More on Nancy Holder

I came across Nancy Holder's official website and thought it might be useful to anyone considering reading her books.

http://nancyholder.com/

I skimmed her biography and found it interesting that she used to be a ballet dancer!

Update on the Wicked series by Nancy Holder

It seems like it's taken me forever to finish the first book in the series, but I finally did!  That being said, I'm still processing how I feel about it.  While I really started getting into the book and caring about what happened to the characters, I also found much of it extremely strange.  Apparently the characters in medieval France that the novel kept flashing back to are actually connected to the current characters (Holly and Jeraud).  The medieval souls are attached to Holly and Jeraud and basically reenact their tragic love story in modern-day times.  Holly and Jeraud (and their counterparts, Isabeau and Jean) are members of warring families, the Cahors and the Deveraux.  These two families are witches and warlocks, respectively.  Despite the hatred between these two Covens, Isabeau and Jean are in love with each other, but their families' feud ends up killing Isabeau (in medieval France).  Basically, in an effort for both Isabeau and Jean's souls to be at rest, the horrible fire that was started by Isabeau's family (and ended up killing Isabeau, as well as much of Jean's family) was renewed during Holly's cousin's school play (of course, the play is Romeo and Juliet).  It was almost like history repeating itself.  However, rather than killing Holly, the fire kills Jeraud instead.  Now, one would think that everything would be fine now that Isabeau has "avenged" her death because Jeraud is dead, but it's not that simple (because then there wouldn't be another book in the series).  So at the end of the book, we find out that things aren't always as they seem and that Jeraud's father, Michael, is plotting even more evil directed at Holly and her twin cousins, Amanda and Nicole.  (Note:  Amanda and Nicole are also part of the Cahors family, so all three girls are descendants of the medieval French coven of witches.  However, none of the girls are aware of this fact at the beginning of the novel.)

I hope all of the above summarization makes sense; it was extremely difficult to speak briefly about this novel, both due to its length (361 pages) as well as its content.

In all, I'm glad I stuck it out and continued reading, in spite of my extreme confusion and uncertainty.  While there's quite a bit of gore and evil referenced considering this is supposed to be a book for teens, I can understand the overall appeal of the novel.  Not only is the love story aspect of the novel similar to Romeo and Juliet, but it is also reminiscent of the Twilight series.  In fact, the series seems very similar to Twilight, given the romance and the supernatural elements.  However, those who do not like Twilight, rest assured; this novel has certain elements that seem familiar, but it is a completely different series.  Personally, I am not a huge fan of vampires (and I was completely Team Jacob when reading Twilight).  I have always found stories about witches fascinating though.  As a child, I watched Sabrina the Teenage Witch and wanted so much to be able to do magic like her.  As a teen, I enjoyed reading The Crucible (I think I was one of the few who did), and thought about visiting Salem, MA.  Possibly due to these experiences, I generally found myself enjoying Wicked: Witch more than Twilight.

While I am still upset about the ending (which I'm not going to spoil for any of you), I feel the need to read the next book in the series in order to determine what happens next.  I believe there are at least three, maybe even four, books in the Wicked series, and I plan on reading them all.  While it was a complete fluke that I found this book and decided to read it, I am extremely happy that I took a chance on it.  Maybe Nancy Holder will come to TBF someday (or at least to Rochester) so I will be able to meet her. 

Second Post about The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin

While the ending wasn't a complete surprise, I felt the same way that Will did about who the killer was; he mentioned that he had suspected it for awhile, but hesitated to believe it.  I also thought about the likelihood that this person (I'll just call the person "M," so as not to give anything away) was the murderer, but did not want to believe this was true.  I'm not sure why I sympathized with "M" so much, since there was not much direct interaction between "M" and Will.  About 3/4 of the way through the novel, I realized that "M" was clearly one of the more likely suspects.  However, at times Berk makes the reader consider the fact that Devon or Will could have committed the crime.

I do wish that Berk would have treated "M"'s arrest with a bit more sympathy, considering Will's feelings toward "M."  I think much of the last portion of the book is told with little emotional investment, which leads me to wonder if Will is as sincere a character as he claims to be.  "M"'s motive for committing the crime is stated extremely briefly, and the possible implications of the arrest are only touched on briefly as well.  I was especially surprised that it is only mentioned that "they are talking about life in prison."  Maybe Berk was trying to avoid taking sides in what could end up being a moral debate?  Given the circumstances of "M"'s relationship with Pat, "M" could clearly have tried a self-defense plea or similar type of defense.  I guess I just find myself wishing that I knew how the inevitable trial turns out, but maybe it's better not to know.

I really like the twist about Purple's family history.  Finally Will knows more about his own family and might also have more connections with people in the public school.  However, I would have appreciated a family tree to better explain how the two are related (since Dummy Halpin is apparently Purple's great-uncle too...does that mean that there were other siblings somewhere?  Shouldn't he be her great-great-grandfather or something, since she is a Phimmul, not a Halpin?).  A visual tree would have greatly helped me understand this.

While I could see where the whole Ebony/Devon thing was going from the beginning, it was a nice addition to the story (although I do think that whole "dating your best friend's ex" thing is a little weird).

I also found it interesting that Berk includes many sections of text written as IM's back and forth between Will and Devon.  Students would probably find that type of writing easier to read and extremely relatable.  It also helps provide insight into both Will and Devon's personalities, as well as how they relate to each other.

Overall, I think this is a great mystery book that most students will be able to relate to in some way.  I also think it sheds light on how difficult it can be for students with special needs to participate in mainstream education, especially when the school district is not equipped to provide the necessary services.

First Post about The Dark Days of Hamburger Halpin

Wow...
For the first 100 pages of this novel, I kept asking myself "Where's the mystery?  Am I missing something?"  And then it happened:  someone actually did die!  Obviously I didn't want a tragedy to occur, but now that it has, I'm wondering who did it.  There really are many suspects.  I'm trying not to give too much away here, since I know not everyone in class is reading this book.  It's a really interesting story so far though, so I highly recommend it. 

Will Halpin is one of the most fun narrators I've encountered in my recent reading.  He's always making jokes (oftentimes at his own expense) and referring to his weight issues in a semi-humorous, semi-tragic manner.  Now that I'm thinking about it a bit more, I'm wondering if I should be suspecting Will himself of committing the crime.  To fill in those who are not familiar with the novel, the murder occurs during a class field trip to a coal mine.  There's a point during the field trip in which all lights are turned off, so students are able to experience their surroundings as the miner's would have.  I remember when Will referred to this time period, his reference to it was very vague.  It would be horrible if Will committed the crime though, since I like him as a character and do not want him to go to (fictional) jail.  That would not be an ideal ending to the novel. 

At this point, it seems that all of the suspects mentioned by Devon Smiley and Will Halpin could have committed the crime.  The teacher, the bus driver, the kid named A.J....it seems that many people had a motive for killing the most popular kid at school (except the bus driver...I can't figure out what his motive would be).  Did I mention that Devon and Will are investigating the case together?  I think it's awesome that Will found a friend in Devon and that they are taking this case on themselves (even though they are still high school students).  Maybe they'll solve the case before the police do?

All of this talk of high school crime solvers makes me think of the days when I used to read Nancy Drew mysteries.  Maybe Devon and Will really are the modern-day version of the Hardy Boys?  They reference this series in the novel, and Will and Devon even take on the names of two Hardy Boys characters.  As a lover of anything mysterious or mystery-related, I'm thoroughly enjoying where this book is headed.  While reading about Will's daily high school adventures for the first portion of the novel was also interesting, I have a feeling that the next portion of the novel will be even more intriguing now that there's a mystery to solve. 

As a complete aside from all of this (and since I have no idea where to put this thought, but still wanted to express it), I am so glad that Will's mom let him keep the dog!  It was so strange how the dog just came up to Will, and it seemed like the whole thing was something Will really needed.  It sounds as though Will is an only child, so having a dog could help to provide some companionship.  This is especially important now that he's in a mainstream school; a school that does not provide much in the way of accommodations for Will.  Between becoming friends with Devon and keeping the dog, things seem to be looking up for Will.  I hope it continues. 

1984 Remembering Question #2

Winston:  He has a job that involves rewriting history and altering previously published documents to align with the Party's current goals/positions.  In spite of his membership in the Outer Party and the presence of a telescreen in his apartment, Winston continues to have ideas that represent thoughtcrime, or a rebellion against the Party in the form of his thoughts.  He even goes so far as to buy a journal and write his thoughts down.  Winston begins to have an affair with Julia and confides in her.  He seems to hold his disagreements in spite of all torture imposed upon him, except when he encounters his one weakness:  rats.

Julia:  While not as rebellious in thoughts as Winston (she does not hope for a large-scale rebellion against Big Brother), Julia tries to complete small actions in order to disobey the Party.  For example, she has affairs with members of the Party, even though she could face severe punishment.  Julia does not take the ideology as seriously as Winston, expressing little to no interest in the book.

Big Brother:  While no one knows exactly who he is, and he doesn't seem to make any actual appearances, the face of Big Brother is on all government posters.  Also, all citizens have the idea that Big Brother is the one watching over them through their telescreens.  He represents the Party.

O'Brien:  While seeming to be an Inner Party member who is one of the leaders of the secret revolutionary Brotherhood, O'Brien ends up recruiting Winston and then leading Winston to be arrested and captured.  O'Brien was involved in much of Winston's torture and "rehabilitation."

Mr. Charrington:  Charrington seems like an older man who collects antiques and relics from the time before the Party.  However, he is a member of the Thought Police, who was spying on Winston while Winston staying in the room he rented from Charrington. 

Texts versus Our World

The Texts' World:  oppressive, controlling, limited freedoms, individual sacrifice for good of the district or country as a whole, focus on hatred and anger, conformity, facts are altered/information is limited to a specific viewpoint (that of the government)


Our World:  individual freedoms, self-sacrifice is not mandatory (unless there is another draft), intellectual freedoms, citizens can disagree with the government, communication and dispensation of information is generally encouraged and allowed, technology used for both beneficial and not-so-beneficial purposes


Both:  fear can be used to control actions and beliefs of citizens, increasing level of scrutiny and surveillance of individuals

The Hunger Games and 1984

While I am not usually a fan of this genre, I was surprised by how interested I became in The Hunger Games.  The idea for the Hunger Games horrified me, but I was completely invested in Katniss' successful completion of the Games.  Especially when it became evident that Katniss and Peeta would be among the few remaining survivors, I was intensely curious as to how the novel would end.  Now I feel as though I have to read the next book, in order to see what happens between Katniss and Peeta.  I think this is a great novel to use with students who may have the same feelings about this genre as I did prior to reading this book. 

It amazed me how much of The Hunger Games could be likened to today's society.  Katniss' prep team and those in the Capitol remind me of people in Hollywood and fashion designers.  The way that the Capitol was described as only wanting a good show and becoming "bored" if there were no killings made me think of today's society and our tendency to constantly want new television and movies in order to keep us entertained.  I feel as though The Hunger Games is an extreme version of our easily distracted and easily bored culture.  This aspect of the novel really frightened me, as I could see society escalating to something at least vaguely similar to that represented in The Hunger Games.  Also, with Facebook and other media, there are some that believe we are isolating ourselves and losing the ability to interact face-to-face.  This could easily lead to a lack of sympathy and empathy with others, which appears to be the principle reason that the Hunger Games are allowed to continue.  The gamemakers and the Capitol do not actually care about the lives of the tributes.  They have no conscience about the fact that they are orchestrating the deaths of innocent adolescents.  This kind of apathy and disconnect is dangerous to have, and I hope that our internet-loving society does not allow ourselves to completely disassociate from other human beings in this way. 


This was my second time reading 1984.  The first time I read this book, it was summer reading for my Humanities class in 12th grade.  Not only was I resentful I had to read such a challenging book over the summer, but I absolutely hated the novel itself.  While I appreciated Orwell's social commentary and understood the importance of the book, I found it difficult to read and highly disturbing.  Also, the subject-matter was such that I found myself thinking about how the book could relate to today's society and how it may have related to Orwell's intended society.  It was a bit overwhelming.

Now that I have read the book a second time, I can appreciate it more than I originally did.  It still highly depresses me, and I would rather read other books that contain the same message than this particular book.  However, I noticed that I understood the pivotal scenes better than I had when I first read the book.  The scene when Winston and Julia are caught at their hideout made much more sense to me, and I found I actually could pick out the foreshadowing this time. 

In a way, Winston's society seems much scarier with much less hope of any rebellion or change than Katniss' society.  While Winston was constantly under surveillance, later captured and made to endure torture in order to conform to the Party's ideas, Katniss' main period of surveillance came when she was a tribute.  It seems that there was less surveillance in each particular district (Katniss' district seemed particularly lenient).  In this way, there was the ability for politicians to "look the other way" and to avoid fully punishing members of their districts of certain crimes, especially if those members brought them strawberries or squirrels (as in Katniss' case).  The only 24 hour surveillance that seems to occur is during the Hunger Games themselves.  While this is still not an ideal situation, it does seem like less of an invasive government than Winston's. 

Overall, I think these two novels go well together, and that it was a great idea for Heather to pair these two for her presentation.  I am glad I had another opportunity to read 1984 and give it another chance.  I definitely have a better opinion of it after the second reading.