Eldest by Christopher Paolini

Bibliographic Information: Paolini, Christopher. Eldest. Alfred A. Knopf, 2005. ISBN 9780375826702
Genre: Fantasy Fiction
Reading Level: Grades 5-12
Curriculum ties: Writing
Awards:Quill Book Awards (2005-2007): Young Adult/Teen, Soaring Eagle Book Award (Wyoming), WAYRBA – Western Australian Young Readers’ Book Awards : Older Readers.
Note: Book 2 in the Inherent Cycle series.

Reader’s Annotation:  Now a member of the the Ingeitum clan, follow Eragon as he trains to continue helping to save his empire.

Plot Summary: The story begins a few days after the first book, ERAGON, ends. Eragon and his dragon Saphira have helped the Varden and fellow allies the Dwarves drive off hostile forces sent by King Galbatorix to capture Saphira and destroy the Varden, but at a cost. The leader of the Varden was killed and Murtaugh, Eragons friend and ally was kidnapped. A new leader, Nasuada, is chosen for the Varden and she begins to rally further alliances and funding to continue the war effort against King Galbatorix. Believing Murtaugh is dead, Eragon decides to travel to the Elven city of Du Weldenvarden to continue his training as a Dragon Rider. There he meets Oromis and his dragon Glaedr who were Dragon Riders in hiding from Galbatorix. Oromis and Glaedr begin to train Eragon and Saphira and prepare them for their destined battle against Galbatorix. In a separate story line Roran , Eragons cousin, and the villagers of Carvahall go in pursuit of the bug like Ra’Zac to save Rorans fiancé, Katrina, who was taken hostage.  Roran and the villagers continue their search while at the same time attempt to locate the Varden to help their effort in defeating King Galbatorix.

Critical Evaluation: This is the second book of The Inheritance Cycle by the young author Christopher Paolini. It has similar undertones to The Empire Strikes Back movie, where Oromis is Yoda and Roran is Han Solo. Eragon and Saphira train while Roran continues his fight against Galbatorix. It also relates to The Lord of The Rings. The Dwarves and the Elves don’t care for each other but begrudgingly work together for the greater good. Despite the similarities to other books, it does have a sense of its own identity. It makes you feel for the characters. Eragon loses everything he has and must learn to cope, all the while training for a destiny he never expected to have. Roran must convince everyone in his village to follow him in search of his fiancé and the Varden, a feat even he believes is impossible. Saphira the dragon begins to learn about love, both the human and animal form and must differentiate between which one is greater. This book is more of a setup for next book in the cycle, Brisingr, which will introduce new characters and even more adventure and adversity for Eragon and Saphira.

Booktalking Ideas:
Discuss who Eragons parents may be. Why is his father’s identity a mystery?
Compare the relationship between Eragon and Arya from Eragon to Eldest.Why is Arya hesitent to show affection towards Eragon?
Why do you think Murtagh is able to use magic more effectively than Eragon?

Challenge Issues/ Defense:
Challenge Issues: Monsters, magic, violence.
Challenge defense ideas: Because many decisions in our society are made by the majority, protection of minority rights ensures that the ideas of smaller, less popular groups are not suppressed by the majority. In time, the majority may come to agree with these minority groups.

Why was this book included?: To continue Eragon’s journey in this saga. Fantasy fiction is a very popular genre among teens.

Author Information: Author Christopher Paolini not only writes about fantasy, he lives it. When he was a mere fifteen years old, he penned a sweeping epic called Eragon, which was eventually discovered by a New York publisher—and by thousands of readers. In 2003 the book nestled comfortably on bestseller lists, and by 2004 a movie based on the magnificent tale of a boy and a brilliant blue dragon was poised to take flight. Paolini was also hard at work writing the second and third installments in the Inheritance trilogy. In a teenreads.com interview, the author and boy wonder promised fans that future books would include the same “breathtaking locations, thrilling battles, and searching introspection as Eragon—in addition to true love.”
In 1984, when Christopher Paolini was born, his mother, Talita, quit her job as a Montessori preschool teacher to devote her time to raising her new son. Montessori is a system of learning developed by Italian educator Maria Montessori (1870–1952); some of its features include a focus on individual instruction and an early development of writing skills. Talita used the Montessori method to teach Christopher at home, and two years later when sister Angela came along, she, too, became part of the Paolini classroom. Since some of the materials in a Montessori school are expensive, Talita experimented and came up with creative alternatives to inspire and educate her children. She was so successful that by the time Christopher, and later Angela, turned three years old, they were both comfortably working at a first-grade level.
When Christopher was old enough to attend public school, his parents were worried that he would be bored by a traditional curriculum, so they thought long and hard and decided to educate him at home. In fact, focusing on their children was such a top priority that the Paolinis made a deliberate choice to live simply, drawing small salaries from Kenneth Paolini’s home-based publishing company. In interviews Paolini has talked about the nurturing environment his parents created for him, and he credits them for being his inspiration. He has also admitted that he was not always a receptive student. A particularly interesting note is that Paolini was a reluctant reader. When he was about three or four, he refused to learn to read, but his mother worked patiently with him until one day a door opened that would change his life.
“I enjoy fantasy because it allows me to visit lands that have never existed, to see things that never could exist, to experience daring adventures with interesting characters, and most importantly, to feel the sense of magic in the world.”
That door was his first visit to the library. In his essay titled “Dragon Tales,” Paolini described going to the library with his mother and being attracted to a series of mystery books with colorful spines. He took one home and, according to Paolini, something clicked. He was spellbound by the characters, the dialogue, and the fascinating situations. “From then on,” wrote Paolini, “I’ve been in love with the written word.” He went on to devour books of all kinds—classics, myths, thrillers, science fiction, anything that seemed interesting. In particular, he was drawn to the fantasy genre and to writers who wrote tales about heroes and elves, swordfights and quests and, especially, dragons.
(Author information obtained from Encyclopedia of World Biographies. Retrieved from: http://www.notablebiographies.com/news/Ow-Sh/Paolini-Christopher.html).

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

Bibliographic Information: Paolini, Christopher. Eragon. Alfred A. Knopf, 2003. ISBN 9780375826689
Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Adapted into a movie.
Reading Level: Grades 5-12
Curriculum ties: Writing
Awards: 2004 – Texas Lone Star Reading List, 2005 – Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award, 2004 – Texas TAYSHAS High School Reading List, 2004 – Wyoming Soaring Eagle Book Award, 2006 – Illinois Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Award, 2005 – Tennessee Volunteer State Book Award, 2005 – Colorado Children’s Book Award, 2005- Book Sense Book of the Year, 2005 – Rhode Island Teen Book Award, 2005 – Kentucky Bluegrass Master List
Note: Volume 1 in the Inheritance cycle. Adapted into movie Eragon (2006).

Reader’s Annotation: A fifteen-year-old boy of named Eragon finds a mysterious stone that takes him on a magical journey filled with elves, monsters and magic.

Plot Summary: Eragon , a young  farm boy who lives with his uncle Garrow and cousin Roran in Carvahal, finds a blue stone while hunting in the dangerous mountains known as the Spine. A few days after returning home, he discovers the stone has hatched and a dragon is born. Eragon and the dragon instantly share a telepathic bond and he decides to name the dragon Saphira and raise it in secret. Little does Eragon know that the evil King Galbatorix is aware that a new dragon has been born and sends bug like creatures called Ra’zac to retrieve the dragon. Galbatorix plans to use the dragon to rebuild the legendary Dragon Riders, who were protectors of good, and now use them to destroy the rebels known as The Varden and control all of Alagaesia. With the help of Brom, the town drunk (and former Dragon Rider ), Eragon flees his village to protect his family and Saphira. Through their journey  they have to battle the Ra’zac, the boar like Urgals and Galbatorix’s possessed sorcerer Durza. As they travel, Brom teaches Eragon  the ways of the Dragon Riders and with the help of a stranger named Murtaugh and an Elf named Arya, whom they rescued from Galbatorix, they go in search of The Varden who are the only ones that can protect them.

Critical Evaluation: This book is the first of four books from the young author, Christopher Paolini, who wrote this book when he was 15 years old. It almost mirrors Star Wars in plot and execution. The young orphan looked after by his uncle, the old man who becomes his mentor, the possible revelation of family origin. I take it back…it is Star Wars. Eragon is Luke Skywalker, Brom is Obi-Won Kenobi, Galbatorix is The Emperor and Durza is Darth Vader. It doesn’t get much simpler than that. Either way, Eragon is a great read. It has everything that young adults want in a book and who better to write it than a young adult himself. It incorporates fantasy, epic battles involving elves, dwarves  and dragons, and let us not forget what every teen dreams of…romance. Ahhhh! It also encompasses heart ache(the death of Eragon’s uncle), sacrifice(Eragon leaving home) and responsibility(Eragon knowing he will have to fight Durza). The only difference between Eragon and Star Wars is Eragon uses swords and sorcery while Star Wars uses lightsabers and sorcery. In essence, Eragon is a book that can be read and interpreted by any generation no matter how old you are.

Booktalking Ideas:
1)What was Eragon’s life like before he found the dragon’s egg in the Spine? How
did his discovery of the egg change his life?
2) Discuss the importance of names in Christopher Paolini’s novels. How does it
affect Eragon to learn that his name was also the name of the first dragon rider?
How does he choose Saphira’s name?
3) Discuss the connection of magic to power in this story. Why does Eragon have to
learn the use of magic so slowly? Who are other characters that can use magic
and what are the limits on their magical powers?

Challenge Issues/ Defense:
Challenge Issues: Monsters, magic, violence.
Challenge defense ideas: Because many decisions in our society are made by the majority, protection of minority rights ensures that the ideas of smaller, less popular groups are not suppressed by the majority. In time, the majority may come to agree with these minority groups.

Why was this book included?: Groundbreaking fantasy book written by a teen.

Author Information: Author Christopher Paolini not only writes about fantasy, he lives it. When he was a mere fifteen years old, he penned a sweeping epic called Eragon, which was eventually discovered by a New York publisher—and by thousands of readers. In 2003 the book nestled comfortably on bestseller lists, and by 2004 a movie based on the magnificent tale of a boy and a brilliant blue dragon was poised to take flight. Paolini was also hard at work writing the second and third installments in the Inheritance trilogy. In a teenreads.com interview, the author and boy wonder promised fans that future books would include the same “breathtaking locations, thrilling battles, and searching introspection as Eragon—in addition to true love.”
In 1984, when Christopher Paolini was born, his mother, Talita, quit her job as a Montessori preschool teacher to devote her time to raising her new son. Montessori is a system of learning developed by Italian educator Maria Montessori (1870–1952); some of its features include a focus on individual instruction and an early development of writing skills. Talita used the Montessori method to teach Christopher at home, and two years later when sister Angela came along, she, too, became part of the Paolini classroom. Since some of the materials in a Montessori school are expensive, Talita experimented and came up with creative alternatives to inspire and educate her children. She was so successful that by the time Christopher, and later Angela, turned three years old, they were both comfortably working at a first-grade level.
When Christopher was old enough to attend public school, his parents were worried that he would be bored by a traditional curriculum, so they thought long and hard and decided to educate him at home. In fact, focusing on their children was such a top priority that the Paolinis made a deliberate choice to live simply, drawing small salaries from Kenneth Paolini’s home-based publishing company. In interviews Paolini has talked about the nurturing environment his parents created for him, and he credits them for being his inspiration. He has also admitted that he was not always a receptive student. A particularly interesting note is that Paolini was a reluctant reader. When he was about three or four, he refused to learn to read, but his mother worked patiently with him until one day a door opened that would change his life.
“I enjoy fantasy because it allows me to visit lands that have never existed, to see things that never could exist, to experience daring adventures with interesting characters, and most importantly, to feel the sense of magic in the world.”
That door was his first visit to the library. In his essay titled “Dragon Tales,” Paolini described going to the library with his mother and being attracted to a series of mystery books with colorful spines. He took one home and, according to Paolini, something clicked. He was spellbound by the characters, the dialogue, and the fascinating situations. “From then on,” wrote Paolini, “I’ve been in love with the written word.” He went on to devour books of all kinds—classics, myths, thrillers, science fiction, anything that seemed interesting. In particular, he was drawn to the fantasy genre and to writers who wrote tales about heroes and elves, swordfights and quests and, especially, dragons.
(Author information obtained from Encyclopedia of World Biographies. Retrieved from: http://www.notablebiographies.com/news/Ow-Sh/Paolini-Christopher.html).

The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot

Bibliographic Information: Cabot, Meg. The Princess Diaries. Harper Collins Publishers, 2000. ISBN 9780380978489.
Genre: Chick lit, Diary novels, Humorous stories, Love stories (Comedy), Made into a movie.
Reading Level: Grades 7-12
Curriculum ties: History, Writing, Princesses, Identity (Psychology), Diaries, Father and daughter, New York City, Grandmother and granddaughter.
Awards: YALSA Best Books for Young Adults: 2001, YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers: 2001, Volunteer State Book Award, 2003 Winner Grades 7-12 Vermont, Young Adults’ Choices, 2002 ; International Reading Association.
Note: Volume 1 of 13 in the “Princess” series. Made into a movie: Princess Diaries (2001), Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004).

Reader’s Annotation: Socially awkward fourteen year old Mia Thermopolis discovers that her father is the Prince of Genovia, and by association, giving her rights to the throne.

Plot Summary: A typical young fourteen year old, Mia Thermopolis faces all of the social awkwardness of being a teenager while living with her artist mom in New York city. Spending much of her time chronicling her life in her diary, nothing is off limits, She wants to pass algebra, she wants to grow breasts, and she wants Josh Richter, the most popular boy in school. All is normal until one day her father drops two bombshells on her simple life: he has Cancer and she is the heir to the throne of Genovia, a small European country. With this news, Mia is thrust into a royal bootcamp of sorts to teach her how a proper princess should look, act and speak taught by her powerful and intimidating grandmother Clarisse. Her once quiet life is now filled with limos, body guards, evening gowns and the paparazzi and she is finding it difficult to find a compromise between both lifestyles.

Critical Evaluation: What was interesting to me about the characters of this book was how they were so accepting of their unusual situations. First, Mia’s best friend friend Lily was really not bothered when it was revealed to her that her brother Michael and Lilly had romantic feelings for Mia. I think best friend’s brothers are off limits, it is a little strange. Next is the very amicable relationship Mia’s parents have. They each live their lives and come together as needed without any conflict or resentment. Grandma Clarisse accepts Mia for who she is and even though her outside appearances changed to fit the situation, Mia never really lost sight of who she was. Lastly, is how quickly Mia accepts her new role as Princess of Genovia. The decision process was fairly short and even though she was not sure at the beginning, clarity came to her rather quickly. The events, as they are described seem too good to be true.

Booktalking Ideas:
What would you do if you were in Mia’s shoes? Would you accept the throne? Why?
2) Discuss Mia’s relationship with her grandmother. Are there any similarities in the two personalities? 
3) Talk about the relationship Mia had with her mom, Lilly, and Michael. What roles did they play in Mia’s decision?
4) Lana was only pretending to be Mia’s friend to be in the spotlight. Have you had any similar experiences?
Challenge Issues/ Defense

Challenge Issues: none

Challenge Defense Ideas: There are no apparent challenge issues associated with this book. In the case that a challenge comes up, there are some things that you can do to start. You could read the book and become familiar with the content. Refer to the library collection development policy, and get reviews from reputable sources and teens that have read the book.

Why was this book included?: Every girl (even those young at heart) will enjoy living vicariously through Mia in this urban fairy tale.

Author Information: Author Meg Cabot is a one-woman marketing sensation. She is a publisher’s dream because she is able to produce novels with amazing frequency. At one point, Cabot, who began publishing in 1998, was pumping out a novel almost every month; by early 2006 she had published forty-four works of fiction. She is also a diverse writer who has found equal success in a multitude of genres, including historical romance, young adult fiction, and contemporary adult fiction. In 2000, however, Cabot hit the jackpot when she penned The Princess Diaries, a young adult novel that quickly caught on with readers primarily because the wryly humorous author was able to accurately capture “teen-speak.” In 2001, The Princess Diaries was adapted for the big screen by Disney and its popularity catapulted Cabot from writer to celebrity. In 2004, the movie The Princess Diaries 2 was released, which further followed the escapades of Mia, the Princess of Genovia. A few months prior, Cabot signed a seven-figure deal with her publisher, HarperCollins, to continue writing the Princess series and to build on her other young adult series. As Cabot told Teenreads.com, “I hope to write about [Mia] as long as people want to keep reading about her.”
(Author biography obtained from Encyclopedia of Notable Biogophies. Retrieved from: http://www.notablebiographies.com/news/A-Ca/Cabot-Meg.html)

Perks of Being a Wallflower by Steven Chbosky

Bibliographic Information: Chbosky, Stephen. The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Pocket Books: MTV Books c 1999. ISBN 9780671027346
Genre: Epistolary novels, Diary novels, Coming-of-age stories, Realistic fiction, Movie adaptation.
Reading Level: Grades 9-12
Curriculum ties: Writing, Child sexual abuse victims, Letter writing, High school students, Diaries
Awards: YALSA Best Books for Young Adults: 2000, YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers: 2000.
Note: The book is associated with MTV and there are talks of a movie in 2012 starring Emma Watson.

Reader’s Annotation: Charlie, a freshman in high school, documents his challenges of being a teenager in a series of letters to an unknown recipient.

Plot Summary:As Charlie begins his freshman year of high school, he is very confused and friendless, a result of his only friend Michael, committing suicide only the year before. Most people see 15-year-old Charlie is a freak, he has a unique way of thinking and acting, and you may spend a lot of time trying to work out what’s “wrong” with him. Little does everyone know, he is a sincere and sensitive boy who suffers from episodes of depression sparked by sexual abuse as a young child. It is because Charlie’s is a likable young man in situations is so real and blunt, that it appeals to the teen demographic. His quirkiness and the honesty is what draws you in to his story. As once troubled Charlie learns to live and love a repressed secret from his past threatens to destroy his newfound happiness.

Critical Evaluation:   One of the major concepts in this book is the role of social interaction in adolescent development. The protagonist, Charlie, is exposed to many social extremes such as communal drug use, depictions of sexuality; gay bashing (by a family member), and violence but the main trauma that Charlie struggles through surrounds his relationship with the aunt he looked up to and loved dearly. This experience, instilled in Charlie a relationship that those who love you will inevitably betray you and by doing so, everyone becomes a representation of his trauma. This repressed trauma resurfaced when Charlie found himself in a sexual encounter that he was not mentally equipped to handle. Along with Charlie’s personal trauma, he is also forced to cope with the loss of his best friend that committed suicide and witnessing his sister being the victim of domestic abuse. Chbosky believes that it is these experiences that are helping Charlie get better.

Booktalking Ideas:
There are string statements of homosexuality and abuse in Perks. Are they necessary to the plot or just commentary about Charlie’s life?
2) Discuss the pros and cons of anonymity Charlie has in how he chooses to share his story.  
3) What does the play The Rocky Horror Picture Show symbolize?
4) Discuss the format in which the book is written. Who is its intended audience?
Challenge Issues/ Defense:
Challenge Issues: Use of profane language, depictions of sexuality, promoting a homosexual agenda.
Challenge defense ideas:
• “Censorship is not a learning tool; censorship is a limitation.”
•Although this book is written at a fourth grade level, it is not recommended for students below ninth grade because of the topics discussed.
“Since our society is so diverse, libraries and bookstores have a responsibility to provide materials that reflect the interests of all of their patrons.”-ALA

Why was this book included?: It is a true exploration of what it means to be growing up in contemporary America.

Author Information: Stephen Chbosky was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on January 25, 1972, to Fred, a former CFO consultant, and Lea, a tax preparer, Chbosky. He grew up in Upper St. Clair, graduating from the local high school. He received his Bachelor of the Fine Arts degree from the University of Southern California’s filmic writing program in 1992.
Chbosky is a screenwriter, television writer, and stage writer. His first film, The Four Corners of Nowhere, which he wrote the screenplay for and also directed, premiered at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival, the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. The film won Narrative Feature honors at the Chicago Underground Film Festival. According to an All Movie Guide plot description written by Sandra Brennan, The Four Corners of Nowhere is a “humorous film [that] attempts to explain the nihilistic attitudes and terminal ennui of the X-generation.” The film follows the lives, relationships, and opinions of a group of twentysomethings living in Ann Arbor, Michigan. In addition to his honors for The Four Corners of Nowhere, Chbosky has been recognized for other films to which he contributed.
He is the recipient of the Abraham Polonsky Screenwriting Award for his screenplay Everything Divided. Chbosky wrote the screenplay for the film version of the popular stage play, Rent, and he was the co-editor and contributor to another stage play, Sexaholic. For his current project, Fingernails and Smooth Skin, the story of a young couple whose longtime relationship is threatened by their foibles and infidelities, Chbosky was a participant in the Sundance Institutes Filmmakers’ lab. Chbosky is the editor of Pieces: A Collection of New Voices, a collection of fictional short-stories, and he is also the author of a book for a musical, Kept.
(Author biography obtained by Pennsylvania center for the book.  Retrieved from: pabook.libraries.psu.edu/…/bios/Chbosky__Stephen.html.)