CM Magazine: Single Voice Series

________________ CM . . . . Volume XVI Number 33. . . .April 30, 2010.

cover
Descent into Paradise. (Single Voice).

Vincent Karle. Translated by Paula Ayer.
Toronto, ON: Annick Press, 2009.
109 pp., pbk. & hc., $9.95 (pbk.), $19.95 (hc.).
ISBN 978-1-55451-235-5 (pbk.), ISBN 978-1-55451-240-9 (hc.).

Grades 6-9 / Ages 11-14.

Review by Christina Pike.

****/4

Includes:

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A Place to Live. (Single Voice).

Jean-Philippe Blondel. Translated by Paula Ayer.
109 pp.

Grades 6-9 / Ages 11-14.

Review by Christina Pike.

****/4

excerpt:

It�s my fault.

What happened-I didn�t want it to, but it happened anyway, and now it�s too late to fix it.

They came to look for me, but it was him they took away, and I�m still here.

Now I�m alone. As for him- I don�t know where he is. (From Descent into Paradise).

Descent into Paradise, by Vincent Karle, tells a story of a new kid, Zaher, attending Paradise school from Martin�s point of view. Zaher is from Afghanistan, and his family has fled persecution, but before Martin realizes all this, he has befriended Zaher and they end up in an investigation for drug possession and trafficking.

excerpt:

It�s all because of the new principal, Mr. Langley- tall and thin as a rake.

Because of his speeches.

Because of his way of stressing all the negative words when he talks: do not, forbidden, never, no one.

Because of the way they all look at him- like sheep. Moist eyes, glazed-over expressions. Obedient. Tamed. It ate me up.

But I never talked about it to anyone. (From A Place to Live.)

A Place to Live, by Jean-Philippe Blondel, tells the story of high school student who decides to take a stand against the new principal, Mr. Charles Langley, 56-years-old and master of the house. Mr. Langley believes that school is for work and goes about transforming the school into a place of work. Written from the student�s first person point of view, the story shows how one student can quietly make a difference using only his camcorder.

In this story, Blondel has captured what it feels like to be living a teen life on the edge of popularity. Through the voice of the main character, the author also explores the topic of relationships. He shows that all it takes is one person to make a difference.

Highly Recommended.

Christina Pike is the principal of St. Paul�s Junior High in St. John�s, Newfoundland.

To comment on this title or this review, send mail to cm@umanitoba.ca.

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Published by
The Manitoba Library Association
ISSN 1201-9364 Hosted by the University of Manitoba.

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