want this book: </b>Two weirdos, one kind of chubby and red-haired and another Korean and withdrawn are drawn together by fate and end up falling in love (obviously, it's way more complicated than that, but if I had to give you a little summary, which I do, that's what I'd say). Wow, this book is addictive. TFIOS level. I loved it. I identified with the characters, I awwwed/laughed out loud, and I felt like stomping the book into the ground and crying once I finished it. It's light, but it's also so well written. I felt like I was the one falling in love.<br />
<b>You'd like this if you like: </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fault-Our-Stars-John-Green/dp/014242417X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1455839573&sr=1-1&keywords=the+fault+in+our+stars">The Fault in Our Stars</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bruiser-Neal-Shusterman/dp/0061134104/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1455839628&sr=1-1&keywords=bruiser">Bruiser</a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fangirl-Novel-Rainbow-Rowell/dp/1250030951/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1455839757&sr=1-1&keywords=fangirl">Fangirl</a> (which I haven't read, but it's by the same author)<br />
<b>Ages:</b> 13+<br />
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<img class="irc_mi" src="http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff28/beatonna/HARKcover.jpg" height="320" style="margin-top: 0px;" width="301" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hark-Vagrant-Kate-Beaton/dp/1770460608/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1455839240&sr=1-1&keywords=hark+a+vagrant+by+kate+beaton">Hark! A Vagrant</a> by Kate Beaton<br />
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<b>Why I'd want this book: </b>Kate Beaton is a history-directed Roz Chast (my all-time hero...see <a href="http://nerdalertonline.blogspot.com/2013/07/theories-of-everything.html">Theories of Everything</a> and <a href="http://nerdalertonline.blogspot.com/2015/12/oops-has-it-actually-been-this-long.html">Oops, has it actually been this long since my last post?</a>). If you'd read <a href="http://harkavagrant.com/">her blog</a>, you'd know that she makes parodies of historical events and Victorian novels. Her comics are sophisticated, but, if you get her reference, laugh-out-loud funny. I've actually used one of her comics for a post (see <a href="http://nerdalertonline.blogspot.com/2014/08/zeus-is-jerk-and-other-observations.html">Zeus is a Jerk and Other Observations</a>...this has to be the most links I've ever included in a post). I've used her comics in school projects too. I'd recommend this for history/classic, generally Victorian or Shakespearean novel nerds.<br />
<b>You'd like this if you like: </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=roz+chast">Roz Chast</a> and/or <a href="http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/">Hyperbole</a> and a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hyperbole-Half-Unfortunate-Situations-Mechanisms/dp/1451666179/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1455840463&sr=1-1&keywords=hyperbole+and+a+half">Half</a> (the word 'hyperbole' links to her blog and 'half' links to her book)<br />
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<img class="irc_mi" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61PHG4FlcTL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="320" style="margin-top: 29px;" width="247" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Golden-Compass-Graphic-Novel-Materials/dp/0553523716/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1455840605&sr=1-1&keywords=the+golden+compass+graphic+novel">The Golden Compass (graphic novel)</a> by Philip Pullman<br />
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<b>Why I'd want this book: </b>Well, let's see. All-time favorite fantasy series (aside from Lord of the Rings)? Check. Philip Pullman involvement? Check. Graphic novel? Check. I went into this book unimaginably excited. But to my crushing disappointment, it was less than perfect. First of all, the art wasn't particularly beautiful or interesting. It had this scratchy, pencily look to it that didn't really work with the story. Second of all, if I hadn't read The Golden Compass series fifteen times, I would have absolutely no idea what was going on. The guiding voices of the characters were lost. And finally, the whole idea that Lyra's adventure was happening in an alternate universe was not at all apparent. But though I didn't love it, I'm glad I read it. Hardcore fans of this series should definitely read this. It's kind of like going on Google images and looking up your favorite characters after you finish a book. You're not necessarily looking for anything new, but you're comparing perceptions. This was one perception.<br />
<b>You'd like this if you like: </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/His-Dark-Materials-Trilogy-Spyglass/dp/B008CMFJEU/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1455841664&sr=1-2&keywords=his+dark+materials+series">The Golden Compass series </a>(His Dark Materials), <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lightning-Thief-Graphic-Jackson-Olympians/dp/1423117107/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1455841720&sr=1-1&keywords=percy+jackson+graphic+novel+box+set">Percy Jackson and the Olympians </a><b>graphic novel</b> series and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Hobbit-Illustrated-Edition-Fantasy/dp/0345445600/ref=pd_sim_14_15?ie=UTF8&dpID=51psHBo7omL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR105%2C160_&refRID=1HTAX0ZH9QTVCGWZ2DJG">The Hobbit </a>graphic novel (strongly recommend this one)<br />
<b>Ages: </b>11+ (Last warning: be sure that you've read the series before you buy this graphic novel)Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-42492450630746306972016-01-31T10:27:00.000-08:002016-01-31T10:27:13.904-08:0010 Books That Should Be But Aren't Required Reading in School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Between-World-Me-Ta-Nehisi-Coates/dp/0812993543">Between the World and Me </a> by Ta-Neishi Coates</div>
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<b>Perspective: </b>It's written by an African American as a letter to his son as he describes the racial situation of the present. It's not exactly angry, but there's so much quiet sadness in the events he recounts. </div>
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<b>Impact/What it made me realize: </b>Racial prejudice is still very much a reality today; there is just so much more to be done. But his faith in humankind in reassuring.</div>
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<b>Why it's also a good read: </b>He's an incredible writer. You feel such a strong sense of empathy and a desire to take action once you put it down, it's overwhelming. </div>
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<img src="http://www.nationalbook.org/_images/nba/2013/finalists/ypl_yang_boxers_saints.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Boxers-Saints-Boxed-Gene-Luen/dp/1596439246/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1454178643&sr=1-1&keywords=boxers+and+saints">Boxers and Saints</a> by Gene Luen Yang</div>
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<b>Perspective: </b><i>Boxers</i> depicts the Boxer rebellion against the Christians from a Boxer's point of view, and <i>Saints</i> vice versa. </div>
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<b>Impact/What it made me realize: </b>In history, there are no 'bad guys' or 'good guys'. Both sides are equally cruel and equally compassionate. </div>
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<b>Why it's also a good read: </b>How many times have I mentioned this series on this blog? Three times now? Do I need to explain why it's a good book?</div>
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<img height="320" src="http://bi.hcpdts.com/page/450/EwIaWqDxBJPJUu7rJh2VzSxT+INrmrzf1isRQ20QcKpS7vB3CidS!pxvgzMNfZ1nRiJTw0coSw6po!WgF19IVVV2Rw3gsuV3EOy+b!CQo2sksSxHZymU8xoTCuRylHu9/WceGgDUNlCA8RPHOz66AbHHs4RI12Vqg+OoBRGBrKx2plCphEkAr3aizNSRpuGHkIoDZcS4gLRs3LNNbucM2tzHjr1b6gOv!JK2gG4iMspVQ5iDKyCBWtzAWMsmQ+7PK" width="214" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Challenger-Deep-Neal-Shusterman/dp/0061134112/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1454178867&sr=1-1&keywords=challenger+deep">Challenger Deep </a>by Neal Shusterman</div>
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<b>Perspective: </b> This book is told by a schizophrenic teenager who was institutionalized. His character is based off of the author's son. And when I say written from his perspective, I mean his literal mind. As if you wrote down every thought that passed through your head. I've never read a book narrated this way (aside from <i>The Curious Incident of the Dog In the Night-Time...</i>scroll down), nor did I really expect anyone to be able to pull it off (I was wrong).</div>
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<b>Impact/What it made me realize: </b>Everyone views the world in an entirely unique way. Some angles, however, are especially interesting.</div>
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<b>Why it's also a good read: </b>It's beautiful, soul-crushingly good. The setting alternates between what we call reality and a ship where the narrator is torn between mutiny and his loyalty to the captain (no shortage of symbolism, that's for sure). </div>
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<img height="320" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/4b/The_Namesake.gif" width="216" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Namesake-Novel-Jhumpa-Lahiri/dp/0618485228/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1454178986&sr=1-6&keywords=jhumpa+lahiri"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Namesake-Novel-Jhumpa-Lahiri/dp/0618485228/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1454178986&sr=1-6&keywords=jhumpa+lahiri">The Namesake </a>by Jhumpa Lahiri</div>
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<b>Perspective: </b>A Bengali boy called Gogol by his family faces the true meaning of his name and his culture.</div>
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<b>Impact/What it made me realize: </b>"All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." - Tolstoy</div>
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<b>Why it's also a good read: </b>Jhumpa Lahiri has this way of writing that leads you in slowly and carefully, and when you turn around and look back, you realize just how far you've come. It's also so <i>sad</i> but you're not sure why. </div>
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<img src="http://sedarisbio.weebly.com/uploads/5/3/2/2/5322661/7462124_orig.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Me-Talk-Pretty-One-Day/dp/0316776963/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1454179442&sr=1-1&keywords=me+talk+pretty+one+day">Me Talk Pretty One Day </a>by David Sedaris<br />
<b>Perspective: </b>David Sedaris, a gay, Greek-American, obsessive-compulsive, and ex-drug addict writes essays about his life experiences.<br />
<b>Impact/What it made me realize: </b>Not fitting into society is in no way a bad thing. </div>
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<b>Why it's also a good read: </b>He is <i>hilarious.</i> Absolutely side-splitting. I brought this book to camp with me and kept waking up my fellow cabin mates with my giggling. If you like this, I highly recommend reading his other books (my favorites were <i>Naked, Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim </i>and <i>Holidays on Ice</i>). </div>
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<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51%2BfGwLvlRL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Killer-Angels-Classic-Novel-Trilogy/dp/0345348109/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1454179587&sr=1-1&keywords=killer+angels">Killer Angels </a>by Michael Shaara</div>
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<b>Perspective: </b>The narration alternates between Confederate and Union military officials in the Civil War. </div>
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<b>Impact/What it made me realize: </b>'Loyalty' is a broad concept.</div>
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<b>Why it's also a good read: </b>It's suspenseful, gory, powerful. As if you took a magnifying glass and aimed it at your history textbook's description. Fantastic. </div>
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<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511P7Afzw8L._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="320" style="text-align: center;" width="224" /> </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Maus-Survivors-Tale-Parts-Volumes/dp/B000VYE0I8/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1454179718&sr=1-7&keywords=maus">Maus</a> (link to books 1 and 2) by Art Spiegelman</div>
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<b>Perspective: </b>Art Spiegelman's father tells the story of his experience as a German Jew before, during and after the prison camps in the form of a graphic memoir. </div>
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<b>Impact/What it made me realize: </b>Humans are capable of doing unspeakably horrible things to one another. </div>
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<b>Why it's also a good read:</b> The art is perfect for the storyline, with its black and white shading and detailed facial expressions. Definitely not a light book, though. </div>
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<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/418dfd2r12L.jpg" height="320" width="209" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mythology-Timeless-Tales-Gods-Heroes/dp/0446574759/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1454180021&sr=1-1&keywords=edith+hamilton+mythology">Mythology</a> by Edith Hamilton</div>
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<b>Perspective: </b>Edith Hamilton, the most renowned classics authority possibly ever, documents almost every Greek myth (with an introduction to Norse mythology as her closing chapter) EVER. </div>
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<b>Impact/What it made me realize: </b>Humankind needs stories to sustain themselves. </div>
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<b>Why it's also a good read: </b>This is my comfort book. I actually keep a copy in my locker in school in case of emergency. It's perfect for mythology lovers or a mythology introduction. </div>
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<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41AVVhtHugL.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Curious-Incident-Dog-Night-Time/dp/1400032717/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1454180199&sr=1-1&keywords=the+curious+incident+of+the+dog+in+the+nighttime">The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time</a> by Mark Haddon<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7173849343800930804" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7173849343800930804" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><b>Perspective: </b>Christopher,a fifteen-year-old boy with Asperger's syndrome, can perform the most complex mathematical problems in his head, defeat any video game in ten seconds, hates to be touched, and won't go anything near the color yellow (or brown). But when he finds a dead dog in his neighbor's yard and decides to hunt down the killer, everything, from the truth about his mother to his father's confidence in him is revealed. </div>
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<b>Impact/What it made me realize: </b>Similar to <i>Challenger Deep, </i>we all have our own versions of reality. It seems that he observes more than most people, but can't quite comprehend his observations. </div>
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<b>Why it's also a good read: </b>How it's possible to write in this way is beyond me. When you put it down, it's shocking when you realize you're actually not Christopher, and you have to adjust to your own reality again. </div>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7173849343800930804" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7173849343800930804" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a> <img 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" 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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Enders-Ender-Quintet-Orson-Scott/dp/0812550706/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1454180799&sr=8-1&keywords=ender%27s+game">Ender's Game </a>by Orson Scott Card</div>
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<b>Perspective: </b>This classic piece of science fiction is narrated by Ender, the youngest of three living a couple hundred years ahead of us in which the world is at war with an alien force called the Buggers and brilliant children suspected of having militaristic minds are sent to a battle school in space. </div>
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<b>Impact/What it made me realize: </b>War is 90% psychological. </div>
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<b>Why it's also a good read: </b>It's part of a series that's part of a bigger series that stems off into a smaller series that leads to another series. If you plan on reading more after finishing <i>Ender's Game</i>, I'd focus on the Ender's Shadow series. </div>
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Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-76365365538892880252015-12-17T18:31:00.000-08:002015-12-18T17:45:13.695-08:00Oops, has it actually been this long since my last post?Yes, I'm alive, and because I didn't post for a year and because I don't feel like making up for that time, I've decided to list a few of my favorite graphic novels I haven't already mentioned. Just a heads up: my selection process was completely random. None of these really have anything in common, except for the fact that they're all graphic novels (They'd also make great gifts, hint hint!).<br />
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<img src="http://www.somervillepubliclibrary.org/Cartoon1.bmp" height="172" width="400" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=a+cartoon+history+of+the+universe+">A Cartoon History of the Universe</a> (all volumes) by Larry Gonick</div>
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<b>Who would love it: </b>History buffs and history novices alike will love this series. The writing is the perfect mixture of punny and sophisticated, the illustrations silly while clever as they recount the history of the world from the time of the dinosaurs to ancient civilizations. I've read each of these volumes too many times to count on two hands.<br />
<b>Blurb I'd put on the back of the book:</b> "Smart as well as hilarious, this will obviously become a graphic classic."<br />
<b>Ages: </b>13+<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UwBV5JszHZs/VnFnVKiFW7I/AAAAAAAAAbk/HYnAwBoF_00/s1600/51vs10859wL._SX331_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UwBV5JszHZs/VnFnVKiFW7I/AAAAAAAAAbk/HYnAwBoF_00/s320/51vs10859wL._SX331_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="212" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Gigantic-Beard-That-Evil/dp/1250050391">The Giant Beard That Was Evil</a> by Stephen Collins<br />
<b>Who would love it: </b>Anyone with a heart, really. It takes place in a futuristic society known as 'Here', where everyone looks exactly the same, walks the same route to work, has the same routine after coming home, and, above all, has a secret fear of 'There', an island across the sea, a place that requires journey no one has come back from and those who attempt or confess a desire to take on this quest are scorned from 'Here' forever.<br />
<b>Blurb I'd put on the back of the book:</b> "A story told tentatively with an overwhelmingly powerful meaning."<br />
<b>Ages: </b>I don't really have a recommended age for this book. However, your age will probably determine the depth of your understanding of the events taking place.<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Sandman-Vol-Preludes-Nocturnes/dp/1401225756">The Sandman</a> (link to volume 1) by Neil Gaiman<br />
<b>Who would love it:</b> Fans of stories like <i>Coraline </i>or <i>The Walking Dead </i>(AKA any shows you can't watch alone with the lights off) could get really into this series. A warning though, NOT for the squeamish or the easily disturbed.<br />
<b>Blurb I'd put on the back of the book: </b>"Eerie...brings forth ugly questions about the human mind."<br />
<b>Ages:</b> 12+<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Apollo-Brilliant-Olympians-George-OConnor/dp/1626720150/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1450373738&sr=1-1&keywords=apollo+george+o%27connor">Apollo</a> (volume 7 in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Olympians-Boxed-Set-George-OConnor/dp/1626720592/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1450373766&sr=1-3&keywords=the+olympians+box+set">The Olympians</a> series)<br />
<b>Who would love it: </b>Mythology nerds, Marvel/DC nerds, and general comic book nerds will absolutely love this series (if they don't already know about it!). Yes, I am, in fact, aware of the<a href="http://nerdalertonline.blogspot.com/2013/12/aphrodite.html"> number</a> <a href="http://nerdalertonline.blogspot.com/2013/10/heres-post-i-wrote-for-dinner-love-story.html">of times</a> <a href="http://nerdalertonline.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-olympians-by-george-oconnor.html">I've</a> reviewed George O'Connor's books on this blog. But you have to understand that he is a capital G Genius in the comic book/mythology field. Kind of like a modern Edith Hamilton. If you want to get someone hooked on reading or convince them of the power of the graphic novel, I strongly recommend this series.<br />
<b>Blurb I'd put on the back of the book: </b>"Holy smokes, he did it again."<br />
<b>Ages:</b> 9+<br />
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<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/610yfF-huNL._SX351_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="320" width="226" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Sculptor-Scott-McCloud/dp/1596435739">The Sculptor</a> by Scott McCloud<br />
<b>Who would love it:</b> You get the sense you're watching a movie as you read this book. It's the story of a struggling artist who is given the choice to either live a normal life and abandon his craft or receive a strange power that allows him to mold stone with his bare hands, but live within numbered days. It's both realistic and imaginative.<br />
<b>Blurb I'd put on the back of the book: </b>"Somehow entirely different from any other graphic novel I've read."<br />
<b>Ages: </b>13+ (some mature scenes)<br />
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<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51xnM4q6cGL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="320" width="213" /><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nimona-Noelle-Stevenson/dp/0062278223/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450379641&sr=8-1&keywords=Nimona">Nimona</a> by Noelle Stevenson<br />
<b>Who would love it: </b>It's sort of a mixture of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tale-Dark-Grimm-Book-ebook/dp/B00466ISFS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1450379907&sr=8-2&keywords=adam+gidwitz+collection">Adam Gidwitz</a>'s <i>Grimm</i> series and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Adventure-Time-Vol-Ryan-North/dp/1608862801/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1450379933&sr=8-3&keywords=adventure+time+books"><i>Adventure Time</i></a> by Liz Prince, with that kind of ironic, unique humor delivered by 3D looking characters with either completely rounded or pointed edges. Definitely worthy of its National Book Award Finalist medal.<br />
<b>Blurb I'd put on the back of the book: </b>"There's this hidden darkness that dawns on you the last couple pages. It's excellent, as well as strange."<br />
<b>Ages: </b>9+<br />
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<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51n7cXe2ShL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Flight-1-through-7-Set/dp/B00P14YI4E/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1450396917&sr=1-1&keywords=flight+kazu+kibuishi+set">Flight</a> (link to 7 volumes...the 8th isn't included in the set for some reason) edited by Kazu Kibuishi<br />
<b>Who would love it: </b>Though I think that anyone who is currently alive should read this book, I have to say that you might appreciate it more if you were a slightly avid graphic novel reader. Not that you won't like it, but you won't be quite as psyched about it as someone who is. It's basically a collection of graphic short stories written by a few well-known graphic novel authors (including <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Smile-Raina-Telgemeier/dp/0545132061/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450397394&sr=8-1&keywords=smile+raina">Raina Telgemeier</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Astronaut-Academy-Gravity-Dave-Roman/dp/1596436204/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450397429&sr=8-1&keywords=dave+roman">Dave Roman,</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Anyas-Ghost-Vera-Brosgol/dp/1250040019/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450397458&sr=8-1&keywords=anya%27s+ghost">Vera Brosgol</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stonekeeper-Amulet-1-Kazu-Kibuishi/dp/0439846811/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450397504&sr=8-1&keywords=amulet+volume+1">Kazu Kibuishi</a> and others). The quality of the actual book should be enough to get you hooked. I mean, seriously. Look at that cover. But the best aspect of this series is the fact that not only are they beautifully illustrated, but they're powerfully thematic. There's a much deeper side to every one of these stories that will keep you thinking for a while.<br />
<b>Blurb I'd put on the back of the book: </b>"This series should be worshipped as the Holy Grail of Graphic Novels. A masterpiece."<br />
<b>Ages: </b>11+<br />
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" width="226" /><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Undertaking-Lily-Chen-Danica-Novgorodoff/dp/1596435860">The Undertaking of Lily Chen</a> by Danica Novgorodoff<br />
<b>Who would love it: </b>Fans of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Blankets-Craig-Thompson/dp/1891830430/ref=pd_sim_14_48?ie=UTF8&dpID=51Au42vb49L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR117%2C160_&refRID=0YPGSVHV8JW693T3R3Y4">Blankets</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/This-One-Summer-Mariko-Tamaki/dp/159643774X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1450405125&sr=1-1&keywords=this+one+summer">This One Summer</a> will love this book. Though the storyline is certainly uncommon and interesting, the element that really sets this book apart are its illustrations. The watercolor adds this dreamy, poetic feel, and the characters become as ghostly and mysterious as their surroundings.<br />
<b>Blurb I'd put on the back of the book: </b>"A fascinating story that will captivate its readers."<br />
<b>Ages: </b>12ish/13+<br />
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<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61jXSK1BQlL._SX258_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" /><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cant-Talk-about-Something-Pleasant/dp/1608198065/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1450398462&sr=8-1&keywords=roz+chast">Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?</a> by Roz Chast<br />
<b>Who would love it: </b>Roz Chast, as anyone who knows me will tell you, is my hero. Maybe you remember my post on her previous book (<a href="http://nerdalertonline.blogspot.com/2013/07/theories-of-everything.html">Theories of Everything</a>), but I would be perfectly happy with becoming her disciple for the rest of my life. Her sense of humor is completely individual. She sees the world an entirely different way from the rest of us, transforming what you never thought was funny, like a hot dog stand, and somehow, with her drawing style and emphasis with capitals letters and multiple underlines, makes it sophisticatedly funny. Though this book take a more serious tone, it remains truthful to her creativity and wit.<br />
<b>Blurb I'd put on the back of the book: </b>"Entirely unique while personal, Roz Chast continues to represent the world in ways no one must have ever considered."<br />
<b>Ages: </b>13+<br />
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<img src="http://www.nationalbook.org/_images/nba/2013/finalists/ypl_yang_boxers_saints.jpg" /><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Gene-Luen-Yang-Boxers-8-11-2013/dp/B00HTJOXU8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1450399583&sr=8-2&keywords=boxers+and+saints+boxed+set">Boxers and Saints</a> by Gene Luen Yang (recognize this name? See my previous post: <a href="http://nerdalertonline.blogspot.com/2013/12/american-born-chinese.html">American Born Chinese</a>)<br />
<b>Who would love it:</b> I feel a little silly doing this series now, considering how much I loved it and how much it's grown in popularity since its publication, but I feel that it's my obligation as one who gives book recommendations to review this duology. This series gives a history of the Boxer Rebellion in China from the side of a Boxer and a Chinese Christian. It's a powerful reminder that war is never one-sided, that there are no 'good guys' or 'bad guys' in life or in any story, really.<br />
<b>Blurb I'd put on the back of the book: </b>"Yang has a special ability to teach without giving the impression that he's teaching. An excellent portrayal of this historical event."<br />
<b>Ages: </b>11+</div>
Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-24324476769735807542014-11-09T14:43:00.002-08:002014-11-10T18:46:48.958-08:00The Hot Zone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When I first heard of Ebola, my reaction wasn't terror, it was something like, "oh, that's the foreign version of the flu. It'll pass." The older I got, the more I started to realize, "Wait, this is actually a pretty big deal. Whoa, whoa, whoa, there's a fifty to ninety percent fatality rate?" But still, I remained calm. Africa was far away. There were four known cases in the United States. Then (two days ago), I was given <i>The Hot Zone</i>, a book about the emerging of one of the worst "predators" known to humankind. It described the three types of Ebola and its sister, Marburg, and then tells the story of a monkey testing facility that became "hot" (active) with "agent" (the word for a extraordinarily dangerous virus.) Holy smokes, that was the most terrifying thing I ever read. I'm dead serious (no pun intended). What the virus does to you...I can't even find the words. It basically turns your insides to liquid. It replicates until you have become a "walking biohazard", says Richard Preston, the author. I read that book in bed. I couldn't fall asleep. I didn't want to turn off the light. But the thing is, you don't really know what you're scared of. There's no ghost, no monster, nothing that could sneak up on you. But I still jumped at every noise, listened to make sure I could hear human voices, and that that persistent whistling noise was just my heater. I don't know why, but reading about that virus had the same effect on me as that scene in <i>Jurassic Park</i> where the bad guy is making a run for it, and then gets eaten by that Dilophosaurus. Read at your own risk!<br />
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<b>Ages:</b> 21+...JUST KIDDING! 13+<br />
<b>Awards: </b>Overseas's Press Club of America's Whitman Basso Award and the McDermott Award. The author himself acquired so many awards, I couldn't possibly pronounce or type them all in a day.<br />
<b>You'd like this if you like: </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fever-1793-Laurie-Halse-Anderson/dp/0689848919/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1415572791&sr=1-1&keywords=1793+fever">Fever 1793</a> (don't read <i>The Hot Zone </i>if you are expecting it to be the level of intensity this book is at. It's ten times more scary.)<br />
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Interested in this book? Click the link below:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hot-Zone-Terrifying-Story-Origins/dp/0385479565/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1415572881&sr=1-1&keywords=the+hot+zone">The Hot Zone</a>Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-18633701906518397082014-10-13T15:05:00.003-07:002014-11-10T18:48:37.622-08:00Ender's Game<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You guys remember that babysitter I wrote about? The babysitter that gave me <i><a href="http://nerdalertonline.blogspot.com/2014/05/jane-eyre.html">Jane Eyre</a>,</i> <i>Madame Bovary, </i>and <i>Frankenstein</i> all of which I was suspicious of being deathly boring, and all of which turned out to be on my top ten book list? This same babysitter gave me <i>Ender's Game</i>, and I had the same reaction. Great, another classic with a boring cover that I have to pretend to be excited about (I hadn't read either <i>Jane Eyre</i> or <i>Madame Bovary</i> yet). Similar to the coming <i>Jane Eyre</i> situation, I stalled. I ignored it, staring into my back every time I entered the living room. <i>I'm waiting, Phoebe. </i>Eventually, I couldn't stand it. I got home from school and I picked it up. My parents didn't see my for the rest of the day. Ask me a question, you'd get a grunt or an 'mmmf'. This book was my gateway to Science Fiction, as well as psychology. Psychology and Science Fiction? What the heck am I talking about? Well, the book isn't just 'kill the aliens' which is what most people think of when they hear the words 'science fiction'. It's about war strategies, allies, brothers, enemies, and human instinct. And the characters stay with you. I've even started comparing friends to <i>Ender's Game</i> characters. No, I'm not Ender. I'm not sure who's Ender. I've started thinking of Ender as God in both the book and life. I must sound like I'm getting way too into this book. You're probably right. But pick up this book and maybe you'll change your mind.</div>
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<b>Ages: </b>12+</div>
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<b>Awards: </b>Hugo Winner and Nebula Winner</div>
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<b>You'd like this if you like: </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Enders-Shadow-The-Series/dp/0812575717/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413237759&sr=8-1&keywords=ender%27s+shadow">Ender's Shadow</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Giant-The-Series/dp/0812571398/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413237791&sr=8-1&keywords=shadow+of+the+giant">Shadow of the Giant</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Puppets-The-Series/dp/0765340054/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413237897&sr=8-1&keywords=shadow+puppets">Shadow Puppets</a>, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Hegemon-The-Series/dp/0812565959/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413237853&sr=8-1&keywords=shadow+of+the+hegemon">Shadow of the Hegemon.</a> Ender's Shadow is my favorite. You can read that before you read Ender's Game...it's the prelude. I should warn you though, look up the chronological order of the series. It's impossible to understand a single sentence if you read them in the order they were written. </div>
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Interested in this book? Click the link below:</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Enders-Game-The-Ender-Quintet/dp/0812550706/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1413237431&sr=8-1&keywords=ender%27s+game">Ender's Game</a></div>
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Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-81896806264227786682014-08-27T15:17:00.000-07:002014-11-10T18:50:39.034-08:00Zeus is a Jerk (and other observations)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Before you say anything, no, this is not a book I'm writing about. However, I need to get a few things off my chest. Allow me to explain.<br />
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When I was younger, I loved the Greek gods. They were like superheroes. Role models. They were both the most beautiful beings known to man AND were incredibly smart. Their stories were fascinating and numerous, too. I had read the <span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/DAulaires-Greek-Myths-Ingri-dAulaire/dp/0440406943">D'Aulaires Book of Greek Myths</a>, the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lightning-Thief-Percy-Jackson-Olympians/dp/0786838655/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409174628&sr=1-2&keywords=percy+jackson+and+the+olympians+book+1-6">Percy Jackson series,</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Olympians-Boxed-Set-George-OConnor/dp/1626720592/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409174664&sr=1-1&keywords=George+O%27connor+boxed+set">George O'Connor's books</a> (which I have written about here), <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mythology-Timeless-Tales-Gods-Heroes/dp/0446574759/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1409174823&sr=1-1&keywords=edith+hamilton+mythology">Edith Hamilton Mythology, </a>you name it. Then, as I aged (when I say 'aged' I mean over the course of three years), my perspective on the Greek gods changed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I started questioning the motives of the gods. Was it really the right thing to torture someone by having them roll a boulder up a hill only to have it roll all the way back down again just for tattling on you (Sisyphus)? Or have your liver eaten by vultures only to grow a new fresh one every day because you did something kind (gave fire to the mortals) even though he didn't consult you first (Prometheus)? Or torturing the son of your husband (even though it wasn't your son with your husband)? Was it the son's fault he was born (Hercules and Hera)? I could go on forever. And the more I thought about this, the more enraged I got. But for each story I thought about, I reached a similar conclusion for almost every single one: The gods are too proud to admit they were wrong. Or settle down for three seconds so they could hear the other person's side. I also discovered that more than three quarters of the time, my rage was aimed at Zeus. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Let's talk about Zeus for a minute.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">1) After he beat his dad and company and claimed he birthright (lightning bolts) and saved the world and all that, he decided that himself, Hades (had a helmet of invisibility), and Poseidon (dude with a trident) should be the three "main gods": the sky, the sea, and the Underworld. But instead of sitting down and weighing each others' weaknesses and strengths, he decides to DRAW LOTS. Excuse me? This isn't that kind of decision. The three main lords of the universe decided by three pieces of paper with the words sky, sea and Underworld picked out of a hat. Smart move there, Zeus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">2) Married Metis, goddess of counsel and advice. Then, he had a crush on Hera, and SWALLOWED Metis when he tricked her into turning into a fly so he could marry Hera, the goddess of marriage ironically enough, instead. Then, after then wedding, cheated on her with women including Io, who he turned into a cow when he heard his wife coming, Alcmene whose son, who she had with Zeus, turned out to be one of the greatest heroes of all time (Hercules). Poor, humiliated, Hera. AND had a baby with the god Demeter named Persephone and helped Hades kidnap her. Not to mention Leto, Europa, Callisto, and Dianae, to name a few. Does he understand the definition of marriage? I'm not exactly sure.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">3) Damned Prometheus to a horrible torture for helping the mortals, who he hated for some reason at the time (see second paragraph). Then later, he "warmed up" to the mortals (it is not stated why or when he decided this) but STILL DIDN'T LET PROMETHEUS GO. Once again, too proud to admit that he was wrong, just like with Sisyphus who told on Zeus for cheating on his wife. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I could probably go up to 10. For each god. But I won't, don't worry. I think you get the idea.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When reading this, you probably think I believe in the Greek gods. No, I don't. I guess I just wish they were written a little better. When I picture divinities, I don't picture people like Zeus. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>"First Date" </i>comic courtesy of <a href="http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php">Hark! A Vagrant</a> (super cool blog.) I thought this strip summed up my thoughts on Zeus pretty well.</span></div>
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Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-24714752209464038432014-06-18T16:30:00.003-07:002014-06-18T16:31:27.198-07:00The Shadow Hero<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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How many of you guys recognize a name on this book cover from past posts (or even better, previous reads)? For those of you that don't, the one I'm referring to is Gene Luen Yang, the author of <i>American Born Chinese</i> and <i>Boxers and Saints, </i>quite possibly three of my favorite graphic novels ever. This book however, is not a typical Gene Luen Yang book. The illustrations, for example. Instead of Yang's round, more cartoon-y, style of drawing, we have sharper, scratchier characters from Sonny Liew. This is going to sound a little snobby, but Yang's drawings are sort of easier to look at. But the idea of this book is awesome. It's like Yang took the qualities of a comic like <i>Superman</i> and any graphic novel (there is a difference by the way...graphics novels are one continuous story with panels and illustrations, and a comic is a different story sequence every 1-2 pages) and mixed them together to form this book. This book is an origin story for the first Asian superhero called the Green Turtle that was created during World War 2. But, as Yang explains in the back of his book, his face was never shown. It was always facing away from the reader, or covered by a weapon, or even his own arm. And in his comics, every time he came close to telling someone how he became the Green Turtle, he is needed to save the world somehow, and the story of the Green Turtle is put off for that day. I guess Yang thought he kind of needed an identity...a face and a town and a family. Maybe you don't like comics or graphic novels or Gene Luen Yang or even Nerd Alert. That's fine. But you should read this book for the Green Turtle's sake. He deserves it. </div>
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" 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<b>Ages:</b> 11+</div>
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<b>Awards:</b> None yet, but it's a really new book. I'll most likely have to update this area in a couple months.</div>
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<b>You'll like this if you liked:</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/American-Born-Chinese-Gene-Luen/dp/0312384483/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403133951&sr=8-1&keywords=american+born+chinese">American Born Chinese</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Boxers-Saints-Boxed-Gene-Luen/dp/1596439246/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403134009&sr=8-1&keywords=boxers+and+saints">Boxers and Saints</a></div>
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Interested in this book? Click on the link below:</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Hero-Gene-Luen-Yang/dp/1596436972/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1403134113&sr=8-1&keywords=shadow+hero">Shadow Hero</a></div>
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Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-59842843727443758102014-05-18T18:44:00.000-07:002014-05-18T18:44:33.029-07:00Jane Eyre<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Okay, don't say anything, I know what you're thinking. I mean, just look at this cover. This book just naturally gives off a "Don't-read-me;-I'll-kill-everything-that-you-love-about-books-I'm-so-boring" kinda vibe. That's what my thoughts were when my babysitter gave me this book. "I heard you love to read!" she said. First she handed me <i>Frankenstein, </i>which I was overcome with joy to hold in my hands. Then she gave me <i>Ender's Game</i> which became a series I was addicted to over the course of a month. Then she handed me <i>Jane Eyre</i>. It was thick. It was heavy. It was dusty. It looked as if her great grandparents had it at one point. I can tell you that my mood sort of declined when I saw it. I put it off for weeks. And then finally, on a deathly boring snow day, I picked up that demon, that horrible thing that would stare into my back every day when my babysitter would ask me, "Have you read it? Have you read it?'. And I started to read. The outcome was almost immediate. My parents will tell you that somedays I would sigh in the car on the way to soccer practice and say, "I wish I was Jane" in the middle of some conversation about our summer vacation or something. I have read this book countless times. Why? Because Jane Eyre is the best person in the world. She's incredibly smart (every single thing that comes out of her mouth sounds as if it should be published and sold all over the world. I'll give you an example; it's one of my favorites: "I would rather be happy than dignified.") and not very beautiful. She's very...mousy. But it's not one of those stupid stories about men seeing through a woman's flaws and loving her despite them. (Actually, it sort of is but in a better, more clever way). It's a romance, but it's not sappy or floaty. See, what happens is she's an orphan who grows up with a cruel woman and eventually goes to school and becomes a governess for a little French girl named Adele at Thornwood hall, owned by Mr. Rochester. Eventually, she falls in love with him. That's all I'll say about the plot. That probably didn't sound to thrilling to you. But one should not live through life without reading this book.<br />
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<b>Ages:</b> 14+<br />
<b>You'll like this if you liked: </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Madame-Bovary-Gustave-Flaubert/dp/1495356450/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400463763&sr=8-1&keywords=madame+bovary">Madame Bovary</a> by Gustave Flaubert (isn't that the coolest name ever?)<br />
Interested in this book? Click the link:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jane-Eyre-Charlotte-Bronte/dp/160459411X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1400463727&sr=8-1&keywords=Jane+eyre">Jane Eyre</a>Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-126798173413928612014-03-02T12:35:00.001-08:002014-03-02T12:39:06.578-08:00Hyperbole and a Half<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Let me just say that Allie Brosh seems like the coolest person alive. All you have to do is read some of her work and you'll know what I'm talking about. I used to get really mad at people who'd be like, "look how many friends I have on my social media thingamajig!" because the word "friend" meant someone you knew really well and trusted. How can you have 200 "friends" you don't even know? But ever since I started reading Allie's blog and her book, even though I've never spoken to her or exchanged emails or anything with her, I feel like I've known her forever. She's always there when I feel good, or mad or (especially) when I need a laugh and I feel like I'm the one that listens to <i>her</i> problems. Yeah, it sounds weird, I know. It's just that she's so...human. She's imperfect. She loves nachos. She gets depressed. She has a dog. It's so easy to relate to her. She's kinda like Roz Chast in a way (see <u><a href="http://nerdalertonline.blogspot.com/2013/07/theories-of-everything.html">Theories of Everything</a>)</u>. <i>Any</i>way, the book is a bunch of stories from and not from her blog about her life. If you end up reading her work, be sure to read "Menace" and "Dogs Don't Understand Basic Concepts Like Moving".<br />
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<b>Ages: </b>Hmmm...12/13+? She curses a lot.<br />
<b>Awards: </b>A heck of a lot for both book and blog<br />
<b>You'd like this if you liked: </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=roz+chast">Anything by Roz Chast</a><br />
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Click here for her blog: Click here for her book:<br />
<a href="http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/">Hyperbole and a Half (Blog)</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hyperbole-Half-Unfortunate-Situations-Mechanisms/dp/1451666179/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1393792137&sr=8-1&keywords=hyperbole+and+a+half">Hyperbole and a Half (Book)</a> Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-8739732496439489762014-01-21T11:12:00.001-08:002014-01-31T06:28:12.659-08:00Life of Pi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You want to hear a sad fact? About one out of every thirty or so kids like to read in my school. And even the kids that like to read aren't obsessed with it. Which is why, when I'm not in school, I do my best to find those other Nerd Alertish people out there. One of my best outlets is camp. Me and my sister have been going to this awesome farm camp for a while now. Well, during my third year, it was the first day, and I didn't know anybody. Everybody at my table was kinda doing that inaudible, "<span style="font-size: xx-small;">hiwhat'syourname</span>". I did know some people from the year before, but they didn't seem to remember me. Then this girl with dark brown, shoulder length hair and blue eyes sat down. It was her first year. I remember she was sitting at the head of the table. Later in the day, when we were doing activities in the courtyard, we had to pick a partner. Everybody was doing that asking-with-your-eyes thing and pointing-from-the-person-they-picked-to-themselves-really-quickly thing. Me and the girl were the only ones without a partner, so naturally we became cohorts. I found out her name was Ella. And once we both realized we both liked to read, we couldn't stop talking. We lent each other books, gave recommendations, criticized authors, all that jazz. Reader, you must be thinking, "That's all fine and dandy and I'm glad you found your buddy, but what about the book you're supposed to be reviewing?" I'm GETTING THERE. :) Anyway, me and Ella stayed in touch even after camp was over, and established a book club. When we came to camp the next session, we decided to pick a book. We decided we should read a book we both hadn't read. Then she goes, "How about Life of Pi?". I heard it's even better than the movie." So that was our book. Let me just tell you that I would count this as one of my top favorite books. Out of graphic novels too. It is fantastic. The metaphors are hard to figure out though. It took me over a month to get one of them. In a nutshell, this is the plot:<br />
Pi Patel lives in a zoo in India. Yes, you heard me right; literally a zoo. He's also extremely religious, as a Muslim, a Hindu, and a Christian. He's the only one in his family that's religious at all, really. Everyone else was much much more..secular? then he was. One day Pi finds out that they are selling the zoo and moving to Canada. Unfortunately, while passing over the Mediterranean Trench, the boat sinks, along with his mother, father, and brother Ravi. (Spoiler, I know, but it's really only a small part of the story). Pi is the only survivor....except for a hyena, a zebra, and a Bengall tiger. The weirdest part about it is that though it's fiction, the writer almost convinces you it isn't. He writes it as if he's at Pi's house, asking him for his story so he can write his book. You'll see. I didn't do the best job of explaining it.....remember, I said in a NUTSHELL. That was NOT the whole book. Anyway. Trust me when I say that it will be added to your top favorite books too.<br />
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<b>Awards: </b>Too many to list here.<br />
<b>Ages: </b>12ish or 13ish+<br />
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Interested in this book? Click on the link below:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-Pi-Yann-Martel/dp/0156027321/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390331291&sr=8-1&keywords=life+of+pi">Life of Pi</a><br />
(Plus, if you want to check out her new awesome blog, <a href="http://bookwormtroubles.blogspot.com/">click here)</a>Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-46042328604254923172013-12-27T12:57:00.002-08:002014-02-03T06:47:40.702-08:00American Born Chinese<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The first time I ever heard of this book, it was on the back of the <i>Boxers</i> and <i>Saints </i>covers. (<i>Boxers </i>and<i> Saints </i>are a two-book series by Gene Luen Yang. You'll hear more of that series in future Nerd Alert posts. He also wrote this very book I'm writing about). The second time I heard of <i>American Born Chinese</i> was the reason I decided to read it. My cousin Sophia (who lives in HONG KONG by the way) recommended it for me by email. To tell the truth, it sounded a little slow to me. The whole "monkey king" thing just didn't seem that interesting. But since she was my cousin, and she liked graphic novels too, I decided to read it. That was one of the best decisions of my life. Those of you who don't know, Gene Luen Yang is a genius. I mean, I already knew that from <i>Boxers</i> and <i>Saints, </i>but <i>American Born Chinese</i> confirmed the fact that he is a genius. See, in <i>American Born Chinese, </i>she writes two stories which become metaphors for the other. One is a regular Chinese folk tale; the other is a story of a Chinese boy named Jin in America who is disrespected by his classmates and teachers. But that's not all. The monkey story tangles with his, and new people come and go, and something happens to him. As the story goes on, you understand it more and more. But when you read it the second time, you <i>really </i>get it. It's hard to explain. I would, along with <i>Boxers </i>and <i>Saints, </i>put it on my Top Twenty Graphic Novels List.<br />
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<b>Awards: </b>National Book Award finalist and Best Book Award from the Chinese-American Library Association<br />
<b>Ages: </b>12+<br />
Interested in this book? Click here:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/American-Born-Chinese-Gene-Luen/dp/0312384483/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388177803&sr=8-1&keywords=american+born+chinese"> American Born Chinese</a>Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-35245571801490051082013-12-19T16:31:00.001-08:002014-06-18T16:17:01.924-07:00The Giver<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VcyO8bf2pgM/UrOMUAjVesI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/KSpvdSpUfRk/s1600/giver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VcyO8bf2pgM/UrOMUAjVesI/AAAAAAAAAIQ/KSpvdSpUfRk/s320/giver.jpg" height="320" width="194" /></a></div>
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Okay, <u>The Giver</u> isn't exactly a book you can write about. "There are some books that are yours, that telling people about them seems like betrayal," said Hazel Grace Lancaster from <i>The Fault in Our Stars</i>. <u>The Giver</u> is one of those. This is one book that you will not be able to stop reading or stop thinking about for days. Months. Years. But not about metaphors and other fancy reading terms. This book is for people who like to ask questions, but don't want to know the answers. I can't really explain what that means. I can't explain the plot of this book without giving too much away, either. But what I will say is that it's about a boy named Jonas who lives in a place called The Community. He has a sister, Lily, a best friend, Asher, and a set of parents. The ceremony of twelve is coming. (I'm trying to sound ominous here). Choices will be made. A heavy book, but a clever one.<br />
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<b>Awards:</b> Gold Newberry Medal<br />
<b>Ages:</b> 12+<br />
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Interested in this book? Click on the link below:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Giver-Readers-Circle-Laurel-Leaf/dp/0440237688/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1387499470&sr=1-1&keywords=the+giver">The Giver</a>Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-72318184792938082482013-12-19T16:15:00.002-08:002013-12-27T12:57:59.847-08:00Aphrodite<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yoq_L2VCM0c/UrOEUZFVOZI/AAAAAAAAAIA/pN3sKsXkttU/s1600/Aphrodite+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yoq_L2VCM0c/UrOEUZFVOZI/AAAAAAAAAIA/pN3sKsXkttU/s320/Aphrodite+cover.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I'm a nerd. I wholeheartedly admit it, and have many times, and will admit it many more times. However, though my readers know how nerdy I am, what I am about to type on this post crosses the extreme nerdiness line. Brace yourselves. Here it is: when this book arrived at my house yesterday, I literally jumped up and down and shrieked like a baby for an hour, I was so excited. Ask my parents. At dinner, instead of the routine, "Yeah, my day was fine," there was me saying, "I just can't believe it. This is crazy. This is awesome. No, awesome<i>ly</i> crazy," until I actually sat down and read the stinking book as my sister kept suggesting as frequently as my "I just can't believe it." But if you've read this book, or any George O'Connor book at all, you'd understand my disbelief. The illustrations, the way he tells the story...this is the way modern-day greek myths should be portrayed.<br />
Anyway, back to the actual book. Aphrodite, goddess of beauty and love, is underestimated in all the other books. In a disguised, polite way they're describing Aphrodite as being insignificant. Not so in this graphic novel. In this book, Aphrodite is one of the most powerful goddesses on Olympus, not some silly, gorgeous, airhead girl (don't get me wrong, she's still the most gorgeous woman in the universe. In <u>Aphrodite</u> that's not all there is too her). For pete's sake, she's the goddess of love; is there any more powerful force in the universe?<br />
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<b>Ages:</b> 10+<br />
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Interested in this book? Click the link below:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Aphrodite-Goddess-Olympians-George-OConnor/dp/1596437391/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1387498408&sr=8-1&keywords=aphrodite">Aphrodite</a>Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-88584039586547344362013-10-21T07:43:00.003-07:002013-12-19T16:11:52.142-08:00My Kind of Classic<br />
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Here's a post I wrote for Dinner: A Love Story. Thought you guys would like it, too! -- PW</div>
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<em><a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/Moby-Dick-Graphic-Campfire-Novels/dp/9380028229" href="http://www.amazon.com/Moby-Dick-Graphic-Campfire-Novels/dp/9380028229" target="_blank">Moby Dick</a> (</em>Herman Melville) adapted by Lance Stahlberg, illustrated by Lalit Kumar</div>
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<strong>Who Would Love It:</strong> People who can handle stuff that's a little hard to understand. They basically take the words from the real book, which can be old-fashioned, and they put them in speech bubbles and add drawings around them. If you took away the pictures, it would basically be the grown-up book. But the art is so awesome. It's definitely adventure-y.</div>
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<strong>The blurb I'd put on the back of the book:</strong> "The fascinating story of the search for a famous white whale -- the perfect book for any kid who likes it when climaxes come at the very end of the book. Which, who doesn't?"</div>
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<strong>Ages:</strong> 12+</div>
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<em><a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Odyssey-Gareth-Hinds/dp/0763642681" href="http://www.amazon.com/All-Action-Classics-No-The-Odyssey/dp/1402731558/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1383440874&sr=8-9&keywords=odyssey+graphic+novel" target="_blank">The Odyssey</a> </em>(Homer), by Tim Mucci</div>
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<strong>Who Would Love It:</strong> People who like Greek mythology and people who like to read simplified versions of big, complicated stories. Here, you'll meet Athena, Hermes, Zeus, Poseidon, all that jazz. It's also really cool-looking, too -- I love the artwork. It helps to understand it.</div>
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<strong>The blurb I'd put on the back of the book:</strong> "A mystical adventure in graphic novel form. That sounds cheesy -- but, you know. It's true!"</div>
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<strong>Ages:</strong> 11+</div>
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<em><a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/Wrinkle-Time-The-Graphic-Novel/dp/0374386153" href="http://www.amazon.com/Wrinkle-Time-The-Graphic-Novel/dp/0374386153" target="_blank">A Wrinkle in Time</a></em> (Madeleine L'Engle), adapted and illustrated by Hope Larson</div>
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<strong>Who Would Love It:</strong> The first time I tried to read the actual, real book, I could barely get past the first chapter. It was so boring and confusing. I was in third grade, so I had trouble understanding any of it. But then, last year, I got the graphic novel version and it was just way more interesting. It all made sense. It seemed like the plot was more interesting, more exciting. This is for people who are science-y and also into fantasy. Those of you who like physics will like this, too.</div>
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<strong>The blurb I would put on the back of the book:</strong> "An interesting book, in the best way. The art makes this an even more bold version of the original - it's, like, BOOM."</div>
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Ages: 10+</div>
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<em><a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/Wonderland-Tommy-Kovac/dp/142310451X" href="http://www.amazon.com/Wonderland-Tommy-Kovac/dp/142310451X" target="_blank">Alice in Wonderland</a></em> by Tommy Kovac & Sonny Liew</div>
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<strong>Who Would Love It:</strong> This is by the guys who did the <em><a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Wonderful-Wizard-Graphic-Novel/dp/0785145907" href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Wonderful-Wizard-Graphic-Novel/dp/0785145907" target="_blank">Wizard of Oz</a></em> graphic novel series, which I love. To be honest, I'm going to say that the actual story was not as interesting as some other books, but the art is really incredible. It's worth it just for the pictures. Even though it's maybe not my favorite book, reading-wise, it's weird fantasy and that's kind of cool, no matter what, right?</div>
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<strong>The blurb I would put on the back of the book:</strong> "The artwork -- scratchy, strange, and mystical -- makes this an essential book for kids who love good art."</div>
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<strong>Ages:</strong> 10+</div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://www.dinneralovestory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/olympians.jpg" href="http://www.dinneralovestory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/olympians.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-34132" data-mce-src="http://www.dinneralovestory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/olympians.jpg" height="409" src="http://www.dinneralovestory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/olympians.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="olympians" width="500" /></a></div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://nerdalertonline.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-olympians-by-george-oconnor.html" href="http://nerdalertonline.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-olympians-by-george-oconnor.html" target="_blank"><em>The Olympians</em> Series</a> by George O'Connor</div>
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<strong>Who Would Love It</strong>: Dad, we've already done this series like twenty times.</div>
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<strong>The blurb I would put on the back of the book</strong>: "Just read this series, okay?"</div>
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<strong>Ages:</strong> 9+</div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://www.dinneralovestory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/fairytalecomicsduffy.jpg" href="http://www.dinneralovestory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/fairytalecomicsduffy.jpg"><img alt="" class="wp-image-34137 aligncenter" data-mce-src="http://www.dinneralovestory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/fairytalecomicsduffy-768x1024.jpg" height="594" src="http://www.dinneralovestory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/fairytalecomicsduffy-768x1024.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="fairytalecomicsduffy" width="447" /></a></div>
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<em><a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/Fairy-Tale-Comics-Extraordinary-Cartoonists/dp/1596438231" href="http://www.amazon.com/Fairy-Tale-Comics-Extraordinary-Cartoonists/dp/1596438231" target="_blank">Fairy Tale Comics</a></em> Edited by Chris Duffy</div>
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<strong>Who Would Love It:</strong> People who are fans of the extremely awesome <em><a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Lit-Folklore-Fairy-Funnies/dp/0060286245" href="http://www.amazon.com/Little-Lit-Folklore-Fairy-Funnies/dp/0060286245" target="_blank">Little Lit</a></em> books. It's really clever. It's interpretations of famous fairy tales by well-known artists and writers like Brett Helquist (who did Lemony Snicket), Raina Telgemeier (who did <em><a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/Drama-Raina-Telgemeier/dp/0545326990/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y" href="http://www.amazon.com/Drama-Raina-Telgemeier/dp/0545326990/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_y" target="_blank">Drama</a></em> and <em><a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/Smile-Raina-Telgemeier/dp/0545132061" href="http://www.amazon.com/Smile-Raina-Telgemeier/dp/0545132061" target="_blank">Smile</a></em>), and Cherise Harper. If you like silly stuff, clever stuff, this book is for you.</div>
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<strong>The blurb I would put on the back of the book:</strong> "An amazing group of authors re-telling an even better collection of stories. Even if you've read these stories before, and loved them, you're going to love the way they've remade them here."</div>
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<strong>Ages: 9+</strong></div>
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<span data-mce-style="color: #ffffff;" style="color: white;"><a data-mce-href="http://www.dinneralovestory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/huckfinn1.jpg" href="http://www.dinneralovestory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/huckfinn1.jpg"><img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-34169" data-mce-src="http://www.dinneralovestory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/huckfinn1.jpg" height="355" src="http://www.dinneralovestory.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/huckfinn1.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="huckfinn" width="480" /></a>.</span></div>
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<em><a data-mce-href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9380028350/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=1535523722&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=8190732617&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0QWJM7394QB62KRD8KYQ" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/9380028350/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=1535523722&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=8190732617&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0QWJM7394QB62KRD8KYQ" target="_blank">Adventures of Huckleberry Finn</a></em> (Mark Twain) Roland Mann, illustrated by Naresh Kumar</div>
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<strong>Who Would Love It:</strong> Well, technically, I haven't read this one yet. It's on my wish list. I read the real book, but the graphic version looks awesome. The actual book is an extremely good perspective on a boy who runs away with a slave named Jim like a hundred and fifty years ago -- and their adventures, and misadventures. It's hard to explain it all here.</div>
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The blurb I would put on the back of the book: "I don't have to read this to know that it's a really really really really good book."</div>
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<strong>Ages: 10</strong>+</div>
Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-88342991441859668982013-08-16T05:55:00.002-07:002013-08-26T13:15:32.371-07:00Amelia Rules<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TwkaIDAJA9w/Ug1s6TFzB5I/AAAAAAAAAHc/_zwVx43Rvy0/s1600/3636842717_1dbfc7a6ce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TwkaIDAJA9w/Ug1s6TFzB5I/AAAAAAAAAHc/_zwVx43Rvy0/s320/3636842717_1dbfc7a6ce.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
Too many graphic novel series have boys as their main characters. However, in <i>Amelia Rules </i>the tables are turned. The star of this series is snarky, sarcastic, and mischievous Amelia. Amelia is a city girl at heart. She lived in New York City until her parent's divorce caused her to have to move to a teeny tiny town in Pennsylvania with her (previous) pop singer aunt. Tanner (her aunt) becomes Amelia's ally, or confidant. Later she meets Reggie Grabinsky (a.k.a Captain Amazing - he's a little obsessed with super heroes) a weirdo who suckered Amelia and a bunch of other kids who I'm describing next into joining his club G.A.S.P (Gathering of Awesome Super Pals), Pajamaman who doesn't talk much (a.k.a Kid Lighting), and Rhonda Bleenie (a.k.a. Ms. Miraculous), Amelia's best frienemey who has a crush on Reggie. These four superheroes get into some serious trouble (principal five times) and pull off some serious pranks (trick Rhonda into a bet where she has to stay frozen in a game of freeze tag until somebody tags her... supposedly a year or so) but have a lot of laughs in between. As the series goes on, you watch Amelia and friends grow up, and you feel like you're growing up right along with her. But the best part is, kids can relate to her. If you have friend problems, you can look in one of these books and she'll answer it without answering straight out, you know? I think that's one of the reasons the author wrote the series. Also, it's hilarious! You can't go a page without smiling to yourself or laughing out loud.<br />
<br />
<b>You'll like this if you like: </b>Like I said with <i>The Fault in Our Stars, </i>there isn't really a book similar to this one. But I guess that this is a more "grown up" version of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Ramona-Collection-Vol-Beezus/dp/0061246476/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1376657506&sr=8-3&keywords=Ramona+and+beezus+book+1">Ramona and Beezus</a>.<br />
<b>Awards: </b><i>13 Eisner Awards!!</i> (the equivalent of the Oscar in the comic world) Harvey award, and eighty trillion more. (I'm not exaggerating.)<br />
<b>Ages: </b>9+<br />
Interested in this book? Click on the link below:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Whole-Worlds-Crazy-Amelia-Rules/dp/1416986049/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376657636&sr=8-1&keywords=amelia+rules+the+whole+world%27s+crazy"> Amelia Rules Book 1</a>Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-41071374213379214972013-08-08T13:33:00.002-07:002013-08-08T14:24:39.361-07:00Bone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1mkbsQEa58Y/UgONRpovnnI/AAAAAAAAAHM/pnNIK80PCac/s1600/04-50145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1mkbsQEa58Y/UgONRpovnnI/AAAAAAAAAHM/pnNIK80PCac/s320/04-50145.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Let me just start by saying that these were my first graphic novels. <i>What about Tintin? </i>you ask. (See <i><a href="http://nerdalertonline.blogspot.com/2013/04/this-is-my-favorite-comic-character-of.html">The Adventures of Tintin</a>, </i>post number one). Tintin was my first comic, not graphic novel. There's actually a difference. Comics are usually more like short stories. Like superhero comics. If you ever read comics, you would know that it's mixed tales of his adventures, not one big story.Graphic novels on the other hand, are usually more like narratives. A single story.<br />
<br />
Anyway, what you've been waiting for: This series is about... no, no, wait a second. This is one of those series where if you say one tiny little thing about the plot, you kinda ruin it. So I'm going to try to be careful here. Okay, here we go: Three cousins, Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone are stranded in a desert. (I can't tell you why for the reason listed above). Fone Bone is more of our main character. Phoney is the oldest cousin, but certainly not the wisest. (He's smart, not wise. There's a difference). He's also greedy and always tries to find ways to make more money. Smiley? A quote from a character called Grandma Ben who I'll describe later says, "He has no brain whatsoever." It doesn't take brains to see that this is true. But Smiley is goodhearted in every way. While in the desert, the cousins get separated and Fone, near death of thirst, sees a valley. He walks on and encounters the "rat creatures" but comes out in one piece. Later, he meets up with a girl named Thorn who takes him back to Grandma Ben's farm, where she lives. Grandma Ben is tough, and refuses, at first, to allow him to stay. But finally, she decides that it couldn't hurt to keep him there, and later lets him stay. As the days pass, Fone's cousins miraculously find their way to the farm and all is well. But then, a secret is uncovered (actually more like discovered) and the valley will never be the same again.<br />
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This series is creepy the deeper you get into it, but I seriously think that this series is one of the best in graphic novel history. By the way, I'd like to give a shout out to Rowan who suggested I write a post about Bone. Good idea!<br />
<br />
<b>Ages: </b>8+<br />
<b>You'll like this if you like: </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stonekeeper-Amulet-Book-1/dp/0439846811/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375993651&sr=1-1&keywords=amulet">Amulet</a><br />
<b>Awards: </b>Eisner (the equivalent of the Oscar in the comic/graphic novel world)<br />
Interested in this book? Click on the link below: (There are nine books total, not counting the prequel and sequel)<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bone-Vol-Out-From-Boneville/dp/0439706408/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1375993966&sr=8-2&keywords=bone+series+by+jeff+smith">Bone book 1 </a>Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-51888719793044812132013-07-22T16:17:00.001-07:002013-07-22T16:47:17.073-07:00The Fault In Our Stars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pp6kmgi5Amc/Ue20Ro6sODI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/AHdT4LPAvMA/s1600/the-fault-in-our-stars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pp6kmgi5Amc/Ue20Ro6sODI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/AHdT4LPAvMA/s320/the-fault-in-our-stars.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">When I first got this book, I was at sleep away camp in the Adirondcks
with NOTHING to read. I had read, re-read, and re-re-read all my books.
Naturally, I was in a full-phased emergency here. A kid (a nerd) like me
WITHOUT BOOKS FOR 5 MORE DAYS?! Unacceptable. So I wrote to my parents,
explaining the situation as carefully as I could. (I didn't want to worry
them). They sent me 5 books, one of them being The Fault In Our Stars. I read
this one last, but I tell you that they could have sent me that one book
and I would've been fine. As the blurb on the cover states, "You laugh,
you cry, then you come back for more." I agree: you start off
smiling, then later put your hand over your forehead and lean on your elbow,
crying, and then you feel as if you MUST read it again. You must be thinking, <i>oh
my GOD just tell us what the stinking book is about!</i> Well here it is:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This is the story of 16-year-old Hazel Lancaster. But it's more than a
story. Hazel has lung cancer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">First diagnosed when she was 13, she's hooked up to an oxygen tank that
breathes for her. This is hard, as you can imagine, so her mom sends her to
Support Group where she meets Isaac, who is about to be blind, and Augustus, a
kinda-sorta cancer "survivor". This "survival" included a
loss of his leg. The three become tight friends (Hazel and Augustus a little
more than friends), when all of a sudden, Hazel and Augustus are driven on a
wild adventure to Amsterdam to discover the secrets of their favorite book, <i>An
Imperial Affliction </i>that leaves Augustus with a one-sided situation about
life and death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Ages: </span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">13+<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">You'll like this if you like: </span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">I'm going to be honest here: there aren't really
any books with a similar plot line to this one. But I guess the book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/See-You-at-Harrys-Knowles/dp/0763664553/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374534855&sr=8-1&keywords=see+you+at+harry%27s+by+jo+knowles"><span style="color: #0000f5;">See You At Harry's</span></a> is slightly similar.
SLIGHTLY.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Interested in this book? (You should be)
Click on the link below:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fault-Our-Stars-John-Green/dp/0525478817/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374535024&sr=1-1&keywords=the+fault+in+our+stars+john+green"><span style="color: #0000f5;">The Fault In Our Stars</span></a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-14225836606969370242013-07-16T13:37:00.000-07:002013-07-16T13:37:20.939-07:00Theories of Everything<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A collection of cartoons from my personal favorite cartoonist, Roz Chast. What makes her cartoons special is that each one seems to be personal. If you look a little closer into each one, you'll notice that they're from everyday life. Stuff that you never thought was funny, she somehow transforms without transforming. Like in <i><u>The Ungoogleable Man</u></i> where she shows a guy that has, <i>"No Myspace, no Facebook, no <u>NOTHING!</u> And yet, HE WALKS AMONGST US."</i> You'll see what I mean.<br />
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Before you buy this, or you don't, I just want to say that Roz Chast is my hero. I really want to be a Roz Chast type cartoonist when I'm older. Why do I worship her like I do? Well, as I said before, she makes things you never thought was funny and makes them a joke that has you bending over laughing. After you read this, your sense of humor will be slightly different. Not in a bad way. Just, you'll find yourself thinking, <i>I bet Roz Chast could make a cartoon out of this.</i> Trust me when I say she's one of the best cartoonists in the world.<br />
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<b>Ages:</b> 11 and up (some humor may be a little... old, if you know what I mean)<br />
<b>If you like this, you'll like: </b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Side-Gallery-Gary-Larson/dp/0836220625/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374006411&sr=8-1&keywords=the+far+side">The Far Side Gallery</a><br />
Interested in this book? Click on the link below:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Side-Gallery-Gary-Larson/dp/0836220625/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374006411&sr=8-1&keywords=the+far+side">Theories of Everything</a>Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-51773745492514912942013-07-14T13:33:00.003-07:002013-07-14T13:33:50.170-07:00Wonder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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August Pullman, a kid with a facial deformity, is used to being stared at, called names, made fun of, and anything else you can think of along that line of thought. But nothing can prepare him for middle school. Bullies and backstabbing are some of the things he faces. Remember, it's hard being a new kid, but being a new kid with a facial deformity? Three times as hard. But, August has his family, his two best friends, Jack and Summer, and the principal to help him through it. This book is life-changing. Trust me, this book makes you wonder if there's anything you can do to make a person's life a little better. Or maybe if there's something you're already doing that makes a person feel good.<br />
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<b>You'll like this if you liked:</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Out-My-Mind-Sharon-Draper/dp/1416971718/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373833853&sr=8-1&keywords=out+of+my+mind">Out of My Mind</a><br />
<b>Ages: </b>9 and up<br />
Interested in this book? Click on the link below:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/WONDER-R-J-Palacio/dp/8496735710/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373833992&sr=1-3&keywords=wonder">Wonder</a>Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-34959958402683686952013-07-14T13:12:00.003-07:002013-07-15T16:05:23.361-07:00Maus<br />
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A story of a Holocaust survivor in graphic novel form. Dark and powerful, yet moving, you hear about the author's parents, Vladek and Anja Spiegelman's time on the streets and Auschwitz in World War II. In a nutshell, these two are desperately yet cleverly saving themselves from the Nazis. (That's the first book). However, they are captured and sent to Auschwitz, a terrible concentration camp, where death and pain are everyday happenings. (That's the second book). Parents, depending on age, I would read this before your child. This, obviously, is an intense book. <br />
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<b>Awards:</b> Pultizer Prize<br />
<b>You should read this if you like</b>: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Persepolis-Story-Childhood-Marjane-Satrapi/dp/037571457X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373833641&sr=8-1&keywords=persepolis">Persepolis 1</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Persepolis-2-The-Story-Return/dp/0375714669/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373833737&sr=8-1&keywords=persepolis+2">Persepolis 2</a> <br />
<b>Ages: </b>12 and up<br />
Interested in this book? Click on the link below:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Maus-Survivors-Father-Bleeds-History/dp/0394747232/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373831846&sr=8-1&keywords=maus">Book 1</a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Maus-II-Survivors-Troubles-Began/dp/0679729771/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1373832668&sr=8-1&keywords=maus+2">Book 2</a>Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-26117116400322489852013-07-09T15:54:00.002-07:002013-07-09T19:49:54.745-07:00One Crazy Summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Three African-American sisters, Delphine, Vonetta, and Fern travel to California in1968 to meet their mama for the first time. Their mama had left the three of them with papa and "Big Ma" when they were very young so they expected, at the very least, a hug or an apology. When they meet her, they realize their expectations were <i>very off </i>track. Their mother, Cecile (or Nzila, her poet name) doesn't seem to care for them at all, so the three sisters have to fend for themselves. They encounter the Black Panthers, best friends, worst enemies, strange whispers, and Crazy Kelvin.<br />
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<i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-Crazy-Summer-Rita-Williams-Garcia/dp/0060760907">One Crazy Summer</a></i>, by Rita Williams-Garcia</div>
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<b>Age: 9-12</b><br />
<b>Awards:</b> National Book Award Finalist, Scott O'Dell, Newberry, and a Gazillion More</div>
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<b>You'll Like this If You Liked</b>: <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Esperanza-Rising-Pam-Munoz-Ryan/dp/0756910560/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373410156&sr=1-1&keywords=esperanza+rising">Esperanza Rising</a></i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Esperanza-Rising-Pam-Munoz-Ryan/dp/0756910560/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1373410156&sr=1-1&keywords=esperanza+rising">,</a> by Pam Munoz Ryan</div>
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Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-48901284885018793102013-04-15T14:42:00.005-07:002013-04-21T08:38:40.480-07:00The Olympians <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Okay, I'm going to be honest here: these books are awesome. When I first got this series, I was obsessed with Greek gods. I knew anything and everything there was to know about them. So when I bought them I was really excited. See, the author (George O'Connor) doesn't talk abut Greek gods the way a history textbook would. He makes them into super heroes. They're not boring descriptions of the Battle of Troy, they're stories like Perseus fighting Medusa with a magic sword (See, "<u>Athena</u>"), or Hercules and his 12 labors (See "<u>Hera</u>"). But I think one of the best parts of <u>The Olympians</u> are the "G(r)eek Notes" in the back of the book. It's where he describes some of the scenes in the book. But he makes them funny with his own opinions. The illustrations are really cool, too. Zeus's lightning bolts seemed to flicker and sparkle on the pages.<br />
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Interested in this book? Click on the link below:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Zeus-King-Olympians-George-OConnor/dp/1596434317/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366062097&sr=1-1&keywords=zeus+george+o%27connor"> The Olympians Book 1 Zeus</a><span id="goog_1990088300"></span><span id="goog_1990088301"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a>Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7173849343800930804.post-34993719351754448872013-04-14T17:56:00.000-07:002013-04-21T07:59:30.192-07:00The Adventures of Tintin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When I was in kindergarten, my aunt Lynn gave me three comic books for my birthday: The Adventures of Tintin volumes 1, 2, and 3. When I first read them, I was confused. They were comics. Comics were a different world for me. Pictures and patterns and words so mixed up, you would get dizzy reading them. But after a while, I began to understand them. I would become so absorbed in these books, people would have to call my name at least four times to get my attention. I became addicted to comic books. What I'm trying to get across here is that these were my first comics. The start of everything. I liked to read before, but after Tintin I devoured books. Books became my worlds, places where I could fly, walk through scorching deserts, and go to China all without leaving my chair. These books are about a reporter called Tintin, his faithful dog Snowy, and Captain Haddock, a drunkard who usually leads them into trouble. They go on many adventures including a quest to find a statue with a million dollar diamond inside, the moon, a king's scepter, and treasure chest to name a few. Tintin always manages to beat the bad guys and come out on top.<br />
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Interested in these books? Click on the link below:<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Adventures-Tintin-America-Cigars-Pharaoh/dp/0316359408/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1366060514&sr=1-1&keywords=the+adventures+of+tintin">The Adventures of Tintin Vol. 1</a>Phoebehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13137840901741935014noreply@blogger.com6