Title City of Bones: The Mortal Instruments book 1
Author Cassandra Clare
ISBN 9787416955078
Publication Information Simon Pulse: New York, 2007
Plot Summary- Clary Fray witnesses a murder that no one else can see. This strange event thrusts her into a world she did not know existed, a world of demons, downworlders, and Shadowhunters. Shortly after this strange event, her mother disappears and she if forced to team up with Jace, a Shadowhunter. She quickly realizes that she, too, is also a Shadowhunter, but had no significant memories of her early life because they have been wiped clean by a Warlock. As her memories slowly drift back, she realizes that she must defend her best friend, deal with the emotions of two boys who are interested in her, rescue her mother, and discover her real past.
Critical Evaluation- This novel is one of many newer novels that mixes fantasy with the contemporary world. Clary, the protagonist of this novel, is a typical teenager. She lives with her single mother and is constantly at odd with her because mom wants to know where she is all the time. The male protagonist, Jace, is jaded and hurt by life's events, but he hides it behind a façade of bravado. Clare's ability to develop conflict between these sets of characters is quite realistic and interesting. Add to that the mix of fantasy elements, demons, vampires, werewolves, and warlocks, and the book is destined to be a hit with teenage readers already taken in with novels like Twilight. Some plot elements are somewhat transparent to advanced readers, but they are easy to overlook in light of the rest of the novel.
AWARDS:
Book One: City of Bones, Simon and Schuster, 2007
- A New York Times Bestseller
- Finalist for the Locus Award for Best First Novel of 2007
- An American Library Association Teens Top Ten Award winner, 2008
- A Georgia Peach Book Award Honor Book for Teen Readers
- Winner of The 2010 Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award
- A Texas TAYSHAS title 2010
- Shortlisted for the 2010 Evergreen Young Adult Book Award
- Shortlisted for The 2010 Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award
- Shortlisted for The North Carolina School Library Media Association Young Adult Book Award
- Grand Canyon Reader Award Nominee (Teen) 2010
- Iowa High School Book Award Nominee 2009-2010
- North Carolina YA Book Award Nominee 2009-2010
- New Hampshire Flume Teen Reader's Choice Award Nominee, 2010
- Nevada Young Readers' Award Nominee 2010
- Ohio Buckeye Teen Book Award Nominee, 2009
- Oregon Young Adult Network Book Rave Reading List Title 2008
- South Carolina Young Adult Book Award Nominee 2009-2010
- The Pacific Northwest Library Association's Young Reader's Choice Award Nominee 2010
Reader's Annotation- When Clary Fray witnesses a murder she isn't supposed to see, she finds herself in a world she never knew existed. Can she survive it long enough to save her mother?
Author Information- Cassandra Clare has lead an interesting and amazing life. She has literally traveled the world, including living in her father's backpack as a baby while he was hiking the Himalayas. She has set this novel series in her favorite city Manhattan, but her future series will be set in Europe, where she spent much of her childhood.
Curricular Ties- none
Genre- urban fantasy
Book talking ideas- Is mixing fantasy and reality effective? Why do we find ourselves drawn to novels about the supernatural world?
Challenge issues
- Re-read the text to familiarize myself with the story
- Ask parents for their specific objections (they are required to file that with our school district)
- Review approved books list from California Department of Education for similar materials
- Review approaches from ALA
Interest Age
Why I selected this piece- Honestly, I selected this novel at the store because the cover was interesting and it is the genre I loved as a teenager myself.
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