The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Source: www.barnesandnoble.com

The Graveyard Book is a retelling of Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book but set in a graveyard instead. Having escaped the murder who killed his family, Nobody "Bod" Owens seeks shelter in a disused graveyard and is brought up and sheltered by the community of the dead. He is given the "Freedom of the Graveyard", allowing him to learn ghost tricks including the ability to appear invisible when someone is looking at him. This book follows Bod's experiences and adventures growing up in the graveyard and the delightful array of characters who help bring him up. We also see his attempt at making friends with a human girl, Scarlett. At the end of the story, Bod also discovers why his family was killed and why he is being hunted.

The Graveyard Book is a highly imaginative, exhilarating fantasy adventure and is told captivatingly. Neil Gaiman is a lively and dramatic storyteller who is sure to enchant readers of all ages. Readers who are interested in the supernatural will be especially delighted as vampires, ghouls and other spirits of the dead run rampant in this story.

The classic good vs evil theme has also been given a fun twist here. Mummies and vampires who are traditionally given evil roles are portrayed as good characters while the villains are human. Many characters are also not clearly good or evil but face choices which will lead them to be either.

An interesting question for children to ponder while reading this book is: how can the dead raise a human boy? Bod faces the question of identity since is not dead yet he has no experience interacting with the living. Even though Bod is a living human being, the community in the graveyard take good care of him and we see their undying (pun intended) love for Bod throughout the story. The coming-of-age theme makes an appearance in this book as well and can be seen when it is time for Bod to leave the graveyard, which he has come to associate with the safety and comfort of home. We see him leaving with a sense of uncertainty. Is he prepared for the real world? Can he assimilate into the society of the living?

This book is not only great for young adults but also a good book for parents and educators to read aloud to younger children. Children who have enjoyed this book should also be encouraged to read Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book.

The Wall by Peter Sis

Source: http://picturebooks4olderreaders.wordpress.com/

The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain illustrates life under Communist rule from the perspective of the author as a child who loved to draw. The story starts off in his young days where he was convinced of everything he was told. This was also when he developed his love for drawing. However, during his adolescence, he starts to question the oppressive nature of the government and gradually starts dreaming of being free of communist rule. At the end of the book, we see his dream being realised with the end of the Cold War and the Berlin Wall torn down.

The poignant illustrations in this book offer some interesting points for discussions. One that was particularly impactful was a "map" with words describing life on either sides of the wall.

Source: photo taken by me

On the side under communist rule, the landscape is barren with adjectives like "injustice", "corruption" and terror". On the other side, the landscape is given a warm orange colour and words like "freedom", "benevolence" and "equality" are used to describe the life and people there. This can help to educate students on how freedom and justice should not be taken for granted.

This book consists of two simultaneous storylines. One tells of the historical events from the point of view of the author. This narrative also portrays oppressive nature of communism. The second storyline is more of a personal account of the author where he expresses his love for art and desire to be free from an oppressive government.

Although this is a picture book with simple language, it is more suited for older readers. Having two stories told concurrently makes it a more complex book which younger readers might not understand and appreciate. In addition, this book also offers an accessible and lighthearted way to introduce young students to political issues such as communism.

Magician: Apprentice (Graphic Novel) by Raymond E Feist

Source: http://www.crydee.com/

Magician: Apprentice is a graphic novel adaptation of a fantasy novel of the same title.

Source: http://www.crydee.com/

Set in the fictional kingdom of Midkemia, this story tells of the adventures of two young kitchen boys, Pug and Tomas. One fateful day, Pug discovers an alien ship wrecked along the shore. Anticipating an invasion from this alien race, Pug and Tomas find themselves part of a convoy, travelling to the capital of Midkemia to warn the king. However, their party is attacked along the way and this is just the beginning of a long, eventful and swashbuckling adventure.

Amid the plethora of superhero stories, Magician: Apprentice offers something different to graphic novel fans. Being a graphic novel adaptation of a fantasy novel, Magician: Apprentice contains all the traditional elements of a high fantasy tale. Fast paced and action packed, readers will be taken on an adventurous journey that is sure to keep them hooked.

Although part of an epic fantasy saga, Magician: Apprentice does not have an overly complicated plot. Hence, it makes for an excellent read for young adults and even for readers in their early teens. The characters are varied, strong and well-developed and readers can very easily relate to them. Having two young teenage boys, Pug and Tomas, as protagonists, this graphic novel does feature several coming of age themes that are close to the heart of many teenagers. Most significantly, we see how Pug and Tomas try to find their place in society as they take up their respective apprenticeships (Tomas as a soldier and Pug as a magician).

Reading this story as a graphic novel is a great way to introduce the fantasy genre to reluctant readers. It is also a fantastic and lighthearted way to expose young teens to new ideas and concepts. As it is set in a primary world that does not exist in reality, readers can be encouraged to explore worldbuilding, thus fostering creativity. In addition, although Midkemia is ruled by a monarchy, this story contains many political intricacies which can spark an interest in politics in young readers.

Dave the Potter - Written by Laban Carrick Hill & Illustrated by Bryan Collier

Source:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/

Dave the Potter is a beautiful picture book which tells the story of Dave, an African American slave. It is a heartwarming tale of how despite being enslaved, Dave still had the chance to flourish as an craftsman by being trained as a potter. This book is written in a very poetic style accompanied by detailed watercolour illustrations.

Laban Carrick Hill starts off the story by highlighting the difference between Dave and other people. This is done by contrasting how things (e.g., dirt) are perceived to us against what they mean to Dave. In addition, readers are given an insight into Dave's expertise as a potter and how it makes him special. Pottery is a specialised skill and even though Dave is a slave, he is highly skilled.

Bryan Collier's illustrations also help to demonstrate the amount of hard work and dedication Dave puts into his craft. By having each stanza accompanied by a painting, readers are able follow Dave every step of the way as he creates a piece of pottery.

Source: http://kathyellendavis.com/

What makes Dave special as a potter is that he leaves little bits of poetry on his jars and pots. Some of his original writings are also included at the end of the book. Reading these provides greater insights into Dave's life and enables the reader to go through the book with greater understanding and empathy.

This book does an excellent job in telling readers about slavery without any negativity that sometimes accompanies the topic. It is a story of an empowered slave as even though he is a slave, Dave has the means to cultivate his craft. Hence, reading this picture book is great way to ease into the topic of slavery, especially with young readers.

All I Ever Wanted by Vikki Wakefield

Source: http://vikkiwakefield.com

Mim, a teenage girl who is turning 17, has been brought up by a single mother and two brothers who are drug dealers. However, she has very firmly made up her mind that she will not turn out like her mother. Hence, she proceeds to set a list of rules for herself to live by. "I will finish school. I will not take drugs..." the list goes on and on. One day, her mother sends her on an errand to pick up a dubious package. Unfortunately, it gets stolen on her way home and consequently, her life starts to unravel and she starts breaking those rules one by one.

Although many teenagers would not have grown up in the same circumstances at Mim, the experiences and emotions she goes though are things that most teenagers would be able to relate to. Friendships, romance, peer pressure, dreams and aspirations are just a few issues Mim constantly contends with just like any other teenager anywhere else in the world.

Like many teenagers, Mim feels misunderstood and that she does not fit in. However, instead of succumbing to peer pressure, she strives to be "better" than her mother and her family by setting a list of rules for herself which she works hard to adhere to. This causes her to alienate herself from her family and friends and even to fall out with her best friend.

Teenagers also tend to feel that the world is against them. Mim is no different. She feels that her current situation that she has been forced into by being born into a dysfunctional family is holding her back from having a bright future. By the end of the book however, she realises that she has misjudged many of the people in her life, especially her mother. The package which her mothers asks her to pick up at the beginning of the story turns out to be documents for an exchange programme in France and not drugs like what Mim thinks it is. This shows that contrary to what Mim thinks, her mother actually understands her very well and knows how much she desires to get away from her hometown and to see the world.

With a heartwarming yet gritty and honest story and authentic characters, All I Ever Wanted is definitely a book which many teenagers will be able to relate to. It also encourages them not to be so quick to dismiss the care and concern from their family and friends just because they are under the impression that they do not understand them. This is undeniably a highly recommended coming of age book which will resonate with many teenagers.

Gone Case by Dave Chua

Source: www.goodreads.com

Gone Case is narrated by a 12-year-old boy named Yong. Being a typical Singaporean boy, he tells of his everyday experiences of growing up in a Housing Development Board (HDB) estate and the challenges he faces in school while preparing for his Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE). We also get a peek into his family life as he comes to terms with the death of his grandmother and how his parents' financial difficulties affect his family.

Growing up in Singapore in the 1990's, reading this book was like a trip down memory lane. Using vivid descriptions, Dave Chua provides an honest and real picture of what a typical HDB housing estate in Singapore was like. The heavy use of Singlish in the dialogues also adds to its authenticity. Many issues Yong deals with as a 12-year-old also resonates with many Singaporeans, especially those of the same generation. Preparing for his PSLE, being a prefect in school and the upgrading of the playground in his neighbourhood are just a few striking examples. What I related to the most was how many students viewed the education system then.

"I feel like a liar, a fraud, that all my knowledge is false and that I really do not know anything at all. But this is the way to study. If I do not understand something I read and read and do it until I could do the problem through a method, never really comprehending but able to look like I know, enough to get some marks on a question."

This very clearly echoes the thoughts of many students and educators then and was often a topic for discussion.

Besides issues that are distinctly Singaporean, Yong also experiences many things that are common to any adolescent regardless of country. He constantly struggles to strike a balance between peer pressure and his parents' expectations of him. He also nurses a crush on his best friend's sister. These are common concerns that are part and parcel of growing up and anyone would be able to relate to them.

While Gone Case is a very descriptive book with a very atmospheric and slightly melodramatic feel, it does not draw readers in with a strong and gripping plot. For the most part, we see the protagonist, Yong, merely recounting his experiences and observations. He seems largely disengaged and does not play a significant role in driving the plot. Hence, young readers who are after fast-paced and exciting plots may grow disinterested quickly.

Tomorrow, When the War Began by John Marsden

Source: www.goodreads.com

It's the Christmas holidays and Ellie and a group of friends decide to go on a camping trip before school starts again. All goes well and they spend an enjoyable few days in a nearby mountainous area. When the return however, they find that their hometown has been invaded and all their friends and families have been captured. Together, they fight for survival as they try to discover the fates of their families

What makes this book stand out is the way it demonstrates how adversity can bring out certain remarkable strengths in the characters.

Courage
Having lead relatively safe and sheltered lives, Ellie and friends now have to deal with living in a country that has been invaded. Suddenly, death becomes a very real threat for all of them and they face it with remarkable courage.

After Lee gets shot, a normally timid Robyn faces the challenge of protecting her injured friend with surprising grit and determination. Although she is known to be squeamish around blood and needles, she administers painkiller injections for Lee without batting an eyelid. Homer also demonstrates tremendous tenacity, stepping up as their unofficial leader to provide the direction the group needs in challenging situations.

Resourcefulness
Having to rely on themselves, Ellie and her friends are forced to source for their own food and supplies. Knowing that they need to plan for their survival for an indefinite period of time, they start to ration their food supplies. In addition to scavenging from the houses in their neighbourhood, they also learn to have the foresight to plan for the long-term and start rearing chickens and growing their own vegetables.

We also see how innovative they can get, thinking of ways to get themselves out of difficult situations. One fantastic example is how Ellie, Robyn and Homer rescue an injured Lee using a truck with a shovel. Throughout the story, they also have to come up with numerous ingenious ways to evade soldiers and gather information about their families and the invaders.

Love
Instead of staying holed up in the wild countryside where they can remain undetected, their love for the families drives this group of teenagers to continue to venture into town to find out about the safety and living conditions of their families. They do this in spite of numerous run ins with soldiers of the invading army, risking their lives time and time again.

At the end of the book, we also see Kevin's love for Corrie when he drives her to the hospital after she gets shot. Unwilling to abandon her, he does this despite knowing that he will be leading himself straight to the enemy.

This book also provides a channel for teenagers to explore themes and issues related to war. While listening to news about the war on the radio, they find out that the motivation behind the invasion is "reducing imbalances within the region". Robyn then begins to empathise with the invaders, saying that there "doesn't have to be a right side and a wrong side."

Similarly, in order to escape from a group of soldiers, Ellie blows up a ride-on mower which kills two soldiers. After this incident, we see her facing feelings of guilt and she starts to question herself:

"Had I killed out of love of my family, as part of a noble crusade to rescue friends and family and keep our land free? Or had I killed because I valued my life above that of others? Would it be OK for me to kill a dozen others to keep myself alive?"

This can lead readers to ponder upon the following:

Can attacking another country ever be justified?
Can killing another person ever be justified?

With an exciting and fast paced plot that is full of suspense, this book is definitely an addictive read. The characters are well developed and engaging which draws readers in to be part of their adventure. This is a book that both adults and young adults will enjoy and I look forward to reading the rest of the series!