Monday, May 4, 2020

I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

Title: I Hunt Killers
Author: Barry Lyga
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: April 3, 2012

Format: eBook
Price: $8.99
Page Count: 368
ISBN-13: 9780316201742

Reading Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)
Lexile: 750
Interest Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)

Annotation: Jasper "Jazz" Dent, son of the world's most infamous serial killer Billy Dent, helps the police hunt down the new serial killer in town.

Plot and Content Summary: Jazz wants to be nothing like his father, locked up in jail for murdering over 100 women. But in his mind, it would be so easy for him—his father taught him all he needed to know. To atone for his father's sins, he insists on helping the police with their new investigation. There's a new serial killer on the loose, and it looks like his crimes are similar to Billy Dent's. He drags his easily-bruisable best friend, Howie, into his schemes, and, of course, does whatever it takes to solve the case.

Evaluation: Aside from the mystery aspect of who the new serial killer is, what is most fascinating is the way we get to be in Jazz's mind. Growing up, his dad taught him all the ways to murder someone and cover up the tracks. He is destined to be a serial killer—and often thinks about how killing someone would feel—but fights again these urges because, like he often chants, "people matter."

Jazz's relationships with his best friend, Howie, who is the total opposite of him, and his girlfriend, Connie, develops so well—I love how much the two of them humanize Jazz and brings out the softer side of him. Howie and Jazz are a hoot together, and it is refreshing to see Connie challenge Jazz.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: One situation I think I Hunt Killers features well is absent adult role models. Jazz's father is in jail and we are not quite certain what happened to his mother, so he lives with his grandma. However, Jazz's grandma has issues of her own, so Jazz is her caretaker instead of the other way around. There isn't any Jazz can turn to for support, aside from friends his age, and this could be comforting for anyone who can relate.

Issues Present: I Hunt Killers has been banned for being too violent for its target audience, and I can't disagree with that. There are a lot of gruesome scenes. However, this does not mean it should be removed from the library. Teens are already being exposed to violence in many different ways outside of books—the news, movies, real life, etc. This book allows them to grapple with and experience the consequences of violence.

Book Talk Ideas:
  • What is Jazz's relationship with his father like? How does it affect the way he lives?
  • How do Howie and Connie show us who Jazz really is?
  • Why does Jazz constantly repeat to himself, "people matter?"
  • With the way this book ended, what do you think really happened with the serial killer and the bigger issue?

Genre/Subgenres: Thrillers and suspense

Readalikes: Breaker by Kat Ellis; The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey; Still Waters by Ash Parsons; The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes; Acceleration by Graham McNamee; The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting

References
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Sunday, May 3, 2020

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Title: Twilight
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 5, 2005

Format: Hardcover
Price: $22.99
Page Count: 544
ISBN-13: 9780316160179

Reading Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)
Lexile: 720
Interest Level: Grades 11 and up (ages 14+)

Annotation: Bella Swan moves to Forks, Washington to live with her father and meets a very handsome boy at school. A very handsome boy who is not human.

Plot and Content Summary: Bella moves from Arizona to Forks, Washington to live with her father, Charlie, so her mom can travel with her new husband. At her new school, she attracts a lot of attention from boys, but the very attractive Edward Cullen seems repulsed by her. Bella is distraught, wondering what she did wrong—is it the way she smells? After Edward saves her from a car accident, Bella knows something is up. But finding out who Edward really is might put her life in danger.

Evaluation: The writing was mediocre and the plot a step up from that, but I understand the appeal. There is fun in the mystery of Bella living her life "on the edge"—any second, Edward could kill her—but the romance is quite cringe-worthy. Edward likes Bella for the way she smells, and Bella likes Edward because ... he is good-looking? Even if the attraction is there, there is no reason to believe it should escalate to love that quickly. Aside from that, it was interesting to learn about Edward and his family's history of becoming vampires and how that world operates.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Bella learns about vampires and how they live their day-to-day. There are a lot of dangers to being in a relationship with Edward, but Bella decides that it is worth it. This is not meant to be looked at as admirable, but perhaps reflects our human nature and our desire for things that are not the best for us. We want what we want, no matter how harmful those things can be. Seeing this from an outside perspective—looking at Bella and the decisions she makes—may help us identify our weak spots.

Issues Present: Twilight has been challenged for being violent, sexually explicit, and "unsuited to age group." Toward the end of the book, it is a thrilling set of events that follow Bella and the Cullen family as they are hunting down and running away from a pair of vampires. It does get violent, but readers are not likely to copy it. Teens can handle it—and if they cannot, we have to trust that they will stop reading! Also, it is almost laughable that adults have called Twilight "sexually explicit"—the furthest that Edward and Bella go is kiss.

Book Talk Ideas:
  • Does Edward treat Bella the same before and after she finds out that he is a vampire? Why do you think so?
  • Does Bella treat Edward the same before and after she finds out that he is a vampire?
  • Discuss Bella's relationship with her father, Charlie. Is this "normal?"
  • Why do you think Bella and Edward want to be together even though it is dangerous?

Genre/Subgenres: First person narratives; Paranormal romance; Supernatural

Readalikes: Wake by Lisa McMann; Firelight by Sophie Jordan; Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon; Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater; Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

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Saturday, May 2, 2020

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Title: The Naturals
Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Publication Date: November 5, 2013

Format: eBook
Price: $7.99
Page Count: 320
ISBN-13: 9781423181187

Reading Level: Grades 7 and up (ages 12+)
Lexile: 690
Interest Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)

Annotation: With an almost-supernatural sense of reading people, Cassie agrees to join the FBI's program for talented teens and help them crack cold cases.

Plot and Content Summary: Cassie is able to read people very well, and the FBI wants someone like her in their teen program. She agrees to participate, hoping it will bring her closer to finding out who murdered her mom. The program moves her into a house with other teens similar to her, and Cassie learns that there are a lot of secrets and threats. With a new serial killer on the loose, all the teens must team up and put their heads together to solve this case.

Evaluation: This was so much fun to read from beginning to end. Being in the mind of someone who picks up on so many details was incredibly interesting, and especially so when she met other teens of similar natures. Teens reading this will no doubt enjoy the banter, jokes, and games between Cassie and her housemates. The Naturals is a suspenseful and plot-driven first book in a series—the way Barnes ties everything together is so smart!

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: The Naturals is a great book for anyone looking to escape reality and wanting to get lost in a good story. For teens who have lost parents, they may be able to relate to Cassie and her loss. It may be comforting to take her perspective and follow her as she tries to figure out what happened to her mom. Although their experiences may differ, knowing that someone shares the same feeling of not having a parent or older adult figure could help work out lingering emotions.

Issues Present: There is a lot written in this series starter that can be looked at as unrealistic or exaggerated, but nothing is completely impossible. And even if it was, there is nothing wrong with escapist literature. Sometimes, we need a fun story to enjoy and temporarily forget life problems.

Book Talk Ideas:
  • Discuss Cassie's relationship with each of her housemates. Do you think their abilities affect (both positively and negatively) it?
  • How does murder of Cassie's mom affect how Cassie approaches life?
  • Were you able to guess who the serial killer was?

Genre/Subgenres: Thrillers and suspense

Readalikes: I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga; How to Lead a Life of Crime by Kirsten Miller; Don't Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon; My Sister's Stalker by Nancy Springer; The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

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