Submitted by Angelina
Fans of 1984 and Brave New World will not be disappointed. Society has become a disinfected and homogenized version of what it was. Children are born to designated Birthmothers and given to “families” during the ceremony of One. Family is no more, adult males and females live together only long enough to raise the children in a secure environment. All citizens look basically the same, everyone must conform. If you deviate in any way, you will be Released (euthanized).
This story follows Jonas. Jonas is preparing himself for the ceremony of Twelve. The ceremony of Twelve decides what occupation will be given to each citizen. Jonas is excited, as are all the children. However, Jonas is different from the other children. While the other children all have dark eyes, he has light eyes. You later learn that this is what gives him the ability to “see beyond”( color). During his ceremony of Twelve, it is announced that he will become the next Receiver of Memory. He will hold the memories before the time of Sameness, memories now held by The Giver. As Jonas begins his training, through the memories he learns of concepts such as truth, beauty, love, and compassion. It is then that he begins to see the shallow hypocrisy of the world he now inhabits.
The author keeps the book at a steady pace, nothing too jarring. My only complaint when I first read this book was that the ending was too ambiguous. When he escapes the community with Gabriel, an infant with eyes like him, you are not sure if they die of hypothermia in the mountains or if they are rescued. However, that has since been settled by the sequels.
As a young adult, this book resonated with me because I was beginning to think for myself. I was born and raised in a small town in Michigan. Hypocrisy was something I could understand. It was all about sins of omission. Afternoon brunches often had conversations about nothing while a 600 pound gorilla sat in the same room that everyone saw but no one would acknowledge. We white-washed the dirty parts of our lives the same way the council white-washed the dirty parts of humanity.
Why are there so many challenges? I believe it is because people are squeamish when it comes to the topics of euthanasia, selective breeding, and social conditioning. If anything, this book does not encourage these ideas, but rather it discourages it. I sometimes wonder if the people who place challenges on a book have ever even it read it.
Submitted by Collette
The Pigman is about John and Lorraine, two kids who start out pulling pranks on the unsuspecting. They eventually pull a prank on Mr. Pignati, who, through a series of events, becomes their friend. He is a kind, sweet, lonely old man who is good to these also lonely teenagers. What I remember most starkly is how badly it all turned out. At first, there’s the hope that, although they met through pranks, somehow something better, something bigger would come from this friendship. And, it’s true, for a while at least. They gain something from one another, a sense of belonging, as well as fun. But through their careless actions, John and Lorraine tragically wound the Pigman--a blow from which none of them will recover, either physically or, in the case of John and Lorraine, emotionally.
I remember the epiphany that I had. My parents were correct--you really needed to think before you acted. Little actions can have big consequences. (Who knew they were right?) The ending still makes me sad. For me to feel and remember even that much after 30 years (*sigh*), I think that’s the sign of an amazing book with a great lesson.
Submitted by CC
--Sixth grade, a new school, I’m changing and so is the world around me. My teacher, Mrs. Harris, reads a book out loud every day after lunch. She read “Rifles for Waite” by Harold Keith, the book that led me to my profession as an historian, she also read “Bridge to Terabithia.” She simply sat down, opened the book, and started reading. We were transformed. No other book had been as compelling to us before. No other book had us talking about it at lunch and wondering what would happen next. No other book earned such an emotional reaction with boxes of tissue being passed around the classroom while we listened as one of our new best friends died.
The story of two kids and the imaginary world they inhabit isn’t groundbreaking. What makes this story so different is the depth the characters have, and not just hero and heroine. Family, teachers, and other supporting characters are well drawn. They are there for a specific reason, to move the story along. So often in young adult (I hate that phrase) books the supporting cast is nominal and rather flat. Their only purpose is set dressing for the h/h. Here they are truly part of the story and part of the lives of the h/h.
When tragedy and death strike it is love, friendship, and compassion that allow the survivor to truly get on with the business of living.
I’m confused as to why this book would be banned. It is a story of friendship, love, loss and living. It teaches us that we’re not quite the odd-ball we thought we were, but that we each are truly special. It allows kids to explore reality from the safety of fantasy. To learn to make their own world, so they can better make their way in the REAL world. It is strong, stirring, and encouraging. There is a reason why it has won so many awards including the coveted Newberry Medal Award and has been in print for so many years, because at it’s core it is a well told, engaging story.
Submitted by Goblin
The story focuses on George and Lennie, two migrant workers. Lennie is physically powerful but mentally sub-normal. George is a cynical but essentially kind-hearted man who looks out for Lennie. Their dream is to save up enough money to buy a small farm where they won’t have to work constantly in order to survive.
Lennie likes to stroke soft and pretty things, but he doesn’t control his abnormal strength well. At the beginning of the story, George forces Lennie to throw away the body of the pet mouse Lennie has accidentally killed. It turns out Lennie once killed a puppy in a similar fashion, and that the two men are looking for new employment because Lennie tried to stroke the dress of a girl who thought he was trying to molest her.
They find work, and with it, renewed hope that they may finally raise the money needed to buy their farm. Then Lennie tries to stroke the hair of the wife of the boss’ son and accidentally snaps her neck when she panics.
Why was this book challenged more than all but five others between 1990 and 2000? Because George saves Lennie from being lynched the only way he can. George has Lennie visualize the farm they’re going to buy, and the soft rabbits Lennie will be allowed to take care of there, and then, while Lennie is distracted by the dream, George shoots him in the back of the skull. It’s a hard ending, but one that makes perfect sense within the story.
The novella is brilliantly written. It’s a potent and sensitive depiction of how desperation and hope interact. To ban it is to delete a great work of art for the crime of being too powerful.
What harm do we come to by reading about a character’s painful choice? What harm are we likely to do? The book makes us think about suffering and what makes life bearable. We will only be finer citizens for having done so.
Submitted by Jen C
I have loved this book for more than a decade, now, and I have never exactly been able to ascertain why this book gets banned. Reeve is constantly thinking about sex, though in that middle-aged-woman-writing-this way- he wants to run his hands though Janie’s ‘serious’ red hair and put his body next to hers, rather than search for her real parents. There is some minor swearing. Plus, it reminds young people that joining a cult is awesome, because your parents totally won’t turn you in to the police.
Cooney’s books were the first step for me to reading romance novels. I grew up on her books- Camp Boy-Meets-Girl, Family Reunion, the Time series, Tune in Anytime, and The Girl Who Invented Romance. All the books feature dreamy, contemplative heroines caught in melodramatic situations. I based my life on these books, back in the day, living more of my preteen and teen years acting as a Cooney heroine would. This was not necessarily a successful endeavor, but I am still glad I got to spend my teen years with these books. Though I am now an adult, I still read and reread her books. None get to me quite like the Face on the Milk Carton. As Reeve would point out, you always remember your first… Caroline B Cooney novel.
A website that reviews romance novels from a couple of smart bitches who will always give it to you straight. No bullshit. No gushing--unless the author really deserves it.
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I’m going to have to agree with most of the posters above.
I’ve spent time on both sides of the issue. It was my parents who did the “nagging” about my weight. I love them and I know…
From Everything I Need to Know: Everyday Heroes and Heroines
OMG, please assign him the J.R. Ward books. Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please, pleeeeaaase :D. In the interest of readers I admit it would probably be better if he got a book that hasn’t been reviewed here…
Oh man, I never liked flan...but this takes it to whole new level.
Bleh.
From All I Can Say Is...
My husband started reading romances after listening to me giggle through Heyer’s Fredricka (sp?). He has prompted his male friends to try some of the more mystery/adventure titles with good results. Good writing can be found in all genres. Go…
