Saturday, January 06, 2007
Book Review - Split Image - YA Fiction
If a young adult reader is on a quest for artistic realism, she or he might be directed to the writings of Mel Glenn. Split Image could be designated the third part of a trilogy of sagas about Tower High School and its participants that begins with Jump Ball and continues its plausible situations in Foreign Exchange, but Split Image’s connection only exists within the walls of Tower, and like all of Glenn’s books, social justices, or injustices are on every page.
Laura Li is the main character that stimulates actions and reactions from her surroundings. Laura was born in China and now lives in a foreign country, the United States. Despite the language barrier, she has managed to achieve high grades that were stimulated by her desire to go to an Ivy League school, Harvard. Her mother, Oi Pin Li has other plans for her first child, Jimmy Li is confined to a wheelchair and she believes her daughter should shoulder the responsibility of her brother and remain at home and attend a local college.
Sarah, the librarian finds a second chance in Laura. Sarah and her own daughter never speak anymore. Sarah hires Laura to work in the library. With Laura she is able to display her patience void judgment and expectations. Laura appreciates Sarah and wishes she could have this relationship with her own mother. Ironically so does Sarah’s real daughter.
Alejandro Felix and Arthur Feldman share initials and affection for Laura. Tyesha Hicks knows the other side of Laura. Amy Yau sees Laura in an enviable position. Shirley Eng and Laura share common resentments for their separate family duties. Both young ladies have fathers that know little about their children because they are too busy being some place else.
There are other characters that do not touch Laura’s life but share the one commonality; that is Tower High School and its daily inhabitants. Kiran Singh has a father who is undergoing heart surgery and is denied by his mother the ability to be with him. Josie George who knows the definition of late, and Beatrice Scarpetta, is a teacher who will one day see Venice without her mother.
If a young adult reader is on a quest for artistic realism, she or he might be directed to the writings of Mel Glenn. Split Image could be designated the third part of a trilogy of sagas about Tower High School and its participants that begins with Jump Ball and continues its plausible situations in Foreign Exchange, but Split Image’s connection only exists within the walls of Tower, and like all of Glenn’s books, social justices, or injustices are on every page.
Laura Li is the main character that stimulates actions and reactions from her surroundings. Laura was born in China and now lives in a foreign country, the United States. Despite the language barrier, she has managed to achieve high grades that were stimulated by her desire to go to an Ivy League school, Harvard. Her mother, Oi Pin Li has other plans for her first child, Jimmy Li is confined to a wheelchair and she believes her daughter should shoulder the responsibility of her brother and remain at home and attend a local college.
Sarah, the librarian finds a second chance in Laura. Sarah and her own daughter never speak anymore. Sarah hires Laura to work in the library. With Laura she is able to display her patience void judgment and expectations. Laura appreciates Sarah and wishes she could have this relationship with her own mother. Ironically so does Sarah’s real daughter.
Alejandro Felix and Arthur Feldman share initials and affection for Laura. Tyesha Hicks knows the other side of Laura. Amy Yau sees Laura in an enviable position. Shirley Eng and Laura share common resentments for their separate family duties. Both young ladies have fathers that know little about their children because they are too busy being some place else.
There are other characters that do not touch Laura’s life but share the one commonality; that is Tower High School and its daily inhabitants. Kiran Singh has a father who is undergoing heart surgery and is denied by his mother the ability to be with him. Josie George who knows the definition of late, and Beatrice Scarpetta, is a teacher who will one day see Venice without her mother.
Glenn dedicates each page of poetry/song for the character and his or her mind state at that point in the text. While each poem reads quickly, the substance is dense. Bravo Mr. Glenn.
“My grandmother’s teakettle,
Made of fine china,
Sits on the high shelf,
Proper in its space,
Pristine in its beauty.
It is to be admired
From afar.
It is to be noticed
For its smooth curved lines.
It is to be handled
Gently, delicately,
Only on special occasions.
Ah, little tea kettle,
Poised high on your shelf,
Wait until you
Gather your own steam
And watch
As I boil over.
Laura Li is the main character that stimulates actions and reactions from her surroundings. Laura was born in China and now lives in a foreign country, the United States. Despite the language barrier, she has managed to achieve high grades that were stimulated by her desire to go to an Ivy League school, Harvard. Her mother, Oi Pin Li has other plans for her first child, Jimmy Li is confined to a wheelchair and she believes her daughter should shoulder the responsibility of her brother and remain at home and attend a local college.
Sarah, the librarian finds a second chance in Laura. Sarah and her own daughter never speak anymore. Sarah hires Laura to work in the library. With Laura she is able to display her patience void judgment and expectations. Laura appreciates Sarah and wishes she could have this relationship with her own mother. Ironically so does Sarah’s real daughter.
Alejandro Felix and Arthur Feldman share initials and affection for Laura. Tyesha Hicks knows the other side of Laura. Amy Yau sees Laura in an enviable position. Shirley Eng and Laura share common resentments for their separate family duties. Both young ladies have fathers that know little about their children because they are too busy being some place else.
There are other characters that do not touch Laura’s life but share the one commonality; that is Tower High School and its daily inhabitants. Kiran Singh has a father who is undergoing heart surgery and is denied by his mother the ability to be with him. Josie George who knows the definition of late, and Beatrice Scarpetta, is a teacher who will one day see Venice without her mother.
If a young adult reader is on a quest for artistic realism, she or he might be directed to the writings of Mel Glenn. Split Image could be designated the third part of a trilogy of sagas about Tower High School and its participants that begins with Jump Ball and continues its plausible situations in Foreign Exchange, but Split Image’s connection only exists within the walls of Tower, and like all of Glenn’s books, social justices, or injustices are on every page.
Laura Li is the main character that stimulates actions and reactions from her surroundings. Laura was born in China and now lives in a foreign country, the United States. Despite the language barrier, she has managed to achieve high grades that were stimulated by her desire to go to an Ivy League school, Harvard. Her mother, Oi Pin Li has other plans for her first child, Jimmy Li is confined to a wheelchair and she believes her daughter should shoulder the responsibility of her brother and remain at home and attend a local college.
Sarah, the librarian finds a second chance in Laura. Sarah and her own daughter never speak anymore. Sarah hires Laura to work in the library. With Laura she is able to display her patience void judgment and expectations. Laura appreciates Sarah and wishes she could have this relationship with her own mother. Ironically so does Sarah’s real daughter.
Alejandro Felix and Arthur Feldman share initials and affection for Laura. Tyesha Hicks knows the other side of Laura. Amy Yau sees Laura in an enviable position. Shirley Eng and Laura share common resentments for their separate family duties. Both young ladies have fathers that know little about their children because they are too busy being some place else.
There are other characters that do not touch Laura’s life but share the one commonality; that is Tower High School and its daily inhabitants. Kiran Singh has a father who is undergoing heart surgery and is denied by his mother the ability to be with him. Josie George who knows the definition of late, and Beatrice Scarpetta, is a teacher who will one day see Venice without her mother.
Glenn dedicates each page of poetry/song for the character and his or her mind state at that point in the text. While each poem reads quickly, the substance is dense. Bravo Mr. Glenn.
“My grandmother’s teakettle,
Made of fine china,
Sits on the high shelf,
Proper in its space,
Pristine in its beauty.
It is to be admired
From afar.
It is to be noticed
For its smooth curved lines.
It is to be handled
Gently, delicately,
Only on special occasions.
Ah, little tea kettle,
Poised high on your shelf,
Wait until you
Gather your own steam
And watch
As I boil over.
# posted by Bite Me Kissimmee @ 2:21 PM 
