CONTEMPORARY REALISTIC FICTION AND FANTASY - HOW I LIVE NOW

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Rosoff, Meg. HOW I LIVE NOW. New York: Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN 0385746776

2. PLOT SUMMARY
This is a fascinating novel about 15 year old Daisy who goes to live with her cousins in England simply to get away from all of her troubles and woes (mainly anorexia and a stepmother that she doesn’t care for). She quickly finds herself completely absorbed with her new family, especially her cousin Edmond. Her new found happy times do not last long, as her new loved ones are all too soon torn away from her by the perils of war. Daisy goes through a ton of changes both emotionally and physically all in the name of survival.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Daisy, a 15 year old Manhattanite who goes to live with her cousins in England, gives the reader a very private insight into her world as she sees it. The reader witnessed her struggles and triumphs as she grew up throughout the novel. Daisy lived through parental rejection, self centeredness, forbidden love, deprivation, loyalty, devotion, and the harsh realities and consequences of war. At first, things couldn’t be better with life with the cousins, but soon their little paradise came crashing down around them as war set in and life as they knew it was severely altered and they were all separated. Daisy found herself taking on a parental role and taking care of Piper, her younger cousin.
Phrases such as “Mum” and “And then I looked so far into her eyes that I could practically see out the back of her head” give the reader a sense of the unique culture and setting of the story. Rosoff puts her own style into the story of a 15 year old by her lack of punctuation and ramblings which can often indicate how confusing the teen years can be.


4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
BOOKLIST starred review: “More central to the potency of Rosoff's debut, though, is the ominous prognostication of what a third world war might look like, and the opportunity it provides for teens to imagine themselves, like Daisy, exhibiting courage and resilience in roles traditionally occupied by earlier generations.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “Though the novel has disturbing elements, Rosoff handles the harshness of war and the taboo of incest with honest introspection.”
PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY starred review: “Like the heroine, readers will emerge from the rubble much shaken, a little wiser and with perhaps a greater sense of humanity.”
MICHAEL PRINTZ AWARD
GUARDIAN CHILDREN’S FICTION AWARD
BRANFORD BOASE AWARD

5. CONNECTIONS
*Students are able to get a sense of what living through a war has on a person emotionally as well as physically. They can keep their own personal journal of their emotions while the book is being and read and discussed.
* Other thought provoking books for young people by Meg Rosoff:
Rosoff, Meg. WHAT I WAS. ISBN 9780670018444
Rosoff, Meg. THE BRIDE’S FAREWELL. ISBN 9780670020997

CONTEMPORARY REALISTIC FICTION AND FANTASY - PRINCESS ACADEMY

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hale, Shannon. 2005. PRINCESS ACADEMY. New York, NY: Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books. ISBN 9781599900735

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Mira, a fourteen year old girl, who lives on “her mountain” with her people soon finds herself attending a “princess academy” established by the king for all of the girls in her village. The prince himself would pick his bride from the all too eager hopefuls. Mira soon emerges as the leader on her quest of discovery to find her self-confidence, knowledge, her father’s approval , and a way to help her village.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The story line of this fantasy novel can be compared to the mountains themselves, full of peaks and valleys. The tale that is weaved is one of self-discovery for Mira. Mira is an unsure 14 year old that finds herself growing up quite quickly and becomes extremely proud of her roots by the end of the story, which is evident when she chooses to stay on the mountain with her people. When the girls at the academy meet Tutor Olana, they are taken back by her rigidness and cruelness. In an attempt to survive Tutor Olana and kidnappers, Mira discovers that she has the power of “quarry speech” and draws from her internal strength to win over Olana and the rest of the girls. The reader is uniquely aware of when Mira is thinking because her thoughts occur in italics. For example, she thinks: “Step one- state the problem : Step Two – admit your own error” and then she talks out loud. Several themes are prevalent in this fantasy novel including families, education, relationships, and home sweet home.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
BOOKLIST Review: “Hale nicely interweaves feminist sensibilities in this quest-for-a-prince-charming, historical-fantasy tale.”
HORN BOOK review: “Hale's writing is clear and her descriptions vivid. Her imaginary world, peopled by strong yet vulnerable characters, is quietly memorable.”
KIRKUS starred review: “There are many pleasures to this satisfying tale: a precise lyricism to the language ("The world was as dark as eyes closed" or "Miri's laugh is a tune you love to whistle") and a rhythm to the story that takes its tropes from many places, but its heart from ours.”
*NEWBERRY HONOR BOOK
*ALA NOTABLE CHILDREN’S BOOK
* BOOK SENSE CHILDREN’S PICK
*NECBA TOP 10 FALL BOOK

5. CONNECTIONS
Classroom discussions can be had over finding yourself, family connections, trade & commerce, and being true to your ancestors. Can also spark a discussion about rock quarrying.
*Books about rock quarries
Kehoe, Michael. THE ROCK QUARRY BOOK. ISBN 9780876141427
*Other fiction books about princesses
Lasky, Kathryn. BORN TO RULE. ISBN 006058761X
Gilman, Phoebe. THE GYPSY PRINCESS. ISBN 0590865439

CONTEMPORARY REALISTIC FICTION AND FANTASY - ARTEMIS FOWL

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Colfer, Eoin. 2001. ARTEMIS FOWL. New York, NY: Hyperion Paperbacks for Children. ISBN 0786817070

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Twelve year old Artemis Fowl just happens to be a genius that comes from a long line of master criminals, and through the years they have managed to dwindle the family fortune. Artemis comes up with a brilliant scheme to build back the family wealth. All he has to do catch a fairy, and trick the fairies into giving him all of their gold. He was able to obtain a copy of the fairies “BOOK” that contains all of their secrets, kidnapped a fairy, and put a plan into action. Not everything goes according to his plan, and things soon turned into mayhem.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Artemis, last in his line of family criminal master minds, acts strangely like a grown man who is stuck inside of a 12 year old boy. He was able to artfully and carefully devise a plan to capture a fairy, who just happened to be a LEPrecon (an underground female officer). In an attempt to steal her gold, she proved to be much more than what he bargained for. Throughout his quest to steal the pot of gold, Artemis became intimately aware of fairy magic, magical powers, and a whole new world that he could never have imagined. He encountered magical creatures such as the LEP commander Julius Root, and the dwarf named Mulch Diggums who expertly dug tunnels. Not your typical “Good Always Wins” type of fantasy novel, but definitely entertaining!

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
BOOKLIST Review: “Characterizations and dialogue enhance a rollicking tale that will have readers rolling on the floor and eagerly anticipating the planned sequel as well as the movie in the works for 2002.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL Review: “Fun to read, full of action and humor, this is recommended for all public libraries and to readers of all ages.”

5. CONNECTIONS
Classroom discussions (Venn Diagrams) can be had comparing the lives of “fairies” to the mud people, or their technological advances to the technology of today. Sequels can be read to keep up with the characters. Might be a stretch, but possible could be compared to the Harry Potter stories.
*Sequel Books
Colfer, Eoin. ARTEMIS FOWL: the Arctic Incident. ISBN 9780786248254
Colfer, Eoin. ARTEMIS FOWL: the Eternity Code. ISBN 9780786814930