The Dark Light

The Dark Light

Mette Newth

1995 * p. 244 * YA Historical Fiction

The Dark Light takes place in early nineteenth century Norway. Tora is 13 years old and is struck with leprosy. Her mother has committed suicide when she found that she herself had contracted it. When Tora's leprosy is discovered, the town sends her to a leper hospital in the nearest city.

She is taken to St. Jorgen's Hospital in Bergen: basically a hospital for the living dead. The conditions are horrible and disgusting. Death is apparant in everything, especially in the deformed and gruesome faces of the patients.

Tora is pretty much in a state of denial and shock. She is scared to death of dying and the possibility of the non-existence of a God or heaven for her to go to. Her doubt mainly stems from the fact that she cannot read. And therefore she cannot discover the teachings of the Bible for herself:

"The parish pastor had said that there was but one recourse to be found--salvation. She had to surrender herself to God. Surrender herself and endure until He received her, for she was one of His chosen. God chastened those He loved the most; He had given His only begotten son for mankind's deliverance. It was all in the Holy Book, the pastor had said. That Book which she herself could not read" (6).

So though the pastor tells her she was a chosen one, Tora can't understand why everyone who is healthy would treat them so cruelly, abandon them, and pretend they were dead. She wants to know:

"Would He (God) answer the question that tortured her most: Was she rejected or elected?" (7).

Since Tora is not as sick as the others--yet--she is able to work more and help the others. One patient is particularly bitter and angry--Sunniva. She is educated and her family was rich. So Tora helps and waits on her in exchange for reading lessons. Tora finds that knowing how to read has been her greatest joy, and that stories give her an escape from the pain and suffering she must endure.

This book is wonderful. It is emotionally exhausting, however. There are many gruesome accounts and descriptions of leprosy and the cruelty that is shown them by the outside world. But I highly reccommend it.

-Reading level: ages 16 & up

-References and/or small scenes of prostitution, attempted rape, suicide, a few swear words, amputations, and body parts falling off.

-Themes of faith, hope, survival, death, education, love, service, family, positivity, etc.

-Needs a more mature audience

-A few Norwegian words

The author is Norwegian and the book is translated from Norwegian. The story is a fictionalized account of an actual leper hospital in Bergen, Norway.

The Adventures of Captain Underpants

The Adventures of Captain Underpants

Dav Pilkey

1997 * p. 121 * YA Graphic Novel

George and Harold are both troublemakers and like to play jokes on people--like putting soap in the band's instruments or pepper in the cherrleaders' pom poms.

They also love comics. They create a comic about the fabulous and heroic Captain Underpants- a superhero who wears only a cape and underwear. Everything is all fun and games with the pair until their, principal, Principal Krupp, catches them on film pulling one of their pranks. He uses the tape as blackmail to force Harold and George to behave. But George and Harold hypnotize Krupp to make him forget about the tape. They have fun playing around with making Krupp do things like act like a monkey or chicken.

Suddenly, they get a great idea: make him think he's Captain Underpants!

"Good idea," said George. Snap! "You are now the greatest superhero of all time: The Amazing Captain Underpants!"

Mr. Krupp tore down the red curtain from his office window and tied it around his neck. Then he took off his shoes, socks, shirt, pants, and his awful toupee.

"Tra-La-Laaaaaaaaaa!" he sang (55).

George and Harold think it's funny at first, but when "Captain Underpants" jumps out the window, many troubles lie ahead.

This graphic novel is silly and fun. It even has an interactive section for readers. If a young adult likes comics they will certainly enjoy this graphic novel. The author has also written sequels to the graphic novel.

-Reading level: ages 10 & up

-Appropriate except for a few references to boyish humor like potty humor, etc.

-No real theme. More of a mindless but entertaining read.

-A fast read with mainly pictures and large text.

If You Come Softly

If You Come Softly

Jacqueline Woodson

1998 * p. 181 * YA Realistic Fiction

Ellie is a white Jewish girl. Miah is black boy. They are both fifteen and meet on their first day at the expensive prep school in New York City that both their parents have chosen for them.

They connect in a moment but neither can tell why.

Miah (Jeremiah) says to his friend Carlton (who is half black and half white):

"It's like I know her--like I can look inside her and see everything. I know it sounds craz--"

"You sound like you're in love, man."

Jeremiah frowned. "Nah. I don't even know her." But he remembered that first day, bending with her to pick up her books in the hallway. Something inside him went cold that morning--cold and hot all at once. "I couldn't even tell you her last name." He was thoughtful for a moment. "But I was sitting next to her in class today--and I don't know--I felt like we. . . like we should always be next to each other. I don't know."

Carlton stood up and tucked the ball under his arm. "Sounds like love, man."

"But she's white."

Carlton raied an eyebrow. "Hello, Miah. Look who you talking to, man. It happens. And you know what? It ain't the worst thing in the world" (89).

They think about each other constantly, but it takes weeks before Miah finally talks to Ellie. From then on they are virtually inseperable. They are together during school and often walk to Central Park to talk. They have a lot in common. Both of them come from an unsatisfactory home life. Ellie's mother has left the family twice. But even though she came back, Ellie feels like she can never fully trust her. Miah's parents are divorced. His father had an affair with another woman, and he ow lives with her across the street. Both of their home lives are awkward and a little depressing.

Miah and Ellie become each other's best friend and fall in love almost instantly. But, of course, their races are an obstacle. People look at them strangely and Ellie is afraid to tell her parents.

If You Come Softly is a love story, but is innocent and not cheesy at all. It is more about two people finding a connection that helps them tackle the disappointments of life.

I enjoyed this book, although I was a little depressed afterward. But it is a heartfelt story.

-Reading level: ages 15 & up

-Needs a more mature audience to appreciate the issue of interracial relationships.

-A few swear words

-Themes of racism, interracial relationships, broken homes, honesty, communication

95 Pounds of Hope

95 Pounds of Hope

Anna Gavalda

2002 * p. 90 * YA Realistic Fiction

Gregory Dubosc is 13 years old and in the 6th grade.

"Yes, I know there's something wrong. I'll tell you right away--don't bother to count on your fingers. I stayed back twice: third and sixth grades" (4).

Gregory simply doesn't like school. His parents are fed up with his bad grades and lies about assignments. They've taken him to doctors, and the doctors say he has ADD. Gregory thinks this is ridiculous, and attests that he simply doesn't like school and that everything seems like it's taught in Chinese.

Gregory finds his joy in his Grandpa Leon's workshop. He loves to build things and create. He is truly gifted when it comes to carpentry.

But going to school is inescapable, even though he has been expelled from two schools. His parents decide on sending him to boarding school but no school will take him because of his record. But everything seems to change when Gregory becomes interested in attending a boarding school that focuses on working with your hands and exploring creativity.

The book is short but poignant. Gregory is a typical student who feels dumb because he doesnt get good grades. It is truly sad. He is a good boy and only wants to feel that he is smart and make his parents proud.

The book is honest and a real glimpse into every student's struggles to get good grades. One quote in particular made me laugh and called back memories:

"Then comes the torture of homework. If my mother helps me, she always ends up crying. If it's my father, I always end up crying" (13).

Haha. So true. Gregory is very funny and real and relatable. I didn't find the story on a whole very outstanding or literary, but it is a good choice for students who have similar school problems and need a book that is short and uncomplicated.

-Reading level: ages 10 & up

-Contains a few swear words

-A short and uncomplicated read

-Themes of self-confidence, family, school, and individuality

Jason's Gold

Jason's Gold

Will Hobbs

1999 * p. 216 * YA Historical Fiction

Fifteen-year-old Jason Hawthorn is self-reliant, ambitious and eager to prove himself to his older brothers. He has left his hometown in Seattle and is living in New York City as a newsie when the Klondike Gold Rush erupts. Gold! Everyone has dreams of striking it rich in the Klondike, even Jason.

"Klondike. Jason paused to savor the word. "Klondike," he said aloud. The name had a magical ring to it, a spellbinding power. The word itself was heavy and solid and dazzling, like a bar of shiny gold" (3).

He rushes home to claim his inheritence and set out for Alaska. But on returning home to Seattle he fnds that his older brothers have the Klondike fever and have already left, and with Jason's money!

Jason is discouraged. But he bucks up, and uses his cunning to sneak onto a ship to the Klondike. Jason's goal is to reach his brothers before some of the treacherous obstacles that lie on the path to the Klondike. But nothing proves easy, or what it seems, on the way to the Klondike, where the gold is "as thick as cheese in a sandwich."

Jason is a fictional character set against the historical event of the Klondike Gold Rush in 1897. Jason takes the historic trek through the Dead Horse Trail, Chilkoot Pass, and the Yukon River. He witnesses criminal activity and animal cruelty, saves a dog, meets the infamous Jack London, has a run in with a moose and suffers a great deal.

I loved, loved, loved this book! It was suspenseful and eye-opening to read about a historical event that I knew so little about. Jason is a true hero. He is moral, kind, forgiving, and strong. King, Jason's husky, is the ultimate man's best friend.

It was wonderful.

-Reading level: age 13 & up

-No swearing that I can recall

-A few disturbing/graphic scenes of animal cruelty and an amputation

-Themes of self-reliance, animal respect, greed, perseverance, kindness, and determination.

-An adventure book that will appeal especialy to boys, but also for girls

North of Danger

North of Danger

Dale Fife

1978 * p. 72 * YA Historical Fiction

North of Danger takes place in WWII Spitsbergen, a sovereign of Norway. It is a fictionalized story based on a true event.

The people living on Spitsbergen, which is situated four hundred miles from the North Pole, fled there after the Germans started to invade Norway.

This story is about Arne Kristiansen, a 12 year old boy living in Spitsbergen. Arnes' father, an activist against the Germans, has fled to the North Pole posed as a glacialist to escape capture.

When Spitsbergen is suddenly told to evacuate because the Germans were coming, Arne refuses to leave. His father is supposed to return in 3 weeks, and will be captured if no one warns him to avoid Spitsbergen. Arne hides in the mines. Soon the whole town is evacuated and Arne is left on his own in the ghost town. He waits above the town for a week, keeping an eye out for German ships and his father. Unfortunately, the Germans arrive. So Arne must make the treacherous trek to reach his father in the dead of winter.

The story is packed with a lot of historical information and is often a little confusing with some of the Norwegian vocabulary. The characters seem a little flat and everything gets resolved a little too nicely and quickly. But the overall story is well written and a typical adventure story about a boy on his own, battling the elements...and Germans.

-Reading level: age 14 & up

-Appropriate for all ages

-A short, fast read

-A few challenging Norwegian words

-The book has no cover jacket, and may be a harder book to locate