Rating: 
Summary: Since when did volcanoes make the whole world come to an end
Review: That's just my opinion, and you doubtless have your own. Our sixth grade Language Arts teacher reads five books aloud to the class. They were Touching Spirit Bear, Witness, Memory Boy, A Step from Heaven, and Surviving Hitler. Of those five, this is without a doibt my least favorite, but I'm the only one in my class who feels this way. I didn't like the mine character (Miles), and this is a major turn-off. His sarcastic, disrespectful nature and the way he treats others (particularly his sister) irritated me. I didn't feel that the story had any real ending, because I felt that the family was no better off in this apocalyptic world than they were before. I liked the concept of the volcanic eruption that threatens to engulf the planet in chaos. I feel that the writing was often unclear and difficult to follow, particularly the beffudling way that it switches from one time to another. Overall, I though this was a good read, but a really don't plan on reading it again, and I think it could have been a bit better.
Rating: 
Summary: Judge a book by its cover? YES!
Review: The Memory Boy novel I read had an illustration of Miles' invention on the cover. This picture annoyed me because it did not give me the chance to conjure up the contraption in my own head. One of the reasons I read is to imagine what the author is describing with words. I do not want pictures showing me what I should think!
Though I know the publisher--not the author--decides what should be on the cover, (and I know covers have an influence concerning marketing) the author's opinion should be considered. Certainly Mr. Weaver would have brought it to the publishers' attention the cover is not factual (the goat was NOT riding with the family when they left Minneapolis!). My only conclusion to this perplexity is the cover's illustrator either did not read the novel, or he thought thwarting the author's work would sell more books. Memory Boy was creative, exciting, fun, and one I will use in the middle school classroom. Not only will my students read the novel, but I also see an interesting project evolving from the publisher's mistake: "Do you judge a book by its cover?" In this case, yes, I do.
Rating:
Summary: Memorialize "His" Memory
Review: The year - 2008. Volcanic ash has been falling for nearly three years worldwide. Food and fuel has been rationed as large cities have become wastelands of crime and endless chaos. Sixteen-year-old Miles Newell, along with his sister Sarah and their mother and father, set out to leave their large home in Minneapolis for their "safe" summer cottage in the country. The family takes off on the Ali Princess, an invention that Miles created all on his own. This mobile apparatus gets the family to their desired destination, however, they do not find what they were looking for. Miles has to rely on his "memory" of his talks with Mr. Kurtz, an elderly man that he (Miles)encounters in a senior citizen's home, to help his family survive in the Minnesota wilderness. Miles refers to his family as the futuristic Swiss Family Robinson and one could add with futuristic criminals. Miles comes to see what his own "talents" are and how he has to use them to save his family. I would recommend this fast-paced futuristic survival story for ages 12 and up.
Rating: 
Summary: Memory Boy
Review: The year is 2008, the world is nearly unliveable due to natural disaster, society is on the verge of a major breakdown, and the only people a boy can count on are his family. What a great story for boys and girls of all ages. I loved this book. I thought the story itself was very interesting and the strong undercurrents dealing with the importance of family made my reading experience even better. I finished this book with a feeling of happines and a longing for home. Science fiction lovers - you won't be able to put it down!
Rating:
Summary: Memory Boy
Review: The year is 2008, the world is nearly unliveable due to natural disaster, society is on the verge of a major breakdown, and the only people a boy can count on are his family. What a great story for boys and girls of all ages. I loved this book. I thought the story itself was very interesting and the strong undercurrents dealing with the importance of family made my reading experience even better. I finished this book with a feeling of happines and a longing for home. Science fiction lovers - you won't be able to put it down!
Rating:
Summary: Memory Boy
Review: Two years ago volcanic explosions happened all over the world and the Cascade Mountains exploded. Now Miles and his family have to survive the treacherous conditions. Latter Miles and his family have to leave their home and go to their cabin in the woods up north because people in the city are going crazy and killing others. The book switches from what is going on currently with the family and when Miles is in ninth grade and the eruptions are going on. I liked this book because I felt like I was part of the book and it was really hard to put down.
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