Hilmo, Tess. Skies Like These. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2014.

“While visiting her eccentric aunt who lives in Wyoming, twelve-year-old Jade befriends a boy who believes he is a descendant of Butch Cassidy.” – CIP. This lively story, with the rhythm of a rollicking square dance, is highly recommended for readers who love language and laughter.  [Astronomy; Aunts; Dogs; Eccentrics and eccentricities; Friendship; Ranch life; Self-acceptance; Wyoming]  

Jade’s reluctance to enjoy country life reminds me of Arthur, for the Very First Time by Patricia MacLachlan.

The crazy kindness of Jade’s aunt reminds me of The Canning Season by Polly Horvath.

Jade’s determination reminds me of Hazel Rye be Vera Cleaver.

Her friend Roy’s imagination reminds me of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain.

Roy’s certainty that he is related to Butch Cassidy reminds me of Arthur’s Toothache by Barbara Williams.

The stargazing reminds me of The Same Stuff as Stars by Katherine Paterson.

The strong verbs and the rhythm of the language remind me of Missing May by Cynthia Rylant. 

“I am not eccentric. It’s just that I am more alive than most people.” – Edith Sitwell, British poet

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind

by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

(New York, N.Y.: Puffin Books, 2015)

In 1987, William was born to a farming family in Malawi. Surrounded by people afraid of magic, he learned from his Presbyterian father to trust God. Too poor to pay school fees, he found books in a small library, taught himself to read English, and figured out how to build a device that created electricity to power a water pump for his village.  This 290-page autobiography of an intrepid and determined boy will inspire readers 11-years-old and up. [Africa; Electricity; Engineers; Famine; Ingenuity; Inventors; Windmills]

“Creativity is the process of having original ideas that have value. It is a process; it’s not random” – Ken Robinson

Click HERE for more inspiring autobiographies and biographies.

“For a person who grew up in the ’30s and ’40s in the segregated South, with so many doors closed without explanation to me, libraries and books said, ‘Here I am, read me.’ Over time I have learned I am at my best around books.” – Maya Angelou 

Click HERE for more stories of courage.

“The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.” – Barack Obama

 

Over 60 years ago, a French philosopher wrote that technology treats people like machines. He argued that new technologies take away people’s freedom. They damage the natural world. And developing them involves so many people that no one ever has to take responsibility for problems that arise.  Jacques Ellul wrote many books about technological tyranny.

Are there any young adult novels that show a world governed by technology?  Are there any novels that show a world in which a sense of right and wrong are no longer important? A world in which people have become the tools of technology?

 

Bodeen, S.A. The Gardener. New York: Square Fish, 2010.
“When high school sophomore Mason finds a beautiful but catatonic girl in the nursing home where his mother works, the discovery leads him to revelations about a series of disturbing human experiments that have a connection to his own life.” – CIP.  A well-plotted novels recommended for readers 12 to 16 years old. [Fathers; Runaways; Science experiments; Secrets; Single-parent families]

Howard, Chris. Rootless. New York: Scholastic Press, 2012.
In a bleak future world, seventeen-year-old Banyan builds trees from salvaged scraps of metal. But then he meets a woman who sets him on a quest to find the last living trees. A convincing and compelling novel for readers 12-years-old and up. [Environmental degradation; Fathers and sons; Love stories; Science fiction; Trees; Voyages and travels] 

“Technology gives us power, but it does not and cannot tell us how to use that power. Thanks to technology, we can instantly communicate across the world, but it still doesn’t help us know what to say.” – Jonathan Sacks

 

Hughes, Monica. Devil on My Back. Methuen, 1984.
What if you didn’t have to study for tests or practise to learn new skills?  What if a computer programme could simply be inserted into your brain and you would know everything you needed to know?  But what if a programme was inserted that made you unquestionably obey any orders?  Would you really be able to enjoy freedom? An older but highly recommended novel for 12 to 15 year olds.

“Men have become the tools of their tools.” – Henry David Thoreau

Hughes, Monica. The Tomorrow City. Metheun, 1978.
Caroline and David try to escape from a computer-controlled city which seeks to control all the inhabitants, as well. Another older novel but still highly recommended for readers 11 to 15 years old.

McNaughton, Janet. The Raintree Rebellion. Toronto: HarperTrophy Canada, 2006.
Eighteen-year-old Blake and her adopted mother return to Toronto in a future world that is struggling to survive after a technocaust. While her mother works on a justice council, Blake discovers that a microchip in her arm holds surprising and unwelcome information. This sequel to The Secret Under My Skin is a compelling and believable novel for 12 to 17 year olds. [Toronto, (Ont.); Science fiction; Identity; Secrets; Environmental degradation; Terrorism]

Reeve, Philip. Fever Crumb. New York : Scholastic Press, 2009.
Fourteen-year-old Fever has been trained as an engineer in a futuristic culture which believes women are not capable of rational thought.  When she leaves her home in London, she makes suprising discoveries and faces unexpected dangers.  For 12 – 16 year-olds. [England; Foundlings; Identity; Science fiction; Technology]

Find more science fiction stories HERE.

Find more stories about controlling societies HERE.

A nonfiction book for adults: Nikiforuk, Andrew. Slick Water: Fracking and One Insider’s Stand Against the World’s Most Powerful Industry. Vancouver: Greystone Books, 2015.

“It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity.” – Albert Einstein

Jalem reflects on a story about homeless teens.

 Paulsen, Gary. Paintings From The Cave. New York: Wendy Lamb Books, 2011.

 “In these three novellas, Gary Paulsen explores how children can survive the most difficult circumstances through art and the love of dogs.” – FVRL. [Art; Dogs; Homeless persons; Violence]

“Before the dogs, she didn’t have any friends” (68).

Have you ever met somebody without any friends besides their pets, or maybe none at all?

 “She didn’t look in the windows as she walked by or even glance at the yards because maybe everything in those homes were perfect, like on T.V, and she tried not to look at things that made her feel even more ugly and broken” (76).

Have you ever felt like other people are worth so much more then you are and that you are just worthless next to them?

 “Rose Rose Rose, no no no, she felt like hitting something, like breaking something.”

Have you ever felt so sad that you wanted to completely obliterate something?

“All they want to do is help us and not be alone” (103).

Have you ever had someone in your life that just wanted to be around you and help you with every single thing? Or maybe you are the one wanting to be around them?

 

The novel Paintings from The Cave by Gary Paulsen changed my view of life by sharing with me the knowledge that there are people here in North America – Canada and the United States of America – that need help just like the people in the third world countries in Africa, South America or Asia. Another thing that this book did to change my view of life is show me how you do not have to be related to anybody in your family for them to be your family. There are no papers or blood relationship needed to make someone a part of your family and that what really matters is whether you think of them that way or not. Family does not even need to be human. For example, it shows in this book that dogs and cats or any other pet are just as good of a family as humans.  It might still be good to have someone who speaks your own language to talk to, but it is not necessary. For example, when a pet owner returns home from a hard day’s work, their pet is always excited to greet them and spend time with them. The book also reminded me that everybody has feelings. I used to think that people that do not have anything only think about alcohol, drugs, and cheap food but I realize that they actually have dreams to be people that are normal and have real jobs to make real money instead of pan-handling for the rest of their lives. After reading this book I have a better understanding of how other people in the world live, people who are not as fortunate as I am. I also now have a better understanding of how people with little still have the same feelings, hopes, and dreams as I do.

 

Jalem reflects on a story about World War II.

Bruchac, Joseph. Code Talker. New York: Penguin Group Publishers, 2005.

 “After being taught in a boarding school run by whites that Navajo is a useless language, Ned Begay and other Navajo men are recruited by the Marines to become Code Talkers, sending messages during World War II in their native tongue.” – FVRL. [Cryptography; Navaho Indians; World War, 1939-1945)

1. “Looking back at that day, I wonder what he actually thought about all those Navajos gathered there in front of him” (41).

”Have you ever had a friend who you thought you were pretty close with but that’s actually the opposite of what they thought?

 

2. “Our hearts felt full while we studied the code” (82).

 Have you ever had one thing in school or at home that was so interesting and just made you so happy to learn about?

 

3. “Deep water! It scared the pants off me” (88).

Do you have anything that you fear a lot like water or heights? Does it scare the pants off you?

 

4. “I had grown up hearing only criticism and harsh words… we were stupid, we were lazy, we couldn’t be taught anything. To hear what was now being said truly made the sun shine in my heart.”

Have you ever been told by somebody that you suck at something over and over until you actually believe it only to learn that the opposite is true?

 

5. “I was with other Navajos and we were speaking our sacred language together. I should have been happy, but instead it made me feel ill at ease. I found myself wondering what was happening to Georgia Boy and Smitty” (220).

Have you ever gone somewhere like camp and felt such an urge to go back home and when you finally get home, all you want to do is go back?

 

This novel is about how a Native American boy goes through the troubles to enlist in the military during World War II despite being only fifteen years old. Once he is in the military, he becomes a code talker. I used to think Native American and aboriginal people did not want to cooperate with European Americans in any way and just wanted them to get off their land or just die. I thought that way because all the stories, books, and movies that I have watched and read have them being that way. An example would be Pocahontas where the British and the Indians are always in a conflict and the movie even refers to the Indians as savages, red necks, and devils. Another example would be a movie called The Revenant where the British men are going hunting to get meat and fur when out of nowhere a group of Indians just pop out and for no reason start to attack and murder the British men and leave them stranded in the middle of the forest. This novel [by Bruchac] showed me that that is not always how it was. The native Americans actually contributed quite a lot in World War II. They served well as soldiers as well as code talkers that spoke code to help the Americans as double agents. This novel taught me just how much the native Indian people actually contributed to both Canada and America.

Maya reflects on a novel about World War II.

De Vries, Maggie. Hunger Journeys. Toronto: HarperCollins, 2012.

 “In World War II Amsterdam, Lena and her friend Sofie set out for the town of Almelo, on the German border, in search of food, but their false papers lead to unwanted complication with the German soldiers.” – CIP. [World War; Netherlands; Soldiers; Friendship]

 

 “A big bubble of hope lodged in Lena’s throat” (7).

Have you ever hoped for something so much that you felt as if you could physically feel it?

“Despite their energy and excitement, the bodies didn’t feel quite real to her” (8).

Has something ever not felt real because you were feeling so many things at once?

“The joy in the streets grew and grew, nourished by the strengthening rays of sunshine as dawn turned to morning” (9).

Has an entire group of people ever all seemed to feel the same because of how they could relate to each other?

“I am beyond their reach. All of them” (13)

Have you ever had to completely isolate yourself to feel safe?

“There, the excitement and determination Lena had been clinging to evaporated, replaced with a sickness in the back of her throat” (18).

Have you ever experienced something that made your mood change completely?

 

The main idea I got from this book was that sometimes taking risks is worth it. Taking risks is something that can be hard for me; I do not enjoy stepping out of my comfort zone very often. The bravery in this story was incredible. Even when the characters were faced with difficulties, they continued on their journey. I aspire to be able to do that one day. The idea of danger both terrifies and excites me. I think some people, especially at my age, are in love with being adventurous, whereas others want nothing to do with it. I guess you could say I’m somewhere in between. I now believe that as long as it is for the right purpose, it’s important to step out of my comfort zone every once in awhile. I’ve been working on doing things I need to do, but don’t want to do, lately. In the future I am hoping to keep up that attitude. Taking risks is an important part of living. In my opinion, life would be pretty boring if I stuck to the rules all of the time. Obeying rules is definitely a large part of life, as well, due to the fact that without them, the world would be worse than it already is in terms of breaking the law. However, I also believe that I should be allowed to speak freely against what I do not agree with. I believe that anyone’s opinion is valid. So, yes, following and obeying rules is important but rebelling can sometimes be good too, as long as it does not get me into too much trouble in the end. 

Megan reflects on a novel about a soldier in Iraq.

McCormick, Patricia. Purple Heart. New York City: HarperCollins, 2009.

“She was back home and ‘sooo scared’ about a pop quiz in bio while he was in Iraq with some traumatic brain injury.”

 Have you ever realized how silly some of our fears and worries are, compared to people living in situations that can threaten their safety?

 

“Everyday life wasn’t about filling up a gas tank or ordering a bucket of wings. Everyday life was about getting your gas mask on in ten seconds or calibrating the distance between your position and a sniper’s nest.”

Have you ever thought about how different some people’s everyday lives are?

 

“All he could see was the deep green of the army blanket. He flushed with embarrassment. He had pulled the covers over his head like a baby.”

Why should people feel embarrassed about showing fear or weakness?

 

“’Any, uh, emotional agitation or any other, uh, problems?’ Matt’s right leg was still weak and out of sync with his left, and he still found himself on the verge of tears half the time. ‘Nope,’ he said. ‘I’m all good.’”

Why do people lie about their state of being, when they could get help to make them better?

 

“You don’t want to say something you might rethink later.”

 Have you ever said something that you wish you hadn’t said?

 

This novel, Purple Heart, has changed my view of life because it has made me feel more grateful about my life, and has made me think about how hard other people’s lives can be. I never really knew what soldiers did in the war, because I’ve seen them in movies, fighting in brutal battles, but I’ve also seen them hiding and waiting, with not much action. And this novel painted a picture of what life is like in war for the veterans. They still have fun and mess around like normal people do, but they also have to fight and get injured to save people’s lives. They also have feelings like everyone does. They are still normal people. You think of a soldier, and you picture a very tough, unbreakable person, but they actually get frightened and sad and the war can deeply affect their lives. This fantastic novel has also made me feel even more grateful for our brave veterans fighting in war, because it has shown me all the tragedies they go through to protect people.