Science Fiction (9 of 9) A Wrinkle in Time

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L'Engle, M. (1962). A wrinkle in time. New York, NY:  Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers.
ISBN-13:  9780440498056
Format:  Paperback
Cost:  $5.99

Annotation:  Meg Murry is a typical awkward teenager, and part of a very smart, strange family, including scientist parents, one of which is missing, a younger brother with strange abilities who only talks to his family, and twin brothers, Sandy & Denny. Meg, her gifted brother, and her friend Calvin are tessered through time and space by strange creatures, Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which, to save Meg's father who is being held by the evil IT on the planet Camazotz behind the darkness.

Awards:  1963 Newberry Medal
1965 Lewis Carroll Shelf Award

Booktalk:  Meg Murry is an insecure awkward teenager whose brilliant scientist father has been missing for over a year. Discover whether Meg, her gifted brother, Charles Wallace, and her friend Calvin will be able to find her father through A Wrinkle in Time.

What is a tesseract? On a dark and stormy night, Meg Murry, a gangly awkward teenager, discovers from Mrs. Whatsit, a strange celestial creature, that a tesseract helps one travel through time and space. Meg's father, a brilliant scientist, had been working on this secret scientific concept when he went missing over a year ago. Mrs. Whatsit and her two companions, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which, enlist the help of Meg, her specially gifted younger brother Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin, to rescue Mr. Murry from the evil IT on the planet Camazotz behind the darkness. Many strange adventures occur as Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin learn about friendship, love, courage, and who they really are. Will these time and space travelers be able to rescue Meg's father through A Wrinkle in Time?

Available Formats:  Paperback, Kindle, Library Binding, Audible Audio Edition, Audio CD.

Teen Quote:  13-year-old Sydney P. likes to read science fiction and she is into reading Star Wars books right now. She tries to read every day and reading is one of her favorite pastimes. She really likes to read a good mystery or romantic fantasies. The only social media she uses is Google Plus. This is what she thought of the book, A Wrinkle In Time:

"A Wrinkle In Time was a very good read, it had the components of a mystery but the characters from a fantasy. It is a story of an ordinary girl whose father goes missing and she and her brother and a friend must go to save him from the Big Black Thing. In the end all is right and the story wraps up with a fatnastic close. This was an amazing read. I would recommend this to anyone who loves sci fi."

Multimedia:  In 2003, a movie based on the book, A Wrinkle In Time was made. You can watch a movie clip here:

If you would like to listen to the book, A Wrinkle in Time, you can start with chapter 1 here:

Extra! Extra!  Did you know Mrs. L'Engle wrote quite a few books, and A Wrinkle in Time is the first in a series? Check out all things Madeliene at her website here:  http://www.madeleinelengle.com/.

Here is a Facebook page for the book, A Wrinkle in Time:  https://www.facebook.com/wrinkleintime/.

Street Fiction (1) Way Too Much Drama

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Sewell, E. (2013). Way too much drama. Toronto, Ontario M3B 3K9, Canada:  Harlequin Kimani TRU
ISBN-13:  9780373534685
Format:  Paperback
Cost:  $9.99

Annotation:  Viviana is a fish out of water living with her cousin Maya's family since her father was killed in prison as a result of Maya's accusation of murder. Viviana seeks revenge by stealing Maya's boyfriend, becomes friends with an abused drug addict, and questions her choices when she finds herself running for her life from the drug addicts forcing her to rob a store.

Awards:  None

Booktalk:  Maya's world is turned upside down when her cousin, Viviana comes to live with her family. Viviana wants revenge because her father was killed in prison as a result of Maya telling the cops he murdered someone. Viviana steals Misalo, Maya's boyfriend, makes friends with LaShaunda, an abused drug addict, steals, and gets into fights. But Viviana is also smart and finds time to be on the school quiz team with Maya, Keysha (Maya's friend), and Misalo. When Viviana answers 10 correct questions in a row, the team wins their first competition. Viviana shares her thoughts on page 178:

"The moment caused me to reflect on my father. I know that he would have been just as proud of me. He would have hugged me or given me a high five. My father was so smart and wonderful that I know he would have helped me learn the material. Since my father wasn't around to celebrate my moment of achievement, the feeling of wanting to be acknowledged did not disappear. I wanted to commemorate the victory of winning with someone special."

Will Viviana show up for the final competition, or is the pull to run away with LaShaunda to strong?

Available Formats:  Paperback, Kindle

Quote:  Taken from page 206:

"The people inside looked at me and cast judgment upon me. Their eyes said that I was a degenerate, immoral and the scum of society. I didn't think I was any of those things, but their eyes told a different story."

Multimedia:  Here's an Excerpt from Way Too Much Drama by Earl Sewell:

Extra! Extra!  Did you know Way Too Much Drama is part of a series, and a Kimani TRU book created for young African-American and multi-cultural teens? You can find out more here:  https://kimanitruseries.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/keysha-and-indigo-the-kimani-tru-series/.

Kimani TRU also has a Facebook page which can be found here:  https://www.facebook.com/KimaniTRU.

Science Fiction (3 of 9) Life As We Knew It

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Pfeffer, S. B. (2006). Life as we knew it. Orlando, FL:  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
ISBN-13:  9780152061548
Format:  Paperback
Cost:  $6.95

Annotation:  When an asteroid hits the moon and knocks it out of place, life on earth will never be the same. Through the pages of the diary of 16-year-old Miranda, the shocking, realistic aftermath of the resulting devastation is portrayed, as well as how Miranda and her family survive.

Awards:   2006 Booklist Editor's Choice Award for Books for Youth (Older Reader's Category)

Booktalk:  What would you do if you had to survive in the aftermath of a devastating natural disaster? After an asteroid knocks the moon out of place, tsunamis, and earthquakes kill thousands of people, knock-out communication and electricity, and leave survivors stuck in their homes with little food, struggling to survive. This first book of the series is written in diary form through the eyes of 16-year-old Miranda from Pennsylvania. The time frame of one year reveals death of beloved friends, the loss of family and friends as they move in search of better survival conditions, sickness, injury and frigid cold. Will Miranda, her mother, and brothers have the courage and strength to survive? Read this eerily realistic science fiction story and find out!

Available Formats:  Paperback, Hardcover, Kindle, Audible Audio Edition, Audio CD

Quote:  Taken from page 56:

"It's such a weird way to live. I just can't believe it's going to stay like this much longer. On the other hand, I'm already starting to forget what normal life felt like, clocks that were on time, and lights that went on with the flick of a switch, and Internet, and streetlights, and supermarkets, and McDonald's, and..."

Multimedia:  The author, Susan Beth Pfeffer, has a Facebook page about her book, Life As We Knew It. You can see some videos, quotes, a detailed summary of the book, and some pictures here:  https://www.facebook.com/susan.susanbethpfeffer?fref=ts.

Here is a book trailer of the book:

Extra! Extra!  Did you ever wonder what domino effect might happen if a real catastrophe like this might occur? On Ms. Peffer's blog post, Meteors, Moons, and Me, she discusses her science research for this book and the second book in the series, The Dead And The Gone. Check it out here:  http://susanbethpfeffer.blogspot.com/2008/07/science-of-life-as-we-knew-it-and-dead.html