From: Ginny Moore Kruse <gmkruse>
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2002 09:01:14 -0600

Out of Bounds: Seven Stories of Conflict and Hope" by Beverley Naidoo (U.S. edition: HarperCollins) has a 12/24/02 publication date, so it's technically a 2002 book.

Regardless of whether or not it's eligible for any of the upcoming "bests" lists and/or awards, it's a book certain to have lasting impact on readers. I hope it is, though, because it's so difficult for a book published at the very end of a calendar year to be remembered during the next fall's "round-up" of the best books. And this is one of the very best!

Each of the seven stories in "Out of Bounds" takes place in South Africa in a different decade, beginning with "The Dare" (1948) and moving through each decade of the 20th century. Each story is set in a different place in South Africa, or involves a different circumstance. All have different characters. Each concerns a powerful circumstance for a child or family member because of the particular South African laws of that year, notably the former apartheid and other laws affecting everyone, regardless of race, class, or age. A brief chronology at the end specifies the relevant law(s) for each story. "Out of Bounds" is so readable, teachable, and memorable that I'm already impatient for its paperback edition. What a stunning series of stories!

Peace, Ginny


Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse at education.wisc.edu



Both of Jack Gantos's new books are among my favorites of the year: WHAT WOULD JOEY DO? and HOLE IN MY LIFE. I agree with Steven that this may be the best Joey yet. Joey's parents are as crazy as ever, and we get to watch Joey make his way through it all and transcend much of the nuttiness and begin to take charge of his own life in spite of it all. I hope this gets serious award consideration and is not seen as just another in a series.

Not too many books come along that my whole family reads, as we did Hole in My Life. I read it, then my daughter(18), then my son(16), and my wife(?). It is a surprising, gritty, true story of when the author made a Joey-like decision, paid the consequences, and still became what he always wanted to be: a writer. By no means a glorification of drugs and dumb choices, it is a moving story of transcending bad choices and the circuitous route to success as a writer. Along the way, we get to see the books Gantos found important to his development as a writer. Some of my eighth graders are currently reading it (about the youngest I would recommend it for).


Many of my other favorites of the year are YA books, hopefully in the running for a Printz award (along with Hole in My Life, of course): House of the Scorpion, The Lightkeeper's Daughter, This Land Was Made for You and Me, Postcards from No Man's Land, and Island Boyz.

I know it's off-topic, but 2003 books to look for already: Beverley Naidoo's short story collection Out of Bounds (which Ginny mentioned, I believe) and Ashley Bryan's picture book, Beautiful Blackbird.


Dean Schneider Ensworth School Nashvile, TN 37205 schneiderd at ensworth.com




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Received on Thu 19 Dec 2002 09:01:14 AM CST