

By Julie Tatham
Grosset and Dunlap INC.
1952
Personal Review:
First I have to say "Oh me oh my." (Are you kidding me?) And, what a waste of time. No joke, that ANYONE read these books... for entertainment is a joke. And that's my humble opinion take it or leave it. Cruel that we pass these around class really. Cruel.
Summary:
Cheery is a nurse who does the work of three nurses. She has a lovely little starched uniform and makes sure her patients get all of the TLC they need. (gag me.) For some reason when someone says "EMERGENCY" followed by "I'm a doctor" she jumps in a car only to discover she's being kidnapped. Nobody will believe poor little silly pretty headed Cherry! The best part is that she considers not going to the police because "the man was a doctor and doctors are amazing men that should be worshiped." I swear it said something like that... or at least implied it.
Warnings: extreme stupidity and brainwashing. I'm no feminist but here's where I draw the line. Sorry.
"I've been thinking about it. Everything. And when feather opens her eyes and looks up at me, I already know there's change. And i figure if the world were really right, humans would live life backward and do the first part last. They'd be all knowing the beginning and innocent in the end. Then everyone could end their lives on their momma or daddy's stomache in a warm room, wating for the soft morning light."
Personal Review:
I usually have issues with books or movies that glorify teenage pregnancy and encourage YA to keep an infant when they cannot provide a mother and a father for them. Having said that I confess I really liked this book. Sometimes I think when parents are put in this situation- a pregnant daughter or a son who fathered a child they forget that it is possible that their child could love the individual even though they're young. I was amazed at how much Booby loved Nia. He really loved her. Even if he kept the little girl selfishly, to keep a part of Nia for himself, he really loved his girlfriend and daughter.
Warnings: Sex, language"The mata gente. 'The people killer.' An ordinary freight train. And the only way North without paying a peso."
Personal Review:
Robert Cormier is brilliant. This book is a total trip. It really makes you think about how your contry is viewed by other Nations and what is actually right in situations. I made my Mom read it too.
"Mel Glenn is an award-winning poet and author of twelve books, including Jump Ball(Dutton 1997) and Split Image (HarperCollins 2000). Mel, born in Switzerland,,was raised in Brooklyn. After graduating college, he spent two years in the Peace Corps, (Sierra Leone), and then returned home to teach junior and senior high school in Brooklyn for 34 years. Mel retired in 2001 and now spends his time writing and appearing at schools, libraries and conferences. He and his wife, Elyse, also a retired teacher, have two sons, Jonathan a writer, and drew, a software engineer. Mel's website is http://www.melglenn.com/
Summary:Aspiring writers are often told to follow their dreams.
Wrong.
To tap into the interesting stuff, the dark blood of your heart, the hidden well, you must take another path.
Follow your nightmares.
My young adult novel, Speak, was born out of terror. I woke one night, in the winter of 1996, to the sound of a girl sobbing. I leaped out of bed and dashed down the hall to check on my two daughters. Sound asleep, both of them, no tears on their pillows. They were fine.
But I could still hear a girl crying, hysterical. She was in my head. It was a nightmare.
Continue reading at : http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/ALAN/spring00/anderson.html
Personal Review:
This was one of those books you pick up and don't set it down until you've turned the last page and sat contemplating the effects of the novel for at least a half hour before returning to life. I really enjoyed the writing style... the morbid humor. I wanted to scream and fight for Melinda, slap her parents in the face and get this poor girl some therapy. But that's not always the way it works, some people fight the battles all alone. Very good, although do something fun after because its totally depressing to read.
WARNINGS FOR SPEAK: Rape