Diamond Boy by Michael Williams

Oh my as we get closer to the end the books get harder and harder to put down!

Paton is your typical teenager thrown into the horror that is/was the Zimbabwe’s diamond fields.  He faces things nobody should face and shows a resiliency that is inspiring.  Finding friends and protectors in the most interesting locations, quite by luck sometimes. I don’t think that this book would be for one gender over the other, but would interest a wide range of students.  This is a well written book with a strong main character.  I will recommend it to our students!

Round Two Reviews from Team Dickens:

 Diamond Boy by Michael Williams.  “Patson is a young man that goes through quite the number of changes in a short period of time. “Diamonds for everyone” is what attracts potential miners to the Marange Diamond Fields.  The tale begins with Patson’s family searching for a better life to Patson mining for diamonds to searching for his missing sister.  The reader is taken along Patson’s grueling journey from Zimbabwe to South Africa.”

                                                                                                    Circulation Desk, Library

“Diamond Boy is a captivating read. Simon is an entertaining and enjoyable read. Would I recommend both to teens? Absolutely! Wholeheartedly. The difference is that Diamond Boy is a book for readers to really sink their teeth into - higher level readers, maybe, but also readers who want a challenge. Some may say that our demographic of students wouldn’t have much to relate to in this novel, but I would strongly challenge that line of thinking. The challenges that Patson endures, and the lessons he learns are universal. How do we cope with change? What action do we take when things go awry? What role does our family play in our lives? When we feel like we can’t go on, do we give up or do we persevere? The reader will be faced with all these questions and more as they turn the pages of Diamond Boy. “

K.Laurie, Room 105

"Diamond boy – an intense, emotional book that has the ability to make the reader laugh, cry and ponder life. 

“Diamonds for everyone” is what sets the book into motion.  The lure of a better life, in a country one can only truly imagine what it is like living there, allows readers to gain another perspective on what some people go through.  This book is an excellent read to help promote empathy and understanding for others.

This will change the way you look at diamonds forever!"

K. Blush, Room 125

"Diamonds for everyone. This is the belief that the central characters hold on to as they journey to the dangerous Marange diamond fields in Zimbabwe. As a Canadian reader, your eyes are opened to an entirely different and risky way of life as you follow fifteen-year-old Patson Moyo into the gritty and duplicitous world of the illegal diamond trade. Sadistic and ruthless characters like General Jesus are plentiful, but thankfully balanced by the anti-hero, Boubacar - who acts as Patson’s protector - and the innocence of some of the young children working the fields, like Patson’s friend, Arves.

While I thoroughly enjoyed our other novel, Simon versus the Homo Sapien Agenda, it doesn’t carry the ethical weight of Michael William’s Diamond Boy.  In Canada, where we’re facing a time of economic uncertainty - obviously incomparable to that of Zimbabwe - and an influx of refugees fleeing a despotic government, Diamond Boy is a timely and important book for teens and adults alike to shed some well-needed perspective on our issues."

                                                                                         C. Powell, Room 114

Exit Point vs Far Far Away

Exit Point by Laura Langston is a short and simple read. This quasi-short story is an easy yet thought provoking piece of literature. Particularly well suited for our students who are reluctant readers or who are struggling academically.

Far Far Away, while an well written piece, is very predictable and vanilla. I personally disliked the protagonist and was unable to connect with him or his struggles. As a fantasy reader enthusiast, McNeal's piece fell flat for me. This may be a good novel for junior high students, it would not be something a high school student would gravitate towards. While a small book, this novel is packed full of emotional thematic discussions that would definitely provide numerous opportunities for many learning experiences. 

Langston's Exit Point however is more universally relatable piece of literature for both Junior and Senior High Students. Part of the draw with this book is the numerous themes presented that would speak to a wide variety of readers. 

Reviews from Team Dickens

 

“I loved the book Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli.  Simon was someone that I found myself rooting for.  I especially enjoyed the email exchanges between Simon and Blue and how it was written almost like a diary.  I was tempted but didn’t read ahead to find out who the mysterious Blue was.  I found the story realistic with some sexual identity theme.  It is well written book that I feel could be read by any young adult interested in a funny coming of age story.  I nominate Simon Vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda to move on to the next Round.”

• Circulation Desk, Room 109

“Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda is a book I couldn’t put down. I feel most readers can relate to or empathise with Simon; he is such an endearing protagonist. This novel can, and should, reach a wide range of readers - everyone should read this book! It’s a comedic coming of age story, a heartwarming (and, at times, heart-wrenching) love story, and deals with teen issues and behaviours in a believable and engaging way. In contrast, Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future, took me longer to get into and left me less enchanted as a reader. The story felt busy and overwhelming with its many focus points and unanswered questions. The writing is beautiful, and some of the protagonist’s deepest melancholic secrets gave me pause for thought. However, as a whole, I don’t feel that this novel will reach as many readers as its competitor in this round. Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda is the type of YA novel that speaks to the current generation of teens in a way that they can understand and relate to easily. This novel will grab readers’ attention and hold on to it for every turn of the page.”

• K. Laurie, Room 105

“I absolutely loved Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda book!  It is a beautifully written “coming-of-age” book that will connect with many readers. Any book that keeps me up past my bedtime is a book I can easily recommend to others!” - K. Blush, Room 125

 

“Glory O’Brien’s History of the Future by A.S. King is truly a masterpiece of storytelling, but sadly, one that will only appeal to a small audience of readers.

Glory O’Brien’s mother committed suicide - think Sylvia Plath - when Glory was only four, and it understandably affects every part of her life as she wonders if she’ll experience the same fate. Her mother’s suicide even affects something as mundane as meals; her father removes the offending kitchen appliance and for the past fourteen years they’ve only consumed in Glory’s words, “radiated food” from a microwave. The book is rife with these quirky little details that become even stranger following an incident where Glory and her friend drink a juiced desiccated bat. At that point, Glory receives “transmissions” when she looks at people that visually communicate information about their ancestors and future lives. Obviously, King is tying the theme of destiny and grief together as Glory sees an apocalyptic future that only she may be able to change. It’s a compelling read, but so unconventional that it may be enjoyed by only those willing to hang in there until the end.”

“Reading Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli is like a comedic version of rubber-necking at a traffic accident. You cringe at the high school dysfunctions that we all recognize from our own experiences, but you can’t help but continue to turn pages to read more.

Simon Spier, a not-so-openly gay junior in high school, has had his private email messages to another male student discovered by someone who is more than willing to blackmail him. Comic chaos ensues as Simon attempts to keep his personal life under wraps while attempting to maintain a normal high school existence.

It’s a highly accessible story for both teenage genders and as a Smackdown group, we believed it to be an important and relevant read. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is sweet, funny and sincere and deserves to move on to compete again.”

                                                                                                            C. Powell, Room 114

When I was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds

This story has unique characters that are shaped by the pressures of living in a tough Brooklyn neighborhood. The novel delivers a powerful message about the bonds between family and friends and what happens when they seem broken. This novel minimizes the typical idea of living in a tough neighbourhood, sex, violence, and drugs but instead focuses on dependability and support of those considered family. This story had both heartbreaking and heartwarming moments, as the three young men form a seemingly real friendship.

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy

Dumplin is an easy read novel that addresses the issues that many teenage girls face as they transition through high school, while also challenging the idea of what society deems as "beauty pageant" beautiful. Set in a small town, where few people ever leave and stay away, WillowDean faces the usual teen angst (family issues, friendship trouble and a non-existent love life). Although she is dealing with weight issues, she is comfortable in her own skin, until the incident that throws her life into a tail spin and has her questioning everything she thought she knew about herself. 


I don't think this book would appeal to male readers, but I definitely think there is a place for it in junior high/senior high libraries, as many females would find the subject relatable.  The content is mature, but incredibly mild and I would compare it to a teenage soap opera.

Diamond Boy by Michael Williams

Patson Moyo is a typical teenage boy thrown into the incredible life of the Zimbabwe's Diamond mines. The story continues over the space of four months giving Patson a lifetime of adventure. Williams has an ability to slowly capture the attention of the reader and pull them into the African world and make the reader question humanity and the nature of greed.
The slip cover is not overly appealing and the write up on the cover might not capture the attention of a Sherwood Park teen allowing the audience to delve into the adventure of Payton Moyo.

Okay my post deals with two books:  Illuminae, and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.
Illuminae is categorized as speculative fiction which is a fancy way of saying the story is not in the form of traditional narrative fiction.  It is 599 pages of "hacked documents" including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, shaped poetry, computer images . . . ^^ERROR^^.  I found the text language and the emoticons especially confusing :(? so this is not the book I would send on to round two.  On the positive side it has explosions, surprise attacks, a deadly plague (LOVE THAT!), a mad artificial intelligence, conspiracies, and a desperate fight for survival so it may appeal to highly motivated readers who are more than competent in computer literacy (hence my problem)
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is in a more traditional narrative format including doodles/cartoons.  This 230 page book has as its first person narrator a self-deprecating male teenage Spokane Indian.  One of my favorite quotes from the book uses a simile for reading and momentum/rhythm.  "Reading is like riding a raft down a river" (you must pay attention to the currents!)  This book details some of the stereotypical images while pointing out individual differences.  I found this book to be more engaging to me as a reader and since I feel this will appeal to a greater number of students this is my choice to advance to round two.

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Illuminae, the first book in a science fiction series, begins in the year 2575 on a tiny planet that is being invaded. The story follows Kady, a teenage girl, through their evacuation from the planet and space travel as they try to make it to safety. It was presented as a series of reports, transcripts, diary entries and visual poetry.

I found this story hard to get into, primarily because of the format. The multiple methods of telling the story felt disjointed and choppy. I guess I have a ‘words only’ preference while reading books. I also found the blacking out of ‘offensive’ words distracting. Early on in the book, it is explained that any profanity would be blacked out because the person reading the report didn’t want to see it. It would have been more effective to simply avoid using the offending words in the dialogue as in most cases they seemed to be added just for the sake of showing that they were being blacked out.

After completing the book, I found I did care about the characters and want to know how their story ends in subsequent books, but I’m hoping the format changes to flow more smoothly.

Overall, I’d give the story a 4/5, but the format a 2/5.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

This is a story about Junior, a teen growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. He decides to attend an all-white school in a neighboring town, apparently something that almost never happens. It is a story of someone actively choosing to make their life better against the odds.

The language was simple (grade 4 reading level) and in some ways this book would be appropriate for younger audiences, but the sexual references and profanity scattered throughout make it only appropriate for high school libraries. The story also includes themes of death and alcoholism, which may be hard for younger audiences to handle.

Calvin

A touching and moving story of a boy, Calvin, struggling with mental illness and the real?-ationship that grows between him and his friend girl, Susie.  The story is framed within a Calvin and Hobbes narrative, as part of a letter to the founder of Calvin and Hobbes, Bill Watterson.

This novel dives into relevant and important issues for young adults – schizophrenia, school stress, peer relationships, bullying – using accessible dialogue and familiar references (eg. Calvin and Hobbes).  It is a quick read, mostly using dialogue to advance the story.        

True to the nature of the subject matter, it is difficult to determine how much of the story being told is real and how much is imagined by the protagonist.  This fine line between reality and imaginary is both intriguing and frustrating as a reader, especially since events in the story are hard to believe – finding a car in the middle of frozen Lake Erie, the hermit poet that offers the teens refuge, etc.  Also, I felt like schizophrenia was treated quite superficially in that it promoted the stereoptype of schizophrenia manifesting primarily as multiple personalities and talking to yourself.  

Both main characters are likeable.  However, they seemed to be knowledgeable and insightful beyond their years (or maybe I was not nearly as knowledgeable and insightful as a teen!).

Walking Read Grade: 4.5/5

Far Far Away by Tom McNeal

This is a quaint rendition of a standard fairy tale that will appeal to lovers of this genre.  The easy nature of the writing flows with the wistfulness of the ghost as the ghost tries to assist Jeremy Johnson Johnson through the troubles of small town living.  Jeremy’s troubled life is a bit farfetched but typical for this type of writing. 

The book is a quick read with a Grimm twist that may leave the reader wondering at the end.

Winger by Andrew Smith

A highly entertaining, witty novel that is extremely hard to put down. It is a highly addicting read that captures your attention about puberty and coming of age.  It is about a 14 year old junior attending a private boarding school.  Ryan Dean is forced to share a room in the dorm for troublemakers with the biggest jerk on the rugby team.  Ryan Dean struggles with learning about what is right, when nothing seems to be going his way. Ryan Dean learns a lot about himself as he faces teenage experiences and complications, he even finds some happiness with his best friend Annie. Ryan Dean has to figure out how to hold on to what important when he is forced to face the unthinkable.

Lumberjanes

Graphic novels/comic books are not my favourite genre, however, I would highly recommend this books to students.  

The story is about a group of unlikely campers (lumberjanes) at a camp for girls.  These girls find their way in to lots of interesting and sometimes dangerous situations…Holy kitten!  They drive their cabin counsellor crazy right up until just before the end.  All through the book the common theme is that we all have our strengths and never to count anybody out based on appearance.  These girls become stronger as they rely on themselves and their friends to get them through the fear and danger and use ingenuity to get them out of some pretty tight spots.

Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A.S. King

Glory O'Brien is on the doorstep of graduation.  Standing in the way of her moving on to a 'normal' life is a devastating loss from her past and the great unknown of what her future will be.  To compound Glory's struggle is an event that gives her the power to glimpse into the past and future of those around her, while at the same time clouding her understanding of her own.  A unique coming of age story that finds the reader contemplating whether fate exists or not. 


I found the character of Glory O'Brien to be relatable, with her disdain for society's expectations of girls/women, but I also found the story line sometimes overly detailed. There was some degree of predictability to the story as well, but I guess that is part of the experience of reading, that as a reader I try to predict what will happen and when it does, I'm either glad that I was correct, or disappointed that the author didn't surprise me with more twists.  I can understand why this book is getting good critical reviews for the ability of the author to move several pieces of a story line along by alternating between realism and fantasy.

The Nest:  The first thing that struck me was that Steve called the baby "it" in the beginning and didn't use the baby's name until the wasp asked him about it.  He didn't seem to be connecting with his baby brother but by the end of the book he saved Theo and risked his own life to do so.  I was really interested in the social statement against genetic engineering that evolved as Steve wrestled with the idea of "fixing" his brother's genetics and in the end decided it was wrong.  Steve seemed to really be questioning what is "normal" or acceptable both within himself and his brother.  I thought there was an interesting connection between Steve's dreams of wasps and the realities of wasps which made it difficult for him to stay grounded in reality.  The wasp attack at the end wraps up the story but seems a little hard to believe because Steve survived even with his extreme allergies.

Bone Gap: This book was a little weird to me with the kidnapper being from another world.  Like the Nest, I thought the Bone Gap was questioning what is "normal" as Finn is described as strange and we later learn he has a face recognition problem and Petey is described as "ugly".  They fall in love but still struggle with whether the other person sees value in them. Of course love prevails and the message seems to be that you want to find someone to love who sees the real you.  Love extends beyond romantic love to include brotherly love when Finn is ready to save Roza on his brother's behalf.  Finn recognizes that his brother is stuck and that he needs to get Roza back to free himself and get his brother back.

The 2016 Mighty Smackdown Books!

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