The White Darkness by Geraldine McCaughrean, a British writer, won the 2008 Printz Award. It is both a mystery and a survival story. Teenage Sym heads off on a weekend trip to Paris with her mum and her dead father's business partner who she calls Uncle Victor. Somehow it turns into a trip to Antarctica while her mother is left in English searching for her passport - which Sym eventually finds in her Victor's raincoat pocket. Creepy hah? Other travelers on the luxury trip begin failing ill and dying and the rescue plane is blown up. Victor steals an all terrain vehicle and sets off across the frozen land with Sym, a filmmaker and his teenage son in search of the mythical Symmes's Hole. Soon Sym needs all her courage and survival skills.
Despite lots of action, this book is for better readers because of its sophisticated use of language and imagery. I liked it - not sure how popular it is with students.
8 comments:
Sounds like an interesting mystery. I am sure older or more advanced readers who like mysteries would love it.
I read this book two summers ago while on vacation. I had a really had time getting into it. About half way through, I really was hooked and didn't want to put it down. It has a fantasy feel to parts of it, in a "I know there is a passage to the center of the earth" way. It hasn't captured an audience in my library.
I love the cover of this book. I found it very enticing. The mystery and deception in the plot sound very intriguing. It sounds like a great book for high school students - I imagine it would attract mostly girls due to both the protagonist and the cover.
The title and cover did not appeal to me enough to select this book off of the shelf. The description however, makes the book sound very interesting. This is precisely why we need to teach our students to read the indide jacket flaps and the back of books. These descriptions often highlight the action and most intriguiing elements of the book. I also think it is important to have students occasionally read books with complicated plots that make them think, challenge their minds, and ultimately make them better readers.
I definitely agree with you Jeff! Well rounded readers need to experience both ends of the spectrum, plus what's in between as well! Some kids may not even realize how much they could get into a certain genre until someone encourages them to give it a try!
I just finished reading a book on survival for my modern fantasy read. I'm anxious to read The White Darkness and see how it compares.
As Dr. Berg mentioned, I am finding that many of these YA titles sound more interesting than some of the adult fiction I have read. I am in a bookclub whose members consist of teachers who are scattered throughtout the district. I think we should start exploring the YA list. The reads are just as interesting and would several a dual purpose - becoming familiar with what are students are reading and making connections to content areas.
I have not heard of it either. I will suggest it to my daughter. It would be right up her alley.
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