TeenRead

Cardturner with a ghost over his shoulder?

This book isn't about ghosts exactly, but Alton's uncle, Trapp, is haunted by his past.  Even Toni seems to be haunted.  Perhaps she hears ghosts or perhaps there is something wrong with her mind.  But Alton, in the ending of the novel, seems to feel something too.  Could it be the presence of his uncle still telling him what cards to play to win the game?  Did you feel a touch of the supernatural in this story?

Strings Attached: Sequel Material?

I have to wonder what's going to happen to Kit!  What do you think?  If you were to write a sequel, what would happen in it?  Or, where do you think Kit will find herself in 40 years?

Beauty Queens: Love It or Hate It?

This is not your run-of-the-mill teen novel!  There are so many powerful pieces: themes, characters, setting, all working together to create one dynamic story.  Naturally, different readers will have different reactions to this book.  For example, some readers might roll their eyes at the "Woman Power" theme or at some of the stereotypical beauty queen characters.  Other readers might embrace these facets.  How about you?  Was this a book you loved or not-quite-loved?  What did you love about it, or what would have made it better for you?

Strings Attached: Put Yourself in Kit's Shoes

Sometimes it's fun to put yourself in the place of a book character.  If you had been in Kit's situation, starting at the very beginning of the book, what would you have done?  Would you have made the same choices as she did?  Keep in mind that as Kit made her choices, she didn't know what the consequences would be (we have that advantage!).  Most importantly, what would your shoes look like?  Strappy heels?  Pee-toes?  Something shiny and red?

Beauty Queens: Character Development

The characters in Beauty Queens have the perfect opportunity for personal growth.  Trapped on an island with only their own resourcefulness to rely on, the girls must dig deep and use every ounce of strength inside them... sometimes, it was strength they didn't know they had.  Of course, dire circumstances bring out the best and the worst in people, as we see over the course of this book.  Which character do you think changed the most, and in what ways?  Which character do you think changed the least, and why do you think she didn't change? 

Would you want a friend like Cliff?

As I read this book, I really didn't like Alton's friend, Cliff.  He seemed superficial at best and I didn't like that he was dating his best friend's ex-girlfriend.  I also didn't like that Alton never spoke up and said how uncomfortable this was for him.  What did you think when Cliff tried starting a relationship with Toni, the girl Alton liked?  Why do you think Alton stayed friends with him?  Do you think Cliff made up for all this by helping Alton later in the story?

Beauty Queens: What a Character!

In Beauty Queens, we meet all kinds of unique characters.  There's Taylor, who insists on practicing for the pageant despite the circumstances.  There's Shanti, who plays up her cultural heritage to the extreme.  There's straightforward, assertive Adina, who ends up getting hurt.  Was there one character in particular who you really enjoyed getting to know?  Was there a character who really added a lot to the story for you? 

Strings Attached: Post-War Timeframe--How important was it?

The post-war time frame of Strings Attached provide a backdrop for a story of a girl who is trying to pursue her dreams and gets caught up in complicated relationships with love interests, friends, and family members.  I wonder how the story would be different if it were set in today's world, or even in the 1970's, 80's, or 90's.  Do you think any major story elements would change if the story were a contemporary one?  Or could the author have simply plunked this story down at any point in history, changed a few details, and had a feasible plot and alluring story? 

Curious about what ship breaking really looks like?

Follow this link to see a video that aired on 60 Minutes in 2007:

The Ship Breakers

"Working for barely a dollar a day with little but their bare hands, the ship breakers of Bangladesh strip old ships in one of the world's most dangerous jobs"

Even though over 97% of these ships end up being recycled (which seems good, right?) ship breaking operations are an environmental nightmare; the 3% that isn't recycled includes asbestos, oil, and mercury, which ends up fouling the beaches where the operations take place. 

In the video, a man who owns a ship breaking operation (a swank, in Nailer's world) tells the reporter that if international environmental regulations were observed in Bangladesh, ship breaking would screech to a halt. Thousands of workers would lose their jobs and have no way to support their families, and the country would have no source of steel for building or manufacturing.  He also says that environmentalism is a luxury only rich people /countries have. 

Do you think that's true?  

Now that you've read Ship Breaker, what do you think about the fact that ship breaking operations actually exist in our world?  So you think they should be shut down or that they provide a valuable service?

Standing Out

In this novel twin sisters, Minni and Keira, experience times when they blend in with the crowd around them and times when they stand out.   There are times when each one of us feels invisible as well as times when we feel different than everyone else.  When have you felt like you blended in with the crowd? When have you felt that you stood out?  When is it good to stand out?