ASB Book of the Week

The American Library Association (ALA) has a prestigious award called the Michael L. Printz Award.  In 2008, The White Darkness won.  This is a very adventurous story about Sym–who is in love with a dead person! Titus Oates was the captain of an expedition to the South Pole, yet Sym is pretty obsessed with this historical figure. When she ventures out on a dangerous expedition with her uncle to the Antarctic wilderness, she experiences the dangerous struggles of existence on this adventure.  They are looking for Symme’s Hole–an opening that leads to the center of the Earth!

Colfer has done it again: he’s written a page turner!  Airman is a bit historical fiction, a bit fantasy, but mainly gripping.  The setting is the Saltee Islands off of the Irish coast in the 19th century where the main character lives wonderfully with his best friend Princess Isabella.  The enemey, Bonvillian, however enters and turns Conors life for the worse; he’s been condemned to mine diamonds–underwater!  The violent adventure begins as Conor plans his escape, and of course the princess becomes involved.  Let it be known that although Conor was born in a hot air balloon, that isn’t why this book is called Airman. 

In this story a street girl discovers her true identity.  Through a series of extraordinary adventures and events, Azura learns to know she is actually a legendary hero!  Accompanying this novel are crafted black and white drawings also made by the author.  This exciting story is written in short chapters filled with dialogue.  The author, Shaiyra Devi, is currently in 9th grade at the American School of Bombay.  She wrote this book at 14 years of age while living and studying in Hong Kong.