Treasure Island

For some reason I have had an aversion to 'children's classics'. Thus, Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer, and their ilk remain unread by me. However, I do like pirates, and so I decided to bite the bullet and check out Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson and I'm glad I did.

There's not much to say about the plot or the characterization. Most of the narrative is breathless action and vivid description surrounding a hunt for hidden treasure on a remote island. What made this so enjoyable for me is that I had no idea how much of our modern pirate image and idiom came from this tale. It's all here: Long John Silver, parrots on the shoulder, peg legs, the Jolly Roger, Davy Jones locker, Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum...... I can only imagine what a rollicking adventure this was for a young reader near the turn of the century and it's easy to see how this has stood the test of time.

Fat Kid Rules the World

One of the great things about having a girlfriend who is a librarian is the amount of Young Adult literature I've been able to read. As a whole, YA lit has come a long way in the past 20 or 30 years. When I was a teenager, there was Judy Blume for the girls and S.E. Hinton for the boys and it seemed like that was about it. Today, there are a multitude of choices for kids of every age, ethnicity, proclivity, and set of interests.

Fat Kid Rules the World by K.L. Going is one of the best books I've read for a long while, and that goes beyond its YA designation. The story is about Troy, a severely overweight teen who lives in New York City with his father and brother. His brother is everything Troy is not: popular, athletic, and outgoing. Into this black hole that his life has become enters Curt MacCrae, a lower-east side guitar legend and high school drop out. Curt is emaciated, troubled, and may or may not be on drugs. He and Troy strike up an odd friendship when Curt recruits Troy to play drums for his new band. Troy's complete and total inability to play doesn't deter Curt, and soon Troy begins to go through a transformation, as does Curt.

The character of Curt is clearly inspired by Kurt Cobain, and the writing on bands, music, and punk rock is very well done. The story is essentially about how two troubled individuals can overcome major obstacles through their belief in each other. While the summary may make it sound like a 'feel good' book, or something treacly, it isn't- the characters are handled with realism and in a mostly unsentimental way. The great thing about this book is that adults can enjoy the story as much as teens. I would recommend it for high school aged kids. There is some language and some situations that may raise questions, but that is never a bad thing.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time

This is a terrific book and it's hard to think of anyone who wouldn't enjoy it. Although it might technically be classified as a book for Young Adults, it is appropriate for anyone who enjoys great writing and wonderful characters. Author Mark Haddon apparently drew on his experience of working with autistic children in order to write this book.

Christopher John Francis Boone is a teenager with Asperger's Syndrome, which is a form of autism. Chris is in some ways a normal kid, but in others, his condition takes the forefront. An absolute whiz with numbers, Chris can't stand to be touched and can't let his foods touch each other. He intensely dislikes anything brown or yellow, and needs his routines to be just so.

Told from Chris' point of view, the book begins with the gruesome discovery of the neighbor's dead dog, lying in the yard with a pitchfork stuck through it. After being initially suspected, Chris decides to investigate for himself, and the book is supposed to be his record of his discoveries. In actuality, the book is about Chris, his beleaguered father (his mother having died suddenly previously), his assorted neighbors, teachers, and even his reactions to complete strangers. The chapters are numbered with prime numbers only, and Chris educates us all by including several illustrations and math problems.

The term 'heart-warming' is overused and can indicate that a book is uncomfortably close to melodrama or pathos, but it is applicable in this case. Having a protagonist who is maddening but perfectly honest is a rare and unusual feat, and Chris' story shines a light on the joys and challenges of real people who have similarities with this fictional character. A very unique reading experience.