An inventive take on an old idea that is still relevant today.
An invention meant to enlighten becomes a destructive force in Landshield's two-part debut novel.
In part I, set in the era preceding the French Revolution, a skilled inventor and showman decides to move his creations beyond parlor games and build a robotic man. Kempelen’s belief is that interacting with this automaton, created in the image of a "perfect" human being, will inspire his countrymen to expand their thinking beyond the conventional. With the help of a wealthy aristocrat, he develops Gaston, a mechanical man in the image of an idealized person. Gaston captures the attention of the French aristocracy, and eventually word of him spreads throughout the country. The automaton eventually gains independent thought, although he is still easily swayed by the beliefs of others. When Maximilien Robespierre discovers Gaston's capabilities, to Kempelen’s dismay, the robot becomes a tool in Robespierre's “Reign of Terror.” Part II, set in the twentieth century, finds the long-hidden Gaston unearthed by a group of clerics who believe that he is divine, providing them with a direct link to God. A willful teenage hippie finds Gaston and brings him into the public eye, believing that he will inspire her generation. As more people realize Gaston’s abilities, he becomes entangled in a tug-of-war between various groups who wish to control him to bring about their own version of “enlightenment.” Once again, however, others’ attempts to manipulate Gaston lead him to a violent path. This novel’s themes of humans’ ability to control their creations has been explored in many other stories; however, the two time periods—1700s France and late-twentieth century America—give them a new spin. The first half also draws some interesting comparisons between the fictional Gaston and Robespierre, smoothly blending the historical facts of the time period with the elements of the novel. The second half is the weaker of the two, as some of the themes from the first half are reiterated and Gaston’s actions are repeated; additionally, while the first half has a number of sympathetic characters, those in the second half are largely unlikeable. Still, the final pages of the book offers some unexpected twists that will reward readers who stayed to the end.
Pub Date: Aug. 10, 2013
ISBN: 978-1491202135
Page Count: 374
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: Nov. 6, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
In more ways than one, a tale about young creatures testing their wings; a moving, entertaining winner.
A fifth-grade New Orleans girl discovers a mysterious chrysalis containing an unexpected creature in this middle-grade novel.
Jacquelyn Marie Johnson, called Jackie, is a 10-year-old African-American girl, the second oldest and the only girl of six siblings. She’s responsible, smart, and enjoys being in charge; she likes “paper dolls and long division and imagining things she had never seen.” Normally, Jackie has no trouble obeying her strict but loving parents. But when her potted snapdragon acquires a peculiar egg or maybe a chrysalis (she dubs it a chrysalegg), Jackie’s strong desire to protect it runs up against her mother’s rule against plants in the house. Jackie doesn’t exactly mean to lie, but she tells her mother she needs to keep the snapdragon in her room for a science project and gets permission. Jackie draws the chrysalegg daily, waiting for something to happen as it gets larger. When the amazing creature inside breaks free, Jackie is more determined than ever to protect it, but this leads her further into secrets and lies. The results when her parents find out are painful, and resolving the problem will take courage, honesty, and trust. Dumas (Jaden Toussaint, the Greatest: Episode 5, 2017, etc.) presents a very likable character in Jackie. At 10, she’s young enough to enjoy playing with paper dolls but has a maturity that even older kids can lack. She’s resourceful, as when she wants to measure a red spot on the chrysalegg; lacking calipers, she fashions one from her hairpin. Jackie’s inward struggle about what to obey—her dearest wishes or the parents she loves—is one many readers will understand. The book complicates this question by making Jackie’s parents, especially her mother, strict (as one might expect to keep order in a large family) but undeniably loving and protective as well—it’s not just a question of outwitting clueless adults. Jackie’s feelings about the creature (tender and responsible but also more than a little obsessive) are similarly shaded rather than black-and-white. The ending suggests that an intriguing sequel is to come.
In more ways than one, a tale about young creatures testing their wings; a moving, entertaining winner.Pub Date: Nov. 11, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-943169-32-0
Page Count: 212
Publisher: Plum Street Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2018
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
A YA novel that treats its subject and its readers with respect while delivering an engaging story.
In the ninth book in the Bluford young-adult series, a young Latino man walks away from violence—but at great personal cost.
In a large Southern California city, 16-year-old Martin Luna hangs out on the fringes of gang life. He’s disaffected, fatherless and increasingly drawn into the orbit of the older, rougher Frankie. When a stray bullet kills Martin’s adored 8-year-old brother, Huero, Martin seems to be heading into a life of crime. But Martin’s mother, determined not to lose another son, moves him to another neighborhood—the fictional town of Bluford, where he attends the racially diverse Bluford High. At his new school, the still-grieving Martin quickly makes enemies and gets into trouble. But he also makes friends with a kind English teacher and catches the eye of Vicky, a smart, pretty and outgoing Bluford student. Martin’s first-person narration supplies much of the book’s power. His dialogue is plain, but realistic and believable, and the authors wisely avoid the temptation to lard his speech with dated and potentially embarrassing slang. The author draws a vivid and affecting picture of Martin’s pain and confusion, bringing a tight-lipped teenager to life. In fact, Martin’s character is so well drawn that when he realizes the truth about his friend Frankie, readers won’t feel as if they are watching an after-school special, but as though they are observing the natural progression of Martin’s personal growth. This short novel appears to be aimed at urban teens who don’t often see their neighborhoods portrayed in young-adult fiction, but its sophisticated characters and affecting story will likely have much wider appeal.
A YA novel that treats its subject and its readers with respect while delivering an engaging story.Pub Date: Jan. 1, 2004
ISBN: 978-1591940173
Page Count: 152
Publisher: Townsend Press
Review Posted Online: Jan. 26, 2013
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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