GUYS WRITE FOR GUYS READ, edited by Jon Scieszka

Bibliography
Scieszka, J. (Ed.). (2005). Guys write for guys read. New York, NY: Viking. ISBN: 0-670-06007-0. 272 pp.

Plot Summary
Guys Write for Guys Read is a collection of nonfiction short stories, comics, poems, and drawings written by well-known male authors and illustrators. All the pieces center around one topic, being a guy. Each piece reflects each artist’s unique gift of telling a story. The subject matter explored covers a wide range including dating, school, sports, superheroes, imagination, music, mischief, writing, drawing, adventure, and much more. The editor’s aim is to help young men develop a love for reading by presenting a wide range of content from various authors.

Critical Analysis
The purpose of the book is to get guys interested in reading. Thus, the stories cover all possible topics and storytelling styles that all tell a unique story about the overall theme of being a guy. This variety ensures that at least one story will be of interest to any male reader. The tones vary throughout each story as well. Some stories are humorous, adventurous, loving, etc., depending on the author. They represent memoirs, moments of inspiration, and thoughts.

It is evident that each writer is passionate about encouraging others to read. It is shown in the way each author writes or shows something personal. My favorite pieces are the illustrated ones where the authors share artwork or writing samples from when they were children. I find it very inspirational. Although I may not have liked half of the stories, there are some stories that I find interesting and some that even make me chuckle. If Scieszka’s mission is truly to have at least one story in his collection that appeals to a reader, then his mission is accomplished.

A strength in this book is that the majority of the pieces can be read in five minutes or less, which makes the reader less reluctant to give something new a try. Also, the stories can be read out of order or not at all depending on interests. This also leads to a weakness in that a reader can put the book down easily if a couple of the first few stories chosen do not peak his interest. It may have been helpful to separate the stories according to topic or tone to make it easier for a reader to choose which stories may be interesting. However, there is so much variety, that there may be at least one story that can appeal to anyone, even a girl!

BODIES FROM THE ICE: MELTING GLACIERS AND THE RECOVERY OF THE PAST by James M. Deem

Bibliography
Deem, J. M. (2008). Bodies from the ice: Melting glaciers and the recovery of the past. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN: 978-0-618-80045-2. 58 pp.

Plot Summary
Bodies from the Ice: Melting Glaciers and the Recovery of the Past is about glaciers, their movement, and the rate at which they are melting as well as the bodies and artifacts that are found as a result of their deterioration. Each chapter highlights glaciers within a specific region of the world and tells the story of how bodies and artifacts were found as well as what the findings reveal about the corpses such as when they lived, how they looked, cause of death, and lifestyle. Other interesting tidbits include the beginnings of glacier tourism, women discovering glaciers, and myths surrounding glaciers. The book concludes with ways in which we can try to save our glaciers, glacier sites worth visiting, and website recommendations for further reading.

Critical Analysis
This book is an interesting read and can be read as a whole for general interest or for gathering specific information through the use of the index. Basic information on the reasons for the melting glaciers along with an explanation of how long it can take a corpse to turn up from a glacier is explained early on so that readers can enjoy the stories specific to bodies found in the glaciers of various regions. As the book progresses, the author introduces more terminology along with explanations of how artifacts can reveal information about a corpse’s life. Illustrations abound and include maps of the featured areas; photos of mummies, artifacts found with the mummies, locations, and founders of some of the mummies; and paintings or drawings depicting some of the real life stories told. The book concludes with a list of glaciers to visit, suggested websites, and a bibliography for those wanting to find more information.

All the information presented appears to be recent and accurate. I was able to do some fact checking by exploring the topic further and have included websites that I found on the subject at the end of this analysis (see the web resources section below). There are many books about mummies and glaciers but fewer about the more specific topic of ice mummies, especially for young adults. This book makes one of two in my public library and so fills a nice gap. The only weakness is that it is clear that the author believes that global warming due to pollution is the main cause for the melting glaciers. However, the author also presents the other viewpoint that glacier melting just may be a normal occurrence of Earth’s climatic cycle. It is extremely fair of the author to present two viewpoints, although the latter is briefly mentioned.

This is a good book for middle and high school students (possibly younger depending on interests) or for any person who would like to read up on glaciers, archaeology, or anthropology. It makes nice supplementary material for a social studies, history, or science class. It is evident that the author is passionate about the subject because he presents the information well through exciting illustrations and storytelling to showcase important facts.

Web Resources on Ice Mummies and Glaciers
South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology: http://www.iceman.it/
The Christian Science Monitor article about the rate in which glaciers are melting: http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0503/Greenland-s-glaciers-melting-faster-say-scientists
National Geographic article about the effects of global warming and melting glaciers on our planet: http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/big-thaw/#page=1

References
Deem, J. M. (2008). Bodies from the ice: Melting glaciers and the recovery of the past. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN: 978-0-618-80045-2. 58 pp.

Glick, D. (2012). Signs from Earth: The big thaw. Retrieved from http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/big-thaw/#page=1

South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. (2011). South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. Retrieved from http://www.iceman.it/

Welsh, J. (2012, May 3). Greenland's glaciers melting faster, say scientists. Retrieved from http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0503/Greenland-s-glaciers-melting-faster-say-scientists

A TIME OF MIRACLES by Anne-Laure Bondoux

Bibliography
Bondoux, A. (2010). A time of miracles. (Y. Maudet, Trans.). New York, NY: Delacorte Press. (Original work published 2009). ISBN: 978-0-385-73922-1. 180 pp.

Plot Summary
In this fictional account, Blaise Fortune, known as Koumaı̈l throughout most of his childhood, tells of his escape from the Caucasus of Russia with Gloria, the woman who raises him. The story occurs during the 1990s, a time of war between the Caucasus and Russia. Blaise provides details about the living conditions, hardships, people, and simple joys as he and Gloria try to survive by living in various regions of the Caucasus until it is decided that they must flee to the safety of peaceful France to have a chance at life.

Critical Analysis
This story is translated from the French. The setting is interesting because it takes place in a modern Europe with a war that is from recent history. This modern setting helps one to visualize how hard life is for Gloria and Blaise. However, my mind kept drifting trying to put the characters in an older historical setting, such as World War II, because it is challenging for me to visualize this happening in our modern world. I think this is subject to my experiences being limited to America’s way of life. Young adults with more exposure to world news and travel may be able to visualize the circumstances better than I.

The story develops slowly, which may make it difficult to get through. It takes some time to establish the background of how Blaise and Gloria come into each other’s lives, their characters, and the atmosphere of the war torn Caucasus. The story gains momentum in the last quarter of the book when Blaise makes it to France and tries to find Gloria and his mother. This is definitely a survival adventure story, and one should not expect thrills and adrenaline rushes.

Gloria and Blaise are the only two characters fully developed throughout the book. All other characters are vaguely portrayed and only serve to advance the happening of certain events. Blaise is a good and caring person throughout the book. He does not complain through the hardships and is considerate when it comes to helping Gloria take care of their needs. Gloria too is exceptional in character in how she cares and loves Blaise while taking all of their burdens on her own shoulders. Although the characters seem too perfect, they are extremely likable. Overall, it is a touching story of hardship and love where all the reader wants is for Blaise to find Gloria again and live happily with her in France.

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE by Beth Revis

Bibliography
Revis, B. (2011). Across the universe. New York, NY: Razorbill. ISBN: 978-1-59514-397-6. 398 pp.

Plot Summary
A new planet similar to Earth in that it can support human life is found, and a teenage girl, Amy, is cryogenically frozen for a voyage to the new planet. Amy’s parents are essential for creating a new human civilization on Centauri-Earth and are frozen along with her to awaken at the end of the voyage, 300 years later. However, Amy is awakened earlier than all the other people frozen on the spaceship Godspeed. It seems as if someone has tried to murder her and is attempting to murder other frozen people. Her only hope for survival comes from the help of Elder, a teenage boy in training to be the next leader of the strange human civilization occupying Godspeed.

Critical Analysis
Readers must imagine a future where space travel for extended periods of time is possible, and the human body can be frozen to be awakened later, fully preserved. There is also the hope of finding a planet like Earth in that it can sustain human life. This is not too far a stretch from where we stand today, which enables the story to focus on the human civilization that is lead by Eldest. This colony of humans has been living on the spaceship Godspeed for hundreds of years. Godspeed is a spaceship so huge that it is possible to grow food and keep animals as well as people. This is a civilization that operates under one leader and has all its needs met, but at the cost of freedom and emotion. There are no differences, everyone looks the same and is in agreement with Eldest. However, they are unaware of what they are missing.

The story is told from two points of view: Elder, who is next in line of leading the ship, and Amy, one of the cryogenically frozen passengers. Revis uses the two different perspectives to slowly reveal just how far from normal the passengers have surpassed the present day human culture. This alone is intriguing. The mysteries of who is killing the frozen humans, awaiting a landing on Centauri-Earth, and who can be trusted make this dystopian novel extremely dramatic and exciting. The only weakness is that it is so hard to believe that anyone in Amy’s situation could cope with being thrust into an environment so strange. It is amazing she is able to stay sane. However, Amy’s survival and ability to adjust shows how strong a female character can be in a genre where leading females are few and far between. The novel also provides a chilling warning. It warns us that although our differences and individual thought cause us to fight amongst ourselves, life is meaningless if it is taken away. Our differences are a part of being human. Without them, we are like cattle.

I WILL SAVE YOU by Matt de la Peña

Bibliography
Peña, M. de la. (2010). I will save you. New York, NY: Delacorte Press. ISBN: 978-0-385-73827-9. 306 pp.

Plot Summary
Kidd escapes Horizons, a group home, to work for Mr. Red as his maintenance assistant for the summer camps being held at a beach in California. In the course of enjoying his freedom, new friendships, and the ability to work, he instantly falls in love with Olivia, one of the summer campers. However, Kidd’s dark past catches up with him, and he has to save Olivia from the life he thought he left behind.

Critical Analysis
In I Will Save You, the protagonist Kidd tells the story of the summer he spent working as a maintenance assistant. Through simple story telling and journal entries, readers learn about Kidd’s take on life and the complex characters he meets that summer. This novel is realistic fiction at its finest in that there are many issues brought up through the course of the narrative that cause the reader to ponder about real life situations. For example, Kidd wonders, “Were people who they were ‘cause of their genes, or was it more to do with where they were born, and who their parents were, and what they saw growing up?” The story addresses drug addiction, alcoholism, beauty, abuse, death, social class differences, foster care, mental illness, and much more.

This story is a page turner due to readers wanting to learn more about pieces of the puzzle of Kidd’s life such as the reason why Kidd pushes Devon off the cliff, the explanation for Kidd’s foster care, and the details on how Horizons is different from an ordinary foster care institution. The characters are real and are an asset to the overall story because they possess positive and negative qualities. For example, Mr. Red is a very caring person and loves Kidd, but he is battling alcoholism and is a womanizer. This story is grim and depressing, but the summer beach setting serves to lighten the mood. Although some readers may guess the big reveal before reaching the end, I Will Save You is a good read that will remain with you long after you are done reading it.