Tithe
A modern faerie tale
by
Holly Black
Summary
Tithe is a fantasy story about a teenage girl named Kaye, who has a rather unsettled life. She has been moved around much of her life due to her mother's career choice of being in various small rock bands. Kaye and her mother end up back to Kaye's childhood hometown living with her grandmother. Kaye is no normal teen. Besides the fact of her unusual upbringing, she also has special abilities and has friends who are faeries. After Kaye's return home, she quickly finds herself on the dark side of the faerie world mixed up with some very strange characters. Kaye finds herself in love with an 'otherworldly being' and ultimately she must decide if this romance is worth risking her life.
My Thoughts
I think I've discovered that I'm just not a fan in general of fantasy novels. I was really drawn to this book because of its title and cover, but I was a little disappointed with the story. I like a story that is cutting edge, but it seemed to me that Holly Black was just trying to shock young readers with some of her language and situations. If I had liked the story more, perhaps I wouldn't have found some of the language so annoying. When Kaye finds out that she is not completely human, she seems to accept this news a little too easily. I also found the romance between Kaye and Roiben improbable and I never really felt connected to their story. For me, Tithe is one of those novels where you get to the end and don't really care what happened to any of the characters. Young people must find it more appealing than I do, however, because it is the first in a series of books about Kaye and her faerie friends. I think teens may like Tithe because it feels rebellious and forbidden to them.
Reviews
"Dark, edgy, beautifully written, and compulsively readable." - Booklist
"Debauchery, despair, deceit, and grisly death-what more could you ask for from a fairy tale?...A luscious treat for fans of urban fantasy and romantic horror. - Kirkus reviews
Awards / Honors
YALSA Best Book for Young Adults
YALSA Teen's Top Ten Booklist
Suggested Activities
I would have students try to draw a picture or make a computer generated image of how they think Kaye looks without her "glamour", or in other words, her appearance as a faerie.
Because this is the first book in a series, I would have teens write a creative extension of the story, predicting what will happen to the character's in the future.
Life As We Knew It
by
Susan Beth Pfeffer
Summary
Miranda is tired of hearing about the asteroid at school, and even more tired of getting writing assignments about it in every class. The whole neighborhood is out to watch the night the asteroid is supposed to hit the moon. Everyone has been assured it will be something they won't want to miss. What no one knew is that life would never be the same. Miranda and her family must learn to survive life as they never dreamed it could be. She records her thoughts, despair, and longings in her journal. Miranda ultimately learns all that she has been given, even when she has very little left.
My Thoughts
I can't say enough about this book. It will make you things of things you have never thought of before, and things you hope you never have to know. Life As We Knew It is often disturbing, but it is so authentic that it is difficult to put down. Pfeffer seems to have thought of almost every nightmare one would face in the event of a global disaster. I found myself thinking of Miranda and her family several times a day. I happened to have a flood at my house while reading this novel, and while things were frustrating, I kept thinking how much worse they could be. I kept wondering if I would have thought of half of the things Miranda's mother thought of at the beginning of the crisis. I also wonder if I would have the will to keep living if I had to face everything Miranda and her family suffered.
Reviews
"Clear some space in your schedule: you won't want to be interrupted as you read this nail-biting drama. Could these events really happen? I sure hope not, or else life as we know it will become the stuff of legend." -Jennifer Armstrong, co-author of the Fire-Us trilogy.
"This fascinating and engrossing story shows how quickly 'normal' life as we know it could disappear, and how something as innocent as the moon could become a horrible threat. But Miranda's tale is also reassuring, as her diary shows how love, family bonds, and the will to live all remain strong even in the face of disaster."- Margaret Haddix Peterson, author of Among the Hidden.
Awards / Honors
A Junior Library Guild Premier Selection
A Listening Library Selection
Suggested Activities
I would have students research the effects the moon has on earth and compare them with the events in the novel. Students could then evaluate the probability of the events happening as described in the book.
Students would work in teams of four or "family" teams to chart the supplies they would need in the event of a global disaster. They could also chart the duties of each member of the family.
I think it would be great to discuss how many services and supplies we take for granted.
Students could think of things they would have to provide for themselves that are normally provided by government authorities, parents, or other adults.
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