Ritualo's Reviews

  B ibliography:  Sepetys, R. (2022). I Must Betray You . Philomel Books. ISBN: 978-1-9848-3603-8 Plot Summary: Taking place in Romania during the Cold War the story follows Cristian, a young man who aspires to be a writer. But his country has other plans. Out of necessity and against his better judgment, Cristian agrees to inform the government about the Van Dorns, a family his mother works for. Despite being a government informant, Cristian partakes in many anti-communist activities that will eventually get him into trouble.  Critical Analysis: The book begins with a great use of imagery:"They lived in darkness. Breathing shadows. Hands plunged deep within their pockets, hiding frozen fingers balled into fists (xi)." "A lie is like a snowball. IT rolls, becomes bigger, heavier, and eventually, it's difficult to lift (115). This use of language flows throughout the text and keeps the reader thoroughly engaged. The vocabulary is appropriate for a young adult reader, ...

  Bibliography:  Medina, M. (2016). Burn Baby Burn . Candlewick Press. ISBN: 978-0-7636-7467-0 Plot Summary: The story takes place in New York during the 1970's. The protagonist, Nora, is a young Hispanic woman facing many challenges: a dysfunctional family, tense relationships and the fear of the "Son of Sam" serial killer. As she finishes high school Nora faces issues of identity and racism, but finds strength through her growing romance with Pablo. Nora has important decisions to make about her future, and the background of her story makes her life even more complex.  Critical Analysis: Though many references and events to the Son of Sam serial killer are clearly fictional, they help to enhance the story's mood. What is accurate,  is the impact the murders had on New York City. But these only serve as a backdrop to Nora's struggle, which is the main focus of the book. The story is told in first person, through Nora, who speaks as an average young adult would . ...

  Bibliography:  Zusak, M. (2006). The Book Thief . Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN: 9-780375-831003 Plot Summary: Just before World War II ,  on a train ride with her mother and brother, Liesl loses her brother.  At the end of the ride, her mother leaves her with a foster family as she can no longer care for her.  This is when the book stealing starts. Often, it is the books that save her and keep her moving forward. Then she meets Rudy, a boy her age from school, and they begin stealing more than books. She soon learns that her foster parents, who she has grown to love, have a secret that she must help hide. Through all this, Death seems to follow her everywhere she goes, but somehow she survives.  Critical Analysis:  The story is narrated by Death, who is privy to all of the events of Liesl's life as he does seem to follow her. He takes almost everyone she loves.  The use of foreshadowing throughout the book is well done. When Death speaks of Hans' pendi...

Bibliography:  Reynolds, J., & Kiely, B. (2015). All American Boys . Atheneum Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 978-1-4814-6333-1 Plot Summary: On his way to a party, Rashad, a young black man, stops at a corner store. The events that occurred during this simple errand lead to a store owner falsely accusing him of stealing.  A cop, who happened to be in the store, arrests and severely beats Rashad. Quinn, a young white man who happens to be headed to the same store, witnesses the beating, but runs away before he can be questioned. The story, told in first person by both characters in alternating chapters, follows the boys as they both struggle with issues of racism from different perspectives. In the end, they both learn that change doesn't just happen, but must be initiated by fighting for it. Critical Analysis:  The authors do an excellent job of using youth vernacular without being condescending or cliche. Even if the reader is unfamiliar with such terminology, the me...

Bibliography:  Carter, A. (2007). Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy . Hyperion. ISBN: 978-142310005-8 Plot Summary: Cammie goes to an all-girls school...for spies.  In this, the second book of the series, she is facing a recent breakup with a boyfriend she was forced to give up, Cammie just wants a regular school year. But her school is anything but normal, which means the year will be full of trainings, adventures and security breaches. On top of all this, boys are introduced to the school, which makes everything more complicated. Cammie learns more about her self and her school as the year progresses.  Critical Analysis:  For an adventure story, Carter does a great job of creating suspense at the end of nearly every chapter which makes the reader want to keep reading.  It is told through first person narrative by Cammie, a CIA legacy, who frequently breaks the fourth wall and addresses the reader directly.  Carter also does a good job of making Cammie r...

  Bibliography:  Stone, N. (2017). Dear Martin . Crown Books for Young Readers. ISBN:978-1-101-93949-9 Plot Summary: Justyce is a high school senior caught between two worlds. The fact that he is at the top of his class and headed for an Ivy League school doesn't matter to the cop who arrests him as a result of racial profiling.  Societal pressures make it hard for him to find his place: as a black student in a mostly white school he doesn't feel he fits, and the fact that he is headed for college and career results in the other black kids in his neigborhood calling him a sellout. He tries to address these issues by journaling, addressing his thoughts to Martin Luther King.  But when his best friend is killed by an off-duty cop, he becomes even more conflicted.  Add in to this his feelings for a white girl at school, and it result in a serious search for identity and self.  Critical Analysis: The story is told third person, through the eyes of the protagoni...