Scythe

Scythe

Schusterman, N. (2016). Scythe. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Scythe is set in a future world where there is no disease and the only way to die is to be “gleaned” by appointed and trained Scythes. Two teens, Citra and Rowan, have been selected to become apprentices by Scythe Faraday changing their lives forever. As they learn the politics and the skills needed to “glean”, a twist at one of the Conclaves pits the two teens against one another. When their mentor dies due to an apparent self-gleaning, the pair is split apart. Citra trains with Scythe Curie, while Rowan goes with Scythe Goddard. Scythes have a set of rules and standards to live by, however, a new breed is forming, a group of Scythes that kill because they enjoy killing. Both Citra and Rowan have their beliefs to do what is right is tested along with their friendship and feelings for each other.

Scythe is a dystopian novel that tells what Earth would be like if there was no more disease, death or crime. The concept of mortality is explored, or rather the lack thereof, creating a need for “gleaning”. The world is controlled by the Thunderhead that has actually achieved a form of Utopia, except for the Scythe. Now the Scythes are divided and some chose the more noble path and some are killing for fun. Citra and Rowan each tell their side of the story from different points of view. It is up to them to determine which side of the Scythe battle they will fall on. The thoughts of other Scythe’s are given through brief journal entries throughout the book. It is the final journal entry that sets the tone for the sequel and the possible story of Scythe Lucifer.

Awards

Printz Award Winner (2017)

Book Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYPiWDEiVvU

Recommended Reading:

Thunderhead (Arc of a Scythe) due out February 2018

The Knife of Never Letting Go

The Knife of Never Letting Go

The Knife of Never Letting Go explores the settlement on New World where, at first, there appear to be only men and they can hear each other’s thoughts through the “Noise”. One day Todd, who is the last boy in Prentisstown, discovers a girl in the swamp and she has no Noise. When he returns to town, Todd’s Noise sets off a chain of events that shakes every belief that Todd holds as truth. Todd, Viola and Manchee (Todd’s dog) escape hoping to find safety in another settlement, but instead realize that the mayor of Prentisstown has raised an army that will destroy everyone in his path on his way to Haven, the largest town in New World. As they flee the path of the army, they are also chased by a deranged Priest from Prentisstown whose only goal is for Todd to kill him and he will do anything to incur Todd’s wrath.

The Knife of Never Letting Go is a dystopian novel that is told from Todd’s point of view. Todd’s voice throughout the novel is strong as he struggles with growing up and wanting to be a man. As Todd’s world falls apart, he struggles with what he thinks is true and what he is finding out to be the real truth. His settlement is not the only one in New World, he doesn’t carry a virus that kills women and the Spackle do not carry the disease of “Noise”. He constantly has to make choices, hard choices and sacrifices, to ensure that both he and Viola make it to Haven and escape the army and insane Priest. The last truth Todd discovers is why there are no women in Prentisstown.

Book Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tm7nliQYGGA&feature=youtu.be

Interesting links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeT1ga5ZqFI

Books in the Series:

The Ask and Answer

Monsters of Men

Scowler

Scowler

Kraus, D. (2013). Scowler. New York: Delacorte.

Scowler tells the sad and frightening story of the Burke family and their struggle with the monster that has escaped prison and returned home. Ry, his sister Sarah and his mom are finally leaving their dying farm and moving to the city. As they are waiting for parts for the car, a stranger wanders in from the field. They slowly realize he is an escaped convict and that he knows Marvin Burke, from prison. The fear starts to escalate with the family when they realize Marvin may have escaped. When Marvin appears, this sends Ry into a tailspin. He has repressed all of his fear over the past ten years, but now with Marvin back, Ry is in a panic and is searching for help from his three old toys: Mr. Furrington, Jesus Christ, and Scowler. A meteorite has fallen and Marvin thinks this is the answer to all of his problems. As the family tries to escape, Ry pulls from two different personalities trying to help his family, trying to deny help from the third because he doesn’t want to become like Scowler.

Scowler is a horror novel that is set in 1981 and told from the point of view of nineteen- year old Ry. He is struggling to find himself now that he is out of high school. The novel is broken down by using a timeline: hours before the meteor lands and hours after it lands. The past trauma to the family is told with flashbacks to 10 years before when Martin is terrorizing his wife and family. Ry is forced to come to his mom’s aid, witnessing something that will forever haunt him and spending the night being hunted in the woods by his father. This novel is not for the faint of heart. It looks true evil eye and witnesses what it does to each member of the family. It deals with sadistic abuse, mental cruelty and murder.

Interesting links:

http://www.danielkraus.com/books/scowler/

Awards:

Odyssey Award (2014)