Old School by Tobias Wolff

Old School is the Waukee community's Big Read book selection for 2009. Set in the 60s, it is the story of  a young man attending a prep school where literary prowess is held in high esteem. The school is to be visited by three world-renowned writers: Robert Frost, Ayn Rand and Ernest Hemingway. To win a one-on-one audience with an author, the students compete by submitting essays. Each author chooses one essay and meets that student. The competition is fierce, both for this event and for acceptance by peers; though reputations are made and lost in subtle ways. 

To what lengths will a person go to maintain social status or gain it? To what extent is deception acceptable? This book is a great read. 

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Even though the Twilight series is very popular right now, with a movie coming out soon, I can't resist making the first installment in the series, Twilight, a book- of -the month. A high school girl, Bella, moves from Phoenix to Forks, Washington to live with her dad, and meets an incredibly gorgeous guy. The two admit an attraction to each other, but there is an obstacle to their relationship; Edward is a vampire. Written from the point of view of Bella, I appreciated the authentic voice presented by her, full of teenage insecurites and emotional reactions. The storyline is intriguing and believable, once you accept the premise of vampires and their super-human abililties! I recommend it to readers of fantasy, teen themes, or anyone looking for a well-written book.

The Shawl by Cynthia Ozick

As you may already know, the city of Waukee recently participated in The Big Read - an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to encourage literary reading in American popular culture. The book chosen for all of us to read and discuss was The Shawl by Cynthia Ozick. Published in 1989, this slim volume actually consists of a short story and a novella.

The short story introduces the reader to Rosa, her baby daughter Magda and her fourteen-year-old niece, Stella as they attempt to survive in a Nazi death camp. The novella picks up their lives four decades later, with Rosa living in a tiny, bare apartment in Florida and Stella supporting her financially from New York. Rosa and Stella both attempt to cope with living in the aftermath of their horrific pasts the best they can.

This book stimulated some great discussion throughout the high school and the community. What would we have done in the situation? How would we cope? Ozick allows the reader a brief glimpse into the atrocities of the Holocaust, then drops us into the daily life of Rosa forty years later. We watch as she tries to survive in a world that has moved on from the past.
The language in this book is filled with metaphors. The subject can be difficult to digest, but it is a worthwhile read both for contemplation and discussion.

November Book-of-the-month

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult published in 2004 by Atria in New York.

Anna has been conceived by her parents specifically to be a bone marrow match for Kate, her sister who has a rare form of leukemia. From this premise we meet Anna at thirteen when she hires a lawyer to sue her parents for control of her own body. Imagine the ramifications!
I put off reading this book because I had heard the premise, and thought it would be another "medical" or "courtroom" drama book. Though it has elements of both, it is really the story of intense personal drama for members of the Fitzgerald family. The way everything about this family and what they do is colored by Kate's illness creates a unique dysfunctional family.
Each chapter is narrated by one or another member of the family - dad Brian, Mom Sara, brother Jesse, Kate and Anna or Campbell Alexander, the attorney, or Julia, the court-appointed guardian. Each has a unique point of view and an interesting and highly personal motivation for doing what they do and reacting the way they do. The way Picoult allows us to delve into these characters' thoughts without revealing too much keeps the reader interested and involved in the story. You will find yourself understanding of each of the characters' motivations, even if you don't agree. The older brother, Jesse's situation is especially heartbreaking, as he feels invisible in the family, being neither sick nor a possible cure for the sickness.
I highly recommend this book - it's very readable, and the ending will probably take you by surprise I know it did me!!