Week 2 Assignments, Part I

Neal Wyatt's article on appeal factors was a great reminder of the characteristics that make a book desirable to readers.

With appeal factors on my mind, here are annotations of books I've read and enjoyed...one all-time favorite, and one new favorite.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein is a captivating story about two young women, their unlikely friendship, and the war that tears them apart. Set during World War II in Britain and France, it is a well-written, engaging book with lots of twists and turns, and it will appeal to those who enjoy suspenseful historical fiction or spy stories. Character-driven and emotionally intense, the story is presented from two different viewpoints in a diary format. Code Name Verity features strong female characters, top-notch writing, and several surprises along the way. It is a book to read, and then read again.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee is a well-known American literary classic. This beautifully-written coming-of-age story touches issues of race, class, and the outsider and is set in the American south. Characters are well-drawn and the tone is reflective, making the reader think about the issues and circumstances of the characters in the story. Even though the narrator, Scout, is a young girl, readers of all ages can easily identify and sympathize with her as she examines and questions the world around her. The story features several different plot lines, but the themes of prejudice and tolerance are woven throughout the story.