Week 2: Appeal Factors

Annotations for some of my favorite books

1. Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Wonder is a story about Auggie Pullman, a 5th grader born with a rare genetic defect that causes extreme  facial deformities. Because of his numerous medical problems, as well as the cruelty of the outside world, Auggie has been home-schooled by his parents. Auggie's health eventually improves and the story opens with him beginning his first year of public school at Beecher Prep.

The story is almost entirely character-driven. We not only see things from Auggie's view, but from family members and friends also. We're given a full and honest portrait of Auggie. in addition, we see the effects that his condition has on the other characters as they try to navigate through their own lives.

Because of this, Wonder isn't fast-paced or filled with action or suspense. Instead, it painstakingly paints an honest portrait of how the daily life of a physically disfigured boy might look as he immerses himself into the outside world for the first time.


2. In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette by Hampton Sides

This adventure narrative is driven by it's characters and the detailed portrayal of the harsh challenges of Arctic travel.  Side does an excellent job of providing detailed portraits of the two main characters involved with the expedition: George De Long and James Bennett. De Long is brought to life as a highly disciplined and determined sailor who was committed to reaching his goals. On the other hand, Bennett was the extremely rich and highly eccentric publisher of the New York Herald.

Furthermore, Side delves into the lives of the other members of the USS Jeannette as they traveled together to the far North. It is this setting, the far North, that provides the meat of the book. We read about the explorers getting stuck in the sea ice near Wrangel Island and surviving on seals and polar bears. Our hopes are dashed as their boat is smashed by shifting ice floes. We follow the crew members as they set out on a 1000 mile journey over the frozen seas of the Siberian Mainland.  The setting provides the stage for the most trragic of adventures.


3. All the Light We Cannot See by Antony Doerr

All the Light We Cannot See is the tale of two children who get caught up in the tragedy of World War II. It is a fast-paced book that centers on the distinct personalities of its two main characters, Werner and Marie-Laure.  The story is highly suspenseful. We follow Marie-Lerner, who is blind, as she has to flee her hometown after the Nazi invasion of France in 1940.The story presents a realistic portrait of the challenges her blindness provides, as well as the fatherly love that helps her to meet these challenges.

The story of Werner gives the reader a look at the workings of a training school for the Nazi military elite. He becomes fully indoctrinated and helps the Nazis find the senders fo illegal radio transmissions.

As the story movss toward a meeting between Werner and Marie-Laure, we encounter two things. First the development of Werner's character as he becomes increasingly sickened by what his findings lead to. Secondly, we get an extremely suspenseful adventure story that the moves back and forth in time seamlessly.