Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

Taylor, Laini (2012).  Days of Blood and Starlight.  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.  ISBN: 9780316133975.  517 pages.  $18.99.

Author Website: http://www.lainitaylor.com/

Readers Annotation:  After an epic battle with Akiva, Karou joins with the Chimaera to help rebuild her people and stop the Angels from eradicating them.

Summary: Karou and Akiva split ways after the truth of their past is revealed.  Karou is actually Madrigal; a Chimaera who fell in love with an Angel and was thought to be executed.  Now the truth is out and with Brimestone is dead, leaving Karou as the only person with the knowledge to reincarnate the fallen Chimaera.  However, Thiago the leader of the remaining Chimaera army demands that Karou bring them back a little different.  Thiago wants all Chimaera to have wings so that they have more equal ground against the Angels.

While Karou struggles with her past made present, Akiva meets back up with his siblings to fight for the Angels.  Akiva refuses to follow the instructions of the Angel leaders and instead searches every battle, every Chimaera for a chance to find Karou again and try to make amends.

In a third story, Zuzanna, Karou’s best friend, and her boyfriend set off on a journey to find Karou, wherever she is.  There investigations prove successful as they locate Karou and the Chimaera near a portal to Karou’s homeland.

Karou and Akiva prepare in their own ways for the impending battles.  Both make startling revelations and decisions that will inevitably bring them back together.

Reading Level: Grades 8 and up

Interest Level: Grades 9 and up

Review and Evaluation: Days of Blood and Starlight is the second book in Taylor’s “Daughter of Smoke and Bone” series.  Taylor managed to improve on an amazing story and wonderfully descriptive writing style.  In the first installment of the series, Taylor used two perspectives, Akiva and Karou.  In the second book in the series, Taylor expanded the perspectives to include the important main characters as well as the non-essential characters that provided an otherwise unknown perspective of the story.  Taylor tells a story in such a way that you think you know what is happening until she reveals the truth as experienced  through someone else’s eyes.  Taylor truly is a masterful storyteller who weaves details and characters into a symphony of images and feelings.

Karou’s character development between the books is so well done.  In the first book, Karou is more carefree and whimsical.  Now that the truth is out and she knows who she is, who Akiva is, and where she fits in the battles between the Angels and Chimaera, her demeanor has changed.  She is now much more serious and devoted to her people.  Zuzunna’s appearance at the castle awakens a bit of the old Karou, but in general she carries herself in a much more stoic manner.

What is truly interesting is that Taylor does not create a definitely evil side and a definitely good side.  Both the Angels and Chimaera have good and bad people of each side, someone who is determined to eradicate the other and someone who wishes for peace.  Taylor has created a true underdog story in which it is a handful of people versus gigantic armies.

Finally, I must comment on the world creation.  Taylor made a world that is so vivid that I almost believe that I’ve seen it before, in person.  There is no doubt or holes in the creation.  The only complaint is waiting for the third book to be released.

Subjects/Genres: Angels, Death, Demons, Fantasy, Paranormal/Supernatural, Romance, Violence, War

Bibliotherapeutic Uses: This book is all about identity and finding a place to belong.  I would recommend this title to teens who are having problems fitting in or would like a book to escape into.

Controversial Issues:

Portrayal of Angels and Demons – People with specific religious beliefs may not appreciate the representation of angels and demons.

• Defense – The angels and demons have to references to any religious being.  Both being are created from an original lore.

Violence – The book includes violent scenes.

• Defense – The book includes scenes from battles and they are necessary to relay the difficulties of the war.

Booktalk Ideas:

Compare the angels to the angels portrayed on Supernatural.

Could you leave behind the life you know to join up with a past you do not remember?

If you could be a Chimaera, what animals would you want to be made up of?

Awards and Booklists:

• Amazon Best Teen Books, 2012
• Junior Library Guild Selection, 2012
• Los Angeles Public Library Best of 2012

Readalikes:

• Tithe by Holly Black
• Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly
• City of Bones by Cassandra Clare
• Halo by Alexandra Adornetto
• Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Professional Reviews:

Bradburn, F. (2012).  Days of Blood and Starlight (book review).  Booklist, 109 (6), 50.

Staff reviewer (2012).  Days of Blood and Starlight (book review).  Kirkus, 6 November, 2012.

Staff reviewer (2012).  Days of Blood and Starlight (book review). Publishers Weekly, 259 (42).

Why I Chose this Book: I originally wanted to read this book because it was the sequel to Daughter of Smoke and Bone.  However, I thought it was be a good edition to the blog because of the controversial supernatural elements.

The Compound by S.A. Bodeen

Bodeen, S.A. (2008).  The Compound.  Feiwel and Friends.  ISBN: 9780312370152.  248 pages.  $17.99.

Author Website: http://www.rockforadoll.com/

Readers Annotation: For six years, Eli’s been living in a bomb shelter with his parents and his sisters.  Things change when he discovers they are living a lie.

Summary: Eli’s family was prepared for the worst.  Eli’s wealthy father spared no expense designing a state-of-the-art bomb shelter in the case of a nuclear attack.  Below the earth was an enormous storehouse of food, waters, vitamins, and anything else you would need to survive.  It was there, but no one actually thought they would have to use it.  One night Eli is woken and heads towards the compound with his family in order to survive what they believe is a nuclear attack.  Eli, his parents, and his sisters make it inside before the doors lock, leaving behind Eli’s grandma and twin brother Eddy.  For six years, Eli and his family have lived in the compound. 

The doors are not set to unlock for nine more years, but Eli senses something wrong.  The supplies seem to be running low and his father is acting more and more suspicious everyday.  Eli begins to investigate the truth behind the compound and uncovers information he never would have predicted.

Reading Level: Grades 6 and up

Interest Level: Grades 7 and up

Review and Evaluation:  I didn’t know what to expect from this book.  The description makes it sound like a post-apocalyptic book, but I’m sure if I’d classify it as such.  It pretends the be a dystopian novel, but once the curtains are pulled back, it’s really more like a realistic fiction thriller. Because I didn’t really know what to expect from this book, I felt like I was on a ride.  Bodeen kept throwing new twists and turns as the book went along that you wouldn’t expect. 

We follow the story of Eli who loses his twin brother at the beginning of the book.  The beginning is very emotional.  Bodeen successful describes Eli’s feelings as he tries to deal his future life without his twin.  It’s even worse for Eli with the development of his sisters who both develop horrible personality traits after being locked up in the compound.

Eli’s dad is probably one of the worst teen fiction parents I’ve ever encountered.  After reading so many books with toxic adults this semester, it makes that statement even more powerful. Besides his attitude throughout the majority of the book, it’s his actual intentions for the compound that make it even more horrible.  I don’t want to let out the big secret at the end because it’s much better to uncover it yourself.  Bodeen does not take the easy route with any of the characters and plot twists.  The bad things are bad; the surprises leave your heart pounding.

Subjects/Genres: Coming of Age, Domestic Issues, Thriller, Toxic Adults, War

Bibliotherapeutic Uses: Eli has to deal with a horrible father and a passive mother.  The Compound is a good suggestion for teens who are having difficulties with their parents.

Controversial Issues:

Toxic parents – Eli’s father is evil.

• Defense – Bodeen had to make Eli’s father a bad person in order to make the story move forward.

Booktalk Ideas:

What would you do if you lived in a bomb shelter?

Eli is very interested in music.  What songs would be on your “End of the World” playlist?

Awards and Booklists:

• Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Award, 2011
  

• Nebraska Golden Sower Award, 2011
  

• Indiana Young Hoosier Award, 2011

• ALA’s Best Books for Young Adults nominee, 2009

• ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, 2009

• Lone Star Reading List, 2009
  

• Isinglass Award, New Hampshire, 2009

• Gateway Award and Truman Award, Missouri, 2010

• Sequoyah Award, Intermediate and High School, Oklahoma, 2010

• Washington Evergreen YA Award, 2011

• Florida Teens Read, 2011

• North Carolina Teen Book Award, 2010

• Connecticut Nutmeg Award, 2012

Readalikes:

• Shock Point by April Henry
• The Last Thing I Remember by Andrew Klavan
• Shelter by Benette Whitmore
• Deathwatch by Robb White
• The Sky Inside by Clare B. Dunkle

Professional Reviews:

Hubert, J. (2008).  The Compound (book review). Booklist, 104 (16), 40.

Staff reviewer (2008).  The Compound (book review).  Publishers Weekly, 255 (22), 57.

 

Why I Chose this Book: I thought is was an average dystopian story, but I was pleasantly surprised.

 

Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers

Myers, Walter Dean (1983).  Fallen Angels.  Scholastic Paperbacks.  ISBN: 9780590409438.  320 pages.  $6.99.

Author Website: http://www.walterdeanmyers.net/

Reader’s Annotation: After Richie graduates from high school, he joins the Army and is sent to Vietnam where he encounters events straight out of his worst nightmares.

Summary: Richie Perry graduated high school without any idea of what to do next in his life.  While he wanted to go to college, he knew that his family would never have the money.  Richie heard things about men who enlisted in the military who received money to help pay for college.  Even though the Vietnam War was already being fought, Richie heard rumors that it would be over fairly quickly.  With that information, Richie decided to join the Army.  Originally Richie was never supposed to see combat as he had a medical condition in which his knee would frequently give out.  As a result of missing paperwork, Richie was assigned to a patrol that was constantly being deployed into combat situations.  Richie fought alongside several different men from a variety of backgrounds.  Alongside his fellow soldiers and new friends, Richie experiences the horrors of war.  Richie soon realizes that he is now separated from the World, a familiar place that exists at an unreachable distance that he can only communicate with through letters home to his mother and brother.  His own existence in a place where nightmares are real and time does not exist.

Reading Level: Grades 7 and up

Interest Level: Grades 9 and up

Review and Evaluation: One of the main things that first entered my mind as I read this book was the writing style.  I have read a handful of Myers’s books, both old and new.  Fallen Angels has a more complex writing style than some of his more recent releases.  For example, I read Lockdown a few years ago and I was shocked by the simplistic writing style.  Myers may keep the same hot button, controversial topics, but he seems to be writing for more of a high interest/low reading level audience lately.  Fallen Angels is wonderfully written in the first person perspective of a young soldier in the Vietnam War.  It is stark and true, but Myers still incorporates a flow that makes the horrific experiences full of emotion.  The book begins full of the false hope of a quick victory when in reality, the war would continue on for several years.  Soon the soldiers realize their separation from what they refer to as “The World” and understand they are now a part of something different and foreign.  Life as a soldier was unlike anything they could imagine and something they could never explain to those living in “The World.”

There are so few fiction books about the Vietnam War.  This has always been a subject of great interest to me.  There were so many opinions during that time period that there truly was no right or wrong.  Correctness depended purely on who you were speaking to at that time.  One thing of note in Fallen Angels is that Myers does not take a pro-war or anti-war stance in the book.  This is a feat not easily achieved.  Every feeling is balanced throughout the book.   I don’t know if people do not write about the Vietnam War because it was so controversial or they don’t think there will be enough interest.  I wish there were more books about Vietnam so that teens can get a better understanding of the time period. Fallen Angels is a great representation of books about this controversial period of our history.

Subjects/Genres:

Violence, War, Historical Fiction

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Even though the Vietnam War has been over for several decades, Fallen Angels can still help teens today.  Specifically, Fallen Angels can help teens understand the things family members or friends may have gone through while in combat.  Often we hear that war changes people.  Obviously, if we’ve never experienced something traumatic, we can’t exactly know what it is like.  Myers’s book gives an inside look into life in combat which can help teens cope with loved ones who have been affected by war.

Controversial Issues:

Violence – It is impossible to write a successful war boo without including violence.  Myers includes necessary graphic scenes that illustrate the life soldiers endured while in Vietnam.

• Defense – Omitting the violence would be harmful to the integrity of the book.  The war was violent and in order to tell a story about the soldiers’ experiences, the violence must be present.

Language – Several offense swears are present in the dialogue of the book.

• Defense – Once again, the offensive language is necessary to the integrity of the book.  Soldiers, while as young as 17, swore.

Racial Issues – There are examples in Fallen Angels of racial tension.  Derogatory terms and situations were used that may be offensive.

• Defense  – Fallen Angels is a historical fiction novel which takes place during a time when race relations were strained.  The attitudes of some of the white soldiers towards some of the black soldiers accurately reflect the emotions of the time period.

Booktalk Ideas:

Make connections between the Vietnam War and our present military conflicts.  Make the story appear timely as we currently have soldiers fighting overseas.

Connection Fallen Angels withe Sunrise Over Fallujah

Awards and Book Lists:

• Coretta Scott King Award for Author (1991)
• Margaret A. Edwards Award (Walter Dean Myers, 2004)
• South Carolina Book Award (1991)
• Parents’ Choice Award (1988)
• Keystone Award
• Charlotte Award

Readalikes:

• Sunrise Over Fallujah by Walter Dean Myers
• Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick
• “Vietnam” series by Chris Lynch
• Search and Destroy by Dean Hughes

Professional Reviews:

• Salvadore, M. (1988). Fallen angels (book review). School Library Journal, 34(10), 118.
• Kirkus reviewer (1988).  Fallen angels (book review).  Kirkus.  15 April 1988.

Why I Chose This Book:  I remember first reading this book when I was in junior high.  I thought I had to hide the fact I was reading it because of the graphic violence and the bad language which I knew my mom would not want me reading.  When I saw it on the list, I knew I had to read it again.  I didn’t remember much of the story, but I have always loved Myers’s earlier books.