Memory Boy By Will Weaver

Reviewed by Lori
Memory Boy
Title:  Memory Boy

Author: Will Weaver

Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 194696

Description: Sixteen-year-old Miles and his family must flee their Minneapolis home and begin a new life in the wilderness after a chain of cataclysmic volcanic explosions creates dangerous conditions in their city.

Rubric Rating: Level 3: Laud It

Why I Read It: This book was a recommended read from a co-worker.

Lori's Notes:  Miles has absolutely no interest in completing his oral history project, he prefers to work with his hands, to tinker and build.  But when he gets paired with the cantankerous and elderly Hans, who has a keen knack for telling a story, Miles finds himself engaged in his stories of wilderness survival.  A series of volcanic eruptions has thrown the environment into chaos, Miles must use his tinkering skills to help move his family from a Minneapolis that is becoming more and more dangerous, to his family's summer cabin.  However, when they arrive, instead of finding safety, they find unexpected visitors - squatters unwilling to leave and who could potentially be a threat to the Newell family if they stay. Miles, uses his memory of Hans' stories to find his cabin in the woods.   I found this book interesting in that the roles of parent and child switch.   In an increasingly dangerous world, Miles and his family must find shelter, food, and water.  The parents, who should know what to do, must let their son lead them to safety.  And thanks to Miles' memory, they have a good chance of survival.

Recommended Readers: A particularly good book for boys.  Grades 7 and Up.

Themes: Dystopia, Environmental Catastrophe, Family, Safety, Generations, Memory, Role Reversals, Survival.

Cross-Genre Links: 
Music: Somewhere only we Know performed by Keane
Poem: Memory by Abraham Lincoln
Video: National Geographic Volcanoes 101
News Media: 2010 Iceland Volcanic Eruptions

Post Reading Discussion Questions and Activities:

  • What sort of skills does Miles have that make him successful at survival?
  • How do the roles of parent and child appear reversed in this novel?
  • How do Hans' stories help the Newell family?  Why are oral histories important?
  • If you needed to move into the wilderness what sort of items do you think you would need? Create a catastrophe kit.  What does it include?
  • In groups research a volcanic eruption and use that information to discuss what could happen if a volcano erupted in your community  (examples: 79AD eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, 1883 eruption of Krakatoa, 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens or the 2010 eruption of Eyjafjallajokull)
  • Interview an elderly member of your family or someone in your community about their life when they were your age.  What sorts of interesting things did you learn?

Next Book in this Series:

Other Selections by Will Weaver:


Comments

Post a Comment

Thank you for Reading!

Popular posts from this blog

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

Reviewed by Lori
Image
Title: Tuck Everlasting Author: Natalie Babbit Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 307191 Description: The Tuck family is confronted with an agonizing situation when they discover that a ten-year-old girl and a malicious stranger now share their secret about a spring whose water prevents one from ever growing any older. Rubric Rating: Level 4: Love It!  This is one of my all-time favourite books. Why I Read It: I first read this book when I was about 10 or 11 years old and I loved it.  I re-read it every now and again. Lori's Notes: I really enjoy this book and it's one of those stories that I can read again and again.  I am fascinated by the Tuck family and the idea of immortality.  Who hasn't wanted to live forever?  Not only are the Tuck's immortal but they are also ever youthful, never growing older and never changing. Jesse Tuck is stuck at 17 wandering the world with his parents and brother.  That is until he meets lonely Winnie Foster.  An only child, Winnie b
Read more

365 Days of Wonder by R. J. Palacio

Reviewed by Lori
Image
Title:  365 Days of Wonder {Mr. Browne's Precepts} Series: Wonder Author:  R. J. Palacio Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 127343 Description:    A book of precepts, with one saying for each day, from Auggie's teacher Mr. Browne. Rubric Rating:  Level 4 - Love It  Why I Read It:   I’m a bit of a fan of precepts and it looked like a very quick read. Notes:   I really enjoyed reading this book.  Interestingly, I had this book and Wonder delivered at the same time.  Usually I would have read wonder first but I ended up sticking my nose in this one instead and couldn’t put it down.  While it did give away some of the plot points of Wonder I find I’m more interested in reading the book now than I had originally planned.  If the book is written with the same tone and care as this book I think I will find it delightful. While I had heard/seen/read many of the precepts before I did find ones that were new to me.  But more than the precepts I enjoyed Mr. Browne’s not
Read more

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin

Reviewed by Lori
Image
Title:  Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type Author:  Doreen Cronin Pictures by:  Betsy Lewin Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 55796 Description:  When Farmer Brown's cows find a typewriter in the barn they start making demands, and go on strike when the farmer refuses to give them what they want. Guided Reading Level:  M Curriculum Links:  Character Ed: Perseverance Reading: Transforming Reading: Narrative Science: Needs and Characteristics of Living Things Social Studies: Our Changing Roles and Responsibilities Writing: Letters Writing: Persuasive Lori's Notes:  Design:  This is a simple book.  The title is cute and is sure to be intriguing for young students - cows that type!  How many students know what a type writer is anymore!  It would be fun to bring one into the class to allow students to try.  The front and end papers are a red/brown that (to my eyes) mimic the colour of the barn, as if once starting the story we are being invited inside the bar
Read more