The Diviners by Libba Bray
Bibliographic Data
Bray, L. (2012). The Diviners. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 9780316214643
Summary
Story about a 17-year-old girl named Evie, who is sent to live with her uncle in New York during the roaring 20’s. There is a string of murders that her uncle is called upon to give advice. Evie has a supernatural gift of seeing a person's past by touching a personal object, so she too is involved in the investigation of the murders.
Critical Analysis
Ms. Bray has written a story that has many characters, that sometimes it is hard keeping up with them all. The story/mystery is particularly suspenseful with the murders of the people and Evie and her uncle and friends are trying to figure out who is doing the killing, so they are having to work together and collaborate on their thoughts and ideas. The main character Evie is very brave and spunky for being a teen in the 1920’s. She is a character that you would want in a friend because she is always up for adventure. There are other minor characters, like a half human/half robot and another character with supernatural powers and there are even evil spirits. With these different topics in the story, this book can easily fall into the subgenre of supernatural, science fiction and even historical fantasy. Ms. Bray did a great job of sharing with the reader little secrets about the characters in the story. It did become a tad bit confusing at times because some of these minor characters did not play a “big” part in the story so when the story switched to those characters the reader was a little disappointed to find out that they were not playing a part in solving the mystery. It is not until the story's end that the reader realizes Ms. Bray has left the story open to a sequel. Publishers Weekly stated that Ms. Bray’s trademark humor is less apparent in this story. This is the first book of hers that I have ever read but I felt like there was quite a bit of humor especially for the serious and strong topics that were covered in this book, she had humor in just the right places.
Reviews and Awards
Horn Book Guide, 04/01/2013
Bray's lavish supernatural thriller plunks a macabre series of occult murders into the grit and gaiety of 1920s New York. Bray switches perspectives among a variety of characters, including her wisecracking likable heroine Evie, a diviner with a special connection to the spirit world.
School Library Journal Starred, 09/01/2012
The compelling and dramatic supernatural plot explores self-actualization, predestination, the secrets everyone hides, and, of course, good versus evil.
Publishers Weekly, 07/30/2012
Bray empties a wealth of topics into her complicated narrative—labor reform, a steampunkish robotics experiment, flapper culture, religious zealotry—but her trademark humor is less apparent.
Awards
Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy: Finalist 2012
Connections
Before reading look up and discuss...1) What was living in the 1920’s like? What is a Speakeasy? What is the occult?
Discuss with a partner what section of the story did you find most scary?
Read the next 3 books in the series. Lair of Dreams, Before the Devil Breaks you, King of Crows.
Bibliographic Data
Cooper, S. (2014). Ghost hawk. Corgi Children’s. ISBN: 978144248411
Summary
The story begins with a 10-year-old Pokanoket Indian name Little Hawk and his “proving time” journey that he takes alone to become a man. Later, he meets a Puritan boy, named John Wakely. Their worlds become intertwined when Little Hawk is murdered before little John’s eyes. This is the story of how Little Hawk spirit becomes part of John Wakely life as he grows up.
Critical Analysis
Susan Cooper is known for her fantasy books, but the reader should be equally impressed with the research that was put into this Historical fantasy. Ms. Cooper has created a story of friendship between a young Puritan boy named John Wakely and a Native America. Boy by the name Little Hawk. The two boys have learned to accept one another and help one another no matter the cost and the injustices that they both face in their different cultures. The author has told a story of our young nation and the way the Puritans interacted with the Native Americans on the land we know as America. School Library Journal, says While this is a beautifully written story, it is a bit slow-moving and not wholly accessible to its target audience. I must agree that it is beautifully written, and I think that it may be a bit slow moving, but I also think “slow-moving” is the author giving the reader an opportunity to slow down and reflect on what is happening in the pages of her book to the lives of the characters. I think the story Ghost Hawk would make a wonderful read aloud in the classroom because there are so many opportunities to “slow down” and really discuss what is happening and what others are thinking about what they are reading. I think as a read aloud this book would reach all audiences because if something is unclear, as a group, it can be discussed!
Reviews and Awards
Horn Book Guide, 04/01/2014
The novel maintains an admirable sense of historical empathy as it chronicles the demise of the native way of life in the face of hostile invaders.
School Library Journal, 09/01/2013
While this is a beautifully written story, it is a bit slow-moving and not wholly accessible to its target audience. Little Hawk and John begin the story as children, but they eventually grow up, and the book spans approximately 50 years, even touching into modern times. Young readers may have difficulty following all of the history.
Publishers Weekly Starred, 06/17/2013
Although the tale unfolds almost entirely in English, Cooper impressively conveys the barriers, both cultural and linguistic, that divided natives and settlers, sometimes with horrifying results. Both Little Hawk and John maintain their essential decency in the face of the world’s injustice, while Cooper demonstrates, as Little Hawk says, “Change is made by the voice of one person at a time.”
Awards
Junior Library Guild Selection: Mystery/Adventure Selection 2013
Book Links: Lasting Connections: Selection 2013
Connections
Discussion Questions:
Little Hawk is sent alone into the woods for his “proving time” in the wilderness. Discuss with a partner what that must have been like for an 11-year-old to go out into the wilderness and survive on their own.
Trust and Mistrust are themes in this story. How does Little Hawk and John Wakely show trust for each other and why does Leaping Turtle mistrust white men? Discuss with a partner and cite examples from the text.
John Wakely also experiences a turn at surviving and moving into manhood. How does John’s “proving time” compare to Little Hawks?
Bibliographic Data
Condie, A. (2020). Matched. Penguin Books. ISBN: 9780142419779
Summary
This is the story of 17-year-old Cassia who lives in a society where she has every aspect of her life planned out for her, from whom she will marry, what job she will have, what she will eat and when she will die. There was a glitch at the Matching banquet, which would tell her who she would marry and because of this glitch Cassia begins to wonder what other mistakes the society that controls her life has made.
Critical Analysis
The author Ms. Condie has created a dystopian story where everything seems perfect until it is not. The main character Cassia would have been very content with living in her perfect world where she did not have to think but only follow the expectations the Society held for everyone. The first error occurred at the Matching Banquet and the author created a very believable issue that could have occurred and the fact that there was an error was Cassias first insight to a flawed system. The very next day when Cassia’s grandfather is preparing to die, she visits with him and tells him what has happened with her match, he gives her a gift, that is not allowed in the Society. Cassia has a lot of things to consider about her perfect world that is no longer perfect. The author shows the character struggling to make meaning out of what is going on around her. Her parents are even struggling with the expectation of the Society as well. Horn Book Guide, says that Condie’s dystopian setting is vivid, and her story is thought provoking. The review is right on track with the thought –provoking. The reader has questions about the characters in the story and about how the Society was allowed to be in charge. Her description of the Society and the world they live in is descriptive, and the reader can follow along with how the characters move about and what they see in the dystopian society.
Reviews and Awards
Horn Book Guide, 04/01/2011
Condie's dystopian setting is vivid and her story is thought-provoking.
School Library Journal, 12/01/2010
In a story that is at once evocative of Lois Lowry's The Giver (Houghton, 1993), George Orwell's 1984, and Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, Condie introduces readers to the "perfect" Society. Cassia Reyes is a model student, daughter, and citizen.
Publishers Weekly Starred, 10/04/2010
Condie's enthralling and twisty dystopian plot is well served by her intriguing characters and fine writing. While the ending is unresolved (the book is first in a trilogy), Cassia's metamorphosis is gripping and satisfying.
Awards
Publishers Weekly Best Books: Fiction Selection 2010
Connections
In what ways is the story futuristic? Would you want to live in a world where the Society determines who you marry and what your job is and when you die? Discuss with a partner.
In the story, Cassia was close to her grandfather, and he passed down an artifact. Then everyone had to give up their artifacts. What artifact would you pass down to your future family? And why? How would you feel if you were not allowed to pass on an artifact?
What surprised you the most about this story? Were there any questions you had at the end of the story?
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