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Book Reviews
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Book Reviews by students. Becoming Chloe
by: Catherine Ryan Hyde What initially drew me to this book was the fact that it was written by the same author that wrote Pay It Forward. I admit, I saw the movie version (never read the book), and thought it was pretty decent, even if it was over the top in terms of melodrama. This was enough to convince me of the storytelling abilities of Hyde. The novel revolves around two characters named Jordy and Chloe. They are homeless and living in New York City. Their world can best be described as ugly. I was surprised as to how disturbingly grotesque the first few chapters were presented. The necessity of this ugliness becomes apparent as the two main characters embark on a quest to see if there is any beauty left in the world. Slowly, they learn that like can be unfair, hard, painful, and at times, breathtakingly beautiful.
The Foreshadowing
by: Marcus Sedgwick Sasha is a young girl who, over time, realizes that she has the ability to see into the future. What may seem like a gift is more like a curse, particularly when war breaks out and she works as a nurse. She sees the fate of some of the soldiers he is helping, but cannot do anything to stop it. Eventually, she has a vision revealing the death of one particular soldier, her brother. She embarks on a dangerous adventure to try to save him. This novel’s greatest attribute is its ability to get you to read more. The author feeds you enough general details to let you know what is to come, but your desire to know specific truths is what keeps you reading.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
by Mark Haddon This book is truly original. Haddon achieves this through the voice of his narrator, a 15 year old boy with autism named Christopher. Chris can easily handle math, physics, and important facts, but finds people and emotions impossible to understand. The result is, at times, funny, but Haddon doesn’t exploit his narrator’s condition. Rather, he uses it to educate the reader on the autistic mindset. At no point does Christopher seem like a generic stock character, despite the limitations that the narrator’s condition brings. If I told you that this novel is about a boy investigating the “murder” of his neighbor’s dog, I wouldn’t be lying, but I would not be really telling you what this novel is about. Through Chris’s investigation, the more meaningful aspects of the story develop. Chris does find out who the killer is, but more importantly, he learns about the harsh realities that come with growing up.
Windsor High School Library
Windsor Central School District
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