Bran Slocum stands out from the moment he arrives at Ridgewood High, with his oddly unfocused eye and his unusual mode of dress. The immediate target of bullies, he seems strangely aloof and untouched. Sixteen year old Molly Pepper, herself an outsider, is intrigued by his attitude and sets out to befriend him, persuading her best friend David to join her in reaching out to him. Molly and David begin to see that Bran is hiding some sort of secret, but they have no idea how shocking the secret is until the truth hits Ridgewood'?in headlines that put Bran and his new friends in terrible danger, as the whole town turns against them. Events spin out of control and fear spreads like a deadly contagion. Their friendship deepening as they face the plague of hatred together, Bran, Molly and David can only hope they will be able to stand against it.
When you read The Plague Year, many questions come to your mind - Have I done anything like this? Do I judge people because of their family? Do I listen to gossip and act before learning the truth? How would I feel if this were to happen to me? Stephanie Tolan raises those questions and more in her novel. Bran Slocum is an innocent boy whp eventually pays for the crimes of his father. Molly and David try to help him but do they succeed? This novel is indeed a "teaching" novel because you will learn many things about yourself, society, the media and about how others may view you. I highly recommend this book to all.
My Opinion On "Plague Year"
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 24 years ago
This was one of the better books I have ever read . My favorite part was when Bran was getting beat up at the quarry and they fell in the water, but nobody helped Nick after he killed Bran and Nick ended up drowning. I think the book had a good moral to it. It tells you not to judge people for the way they look or even by there family. I felt bad when Bran was getting beat up and harrassed by the whole town just because his dad was "supposedly" a serial killer. I would recommend this book to anyone.
Plague Year
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
I liked the book and the story captured me right from the beginning. This book was about rushing to judgement based on looks, and intolerance for someone who is different. It reminds me of what came out of Columbine. Bran is different and people don't want to accept him. Then they find out an awful truth about his father and in a rush to judgement decide he must be just like his father. This one I recommend to students from the 7th grade level up, as well as all teachers and parents.
Very impelling
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
I, like the other person who reviewed this book, read it in one sitting. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it completely dragged me in. It is frightening though to read, and to know what can happen when the adults, and not the children surrender all morality and humanity. I also came away from reading this book slightly scared, because i live in a small town community, and i know that something very similar could happen in my community.
A wonderful book, a good read
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 27 years ago
I read this book in one sitting, I must say, that I was surprized with this book. It is like what I see in the world. I think that anyone who is prejudiced against anything should read this, then you may see what can happen to your sleepy little community, I think that Ms. Tolan is a wonderful writer. I say this book should be read by all people who have prejiduce. Bravo! this is a wonderful bookInge Wyss
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