Dr. Franklin's Island, by Ann Halam

Dr. Franklin’s Island

by Ann Halam

Dell Laurel-Leaf, New York 2002

Genetic engineering makes some people nervous. What really happens when you alter the DNA of plants and animals? Is that tomato, altered to be extra red and juicy, safe to eat? How about a cow injected with growth hormones so she can produce more milk – is her milk safe to drink? That’s just the beginning. What about cloning body parts or people, or combining the DNA of two different animals to create a new animal?

Of course there are rules about how far scientists can ethically go in their genetic manipulations. Unfortunately for Semi, Miranda, and Arnie, Dr. Franklin doesn’t follow those rules. The three Planet Savers contest winners are the only survivors of a horrific plane crash off the coast of Dr. Franklin’s island. No one knows where they are, no one even thinks they could still be alive. Dr. Franklin can do whatever he wants to them. And he does.

Bottom Line:

The way-out-there scientific possibilities gave me the heebie-jeebies;  be prepared to think about this one for a while after you read it.

Feed, by M.T. Anderson

Feed, by M.T. Anderson

Candlewick Press, Cambridge, MA 2002

Imagine if, just by thinking of a topic or question, you had immediate access (in your mind) to all of the information on Google, Facebook, every database, encyclopedia, and book, all movies and songs, EVERYTHING. In M.T. Anderson’s imagined future, human beings are outfitted at a young age with the Feed, which provides a constant stream of data and adapts itself to individual likes and dislikes, emotions, and demographic information. If Titus likes a shirt his friend is wearing, the Feed immediately sends him information about where to buy it and how much it costs. If he feels nervous, an advertisement for deodorant flashes through the Feed. He can chat with friends in his mind rather than having to talk out loud, and watch his favorite shows in his mind anytime, anywhere. The only thing he learns at SchoolÔ is how to use the Feed. Then Titus meets Violet, a girl who questions the things he’s always accepted.

A terrifying future, for sure, but one that is totally out of the realm of possibilities, right? Maybe not. Check out this article from Time Magazine, 2045: The Year Man Becomes Immortal. M.T. Anderson’s story may be more predication than fiction.

Bottom Line:

Information overload to the extreme; disturbing; future slang takes time to get used to.

What I Saw and How I Lied, by Judy Blundell

What I Saw and How I Lied
by Judy Blundell
Scholastic Press, New York 2008

It’s just a matter of what you're willing to do. (p. 252)

World War II is over, Evie’s stepfather is back home, and her mother is still the prettiest woman in the room. Everything is back to normal. But a family vacation to Palm Beach unearths secrets that force Evie to question the people she’s trusted the most.

War, money, lies, love, hate, heat, growing up, losing faith - Reading this book felt like riding a roller coaster. Tick… tick… tick… to the tippity-top, the anticipation was killing me, and I knew that everything had to come crashing down sometime... and it certainly did.

Botton Line:
First love, first betrayal, set some time aside b/c you won't be able to put this one down.