Category: Fantasy

In 16 years of life, “A,” an entity who is neither male or female, has lived every day in a different body. The name “A” is self given. That, an email address, and a favorite book are the only consistencies A knows. Everything else is a mysterious, Quantum Leap-style existence, with no relationships, no family, no connections.

Enter Rhiannon. On the day A inhabits the body of Justin, Rhiannon’s self-absorbed boyfriend, A connects. The dilemma is clear. How do you maintain a relationship, let alone explain your unique situation, when tomorrow is always uncertain? Uncertainties exist for all of us, but the variety of bodies, lives, families, distances, mental/physical health situations, and transportation options dictate the level of control A has in pursuing this connection.

With no rules and no explanation as to why A is destined to live this way, A has had to create rules. Try not to derail the life of who you are inhabiting too much. Try to be responsible with a body that is not your own. Embrace goodness. If possible, try to leave the person a bit better than when you arrived, even inserting some happy memories once in a while.

Seeing glimpses of so many lives has given A a bit of an advantage in some ways, but has also created some severe deprivations. If there is any positive lesson to be learned from witnessing A’s struggles, it is the importance of stability and loving relationships in a person’s life.

There is no doubt that David Levithan is a creative writer. I was much more absorbed in this story than with Dash & Lily. The author makes some fascinating choices with the bodies A inhabits.  I still think Levithan walks a tightrope in some of his themes and ideas, but I understand that is his prerogative. But as such, it’s my opinion that parents ought to pre-read his books.

As I mentioned in another review, I am not in the author’s target age demographic. I cannot help but look at his YA novels from an adult perspective. And, while Every Day was not peppered throughout with popular profanities (as in Dash & Lily,)  David Levithan’s strong social opinions took their place. It’s clear he has an unapologetic loathing for many things most people would consider traditional.

As far as plot, my main dissatisfaction with Every Day was the ending. It was horrendous because, in order to know what really happens next, the reader is forced to move on to the sequel, Another Day.  I don’t like feeling forced. (Does anyone?)

A half-hearted (and forced) 8/10 stars.

In Gathering Blue, a companion book to The Giver, the world is a harsh place.  It begins with a young crippled girl named Kira mourning over the body of her dead mother.  Fatherless before she was born, Kira now has no one and nothing, except for an innate talent with needle and thread.

Lois Lowry has created a dark and primitive setting filled with dense forests and unknown beasts. People are competitive and thuggish, scrounging for Life’s basic necessities. Weakness has no place here and children are taught this at an early age.

Kira, however, was raised differently by a mother who fought to keep her “broken” infant. She knows light and love still exist.  Still, Kira must struggle to survive in a community that does not want her.  One, that with all of its brutality, still has strict traditions.  There are rules to be followed and leaders to be obeyed.

Gathering Blue does not pick up where The Giver left off. No time period is given. I simply told myself that it was another “community,” as described in the first book–but one that functions very differently.

Lois Lowry’s real skill is her storytelling and character development. She is masterful at giving readers just enough information to drive the plot, but allows us to draw our own conclusions before confirming them. I have never seen a writer so gifted at this.

Like in The Giver, “humanity” is the underlying theme of Gathering Blue.  The more you see characters devoid of this trait, the more you are aware of your own.

10/10 stars

When I was in college and majoring in Humanities, my brother used to tease me by saying that I was studying how to “be human.”  His good-natured mockery annoyed me a little, but after reading The Giver, I now realize that studying how to be human is exactly what I was doing.

When we use the word “humanity,” what does that mean?  Is it a noun?  A verb? An adjective?  Is it spiritual or evolutionary? And can it be taken away?

Even online dictionary definitions are a bit vague.  “Branches of learning.” (Humanities.) “Human attributes or qualities.” (Humanity.)

I pose this question:  Branches of learning according to whom?  Human attributes or qualities according to whom?  All of mankind?  Others in our particular culture?

Which brings me full circle to the question, can it be taken away?

In The Giver, nameless communities who subscribe to the idea of “Sameness,” are doing their very best (with much success) to force the humanity out of humans.  This is done by removing choice and suffering, the very things that aid our individuality, wisdom and personal growth.

Only one person, the Giver, is burdened with the memories of generations before when Sameness didn’t exist.  And his protegee, the Receiver, is training to succeed him.

I will say no more about the plot because the beauty of this story is letting it unfold before you in the timeline the author has created.  Lois Lowry, in a mere 200 pages, produces a world that we all, jokingly, have said would be a better one.  The truth, however, is very different.

Her writing is as efficient and ordered as the community itself.  No words are wasted. No expository paragraph is set to take up space.  She treats her readers as intelligent, feeling, thinking beings–the opposite of the way those in the community are treated.

The only spoiler I will put here–something to expect–there is no ending.  This is the first book in a series of four. Does that lessen its impact?  No.  This is a beautifully written, profound story that makes you question what is and what could be.

The Giver Series:

A quick commentary about the upcoming film being released on Friday.  For lack of a better word, there is a certain “volume” (noise level, not book number) to The Giver.  Lois Lowry’s language is quiet and steady, much like the characters’ surroundings.  The film’s trailer shows that volume turned up and intensified.  The trailer also reveals important plot points, which is disappointing. Some films based on books enhance the story (the Harry Potter films are excellent examples.)  Some do not. I fear that seeing the film first will detract from anyone’s upcoming literary experience.  If you have the patience and desire, do yourself a favor and read the book first. I think you’ll be glad you did. 🙂

10/10 Enthusiastic Stars

Somewhere between the X-Men comics and the movie Groundhog Day lies the story of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, a debut novel for its author.

Aimed at teens, this book begins by introducing us to Jacob Portman, an introverted young man with no direction who works at a drug store.  The caveat is that his family owns the drug store and hundreds just like it.  Like many teens who come from considerable wealth, Jacob values little and has no direction, secure in the knowledge that his family’s money will always support him.  His circle consists of his heiress mother, frustrated father, condescending psychologist, and a grandfather he adores.

His grandfather, Abe, who was a survivor of the Nazi regime, grew up in a children’s home.  Never knowing which stories to believe, Jacob was entertained by Abe’s collection of freaky vintage photographs.  The photos, taken long before Photoshop existed, contain images that have clearly been manipulated in some way.  Or have they?  A girl who floats in air, another who holds a ball of fire in her hand, these cannot be real, right?

Jacob’s life is suddenly sent into a tailspin when he witnesses his grandfather’s death, which is both horrific and mysterious. Using his grandfather’s last words as his guide, Jacob begins a quest to find out the truth about the man he loved most in the world and where he came from.

It is on this quest that the story and setting changes dramatically, from a posh Florida suburb to a tiny island near Wales.  Everything Jacob knows about home, family and himself is about to change.

I was riveted for the first half of the book. Any story that takes its protagonist on the journey this one does is going to hold your attention. The plot is definitely unique and has the makings for a film, which I read is already being made.  My issue is character development.  Jacob and Emma–a “peculiar” child who takes center stage–are developed well, but don’t make us care about them much. (In reading other reviews I know I’m in the minority when I say that.) The other peculiar children are difficult to keep track of, as in which one has which peculiar ability. (Some “peculiarities” are a bit disturbing.) And one of the most important characters, Miss Peregrine herself, feels like a mystery even at the book’s end.  The person I found myself caring about the most, Jacob’s father, had no ending to his plot line.

Two things are clear by the end. This story is an outline for a film and it is going to have a sequel (available 1/14/14.)  But it could have been so much more.  And, in a shameless comparison with the Harry Potter series, JK Rowling showed us that you can have magnificent writing in modern times without profanity.  Riggs seems to want to make friends with his readers by peppering the book with words you hear kids say today.  If the writing is of high enough quality, you can connect with today’s teens without doing that.

Overall, Miss Peregrine is an interesting story that did not meet its full potential. However, I am curious to see where the sequel takes us.

8 out of 10 stars