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/