WORLD LITERATURE SUMMER READING LIST | BOOK DESCRIPTIONS

LIST A

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

In this unflaggingly suspenseful story of aspirations and moral redemption, humble, orphaned Pip, a ward of his short-tempered

older sister and her husband, Joe, is apprenticed to the dirty work of the forge but dares to dream of becoming a gentleman. And,

indeed, it seems as though that dream is destined to come to pass—because one day, under sudden and enigmatic circumstances,

he finds himself in possession of "great expectations." In telling Pip's story, Dickens traces a boy's path from a hardscrabble rural life

to the teeming streets of 19th-century London, unfolding a gripping tale of crime and guilt, revenge and reward, and love and loss.

Its compelling characters include Magwitch, the fearful and fearsome convict; Estella, whose beauty is excelled only by her

haughtiness; and the embittered Miss Havisham, an eccentric jilted bride. (Dover Thrift Edition, back cover)

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Named for a swimming pool in Paris the Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel begins this extraordinary tale as a teenager in India, where his

father is a zoo keeper. Deciding to immigrate to Canada, his father sells off most of the zoo animals, electing to bring a few along

with the family on their voyage to their new home. But after only a few days out at sea, their rickety vessel encounters a storm.

After crew members toss Pi overboard into one of the lifeboats, the ship capsizes. Not long after, to his horror, Pi is joined by

Richard Parker, an acquaintance who manages to hoist himself onto the lifeboat from the roiling sea. You would think anyone in Pi's

dire straits would welcome the company, but Richard Parker happens to be a 450-pound Bengal tiger. It is hard to imagine a fate

more desperate than Pi's: "I was alone and orphaned, in the middle of the Pacific, hanging on to an oar, an adult tiger in front of me,

sharks beneath me, a storm raging about me." At first Pi plots to kill Richard Parker. Then he becomes convinced that the tiger's

survival is absolutely essential to his own. In this harrowing yet inspiring tale, Martel demonstrates skills so well honed that the story

appears to tell itself without drawing attention to the writing. This second novel by the Spanish-born, award-winning author of Self,

who now lives in Canada, is highly recommended for all fiction as well as animal and adventure collections. (from Library Journal)

In the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez

In the Time of Butterflies is based on the lives of the four Mirabel sisters (code name: "Mariposas," that is, butterflies), three of

whom were martyred in 1960 during the liberation of the Dominican Republic from the dictator Trujillo. Through the surviving sister,

Dede, as well as memories of Minerva, Patria, and Maria Teresa, we discover the compelling forces behind each sister's role in the

struggle for freedom. As Alvarez says "A novel is not, after all, a historical document, but a way to travel through the human heart."

Though murder, torture, and imprisonment are ever-present, she wisely choses to focus on the personal lives of these young wives

and mothers, full of love, beauty, and, especially, hope. Highly recommended for its luminescence and relevance. (Library Journal)

The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

What a wonderful book! The "joy luck club" is a mah jong/storytelling support group formed by four Chinese women in San

Francisco in 1949. Years later, when member Suyuan Woo dies, her daughter June (Jing-mei) is asked to take her place at the mah

jong table. With chapters alternating between the mothers and the daughters of the group, we hear stories of the old times and the

new; as parents struggle to adjust to America, their American children must struggle with the confusion of having immigrant parents.

Reminiscent of Maxine Hong Kingston's The Woman Warrior in its vivid depiction of Chinese-American women, this novel is full of

complicated, endearingly human characters and first-rate story telling in the oral tradition. It should be a hit in any fiction collection.

(Library Journal)

The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

The opening chapters of this haunting autobiographical novel, set in small-town South Africa during World War II, are as bleak and

violent as anything written for young people. Five-year-old Peekay is the only English-speaking boy in a harsh Afrikaans-language

boarding school. He is urinated on by a pack of older boys, and then beaten for it by the matron. Although he endures many losses,

he grows through his experiences. His goal is to become a boxer, and the story shows how hard work can lead to success. Peekay

forges loving relationships with adults, most notably Doc, a German professor. When Doc is detained as an enemy alien, Peekay's life

becomes intertwined with the local prison. It is there that he learns to box and becomes a secret ally of the black prisoners.

Courtenay's deft and chillingly accurate characterization of the Afrikaner prison warders. The author is unsparing in his portrayal of

the brutality meted out to prisoners and in his depiction of racist speech. Courtenay's ear for dialogue is impressive, and he

consistently captures the cadences of South African speech. Peekay's story is written in a direct, almost childlike style, which

sometimes seems bland, but readers will be swept along by the events in the protagonist's life. The book packs a powerful

emotional punch, evoking horror, laughter, and empathy. It is a condensed version of the first part of Courtenay's adult book of the

same title, and the ending feels artificial and unresolved. In all, this is an extraordinary and unusual survival story, and one that

should inspire young people feeling battered by the circumstances of their own lives. (School Library Journal)

LIST B

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is a "simple, yet eloquent parable [that] celebrates the richness of the human spirit. A young Spanish

shepherd seeking his destiny travels to Egypt where he learns many lessons, particularly from a wise old alchemist. The real alchemy

here, however, is the transmuting of youthful idealism into mature wisdom. The blending of conventional ideas with an exotic

setting makes old truths seem new again. This shepherd takes the advice Hamlet did not heed, learning to trust his heart and

commune with it as a treasured friend." (School Library Journal)

Animal Farm by George Orwell

Ostensibly a simple fairy tale, this little parable is actually a biting satire on the Russian Revolution. The story begins on a quiet

English farm whose dissolute human master (representing the tsar) mistreats his farm animals so badly that they eventually go

against him and set up a new order under the leadership of two brilliant pigs (i.e., Stalin and Trotsky). As in the history of the Soviet

Union, their workers' paradise is steadily perverted until the animal farm becomes an even more oppressive state than its

predecessor. This book's combination of superficially lightweight subject matter and a deadly serious underlying theme calls for a

dexterous narration. (Library Journal)

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon

When a teen discovers his neighbor's dog savagely stabbed to death, he decides to use the deductive reasoning of his favorite

detective to solve the crime. Employing Holmesian logic is not an easy task for even the cleverest amateur sleuth and, in

Christopher's case, it is particularly daunting. He suffers from a disability that causes, among other things, compulsive behavior; the

inability to read others' emotions; and intolerance for noise, human touch, and unexpected events. He has learned to cope

amazingly well with the help of a brilliant teacher who encourages him to write a book. This is his book-a murder mystery that is so

much more. Christopher's voice is clear and logical, his descriptions spare and to the point. Not a word is wasted by this young

sleuth who considers metaphors to be lies and does math problems for relaxation. What emerges is not only the solution to the

mystery, but also insight into his world. Unable to feel emotions himself, his story evokes emotions in readers-heartache and

frustration for his well-meaning but clueless parents and deep empathy for the wonderfully honest, funny, and lovable protagonist.

Readers will never view the behavior of an autistic person again without more compassion and understanding. The appendix of

math problems will intrigue math lovers, and even those who don't like the subject will be infected by Christopher's enthusiasm for

prime numbers and his logical, mathematical method of decision making. (School Library Journal)

Haroun and the Sea of Stories by Salman Rushdie

Rashid Khalifa, a renowned storyteller, has lost his touch. Once an ``Ocean of Notions,'' he is now ``The Shah of Blahs.'' Haroun,

Rashid's son, embarks on an epic quest to restore his father's creativity. One of the problems is environmental: the pollutants of

modern civilization have clouded the once-clear streams of story. Another is conspiratorial: the Union of Tight Lips, minions of the

evil Khattam-Shud, confound communication by switching on rows of ``darkbulbs.'' Rushdie's first book since the controversial

Satanic Verses ( LJ 12/88) is more a postmodern fairy tale in the style of Angela Carter or John Barth than a traditional novel. The

story is allegorical rather than realistic, the characters emblematic and two-dimensional. Poignant parallels between Rashid's

predicament and Rushdie's own situation are what hold the reader's interest. An amusing but lightweight entertainment. (Library

Journal)

Legend by Marie Lu

In this futuristic tale told in alternating voices, the United States has devolved into factions and California is a part of the Republic.

The people are oppressed, except for the privileged few, and Day is carrying out a raid on a hospital for plague medicine for his

family. Readers learn that he has been fighting against the Republic for some time, with phenomenal success. Unfortunately, his raid

ends with a Republic soldier wounded, and Day is also injured while making his escape. The other narrator is June, who is Republic-

trained, privileged, and also in possession of remarkable abilities. She vows vengeance on her brother's killer—he is the wounded

soldier. June knows about Day, and she also knows that he doesn't kill, so why did he kill her brother? It's a good question, since he

didn't. There is plenty of intrigue and underhanded dealing going on, mostly by Republic officials. The mystery surrounding June's

brother and the constant recurrence of various strains of plague are solved by the end, with June and Day joining forces to fight

injustice. The door is left open for a sequel since June and Day make their escape and head toward the Colonies (the western part of

the former United States not including California) to seek aid in their fight against tyranny. The characters are likable, the plot moves

at a good pace, and the adventure is solid. (School Library Journal)