Compass in the Blood

Rating:
Summary: A Great Story for all Readers
Review: Compass in the Blood is the sort of a book young and old adults could enjoy, especially anyone who love mysteries.

Now I am not a person who particularly likes mysteries, but I loved Compass, in part because of the historical basis. Like many people I am more and more drawn to "creative non-fiction," and I was hooked into the story in part by my fascination with the Mrs Soffel story. What a great story that is,this old scandal involving a warden's wife who aids in a jailbreak. And how charming to ahve the story unfold throguh the research of a jigh school senior who starts off by doing a "term paper" on Mrs Soffel.

As a father of three and a person who has spent a career teaching college kids, I was drawn to the young "researchers"-Dee, Megan, and Cory-such a warm but realistic version of young people. Optimistic in ways, but accurate it seems to me. And I loved the relationship of Jury, their older employer/advisor to them-imaging so nicely the teacher-student partnership. As with Another Kind of Monday (Coles owonderful previous novel), I loved the echoes of the teaching life, the way this research project makes partners of the young and the old, makes them colleagues at the end (which puts a smile on my mind). This was one of the best books, most fun and fastest reads I have come across this year. I teach children's literature, and while this is a great book for young adults, it really is also a great book for anyone.

Rating:
Summary: not only for young adults
Review: I had never heard of this particular "true crime story" before reading this novel. Mr. Coles helps you see another side of this mystery - one that makes sense and is entirely believable. I enjoyed the interplay between Jury and the college students/sleuths. I would be interested in reading a sequel and seeing how these characters evolve. My only complaint (thus no 5th star) was the subplot with Dee's mom - fascinating stuff but it just went nowhere without resolution. I thought this relationship was ripe for further development. Good job, overall!

Rating:
Summary: not only for young adults
Review: I had never heard of this particular "true crime story" before reading this novel. Mr. Coles helps you see another side of this mystery - one that makes sense and is entirely believable. I enjoyed the interplay between Jury and the college students/sleuths. I would be interested in reading a sequel and seeing how these characters evolve. My only complaint (thus no 5th star) was the subplot with Dee's mom - fascinating stuff but it just went nowhere without resolution. I thought this relationship was ripe for further development. Good job, overall!

Rating:
Summary: not only for young adults
Review: I had never heard of this particular "true crime story" before reading this novel. Mr. Coles helps you see another side of this mystery - one that makes sense and is entirely believable. I enjoyed the interplay between Jury and the college students/sleuths. I would be interested in reading a sequel and seeing how these characters evolve. My only complaint (thus no 5th star) was the subplot with Dee's mom - fascinating stuff but it just went nowhere without resolution. I thought this relationship was ripe for further development. Good job, overall!

Rating:
Summary: More Pittsburgh historical fiction please
Review: I love historical fiction and actually bought this book without realizing it was a young adult book.

I thought the book was well written overall. I live in Pittsburgh and I have never heard this story. I enjoyed how the author unraveled the mystery for the reader. I don't think a 14-year-old would appreciate the ending like someone a little older would though. I myself was divided on it. I thought it was interesting and it agreed with Jury's personality... On the other hand I felt like I didn't get the ending, the answer to the main question in the book.

I agree with the other reviews (which I have now read) that the mom sub story should not be in the book and waste of good trees.

I do think this book is worth the paperback price. I am also interested in reading more of this author's books, hopefully with adult characters set in Pittsburgh.

Rating:
Summary: More Pittsburgh historical fiction please
Review: I love historical fiction and actually bought this book without realizing it was a young adult book.

I thought the book was well written overall. I live in Pittsburgh and I have never heard this story. I enjoyed how the author unraveled the mystery for the reader. I don't think a 14-year-old would appreciate the ending like someone a little older would though. I myself was divided on it. I thought it was interesting and it agreed with Jury's personality... On the other hand I felt like I didn't get the ending, the answer to the main question in the book.

I agree with the other reviews (which I have now read) that the mom sub story should not be in the book and waste of good trees.

I do think this book is worth the paperback price. I am also interested in reading more of this author's books, hopefully with adult characters set in Pittsburgh.