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Summary: Favorite book of one of my favorite authors
Review: A great science fiction book whether you're a young person or an adult. One of the best things about Hoover's books is her ability to pull a reader into the story. We don't need descriptions of the city and why things are as they are because the kids don't know any of that; the reader discovers details about the world in the book as the kids discover them. While I like most of the books by this author that I've read (I haven't been able to get all of them at our local library), I think this one and Children of Morrow are best at demonstrating that can't-put-it-down quality.
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Summary: yes!
Review: I am so happy this book is coming back into print! March 2003, I can't wait. This is a great book.. . buy it!
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Summary: Wonderful story
Review: I bought this book from a book sale at our local library as I was a fan of H M Hoover's works. Since then, it has been read and re-read. The themes in this book, like so many of her's, appeal to old and young alike. The escape of Axel and Amy to a life beyond the city is fast paced and cannot be put down. As each revelation unfolds, I found myself hooked. It is a shame that such a wonderful, beautiful book is no longer in print. I highly recommend this story
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Summary: Favorite Childhood book
Review: I can remember my 4th grade teacher reading this book to our class when I was around 10 years old. I immediately fell in love with it. It is just a well written childrens' book, with this strange futuristic plot that just pulls you in and makes you wonder, what if? about the future. I have read and reread this book until the local library discarded it. I still read this book, and it is one of the only books from my childhood that I can still clearly remember. I am graduating from college now, and looking to buy an out of print copy to share with my children someday. Great book.
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Summary: Awsome
Review: I can't believe this book hasn't received more recognition. Its outstanding! The entire feel of This Time of Darkness is intense, stark and unembellished. Its charged with mood and atmosphere, and it elicits very strong, genuine emotions. SUCH an improvement over the sterile kids books we were forced to read in school.
Hoover does not use her novel as a vehicle for preaching. Though there are definite messages conveyed within the context of the story, her first intention was to TELL a story, not to lecture or moralize at children. Too often, kids books that deal with complex issues make the plot secondary to the point they are trying to force. Not so here.
Best of all, this book isn't condescending. Hoover obviously respects children, and understands that their capacity for emotional and intellectual understanding is quite high. I truly appreciated the no-nonsense, this-is-how-things-are approach when I was little.
Rating:
Summary: Awsome
Review: I can't believe this book hasn't received more recognition. Its outstanding! The entire feel of This Time of Darkness is intense, stark and unembellished. Its charged with mood and atmosphere, and it elicits very strong, genuine emotions. SUCH an improvement over the sterile kids books we were forced to read in school. Tuck Everlasting? Please.
Hoover does not use her novel as a vehicle for preaching. Though there are definite messages conveyed within the context of the story, her first intention was to TELL a story, not to lecture or moralize at children. Too often, kids books that deal with complex issues make the plot secondary to the point they are trying to force. Not so here.
Best of all, this book isn't condescending. Hoover obviously respects children, and understands that their capacity for emotional and intellectual understanding is quite high. I truly appreciated the no-nonsense, this-is-how-things-are approach when I was little.
I think The Giver borrowed from this book a bit. I mean, how many dystopian children's novels are OUT there? For the record, this one came first, and its the better of the two.
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Summary: Help this fantastic book get more exposure! Read how.
Review: I discovered this book (synopsis below) in the late '80's when I was substitute teaching, and quickly discovered it was out of print when I tried to order it - though the author gave me written permission to photocopy it for classroom use, I ended up finding 2 ... hardcover copies over the years (worth lots of bucks now!), and am very excited to see that it is coming back into print, as it has become one of my favorites. I am contacting [book club] ([website]) and [book club] (call [phone number]to ask for their e-mail address to send book recommendations) to recommend that they offer it through their school book orders - if they give this book that much exposure, it will probably never go out of print again, so I would encourage others to also contact these two companies.Synopsis:
Life never changes for Amy in the aging underground city of the future. Every day she must sit at the classroom computer with headphones and listen to indoctrination about being loyal to the city. But then she meets Axel, a new boy who is strange and withdrawn. Although Amy has always believed as she has been told, that every level of the city is the same, Axel tells her that this is not true. Axel even claims to have lived on the surface, but that can't be true -- the surface has been uninhabitable for hundreds of years! Can she believe him? As her life worsens, can she afford not to? ...
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Summary: All time favorite
Review: I first read this book when I was 10 years old (some 16 years ago) and still count it as one of my all time favorites. A grot plot, complete with conspiracies, pre-adolescent sexual tensions, issues with authority, and political mystery make this an excellent semi-sci-fi thriller for any age. A reprint is a moral imperative.
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Summary: Yesssss! Yesssssss! New edition coming!
Review: I read this as a teenager, having randomly grabbed it off a library shelf one day. It made quite an impression on me, but I didn't think much about it until years later. Once I thought back to the story and how deeply I enjoyed it and identified with the characters, I started tearing around used-book websites for a copy of my own. I quickly discovered that the scare out-of-print copies were *expensive*, but even so I contemplated breaking the bank. Imagine my elation to discover that the book was scheduled for a reprint! It's been awhile since I've read Darkness, but a few things by way of summary. The population of Darkness' world has been dramatically seperated between the "haves" and the "have-nots," and each live without any knowledge of the others' situation. The main characters dare to question where noone else does (a special talent of the young). This leads them on a fantastic adventure and finally to the truth. Darkness can in some ways be compared to "The Giver," by Lois Lowry, another excellent sci-fi, futuristic YA novel. Also like The Giver, it's a society where good intentions have gone bad. Aside from these elements, Darkness covers different territory from the Giver, but I won't give too much away. They are both exceptional stories and I wouldn't want to do without either. This Time of Darkness is wonderful book for anyone who likes to lose themselves in a great story. I couldn't forget it all these years...
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Summary: Unforgettable
Review: I remember reading and absolutely loving this book when I was young (and let's just say I am definately not young anymore, yet still absolutely love it!) The attention to detail and intricate story about a future society will really grab any reader, young or old. Over the years I have thought of it and made attempts to find and purchase it without success. It became my "white whale" of sorts, and I am extremely glad to have finally found it again! It is a book that I will pass around to friends and to future generations.
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