Flowers For Algernon

AUTHOR: Joseph Wurtenbaugh
PUBLISHER: Mariner Books
PUBLICATION DATE: May 1, 2005 (first published 1966)
PAGES: 311
SYNOPSIS FROM GOODREADS:
The story of a mentally disabled man whose experimental quest for intelligence mirrors that of Algernon, an extraordinary lab mouse. In diary entries, Charlie tells how a brain operation increases his IQ and changes his life. As the experimental procedure takes effect, Charlie's intelligence expands until it surpasses that of the doctors who engineered his metamorphosis. The experiment seems to be a scientific breakthrough of paramount importance--until Algernon begins his sudden, unexpected deterioration. Will the same happen to Charlie?

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MY RATING: Flowers For Algernon is undeniably one of the saddest or heart-wrenching novel I've read so far. There are numerous times that some parts of this book that made me teary eyed, especially on how Charlie was maltreated by his own mother and younger sister, and by his colleagues in the bakery. This novel was first published on the late 50's, thus the people narrated during that time treated people with down syndrome differently. I cannot say that those who had this genetic disorder nowadays no longer experienced discrimination or maltreatment, but perhaps people are more considerate and open-minded now because of the massive information that we can access regarding this. If you're not into reading sad novels, then you should skip this one. However, don't fail to read this if you can handle distressing stories such as this.

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Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech

AUTHOR:  Sharon Creech
PUBLISHER: HarperCollins
PUBLICATION DATE: September 23, 2008
PAGES: 160
SYNOPSIS FROM GOODREADS:

Jack
Room 204—Miss Stretchberry
February 25
Today the fat black cat
up in the tree by the bus stop
dropped a nut on my head
thunk
and when I yelled at it
that fat black cat said
Murr-mee-urrr
in a
nasty
spiteful
way.
I hate that cat.
This is the story of
Jack
words
sounds
silence
teacher
and cat.

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MY RATING: It's funny that both the cat and Jack hates each other. But because of the kitten that Jack adopted, they had a civil relationship in end. I enjoyed reading this book but I still prefer the Love That Dog than this.

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Love That Dog by Sharon Creech

AUTHOR:  Sharon Creech
PUBLISHER: HarperCollins
PUBLICATION DATE: April 8, 2008
PAGES: 112
SYNOPSIS FROM GOODREADS:

"I guess it does
look like a poem
when you see it
typed up
like that."

Jack hates poetry. Only girls write it and every time he tries to, his brain feels empty. But his teacher, Ms. Stretchberry, won't stop giving her class poetry assignments -- and Jack can't avoid them. But then something amazing happens. The more he writes, the more he learns he does have something to say.

 

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MY RATING: I like how Jack and his dad adopt a dog from a shelter/dog pound. Jack and his dog both had a great time together. It's really heartbreaking when his dog died and Jack no longer wants to have another pet because of the trauma he got from losing one. The short and bittersweet poem he wrote in the end is like a memorial for his dog.

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Cimarron Girl by Mike Blanc

SYNOPSIS from Goodreads:

The story is a fictional recollection of young Abigail’s experiences on the family’s Oklahoma prairie farm. Located in Cimarron, the heart of the Dust Bowl, Abby’s first-person account chronicles key episodes each year as the depth of the drought unfolds. As she grows, personal perspectives are woven from actual events. Readers experience the challenges, sacrifices, and dreams of farmers, whose story of loss was echoed by the millions. The Brubakers struggle to hold their family farm, face harsh realities, and hope for a new start in California. A journey across the southwest over legendary Route 66 carries adventure, a chance meeting, and peels back several layers of the Great Migration.

Cimarron Girl, The Dust Bowl Years of Abigail Brubaker, reflects Dust Bowl history, but moreover, it’s a story about family. When challenges are faced, virtues are to be lived. Courage, fortitude, and kindness are underlying themes at the soft heart of Cimarron Girl.

Net profits from Cimarron Girl, The Dust Bowl Years of Abigail Brubaker, will support the Oak Clinic for Multiple Sclerosis. Oak Clinic’s singular mission is to treat and empower individuals and families living with multiple sclerosis, regardless of their ability to pay.

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MY RATING: ★★★★ I admit that before reading this, I don't know anything about the history of the great depression in the 1930's onward in America. This novel is a good read because it recounts the story of the infamous drought, dust storms and depression. Even though the story is a little bit short, the intensity of those catastrophes through the eyes of a little girl could still be felt by the readers. Probably because young readers is the target audience of this book, the story is quite short. That's the only complaint I have on this. But overall, children will love this book because of the illustrations and the plot of the story.

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