The Age of Miracles tells the story of an 11 year old girl, who wakes up one day to learn (along with the rest of the world) that the Earth's Rotation is slowing and the effects that follow this discovery (lengthened days/nights, effects on gravity, social behavior, etc.). While the world around her is changing, Julia also must deal with the worries of Junior High and growing up. Includes such trials as best friends, training bras and finding love. While this book was very well written, it was still missing something. I kept waiting for the world to end, but I felt nothing major to the story line really ever evolved. By the time I finished the book I was disappointed to see how the book evolved and ended. Some will enjoy this book, but definitely not a book for the masses.
I pretty much agree with everything Stephanie wrote. The book (as Margaret observed) is better written than Life as We Knew It, but it's just as blah. I don't feel like it's so much a story with a beginning, middle, and end, as it is a descriptive piece on what life what be like if the world slowed down...or something. No one really does anything, no one attempts to address the end of the world, it just sort of happens, and it's unclear what point the author is trying to make. This is definitely not a book that our struggling readers will be motivated to read. I could also see it being a problem that the main character is 11, and many of her problems are "junior high" problems - she feels isolated because she doesn't shave her legs, wear a bra, or have a boyfriend. While I could see some girls enjoying the reminiscent aspects of it, I could see most of our boys and older students not caring at all about her problems. And, as I noted for Life as We Knew It, it's hard to be captivated by a protagonist who just goes with the flow and survives without really doing anything, especially when compared to Katniss in Hunger Games or June & Day in Legend.
The Age of Miracles tells the story of an 11 year old girl, who wakes up one day to learn (along with the rest of the world) that the Earth's Rotation is slowing and the effects that follow this discovery (lengthened days/nights, effects on gravity, social behavior, etc.). While the world around her is changing, Julia also must deal with the worries of Junior High and growing up. Includes such trials as best friends, training bras and finding love.
ReplyDeleteWhile this book was very well written, it was still missing something. I kept waiting for the world to end, but I felt nothing major to the story line really ever evolved. By the time I finished the book I was disappointed to see how the book evolved and ended. Some will enjoy this book, but definitely not a book for the masses.
I pretty much agree with everything Stephanie wrote. The book (as Margaret observed) is better written than Life as We Knew It, but it's just as blah. I don't feel like it's so much a story with a beginning, middle, and end, as it is a descriptive piece on what life what be like if the world slowed down...or something. No one really does anything, no one attempts to address the end of the world, it just sort of happens, and it's unclear what point the author is trying to make. This is definitely not a book that our struggling readers will be motivated to read. I could also see it being a problem that the main character is 11, and many of her problems are "junior high" problems - she feels isolated because she doesn't shave her legs, wear a bra, or have a boyfriend. While I could see some girls enjoying the reminiscent aspects of it, I could see most of our boys and older students not caring at all about her problems. And, as I noted for Life as We Knew It, it's hard to be captivated by a protagonist who just goes with the flow and survives without really doing anything, especially when compared to Katniss in Hunger Games or June & Day in Legend.
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