ENGL552-81Spring2009BookReviewsRound2of3.doc

ENGL 552-81, Spring 2009, Book Reviews, Round 2 of 3Title: The Great Train RobberyAuthor: Michael CrichtonImprint: Avon Books – Publisher: HarperCollinsCopyright: 1975Plot: Edward Piecrce is determined to pull off the biggest bank heist/train robbery in Englands history. Based on a true story, this fiction work follows Edward Pierce throughout Victorian England as methodically ingratiates himself with the upper crust of society in order to attain all the information he needs to mastermind his ultimate crime; stealing gold on its way to soldiers in the Crimean War. Pierces charm and unassuming nature hide an astute criminal mind. He is a patient mastermind, painstakingly assembling fellow felons and unwitting accomplices from screwsmen and soaks, to dippers and snakesmen, and waiting patiently to strike at just the right moment. Key Issues: This book touches on what life in Victorian times in London was like. There are no real emotional growth issues, or relationship issues. Its based on a true story of a criminal and his cronies; however, there can be something gleaned from the role of women vs. men of the time.Warnings: This book does kind of highlight some ways crimes can be planned. Victorian London was not always nice and genteel - bars, dog fighting pits, brothels and prostitutes are all mentioned. With the exception of some graphic descriptions of training, baiting and fighting dogs, none of the above subjects is written about in any great detail - they simply were part of the life of London at the time. There are no explicit sexual scenes, but there is one brief part that is a bit graphic about VD and the belief at the time that a cure for a man suffering from an STD could be cured by having sex with a virgin. Audience: This book is geared more for 10-12th grade. In fact, I started reading it because a 10th grader I tutor was reading it for his English II class. Mature audiences (those who wont snicker at the notions of drunks, mistresses, and criminals) are a requirement. Teaching Ideas: This is a great book to use in conjunction with a History/Global Studies class. Although its a historical fiction book - several true facts of the life and times of 1840s England are highlighted and the excerpts from the real trial of the crime are used. One idea would be to have students choose a character and write journal/diary entries as the chapters, days, years go by. Another idea would be to act out the trial of Edward Pierce and his cronies A creative writing project describing the lives of the characters after the book ends would be fun.Title: Soldier BoysAuthor: Dean HughesPublisher/Imprint: Simon PulseCopyright Date: 2001Plot: At age ten, Dieter Hedrick looks up his Nazi Youth leaders; he wants to be strong and brave like them. At age fifteen, he becomes the leader of a youth battalion charged with building a section of the Luxembourg “Westwall” to protect Germany from the Allied advance. When the wall is finished, Dieter gets himself assigned to one of the regular units fighting in France. At fifteen, Spencer Morgan wants to be a hero like the soldiers who come home on leave to his small Utah town. He especially likes the look of the paratrooper uniforms; the paratroopers are the bravest. His only fear is that the war will end before he is old enough to join. At sixteen, Spencer drops out of high school and convinces his father to sign the form allowing him to enlist. He soon is on his way to paratrooper training in Georgia. After training, Spencer’s unit goes to France to reinforce the Allies following the D-Day invasion of Europe. Both Spence and Dieter begin to understand the true nature of war as they advance with their units through the Ardennes forest during the Battle of the Bulge. But Dieter still embraces Nazi ideology and wonders why his sergeant questions their purpose, telling Dieter, “There is something wrong with German boys like us.” Dieter is troubled by this attitude and believes it could cost them the war. Finally, both soldier boys’ armies are caught in heavy fighting with one another. At the end of the battle, Spencer sees Dieter, wounded and calling for help. Spencer worries that Dieter will bleed to death on the field, so he eventually decides to help him, sneaking past his units sentries. However, the next morning, Dieter wakes up to the sound of German voices. He asks what happened to the young American soldier who tried to help him. A German tell him that they shot the American for trying to take him prisoner. Dieters view of the world changes when he realizes that someone who is supposed to be his enemy risked himself to save him. He vows never to forget it. Key Issues: The key issues are idealism/ideology, war, faith, innocence vs. experience, death, and sacrifice. Warnings: There is no profanity. But the maturity of the reader should be considered because the subject matter deals with war and death. A。