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Maggot Moon
Summary
On the other side of the wall there is a dark secret.
And the devil.
And the Moon Man.
And the Motherland doesn't want anyone to know.
But Standish Treadwell, who has different-colored eyes, who "can't read, can't write, Standish Treadwell isn't bright," sees things differently than the rest of the "train-track thinkers." So when Standish and his only friend and neighbor, Hector, make their way to the other side of the wall, they see what the Motherland has been hiding.
And it's big.
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Reviews
Weird, a bit too weird for my liking. Frick Fracking Hell!
What a dreary -what if Hitler won- story of a dyslexic youth whose parents and only friend have been disappeared and whose only comforts are his grandfather and his imaginings. Tales of the horrors of repression really only interest me 1) the the oppression was real and not speculative or 2) are written by Ursula Le Guin or an author of similar quality, if any.This is the second book in a row I've read with an odd eyed main character, one brown one blue. Weird.
Although I vaguely liked this book, I would still only give it 3 stars. I found the pictures on the pages of the rat dying depressing, and found myself racing ahead to find out what actually happened to said rat. This, to me, says that Maggot Moon was not a particularly engaging book - and five days later, writing a review, I cannot even recall the ending.
I put this book off for as long as possible (as well as A Boy and a Bear in a Boat), due to the cover appearing childish; and was not surprised to find the book's two main characters were younger teenaged boys. This book was clearly not aimed at me; and unlike Midwinterblood, could only be enjoyed by the one whom it was aimed at. Thus, I did not enjoy this book as much as I could have.
Having said this, the description and speech was sound - although the tiny chapters, often shorter than a page, were annoying and encouraged skim reading.
The setting was also engaging, as we never quite find out what happened for such a society to come about in the 50's. It seems to be something of a dystopian alternate universe, showing strange similarities to Nazi Germany, leading me to believe the society was born through the Germans winning the war, or something equally different to reality. One decision really can change the world. I believe had the main characters not been who they are, I would have enjoyed the story a lot more.
This book places a solid last on my list of carnegie books 2013 I want to win.
I put this book off for as long as possible (as well as A Boy and a Bear in a Boat), due to the cover appearing childish; and was not surprised to find the book's two main characters were younger teenaged boys. This book was clearly not aimed at me; and unlike Midwinterblood, could only be enjoyed by the one whom it was aimed at. Thus, I did not enjoy this book as much as I could have.
Having said this, the description and speech was sound - although the tiny chapters, often shorter than a page, were annoying and encouraged skim reading.
The setting was also engaging, as we never quite find out what happened for such a society to come about in the 50's. It seems to be something of a dystopian alternate universe, showing strange similarities to Nazi Germany, leading me to believe the society was born through the Germans winning the war, or something equally different to reality. One decision really can change the world. I believe had the main characters not been who they are, I would have enjoyed the story a lot more.
This book places a solid last on my list of carnegie books 2013 I want to win.
Standish Treadwell has one blue eye & one brown eye..he also can't read or write. Standish is dyslexic...he is different. He & his gramps live in Area 7-- a gutted, economically depressed segement of the city where those who are "different" are sent.But Standish has a good brain & listens to everything. He & Gramps live from hand to mouth- never knowing when they will have food. Gramps however has mastered surviving in the desolate area. Standish goes to a school where he witnesses a student kicked to death by a teacher. As he is one of the known trouble makers in the school he is singled out for expulsion. Within minutes his house is searched. Now Standish makes a decision to call the bluff of this government. The government is headed by a man with a bad haircut- citizens salute with a straight arm. A dark story- great main character.
A book that got better and better as I got further into it, culminating in a strong ending. Quite thought provoking in places.
I have to admit I have never read anything like this book before. A Nazi regime type society in the fifties, in Great Britain where the country is divided into zones but where an amazing young man, who also happens to be dyslexic and not overly bright, lives. Standish Treadwell, a character I will not soon forget, loves metaphors and tries to do the right thing in a place where knowing how to do that is not easy or often rewarded. This novel is brutal and though YA, definitely not for the younger group of that genre, killings and beatings, people go missing, children are killed but those remaining try to foil the plans of the Motherland every chance they get. The book is a complete package, with small illustrations in black and white of flies, rats and poison. I found out it was almost like one of those flicker books, with the pictures moving when the pages are flipped. The book did not have a solid sense of connection, never explains how it got this way or why, that could be a problem for some readers, but for me I just loved Standish Treadwell and his grandpa.
This is a quick read and I finished it in one day. A young boy named Standish is dyslexic and bullied at his school. However, this story is set within Zone 7 of the Motherland, a burnt-out English village under Hitler's control. He and his grandfather barely survive while holding onto their principles. People are scared and commit violent, shocking crimes. Standish makes a friend in a family of scientists recently banned to Zone 7 who helps him recognize his gifts of imagination and bravery.
PLUS - * A really unusual story, dystopian, but set in the past rather than the future. * Wonderful, well written central character. Our narrator, Standish Treadwell is a dyslexic teenager, who finds himself standing up to the tyrannical authorities. He's an unusual hero... thank goodness! * Simply written, short chapters keep the pace trotting along. * It's a tense, exciting and thought provoking look at friendship and family, deciding what you believe in and defending it in extreme circumstances. MINUS - * It's pretty violent, and has some bad language in places. It's only ever in context and entirely relevant to the story but some people might find that an issue. Be aware if you're thinking of buying it for younger children. OVERALL - * Totally original and highly recommended. A fantastic read for anyone ages 13+.
Narrated by Robert Madge. Sometimes I can't get into British books and this is one of them. Might have gotten into it more if I had read it. It's edgy and dark.
very strange book but one you can't put down
Readers will be wrapped in the same heavy blanket of sadness and oppression that permeates these characters' lives. Set in a post World War II alternate history where the Allies clearly lost, the "Mother country" plans to present the world with a faked moon landing, thereby asserting its dominance. So clandestine is this operation that 15 year old Standish and his grandfather have no idea this is going on, despite being a wall away from the soundstage, hidden in the large old house next door. When events conspire to force an escape from the neighborhood, Standish realizes he alone may have the power to reveal a hoax to the world.
A dark tale of brave deeds, suffering and sacrifice. 2013 Carnegie Medal winner.
A dark tale of brave deeds, suffering and sacrifice. 2013 Carnegie Medal winner.
I completely and utterly confused this with another book in a way that made these so completely confusing you cannot believe (the book was expecting was a contemporary piece on a skateboarder that had parts of it in graphic novel format so I was super surprised it was available as an audio book.) Obviously this was not that.
The book was incredibly moving and sad and I actually found myself wondering if this was taking place in the past or the future for a lot of it. Eventually I think I figured it out.
The book was incredibly moving and sad and I actually found myself wondering if this was taking place in the past or the future for a lot of it. Eventually I think I figured it out.
I wasn't feeling very well as I read this short novel. There are some very moving scenes and the plot moves relentlessly downhill. Standish is an unusual protagonist but overall I was left wanting more.
Grim, chilling, and compelling.
Standish Treadwell can't read very well, or write very well, either. But that doesn't mean he isn't smart and the certainly doesn't mean that he clueless about what's going on. He knows the high-ups who have taken over his home country are trying to stage the first moon landing to show the rest of the world that they are a force to be reckoned with. And he also knows that if you step out of line, your punishment will be death. But Standish is ready to risk everything to save his country and his best friend Hector by showing the world how weak and how fake the ruling Motherland really is.
15 year old Standish Treadwell lives with his grandpa in a down-trodden zone in the 1950s. The harsh Motherland governs everyone and everything very closely. As the country prepares to air its landing on the moon, Standish's friend Hector disappears when going after a football on the other side of the wall. This put together with the tonguelessmoon man that his grandpa is hiding and agents threatening their lives, leads Standish to stand up to the Motherland and do the only thing he can think of to get the truth out to fellow countrymen. This surreal book is reminiscent of Germany after WWII and has some gruesome parts. Recommended for students ages 12 & up.
Simply breathtaking. This book carried me away into a harsh world where humanity and love are found in its amazing characters. Well written and heartbreaking.
In an alternate 1950s world, Standish Treadwell has been branded as unteachable. He can't read despite the fact that he has a perfect memory (author is dyslexic). In this world, children are beaten and Standish steps between an abusive teacher and a classmate. (Good teachable moment for anti-bullying) He lives in Zone 7 where people exist on scraps and most of the dwellings have been flattened. His parents were taken away so Standish lives with his grandfather. In their basement hides an astronaut whose tongue had been removed.The Motherland is about to show the rest of the world their supremacy by broadcasting the first ever manned landing on the moon. However, Standish discovers this is a hoax and is determined to show this to the world.The reader follows the story as the life cycle of a fly is illustrated on the pages in a flip page format. With so many bizarre things going on it was a little perplexing in the beginning trying to sort out the wheres and hows but just following along gets the reader the gist of the story.
Standish Treadwell lives under an oppressive regime in The Motherland and experiences horrors at school before being expelled and making the tough decision to rebel against his country for the good of its people. Flashbacks give insight into Standish's life before his parents and best friend were taken away by the government. Readers will press on in spite of some difficult content; the text is as compelling as it is horrifying. For another tale about someone resisting an oppressive government, try Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin.
Dyslexic, fifteen year-old Standish Treadwill sees the world differently than most people. After his best friend disappears, Standish starts to piece together the secrets beyond the wall regarding a moon landing that the Motherland is hiding and he assembles a plan of opposition. Set in a historical dystopia, this dark story reveals themes of rebellion, opposition, totalitarianism, imagination, and the power of friendship. The plot builds slowly but steadily as the reader discovers, along with the protagonist, just what the big secret is. Small illustrations in an almost flipbook style accompany the text on each page where a new, brief chapter begins. This chapter book is most suitable for a mature, older audience of ages sixteen and older due to the occasional expletive as well as the violent, disturbing, and graphic nature of sections of the text. Despite the resolution at the close of the book, readers may find the ending to be unsatisfying.
Alternate history dystopia (what if Germany had won WWII and ruled England?). The repetition of the circular narrative gets old pretty quickly, and I'm not at all sure that the can't read/can't write-but-quite-clever narrative voice works. However, the bi/gay love story is touching, even more so because it isn't the focus of the plot, but merely that Standish/Hector story is, like Katniss/Peeta, an important emotional beat in the background of the fight against fascism. Extremely fast paced because of the short chapters, I'd say this was more for a younger YA crowd (15/16 rather than 18/19 like Hunger Games). TEACHERS: pair this with Night by Wiesel for an interesting effect, I'd say. Recommended.
In an alternate history, England has been taken over by an oppresive motherland from the east. To prove their power, the motherland is about to stage a moon landing.