Definition of a Young Adult Book: written for, published for, or marketed to adolescents, roughly between the ages of 12 and 18.
I have read a few Middle Readers over the past few days, they make for an interesting comparison.
City of Ember - Jeanne DuPrau
Enjoyability: +
Rating: S (fun for all ages)
Review only no spoilers (ok Brooke?)
With heavy heart I have to say I was a little disappointed in this book. It had gotten so much publicity, and is well beloved by most kids I had high hopes for it. But I do think that it was my own fault. I went and saw the movie first. Usually that proves good for me, I can like the movie then love the book. But this time it did not happen that way. I think it was because the movie was geared towards older teens. There was a lot of fast paced action and the storyline moved quite rappidly in the film. The book was actually great, but it was geared towards the younger middle readers. After the fast paced movie, the poor book, by no fault of its own, dragged on. There were some phrases that were so simple and slow, I acually had to pause to see if I missed something somewhere. I tried to start up on the second book, but I just couldn't get up the gumption. My advise, read it....but before the movie. If you want my opinion of the movie, I highly recommend it. Bill Murray was great and the kids were super duper.
Story Line
Lina and her family, have lived in Ember all their lives. What they don't know is that 200 years previously, the 'builders' (who they worship as a sort of god) built a city underground to form a new civilization because the the world topside was distroying itsself. The 'builders' had stored in a locked box, the way out of Ember. The box would open after 200 years had passed. By the time Lina's generation had come around, everyone had forgotten about the box. Lina and expecially her friend Doon, start to get concerned when the city's generator starts breaking down and worry that the lights my go out permanatly. When they discover the opened box (and somwhat discinigrated instructions) and and evil plot involving the Mayor, they set out to save the City of Ember.
The Mysterious Benedict Society - Trenton Lee Stewart
Enjoyability: ++
Rating: S (Adventure, and Spy Missions)
Review (no spoilers):
I loved this book, from begining to end. Even though I am roughly 20 years older than the audience it was geared towards, I admit I was smitten. I loved the characters, I loved the plot, I loved the ambiance of the whole story. Unlike the previous book it didn't feel slow at any part. Now I am not saying its the greatest book ever written, far from that. But if you are looking for an easy read (even though it is quite thick for a middle reader) some good action and adventures this is your book. It was fun trying to solve some of the tests and riddles the children were given. Also the art work and chapter headings are very entertaining.
Story Line:
Four children, Reynie Muldoon, George "Sticky" Washington, Kate Wetherall, and Constance Contraire, pass a series of tests advertised in the newspaper and meet Mr. Nicholas Benedict, a man trying to stop something known as "The Thing to Come". Mr. Benedict sends them to The Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened (L.I.V.E.), where they meet Ledroptha Curtain, a man trying to take over the world using submiminal messages.
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