Tuesday, December 4, 2012
What We Saw at Night
One of the things I haven't had much time for since L was born is reading. The only time of the day during which I get to sit and relax is when I'm breastfeeding, and holding a gnawing baby with one hand and the book with the other seems almost feasible until you need to turn the page-- more on that later.
I've also been short quality reading material. When I taught 6th grade, I had a decent flow of literature in and out of my classroom. Second grade, on the other hand, doesn't lend itself to a secondary role as Book Club (unless you count Amber Brown, Junie B. Jones, and Captain Underpants).
Recently, though, I got a chance to preview Jacquelyn Mitchard's upcoming Young Adult Fiction title, What We Saw at Night. Having read most of her other books (if you haven't had a chance to read Theory of Relativity or Cage of Stars, you should add them to your library list. Or create a library list for the first time), I was expecting another gritty, heart-wrenching drama.
I was (pleasantly) surprised to find something completely different.
The story is told from the point-of-view of Allie Kim, a teenage girl who shares a rare genetic disorder known as XP (xeroderma pigmentosum, which is what many people mistakenly refer to as "being allergic to the sun") with her two best friends, Rob and Juliet. Since the three can't participate in the world of the "Daytimers," they create their own at night, having free reign of their sleepy town after 10 p.m. It's during one of their nightly Parkour traces that Allie finds herself witness to a crime.
The book itself is much like the main character (and teenage girls in general). The first few chapters struggle with over-dramatization and flowery language as the story establishes itself. Both Allie and the plot find their footing quickly, though, and the story develops into a more mature coming-of-age thriller.
Though I was frustrated by the cliffhanger ending, I was very impressed with the title as a whole. Mitchard wrote a faster-paced plot that appeals to young adult readers while still giving her main character enough depth to satisfy the more discerning audience. I plan to recommend the title to our high school libarian and may well purchase it for myself when it's released. Regardless, I'm looking forward to the sequel.
I've also been short quality reading material. When I taught 6th grade, I had a decent flow of literature in and out of my classroom. Second grade, on the other hand, doesn't lend itself to a secondary role as Book Club (unless you count Amber Brown, Junie B. Jones, and Captain Underpants).
Recently, though, I got a chance to preview Jacquelyn Mitchard's upcoming Young Adult Fiction title, What We Saw at Night. Having read most of her other books (if you haven't had a chance to read Theory of Relativity or Cage of Stars, you should add them to your library list. Or create a library list for the first time), I was expecting another gritty, heart-wrenching drama.
I was (pleasantly) surprised to find something completely different.
The story is told from the point-of-view of Allie Kim, a teenage girl who shares a rare genetic disorder known as XP (xeroderma pigmentosum, which is what many people mistakenly refer to as "being allergic to the sun") with her two best friends, Rob and Juliet. Since the three can't participate in the world of the "Daytimers," they create their own at night, having free reign of their sleepy town after 10 p.m. It's during one of their nightly Parkour traces that Allie finds herself witness to a crime.
The book itself is much like the main character (and teenage girls in general). The first few chapters struggle with over-dramatization and flowery language as the story establishes itself. Both Allie and the plot find their footing quickly, though, and the story develops into a more mature coming-of-age thriller.
Though I was frustrated by the cliffhanger ending, I was very impressed with the title as a whole. Mitchard wrote a faster-paced plot that appeals to young adult readers while still giving her main character enough depth to satisfy the more discerning audience. I plan to recommend the title to our high school libarian and may well purchase it for myself when it's released. Regardless, I'm looking forward to the sequel.
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