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Science Fiction. Science Fiction & Fantasy. Young Adult Fiction. Young Adult Literature. HTML: A 2014 Michael L. Printz Honor Book! In Sally Gardner's stunning novel, set in a ruthless regime, an unlikely teenager risks all to expose the truth about a heralded moon landing. What if the football hadn't gone over the wall. On the other side of the wall there is a dark secret. And the devil. And the Moon Man. And the Motherland doesn't want anyone to know. But Standish Treadwell�??who has different-colored eyes, who can't read, can't write, Standish Treadwell isn't bright�??sees things differently than the rest of the "train-track thinkers." So when Standish and his only friend and neighbor, Hector, make their way to the other side of the wall, they see what the Motherland has been hiding. And it's big...One hundred very short chapters, told in an utterly original first-person voice, propel readers through a narrative that is by turns gripping and darkly humorous, bleak and chilling, tender and transporting… (more)
User reviews
* A really unusual story, dystopian, but set in the past rather than the future.
* Wonderful, well written central character. Our narrator, Standish Treadwell is a dyslexic teenager, who finds himself standing up to the tyrannical authorities. He's an unusual hero... thank goodness!
* Simply
* It's a tense, exciting and thought provoking look at friendship and family, deciding what you believe in and defending it in extreme circumstances.
MINUS -
* It's pretty violent, and has some bad language in places. It's only ever in context and entirely relevant to the story but some people might find that an issue. Be aware if you're thinking of buying it for younger children.
OVERALL -
* Totally original and highly recommended. A fantastic read for anyone ages 13+.
The government is headed by a man with a bad haircut- citizens salute with a straight arm. A dark story- great main character.
The Motherland is about to show the rest of the world their supremacy by broadcasting the first ever manned landing on the moon. However, Standish discovers this is a hoax and is determined to show this to the world.
The reader follows the story as the life cycle of a fly is illustrated on the pages in a flip page format.
With so many bizarre things going on it was a little perplexing in the beginning trying to sort out the wheres and hows but just following along gets the reader the gist of the story.
I put this book off for as long as possible (as well as A Boy and a Bear in a Boat), due to the cover appearing childish; and was not surprised to find the book's two main characters were younger teenaged boys. This book was clearly not aimed at me; and unlike Midwinterblood, could only be enjoyed by the one whom it was aimed at. Thus, I did not enjoy this book as much as I could have.
Having said this, the description and speech was sound - although the tiny chapters, often shorter than a page, were annoying and encouraged skim reading.
The setting was also engaging, as we never quite find out what happened for such a society to come about in the 50's. It seems to be something of a dystopian alternate universe, showing strange similarities to Nazi Germany, leading me to believe the society was born through the Germans winning the war, or something equally different to reality. One decision really can change the world. I believe had the main characters not been who they are, I would have enjoyed the story a lot more.
This book places a solid last on my list of carnegie books 2013 I want to win.
The book was incredibly moving and sad and I actually found myself wondering if this was taking place in the past or the future for a lot of it. Eventually I think I figured it out.
The book was incredibly moving and sad and I actually found myself wondering if this was taking place in the past or the future for a lot of it. Eventually I think I figured it out.
The book was incredibly moving and sad and I actually found myself wondering if this was taking place in the past or the future for a lot of it. Eventually I think I figured it out.
The book was incredibly moving and sad and I actually found myself wondering if this was taking place in the past or the future for a lot of it. Eventually I think I figured it out.
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OMG. ?�Brilliant. ?áThe drawings themselves are a brilliant metaphor for the story itself, even though they appear on the page as 'decorations.'
I wouldn't be surprised
Read it yourself before giving it to a child under 10, and if you notice they've chosen it themselves, get your own copy to read. ?á(But don't censor!)
If you or your child loves this, be sure to check out Sonya Hartnett. ?áEven her books that look like they're for little kids are intense, so investigate them all.
I am still working through Hartnett oeuvre, and will also look for more by Gardner.
A dark tale of brave deeds, suffering and sacrifice. 2013 Carnegie Medal winner.
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823.92 |