I just finished the book series UGLIES by Scott Westerfeld. I laughed, I cried, and I still cannot decide whether I loved it or hated it. But perhaps those are the best books to read. It definitely made me think.
The "suggested age" on these books is 7 and up. I know, a little young, but that's how almost all my favorite books are. Not because I read on a 7 year old level, but it seems that those are the only books that are free of sex and foul language. I wouldn't say it was a children's book in the sense that the majority of the Shannon Hale books are (which I love also), but it was more on the level of books such as Enchantress from the Stars, The Host, and Ender's Game. All of which I also loved. It's a futuristic book but still realistic--in a sense.
Before reading Harry Potter I told myself I'd NEVER read any sci-fi, fantasy, futuristic books. They didn't appeal to me in any sense. Then I read HP and fell in love. Then I read Ender's Game and was smitten. My love affair has proceeded from there. I only like to read books that are relatable--in as much as I can relate to a boy wizard...
Somehow I still get turned off when someone suggests a book and tells me it is sci-fi or fantasy, but I guess I better get over that because those are really some of my very favorite books.
And just for the record, I used the phrase "science fiction" the other day to describe a book I'd read and the person I was talking to told me I was wrong to use that phrase because it only applies to books about aliens and space. I then didn't know what to call the book because I wouldn't say it was "fantasy" it was just "futuristic" but that isn't a genre. So I looked up science fiction and this is what it said: Science fiction is a genre of fiction. It differs from fantasy in that, within the context of the story, its imaginary elements are largely possible within scientifically established or scientifically postulated laws of nature (though some elements in a story might still be pure imaginative speculation). Therefore, futuristic books are science fiction in the means that their elements are possible (blaah blaah blaah) but it may have nothing to do with space.
The "suggested age" on these books is 7 and up. I know, a little young, but that's how almost all my favorite books are. Not because I read on a 7 year old level, but it seems that those are the only books that are free of sex and foul language. I wouldn't say it was a children's book in the sense that the majority of the Shannon Hale books are (which I love also), but it was more on the level of books such as Enchantress from the Stars, The Host, and Ender's Game. All of which I also loved. It's a futuristic book but still realistic--in a sense.
And just for the record, I used the phrase "science fiction" the other day to describe a book I'd read and the person I was talking to told me I was wrong to use that phrase because it only applies to books about aliens and space. I then didn't know what to call the book because I wouldn't say it was "fantasy" it was just "futuristic" but that isn't a genre. So I looked up science fiction and this is what it said: Science fiction is a genre of fiction. It differs from fantasy in that, within the context of the story, its imaginary elements are largely possible within scientifically established or scientifically postulated laws of nature (though some elements in a story might still be pure imaginative speculation). Therefore, futuristic books are science fiction in the means that their elements are possible (blaah blaah blaah) but it may have nothing to do with space.
