The Girl Mechanic of Wanzhou

The Girl Mechanic of Wanzhou is a realistic fiction novel written by Marjorie Sayer takes place in the ancient Chinese city of Wanzhou in 1912. The main character is Zun, a twelve year old girl whose father is a mechanic. Her father was onto a revolutionary breakthrough on the way bicycles were built. Suddenly, her life turns upside down when her father is seriously injured by the Magistrate's men. He is taken away to the unknown and Zun believes him to be dead. Furthermore, her mother is captured and imprisoned. Desperate to save her, Zun goes on an impossible mission with the help of some old family friends whom she had no clue existed. When I read this book, I truly felt as though I was in ancient China, seeing and smelling what Zun saw and smelled. I especially loved the vivid picture that Ms. Sayer created for us. Action-packed and thrilling, I'd recommend it for readers aged 10+. 

Animal Farm

"Man is the only creature that consumes without producing. He does not give milk, he does not lay eggs, he is too weak to pull the plough, he cannot run fast enough to catch rabbits. Yet he is lord of all the animals. He sets them to work, he gives back to them the bare minimum that will prevent them from starving, and the rest he keeps for himself. "

My father told me that movies that won't leave your head for a while after seeing them; movies that make you think; movies that change your perspective on things, are called "heavy movies". In this case, you can say that this book by George Orwell, is a "heavy book". The story takes place in a farm, Manor Farm, to be exact, where the farmer doesn't give much attention to the welfare of the animals on his farm. This sparks outrage among the animals after sometime, leading to a movement called the Rebellion. After planning for some time, the animals revolted against the farmer and drove him out of his farm. Needless to say, the animals managed the farm quite well. There were few rules and most of them cooperated well. But the farmer was not to give up. He soon returned with more people, but the farm dwellers fought them off with valiance and zeal. After this, there were many problem and hurdles that the animals had to overcome, but they pushed through them with courage and bravery. This book changes your perspective on animals completely. I would say that it is for kids 10+ because there are quite a few violent and gruesome scenes described to perfection. If you do know any animal abusers out there, first contact the police, then give them a copy of Animal Farm!

Room

This novel by Emma Donoghue, depicts the life of an ordinary mother and child. The mother, who had been kidnapped when she was in her college years, was imprisoned in a small shed in the backyard of her captor. There, after a few years, she gave birth to a small boy. As he had grown in the small 11x11 room, he believed it to be the world, literally! Jack (the boy) thought that if he opened the door, he would be floating in outer space. He had a TV and saw pictures of other people, but believed them to be imaginary. In this Room, Jack studies, plays, eats and sleeps. He loves Room to death, but only his mother knows the pain of being stuck there for eight years. Finally, on his fifth birthday, his mother tells him the truth about the outside world. He doesn't believe her at all and starts to crib. But when they try to make an escape plan to get out of there, he turns serious. The first plan fails, but then when they try again, the Great Escape works miraculously, and he is out in the world. It is a beautiful story, nothing like the others I have ever read. I thought that the idea and setting was just creative and innovating. It is suitable for kids and adults of all ages, classified in Realistic Fiction (by me).