Witch and Wizard

Patterson, James. Witch and Wizard. Little, Brown and Company: 2009. ISBN: 978-0316036245.

Summary: Whit and Wisty Allgood are normal everyday teens. Whit is a football star and Mr. popularity. Wisty is trying to get through classes each day. Everything changes one night when the police storm into their house and arrest them. Accused of being a witch and a wizard, the two are carted off to prison. A new government has taken over with a leader who is called, "The One Who is the One." This new regime is outlawing normal teenage vices like music and artists and books. Whit and Wisty deny having any special abilities until Wisty accidentally makes fire. With only each other to rely on, the brother and sister manage to escape from prison and realize that a new world order has taken over and life will never be the same.

Evaluation:
This book was interesting and exciting, but not original. Fans of dystopian and science fiction will enjoy this book on a lazy summer day or during a snow storm. It seems to be a way for an adult author to cross over and cash in on the hot young adult paranormal market. As main characters, it is hard to relate to Whit and Wisty. Whit is Mr. popularity, an experience that most teens do not have. Wisty and her attitude are more believable. The brother-sister magic connection reminds me of The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel by Michael Scott. Which, incidentally is a much better read. So, unless you love James Patterson, skip this one.

Reader's Annotation:
People are not always what they seem.

Bibliotherapeutic Uses:
Teens can feel misunderstood and that everyone is against them. The teens in this book have that experience. Although, everyone is against them, they are confused and unprepared. Whit and Wisty lose their parents and have to take care of one another. They have their faults, but never stop trying.

Genre:
Dystopian, Science Fiction

Why I Included This Book:
Paranormal is so popular and becoming quite diverse. I wanted to sample some of the titles in this genre.

Unwind

Shusterman, Neal. Unwind. Simon & Schuster BFYR: New York, 2007. ISBN: 9781416912057.

Plot Summary:
The setting is sometime in the future after the Second Civil War. To end the war, a compromise was reached and the government outlawed abortion, but parents can choose to 'unwind' their child between the ages of 15 to 18. Unwinding is not killing; according to the law every part of the body is reused so the person lives on. Connor Lassitar accidentally learns that he is to be unwound. The day after he is scheduled to be taken to the harvest camp his parents and younger brother have planned a vacation to the Bahamas. Connor decides to go AWOL and try to escape his fate. Along the way Connor's destiny collides with Risa, a girl who was raised in a state home and plays the piano, and Lev a tithe. A tithe is a person who is conceived and raised for the soul purpose of being unwound as a gift to God. The path of these three characters cross and criss cross throughout the story with surprising results.

Evaluation:
This book is written from several different perspectives. There are no chapters, but the divisions are based specific characters. Each character's 'chapter' is written in third person. We don't hear what is going on in their head, but we get the action from their vantage point. This story brings up many philosophical thoughts about abortion, life, death and the soul. Neal Shusterman doesn't take a stand, but presents different sides of each subject. He is successful in promoting thoughtful insights into difficult topics. One question that futuristic novels bring up is, "can this really happen?" This question and many others will keep gnawing at the reader long after the book is finished. Readers who enjoy the Hunger Games Trilogy will be caught up in Connor's fight to live despite the governing laws of the land.

Reader's Annotation:
When does life begin, and when does it end, and who decides?

Bibliotherapeutic Uses:
Teens are searching for meaning and trying to understand the world we live in. This book will promote discussion about religion, medicine, life, death and many other meaningful topics that are important to adolescent development.

Genre:
Science Fiction/Dystopia

Why I Included This Book:
I read this book for a class presentation. This has been one of the best reads so far this year. I can't wait to use it for a teen book club.