The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

       Metaphors ... personification...... figurative language, Markus Zusak makes art out of words and he uses his style to give a bittersweet and unusual twist to the telling of The Book Thief.
       The narrator's voice will surprise and intrigue; it will strike fear in the heart, but as the reader accepts the voice it will slowly seduce and intoxicate as it pours into the mind.
       Set in Germany in the midst of human betrayal, the most unusual friendships are born.  Bonds of love solidify relationships woven between the most unlikely of subjects.  And, friendship gives birth to hope; and hope gives birth to bravery; and bravery saves lives.
       Zusak pulls the reader into a puzzle made of pieces of rythmic poetry and colorful events.  He uses the most unlikely narrator to capture the reader's sense of mystery and horror.  Yet, when the horror dissipates the reader is clearly aware of the absolute logic in the argument at the end of this tale; the reader accepts the entire cycle of life and moves on.

Thank you to my English 103 student, Berkley, who suggested this book.

Don't Let Me Go by Catherine Ryan Hyde

     Don't Let Me Go tugs on the heart strings with wonder; it creates smile after unexpected smile.  Catherine Ryan Hyde brings the story of drug addiction and its impact on a girl child to our eyes in a warm pool of love, determination, trust, and commitment.
     The story takes place in a small insignificant apartment building lost in the invisibility of marginal poverty.  Hyde gives us the haunting yet exhilarating voice of a brave young girl and the voice of an insecure and once popular dancing stage performer who lost his nerve and freedom to wonder the world.
     The "normalizing" of abandonment and isolation of persons in poverty is turned on its face by Hyde.  She places the reader in the hallway of closed doors and bangs on them with vigor as she captures the mind of a young girl teetering between the lightheartedness of childhood and the maturity that buffers her as she faces harsh and possibly emotionally damaging circumstances.
    Hyde creatively pours words into the cold compartmentalized environment and leaves in their wake a pulsing warmth that stays with the reader for the entire story. 
    The cast of characters in the apartment complex rise above and beyond expectations as they confront their own demons in order to save a young woman from what could be a dangerous future.  They build trust, friendship, and love as they make commitments and bond over a promise to keep her "safe."

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

     The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, is a book of a young boy's sudden plunge into reality.  He is challenged by emotional trauma and the reader is confronted by a child's innocent depression and result of post traumatic stress.
     The love of his life; the woman who gave him meaning dies a tragic death.  And, the trauma has a ripple effect throughout Theo's life.  In his opinion, he has no father, and he is all alone in the world.  On the way to foster care, Theo is "saved" by a wealthy family and he makes relationships that, in some respects, soothe his wounds, but also they create longings that are not necessarily achievable.
     As Theo story continues, the sadness in his soul reflects in a controlled desperation that drives his human connections.  He is "adopted" by a someone eccentric antique furniture artist.  He gives his heart in secret to a young woman who has ideas of her own.  Over time, he encounters his father and makes attempts at a new family.
     Crime and drugs enter his story as he struggles to stay safe; his honesty is challenged.  Along the way he plays with the idea of marriage.  He wants to create family.  As his story culminates, Theo experiences many human challenges; he experiences highs and lows; and he reaches out for understanding.