The Color Purple - Alice Walker

Alice Walker published her award winning novel, The Color Purple, in 1982.  Shortly thereafter it began to attract criticism from many parents who believed the book was inappropriate.  It has been banned/challenged a number of times for sexual content, violence, and racism.

Summary:  This novel tells the story of two sisters--one a missionary in Africa and the other a child-wife living in the South--who sustain their loyalty to and trust in each other across time, distance, and silence. 

The principal voice is that of Celie, who has been raped by the man she believes to be her father, robbed of her two children, and married off to a man she hates.  Her sister, Nettie, escapes the same fate, and is befriended by missionaries who have unwittingly adopted Celie's children.  Separated for thirty years, the sisters live in ignorance of each other's circumstances.  Nettie's letters do not reach Celie, and so great is Celie's sense of shame that she can write only to God.  But life for Celie begins to change for the better when her husband's lover, a remarkable woman named Shug Avery, comes to live with them. 

Honest, poignant, vibrant, defiant, The Color Purple is a story of heroic lives, love, and the nature of God. (Summary from book - Image from life.arizona.edu)

My Review: **  Some books are classics because their story is so moving, so all encompassing, that they will be forever relevant.  Other books are classics because, when printed they were scandalous, groundbreaking literary works.  They were something that blew everything else out of the water.  Such is The Color Purple.

Alice Walker does not pull a single punch.  The very first page is a letter to God, written by a young girl, Celie, who tells of her brutal rape by a family member.  Celie continues writing about her turbulent adolescence -- taking care of her new husband's children from a first marriage and enduring beatings and frequent rapes at his hands.   Resigned to her lot in life, Celie cannot --will not-- imagine a way out.  To cope, she writes to God and shares her innermost thoughts about life in a poor black community.  Eventually, through letters written and the company of another woman (yes, that kind of company), Celie begins to navigate her own path.  Though the ending is neither perfect nor happilyever-after, she emerges completely transformed.

For me, Ms. Walker played the devil's advocate.  She used all the things that make me uncomfortable (graphic sexuality, offensive language, and racism) and with them, poked and prodded my sore spots to get a reaction. I suppose that was her objective -- to slap the apathy off my face and make me feel.  And I did.  At first, all I felt was revulsion.  I didn't want to read anymore about Celie's awful life.  I couldn't see a redeeming thing about it (Hey, I'm being honest).  However, once Celie began to receive letters from her sister, Nettie, who is on a mission in Africa, the book opened up for me on a more emotional level.  I reveled in the observations that Nettie made about the African people, the nature of God (however heretical), and the nature of man.  Though Nettie never received Celie's letters, the dialogue between the two sisters was touching and beautiful, as each struggled to make a life for themselves on separate continents.

I can understand why some parents objected to children of a certain age reading this novel.  Heck, I had a problem with me reading this novel.  There are a variety of topics that would make them squirm: graphic sexuality, sexual violence, homosexuality, offensive language, racial themes, and general misery.  That having been said, this book also allows for extensive dialogue on racial prejudice and it's use in literature, racial prejudice within ethnicities, women's rights and general inequality, as well as the nature of God, and highlights the importance of appreciating life, family, friends, and forgiveness in ways that I felt were uplifting.

While I can't say that the latter half of the book completely changed my opinion of the first half, I am glad that I read the book.  Ultimately, if you'd like to read this book, you're going to have to decide what you can handle.  Its good qualities are there, to be devoured and discussed, but you must get past all the muck on the surface.  One way or another, you cannot read this book and remain untouched. 

My Rating: 2.75 Stars.  For the sensitive reader:  This book is chock full of graphic sexuality and (to a lesser extent) crass language, violence, and some unorthodox theories about the nature of God. 

Sum it up: A classic fueled by powerfully raw emotion -- but it's not for everyone.

**This entire review was written at one in the morning with a severe head cold and zero meds (since you can't take jack squat when nursing).  So please, cut me some slack.  I'm seriously sleep deprived.

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret - Judy Blume

Summary:  Margaret Simon, almost twelve, likes long hair, tuna fish, the smell of rain, and things that are pink.  She's just moved from New York City to the suburbs, and she's anxious to fit in with her new friends, so when they form a secret club to talk about boys, bras, and getting their first periods, Margaret is happy to belong.  But none of them can believe Margaret doesn't have a religion.  And Margaret can't tell them the truth: that she can talk to God anyway, about everything that's on her mind--including Philip Leroy, the best-looking boy in the sixth grade.

Margaret is funny and real.  So are her most personal thoughts and feelings.  (Summary from back of the book and image from  http://www.personal.psu.edu/rmc5071/blogs/)

My Review:  After reading this quick novel, I'm not surprised it made the Banned Book list.  In the very first chapters there is mention of Playboy, kissing boys, having a period, and some examples of teenage attitude towards authority figures.  Considering the protagonist is a twelve year old girl and the audience for the book would be the same, it fits that parents would take issue with some of the subject matter.  I'm not sure at twelve I would have been ready for some of what this book addresses.  But, I also know I was quite sheltered--something I have no issue with, I might add.  I'm sure at that age I would have breezed over the part with Playboy, thinking I'd figure it out later while most likely forgetting to check up on it.

But, that's not all I can see parents taking issue with.  The simple fact that Margaret talks to God throughout the story is enough for some parents to grow leery.  Margaret even gets testy with God towards the end of the story and again, I can see parents being concerned with her attitude.

Here's my overall feeling on the book: while I don't agree with some of the messages, it really isn't a horrible book teaching girls awful things.  For many American homes I think this behavior and confusion about religion for a teenage girl would be authentic and therefore meaningful reading.  If my daughter chose to read this book I know I'd make sure to have some discussions about Margaret's experience and her struggles.  I'd also hope to be able to have meaningful conversations about kindness and compassion, which are topics brought up briefly and could be more thoroughly explored.  Margaret is a good girl with a conscience truly trying to understand the world around her and fit in.  Her experience being new at school, I can only imagine, would validate many girls struggling through the same experience.  It could even make your child more aware of how easily she is swayed by the desire to fit in rather than do what they know is the right thing to do.

The writing is very basic and therefore not challenging, but is accessible to the lower YA grades where this book is probably most applicable.  I'm not sure I'd steer my students in the direction of reading this book, but I also wouldn't tell them not to read it.  I think it could be the right fit for the right student.

Rating:  3.5 Stars

Sum it up:  A pre-adolescent girl's struggle to adjust to and reach her teenage years.

Naked Lunch - William S. Burroughs

Summary: In a convoluted and disturbing string of events, a drug addict flees from the police. His journeys take him across the United States and down into Mexico and beyond. On his travels, he meets up with various members of the underground drug and homosexual cultures. Alongside the twisted narrative runs a counter story about the uses of mind control by governments and psychiatrists to manipulate, destroy and direct the masses. Told in lurid detail that disturbs and disgusts many readers, the novel presents a glimpse into the emerging counter cultures of the 1950s and gives interesting insights into how these forces effect the ongoing development of modern society. (Summary from bookrags.com; cover image from powells.com)

My Review: Many of the books that end up on challenged and banned book lists leave people scratching their heads; few can find anything offensive enough about Harry Potter to comprehend banning it. Not so with Naked Lunch, perhaps the only masterpiece of modern literature ever to be banned from shipment through the U.S. Post Office. It has been burned. It has been banned in cities like Boston and Los Angeles and was the subject of a Massachussets Supreme Court obscenity case. Even today, it’s hard to imagine a school district even considering it for inclusion in a library long enough for parents challenge it.

What does a book have to do to get this sort of reaction? That’s the easy part. Naked Lunch has enough visceral violence, sex, sexual violence, general depravity, and drug use to make even the most jaded reader blanch. But Burrough’s masterpeice isn’t out for cheap shock value. Rather, the disturbing, surreal images serve to underscore the book’s cry for freedom from the invisible prisons of a culture that treats people as merely means to an end. It’s the revelation of our own everyday inhumanity, reflected back to us in grotesque and larger-than-life form, that makes this book hit home.

Naked Lunch is a great book. Not just a Great Book, but actually a fascinating, disturbing, mind-opening and gut-wrenching read. Naked Lunch is also a hard read. Much of it is written in Burrough’s signature “cut-up” style--the literary equivalent of impressionism, if Van Gogh were to paint his worst nightmares, tear the canvases to shreds, and glue them back together at random. Trying to trace the thin threads of theme and motif tying together words, sentences, and scenes quickly leaves the reader bewildered, mentally exhausted, and open to the full impact of the text’s delicate and dangerous poetry.

Star Rating: 5. Caution: This book doesn’t play nice; expect to be appalled.

Sum it up: If ever a novel begged to be banned by the powers that be, this is it. Strike a blow for your own freedom, and pick up a copy today! (Incidentally, the movie adaptation is no more understandable, but other than that it has little in common with the book. Give it a pass unless you're a fan of cinematic surrealism--in which case, you've probably already seen it.)

Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

Summary: Aldous Huxley's tour de force, Brave New World is a darkly satiric vision of a "utopian" future—where humans are genetically bred and pharmaceutically anesthetized to passively serve a ruling order. A powerful work of speculative fiction that has enthralled and terrified readers for generations, it remains remarkably relevant to this day as both a warning to be heeded as we head into tomorrow and as thought-provoking, satisfying entertainment.
summary and book cover from indiebound.org

My Review: In Brave New World, Huxley has created a society with the sole objective of keeping people happy. This new population is given jobs, food and happiness drugs to ensure peace. No longer are people born they are engineered, developed within bottles and then decantered. Natural selection is gone as the controllers decide not only how many babies are produced but also where each will fit on the social ladder.

Brave New World was written in the 30's about a futuristic world. I am floored that this book is not dated and seems to be even more relevant today. It is interesting to see how close we have come to some of the things Huxley touches on in his fiction novel. The growth of babies in tubes with choice on their genetic make-up is no longer so far-fetched. The idea of keeping our bodies young by eliminating the sagging and wrinkles of aging is progressing more all the time. Society has already lost many of the morals when it comes to sexuality and while promiscuous behavior is not exactly socially acceptable current views sure do differ from the 30's.

I had read this book back in high school and have since forgotten about the role sexuality has in the plot. These characters are encouraged to be promiscuous from toddlers and monogamy is unheard of. Sex is no longer used for reproduction but is purely social. As an adult I can now see why some would object to the ideas presented within this book. Though there is no detail in the recreational sex the subject is a major focus of the book. There were spots where I was a bit uncomfortable. Yet I feel that the issues the book brings to the surface outweigh the negative effects of addressing this taboo matter. Subjects such as overpopulation, over organization, subconscious and chemical persuasion, loss of individuality, brainwashing and true happiness are all important for us to ponder.

This book is still very relevant in today's classrooms. Young minds will thrive on the thought-provoking material brought to light within these pages. It would also make an enticing book club read with a deep discussion to follow.

**This book has been challenged for themes dealing with sexuality, drugs and suicide.

My Rating: 4 Stars

Summary: An intellectually stimulating classic

Cut - Patricia McCormick

Cut broaches the sensitive topic of self-mutilation and is a very controversial book for many parents, teachers, librarians, and therefore schools.  Many parents are worried that their children will start cutting themselves as a result of reading this book or cite Cut as the reason their children began cutting. 

As adults, parents, teachers, or even friends we should be aware of the people around us and what they are struggling with.  If your child picks up a book like Cut, it may not be because she wants to cut herself.  She may be trying to educate herself on a friend's behavior or even just understand the world around her.  What is important is that as a parent (or whatever your role may be) you talk about what she is reading, try to understand her reasoning for being interested in such dark subject matter, and make sure all her questions are answered.  Just because we hide the information does not mean our children won't get their hands on it somehow.  We need to show children we trust them and think they are intelligent beings while also guiding and teaching them healthy habits and behavior.

Click here to read why many teachers believe that dark young adult novels should not be banned.

Summary:  Callie cuts herself.  Never too deep, never enough to die.  But enough to feel the pain.  Enough to feel the scream inside.  Now she's at Sea Pines, a "residential treatment facility" filled with girls struggling with problems of their own.  Callie doesn't want to have anything to do with them.  She doesn't even want to have anything to do with anyone.  She won't even speak.  But Callie can only stay silent for so long...  (Summary from back of the book and image from http://www.bookhills.com/)

My Review:  As a part of Banned Books Week, I wasn't surprised to see this Young Adult novel on the list.  Not because I think it should be banned, but because of the serious issues it raises.  Many girls are emotionally vulnerable during their adolescent years.  Parents worry that their child will be influenced by what they read, and that I can agree with.  What I cannot agree with is shielding your children to the point where they don't know about the world around them.  Things like cutting just happen.  Not because the child sees her parents cutting, but because it is a way to alleviate the pain she is feeling.  While it isn't healthy, it is a way of coping.  Parents, as well as teens, would benefit from reading a book like Cut.  It opens your eyes to why people may cut, to not give up when it may seem a lost cause, and how the cutting is just a cover for deeper pain.  I truly feel having your child's eyes opened to this kind of thing is better than sheltering her.  It's seems obvious to me that knowing your child is reading this book would mean having a conversation to clear up any misconceptions or concerns and answer any questions.  You never know if by reading this book your child may be able to help a friend.

Cal's story hit a chord with me.  Many friends of mine and a close family member dealt with issues brought up in this book--anorexia, bulimia, cutting.  Her stubborn resistance to healing and then her eventual recovery was very realistically portrayed.  So much of mental illnesses that exhibit themselves in a tangible way, such as cutting, are a cover for needing control and trying to find a way to deal with emotional pain.  Cal's struggle through her inner battle of wanting to heal and  her inner conflict of not wanting to give up something of herself by 'giving in' to healing rang true.  The depiction of how other girls hurting themselves then affect each other was also portrayed well.  Often it isn't until the person dealing with the illness realizes how much she is hurting others does she make any real progress of realizing the need to get better.

I highly recommend this book.  It's not a cake walk, but it is well written and well researched.  It is not an in-depth look into the world of mental illness (from depression to cutting), but it is a snap shot. 

Rating: 5 stars

Sum it up:  Subtle and moving, it opens your eyes to a world that can seem so incomprehensible.  A world where someone cuts herself to block out emotional pain.

Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

I think it only fitting that we begin Banned Books Week by reviewing one of the most popular books ever written about censorship. Ray Bradbury wrote Fahrenheit 451 in the basement of the UCLA Library in the spring of 1950. He paid just under ten dollars or so in dimes to rent the typewriter and it took him nine days to write the first draft. Since that day, over 4.5 million copies have been printed, devoured, and revered by book lovers around the world. In quite possibly one of the world’s most ironic objections, Fahrenheit 451 was challenged because of its’ use of some biblical swearing (of the H and D variety) and because, at one point, a German bible is defaced.

To this I can only respond: Seriously people? Seriously!?

_______________________________

Summary: Guy Montag was a fireman whose job it was to start fires…The system was simple. Everyone understood it. Books were for burning…along with the houses in which they were hidden. Guy Montag enjoyed his job. He had been a fireman for ten years, and he had never questioned the pleasure of the midnight runs nor the joy of watching pages consumed by flames…never questioned anything until he met a seventeen-year-old girl who told him of a past when people were not afraid.

Then he met a professor who told him of a future in which people could think…and Guy Montag suddenly realized what he had to do! (Summary from book – Image from amazon.com)

My Review: I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love books to the point of distraction. There is something about the great ones -- the world they create and emotions they evoke that hold me transfixed until well past any decent sort of bedtime. In particular, books speak to me in a way that only Ray Bradbury could explain:

“Do you know why books such as this are so important? Because they have quality. And what does the word quality mean? To me it means texture. This book has pores. It has features. This book can go under the microscope. You’ll find life under the glass, streaming past in infinite profusion. The more pores, the more truthfully recorded details of life per square inch you can get on a piece of paper, the more ‘literary’ you are. That’s my definition, anyway. Telling detail. Fresh detail. The good writers touch life often. The mediocre ones run a quick hand over her. The bad ones rape her and leave her for the flies. “

This book has pores. It is alive.  Put it under the microscope and you'll see.  On the surface, this book tells the story of a man who didn’t even know he wasn't happy -- didn’t even know anything was wrong, until something happened to open his eyes. Take the time to focus and you’ll find an insightful commentary on society’s obsession with electronic media, the instant gratification it offers, and the subsequent effect on individual expression and intellectual thought. Bradbury’s novel encourages contemplation of the world,  while theorizing about the dangers, impossibility, and ultimate stupidity of trying to make everyone in society happy with the realities of life. If that sounds boring to you, don’t worry, it wasn’t. Montag’s frantic search for what has been lost is as riveting and emotionally compelling as it is relevant.

This book didn't make me comfortable. It didn’t make me particularly happy either, but it demanded and willingly received my full and active participation. In short, Fahrenheit 451 made my brain sizzle, and in such a good way that I want to shout it from the roof tops. READ. THIS. BOOK. Now. Go get it*. I’ll wait. Let me know what you think.

My Rating: 5 completely un-edited Stars.  For the sensitive reader: Some instances of biblical swearing (of the H & D variety) and one part where someone tears a page or two off a Bible. Honestly, I didn’t think it was that big a deal.

Sum it up: As unsettling as it is predictive, Fahrenheit 451 will knock your socks off.

*Get the edition with the afterword and coda. The first gives further insight into Fire Chief Beatty’s character and history, and the second speaks more to the issues of censorship. Both were like party gift bags—not essential, but desirable nonetheless.

A final word from the author: “In sum, do not insult me with the beheadings, finger choppings, or the lung-deflations that you plan for my works. I need my head to shake or nod, my hand to wave or make into a fist, my lungs to shout or whisper with. I will not go gently onto a shelf, degutted, to become a non-book.” (Coda)

RFS 1st Annual BANNED BOOKS WEEK

"There is more than one way to burn a book.  And the world is full of people running about with lit matches."           -Ray Bradbury, bestselling author

Here at Reading For Sanity, we may not like everything we read,

but we respect an author's constitutional right to write

whatever they choose and to not have it edited

by others without their express consent. 

The banning and censorship of books is an incredibly slippery slope

and one that we would do well to avoid at all costs.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference, and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers"

If you agree, please join us in our celebration of

"Banned Books Week"

From September 25th to October 2nd, 

we will celebrate freedom of the press by reading and reviewing

just a few of this nation's banned and challenged books.

Here are some lists to get you started:

Banned or Challenged Classics (found here)
Of the Radcliffe Publishing Course Top 100 Novels of the 20th Century, forty-six have been the target of ban attempts (they are highlighted).  For more information on why these books were challenged, click here.

1. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

2. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
3. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
5. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
6. Ulysses by James Joyce
7. Beloved by Toni Morrison
8. The Lord of the Flies by William Golding
9. 1984 by George Orwell
10. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
11. Lolita by Vladmir Nabokov
12. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
13. Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
14. A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce
15. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
16. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
17. Animal Farm by George Orwell
18. The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway
19. As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
20. A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
21. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
22. Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne
23. Their Eyes are Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
24. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
25. Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
26. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
27. Native Son by Richard Wright
28. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
29. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
30. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway
31. On the Road by Jack Kerouac
32. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
33. The Call of the Wild by Jack London
34. To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf
35. Portrait of a Lady by Henry James
36. Go Tell it on the Mountain by James Baldwin
37. The World According to Garp by John Irving
38. All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren
39. A Room with a View by E. M. Forster
40. The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien
41. Schindler's List by Thomas Keneally
42. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
43. The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
44. Finnegan's Wake by James Joyce
45. The Jungle by Upton Sinclair
46. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
47. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
48. Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence
49. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
50. The Awakening by Kate Chopin
51. My Antonia by Willa Cather
52. Howards End by E. M. Forster
53. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
54. Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger
55. The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie
56. Jazz by Toni Morrison
57. Sophie's Choice by William Styron
58. Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner
59. A Passage to India by E. M. Forster
60. Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton
61. A Good Man Is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor
62. Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald
63. Orlando by Virginia Woolf
64. Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence
65. Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe
66. Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
67. A Separate Peace by John Knowles
68. Light in August by William Faulkner
69. The Wings of the Dove by Henry James
70. Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
71. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
72. A Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
73. Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs
74. Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
75. Women in Love by D. H. Lawrence
76. Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe
77. In Our Time by Ernest Hemingway
78. The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein
79. The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett
80. The Naked and the Dead by Norman Mailer
81. Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys
82. White Noise by Don DeLillo
83. O Pioneers! by Willa Cather
84. Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller
85. The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells
86. Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad
87. The Bostonians by Henry James
88. An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser
89. Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather
90. The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
91. This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald
92. Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
93. The French Lieutenant's Woman by John Fowles
94. Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis
95. Kim by Rudyard Kipling
96. The Beautiful and the Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
97. Rabbit, Run by John Updike
98. Where Angels Fear to Tread by E. M. Forster
99. Main Street by Sinclair Lewis
100. Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie

Top 100 Banned or Challenged Books: 2000-2009 (found here)

1. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling

2. Alice series, by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
3. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
4. And Tango Makes Three, by Justin Richardson/Peter Parnell
5. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck
6. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou
7. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz
8. His Dark Materials (series), by Philip Pullman
9. TTYL; TTFN; L8R, G8R (series), by Myracle, Lauren
10. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
11. Fallen Angels, by Walter Dean Meyers
12. It’s Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris
13. Captain Underpants (series), by Dav Pilkey
14. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain
15. The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
16. Forever, by Judy Blume
17. The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
18. Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous
19. Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
20. King and King, by Linda de Haan
21. To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
22. Gossip Girl (series), by Cecily von Ziegesar
23. The Giver, by Lois Lowry
24. In the Night Kitchen, by Maurice Sendak
25. Killing Mr. Griffen, by Lois Duncan
26. Beloved, by Toni Morrison
27. My Brother Sam Is Dead, by James Lincoln Collier
28. Bridge To Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson
29. The Face on the Milk Carton, by Caroline B. Cooney
30. We All Fall Down, by Robert Cormier
31. What My Mother Doesn’t Know, by Sonya Sones
32. Bless Me, Ultima, by Rudolfo Anaya
33. Snow Falling on Cedars, by David Guterson
34. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler
35. Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging, by Louise Rennison
36. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
37. It’s So Amazing, by Robie Harris
38. Arming America, by Michael Bellasiles
39. Kaffir Boy, by Mark Mathabane
40. Life is Funny, by E.R. Frank
41. Whale Talk, by Chris Crutcher
42. The Fighting Ground, by Avi
43. Blubber, by Judy Blume
44. Athletic Shorts, by Chris Crutcher
45. Crazy Lady, by Jane Leslie Conly
46. Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
47. The Adventures of Super Diaper Baby, by George Beard
48. Rainboy Boys, by Alex Sanchez
49. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, by Ken Kesey
50. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini
51. Daughters of Eve, by Lois Duncan
52. The Great Gilly Hopkins, by Katherine Paterson
53. You Hear Me?, by Betsy Franco
54. The Facts Speak for Themselves, by Brock Cole
55. Summer of My German Soldier, by Bette Green
56. When Dad Killed Mom, by Julius Lester
57. Blood and Chocolate, by Annette Curtis Klause
58. Fat Kid Rules the World, by K.L. Going
59. Olive’s Ocean, by Kevin Henkes
60. Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson
61. Draw Me A Star, by Eric Carle
62. The Stupids (series), by Harry Allard
63. The Terrorist, by Caroline B. Cooney
64. Mick Harte Was Here, by Barbara Park
65. The Things They Carried, by Tim O’Brien
66. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred Taylor
67. A Time to Kill, by John Grisham
68. Always Running, by Luis Rodriguez
69. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
70. Harris and Me, by Gary Paulsen
71. Junie B. Jones (series), by Barbara Park
72. Song of Solomon, by Toni Morrison
73. What’s Happening to My Body Book, by Lynda Madaras
74. The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold
75. Anastasia (series), by Lois Lowry
76. A Prayer for Owen Meany, by John Irving
77. Crazy: A Novel, by Benjamin Lebert
78. The Joy of Gay Sex, by Dr. Charles Silverstein
79. The Upstairs Room, by Johanna Reiss
80. A Day No Pigs Would Die, by Robert Newton Peck
81. Black Boy, by Richard Wright
82. Deal With It!, by Esther Drill
83. Detour for Emmy, by Marilyn Reynolds
84. So Far From the Bamboo Grove, by Yoko Watkins
85. Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, by Chris Crutcher
86. Cut, by Patricia McCormick
87. Tiger Eyes, by Judy Blume
88. The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood
89. Friday Night Lights, by H.G. Bissenger
90. A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeline L’Engle
91. Julie of the Wolves, by Jean Graighead George
92. The Boy Who Lost His Face, by Louis Sachar
93. Bumps in the Night, by Harry Allard
94. Goosebumps (series), by R.L. Stine
95. Shade’s Children, by Garth Nix
96. Grendel, by John Gardner
97. The House of the Spirits, by Isabel Allende
98. I Saw Esau, by Iona Opte
99. Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, by Judy Blume
100. America: A Novel, by Frank, E.R.

ALA Yearly List of Challenged and/or Banned Books (and why)

2009-2010 (PDF)
2008-2009 (PDF)
2007-2008 (PDF)
2006-2007 (PDF)
2005-2006 (PDF)
2004-2005 (PDF)

*Mindy's Sidenote: The banning or challenging of books tends to be a very local decision - often started by a single parent.  As parents, one of our many jobs is to know what our kids are reading and to set, or not set, parameters as we see fit.  There are some books that I question my child's emotional readiness to read.  That is not banning or censorship--it is simply parenting.  However, when a parent demands the removal of a book from the public sphere, especially a state funded one like a public library or school, or  from state approved curriculum, the lines blur.  They must be careful not to jeopardize the underlying principle of the First Ammendment that guarantees the goverment cannot prohibit the expression of any idea simply because someone might find it offensive.  There is a distinct difference between banning a book and simply refusing to read it.  One is simply a choice. The other removes all choice. 

If you are faced with some seemingly inappropriate reading material at your child's school, my first suggestion would be to read, or at the very least, skim the book you are concerned about.  It might not be as bad as you've heard.  If you still object, you are now able to have a well-informed conversation with your child's teacher.  Express your concerns and find out what they are trying to teach and offer an alternative reading suggestion for your child.  If that fails, try reading the book with your child to ensure that you are there to  have a conversations about what you are reading or answer any questions they might have.  Finally, if you still object to the reading material -- don't read it and see if your child can do any make-up work or extra projects to bump up their grade. 

Snow Falling on Cedars - David Guterson

Summary: San Piedro Island, north of Puget Sound, is a place so isolated that no one who lives there can afford to make enemies. But in 1954 a local fisherman is found suspiciously drowned, and a Japanese American named Kabuo Miyamoto is charged with his murder.

In the course of the ensuing trial, it becomes clear that what is at stake is more than one man's guilt. For on San Piedro, memory grows as thickly as cedar trees and the fields of ripe strawberries--memories of a charmed love affair between a white boy and the Japanese girl who grew up to become Kabuo's wife; memories of land desired, paid for, and lost. Above all, San Piedro is haunted by the memory of what happened to its Japanese residents during World War II, when an entire community was sent into exile while its neighbors watched. Gripping, tragic, and densely atmospheric, Snow Falling on Cedars is a masterpiece of suspense--but one that leaves us shaken and changed. (Summary from back of the book and image from http://bengalspurr.com/wordpress/)

My Review: Atmospheric is spot on. You can tell Guterson knows the Puget Sound and knows island life. He gets island (or what I am guessing you could equate to small town) people down to their core. This was one of those books that was so well written, you have to admire the prose by itself even if you didn't like the rest of the story. It was also one of those books that seemed to have more description than necessary or than you'd ever really need. After a time I began skimming sections because I already 'got' the atmosphere, the intricate details, the mood and tone the author was trying to portray. Truthfully by the end, I was just wanting to know the final outcome. Flashbacks are great, tell a lot of how the story came to be, but when it all comes down to it I really just wanted to know the verdict!

I have to mention that it seemed this author had a strong inclination towards anything sexual. Almost every character had some sort of description regarding his or her sex life. Some of the relationships seemed so shallow because they existed solely because of sex. How depressing. While I realize that this is based post-WWII and that many men came back altered to the point of having little to no communication skills, it still seemed over the top. But, then again, I've been informed that many people's relationships are solely about the sexual relationship. This could be quite accurate--sad if you ask me, but accurate.

Guterson did an amazing job depicting each character, showing the flaws and the strengths, helping you find value despite the weaknesses each one had. He also did an amazing job portraying prejudice, how war corrodes even the most gentle people, and how it trains the way you look at the world forever after.

While I can't say I'll read this again, I find myself thinking about the island, the people, their trials, and wondering if, as they moved on with their lives, they were able to mend some wounds that seemed unable to heal. This is a mark of a good book in my eyes: one in which you wonder about the characters long after you've finished it.

Rating: 4 Stars. It was too depressing to be 5 and also, for my taste, contained too much sex.

Sum it up: A complex story of history, war, prejudice, and convoluted facts leading to what could be a disastrous ending for Miyamoto.

Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger

Summary: Originally published in 1951 for adults, it has since become popular with adolescent readers for its themes of teenage confusion, angst, sexuality, alienation and rebellion...The novel's protagonist and antihero, Holden Caulfield, has become an icon for teenage rebellion.

The novel was included on a 2005 Time Magazine list of the 100 best English-language novels written since 1923. It has been frequently challenged in the United States for its liberal use of profanity and portrayal of sexuality and teenage angst. It also deals with complex issues of identity, belonging, connection, and alienation. (Image from Amazon.com - Summary taken from Wikipedia.com)

My Review: This was another book club assigned classic that I missed in high school. Written in the 1st person voice of a high school junior in the 1950s this book was among the first of the "stream of consciousness" narratives that are now so common.

I read the first few chapters of the Catcher in the Rye out loud as my family started out on a road trip. Because of the 1st person voice, and a juvenile one at that it was fun to read, despite my frequent need to substitute dang, heck and gosh.

The loose plot chronicles the downward spiral of a good-hearted troublemaker. It was full of outrageous events that remained believable. I read with trepidation, afraid the story would end with tragedy like so many 10th grade English reading books do. It didn't - although many moments are, by themselves, heartbreaking or tender.

Although Holden's inner dialogue tended to be repetitious it was written with such sincerity that it was endearing. Ultimately, the dialogue was familiar to my formerly 17-year old self. Although I have never hired, then rejected, a teenage prostitute, the rambling, doubt-filled, idealistic thoughts embodied the teen age years. Years where, even under the perfect circumstances, life and the pressure of choices weighs on each person.

A note on the controversial nature of this book. Um...I wasn't offended. This might be a commentary on me, or on society... or just on me. I only really noticed the language when I was reading it out loud and the teenage sexuality wasn't terrible shocking, frankly, it was nothing you wouldn't hear about on Oprah. Let me know if you disagree.

My rating: 4 stars - I'm going to vote with the English teachers and Time Magazine on this one.

Sum it up: Classic, timeless, smart, teenage angst.

Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

Summary: They are an unlikely pair: George is "Small and quick and dark of face"; Lennie, a man of tremendous size, has a mind of a young child. Yet they have formed a "family", clinging together in the face of loneliness and alienation.

Laborers in California's dusty vegetable fields, they hustle work when they can, living a hand-to-mouth existence. For George and Lennie have a plan: to own an acre of land and a shack they can call their own. When they land jobs on a ranch in the Salinas Valley, the fulfillment of their dream seems to be within their grasp. But even George cannot guard Lennie from the provocations of a flirtatious woman, nor predict the consequences of Lennie's unswerving obedience to the thing George taught him.
Summary from back of book, cover photo from bookrags.com

My Review: George and Lenny make a good team. George stands up for Lenny, keeping him out of trouble whenever possible and Lenny works very hard, looking to George with the deepest admiration. It's a difficult life these men lead, traveling from farm to farm to work the land, having to run from the consequences of Lenny's careless mistakes. Lenny has the mind of a child, and this, in combination with his love for soft things, proves to be very troublesome. It's the dream of owning their own place that keeps these two going. The dream seems to be coming closer to reality. They only have to make it a month, but trouble seems to find this pair wherever they go. And when trouble results in a death and angry men start hunting for Lenny, George is forced to make a difficult decision, proving the power of his friendship.

I understand why so many love this book. This was a well-written book. The scenery is vivid, the characters are realistic and there is a heavy emotional pull. It's a story that will leave the reader breathless at times as the pages fly by. I can see the lessons of friendship, acceptance and loyalty threaded within the story. I just don't want to read about these lessons in this form. By the time I closed the cover on this book I felt sick. What I had expected to be a beautiful story of friendship ended up being one of the most depressing books I have read in a long time.

My Rating: 2 Stars; Memorable-Yes, Likable-Not so much

If I had to sum it up in one sentence: A classic for many valid reasons, just not one I'd like to read again.

The Giver - Lois Lowry

Summary: Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community.

When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

My review: Jonas has always been like everyone else--well, almost. He dresses the same, lives in a family unit just like everyone else, and always strives for precision of language. Sameness is, after all, very important to the Community. But Jonas has almost unheard of eyes and an inquisitive spirit that cannot be repressed. When he is assigned a special job in the Community with its own special rules, Jonas light-colored eyes begin to notice things. Something is wrong—very wrong. The more Jonas knows, the more he understands, and the less he likes what he is seeing.

Marketed as a young adult book, The Giver can be read on many different levels. It is at a 4th grade reading level but I first read this book my junior year in high school and it has been one of my favorite books ever since.

I can’t explain the many ways that I simply love this book. It is enchanting and eery at its' very center and there are moments of revelation that stun me each time I read its' pages. Lowry’s writing is masterful but simplistic—a single turn of phrase is so full of meaning and not a word is wasted. I buy used copies every time I see them so that I can give it away to the surprising number of people who’ve never read it before. If you haven't read this book - you must. Now.

My rating: 5 Stars - all exactly the same proportions. Some darker themes that might not be understood by younger children.

Sum it up: A fantastic read! One of my all-time favorite books for young or old.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling

Summary: There is a door at the end of a silent corridor. And it's haunting Harry Potter's dreams. Why else would he be waking in the middle of the night, screaming in terror?

Here are just a few things on Harry's mind:
--A Defense Against the Dark Arts teach with a personality like poisoned honey
--A venomous, disgruntled house-elf
--Ron as keeper of the Gryffindor Quidditch team
--The looming terror of the end-of-term Ordinary Wizarding Level exams

...and of course, the growing threat of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. In the richest installment yet of J.K. Rowling's seven-part story, Harry Potter is faced with the unreliability of the very government of the magical world and the importance of the authorities at Hogwarts.

Despite this (or perhaps because of it), he finds depth and strength in his friends, beyond what even he knew; boundless loyalty; and unbearable sacrifice.

Though thick runs the plot (as well as the spine), readers will race through these pages and leave Hogwarts, like Harry, wishing only for the next train back. (Summary from book jacket - Image from amazon.com)

My review: I started this book with a slightly heavy heart. Having read it before, I wasn’t too terribly excited to delve back into a book that I remembered as being a bit heavy on the whine and lighter on the humor than I have come to expect from Rowling’s work. However, I discovered on reading it again that it all made a bit more sense to me, and what bugged me before about the book was part of what made it truly amazing. Throughout this book I was completely at the mercy of J.K. Rowlings writing ability as she took me on a roller coaster of human emotions. I laughed out loud and was tied into wicked little knots. I was surprised and unnerved, and I loved every minute of it.

Don’t get me wrong. I wanted to rip pages out of this book (gasp). There are parts of this book that are extremely frustrating but (and you’ll just have to trust me on this because I’m not going to spoil it) they are vital to the plot and while they grated at me so completely, the book would not have been half of what it was without them.

Harry is your typical whiny, volatile teenager. I mean, I understand that he just saw a boy killed and the Dark Lord restored to power, but you’d think he could still manage a little civility towards his friends and family. He’s moody, irritable, and sometimes just plain annoying, though it turns out he has a very good reason that you don't fully understand till the end.

Perhaps the most frustrating part of the book is one of J.K. Rowlings best characters ever – Dolores Jane Umbridge. She is a loathsome, horrific, undeniably misled, and unbelievably aggravating character who is exceptionally well written--so well written in fact that I wanted to crawl into the story and claw her eyes out. I. HATED. HER. I mean, quite possibly more than I was supposed to, as she was near to edging out Voldemort on my “List of HP Characters Who I Want Killed Off.” Incidentally, also on that list is Lucius Malfoy, Peter Pettigrew, Bellatrix Lestrange, and for some reason Pansy Parkinson. What can I say? I knew girls like her in high school. Having to read about Umbridge and her insanity throughout the book was enough to make me want to throw the book across the room. The only thing that kept me reading (other than, well, faith in J.K. Rowling) was a strong desire to see her get her comeuppance.

While Goblet of Fire was darker from a magical standpoint, this book was darker from an emotional standpoint. There is a mysterious connection between Harry and Voldemort that is creating all sorts of turmoil inside Harry, only compounded by outside factors like Dumbledore’s lack of communication, and Umbridge’s reign of terror. These intensely written portions of the book are part of what make it so powerful. The result is that this book is incredibly full of conflict. It definitely has it’s humorous moments, that I adored, but on the whole this book was much more angst-filled than its’ predecessors.

Rowling's plot development is amazingly intricate, with clues and foreshadowing dropped chapters, if not books, in advance that help weave the story together seamlessly. On a second time through, I was more able to pick these things up, and occasionally ended up just staring at the page in slack-jawed amazement at her ability to plan ahead.

Order of the Phoenix allowed me to see more of the intentional flaws in all the characters – Mrs. Weasley’s fears, Hermione’s torrential temper during O.W.L.S., Ron’s inability to overcome his Quidditch insecurities, and Harry’s emerging darkness and deepest fears. It made them more real as characters and ultimately even more likeable. My husband pointed out, and I agree, that one of the best things about this book was that it was the first time where so many characters worked together in the end, actually applying what they had learned at Hogwarts. It was no longer Harry alone. He had people by his side, fighting with him, and it was marvelous!

SIDENOTE : For me, this book (and to be honest, most of it’s predecessors) set to rest the recently argued “Twilight vs. Harry Potter” dispute. Other than a wide fan base, they don’t have much in common. While Meyer is great at pulling at the heartstrings of innumerable women of any age all over the world (I myself have fallen victim to some literary swooning) and transporting us back to that moment in freshman year where we were just going to DIE of love, it is simply no match for the evocative writing, humor, cleverness, foresight, and insane character development of J.K. Rowling. Hands down. Rowling wins. No contest. I’m a fan of both, truly, but I have to be clear on this. Hate me if you will. I can take it.

My rating: 5 Stars. I know I keep saying that each is my favorite. But seriously. Best yet. There was much LESS swearing this time (yippee) and, while still dark in spots focused more on character relationships than dark magic.

Sum it up: An outstanding, entertaining, and frustratingly marvelous work of young adult fiction that emphasized the importance of teamwork, loyalty, friendship, and love.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling

Summary: Harry Potter is midway through both his training as a wizard and his coming of age. Harry wants to get away from the pernicious Dursley's and go to the International Quidditch Cup with Hermione, Ron, and the Weasley's. He wants to dream about Cho Chang, his crush (and maybe do more than dream). He wants to find out about the mysterious event that's supposed to take place at Hogwarts this year, an event involving two other rival schools of magic, and a competition that hasn't happened for hundreds of years. He wants to be a normal fourteen-year-old wizard. But unfortunately for Harry Potter, he's not normal--even by wizarding standards.

And in this case, different can be deadly.

My Review: Nearly double the size of the first or second book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is a daunting 734 pages. Rowling needed every last one of those pages to cram this massively, delightfully detailed story into one book. Had it been any shorter (like the movie) I wouldn’t have been able to discover more about the home life of the Weasley family (always amusing) or get the full experience of the Quidditch World Cup. All the extra pages gave Rowling the freedom to stretch her wings a bit and expound on all sorts of unknown facts, important back story, and interesting tidbits of the wizarding world.

The introduction of a number of new and fascinating characters, like Mad Eye Moody, Rita Skeeter, Victor Krum, Fleur DelaCour, Winky and others, allowed for further growth in the series while still keeping things fresh and interesting. Finally, awkward teenage romance between the characters gradually came into play and it was HYSTERICAL.

The only thing that bugged me about this book was the chapter wherein ________ spilled their guts to Harry about just why exactly they were evil and what they’d done to prove it. It was a big monologue and it got a little old. I’m sure the first time I read it my head was just reeling with all the revelation, but on the third time through, all I noticed was just how LONG it was. I wanted to get back to the action.

Goblet of Fire is considerably darker than the three previous books. It’s no secret that this is the first book where an important character dies. We are also given a deeper look at just what the “Dark Arts” entail as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher shows students the Unforgivable Curses (one of which is the Killing Curse that took the lives of Harry’s parents). There is also a dramatic increase in the mild profanity used by major characters. I think it’s important to know this if you’re planning on letting your 8-11 year old read the series, that while 1,2,and 3 might be okay to read unsupervised, this one probably is not.

Dumbledore’s speech at the end was epic. Magnificent. I even got a little teary while reading. I think what I loved most about this book, and many of her others, is J.K. Rowling’s attention to detail. It was the little things that made this book for me. She even goes so far as to give Harry’s owl an attitude/inferiority complex. A pointed look from Hermione, an off the wall comment from Ron, a nosy bathroom ghost, all these details and many more combine to make this story an excellent continuation of the Harry Potter Series.

SIDENOTE: This was a HORRIBBLE read aloud book because, since I’m not capable of affecting a French or a Russian-ish accent, it was hard to vocalize some of the lines. Many of the new characters have accents that are written with a partial lilt “ze horses zat we brought…” so that while you know how to say “ze,” “horses” remains a mystery. I usually just end up sounding really bad.

My rating: 4.5 Stars. Great book, but much more adult than the last three and definitely starting to mature with it’s original audience. This is the first book of the series I probably would suggest parents read BEFORE letting their children under 11 read it as it contains much more “biblical” profanity than the last three and considerably darker themes.

To sum it up: A sometimes hilarious, sometimes emotional, and always fascinating year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold

Summary: "My name was Salmon, like the fish: first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973." So begins the story of Susie Salmon, who is adjusting to her new home in heaven, a place that is not at all what she expected, even as she is watching life on earth continue without her--her friends trading rumors about her disappearance, her killer trying to cover his tracks, her grief-stricken family unraveling. Out of unspeakable tragedy and loss, The Lovely Bones succeeds, miraculously, in building a tale filled with hope, humor, suspense, even joy. (Image from Powell's. Summary from back of the book.)

My Review: Reading this story was like ripping off a bandaid: best done quickly, not drawing out the pain. I'm reading this only 2 months post-partum and I know that inevitably taints my view. I wanted to lock my daughters up until they're married to gun-totting burly men after reading the very first section of the book where the rape/murder occurs. It is disturbing. It could be more graphic and I thank the author for not doing that. It still doesn't sit well and leaves you feeling sick to your stomach. Which, if you think about it, is what a rape/murder should do.

There were aspects to the book that I found intriguing and others I found lacked taste. I'll start with what I liked. She spends quite a bit of time on how death and tragedy affects people differently. Her father clings to his children, while her mother shuts down and shuts everyeone out. Her sister and brother also react differently. Everyone grieves differently and heals differently. This I found very realistic. I also liked her exploration of how thin the veil is between the living and the dead. I'm not sure how much truth there is to her version, but it's intriguing all the same. Her depiction of heaven is also interesting how it changes as the person's desire changes, but again, I'm not sure how much stock I put in her version there either. Her writing is captivating from the start. I liked her style and enjoyed reading the parts that felt right--I'll explain this further in the review.

The parts I didn't like or appreciate: I didn't like how sex was such a huge theme throughout. It was as if it defined people. They weren't human until they'd experienced it. Why was there so much dependant on the sexual experience? What was realistic was how people used it for different purposes and in vain: to fix things, to hide from things, to use as a way to love, to use as a way to connect, to grow up. It didn't seem there was a character in the story that had much moral fiber except her father and her brother. This was disappointing to me. A friend of mine stated she didn't think there was a character in the book with morals and that rings true to a certain extent. It is placed during the 1970's, so I was kind of under the assumption there would have been less sexual prowess by so many of the characters. I could understand some, but almost all? Seemed a bit much or overly done. I also wasn't real sure about the twist she throws at the end. I'll explore it a little further at the end of the review so as to not spoil it for a potential reader.

Two characters in the book hold on to the image and life of Susie in a way that I found odd. I can understand family clinging to her memory. I don't quite understand a girl she was hardly friends with or a boy she didn't really date, only had a first kiss from, clinging to her memory as they did. I know it made the story. I know it was critical to the plot. I just don't see it as real. Ray and Ruth seemed overly obsessed with her death. I guess I'd have to say since I've never known a murder personally that I cannot judge. It just seems surprising to me that a 14 year old boy, who grows into a man, would hold such strong attachments to a girl he hardly knew. Same with a 14 year old girl who was barely a friend.

It was hard to see the family unravel as the book goes on. I can only imagine this is truly possible considering the damage a tragedy like this can have on a family. It's just heartbreaking. Buckly's reaction to his mother leaving and then coming back hits with full force and I felt was very real. I also loved her grandmother. Despite her oddies, her flare for shock value, she is endearing. I felt she painted a flawed human with admirable and endearing qualities accurately.

WARNING!!! SPOILERS:

Maybe this is the justice loving side of me, but I was disappointed they didn't catch Harvey. The irony of his dying from an icicle (mentioned earlier in the book by Susie as to how she'd commit a murder and get away with it) was a little cliche to me. I wanted him caught. If only at the end, or even after committing more heinous acts, at least he was caught. It was frustrating to read he isn't ever caught. I'd like to think serial rapists and killers are caught because they get cocky, sloppy, or simply can't stay in any one place very long. Man, did I want him caught! It is realistic that some get away with it. And, I am so glad the author didn't have him get his revenge on her sister. That would have ruined the book for me--too much tragedy for one family!

I felt the switching bodies scene was weird, and slightly out of place. How she could seduce Ray so quickly in someone elses body, whom he was friends with, whom he knew favored women, was just weird and didn't sit right with me. If he'd had a crush on Ruth, or she'd been more attracted to males than females, or Susie had had more time on earth to reveal herself to Ray, maybe, just maybe I could believe the whole sex scene while in her friend's body. But it wasn't like that. It was weird to me.

Rating: 2.75 Stars. Could have been better if things were left out or characters were given more moral strength, but that's my opinion. It's almost 3 stars, but not quite in my mind.

Sum it up in one phrase: An exploration of life, death, the flaws of human nature, and one family's process to heal from tragedy.