Posts Tagged 'disease'

The Thirteenth Child by Erin Craig

Published December 10, 2024 Uncategorized Leave a Comment
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Genre: Fantasy

Hazel, the thirteenth child born in her family, is promised to Death at birth and as such her family often treats her as if she is already gone and working with Death. In reality, Death comes to collect Hazel on her 12th birthday and immediately moves her to a new house in the Between where she is expected to study all she can about illnesses and the human body so that she can become a great healer. She is gifted the ability to see exactly what ails a person, but this includes seeing if she is unable to heal someone. She quickly becomes renowned and people come from far away to seek her help. However, when the king’s men come looking for her she knows it is very serious and she isn’t sure what she’ll do if she can’t save the king. Upon arriving, it appears she will not be able to save the king from this horrific disease, but she also fears what might happen to his children and the kingdom if she does not. Meanwhile, Death has made it very clear that he does not support her bending the rules of life and death to save anyone, even if it is the king. What is Hazel willing to do to save someone? What is she willing to give up in the process?

This update to the Grimm tale, Godfather Death, does a nice job of explaining why Hazel feels so torn in her quest to heal those around her. She has faced impossible tasks, but she definitely struggles to find a cure for the terrible disease that has started spreading through the country. She feels for the king’s family, but is also concerned about the total loss they will face if she cannot stop it. If she is forced to guide someone to Death she is then haunted by that person’s decaying ghost. Her relationship with Death is complicated as he does seem to care for her, but often leaves her alone when she is struggling with obstacles in her path. The supporting characters are all memorable so that when they come back into the story, even if they have been absent for several pages, they fit seamlessly back into the action. Recommended for fantasy readers.

After Impact by Nicole Stark

Published February 12, 2016 RAC , Science Fiction Leave a Comment
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after impact

** Special Review**

Genre: Futuristic Sci/Fi Thriller

# of Pages:  259

RAC:  Yes

Avalon wakes up in her cryochamber and learns that she has been frozen for 100 years.  She also remembers that when her father predicted that a meteor would strike earth, and completely decimate life as they knew it, only 5000 people were allowed into the underground habitat that was created to sustain life until humans could return to the surface again.  Since such a limited number of people were allowed into the habitat only younger people were allowed and Avalon was forced to say goodbye to her beloved father.  Upon reawakening, Avalon notices some strange happenings in the habitat including that some people seem to be getting deathly ill when they are supposed to be immune from such diseases due to a vaccine everyone receives once they come out of the cryochamber.  Who could be behind this?  Whom can she trust in this new place surrounded by people she does not know?  Should she speak up and ask questions or simply take the safer route and follow the rules?

Fans of futuristic novels such as The Testing, Alive, Across the Universe, or Red Rising will enjoy this title.  The plot moves quickly and the characters are interesting and engaging.  There is some resolution, but the ending definitely leaves room for a sequel.  While some aspects in the story can be found in other similar titles, there is enough originality here to draw readers in and make them want to know what’s going on in this strange habitat controlled by a few people.  Recommended.

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

Published November 12, 2010 Adventure , Fantasy , Mystery , RAC 1 Comment
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Genre:  Adventure/Futuristic Fiction

# of Pages:  360

RAC Book:  Yes

In this sequel to The Maze Runner, Thomas and his friends are hoping their trials are over.  Unfortunately, this is just the beginning of another round of trials.  They must face scorching heat, disease, and even opponents with weapons.  Plus, a lot of their actions seem to be predetermined somehow.  A lot is revealed about Thomas’s past and the reasons behind the trials, but these answers simply bring up more questions.  Will Thomas and his friends survive to find out why they are being forced into such terrible tests?  Will they ever know whom they can truly trust in this crazy experiment?

The sequel does not provide as interesting of a backdrop as the maze did, but the twists and turns of the plot will keep fans interested.  The characters become more endearing throughout this story also because we know how far they have come and realize they still have a long ways to go to enjoy freedom.  Many new characters are introduced and their motives are murky at best, which keeps the characters and the reader guessing.  All in all, it is not as enticing as the first one, but will definitely keep young readers interested.

Can’t Get There From Here by Todd Strasser

Published February 14, 2008 RAC , Realistic Fiction 33 Comments
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Genre:  Realistic Fiction

Age Level:  14 and up

# of Pages:  198

RAC Book:  Yes

2008 Iowa Award Winner

Maybe lives on the street with several other teens.  They have all been forced into a life on the street and survive by panhandling and digging through dumpsters.  Every time they are approached by someone who wants to help them get off the street they ignore the help and choose to stay in their position.  Due to the extreme circumstances and bitter cold they start dying one by one. 

Tears is a twelve year old girl who was kicked out of her house when she reported that her stepfather was abusing her and her mother failed to believe her.  Maybe begins to see how living on the streets is not a choice after all, but the final solution when the other choices have been exhausted.  She decides to make sure that Tears does not face the same fate as many of the other teens.

This book tries to show teens what it’s like to live on the street with the cold, panhandling, disease, and the way people mistreat the homeless.  Although many of them have had terrible people take advantage of them in their lives and feel like they can take care of themselves, it still seems unbelievable that these teens would choose to freeze under a bridge instead of going to a shelter when the opportunity arises.  The lives of these homeless and abused teens are so far from what many students know that I’m not sure they will be able to really understand these characters.

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