Feed

Feed by M.T. Anderson is about a group of teenagers. A boy named Titus is described as gorgeous, because his parents modeled him after a popular actor. He had has the Feed all his life, which is a microchip run by a corporation, hooked into his brain, giving him access to the Internet and television. He and his friends don't even think for themselves, relying on the Feed for instant gratification.

Titus' girlfriend Violet didn't grow up with the Feed, but her parents bought one out peer pressure. Titus is surprised when Violet wants to talk about current events and is able to hand write notes instead of just sending it as an I.M. The other teens think Violet is weird and when she challenges them, they call her names.

The book presents the dilemma of growing technology, capitalism, and knowledge. Except for Violet, there is not a lot of character development. The other kids are so addicted to the Feed, they are the same at the end.

Speak

I first read Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson about five years ago and recently read it again for my Young Adult Literature class. I have read several of Anderson's other books, so I am familiar with her writing style, which is descriptive and sharp.

Melinda Sordino, the main character, doesn't talk to anyone. After a horrific event at a summer party, every one at school is mad at her for calling the cops. Her three best friends dropped her as a friend. These three friends and Melinda's parents are too involved in their own lives to notice Melinda's pain and change of personality. Melinda spends most of her time, drawing and painting, with the help of friendly teacher, Mr. Freeman. Melinda learns through her experiences, everyone should find their voice and make sure they are heard.

Uglies

Uglies is the first book in the quadrilogy by Scott Westerfeld. The book is written in third person, but the main character is a sixteen year old girl named Tally Youngblood. In her world, there are Uglies and Pretties. When someone turns sixteen, the are able to get three operations to make them into Pretties. All the Pretties live in their own compound, don't have to work, and shun the Uglies.

Tally is really excited to turn pretty and can't understand why her friend Shay wants to run away to Smoke, a town full of runaway Uglies. When Shay disappears, Tally is blackmailed by Dr. Cable to find Smoke and the missing Uglies, or else the doctor won't let her have the surgeries.

The first couple of chapters seemed to drag on, but then the pace picks up. The books shows that no matter where you live or in what decade, people will problems with self image. It shows how far some people will go to look perfect in every way, very reminiscent of the Hollywood mindset. The only time we hear of Tally's parents is when they come to her dorm for her birthday. I think this book would be appropriate for any read who has a problem with body image.

The Book Thief

This is the first book I've read by Markus Zusak. He has a German mother so she must have sparked his interest in Nazi Germany and two of his books (including this one) have been chosen as Michael L. Prinze award Honor winners.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, is narrated by Death and tells the story of girl named Liesel who lives in Nazi Germany with her foster parents. Liesel steals books and takes care a Jewish man named Max hiding in the basement of her house. Her foster mother Rosa is very stern disciplinarian and her foster father Hans is a kind teacher. Max draws and writes stories for her to read. Liesel spend most of the time reading and dreaming about her dead brother while the war is at her doorstep. The Mayor's wife lets her steal books from her house and makes her cookies, because Liesel reminds her of her dead son.

I thought Liesel and her parents are believable. Liesel was very brave and matured greatly in the three years the book takes place. This book would be appropriate for all young adults and I would recommend it to any reader who has read books about the Holocaust before.