Detailed sylo summary10/10/2023 ![]() ![]() McCormick, known for issue-oriented realism, offers a fictionalized retelling of Chorn-Pond's youth for older readers. The childhood of Arn Chorn-Pond has been captured for young readers before, in Michelle Lord and Shino Arihara's picture book, A Song for Cambodia (2008). The humor is spot-on, as is the representation of the black diaspora the opportunity for broader conversations about other topics is there, however, the uneven buildup of detailed, meaningful exchanges and the glibness of Norris’ voice detract.ĭespite some missteps, this will appeal to readers who enjoy a fresh and realistic teen voice.Ī harrowing tale of survival in the Killing Fields. A scene where Norris is confronted by his mother for getting drunk and belligerent with a white cop is diluted by his refusal or inability to grasp the severity of the situation and the resultant minor consequences. The scenes showcasing his emotional growth are too brief and, despite foreshadowing, the climax falls flat because he still gets incredible personal access to people he’s hurt. Norris’ ego, fueled by his insecurities, often gets in the way of meaningful character development. He’s greeted in his new life by an assortment of acquaintances, Liam, who is white and struggling with depression Maddie, a self-sacrificing white cheerleader with a heart of gold and Aarti, his Indian-American love interest who offers connection. His professor mom’s new tenure-track job transplants Norris mid–school year, and his biting wit and sarcasm are exposed through his cataloging of his new world in a field guide–style burn book. Norris Kaplan, the protagonist of Philippe’s debut novel, is a hypersweaty, uber-snarky black, Haitian, French-Canadian pushing to survive life in his new school. This first installment in a proposed trilogy is absolutely un-put-down-able, more exciting than an X-Box and roller coaster combined.Ī teenage, not-so-lonely loner endures the wilds of high school in Austin, Texas. Can they get past the naval blockade? Can they survive the sky-borne attack on the blockade? Whom can they trust? Who-or what-is SYLO? And who is fighting whom? MacHale knows boy readers and delivers, giving them an action-packed plot with a likable, Everykid protagonist and doling out answers with just the right amount of parsimony to keep the pages turning. Tucker and Tori need to get to the mainland to tell their story. There’s no communication from the mainland to the island and no way to get word of what’s happening out to the world. The country-club golf course has been converted into a military camp run by a division of the military they’ve never heard of: SYLO. The girl he wants to get to know a whole lot better, Tori, is captured along with Tucker and imprisoned behind barbed wire. Navy, things start to fall apart, and Tucker can’t stand aside for long. But when the island is quarantined by the U.S. For now, warming the bench at the weekly football games is just fine with him. He likes life on tiny, fictional Pemberwick Island, Maine, and hopes to take over his father’s landscaping business eventually. While his friends talk about going out into the world and doing great things, he prefers to dream small. ![]() This riveting novel starts with a question: How safe is it to remain uninvolved?Īt 14, Tucker Pierce is all about fitting in and going with the flow. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |