The "K" Reviews--See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
A Killing Frost, by John Marsden (Tomorrow series, book 3)
*Winner, Buxtehude Bull Prize, 1999; Notable Book, CBCA Children’s Book of the Year Award: Older Readers, 1996; Winner, WAYRBA (West Australian Young Readers’ Books Award) 1998; Selected, COOL Awards (Canberra’s Own Outstanding List) 1999*
Core themes: war and necessity of violence, sacrifice, courage and steadfastness when captured
Drugs/alcohol: allusion to the likelihood a friend died while driving drunk (which happens in a previous book)
Religion/occult: “in more trouble than a dog in a mosque”; Robyn’s theory of a sheep they kill as a sacrificial lamb to save Kevin’s life; prayer in times of great fear; the poem “Footprints” often referenced favorably, especially when Ellie is imprisoned
Romance/sexuality: 1, 2
Violence/abuse: soldiers and teenagers enact many acts of violence against each other, some quite graphic and at close quarters, and quite a few involving lots of casualties (most dramatically, Robyn becomes a suicide bomber to save the others in an escape attempt); a story told of pigs eating a man; killing animals; hints soldiers may have wanted to rape the girls
Vulgarities: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: This book continues the story of Ellie and her friends, fighting as much as they can against the invaders. The level of violence is a bit escalated with a dramatic attack on an important port and Robyn’s sacrifice at the end of the book to help her friends escape. For the most part, though, it’s similar to the previous book.
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author website: http://www.johnmarsden.com.au/
Reviewer: Jill Papsdorf
*Winner, Buxtehude Bull Prize, 1999; Notable Book, CBCA Children’s Book of the Year Award: Older Readers, 1996; Winner, WAYRBA (West Australian Young Readers’ Books Award) 1998; Selected, COOL Awards (Canberra’s Own Outstanding List) 1999*
Core themes: war and necessity of violence, sacrifice, courage and steadfastness when captured
Drugs/alcohol: allusion to the likelihood a friend died while driving drunk (which happens in a previous book)
Religion/occult: “in more trouble than a dog in a mosque”; Robyn’s theory of a sheep they kill as a sacrificial lamb to save Kevin’s life; prayer in times of great fear; the poem “Footprints” often referenced favorably, especially when Ellie is imprisoned
Romance/sexuality: 1, 2
Violence/abuse: soldiers and teenagers enact many acts of violence against each other, some quite graphic and at close quarters, and quite a few involving lots of casualties (most dramatically, Robyn becomes a suicide bomber to save the others in an escape attempt); a story told of pigs eating a man; killing animals; hints soldiers may have wanted to rape the girls
Vulgarities: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: This book continues the story of Ellie and her friends, fighting as much as they can against the invaders. The level of violence is a bit escalated with a dramatic attack on an important port and Robyn’s sacrifice at the end of the book to help her friends escape. For the most part, though, it’s similar to the previous book.
I would suggest this book to: younger teens / older teens / all teens / no teens.
Author website: http://www.johnmarsden.com.au/
Reviewer: Jill Papsdorf
See the content keys for an explanation of the numbers.
Killing Mr. Griffin, by Lois Duncan
*ALA Best Book for Young Adults--l976; Massachusetts Children's Book Award--1982; Alabama Young Readers Choice Award--1982-83, 86-87; nominated for California Young Readers Award--1982; selected for Librarians Best Book List, England--1986; New York Times "Best Book for Children"--1988; NBC Movie of the Week -- 1997; nominated for Edgar Allan Poe Award; Listening Library, audio recording
Recorded Books, audio recording; foreign editions: England, Switzerland, Italy, Holland, Brazil, Portugal, Germany*
Core themes: the ease with which we mindlessly follow charismatic people; how humans can rationalize even shocking behavior; how difficult it is to escape trouble once we have allowed it to begin; the ways in which we can allow hate to fester and ultimately destroy others; psychopathic behaviors vs. normal behaviors, especially in how to treat people we don't like
Drugs/alcohol: kids smoking pot and drinking beer
Religion/occult: the beginning of the Lord's Prayer prayer is recited; characters muse on whether their dead teacher's soul is roaming free
Romance/sexuality: 1
Violence/abuse: reference to two main characters setting fire to a cat a few years earlier; novel revolves around the kidnapping and semi-accidental murder of a high-school teacher by some of his students; in an attempt to cover up the first murder, the student who is primarily responsible for the teacher's death commits another murder and almost a third one, too, in an attempt to cover up the first murder
Vulgarities: 1, 2, 3, 5 (semi-frequent)
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: For a teen who just wants a relaxing read and who enjoys suspense, Killing Mr. Griffin may be worth reading (if the swearing isn't too offensive). The violence that is the center of the novel isn't gratuitous but actually gives a platform for several important themes that are particularly relevant to teens. I wouldn't put this novel at the top of my list of "must-reads," but I didn't think it was trash, either.
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens /no teens.
Author website: http://loisduncan.arquettes.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
*ALA Best Book for Young Adults--l976; Massachusetts Children's Book Award--1982; Alabama Young Readers Choice Award--1982-83, 86-87; nominated for California Young Readers Award--1982; selected for Librarians Best Book List, England--1986; New York Times "Best Book for Children"--1988; NBC Movie of the Week -- 1997; nominated for Edgar Allan Poe Award; Listening Library, audio recording
Recorded Books, audio recording; foreign editions: England, Switzerland, Italy, Holland, Brazil, Portugal, Germany*
Core themes: the ease with which we mindlessly follow charismatic people; how humans can rationalize even shocking behavior; how difficult it is to escape trouble once we have allowed it to begin; the ways in which we can allow hate to fester and ultimately destroy others; psychopathic behaviors vs. normal behaviors, especially in how to treat people we don't like
Drugs/alcohol: kids smoking pot and drinking beer
Religion/occult: the beginning of the Lord's Prayer prayer is recited; characters muse on whether their dead teacher's soul is roaming free
Romance/sexuality: 1
Violence/abuse: reference to two main characters setting fire to a cat a few years earlier; novel revolves around the kidnapping and semi-accidental murder of a high-school teacher by some of his students; in an attempt to cover up the first murder, the student who is primarily responsible for the teacher's death commits another murder and almost a third one, too, in an attempt to cover up the first murder
Vulgarities: 1, 2, 3, 5 (semi-frequent)
Literary artistry: * * * * *
Comments: For a teen who just wants a relaxing read and who enjoys suspense, Killing Mr. Griffin may be worth reading (if the swearing isn't too offensive). The violence that is the center of the novel isn't gratuitous but actually gives a platform for several important themes that are particularly relevant to teens. I wouldn't put this novel at the top of my list of "must-reads," but I didn't think it was trash, either.
I would suggest this book to younger teens / older teens / all teens /no teens.
Author website: http://loisduncan.arquettes.com/
Reviewer: Cheri Blomquist
