True Crime: Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper--Case Closed by Patricia Cornwell

Summary

Popular crime writer Patricia Cornwell, who writes the Kay Scarpetta novels, believes she has solved the Jack the Ripper case.  In her true crime novel Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper--Case Closed, Cornwell presents her argument for naming painter Walter Sickert the serial killer previously known only as Jack the Ripper.  In the book, Cornwell details her own research into the Jack the Ripper case and her attempts to use modern forensics to finally solve the mystery. Cornwell used her own money to reopen the case. Based on her interpretations of Sickert's art, Cornwell believes that Sickert hated women, possibly because he suffered from impotence as a result of a surgery he underwent as a child. Cornwell also claims that DNA tests she had done on a stamp from one of the Ripper letters proves that Sickert wrote the letter.  The title of Cornwell work begs the question: is the case closed?  Read Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper--Case Closed and draw your own conclusions.

Review


I thought this book was terrible.  I read it because, like many people, I am intrigued by the Ripper case, I guess, because it is a mystery that can never be solved. Cornwell's purpose in this book is to prove that Sickert was Jack the Ripper, so she makes the evidence she has fit that conclusion.  The "proof" she offers would never hold up in a court of law.  Additionally, the book is poorly written.  Like much of the true crime I've read, the book reads like a textbook.  I would've thought that a mystery writer as popular as Cornwell could have made her case in a way that was enjoyable to read, but that is not the case.  That fact is that, in order to consider the case on Jack the Ripper closed, one has to take simply take Cornwell as her word and refuse, as she did, to consider any other possible scenarios besides the one she's presented.  Cornwell as certainly convinced herself that Sickert was guilty, but she didn't convince me.  Perhaps he was, but her case needs some work, as does her presentation.

References


Cornwell, P. (2003). Portrait of a killer: Jack the ripper--Case closed.

     New York: Berkley.

[Cover art for Portrait of a Killer: Jack the Ripper--Case Closed].

     (2011). Retrieved from http://www.paperbackswap.com/Portrait-Killer-

     Jack-Patricia-Cornwell/book/0425192733/

Youthful Sleuths/ YA Mystery/ Animal Crimes/Humor: Bad Kitty by Michele Jaffe

Summary

Ever since her mother's death, Jasmine has wanted to be a detective, but her father is 100% against this plan.  He forces her to go on vacation to Las Vegas with him and her step-mother, Sherri.  Las Vegas isn't really where Jas wants to be, but she decides to make the best of it by lounging by the pool and ogling a cute guy named Jack.  That's where the "bad kitty" comes in.  Jas is attacked by a three-legged cat that happens to belong to the son of a famous model. The model, Fiona Bristol, it turns out, was involved in quite a scandal the previous year: she was having an affair and her boyfriend, Len Phillips, ended up dead. Fiona's husband was charged with the crime. Jas quickly finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery and calls for backup from her friends Polly, Roxy, and Tom.  As Jas begins to find clues about the murder, she realizes that cute Jack is somehow part of the mystery.  So, who really killed Len Phillips?  And just exactly how was Jack involved? Read Bad Kitty by Michele Jaffe to find out--and enjoy more than a few laughs along the way!

Review


I read Bad Kitty because it was on the South Carolina Young Adult Book Award nominee list a couple of years ago, and I've always looked to this list as one of my sources of books to recommend to my students.  The book is hilarious: it is really just a quick, fun read.  It would be a great choice for high school girls, especially reluctant readers. Jaffe has since written a sequel called Kitty, Kitty, as well as a graphic novel called Catnipped, so students who like the novel could follow up with those titles. The bottom line is that if you want a quick, easy, funny mystery, you'll love it.  If you want a serious mystery, it probably won't be your style.

References


[Cover art for Bad kitty]. (2008). Retrieved from

     http://ebookw.net/ebook/mobile_ebooks_readers/241233-0060781106.html

Jaffe, M. (2006). Bad kitty. New York: HarperTeen.

Psychological-Suspense/ Psychopathic Killers/ Amateur Detectives: False Memory by Dean Koontz

Summary

Susan, suffers from agoraphobia, terrified to leave her house. When Susan becomes convinced that her husband has been somehow sneaking into her apartment at night to have sex with her, she sets up a video camera to catch him in the act. Instead, she catches her psychiatrist, Dr. Ahriman, raping her.  Dr. Ahriman has taken control of Susan's mind--with a key phrase, he can force her to do anything he wants and leave her with no memory of her actions. When Dr. Ahriman discovers Susan's video camera, he uses his power over her to force her to commit suicide. In the mean time, Susan's best friend begins to develop her own mental illness, autophobia, and becomes terrified of herself and what she might do. Dusty, Martie's husband, begins to suffer from fugue states, losing chunks of time. Skeet, Dusty's brother, is an addict and attempts to commit suicide. Will Martie and Dusty find out who is behind their disorders in time to save them from the same fate as Susan?  Read False Memory to find out!

Review


I bought False Memory at the library book sale because it was a Dean Koontz I hadn't read. I usually really enjoy his work, but I had a really hard time with this one.   I've started books before that I lost interest in and had a hard time finishing, but this book was difficult to finish for a completely different reason: it really disturbed me. I guess the idea of someone else having control over my mind without my knowledge was just too horrifying.  And the idea that someone could rape another person without the victim's knowledge or force someone to commit suicide against their will is just unbearable to me.  I guess it bothered me, too, that the killer was a doctor, a therapist, someone who should be trustworthy, and he just used that position of trust to destroy others rather than help them.  While I still love Dean Koontz and would recommend him as an author, this is not a novel I would recommend to anyone else.  While it might not affect another readers as deeply as it did me, I wouldn't want to take the chance that it might.

Review


Koontz, D. (2000). False memory. New York: Bantam.

[Book cover art for False memory]. (2008). Retrieved from

     http://openlibrary.org/books/OL58896M/False_memory

True Crime/ Edgar Award Winner: Columbine by Dave Cullen

Summary

When the Columbine tragedy occurred in April of 1999, people in the US and all around the world were glued to their television sets and scouring their newspapers for the latest information about the massacre.  The media created profile of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold as members of the "TrenchCoat Mafia" and school outcasts bullied by jocks convinced Americans that they knew the killers and their motives.  Dave Cullen's Columbine, published for the ten year anniversary of the shooting, tells the true story of Columbine and shows readers just how much of what they believed about the tragedy was wrong.  Cullen explains that the media fabrication of the Columbine story was the result of overeager newspapers reporting,  speculation, and rumor and a sheriff unopposed to talking off the cuff and presenting incomplete and often incorrect information as fact.  Schools across the country banned trench coats as a result of the shooting, but Eric and Dylan were never members of the "TrenchCoat Mafia," as suggested by the press--they wore trench coats for the purely practical reason of hiding their weapons. Eric and Dylan also were not outcasts: they had friends, dated, and even attended the prom the weekend before the shooting. For ten years, Americans have believed that they knew what happened at Columbine; thanks to Dave Cullen, now they finally will.

Review


Columbine is true crime/non-fiction the way it should be done.  This book is a page-turner, each chapter revealing more about the killers, the victims, the media, and the authorities. While Dave Cullen is a journalist, this book isn't written in the journalistic style: it reads like a novel. The shocking realization that so much of what was reported about the shooting was wrong hooks the reader from the very beginning. The Columbine tragedy occurred in the spring of my first year of teaching, so my entire career has been colored by the event. It was truly unsettling for me to learn that so much of what I believed about the massacre, so much of what was reported in the media, was just plain wrong.  The book is a great example for media literacy, a wide-scale example of how the media can, and will, twist the truth in an effort to sell papers. Cullen's work is thoroughly  researched and his extensive list of sources is included.  Everyone in America should read this book, but especially every educator in America.  Dave Cullen gives his readers a look into the minds of not only the killers, but the victims, the community, and the authorities, and helps the reader come away with a better understanding of this shocking moment in our country's history.

**Dr. CAT, if you were ever to teach the mystery genre class again, I would highly recommend this book as your true crime requirement.

Book Trailer:

Dave Cullen's website

References

Cullen, D. (2009). Columbine. New York: Twelve Books.

Cullen, D. (2011). DaveCullen.com. Retrieved from www.davecullen.com 

Historic Mystery/ For the Younger Set/Youthful Sleuths: The Demon in the Teahouse by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler

Summary


Adopted by the prominent Judge Ooka, a samurai, Seikei dreams of becoming a samurai himself. When a series of suspicious fires and a rash of murders strike Edo, it is up to Ooka and Seikei to solve the crimes. Because the murder victims are geishas, Seikei takes a job at the Teahouse of the Falling Cherry Blossoms where he can look for clues and keep an eye on the mysterious geisha Umae, who seems to be somehow connected with the crimes.  Seikei hopes that if he can hlep Ooka solve the crime, he will prove himself worthy of one day becoming a samurai himself.  Seikei is in great danger, though, because if he is found out, the consequence could be his life.  Will Ooka and Seikei be able to solve the mystery, save the geishas, and bring peace and safety back to Edo?  Read The Demon in the Teahouse to find out!


Review


The Demon in the Teahouse is the second in a series, but I read it as a stand alone title and had no problem.  The book was a quick, simple read, but the story was well-told and engaging.  The character of Judge Ooka is apparently based on a historical figure, and the setting of the novel in samurai Japan is interesting and educational, especially for young readers who have probably had little exposure to the time period or culture. Young readers will identify with Seikei and his desire to please Ooka and achieve his dream of becoming a samurai.  This novel would be a great read for late elementary to middle school students, especially as part of a history unit or class.

References


Hoobler, D. & Hoobler, T. (2002). New York: Puffin.

[Cover art for The demon in the teahouse]. (2011). Retrieved

     from http://www.flipkart.com/books/0756967252

Amateur Detectives/ Ghost Stories/ Supernatural/ Humor: Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

Summary

Odd Thomas is a fry cook in the town of Pico Mundo.  He has a girlfriend named Bronwen, who goes by Stormy; a best friend named Little Ozzie, who isn't little; and mentor of sorts in Chief Wyatt Porter.  He also has an talent as unusual as his name: he can communicate with the dead. Odd can also see bodachs, dark figures that Odd sees around those who will either die or kill soon.  When Odd sees the most bodachs he's ever seen following a strange man at the diner, he decides to investigate, sure that great tragedy is imminent.  Odd uses his psychic magnetism to find the man, whom he calls Fungus Man, and discovers that he is obsessed with serial killers.  Odd is determined to stop Fungus Man before he can go through with whatever atrocity he's planning to unleash on Pico Mundo. A calendar page suggests that Odd only has 24 hours to solve the mystery.  What is Fungus Man planning?  Is he working alone?  Will Odd be able to stop him in time?  Will he be able to keep those closest to him safe?  Read Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz to find out.

Review


Odd Thomas is the first in a series of novels about the title character. Odd Thomas is an extremely endearing character: the reader can't help but love him and all his eccentricities.  Dean Koontz is one of the best, and I have long enjoyed his novels, but Odd Thomas is by far my favorite character.  Based on the Koontz novels I've read, I think this series is the first where the author has infused his story with some humor, and he does it well.  The book is still a suspenseful thriller, but Odd and his friends provide plenty of comic relief throughout the story.  The plot seems simple at first--hero identifies bad guy and stops him before he can carry out his sinister plans--but, as always with Koontz, it isn't that simple.  Fungus Man is out of the picture (somewhat) fairly early on, and the real villains hit the scene, complicating matters further.  All of this is compounded by the 24 hour time constraint Odd is working under.  The twist with Bronwen at the end is heartbreaking , and the reader is left loving Odd even more for his loss. Wisely, Koontz decided to continue to write more Odd Thomas novels. I highly recommend you check them all out.  Odd Thomas is a winner!

References


[Cover art for Odd Thomas]. (2011). Retrieved

     from http://www.deankoontz.com/odd-thomas-series/

Koontz, D. (2003). Odd Thomas. New York: Bantam.

Youthful Sleuths/ For the Younger Set: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan (Book 1 in the 39 Clues Series)

Summary

The mystery begins when Grace Cahill, the matriarch of the Cahill family, dies, leaving her relatives a strange choice: accept a one million dollar inheritance or attempt to find the 39 clues and have a chance at becoming one of the most powerful people in the world.  Amy and Dan, Grace's orphaned grandchildren, accept the challenge and receive the first clue, along with a number of their relatives.  As it turns out, the Cahills are an extremely powerful family to which a number of histories greatest men and women belong. The first clue leads Amy and Dan to the library of their grandmother's mansion where they find a connection to Benjamin Franklin: a copy of Poor Richard's Almanac with notes from various relatives, including Amy and Dan's mother. Before they can examine the book in depth, the mansion catches fire, and they are forced to flee.  The mansion burns down, Amy and Dan's Uncle Alistair disappears with the Almanac, and the two children are left with their grandmother's cat and her jewelry box. Amy and Dan ask their nanny to accompany them as they travel from the US to France in search of the solution to the puzzle on the first clue and information about the location of the next clue.  It soon becomes clear that many of their relatives will stop at nothing to find the second clue first, and Amy and Dan are in constant danger. Is there anyone Amy and Dan can trust?  Will they be able to find the second clue before their scheming relatives?  Read The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan to find out!

Review


The Maze of Bones is sort of like American Treasure for kids.  The concept is an interesting one: 39 clues to discover over the course of ten books written by a series of popular authors.  To me, the book was a fast, easy read that did offer some suspense and interesting historical connections.  I think my eight-year-old would love it, and the historical allusions could offer opportunities for further inquiry and learning.  Riordan does a good job of making Amy and Dan the heroes and other relatives, like the Kabras and Irina Spasky the villains, while also introducing some gray characters like Alistair and William McIntyre. The idea of two fairly young kids running around the with their nanny, risking their lives to solve a family mystery all without the permission or support of their guardian Aunt Beatrice is more than a bit far-fetched, but kids will be more willing than adults to suspend disbelief and enjoy the ride.  My third grader is reading the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series right now, but I will certainly have him give this series a try when he finishes.  I just hope the remaining books in the series are as well done as the first and that the use of different authors doesn't compromise the story.

References


[Cover art for the maze of bones]. (2009). Retrieved from    

     http://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/weblog/2009/

    10/the-39-clues-book-one-maze-of-bones-rick-riordan.html

Riordan, R. (2008). The 39 clues: Book one: The maze of bones. New York:

     Scholastic Press.

Amateur Detective/ Religious Mystery/ Academic Mystery/ Historic Mystery: The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

Summary


In this third novel featuring symbologist Robert Langdon, Langdon receives a invitation to speak at the Capitol from his friend and mentor Peter Solomon, a Mason.  Solomon asks Langdon to bring the small box he had given Langdon years before. When Langdon arrives, he finds that it was not Peter who sent for him at all; in fact, Peter has been kidnapped and his severed hand left in the Rotunda. Peter's kidnapper, who calls himself Mal'akh, tells Langdon that in order to save Peter he must find the Mason's Pyramid and the Lost Word. Mal'akh, who has entered the Masons under false pretenses, believes that by doing so, Langdon will be able to help him unlock the key to great power. Will Landgon solve the mystery in time to save his friend's life? What and where are the Mason's Pyramid and the Lost Word? Who is Mal'akh and why does he harbor such hatred for Peter?  To find out these answers and more, read Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol.

Review


Having not read Angels and Demons or The Da Vinci Code (I did see the Da Vinci Code movie), I can into the novel with no prior experience with the author.  The novel, in my opinion, is fairly dense; while the  information about the Masons and their place in American history will be interesting to some, the depth of background information might be overwhelming to others.  Also the inclusion of the storyline related to Noetic science is confusing.  The mysteries surrounding the Masons is always intriguing, so that aspect of the novel works well.  Once the stage is set (i.e., the reader has the background knowledge to understand the plot), the book becomes a real page-turner. The ultimate reveal that Mal'akh is actually Peter's son adds a whole new layer to the story, making it not just about power, but also about revenge and regret.  Peter's explanation of the Mason's Pyramid and the Word at the end of the novel is certainly plausible (more plausible, in my opinion, than the explanation in The Da Vinci Code), but it does seem a bit anti-climactic. Overall, I enjoyed the novel, although it was long and could have benefited from some editing, but I think many readers will find it too difficult to really enjoy. American history buffs, however, will probably love it, though.

References


[Cover art for the lost symbol]. (2011). Retrieved

     from http://search.overdrive.com/TitleInfo/39b6f5ef-42eb-

    4d66-8c76-83fb6cbf7b47/425

Brown, D. (2009). The lost symbol. New York: Doubleday.

YA Mystery/ Youthful Sleuths/Edgar Award Winner: Double Helix by Nancy Werlin

Summary

Eli Samuels is smart, top of his class, but when he graduates high school, he wants to take a year off before attending college.  Eli's dad doesn't approve of his plan, but Eli's mom is dying of Huntington's disease, and Eli knows that her medical costs have put his dad in a financial crisis.  Eli wants to earn the money for college to take the pressure off of his dad.  When Eli gets an amazing job at Wyatt Transgenics working for the famous Dr. Wyatt, he's blown away by his luck.  His dad, however, is livid.  It seems that Eli's parents have a past connection with Dr. Wyatt, something that happened before Eli was born. It's clear that Eli's dad hates Dr. Wyatt, and Eli is caught in the middle. In addition to these troubles, Eli is haunted by the possibility that he, too, could fall victim to the horrors of Huntington's disease.  Eli can take a test to see if he will develop the condition, but does he really want to know?  What is his dad hiding? What could Dr. Wyatt have done that was so horrible and what does it have to do with Eli and his mother and her disease?  Nancy Werlin's Double Helix will raise as many questions as it answers about science and genetics and responsibility. In a modern world of endless scientific possibilities, this novel is a must read.

Review


Ok, I'm thinking like an English teacher again, but this novel would be a great modern title to pair with Frankenstein.  The whole question of genetics and the debate over scientists playing God could be discussed with both works, and students could compare the treatment of those issues in the two different time periods.  Plus, Double Helix is a great novel, and students would love it, so it might hook them into enjoying Frankenstein a bit more.  This would also be a perfect book for a media specialist to recommend to teachers in the science department for the students to read and discuss or even to offer as an extra credit--or even better, do some kind of collaborative project about the novel with an English class. I also think that the question Eli faces as to whether he should be tested for the Huntington's gene or not is a really interesting one for any reader to discuss, but it would really be timely for teens today to think about this possibility because more and more advancements in genetics are going to be made during their lifetimes, and they will likely be faced with these types of decisions for themselves personally or for their children or both.  Having just had a baby, I had to consider whether I wanted to pursue any genetic testing with my daughter or whether, as they say, ignorance is bliss.  I pretty much went the ignorance-is-bliss path, but it's a decision that every parent faces these days and one that shouldn't be taken likely.  Outside of the genetics debate, their are some interesting issues about family dynamics brought up in the novel that many readers would identify with, such as Eli's desire to pay his own way through college because he knows that his father has put everything he has into his mother's care.  That's a great deal of responsibility for someone Eli's age to bear, but there are teenagers all over the world today dealing with similar and much worse problems, so I think these topics would spawn so great discussion in a classroom or simply between readers enjoying the book as pleasure reading.

References

[Cover art for double helix]. (2009). Retrieved

     from http://jkrbooks.typepad.com/blog/2009/01/

     double-helix-nancy-werlin.html

Werlin, N. (2004). Double helix. New York: Dial.

YA Mystery/ Youthful Sleuths/ Supernatural: The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (Booktalk Selection)

Summary

Susie Salmon, the narrator of Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones, is brutally raped and murdered at fourteen years old by a neighbor named Mr. Harvey.  She tells her story from Heaven, where she watches her family as they deal with her death, the police as they investigate her murder, and Mr. Harvey as he goes on with his life completely free.  Susie's father Jack begins to suspect Mr. Harvey and even shares his concerns with the police, but there is no evidence to tie Mr. Harvey to the murder.  Susie watches from Heaven as her family falls apart after her death, helpless to do anything about it and frustrated that her killer continues to walk free, free to kill again.  Will Susie's family ever come to grips with her death and put the pieces of their broken family back together?  Will Susie's killer ever come to justice?  Will Susie ever accept her existence in Heaven or will she forever pine for the life Mr. Harvey took away?  Read The Lovely Bones to find out.

Review


The Lovely Bones is a great book, in my opinion, and I have had a number of students read and enjoy the book as well, but it isn't for everyone.  The fact that the narrator is dead is a little too much for some readers to buy into, as is the whole switching bodies scene.  I, however, think that it is a fascinating concept.  Unfortunately, the types of crime that happened in this novel happen all of the time in the real world, so the thought of those victims watching what happens to their families and friends after their deaths, pining away for the life they left behind, and wanting to see their murders brought to justice is particularly poignant.  I think that Sebold's depiction of the grieving family is spot on and could really open up some discussion about the stages of grief. The most gripping part of the novel for me, though, was the question of whether Mr. Harvey would ever be caught and punished for what he did to this innocent child.  To know that her family suspects him, is convinced he did it, but can't prove it, is almost too much to bear, and the idea that he could get away with it is unthinkable.  The reader just wants justice and peace for Susie and her family.  The crime presented here is realistic, but, as a fantasy lover, perhaps it is the supernatural aspect that I found appealing.  I can see, however, how Sebold's interpretation of Heaven might invite criticism by some readers who might find it offensive in comparison to their beliefs.  It is, however, a lovely idea of Heaven if one can be open-minded enough to entertain the possibility. There is a movie out of The Lovely Bones, but I haven't seen it yet.  I hope they handled this powerful story well.

References


[Cover art for the lovely bones]. (2011). Retrieved

     from http://www.thebookwormslibrary.com/?p=208

Sebold, A. (2002). The lovely bones. New York: Little Brown.

YA Mystery/ School Crimes/Psychological-Suspense: What Happened to Cass McBride? by Gail Giles (Booktalk Selection)

Summary


Cass McBride is popular.  David Kirby isn't.  Cass McBride is also ambitious, so when David Kirby asks her out, she doesn't laugh in his face; instead, she does it on paper in a note to one of her friends, a note she never intended David to see.  See it he does, though, and it has more of an effect on him than Cass could have ever imagined.  Destroyed by Cass's rejection and derision, David takes his own life.  Angry over his brother's death and carrying his own guilt, David's popular brother Kyle blames Cass for David's death and is set on revenge.  Kyle kidnaps Cass and buries her alive.  For now, Cass can breath, but only so she can hear what Kyle has to say about her and what she did to his brother.  Cass is forced to rely on her words to try to save her life.  What will Cass be able to learn about her captor? What will she learn about herself? Will she be able to convince Kyle to free her before it's too late?  Does she deserve to be free?  Read What Happened to Cass McBride by Gail Giles to find out.

Review


This is a gripping novel.  Despite the fact that the novel was published in 2006, the issues it addresses are still relevant.  With the recent focus on bullying and teen suicide, this novel current and powerful and has a place in all high school libraries.  Giles uses three narrators to tell the story: Cass, Kyle, and a detective working the case.  Giles manages to keep her reader on the edge of his seat.  This is definitely one of those books you can't put down.  The situation forces Kyle and Cass to take a good, honest look at themselves, and it forces the reader to do the same.

References


Giles, G. (2006). What happened to Cass McBride. New York: Little, Brown

     Books for Young Readers.

[Cover art for What happened to Cass McBride?]. (2011). Retrieved from

      http://www.powells.com/biblio/2-9780316166393-5

YA Mystery/ School Crime/ Psychological-Suspense: What Happened to Lani Garver by Carol Plum-Ucci (Booktalk Selection)

Summary

In junior high, Clare was diagnosed with leukemia.  Now in high school, things are finally looking up for her; her life seems to be getting back on track. Still, she feels different from everyone else because of her illness. Then Lani Garver shows up.  Lani is different, too different for Hackett Island.  And Lani is an enigma: no one knows if Lani is a boy or a girl. When Clare and Lani become friends, Clare is able to look past the differences and see the real Lani, who Lani is beyond gender or appearance or any other characterization. She also sees a lot about herself.   Unfortunately, others on Hackett Island can't see Lani's inner beauty.  To them, Lani is a threat, a threat to their safe, defined world.  And threats, of course, must be eliminated.  What did happen to Lani Garver?  And who (or what) was Lani?  These are questions the reader must answer, so check out What Happened to Lani Garver and solve the mystery for yourself.


Review


I am a big fan of Carol Plum-Ucci, and I think that this is a powerful, timely novel.  The issues with bullying that abound today, as well as the discrimination against the GLBT community, are issues that young adults deal with everyday.  This is a novel that would open the floor for a discussion of some of these problems in our society and really force students to think about their own beliefs and actions and how those actions might affect others.  As an English teacher, I also love the ambiguity of the ending--Did Lani die?  Was he a floating angel?  Again, this would be excellent fodder for class discussion as students make their own inferences about what happened at the end of the novel and share and support those inferences for their classmates. I think, too, that this is a interesting book in that it forces the reader to really think about and come to terms with their own ideas and beliefs about gender.  While imagine that there will be more and more books about similar topics as time goes on, I think that this is one of the better ones out right now.

Reference


Plum-Ucci, C. (2002). What happened to Lani Garver. New York: Harcourt

     Children's Books.

[Cover art for what happened to Lani Garver]. (2011). Retrieved from
    
     http://theliteraryomnivore.wordpress.com/2011/03/01/the-literary-

     horizon-what-happened-to-lani-garver-boy-meets-boy/