Senior Owlets: The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness

This month, the Senior Owlets read The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness.

Todd Hewitt has never seen a woman. His mother was the last to die. He doesn’t remember her. When his people came to the planet to colonize it, everyone was infected with the Noise germ. The infection caused men’s thoughts to become audible. The infection also killed all women. Todd is the youngest, counting down the days until his 13th birthday. The he will be considered a man, and let into the secrets. But the, Todd from the girl in The Swamp.

Comments from the Senior Owlets:
Believable characters.
Really liked the dog, Manchee
Author did incredible job with all characters.
Characters were all very distinct and believable.
Really liked the portrayal of The Noise. The different fonts helped.
Some parts dragged.
Possibly more for a male audience with some of the violence.
Very deep themes.
Very symbolic.
Great discussion.
Made reader think.

Final score: 8.025

For the next meeting (on Tuesday, February 7th, 2012) the book up for discussion is Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli.

From the book’s description:

Stargirl. From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High in a burst of color and sound, the hallways hum with the murmur of “Stargirl, Stargirl.” She captures Leo Borlock’s heart with just one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with just one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. At first.

Then they turn on her. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and Leo, panicked and desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her: normal. In this celebration of nonconformity, Newbery Medalist Jerry Spinelli weaves a tense, emotional tale about the perils of popularity and the thrill and inspiration of first love.

If you’re a kid in grades 6 to 9 and are interested in joining Senior Owlets, we’d love to have you. Membership is free and you can join any time. If you’d like more information, call us at 403-287-9557, email us at owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca or just pop into one of the meetings.

Published in: on January 11, 2012 at 1:53 pm  Leave a Comment  

Senior Owlets: The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly

This month’s selection for Senior Owlets was The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly.

The summer of 1899 was one of the hottest in rural Texas.  It was also the summer that Calpurnia (Callie) Tate, the only girl in a family of seven children, discovered her grandfather.  Grandfather had always lived with the family, but he was a distant, awe-inspiring presence that she and her brothers feared.  That summer, Callie and her grandfather became aware of each other when she asked the right question about grasshoppers.

Comments from the Senior Owlets:

Particularly liked the humour.
Great story.
Love the characters.
Granddaddy’s and Calpurnia’s relationship is such a joy to read about.
Characters well drawn.
A quiet novel.
Calpurnia symbolizes the evolution of the “new woman”.
Liked the scientific approach.
Like how the quotes from The Origin of Species foreshadowed what would happen.
Really good insight into the life of a young woman in 18993
Scientific detail was a definite plus.

Final rating: 8.3333333 out of 10.

In January, the Senior Owlets will meet to discuss The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness.

Todd Hewitt is the only boy in a town of men. Ever since the settlers were infected with the Noise germ, Todd can hear everything the men think, and they hear everything he thinks. Todd is just a month away from becoming a man, but in the midst of the cacophony, he knows that the town is hiding something from him — something so awful Todd is forced to flee with only his dog, whose simple, loyal voice he hears too. With hostile men from the town in pursuit, the two stumble upon a strange and eerily silent creature: a girl. Who is she? Why wasn’t she killed by the germ like all the females on New World? Propelled by Todd’s gritty narration, readers are in for a white-knuckle journey in which a boy on the cusp of manhood must unlearn everything he knows in order to figure out who he truly is.

If you’re a kid in grades 6 to 9 and are interested in joining Senior Owlets, we’d lo’ve to have you.  Membership is free and you can join any time.  If you’d like more information, call us at 403-287-9557, email us at owlsnestbooks@shaw.ca or just pop into one of the meetings.

Published in: on December 8, 2011 at 7:24 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Senior Owlets and Flush by Carl Hiaasen

This month’s Senior Owlet’s meeting brought Flush by Carl Hiaasen. 

Very humourous.  Strongly recommended.  Great environmental story.  Good characters.  Kids are the heroes in sorting out the problem that adults are creating.  Like the details.  Gross story of pollution.  Book makes you think.  Raised awareness.  Moved slowly in parts, didn’t grab everyone.  Did not think that Grandfather Bobby part was essential to plot.

Final score: 8.2831663

Published in: on November 4, 2010 at 6:08 pm  Leave a Comment  
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