Category Archives: Fiction

“The Secret Life of Bees”

Posted on June 24, 2008 by Victoria Waddle

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd Well, normally I write up a little review of the book, but since I know that this entry is primarily for those of you who are reading “The Secret Life of … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Junior Project, Literary Read Alike, Multicultural | 434 Comments

PopCo

Posted on January 28, 2008 by groovygals

“PopCo” by Scarlett Thomas is a send-up of consumer-society and corporate marketing at the expense of young people. All the characters are ‘cool because they’re uncool,’ hip twenty-somethings. If you are a deep-thinking young person who doesn’t want to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Over 375 pages | Leave a comment

The Titan’s Curse

Posted on January 24, 2008 by groovygals

The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan  Book three in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series finds Percy, Thalia (daughter of Zeus), Grover and Annabeth discovering two new half-bloods or heroes. Unfortunately, Dr. Thorn of the school where the new … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Literary Read Alike, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, Young Adult Literature | Leave a comment

Sea of Monsters

Posted on January 24, 2008 by groovygals

Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan I loved The Lightning Thief so much that I had to continue the series. This is the second book in Percy Jackson and the Olympians. This time, Percy is finishing seventh grade and hoping … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Literary Read Alike, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, Young Adult Literature | Leave a comment

The Lightning Thief

Posted on January 24, 2008 by groovygals

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan  The Lightning Thief is quick, easy, good fun. The protagonist, Percy Jackson, is a hero. No, not of the Rambo type. A hero in the Greek tradition—that is, he is the son of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Fiction, Hi-Low/Quick Read, Literary Read Alike, Sci-Fi/Futuristic, Young Adult Literature | 1 Comment

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

Posted on December 4, 2007 by Victoria Waddle

How does an author make us feel connected to a narrator who has Asperger’s Syndrome–who can’t understand others’ emotions, who can’t deal with anything out of his ordinary routine, who, as a part of his compulsive behavior, will eat red … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Multicultural, Young Adult Literature | 295 Comments

Life of Pi

Posted on December 4, 2007 by Victoria Waddle

   Here’s another story that begins in India, but marches to a very different drummer. The main character, ‘Pi’ Patel is named after a swimming pool in Paris. His father, a zoo keeper, decides to immigrate to Canada, and sells … Continue reading →

Posted in Adventure Stories, Environmental Issues, Faith-Based/Religious Element, Fiction, Movie Tie-In, Multicultural, Over 375 pages | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Interpreter of Maladies

Posted on December 4, 2007 by Victoria Waddle

This book of short stories concerns Indians who are new to the United States or are first-generation Americans. They deal with their sense of foreignness while coping with the problems that people endure all over the world—infidelity, betrayal, loss of … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Multicultural, Short Stories | Leave a comment

Inheritance of Loss

Posted on December 4, 2007 by Victoria Waddle

Here we have another good book about India and the residual effects of colonialism. The novel is set Kalimpong, a Himalayan town that is on the border with Nepal. It’s the mid-1980s and a judge, who had been educated in … Continue reading →

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The Namesake

Posted on December 4, 2007 by Victoria Waddle

I sometimes read in cycles and right now, I’m interested in books that deal with cultures that I think of as ‘eastern’ as opposed to ‘western.’ In seeking these books, I’ve found several enjoyable novels (as well as solid works … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction, Multicultural | Leave a comment