Farewell to Manzanar is Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston's memoir of her time in the Manzanar internment camp. The author describes what her life was like as a young child, but also looks at what this experience did to her father.
Jeanne Wakatsuki was 7 years old when World War II broke out. Her family lived in Southern California, where her father worked as a fisherman. This led to his arrest and imprisonment in North Dakota and the family's internment at Manzanar, in the Owens River Valley of eastern California. Wakatsuki describes what life was like, moving from a comfortable existence to overcrowded accommodations in an unfamiliar climate.
Wakatsuki describes many of the details of life at the internment camp, from the lack of privacy to searching around for the best cooked food to her training as a majorette. She focuses mainly on her own point of view, but also goes into the overall camp experience, with events such as the pressure to sign loyalty pledges and for young men to join the military.
At the end of the book, Wakatsuki describes what life is like when the family leaves the camp. They return to Southern California, but there is lingering racism. Also, her father has been a different man since he returned from his confinement.
Farewell to Manzanar offered an interesting lesson on what life was like for the internees. I enjoyed reading the author's story, but I would still like to know more about the history of Manzanar, and would be interested in visiting at some point.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
#25: Scat
Scat is Carl Hiaasen's third book for young readers, following Hoot and Flush. In this novel, like his others, he focuses on environmentalism and Florida, but he also tones down the content compared with his regular novels.
Scat follows the story of Nick and Marta, two high school students, who are in Mrs. Starch's biology class. Mrs. Starch is legendary as the strictest teacher in the school, with a singular focus on teaching biology. One day, she takes her biology classes on a vacation to a local swamp. While they are there, a mysterious swamp fire stars, forcing the trip to an abrupt end. After the students return to school, they realize that Mrs. Starch has not returned. The next day, principal reassures the students that Mrs. Starch had to leave due to a family emergency, but this excuse does not sit well with Nick. First of all, he is not aware of Mrs. Starch having any family, and also she had been previously threatened by Dwayne "Smoke" Scrod, a rebellious student who had a run-in with her.
Nick decided to investigate Mrs. Starch's disappearance and brings Marta along to help. They begin by visiting her house on the outskirts of town, but are chased away by a mysterious man named Twilly Spree. Although they (as well as the police) suspect Smoke to be involved with Mrs. Starch's disappearance, Nick is baffled when Smoke suddenly visits to borrow his biology book. To further this improbable connection, Smoke seeks out Nick to tell Nick that he is innocent as he runs from the police who have come to apprehend him at school. Nick and Marta's search for Mrs. Starch adds a new dimension as they try to figure out if Smoke was telling the truth.
Then of course, there is the environmental element. A man named Drake McBride from a rich family is determined to prove to his father that he is not a total failure, even though everything he has ever done suggests this. He stakes out a claim to drill for oil, then comes up with a scheme to make money from the government even though his claim has not panned out. However, he runs against obstacles as his project is repeatedly sabotaged and his employees have strange things happen to them.
Like all of Carl Hiaasen's books, Scat is filled with a variety of eccentric characters. Nick and Marta are the regular people, who get sucked into the plot to help save the environment. Drake McBride is funny, with his faux Texas cowboy act, while Dr. Dressler, the principal of Nick and Marta's school, is a stereotypical administrator who is solely out to cover his own butt when anything goes wrong. The list goes on, with the Scrod family (including a rich grandmother), Dr. Waxmo, a very strange substitute teacher, and of course Mrs. Starch.
The plot of Scat moves very quickly, as Hiaasen weaves in various subplots, such as Nick's father serving in Iraq and Nick's fascination with the Florida panther. Hiaasen also takes care to help readers picture the Florida setting he cares so much about. It adds up to a thoroughly interesting novel.
Rating: *****
Scat follows the story of Nick and Marta, two high school students, who are in Mrs. Starch's biology class. Mrs. Starch is legendary as the strictest teacher in the school, with a singular focus on teaching biology. One day, she takes her biology classes on a vacation to a local swamp. While they are there, a mysterious swamp fire stars, forcing the trip to an abrupt end. After the students return to school, they realize that Mrs. Starch has not returned. The next day, principal reassures the students that Mrs. Starch had to leave due to a family emergency, but this excuse does not sit well with Nick. First of all, he is not aware of Mrs. Starch having any family, and also she had been previously threatened by Dwayne "Smoke" Scrod, a rebellious student who had a run-in with her.
Nick decided to investigate Mrs. Starch's disappearance and brings Marta along to help. They begin by visiting her house on the outskirts of town, but are chased away by a mysterious man named Twilly Spree. Although they (as well as the police) suspect Smoke to be involved with Mrs. Starch's disappearance, Nick is baffled when Smoke suddenly visits to borrow his biology book. To further this improbable connection, Smoke seeks out Nick to tell Nick that he is innocent as he runs from the police who have come to apprehend him at school. Nick and Marta's search for Mrs. Starch adds a new dimension as they try to figure out if Smoke was telling the truth.
Then of course, there is the environmental element. A man named Drake McBride from a rich family is determined to prove to his father that he is not a total failure, even though everything he has ever done suggests this. He stakes out a claim to drill for oil, then comes up with a scheme to make money from the government even though his claim has not panned out. However, he runs against obstacles as his project is repeatedly sabotaged and his employees have strange things happen to them.
Like all of Carl Hiaasen's books, Scat is filled with a variety of eccentric characters. Nick and Marta are the regular people, who get sucked into the plot to help save the environment. Drake McBride is funny, with his faux Texas cowboy act, while Dr. Dressler, the principal of Nick and Marta's school, is a stereotypical administrator who is solely out to cover his own butt when anything goes wrong. The list goes on, with the Scrod family (including a rich grandmother), Dr. Waxmo, a very strange substitute teacher, and of course Mrs. Starch.
The plot of Scat moves very quickly, as Hiaasen weaves in various subplots, such as Nick's father serving in Iraq and Nick's fascination with the Florida panther. Hiaasen also takes care to help readers picture the Florida setting he cares so much about. It adds up to a thoroughly interesting novel.
Rating: *****
Sunday, February 15, 2009
#24: Notes From the Midnight Driver
Notes From the Midnight Driver is a young adult novel by Jordan Sonnenblick. It is told through the diary of Alex Gregory, a high school student whose parents have recently separated. Alex is a good kid, but has recently gotten into trouble.
At the beginning of the story, Alex is angry. His father has been dating his third grade teacher, while his mother is on a date of her own. Alex goes into the liquor cabinet and comes up with the brilliant idea of going to break up his father's date. Unfortunately, he ends up on the lawn of a neighbor, running over her valuable imported lawn gnome, and is taken in by the police.
As a result of his actions, Alex is sentenced to 100 hours of community service. He is specifically assigned to spend time with a man named Solomon Lewis at a nursing home. Sol is ornery and unfriendly at first, but he and Alex gradually develop a relationship. They eventually find that they share a love of music, as Alex plays guitar in the high school jazz band, while Sol had music in his past. Sol also gives Alex advice about his longtime friend Laurie, whom Alex has begun to notice in a different way.
Notes From the Midnight Driver shows what can be learned from a mistake. Alex grows a lot over the course of the book, and Sol changes from a burden to a true friend. Along the way, there are many serious moments, as well as funny ones, adding up to another winner by Sonnenblick.
At the beginning of the story, Alex is angry. His father has been dating his third grade teacher, while his mother is on a date of her own. Alex goes into the liquor cabinet and comes up with the brilliant idea of going to break up his father's date. Unfortunately, he ends up on the lawn of a neighbor, running over her valuable imported lawn gnome, and is taken in by the police.
As a result of his actions, Alex is sentenced to 100 hours of community service. He is specifically assigned to spend time with a man named Solomon Lewis at a nursing home. Sol is ornery and unfriendly at first, but he and Alex gradually develop a relationship. They eventually find that they share a love of music, as Alex plays guitar in the high school jazz band, while Sol had music in his past. Sol also gives Alex advice about his longtime friend Laurie, whom Alex has begun to notice in a different way.
Notes From the Midnight Driver shows what can be learned from a mistake. Alex grows a lot over the course of the book, and Sol changes from a burden to a true friend. Along the way, there are many serious moments, as well as funny ones, adding up to another winner by Sonnenblick.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
#23: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw is the third book in the Wimpy Kid series. If you are unaware, the series is told from the point of view of middle schooler Greg Heffley. He begins keeping a diary after his mom buys him a blank one, and the book is written in this format, with text that looks like handwriting and doodled illustrations. The plot consists of Greg getting himself into stupid situations, then trying to take the easy way out, usually getting him into more trouble.
Last Straw begins with a new year. Greg starts thinking about resolutions, but comes to the conclusion that he is the best person he knows and therefore doesn't need to make any resolutions. Instead, he makes them for the other members of his family. One example of this is that he decides that his mom needs to make less noise when she chews her potato chips.
The book continues with other hilarious endeavors. For example, Greg tries playing soccer, with disastrous results. Later in the book, Greg's dad sees what military school has done to a teenage former nemesis of his, and decides that it would be great for Greg, so Greg has to work to thwart this plan. Other things that made me laugh out loud (without giving away too much) involve a well-known children's author and a bingo game full of old ladies.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw was highly enjoyable to read, and is also enjoyable for kids. The humor is much more sophisticated that books like Captain Underpants because while Greg's situations are often ridiculous, they are also grounded in reality and do not just rely on toilet humor. The simple stick figure like drawings also add a lot to the story. This book is another success in the series, and I anticipate Wimpy Kid #4.
Rating: *****
Last Straw begins with a new year. Greg starts thinking about resolutions, but comes to the conclusion that he is the best person he knows and therefore doesn't need to make any resolutions. Instead, he makes them for the other members of his family. One example of this is that he decides that his mom needs to make less noise when she chews her potato chips.
The book continues with other hilarious endeavors. For example, Greg tries playing soccer, with disastrous results. Later in the book, Greg's dad sees what military school has done to a teenage former nemesis of his, and decides that it would be great for Greg, so Greg has to work to thwart this plan. Other things that made me laugh out loud (without giving away too much) involve a well-known children's author and a bingo game full of old ladies.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw was highly enjoyable to read, and is also enjoyable for kids. The humor is much more sophisticated that books like Captain Underpants because while Greg's situations are often ridiculous, they are also grounded in reality and do not just rely on toilet humor. The simple stick figure like drawings also add a lot to the story. This book is another success in the series, and I anticipate Wimpy Kid #4.
Rating: *****
Monday, February 9, 2009
#22: Revolutionary Road
Revolutionary Road is a book that took me three weeks to read, which for me is an eternity. I was interested in the idea of the plot and wanted to like it, but it just did not compel me, leading me to stop in the middle and read more enjoyable books before picking it up again. I will say that it was thought-provoking.
Revolutionary Road is the story of a young couple who lives in an outer suburb of New York on the namesake road. Frank and April Wheeler are about 30 years old, and are raising their two young children. They had big plans for exciting lives, but when April became pregnant with their first child, they had to settle down. Frank works at a company that once employed his father, basically spending his days avoiding doing actual work, while April stays at home with the kids. The two of them socialize with friends, but find themselves very bored with their lives.
Eventually they come to the decision that they need to make a change. April suggests that they move to Paris. She will take secretarial work while Frank finds himself. They begin telling their friends and coworkers about their grand plan, but then April gets pregnant again, and it falls through. Meanwhile, Frank attracts the attention of a superior at work when his halfhearted effort to cover up for work he was supposed to have done a long time before is positively received, leading to a promotion. Frank also begins an affair with a secretary from his office, while April commences an affair of her own.
At home, Frank and April argue frequently about the pregnancy. April wants to have an abortion, while Frank wants her to have the baby, although he can't really explain why. This leads to the final climax, which I am not going to give away, but that I found very predictable.
The main reason why I did not enjoy Revolutionary Road was that I detested both of the main characters. Frank and April seemed to spend the entire novel by trying to each be more pretentious than the other and together be more pretentious than other couples in the town. Since I found them so utterly unlikeable, I didn't really care what happened to either of them. On the positive side though, the book was well-written, with good description of the setting and the characters' emotions as they made complex decisions. While this was not one of my favorites, I can see that it would be well-received by some people.
Rating: ***
Revolutionary Road is the story of a young couple who lives in an outer suburb of New York on the namesake road. Frank and April Wheeler are about 30 years old, and are raising their two young children. They had big plans for exciting lives, but when April became pregnant with their first child, they had to settle down. Frank works at a company that once employed his father, basically spending his days avoiding doing actual work, while April stays at home with the kids. The two of them socialize with friends, but find themselves very bored with their lives.
Eventually they come to the decision that they need to make a change. April suggests that they move to Paris. She will take secretarial work while Frank finds himself. They begin telling their friends and coworkers about their grand plan, but then April gets pregnant again, and it falls through. Meanwhile, Frank attracts the attention of a superior at work when his halfhearted effort to cover up for work he was supposed to have done a long time before is positively received, leading to a promotion. Frank also begins an affair with a secretary from his office, while April commences an affair of her own.
At home, Frank and April argue frequently about the pregnancy. April wants to have an abortion, while Frank wants her to have the baby, although he can't really explain why. This leads to the final climax, which I am not going to give away, but that I found very predictable.
The main reason why I did not enjoy Revolutionary Road was that I detested both of the main characters. Frank and April seemed to spend the entire novel by trying to each be more pretentious than the other and together be more pretentious than other couples in the town. Since I found them so utterly unlikeable, I didn't really care what happened to either of them. On the positive side though, the book was well-written, with good description of the setting and the characters' emotions as they made complex decisions. While this was not one of my favorites, I can see that it would be well-received by some people.
Rating: ***
Sunday, February 1, 2009
#21: The Last Invisible Boy
I spotted The Last Invisible Boy by Evan Kuhlman while browsing at Borders, and it looked interesting, so I decided to pick it up at the library. While it contains cartoon illustrations and is written in diary form like the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, it is much more serious, mostly because of the subject matter.
The diary in this book is that of 12-year-old Finn Garrett. His father passed away unexpectedly at a relatively young age, and he is trying to deal with his feelings. As part of this, strange things begin happening to him. His skin becomes pale and his hair turns white. Finn believes that this is because he is slowly becoming invisible. Although he is somewhat ostracized at school, he is happy that his pretty and talented best friend Meli is always there when he needs her.
The book is composed of very short chapters (mostly 1-2 pages), with each being a separate entry. Some are set in the present, some are flashbacks, and others are Finn's fantasies about things like traveling through space. The entries have a good voice, especially when seen through Finn's imagination.
The Last Invisible Boy was not perfect, but it was very good. Finn idolized his dad, and presented an idealized picture of him - although his dad had some flaws, like spending too much time at work, Finn was able to ignore these, especially after his death. Also, Finn's relationship with Meli was sweet, as he imagined marrying her when they got older. However, the pacing drags a little at times, though this could be expected, given the subject matter. You also have to be in a certain mindset to read it, as it is pretty depressing. It is ultimately rewarding in the end to see Finn begin to overcome his grief.
Rating: ****
The diary in this book is that of 12-year-old Finn Garrett. His father passed away unexpectedly at a relatively young age, and he is trying to deal with his feelings. As part of this, strange things begin happening to him. His skin becomes pale and his hair turns white. Finn believes that this is because he is slowly becoming invisible. Although he is somewhat ostracized at school, he is happy that his pretty and talented best friend Meli is always there when he needs her.
The book is composed of very short chapters (mostly 1-2 pages), with each being a separate entry. Some are set in the present, some are flashbacks, and others are Finn's fantasies about things like traveling through space. The entries have a good voice, especially when seen through Finn's imagination.
The Last Invisible Boy was not perfect, but it was very good. Finn idolized his dad, and presented an idealized picture of him - although his dad had some flaws, like spending too much time at work, Finn was able to ignore these, especially after his death. Also, Finn's relationship with Meli was sweet, as he imagined marrying her when they got older. However, the pacing drags a little at times, though this could be expected, given the subject matter. You also have to be in a certain mindset to read it, as it is pretty depressing. It is ultimately rewarding in the end to see Finn begin to overcome his grief.
Rating: ****
#20: Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie
Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar is a book I originally read a while back. I enjoyed it the first time, and bought a copy, which has sat on my shelf for about a year. After I began Revolutionary Road, but made little progress, I decided to pick this up and reread it as a break. I found that it was still enjoyable the second time around.
Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie tells the story of Scott Hudson as he progresses through his freshman year of high school. Soon after he begins school, he learns that his mother is pregnant. He decides to jot down his thoughts about high school survival in a journal for his future sibling.
At school, Scott is enrolled in advanced classes, while his friends from middle school are not, so he finds himself growing apart from them. He develops a crush on Julia, a girl he has known since kindergarten, and as a way to get closer to her, he joins in succession the school newspaper, student council, and the musical. Much to his chagrin, Julia, for various reasons, does not end up participating in any of these activities, leaving Scott with a very busy schedule, but no closer to his dream girl.
Scott also deals with a variety of characters in various ways. There is his seemingly aimless older brother, Bobby, who has inherited the family's mechanical aptitude, which has seemed to pass Scott by. Mouth is a talkative classmate who Scott has known for a while and who gets on Scott's nerves. Wesley is a law-breaking upperclassman with whom Scott develops an unexpected friendship, while Lee is the mysterious new girl who does not seem to care that she does not fit in.
Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie is a book that reminds me of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, although at a little more advanced level. It has a lot of humor in it, although the situations are a little less over the top, and it lacks the cartoon drawings. Still, it provides a humorous take on the perils of adolescence. Scott has to deal with serious situations, and is able to learn a lot about himself over the course of a year.
Rating: *****
Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie tells the story of Scott Hudson as he progresses through his freshman year of high school. Soon after he begins school, he learns that his mother is pregnant. He decides to jot down his thoughts about high school survival in a journal for his future sibling.
At school, Scott is enrolled in advanced classes, while his friends from middle school are not, so he finds himself growing apart from them. He develops a crush on Julia, a girl he has known since kindergarten, and as a way to get closer to her, he joins in succession the school newspaper, student council, and the musical. Much to his chagrin, Julia, for various reasons, does not end up participating in any of these activities, leaving Scott with a very busy schedule, but no closer to his dream girl.
Scott also deals with a variety of characters in various ways. There is his seemingly aimless older brother, Bobby, who has inherited the family's mechanical aptitude, which has seemed to pass Scott by. Mouth is a talkative classmate who Scott has known for a while and who gets on Scott's nerves. Wesley is a law-breaking upperclassman with whom Scott develops an unexpected friendship, while Lee is the mysterious new girl who does not seem to care that she does not fit in.
Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie is a book that reminds me of Diary of a Wimpy Kid, although at a little more advanced level. It has a lot of humor in it, although the situations are a little less over the top, and it lacks the cartoon drawings. Still, it provides a humorous take on the perils of adolescence. Scott has to deal with serious situations, and is able to learn a lot about himself over the course of a year.
Rating: *****
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