In BeT(w)een Book Club

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Comment by Michaela Bulkley on August 12, 2009 at 4:23pm

i like Elsewhere and The outsiders the best so far.

Comment by Joanna Axelrod on August 11, 2009 at 3:24pm

Please read these book descriptions and RESPOND with your top 3 choices:

- The Gospel According to Larry
Josh Swensen is not your average 17-year-old. At the age of two, he was figuring out algebraic equations with colored magnetic numbers. He is a prodigy who only wants to make the world a better place. Josh's wish comes true when his virtual alter ego, Larry, becomes a huge media sensation. Larry has his own Web site where he posts sermons on anti-consumerism and has a large following of adults and teens. Meanwhile, Larry's identity is a mystery to everyone. While it seems as if the whole world is trying to figure out Larry's true identity, Josh feels trapped inside his own creation. What will happen to the world, and to Larry, if he is exposed?

- Elsewhere
Liz awakens in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room. Why is she on a ship in the middle of the ocean? Where is the ship heading? And who is this other girl named Thandi who is sharing her room? Liz finally comes to understand that she has been killed by a hitandrun driver and is bound for a place called Elsewhere.

Liz arrives in Elsewhere and is greeted by her grandmother Betty, a woman who died even before Liz was born. On the drive to her home, Betty explains how Elsewhere operates. Liz will live in Elsewhere and age in reverse. She is expected to decide on some sort of a job and to go on with her life until she becomes a baby. At that point, Liz will be "released" to return to Earth and given an entirely new life. ELSEWHERE explores how we all must cope with life and whatever is to come after our lives end.

- The Switch
A twist of fate is the premise behind this story of riches, street urchins, and criminals. Tad Spencer, 13, is used to getting what he wants from his indulgent yet inattentive parents. One day, he wakes up as Bob Snarby—poor, hungry, dirty, living in squalor—the son of carnival workers. The story is entertaining but the characterizations of Tad's parents are uneven and contradictory. Also, the level of violence, including mass murder, makes the book sound heavy, but it isn't. It's a fun, tongue-in-cheek read that will captivate children who like adventure and mystery. Tad struggles throughout to make sense of his new life and to return to his old one. The discoveries that he makes about himself and the people surrounding him allow him to realize that his old life perhaps is not what he thought it was, and he discovers that life is only as good as you make it.—

- The Outsiders
According to Ponyboy, there are two kinds of people in the world: greasers and socs. A soc (short for "social") has money, can get away with just about anything, and has an attitude longer than a limousine. A greaser, on the other hand, always lives on the outside and needs to watch his back. Ponyboy is a greaser, and he's always been proud of it, even willing to rumble against a gang of socs for the sake of his fellow greasers--until one terrible night when his friend Johnny kills a soc. The murder gets under Ponyboy's skin, causing his bifurcated world to crumble and teaching him that pain feels the same whether a soc or a greaser. This classic, written by S. E. Hinton when she was 16 years old, is as profound today as it was when it was first published in 1967.

- Vampire Diaries
To be quite blunt, IMO, Vampire Diaries is what Twilight wishes it could be (sorry, Twilighters, don't kill me!).

As always, Smith is very skilled at showing the depth of her characters. The lead heroine, Elena, is beautiful and the most popular girl in school, but she silently doubts herself and the life she's made for herself so far. She doesn't know where she belongs. As the story continues, she grows as a character as she realizes how much the people in her life mean to her, and how much she is willing to give up in order to protect them.

Stefan, the vampire and romantic interest of Elena, is self-loathing and blind to his own good heart. He lives off of animals, and even then feels guilty when he accidently kills his prey. This conflict with himself only deepens when Elena enters his life, and he is convinced he doesn't deserve her love. Yet, despite this, Stefan fights for what he believes is right, even if it's against his own brother, Damon.

To complete the little triangle, we have Damon, who is also a vampire (and my favorite character... Damon = *swoon*). Damon is snarky, cold, handsome, and darkly hilarious. He knows what he is and he doesn't apologize for it. He also knows what he wants, and that happens to be Elena. But don't write Damon off as a one-dimensional character... Smith manages to write him as all of the above, while still capturing the reader's sympathy as we begin to see aspects of Damon that he himself refuses to acknowledge.

Comment by Joanna Axelrod on August 11, 2009 at 11:35am

If you guys on here have friends that aren't part of Escoteens yet, please encourage them to join so they can participate.

Comment by Joanna Axelrod on August 11, 2009 at 11:35am

Book club starts September 17th from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. We'll be reading Cathy's Book: If Found Call (650) 266-8233. It's an awesome mystery with lots of extra things like websites to check out and phone numbers to call. I think you'll like it!

I'm also going to post a list of other books (with descriptions) for you guys to vote on. PLEASE RESPOND and tell me which ones you're most interested in.

Thanks!
Jo

Comment by Jessica Santero on August 6, 2009 at 1:58pm

When is the book club starting up again??????

Comment by Jessica Santero on July 14, 2009 at 2:17pm

BOOKS??? hmmm....lets see, blood promise, but that's part of a series. VAMPIRE DIARIES! I have always wanted to read that series, but I haven't gotten around to it. That's my suggestion! :D

Comment by Joanna Axelrod on July 6, 2009 at 4:00pm

DON'T FORGET...

BOOK CLUB MEET THIS THURSDAY, JULY 9. We're reading The Last Days.

Comment by Joanna Axelrod on July 6, 2009 at 3:59pm

Book clubbers....

I've gotten permission to continue the book club into the fall...YAY! But now I need to know what books you want to read so I can ask for the money to buy them.

Does anyone have any ideas?!?

Joanna

Comment by Joanna Axelrod on June 18, 2009 at 5:52pm

Michaela, tell us about The Boy in Striped Pajamas!!

Comment by Jessica Santero on June 16, 2009 at 2:29pm

Hey, nathalia, boy toy is an excellant book! :D love it!

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