First Day On Earth by Cecil Castellucci
Summary: Mal is a compassionate teen caring for his mother since his father left them both and started a new life in a new place. But he harbours a secret – when he was a kid, he was abducted by aliens and experimented upon. Mal stumbles into a support group for abduction survivors and meets Hooper, who eventually reveals that he is an alien himself. Looking for a way to escape his miserable, lonely life on Earth, Mal tries to convince Hooper to take him along on his journey home, only to be turned down. In the process of getting Hooper to his spaceship, Mal just might realise that there are things worth staying on Earth for, while questioning whether Hooper really is who he says he is.
Number of Pages: 150
Age Range: 14-16
Review: In a 150 page book, I have fifteen page flags. That’s a page flag noting a passage or quote that I especially liked for every ten pages of text. Quite simply, I love this book.
First Day On Earth was the first book I’d ever read by Cecil Castellucci when I read it back in 2012 and I just fell in love with her writing. Darwyn is my favourite character because he’s so loveable and vulnerable. He’s doing his best just to fit in at school, dealing with a nickname that inflicts psychological pain each time it is used, and trying to find a way to say good-bye to his mother after her unexpected death when he was a child. But in spite of all of that, he is just a good person.
Mal is the same way, but his story breaks my heart. I love the way Castellucci ties up the alien storyline with Mal’s father leaving, because Mal actually feels abandoned by both. Even after reading First Day On Earth for a second time, I still don’t know whether to see the alien abduction as real, or as a metaphor Mal created in his own mind to cope with the situation his father left him in.
If you haven’t read it before, you are missing out. First Day On Earth is a brief but thoughtful read with well-developed characters and a wonderful message. I’d also recommend it to reluctant teen readers as Castellucci’s writing is sparse and concise, only telling her reader what they need to know.
You can view this book as being one young man’s encounter with aliens, or you can see it as one young man struggling with mental illness in himself and in his family. Castellucci herself calls it a puzzle book. Either way, it is the story of Mal, a teen who feels like an outsider until he finds community among other teens who feel the same way. And that story is universal.
Memorable Quotes:
“‘We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.'” – Quote from Oscar Wilde from First Day On Earth by Cecil Castellucci
“You think you’re something. You think that your dumb teen problems are so big and important. You think that who’s popular in school and who wears and says the right thing is important.
It’s not.” – Mal from First Day On Earth by Cecil Castellucci, page 2
“‘People, they leave the terrible behind. They leave the people who don’t understand. They leave because they’ve burned out. They leave for a better life. They leave the way things are, for the way things could be. They start over. They go across the ocean. They discover new lands. They settle the West. You can call them whatever you want – explorers, conquerors, settlers, pioneers.'” – Mr. Cates talking about Human Migration from First Day On Earth by Cecil Castellucci, page 17
“I think some people go because they have to get away.
I think that they were lucky back then. To have somewhere that far away to go. Somewhere totally different. Somewhere totally unknown. Somewhere they could disappear. Somewhere with breathable air. A place that wasn’t even mapped yet – the edge of the world. I’d have signed up for that so fast I wouldn’t have even packed a bag.” – Mal talking about Human Migration from First Day On Earth by Cecil Castellucci, page 17
“I do like they do. I go back to reading.
Always solace in a book.” – Mal from First Day On Earth by Cecil Castellucci, page 25
“I’m not afraid of people who other people think are crazy. My mother is crazy and I’m not afraid of her. She just sees the world differently than other people. For her it’s a suspicious place, full of darkness and disappointment. Like the very light of the world doesn’t exist anymore. But Hooper is full of excitement. He’s crazy in a different way.” – Mal from First Day On Earth by Cecil Castellucci, page 74
“When my mom smiles, when the clouds break up enough to let some of her sunlight come through, it’s like old times.
Tonight, she gets out the Scrabble board.
Today was a good day.” – Mal from First Day On Earth by Cecil Castellucci, page 76
“Why is the hardest question in the world to answer.” – Mal from First Day On Earth by Cecil Castellucci, page 79
“There is a thread that goes from me to her. It’s a lifeline. Only it’s not keeping me alive.
Maybe if I got far enough away to snap it, she’d take the trash out on her own. Remember to eat more than just one meal. Wash her face. Take her pills. Start going to talk to someone.
Maybe, if I was so far away she could never find me again, then she’d hit rock bottom and start to climb out of this mess.” – Mal from First Day On Earth by Cecil Castellucci, page 80
“Darwyn continues. ‘I keep thinking that anyone walking around could have a part of her. And if I just found one person that had a piece of her in them, I could go right up to them, and I could say good-bye.'” – Darwyn from First Day On Earth by Cecil Castellucci, page 118
“No one has ever said I’m sorry to me. So maybe I don’t know how to say it, even if I feel it. Instead, I look up at her and try to tell her with my eyes. I hope she understands how much I mean it.” – Mal from First Day On Earth by Cecil Castellucci, page 128
“‘Actions,’ Hooper says. ‘Actions are the true words of humans. Words can be said or written and they can seem so beautiful. Seem so true. But I have noticed that a human speaks much louder with his or her actions and not with their words at all.'” – Hooper from First Day On Earth by Cecil Castellucci, page 137
“And I think I’d like to kiss her. And I think that Hooper might not be an alien. And it doesn’t matter. It’s not scary that he is or that he isn’t. Because everyone here is an alien.” – Mal from First Day On Earth by Cecil Castellucci, page 141
“As he leaves, I see him for what he really is – a man with a kind heart who cannot bear this world, just like me. He’s probably a little bit mentally disturbed – just like me.
I watch him walk until the darkness swallows him up.” – Mal from First Day On Earth by Cecil Castellucci, page 147
“I consider everything that I would leave behind. I can see it. It hangs there in front of me like a blue jewel.
It strikes me that a heart can be blue and still live. A heart can be blue and, with enough time, can warm again.
I am hit by the enormity of it all.
I feel it.” – Mal from First Day On Earth by Cecil Castellucci, page 150
First Day On Earth by Cecil Castellucci is published by Scholastic Press (2011).
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Dooley Takes the Fall by Norah McClintock
Summary: Ryan Dooley is a teenager with a troubled past living with his uncle to get his life back on track. When a stroll after work leads him to witness a schoolmate named Mark Everley falling from a bridge to his death, he is called in for questioning. The police initially rule Everley’s death an accident but Dooley finds himself under scrutiny from his classmates, teachers, and Everley’s sister who wants Dooley’s help in finding out what happened to her brother. A memorial service/party Dooley attends ends up getting him involved in another murder case when another classmate he has a history with turns up dead and he can’t account for his whereabouts after being drugged. It is up to Dooley to figure out who is really behind the murders before he is arrested.
Number of Pages: 313
Age Range: 15-17
Review: Two mysteries are unfolding in Dooley Takes the Fall by Norah McClintock. The first is the mystery behind deaths of two of Dooley’s classmates. But the second mystery revolves around Dooley’s character. McClintock makes her reader work for every little bit of information about his past and how he ended up living with his uncle trying to make things right as well as how he is connected to the other characters in the story. As a result I found myself frustrated with the stilted pacing and by my lack of knowledge about the main character at crucial moments of the book.
Dooley himself is an interesting character though. He has made grave mistakes in the past but he is sincerely working to change things and regrets his past actions. He comes off as a hero in the case of defending Alicia, a girl with Downs Syndrome, from bullies, and as he endeavours to clear his own name he uncovers the real murderers. He’s a real character whoWhat I did glean about his past was intriguing, although the overall vagueness of it left me feeling irritated.
But I liked Dooley’s uncle. He’s gruff and pretty hard on Dooley, but he’s also the first one to have his back in the various criminal investigations Dooley finds himself a suspect in. He provides him with a home and keeps close tabs on him, trying to keep him on track as best he can.
I ended up wishing I had read a prequel because the story of Dooley’s past was just as engaging as the story McClintock was telling. Perhaps then I would have also had a better grasp on what was going on in this book.
I’ve labelled the age range on this book as being for mid to older teens because of the subject matter. I have also left my review vague so the mysteries will be preserved for those who have not read this book before. Readers should be aware that this book contains violence and disturbing themes.
Memorable Quotes:
“That guy Lazarus, he must have known it was permanent lights out. Then the next thing he knows, he’s up and walking around again. Dooley had never figured out if that was a good thing or a bad thing. And anyway, why Lazarus? A better question: why only Lazarus? If you were that good, if you could raise the dead, why stop at just one?” – Dooley from Dooley Takes the Fall by Norah McClintock, page 45
“He told himself he didn’t care, that he’s made a career out of not caring, but the truth was that he hadn’t cared before because before he had novocained himself into a state of insensibility. Now he was clean and sober and, in his opinion, a pretty argument for why booze worked, why pills worked, and why drugs worked.” – Dooley from Dooley Takes the Fall by Norah McClintock, pages 228-229
“‘Cry me a river,’ his uncle said, so sarcastic that Dooley wanted to slug him. ‘You’ve got two ways to go, Ryan. It’s always the same two ways. You can act like a baby and have a temper tantrum because people aren’t treating you the way you think you deserve to be treated. Or you can be a man, suck it up, keep on paying your dues, keep focused on the things you can do something about – which is how you conduct your life, your life Ryan, not everyone else’s life – and how other people choose to see you. You think of another way to handle it, you let me know. But you won’t. You know why? Because there is no other way. You can only get through this minute and the next one and the one after that. You can’t fast-forward, skip all the bullshit and the commercials, and end up with a nice, happy ending. Life isn’t like that. Life’s more like rehab, Ryan. One day at a time. I know you know what I am talking about.'” – Dooley’s uncle from Dooley Takes the Fall by Norah McClintock, page 236
“It was like walking into a fire so you could show everyone you were fireproof, even though you knew – and they knew – that you weren’t. What was the point?” – Dooley from Dooley Takes the Fall by Norah McClintock, pages 236-237
Dooley Takes the Fall by Norah McClintock is published by Red Deer Press (2008).
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Close to the Heel by Norah McClintock
Summary: Part of “Seven the Series,” Rennie is the grandson of David McLean that no one knew about. When his grandfather dies, he leaves a task for each of his seven grandsons to complete. Rennie’s task is to venture to Iceland and create a memorial for his grandfather’s friend, but when he gets there events snowball until he finds himself in life and death situation. Whether he makes it out alive and solves the mysteries surrounding him depend on his determination and his ability to face his grief.
Number of Pages: 257
Age Range: 14-16
Review: I hadn’t previously had a chance to read “Seven the Series,” so I was quite happy to be able to add them all to my list. Close to the Heel by Norah McClintock is the first one I’ve read. I love the premise behind the series – fellow author Eric Walters came up with the idea of a grandfather dying and leaving a task for each of his seven grandsons to complete. Walters got six of his writer friends to join him in the venture, and they each took a grandson and task and wrote a book. McClintock is the only female writer of the seven.
Rennie is considered the lost grandson because his grandmother never told his grandfather she was pregnant when they parted ways. Her daughter was Rennie’s mother, and when she died the truth came out about who her father was.
Still dealing with grief over the accidental death of his mother in a rock slide, Rennie takes another hit when he finds out two months after the fact that his grandfather died. When his grandfather’s lawyer shows up to tell him the news and give him the task of going to Iceland, Rennie decides to honour his grandfather’s wishes and works to convince his father to let him go.
This was simply a great story. I enjoyed the setting in Iceland, the extremely well-paced mysteries that McClintock weaves around Rennie’s task and his character growth as he comes to terms with the death of his mother and takes a giant step forward in becoming an adult. I liked being exposed to Iceland’s culture, and learning about their system of second names.
But I think my favourite part was the scene between Rennie and his father at the end. They have such a conflicted relationship, especially since Rennie’s mother died, leaving them with only each other, but McClintock brings Rennie’s story to a satisfying close.
What surprised and intrigued me the most though was that the character I liked the best technically wasn’t even in the book, Rennie’s mother. He obviously has a special place for her in his heart, and when he describes her she seems like a very caring person that I wanted to know more about.
Orca is publishing seven sequels to the seven books in October, and I can’t wait to read more about Rennie.
Memorable Quotes:
“There are times in everyone’s life when we confuse sorrow with blame, when being powerless makes us lash out in anger and when we do things that we regret. Often this happens when a loved one dies, leaving us to wonder why this had to happen to them, why it didn’t happen to us instead.” – David McLean from Close to the Heel by Norah McClintock, page 29
“‘He was like that,’ I said. ‘He had this idea that if you get out of your comfort zone and take on something, especially if it’s for someone else, you can learn more about yourself in a few days or a few weeks than you ever could in a whole lifetime of just doing the same cautious thing day in and day out.'” – Rennie from Close to the Heel by Norah McClintock, page 39
“Do you really see your life flash before your eyes just before you die? If that turns out to be true, she’d be there. She’d be the biggest part of it. My mom and her smile. My mom and the flowery scent of her as she sat beside me at the kitchen table and patiently explained a math problem for the hundredth time. She was always patient. Always soft-spoken. She never yelled. She never said anything mean. She never made me feel stupid when I messed up. She just wanted to understand – what happened and what can we do to make it better?” – Rennie from Close to the Heel by Norah McClintock, page 206
Close to the Heel by Norah McClintock is published by Orca Book Publishers (2012).
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Carmen by Carole Frechette
Summary: Overwhelmed by nerves at the thought of doing a class presentation, Carmen decides to skip school instead. It’s Valentines’ Day, and after uncharacteristically stealing some lipsticks, Carmen finds herself in front of a tv camera being asked what she would like. Her innocent answer is taken out of context, but an adventure with one of her favourite musicians helps her to understand that she is not alone. In the span of twenty-four hours, Carmen gains newfound confidence not only to face school again, but also to go on a date with the guy she likes.
Number of Pages: 101
Age Range: 15-17
Review: Carmen is the short novel of a teen girl who is having trouble being at home in her own skin. Her father has named her after the main character in the opera, Carmen, and keeps insisting that Carmen herself will be a great beauty and an enchanter of men.
With her shy and insecure nature, Carmen feels this is the last thing she will be, and after she puts a note in her crush’s locker inviting him to the Valentines Day dance, she skips school the next day.
But her day off from school changes her life. There’s a moment during her day when she seems to become the woman her dad can see in her, as if that woman was inside her the whole time and just needed a chance to make her debut. When she comes back to school, she’s different, a little more secure in herself, because she now knows that woman is a part of her. And the confidence she gains helps her to take a chance by going out on a date with her crush.
It’s a bit of an odd read, but an interesting journey of self-discovery for mid to older female teen readers.
Memorable Quotes:
“Without hesitating, she heads straight for the pail full of nails. She kicks it so hard that all the nail roll out onto the floor, scattering like exploded shards of her anger.” – from Carmen by Carole Fréchette, page 88
“‘Because . . .’ Carmen responds stammering, ‘because I am not ‘the distress of today’s youth.’ I’m me. Just me. And I don’t want to talk to you about all the rest of it because . . . because it’s my secret.'” – Carmen from Carmen by Carole Fréchette, page 100
Carmen by Carole Fréchette is published by Red Deer Press (original publication in 1996, translated into English by Susan Ouriou in 2005).
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Break On Through by Jill Murray
Summary: Overnight, Nadine’s life has turned upside down. Her family is moving from downtown Toronto to Scarborough, and her parents are having another baby. At first it seems she’ll be able to keep her spot in the break dancing group “tha Klub,” but her move to the suburbs is used against her to force her out. An outsider at school and at home, Nadine turns to her break dancing for solace, discovering that you don’t have to be from the inner city to be a b-girl. When her dancing gets in the way of getting good grades at school and her parents discover she’s been lying about studying to form a b-girl group, she is immediately grounded and forbidden to dance. The pressure builds inside her until she breaks out, and the results just might get her the respect she’s always deserved.
Number of Pages: 304
Age Range: 14-16
Review: I have to admit being immersed in the world of break dancing was a bit of a stretch for me. But Jill Murray eased my transition with a book that explained everything and didn’t make me feel lost. Plus, when I was finished, I had gained a new respect for those who break dance. There was a beautiful quote in the book that was the equivalent to a light bulb going on in my head, and I finally understood the heart of break dancing.
Break On Through is an enjoyable, multi-layered read. There was a lot going on with the family dynamics and I was intrigued by Nadine’s observations that her baby sister would have completely different parents due to her parents’ ages at their respective births. It reminded me of Tibby’s situation in The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants.
As for the break dancing itself, I loved the female power that Nadine and her friends were establishing with their girl group. I didn’t know that girl break dancers were looked down upon and discouraged and was therefore very happy when Nadine started dancing on her own without Sean’s ‘expert’ tutaledge. I also loved that Nadine realises break dancing is something that is inside of her. She’s driven to do it by her life experiences but it isn’t dictated by where she lives, even though others try to convince her it is.
I didn’t like Nadine’s parents until the end. There seemed to be some major communication problems in their family and when they gave Nadine tap shoes for Christmas it was abundantly clear that they did not understand her as a person. Perhaps they had good intentions with the gift, but it really backfired.
This is a strong read for female readers in terms of promoting self-esteem and I would recommend it for mid teens.
Memorable Quotes:
“Maybe there’s a curse where whatever you’re like, your children will turn out opposite. I’m going to keep that in mind when I have kids. If they join the AV club or Up With People, I won’t blame myself. I will trust them not to do exactly the same dumbass crap my parents did, and I will tell them things.” – Nadine from Break On Through by Jill Murray
“Like Kool Herc said in The Freshest Kids, b-girl – break-girl – has nothing to do with a beat or a dance. It means you’ve been to your breaking point. Sean and tha Klub may play it tough. They may pretend you need to be from the city to break. But I was never really broken until I moved to Rivercrest. The Klub tried to break me. My parents tried to break me. My school tried to break me. But I’m still here. I’m not giving my power back to anyone.” – Nadine from Break On Through by Jill Murray
“‘Yeah! Go Six Sky,’ another voice yells, even louder. It’s Barlog. The crowd cheers back, drowning out tha Klub. The support makes me smile, makes me grow an inch taller, a hundred pounds stronger. And then something happens to me. That something that’s been missing – my confidence, my inspiration, that feeling of how to move without thinking – with every shout of my crew and the crowd, it starts to come back.” – Nadine from Break On Through by Jill Murray
Break On Through by Jill Murray is published by Doubleday Canada (2008).
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About Amy
Amy Mathers has been passionate about reading from a very young age, and hopes others will share her enthusiasm for funding a teen book award. Read more Follow Amy
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