In the hubbub of the holiday season, we’ve fallen a bit behind on posting the reviews from Owlets and Fledglings, but as they say: better late than never.
The December selection for Fledglings was I Am the Messenger by Markus Zusak.
Ed Kennedy admits he is a screw up. He drifted in school, didn’t go to university, and now drives a cab because it’s easy. But all that changes when Ed is hailed a hero after stopping a bank robber. And now he has received a card in the mail. It lists times and addresses. Should he follow them? Ed is not sure what to do, or what it all means.
Comments from the Fledglings:
Liked the characters.
Characters had depth and reasoning.
Liked interchange between characters.
Found them believeable.
Ending was a bit confusing.
Opening chapters sucked the reader in.
The whole idea was intriguing.
Really liked the characters, the plot, the seting.
Believeable dialogue.
Very funny in places, poignant in others.
Even secondary characters were well done.
Kept interest to very end.
Even the stinky dog was great.
Very deep book, multi-leveled.
Really like the author’s self insertion.
Final score: 8.8928571 out of 10.
The next meeting for Fledglings will be on Tuesday, January 24, 2012. The book up for discussion is Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly.
From the book’s description:
BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.
PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.
Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.
If your a teen in grades 10 through 12 and are interested in joining Fledglings, please email us at owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca, call us at 403-287-9557 or just drop into one of the meetings.
