Zom-B: Whose the Bigger Monster??

Zom-B by Darren Shan

Why did I read it?

Shan has written a lot of books in this series, and one of the newest ones bounced across my desk this week. That and the short size of the book made me pick it up.

What happened?

Apparently, in a small town in Ireland, zombies attacked, condemning some to walk as the undead, and devouring the brains of others while they still lived.

But, B isn't necessarily convinced. Scared? Probably. In denial? Most likely. But, things at school will be the same (not worth much time), and things at home will be the same (a good thrashing for the smallest "supposed" infraction). 

So B keeps going on with life; terrorizing the younger classmates, joining Dad for some political meetings, and sleeping through lectures. But, B can't help but realize that there might be more truth than lies about the zombie thing, and that Dad's rantings might be more dangerous than B thought.

What did I like or not like?

As the title suggests, this book has some good, old-fashioned, bloody, gut-flying, scream-inducing zombie action. But, the build up to that point actually gets the majority of this first Zom-B installment.

Instead of focusing on the zombies, Shan focuses on what B realizes about hate, racism, bullying, and the monstrous side that has to be kept in check in all of us.

If blood and guts aren't your thing, than this probably isn't the book for you. But, Shan does a nice job of giving a fast-paced and exciting story that still has something to say.

Things Could Get Hairy

Well, just in case you don’t live in the Inland Northwest, it is really really cold up here! Yesterday morning, I went outside to heat up my car, and my hair froze…literally! It was still a little wet from my shower and even though I was only out there for a maximum of 60 seconds, the edges of my hair froze! Needless to say, it is COLD!

Anyways, that means it’s a good time to curl up in front of the fire with a good book, and I have one for you. Schooled by Gordon Korman is the topic of my Book Blurt this week, and I had a really good time reading it. I’ve been trying to vary the authors and books that I’ve read, while keeping tabs on the popular or prolific authors out there. Korman’s name kept popping up in YA and Juvenile fiction, so I figured I’d pick up one of his books.

The book opens with Cap Anderson being sent to a new school while his grandma recovers from a hip injury. Sounds normal enough until you know who Cap is. Turns out his name is Capricorn Anderson, and he has been living alone with his grandma, Rain, on a communal farm. Yes, you guessed it, Cap is a hippie! Rain has been his sole teacher and friend, and while she recovers, Cap stays with a foster family and has to attend Claverage (C Average to the students) Middle School. As if just a normal middle school experience wouldn’t be bad enough for a homeschooled hippie, the school’s cool kid, Zach Powers, is planning to make his experience that much more terrible by pushing him into the spotlight of Eighth grade president. This is an “honor” reserved for the biggest losers in school, and Cap has no idea what he is in for…

Even though things could get really hairy (pun intended), this book is funny and heart-warming. Similar to Stargirl, the oddness of the Cap character actually endears him to the student body, and winds up changing the entire school for the better. Both books seem to ask the question, what would happen if we all would worry about someone else instead of ourselves? But unlike Stargirl, this book has a happy ending. (Stargirl doesn’t end terribly sad like someone dying, but you are left with a feeling of why do people have to be that way, while this story ends on a happy note. I enjoyed reading both books, and it depends on which kind of good book you are looking for). On an entirely different note, this novel is written from the first person point of view, but you get the story from several different characters. This keeps the book interesting, moving, and very enjoyable the entire way through.

P.S. This was actually written quite a bit after the rest of the blog post, but have a great Thanksgiving!

Past or Present (both, please?)

As you all know, life is busy. I mentioned to Karen that I had actually read a book a week for two weeks in a row, and she was presently surprised. The last couple weeks of summer were so busy that I didn’t have a chance to do much YA book reading. But, I’m getting back into the swing of reading a book a week; partially because I enjoy it, partially because it helps me become familiar with the collection which is part of my job, and partially because you guys will know if I don’t read a book a week.

The first book I read for my Book Blurt was Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli, and I’ve wanted to read the companion novel Love, Stargirl, since then. But, I must warn you; if you haven’t read Stargirl then this book blurt will be something of a spoiler.

Stargirl was written entirely from Leo’s perspective, and the book ended with Stargirl vanishing off of the face of the earth. She was there one day and gone the next. This book picks up from Stargirl’s perspective, and tells her story after moving from Arizona. Since her high school experience wasn’t the greatest, her family thought it would be best if she was homeschooled again. She still has a pet rat, and still washes her mind by meditating. She also still has a knack for finding people who are just a little bit not normal to help out. This book introduces us to a young girl named Dootsie, a troubled tween named Alvina, and an agoraphobic middle aged lady named Betty Lou. This isn’t to mention Perry, the guy who she keeps running into even though she really doesn’t want to. But, something is missing for her, and his name is Leo. Stargirl has to decide if she is going to let her despair over losing Leo keep her happy wagon down on pebbles, or if she is going to live for today and not dwell in the past.

Love, Stargirl is written in the same quirky, down-to-earth, every-day-sort-of langauge that Stargirl was written in, and it is a wonderful continuation of the story. Just like the first novel, Stargirl’s oddness helps her reach out to the oddballs, and makes us wonder if we can do the same thing. The book also keeps you interested by mixing Stargirl’s love for the present with her love for Leo (who is in the past). Even though you want her to move past her heartache, you also can’t help hoping that someday in the future Leo and Stargirl will be reunited, and Leo will finally realize what a treasure Stargirl really is.

What would you give up to fit in?

Well here we are on my first real Book Blurt blog post. I’m kind of excited. This week’s edition is on Jerry Spinelli’s Stargirl, which was written in 2000, and published by Scholastic. As I shelved books for the past couple years, there were several books that would always catch my eye and I would think, “Man, I want to read that.” Then the next thought would be, “I don’t have time.” Stargirl was one of those books. As I mentioned in my last Book Blurt post, the reason I’m actually reading books right now is to get familiar with the collection. It’s a good thing too, because I’m really enjoying the books that I’ve been able to read so far. I actually enjoy reading quite a bit; it’s just that I need some motivation to do it. Getting familiar with the collection is that motivation, so I’m thinking I’ll be happily reading YA books for a long time to come.

Anyways, I really enjoyed Stargirl. Spinelli is one of those authors that writes books that are a little bit out of the ordinary, which makes them exceptional and confusing at the same time. This book is written through the eyes of high school junior, Leo, who directs the school’s TV show. The book begins with a new girl coming onto the scene; a girl like no one has seen before. Her name is Stargirl. She plays a ukulele, sings “Happy Birthday” to everyone on their birthday even though she is never told when their birthday is, and has a pet rat. Kids at the school are utterly confused by her for a time, and then they just get annoyed. Why does she have to be so different? Why doesn’t she fit in? Is it because she doesn’t like us? Just about this time, Stargirl tells Leo that she likes him. Leo is torn between liking Stargirl, and being liked by the rest of the school who have exiled Stargirl for all intensive purposes.

I really enjoyed the oddness of this book. I also enjoyed the discussions on fitting in. What does it take to fit in? Why do we do it? It also made you think about what you are willing to give up in order to fit in. There are also some very funny parts to the book, and some really cool scenes as Stargirl and Leo get to know each other. My only caution is as follows. The book carries a “one with nature” worldview throughout the entire book. It isn’t the point of the book, but Stargirl’s actions and beliefs springs from that kind of worldview, and that comes across in her talks with Leo and the things she does. Other than that, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick and interesting read.