From: Jason Anderson <toxicned61>
Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2003 08:42:11 -0600

Katy,

In response to your query regarding negative reponses to the end of "House of the Scorpion" I submit the following. Several of my 7th and 8th graders who read the book shared my disappointment with the ending. The most common reason offered was that the book "just seemed to lose steam." Several readers said that the scene with the boys in the processing plant went on longer than was necessary. On a personal level I thought the book lost its sense of urgency in the last 80 pages, and became too formulaic. I don't mind hopefulness or happy endings, but the end of the book seemed a bit aimless.

I heartily concur that the bleak ending of "Feed" was in keeping with Titus's character. How could he empathize further with Violet when he'd never been taught/socialized to empathize?

  Jason Anderson

  Librarian

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[Katy Horning wrote]
  I agree with you both that there is a far greater sense of hope in "The House of the Scorpion," but it's itneresting to me that many people I've talked to about Scorpion have said they feel the book falls apart at the end. I don't feel that it do es but for those of you out there who do, can you say why you think this is? Is it possibly because the hopefulness for the future that's introduced at the end?
  
   
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Received on Fri 24 Jan 2003 08:42:11 AM CST