Before taking this class I had never read a book by Louis Lowry. The past two weeks I have thoroughly enjoyed the reading. I find Lowry’s writing style engrossing. Lowry has intriguing plot lines that result in strong emotional bonds to the books.
Thus far I have only read Number the Stars and The Giver, both of which I could not put down.
In Number the Stars, I found the relationships between Annemarie and Ellen and Annemarie and her little sister so intriguing. It immediately took me back to my childhood. Though, the added element of German occupation made the novel even more heart wrenching. The girls’ interaction with each other was touching. I think this novel would be a wonderful tool for children, especially girls, going through adolescence. It shows the value of a true friendship and the effect it can have on a person.
In The Giver, the character of Jonas is a strong contrast to society, which makes a strong statement. The “community” in the novel functions as a utopian society. It appears to be perfect with no fears and no pain but as a result there is also no individuality or freedom. Jonas, a twelve-year-old boy, realizes the tragic fate of this world once he is able to see beyond and decides a change must be made. I thought the plot of this novel was fascinating because it has elements of science fiction yet it is a world that we know so well. Lowry is an effective writer because she writes in a way that people of all ages can relate.
I also found the interconnetion bectween friends very intresting in Number the Stars. I likes how she somewhat touched on the fact that even your close friends can be considered "your family" and people whom you put your trust and faith in. AnneMarie's family took care of their friends as if they were one of their own, when actually they are ethnically different. I think Lowry was stating the importance of seeing people as your family, friends and companions, rather than looking through the eyes of racism
ReplyDeleteI also liked how Lowry was able to relate to people of all ages. I remember reading Number the Stars when I was young and being able to connect to the novel just as I was when I read it last week. The friendships between a lot of the characters in these two novels was also interesting. I loved seeing the "family" connections in Number the Stars between people. Even if people were not truly blood related, they would still protect and take care of each other like true family members would.
ReplyDeleteI think it's interesting you point out the sci-fi qualities of The Giver. If I had seen it physically placed into that genre in a bookstore, I probably would not have picked it up- it just isn't my cup of tea. But that aside, I think there is a lot to be said about Lowry's depiction of a perfect community. It helps us think about our own world, though it is by no means perfect, in a way that causes us to question conformity.
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