Fireball by Robert Matzen

Currently on pg.182, chapter 27

I was born almost 25 years after Carole Lombard died. It is interesting to read about the woman that I was named after. I find the Hollywood morality expressed in this book a bit disturbing. I am unsure if today's Hollywood has the same definition of marriage that the Hollywood of 1930's and 1940's did. However, I am glad that I do not.

In the beginning of the book, the chapters flip-flop between Carole's death and her past. The furthest back the author goes is October of 1924 when Carole was 16 years old. She got into a car accident that left her with a scar on her face. So near the start of an acting career it seemed that it was over before it really began. With roughly 150 pages left in the book, the timeline of Carole's past has caught up to January 16, 1942. On that date, Carole died in a plane crash, along with 21 other individuals.

I am anxious to finish this book. I liked to read about Carole and her life, what she was like. I am not as interested in why the author thinks the plane crashed.

Fireball: Carole Lombard and the Mystery of Flight 3 by Robert Matzen

Interest Level: adult 

Reading Level: unknown
Lexile: unknown
Genre: non-fiction

I was named after Carole Lombard. So, I thought I would give this book a look-see. Due to the fact that no middle school student will even know who Carole Lombard is, I will not even be considering adding this book to the library collection. :)

Proxy by Alex London

Finished the book

I would give this book 4 1/2 stars out of 5 for mature 8th graders and older.

SPOILER ALERT - I think the parallels drawn between Syd and the Messiah are subtle and well done. The growth Knox shows in realizing that his situation was a result of choices he made and not his father's fault. There is a sequel. It is called Guardian. The reviews on the sequel were less than stellar. The sequel follows Syd as he deals with a post-Jubilee London.

Proxy by Alex London

Currently on pg. 289, chapter 38

One of my favorite things to do is read the books that they say are for 8th graders and up. That way I can make an educated decision on whether to add it to our middle school's library collection. I was so excited about this book. I thought this is going to be one to add and then.....page 288. I feel the lime that comment that the woman Maes gang member says to Syd is just too graphic for our middle school students. I will finish reading the book but will not be adding it to the library collection.

Proxy by Alex London

Currently on pg. 282, chapter 37

This a really good book. I think that most 8th graders would enjoy it. The fact that there is a gay character might not sit well with all middle school readers and/or their parents. However, so far there is nothing beyond very mild flirting. I would even recommend this book to mature 7th graders. Definitely high school students should pick this book up.

Knox is a great character. You want to hate him. You should hate him but he is strangely appealing. Syd is a related-able character; confused, trying to find not only himself but his place in the world. With less than 100 pages left in the book, the character Marie is still a bit of a mystery. Is she a radical, doing whatever she has to for her cause?