Runner by Carl Deuker

Runner

Author: Carl Deuker

Appropriate for Ages: 12+

Number of Pages:

Lexile:

Bean's Rating: Pinto Bean

Summary

Ever since his mother ran off Chance Taylor has had to pay the bills: for the rent, electricity, groceries, and even for his drunk dad's beer. Then, suddenly, he's offered a job worth so much money he won't ever have to worry about the bills again. It's easy too: all he has to do is run and pick up packages, but now he's got a lot more to worry about. Chance is involved in a smuggling operation. What's he smuggling? Even his boss doesn't know, but after the man drives off a hill, Chance realizes he's involved in something a lot more dangerous than drugs. Now it's up to him and a strong-minded girl named Melissa to discover the secret behind the packages he picks up everyday. In this novel, shrouded by darkness and mystery, "Chance knows how much he will earn but has no idea how much he will pay."

My Thoughts

My dad brought this book home for me when I was bored one afternoon. I was reluctant to read it mostly because the first pages bored me to death. Soon though, I was hooked. The novel tells the story of Chance Taylor, a young boy with a drunk father who gets involved with a smuggling operation to make money. It is a dark book with little surprises and an anti-climactic ending that disgusted me to the core.

Chance is a boy who will do just about anything to pay the bills. Even when he realizes he is in a smuggling circle, he does not tell anyone about the job or quit and this has disastrous consequences. Chance skips school and wastes away on his boat. He is a horrible role model for kids, and doesn't turn around in the end as much as he should have. I did not like Chance's character at all. Even though he does care for people and tries to keep them safe, he ends up risking their lives just by staying with the job. He does stand up for Melissa at one point but ditches her just as easily. I hated Chance's character and he was my least favorite part of the story.

Meanwhile, Melissa is just the opposite. She is a strong woman with a sweet temperament. She cares about her friends and has goals She tries her best everday, gets good grades, and helps everyone around her. She was definitely my favorite character and is rewarded for her good decisions and disposition. I was happy she was in the book, because she was strong and well-rounded and represented girls well.

The worst thing about the story was the ending. **SPOILER** Chance's father dies while protecting himself, all because of Chance's bad choices. That disgusted me, and the book ended on a sour note. I guess I'm just a sucker for the happy ending!:)

This story overall was dissapointing. It had a good plot and was fast paced, but the ending made it not worth the read. I do not reccomend this book.

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

Mockingbird

Author: Kathryn Erskine

Appropriate for Ages: 10 and up

Number of Pages: 129

Lexile: 630

Bean's Rating: Baked Beans

Summary:

Ten year old Caitlin has always been doted on by her brother. He has taught her everything she knows. Then one day everything changes when Devon, is shot on his school campus, and her life falls apart. Meanwhile, at school she deals with constant bullying because of her Asperger's syndrome, and struggles to make new friends, all the while trying to find what she calls 'closure' and pull her family back together. Based on the Virginia Tech shooting, this novel shows the truth and feelings behind loss and the death of a family member.

My Thoughts:

When I first found this story, I was sitting on the floor of Barnes and Noble, while my father and brother looked for a book. I had no idea it would be so good. This book tells the powerful story of a young girl dealing with Asperger's syndrome on top of her brother being shot to death. It is a novel of revelation and hope, all through the eyes of a girl struggling to "get it".

Caitlin is the perfect example of an Asperger's child. She is gifted and talented, but has severe emotional problems to go on top of that. It is extremely plausible that these emotions would have been heightened by her brother's death and would result in the bizarre behaviors she shows in the story. Overall, she is a very strong character that tries to make everyone around her feel good. Even though she doesn't always succeed, she means well and her journey to find empathy is inspiring.

One thing I didn't like about this story, however, was the lack of "closure" for the first grader Michael at the end of the book. I thought it was a nice touch how she went to his play, and how she and Josh joined together in the end to befriend him, but I think there should have been more material about how Michael ended up. I believe he was happy when the story concluded, but there was never any definite "closure", on his part and I really wanted that for him.

Overall, this was a good book, not the best I've read but good, and I think you should take time out of your day to read this.

Perfect by Natasha Friend

Perfect
Author: Natasha Friend
Appropriate For Ages: 13 and up
Number of Pages: 172
Lexile: 590
Bean's Rating: Bertie Bott's Beans


Summary:

After the death of her father, Isabelle Lee struggles with an eating disorder. After her sister April catches her making herself throw up, her mom forces her to attend a therapy group. There, she sees a seemingly perfect, extremely popular girl from school, Ashley Barnum, who struggles with bulimia just like she does. They bond over their binging/purging habits, and Isabelle begins to sit with Ashley at the popular table at lunch. Through group therapy, and with the help of her Aunt, Isabelle begins to connect with her mother and sister again and realizes that even if someone looks perfect on the outside, they are not always truly happy with themselves.

My Thoughts:

When I first read Perfect, I definitely thought it looked interesting, but I had no idea just how good it would be. Natasha Friend crafts a beautiful novel and provides enormous insight into the world of the bulimic. Isabelle is a very strong, young girl and seemingly has the weight of the world put on her shoulders. It's hard to imagine how bad that would be, and the extent that she goes to purge herself completely matches her situation's severity.

I loved Ashley Barnum's character as well. She was the person my parents always tell me about. My mom always says to me, "Even though their life seems perfect, it never really is. Every one's got something they're dealing with." That's exactly how it was with her. She was this girl, who, according to Isabelle, was absolutely flawless, but in reality was dealing with a lot herself. It wasn't until Isabelle got to truly know her that she found out that she wasn't "perfect".

Overall, this book was very well written and had very strong characters. The feeling encompassed in these 176 pages was immense. I loved it, and I know you will too.