Tag Archives: book review

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Featured book: The Doubt Factory

This post is part of an original series created by librarians/media specialists across Central Minnesota featuring books.

51Y2SaaN9IL._AA160_Title: The Doubt Factory by Paolo Bacigalupi
Review by Maria Burnham, Media Specialist at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School

I waver between giving this book three or four stars. It was the last YA book I read this past summer, and it was just an okay read (but perhaps I was a little saturated with YA books at that point).
The story is about a girl, Alix, who is being stalked by a mysterious man. Turns out that the man is the leader in a rogue group of citizens looking to get revenge on Alix’s dad who runs a questionable PR company.  Throughout the book, Alix questions whether she really knows her father and all his business stands for.
Kidnapping, love, mystery, questionable ethics, deceit and loyalty–this 480-page book has it all. A good mystery for high schoolers, but not my favorite read of the summer. It was just a bit too cliche for me.
Would you like to review a book for CMLE readers? It is easy, we let you take the reins on the length and tone of your review. Send email to admin@cmle.org if you are interested and thank you!
Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Featured book: The Gardener

This post is part of an original series created by librarians/media specialists across Central Minnesota featuring books.

41boBzZilCL._AA160_Title: The Gardener by S.A. Bodeen
Review by Maria Burnham, Media Specialist at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School

Although the concept of the book is interesting (a secret society of doctors trying to re-formulate the human race to survive without food), I found the writing and the story development lacking. There was very little detail in plot or character.   I find S.A. Bodeen’s writing style to be simple and sparse.  This style can be good for reluctant readers who don’t care about flowery language or graphic detail.  Her books are short and to the point.  The downside, however, is that I never feel invested in her books as a reader. For example, I’ve also read The Raft, a survival story of a teen stranded at sea.  The chapters had cliffhanger endings, but nothing that made me gasp out loud.  Perhaps my expectations are too high, but I’d have a hard time recommending The Gardener to my students which is frustrating.
I’m bummed about this novel because this was our first choice for my school’s Teen Book Club. I’m hoping that the kids liked the book, but it didn’t have enough teeth for me to be fully invested.
General, Public, School Media Specialist

Featured Book: It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens

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51B6Ier0ePL._SX332_BO1,204,203,200_This post is part of an original series created by librarians/media specialists across Central Minnesota featuring books.

Title: It’s Complicated: The Social Lives of Networked Teens by Danah Boyd
Review by Maria Burnham, Media Specialist at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School

For the recent ITEM conference (Information and Technology Educators of Minnesota), I had the opportunity to read this book and discuss it with my peers from around the state.  It was such a wonderful opportunity, and a motivator for reading a professional development book.

I thought Danah Boyd did a nice job of providing perspective on why teens make the kinds of decisions they do on social media. The book weighs in on online predators, cyberbullying, teens creating personas in the digital world, and privacy, addressing these topics in how they are portrayed by parents and society compared to actual facts and statistics. I particularly LOVED that the book wasn’t just “Teens are ruining their lives with social media!”; rather, it was a commentary on the evolution of teen life over the years and how that behavior manifests itself in this very digital age. I felt as though Boyd gave students credit for being savvy and finding digital tools that fit their needs.  It was an optimistic read, but yet insightful and full of discussion points.

My only squabble with the book is the enormity of references to MySpace, making the book feel more dated than it actually is. Overall, a book I recommend for parents and professionals alike.

General

Featured Book: Dead Wake

Dead Wake by Erik LarsonThis post is part of an original series created by librarians/media specialists across Central Minnesota featuring books.

Title: Dead Wake
Written by Maria Burnham, Media Specialist at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School

Wow!  A stunning tale of the sinking of the Lusitania.  I simply don’t know how Erik Larson continues to produce book after book of gripping non-fiction.  I have to admit that I didn’t have much knowledge of the event before I started reading, but by learning what’s happening from all perspectives of those involved in the terrible tragedy, I was glued to the pages.  In the 353-page book, I learned about the U-Boat captain who fired the deadly torpedo at the passenger ship.  I learned about many of the passengers aboard the ship — why they were headed to London and what they were doing as the ship sank deep into the ocean.  And I learned about President Wilson’s life and handling of the German attack.

This book is gripping.  Of course, at first the reader learns about details here and there that eventually add up to making for a gripping plotline overall.  About halfway into the book, I couldn’t put it down.  One day, I brought the book to the lounge to read after I finished eating (which, by the way, also says a lot about the book–I usually like to visit with colleagues during lunch), and I kept audibly gasping in horror.

The details in this book will stay with me for a long, long time.  Well done, Erik Larson.  Another gripping non-fiction tale!

Academic, General, Public, School Media Specialist, Special

Featured Book: This is the Story of a Happy Marriage

this is the storyThis post is part of an original series created by librarians/media specialists across Central Minnesota featuring books. Could you review a book for CMLE? Send your book review to CMLE staff and we will be happy to share it!

Title: This is the Story of a Happy Marriage
Written by Maria Burnham, Media Specialist at Sauk Rapids-Rice High School

True to form, Ann Patchett delivers yet another writing masterpiece–this time, a collection of essays.  I have been a long-time fan of Patchett’s writing.  Bel Canto is one of my top ten favorite books of all time.  Other pieces of her work that resonated with me include Truth and Beauty and her most recent novel State of Wonder.  

This is the Story of a Happy Marriage contains essays about writing, family, the LAPD, and marriage and love. I never knew that she wrote so much non-fiction in order to continue to write novels. Ann Patchett is a wonderful writer, both in fiction and in non-fiction.  It’s so easy to read her writing; settling in with one of her books is like meeting an old friend for coffee.

Reading this book inspires me to write more and to spend more time thinking about life.   I love, love, love that I own this book! I highly recommend it!