I just read Uglies for our Breakfast Club book discussion last week. This dystopic novel deals wtih a futuristic society where everyone gets "Pretty" surgery when they turn sixteen, which is sold to them as a great "equalizer" making their society superior to the "Rusties"...the "old" humans that would characterize our current society. Tally Youngblood is looking forward to her surgery, when she meets Shay, another "Ugly" who invites her to run away with her to live with an "outlaw" group that lives "primitively" in legendary place called the Smoke.
For those who have read and liked Uglies, other dystopic novels include Feed by M.T. Anderson, The Giver (and others) by Lois Lowry, The Bar Code Tattoo, and of course, the classics 1984 and Fahrenheit 451. Jennifer Government and The Stepford Wives would be two additional ideas of novels from our adult collection, as well.
Fans of Uglies might also like other books by author Scott Westerfeld including the Midnighters series, the sequels to Uglies (Pretties, Specials, and Extras), as well as stand alone novel, So Yesterday.
Read about Twilight's Stephanie Meyer "in concert"...or sort of.
Also, watch for news about a book discussion open to teens and adults this summer of the first, and possibly second in the popular vampire series by Stephanie Meyer. Interested? Let us know and we'll make sure you get an email or phone call when the date is set.
I just listened to the relatively newer young adult novel, 13 Reasons Why, by Jay Asher. It was particularly suited to audio, because the story begins with a set of cassette tapes received in the mail by Clay, the narrator, giving the "story"....the 13 reasons why...leading to the suicide of Hannah Baker, according to Hannah Baker.
The set of tapes are "mandated" listening to all the people who are mentioned by name on the tapes. The alternating voices of Hannah telling her story and Clay's interpersed thoughts, feelings, and even interruptions, give the story an urgency that makes you sit in the car long after you've arrived home to listen just a little longer to this audio on your car stereo.
While I don't think that the people and incidents listed on the tapes are the "causes" of Hannah's suicide, they are very real reminders of the major effects even small things can have on another's life. The listener (or reader) is really reminded that sometimes things that are "no big deal" or "just a joke"--can be really a big deal to someone else, especially if he or she is already in a very vulnerable place.
From an adult perspective, this was hard sometimes to listen to because I always worry about the "glorification" of suicide in stories or movies...but overall, I think that this is a honest portrayal of this girl's life and her tragic decision. The story of just a few weeks of Hannah's life ultimately makes you feel cheated that she gave up, instead of telling her story as bluntly as she does on the tapes, to enough someones who would listen, and help that story--and her life--continue.
