Annette's Book Spot: plague

Showing posts with label plague. Show all posts

Monday, February 5, 2018

Book Review: Hunger by Donna Jo Napoli

Hunger, by Donna Jo Napoli book cover and review

Hunger is a great introduction for younger teens to what is commonly known as the Irish Potato Famine.

The story is told from the perspective of a twelve-year-old girl, Lorraine. Her family are tenant farmers and Hunger depicts the extreme hardships of the Irish people during the long winter with no food.

Because of a chance meeting in the woods, Lorraine meets a rich English girl, Susannah, who is the landlord's daughter. Susannah is privileged and has no idea of the suffering of her father's tenants. She has been told they are lazy. Lorraine tries to set her straight, and Susannah at least helps her with some additional food.

Starvation brings with it diseases and death, and Napoli doesn't shy away from this truth. The English are not made to look very good.

The ending does leave the reader with some hope, but if you read the detailed history of Ireland at the end of the book, there is still a lot of hardship ahead for these people.

Hunger would be most appealing to middle-grade students, but older students with an interest can also learn from this tale. Hunger is a relatively short book and keeps your attention, so reluctant readers interested in historical fiction should be pointed to this one.

Published by Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman, February 13, 2018
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
272 pages

Rating: 4/5

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Book Review: Illusionarium by Heather Dixon

Illusionarium by Heather Dixon book cover and review

I was very entertained while reading Illusionarium. However, it doesn't have the "wow" factor to stick with me.

We're in an alternate universe. Jonathan is working with his dad and intends to become a doctor, as is his father. They live on a floating city very far north, so it's very stormy and cold. Everything is covered in ice.

There's a plague in one of the big cities, and the king comes to pick up Jonathan and his father to take them to his lab to find a cure. The queen has this disease, which only women contract and it always kills them in six days.

There's this chemical called fantillium that when breathed in, if you are an illusionarium you can create hallucinations and modify reality so that everyone with you sees what you create. They are supposed to work with a mad scientist that Jonathan's father has worked with before, and she is convinced that it is necessary to use fantillium to find the cure. Jonathan's father thinks she is mad and won't have anything to do with her. Jonathan, however, is more open to this approach, since he is an illusionarium.

There is an alternate universe they travel to and the cure exists there, but Jonathan must pay a huge price to get it. He's put in danger and there are many tense moments. I think the fact that this was all so fantastical made the tension just not that believable. It's kind of like a fairy tale -- you know that everything is going to turn out OK, so you don't get too tense.

The characters are distinct. The evil characters are plenty evil. The "zombies" are totally scary. The side effects of fantillium are interesting and horrid! For fans of steampunk, there are those elements too. The writing is easy and I read Illusionarium very quickly.

For lovers of a fantasy adventure that includes steampunk, Illusionarium might be appealing. For me, it was entertaining, but it's not a book that will leave a lasting impression.

Published by Greenwillow, May 19, 2015
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
368 pages

Rating: 3/5

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Book Review: Elemental, by Antony John

Elemental introduces a world that uniquely mixes dystopian and paranormal elements.

Most of the population has died from a plague. Thomas, our main character, and his friends live on an outer bank island called Hatteras. When dangerous storms come, the adults (referred to as the guardians) send their children to a neighboring island, Roanoke, via canoes to take shelter. The guardians are very secretive, and the kids really don't know much about the world outside Hatteras, past or present.

Each child, except for Thom, has a gift. They can control an element. One can predict the weather. One can catch fish with her hands, One can start fires. One can see people's deaths. Thom is an outcast because he has no elemental power.

The guardians never come to pick up the kids after the storm. The kids soon realize that pirates have taken over Hatteras, and they must survive and try to rescue their parents. They begin to explore Roanoke, which they have never been allowed to do, and find many things and unearth many secrets that their parents were keeping from them.

I found the premise interesting, even if there were some issues. I had trouble remembering the characters -- what their element was, who their parents were, how they related to Thom. Who were brothers and sisters. I think it's because we jump right into the action. Many times I've said, "this book starts out so slow." But in this case, I think Elemental would have benefited from a bit more exposition. Really, we only read about the parents for a few pages, before we are expected to remember each one's unique relationship to the story. I would have liked to know more about the characters in general before they are thrown into this survival situation. I eventually sorted this all out, but it took a while and I think I may have missed some things at the beginning. I really had trouble connecting with the characters and feeling their emotions.

Surprising things are revealed, and the motivations of the guardians and the pirates turns out to be pretty complex. The ending was sufficiently exciting, and there is a definite conclusion to this episode. Two additional novels in this series are available, Firebrand and Renegade. My high school students, and even middle schoolers, will enjoy this adventure involving pirates and some very resourceful teens.

Published by Dial, 2012
eBook obtained from the library
320 pages

Rating: 3/5

Monday, January 13, 2014

Book Review: Champion, by Marie Lu @Marie_Lu

Champion is a satisfying conclusion to a thrilling dystopian trilogy.

June and Day are one of my favorite couples. What has always been special about this series is the characterizations of these two. I want good things for June and Day SO BADLY!

In Champion, the Republic is again on the brink of war with the Colonies. It seems that the Colonies believe that the Republic has infected their population with the plague, and the Colonies are demanding the cure or else. Well, there IS no cure. This is the main problem I have with Champion. The Colonies could have found out that there is no cure. I'm not going to say how, but several times during the book I thought, "See, that should be how they find out there is no cure." This isn't a huge issue with Champion, and I still really enjoyed it, but I didn't get the whole threat thing. It made no sense. At the end, where we find out more about why they don't have a cure, well, that just made it more confusing to me.

OK. Lets get on to the good stuff. June and Day have to do their own thing. Day has to protect his little brother, Eden. He's also very sick himself, so he's dealing with a lot. June, because she's Princeps-Elect, has to follow Anden around like a puppy. But June and Day manage to get enough time alone to really make some progress in their relationship, and I loved it.

I enjoyed the re-appearance of some old characters, and how they also grew up and matured. The

The ending confrontation was tense and pretty painful. Champion didn't end the way I wanted it to. But rarely does an author end a book the way I want them to, and if they do, I complain that it was "predictable." So, go figure. Anyway, I liked the ending. It was good. Appropriate. I just have to keep telling myself, "Annette, you are NOT the author! You don't get to decide!"

Well, you MUST read Champion if you've read the first two books, Legend and Prodigy. And, if you haven't begun the Legend series, and you are at all interested in dystopians, this is one of the BEST series out there. I'm so sad to see them go. But as Lu says in her acknowledgements, "They are off to live beyond the confines of the trilogy; I am left waving to them from the sidelines." I love that.

Published by G. P. Putnam's Sons, November 5, 2013
Copy obtained from the library
369 pages

Rating: 4/5

Monday, November 25, 2013

Book Review: The Way We Fall, by Megan Crewe @megancrewe

The Way We Fall is a scary book about what can happen to an isolated community if a deadly disease starts spreading.

Kaelyn lives on an island close enough so that she can see the mainland. When her friend's dad gets sick and dies, it is alarming. Then her father, who is a doctor, starts seeing more and more patients with this disease, and nothing they try is helping them get better.

Crewe does a great job with the escalation of the situation. At first, they are quarantined, but they have lots of government support. Then things start to crumble. They lose communications and eventually power. There's some violence and the government basically abandons them. At the same time, society is crumbling too. Of course there's panic, which leads to looting. People are afraid, not only of the disease, but of the gangs. Although Kaelyn discovers some kids that are doing a lot to help, and joins up with this group which is led by Gav. He's the love interest, and I enjoyed the development of this budding romance.

Also, midst all the hardship and loss, Kaelyn begins an unlikely friendship with Tessa, who she thought hated her in school (before the disease struck.) It's an interesting lesson in how our impressions of people can be so wrong, just because we make assumptions and don't really take the time to find out anything about them.

Kaelyn tells the story in a journal format. She's writing a journal to her estranged friend/boyfriend, Leo, who is on the mainland. Also interesting is the fact that Leo's new girlfriend is Tessa. The journal works OK, but at times I forgot it was a journal. But that's no big deal. We never quite figure out all the details of Kaelyn and Leo's relationship, so I guess that's something to look forward to in the second book.

The Way We Fall reminded me a bit of Sylo, although I liked this one a bit better. I felt more of a connection to the characters and the premise was more believable.

There is enough depth to the characters that we really fear for them. The disease is brutal, and Crewe doesn't hesitate to wipe out some main characters. The ending is very open. I won't say too much, but even though things seem to be calming down on the island, from what happens at the end of the book, I'm sure it's not over. The Lives We Lost, the second book of the Fallen World Trilogy, is already available. And I have it! So, hopefully I'll get to it soon.

Published by Disney-Hyperion, 2012
Copy won from the publisher during Armchair BEA
309 pages

Rating: 3.5/5

Monday, June 3, 2013

Book Review: Dance of the Red Death, by Bethany Griffin

Dance of the Red Death wasn't able to engage me as much as Masque of the Red Death. I'm not sure why, but I'd like to talk about it with you.

The world is the same, and they are once again in danger -- pretty much all of the time. But I didn't feel much tension. Part of the problem is that I didn't remember enough about Masque. I was unable to relate because I couldn't pick up on the feeling I had at the end of Masque. I remembered what happened, but not the emotions to go with it.

Not much happened in Dance of the Red Death until the end. It seems they are just floundering -- looking for people, things, cures, trying to keep each other safe--but they really don't make any progress towards these goals until the end, when it all happens at once. And I liked the end, but the rest of the book was flat by comparison.

I really couldn't care less about the romance in Dance of the Red Death. Once again, I couldn't remember the background of the two men well enough, so I couldn't decide which one to root for. I couldn't get emotional when a character died. I didn't really care about any of these characters for some reason.

After finishing Dance of the Red Death, I think it should have all been one book. I think one, slightly longer book could have covered this whole story quite adequately and with some editing could have been more engaging. A re-read of Masque would have helped with my enjoyment of Dance, but who has time for that. I really think that if a sequel is done well, it can pull you right back in no matter how long it's been since you read the previous book. And, for me, 2013 has been "the year of the sequel" having read so many great ones. Unfortunately, Dance of the Red Death won't be joining that list.

If you've read and enjoyed Masque, then I would still recommend Dance of the Red Death. It's an interesting world, and I do think that part is well done. And, I'm assuming you want to know what happens, so it's still worth your time.

Published by Greenwillow Books, June 11, 2013
eARC obtained from Edelweiss
336 pages

Rating: 3/5

Monday, February 11, 2013

Monday Memories: Fever 1793

Welcome to my meme, Monday Memories, where I feature favorite books we've loved from the past. It's been quite a while since I've posted one of these, so just to remind you: You can link to an old review, or write something new about a beloved book from your past. Really, what's important is not the book, but why it is memorable to you. So, have fun reminiscing, and leave a comment below, so we can all enjoy your memories.

It's no secret that I'm a historical fiction NUT. And Fever 1793 is one reason why. Fever 1793 was published in 2000 and is the story of a yellow fever epidemic. The main character, Mattie, is 14 years old and she's spunky. Her mother insists she leave Philadelphia to escape the plague, but Mattie soon finds out it has spread to the countryside. Mattie is a great character, and the well-researched details make you feel like you are living through it. I read Fever 1793 when it first came out and still remember scenes from it.

What is even more amazing to me is that Anderson also writes great contemporaries. She wrote Speak while in the middle of writing Fever 1793! Such different genres and such amazing stories! I am in awe (well, I am in general, always in awe of authors.)

If you haven't read Fever 1793 I would highly recommend that you do. It's short, but you won't forget it.

Share one of your cherished book memories!

You can do a Monday Memories post on your blog. Copy my button and link back here, so others can see all the other posts. Leave a comment below with the link to your post.

Or, just leave one of your Monday Memories right here in the comments.

Be sure to visit some other blogs that have posted their links. Thanks!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Audio Book Review: The Eleventh Plague, by Jeff Hirsch

The Eleventh Plague is a book I would categorize as "apocalyptic-light." While our characters are trying to survive after a war and a plague have killed most of the population and all government and any other services are gone, the story is more about relationships and building trust after surviving for a long time trusting no one.

Stephen has no one except his father left. They travel a trading path back and forth throughout the year, working as scavengers, and trying to survive on what little they can find or trade for. Stephen has lived this way for years; he knows no other life.

When he and his father encounter slavers (those who are trying to capture people and sell them into slavery), his father is severely injured and they are rescued and taken in by people from a town called Settler's Landing. Stephen's father is in a coma, and the doctor is doing the best she can to take care of him and also to make Stephen feel welcome and secure. But it isn't easy for Stephen. He has been taught to trust no one, and to stay away from people. This town has a school, and a park, and enough food to eat, but Stephen can't believe there isn't more to the story.

There are the "bad guys" in the town, who run everything and don't think they need to contribute. They are opposed to the town taking in any new citizens, and think that Stephen must be a spy. Stephen eventually gets to know Jenny, who is Chinese, and therefore is discriminated against (the war was with the Chinese.) She's rebellious and defiant, and she and Stephen have a strange bond. Because of a prank that Stephen and Jenny play, all hell breaks loose, and Settler's Landing is at risk.

The beginning of The Eleventh Plague is exciting and tense. But after that, it's just a story of a kid, torn from everything he knows, trying to fit into a new environment. The progression from distrust to trust is realistic. The relationships that Stephen eventually forms are true. I just didn't find The Eleventh Plague to be all that exciting. It's not that it is a bad book, it just wasn't what I was expecting from an apocalyptic novel.

There's some more tension at the end when the town is fighting against all odds for survival, and of course, Stephen turns out to be the hero. But it was rather cliche.

The Eleventh Plague is more likely to entertain younger, middle school kids. It is simply written and easy to follow. Even though every minute isn't life-threatening, there's plenty here for kids to grab onto.

The narrator, Dan Bittner, does a good job. His voice changes for different characters enough to decipher whose talking, but not in an annoying way. I would recommend this audio as an easy one for kids to listen to.

Published by Scholastic, 2011. Audio by Scholastic Audiobooks.
Audiobook obtained from Sync YA Literature
304 pages

Rating: 3/5