“The Giver,” by Lois Lowry

“The Giver,” by Lois Lowry is a Newberry Award Medal science fiction novel about a boy living in a Utopian community of the future. It is designed to be read in parallel with “Gathering Blue” and “Messenger.”

Twelve-year-old Jonas lives in a world that is seemingly perfect. There is no conflict, war, poverty or suffering. Everyone seems to be happy, respecting each other and working together. Everyone is employed, working special jobs chosen by elders who have observed them for years to determine their strengths.

In Jonas community there is a annual ceremony in which the twelve year olds are assigned the special jobs that they will work for the rest of their lives. Read the rest »

Critical Analysis of “The Art and Craft of the Machine,” by Frank Lloyd Wright

“The Art and Craft of the Machine,” by Frank Lloyd Wright is a grand, visionary piece that summarizes the philosophy behind Wright’s approach to architecture. The key player in Wright’s discourse is the Machine. Wright endeavors to define the scope and power of the Machine. Then he contrasts the ill effects of its abuse with the good that directed use of the Machine’s power can do in the fields of Art and Craft.

In the first part of “The Art and Craft of the Machine” Wright shows that throughout history the Machine has been used to hinder and ruin Art. Read the rest »

“Seekers – The Quest Begins,” by Erin Hunter

“Seekers – The Quest Begins,” by Erin Hunter is the story of three bears who must embark on a long quest to find the solution to global climate change.

Kallik is a young polar bear from North Canada. Times are beginning to get difficult for polar bears, because the ice is melting earlier and earlier every year, forcing the bears to get off the ice, where they can hunt, and onto the land before they are ready. When Kallik’s mother is eaten by orcas while swimming between two ice sheets Kallik must continue the journey to land alone. Read the rest »

“The Secret Rites of Social Butterflies,” by Lizabeth Zindel

“The Secret Rites of Social Butterflies,” by Lizabeth Zindel is the story of a teenage girl who becomes part of a secret clique at her ritzy private school.

When Maggie and her Mom move to New York City, Maggie is both slightly thrilled and slightly afraid. On the one hand she has a chance to start over completely at Berkeley Prep, a fancy private school just for girls. But the only problem is that she is entering the school as a senior, and all her new classmates have already formed their cliques and friendships. It seems as if Maggie won’t have a chance to find any friends at all. Read the rest »

“Lawn Boy,” by Gary Paulson

“Lawn Boy,” by Gary Paulson is the story of how a young boy’s lawn business gets a little bit out of hand.

The story is told from the point of view of a young twelve-year-old boy. When his grandma gives him a riding lawn mower its the beginning of a business venture that will have surprising results. As the boy cuts lawns around the neighborhood he soon has more business than he can handle. That’s when he meets Arnold, a stockbroker with grand intentions. Soon the boy has fifteen employees and the company assets include, among other things, stock in a coffin company, and an investment in a prize fighter. Read the rest »