The Giver by Lois Lowry

why: Every time someone mentions this book, I wonder why I haven't read it yet.

when: December 2013 (I've been ignoring updating this blog, so I don't have the exact dates--but it only took me three days maybe.)

how: as an ebook on my iPad

thoughts: Great book. I can see why it is so loved by so many. I bought it for my kid for Christmas--her first dystopian novel. She hasn't read it yet. She would have if it were in graphic novel format...

Click on the book image to get to the wikipedia entry for the book.

review haiku:
our world but messed up
dystopias freak me out
a few steps away

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

why: I picked this up for my daughter and I to read together as our second book club book. She loves animals and she's an artist, so I thought a gorilla who paints would grab her attention.

when: start 5/21/13 end 5/24/13

how: as an ebook on my ipad (purchased through the website of my local independent book seller of course!)

thoughts: I loved this book. I cried at the end, tears of joy for Ivan and Ruby and Bob and Julia. I love that this was inspired by an actual gorilla who spent over 20 years of his life living at a shopping mall. There wasn't an elephant in the real gorilla's life like there is in the book, but the real gorilla did paint like Ivan does. This book is about friendship and the ethical treatment of animals and imagining the mental and emotional worlds of animals and the role of art in creating empathy for the experiences of others. I loved it. This book won the Newbery Medal for 2013, by the way.

Click on the book image to go to the book's official website.

review haiku:
Ivan and Ruby
captive in a shopping mall
art sets them free