*Topic 4 of LS 5623, Young Adult Literature, provided an in-depth study of the attributes that make up Fantasy and Science Fiction within young adult literature.  The following novels are examples of these types of genres in young adult literature. 

 

Sleator, William. Others See Us. New York: Dutton Children’s Book, 1993. ISBN 0-525-45104-8

 

“I was in the swamp, up to my ears, gasping and choking at the poisonous chemical stink.” (Others See Us page 2)

 

During his sixteenth summer, Jared and his parents return from a European vacation and make their annual pilgrimage to the family’s summer seaside compound. All of Jared’s aunts, uncles, and cousin meet at the compound at the request of his grandmother.  Upon arrival at the family’s cottage, one of Jared’s first rituals is a bike ride in which he takes to accumulate himself once again to his seaside surroundings.  Another ritual for him is to seek out his beautiful cousin Annelise.  Jared has anxiously been waiting to return to the family’s compound to see his cousin.  Consumed with thoughts of his beautiful cousin Annelise, on his bike ride, Jared does not realize until it is too late that he is rapidly speeding down a hill.  When he applies the brakes of his bicycle, they do not work.  Thrown from his bike into a toxic waste swamp, Jared emerges from the swamp with industrial chemical waste all over his body.  During dinner with his family, he discovers that the fall into the swamp has given him the ability to read people’s minds.  He discovers all sorts of family secrets.  Jared’s new found psychic abilities lead him down a path of supernatural intrigue and conflict. 

 

In this story, William Sleator uses dialogue and some first person narration to tell Jared’s story.  “Sleator uses toxic waste as a device to change his characters from ordinary to simple mind readers or ruthless, amoral, power-wielders.” (Hazel K. Davis, The ALAN Review) He also uses symbolism.  Sleator has spiders and spider webs appear throughout the story as symbols of the grandmother and her web of influence over her family and beyond.  The story’s ending is abrupt and somewhat disjointed, however the plot is enticing and fast pace.    

 

I enjoyed reading Others See Us.  William Sleator developed through imagery an intriguing storyline that hooked me from the beginning.  “I fell into the swamp on the Fourth of July.” (Others See Us page 1) Individuals looking for a quick and easy science fiction story to read should consider reading Others See Us.  

References

http://www.amazon.com accessed 02 November 2004.

Davis, Hazel K. The ALAN Review. 1994. Spring

 

 

Pullman, Philip. The Golden Compass. New York: Ballantine Books Book, 1995. ISBN 0-345-41335-0

 

“Powerful…Sparkles with childlike wonder.” –The Boston Sunday Globe (from the back cover of The Golden Compass)

Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass, is a magnificent fantasy that depicts the adventures of Lyra Belacqua.  Lyra, an orphan, lives among the scholars of Jordan College in Oxford.  In addition, living at Jordan College with Lyra is her daemon familiar, Pantalaimon. In Lyra’s world, everyone possesses an animal-like pet called a daemon. Lyra and Pantalaimon are content roaming the halls and streets of Oxford with Lyra’s friend Roger, a kitchen boy at Jordan College. Nevertheless, Lyra’s life takes a surprising turn when her uncle, the Lord Asriel, returns to the college seeking support from the scholars for another expedition.  Hiding in a wardrobe, Lyra witnesses the plot to kill her uncle.  She alerts Lord Asriel to the plot and he solicits her as a spy during his presentation to the scholars of his discoveries on his last expedition. Struck by Lord Asriel presentation, Lyra promises herself that she will find out more information about the far North and the mysterious celestial phenomenon called Dust. During her quest to discover what the far north entails, Roger is kidnapped along with other young children and transported north.   Lyra begins a quest to find Roger.  However, before she can complete her quest, Lyra leaves Jordan College to live with a beautiful woman named Mrs. Coulter.  Mrs. Coulter, it turns out, is an explorer of the North. She teaches Lyra celestial geography, mathematics and navigation. However, Lyra begins to feel trapped and has an altercation with Ms. Coulter.  After making some terrible discoveries, Lyra runs away from Mrs. Coulter and finds herself with a band of gypsies, an armored bear and many other strange characters. Lyra and her crew head north to carry out a dangerous mission which, involves her uncle and the kidnapped children of Oxford.  

Using dialogue, some first person narrative, and descriptive writing, Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass is a fast-paced fantasy filled with thrills and suspense. Pullman incorporates terror, betrayal, heartbreak, love, and loss to develop strong characterization and a solid plot for this story.  “A totally involving, intricately plotted fantasy that will leave readers clamoring for the sequels.”(Booklist-Sally Estes)  I approached this novel with the expectation that it would be boring simply because I am not a fan of fantasy writing.  It was difficult for me to identify with the settings and the various elements within the setting.  These attributes never materialized within my mind as being realistic.  Since Pullman’s novel is fantasy, my wish for more realistic scenes is rather an oxymoron.  The Golden Compass written in three parts is a fantasy book that will keep the reader engaged. 

References

www.amazon.com

www.teenreads.com

 

Klause, Annette Curtis. Blood and Chocolate. New York: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers, 1997. ISBN 0-440-22668-6

 

“This tightly woven story is another superb title from a rising author” (Beverly Youree -VOYA )

 

Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause is a dark romantic fantasy about a beautiful sixteen-year-old girl werewolf named Vivian.  Vivian and the members of her werewolf clan have relocated from West Virginia to the questionable safety of the Maryland suburbs.  The pack’s leader, Vivian’s father, was killed in a fire a year ago.  In Maryland, the pack is under the care of Vivian’s uncle Rudy.  Uncle Rudy encourages the pack to quickly select a new leader so that the pack can select a permanent area to reside in.  Thus, Klause develops the plot of this story around Vivian’s romantic interest in a human and the selection of a new pack leader.  

 

While still grieving for father, Vivian enrolls in high school.  In high school, her artwork is published in the school magazine along side a poem written by a human boy named Aiden.  Vivian reads Aiden’s poem and immediately wants to meet the human that has written the poem.  She discovers that Aiden is kind and gentle, a welcome relief from the squabbling pack of five young werewolves that are always around and trying to get her attention.  Aiden and Vivian are drawn to each other and form a special bond immediately.  Vivian and Aiden are warned not to get involved. Their backgrounds and family values are dramatically opposites. In sharing her secret with Aiden, that she is a werewolf, Vivian changes their relationship as well as that of her entire pack family.  With the help of Gabriel, the new wolf pack leader, Vivian eventually realizes that she must be with her own kind of people. 

 

A reviewer for School Library Journal writes, “The book is well constructed with visual imagery and deft descriptions”.  Blood and Chocolate is a fast read novel that held my attention to the very end.  Klause uses imagery, metaphors, dialogue and some first person narrative to weave a thrilling novel that explores the idea of differences in a way in which young adult readers can understand.  This was a fun book to read. 

 

References

www.amazon.com accessed 02 November 2004

www.bookfinder.us accessed 02 November 2004

http://www.likesbooks.com/rachel173.html accessed 02 November 2004