Teen Book Review: Our two GHS senior interns, Andrew and Will, have written up some book reviews that YA readers might find interesting, especially with summer reading coming up.
First review is Will’s take on John Steinbeck’s Of Mice And Men.
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck is a beautiful novel that everyone should read, especially at the young adult level. This novel paints a remarkably accurate picture of the state of the United States during the Great Depression of the late 1930s. George and Lennie, the two main characters, do everything they can in order to earn strenuous, low-paying jobs. The two fall perfectly within the “American Dream” ideals, dreaming of owning a farm in the hills with no worries, free time, and a happy lifestyle. Steinbeck does an exemplary job of setting the scene without relying on direct characterization. He lets the reader make inferences based on the actions and thoughts of the characters in the novel, allowing the reader to be enveloped in the story rather than swamping the reader with stale descriptions.
After finding work, protagonists George and Lennie are treated cruelly, experience extreme emotional turmoil and are given low pay. All of these hardships were faced by Americans throughout the years leading up to the second world war. Steinbeck’s use of realistic themes gives readers more insight into the growing pains the United States and its citizens were enduring. This is incredibly important for modern-day readers, young adults especially, as it allows one to understand an individual’s day-to-day points of view, needs, dreams, and life situations rather ran a textbook overview of an entire time period.
All in all, Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck is an essential book for readers today. Steinbeck’s ability to capture moments in a fictional novel that may have paralleled realistic events is one that has yet to be replicated in this format. This novel is an easily accessible, short-yet-sweet window into the past. This book is a must-read!
Next, Andrew discusses William Golding’s Lord of the Flies.
The story is about a group of innocent boys who survived a plane crash and become stranded on an island with no hope of contacting or meeting civilization. In addition, war has seemingly broken out. The boys, knowing that they can do whatever they want without any adult supervision decided to form their own society where one of them becomes in charge of the others and plans for everybody to survive together. The outcome of this forms into complete chaos where fires are started, fights are being fought, hostility and the idea of killing are bought in, and they have nobody but themselves to look after for.
Innocence is turned into a man’s darkest dream as the boy’s society and its rules don’t always hold. The little ones in the group are all afraid of each other and they have the right to be because almost everybody couldn’t be trusted and the ones who only wanted power are in conflict with those that try to preserve peace. Compelling from start to finish, Lord of the Flies is definitely recommended!
Greenwich Library is a place for teens in grades 6-12 to find and read books that reflect themselves and their experiences, get college or job ready, tinker with emerging technologies, and ace their next test. Plus, monthly programs and workshops allow teens to develop their skill sets, dive into new hobbies, and make friends with others in the community. Learn more about offerings for Teens at greenwichlibrary.org/teens.
Get the latest about the Library’s Teens’ events and offerings sent to your email: greenwichlibrary.org/enews.
Questions? Contact:
Amy, Teen Librarian
(203) 625-6549
alaughlin@greenwichlibrary.org