Armageddon Summer by Jane Yolen and Bruce Coville

Here is the book on Amazon.

One of the first reasons I picked up this book was because it is an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. I wanted to find a book that I could use in the classroom and manage to hold the interest of the majority of the class. In short, the plot is fairly simple. The book is told from the perspective of two young teens, Marina and Jed. At first it seems like the pair have nothing in common, but as we continue reading we discover that each of them has a parent involved in the same cause. Marina’s mother and Jed’s father are both involved in a Millennial cult. They are followers of Reverend Beelson, a cult leader who believes the world will end on July 27th, 2000. What happens beyond this is yours to discover...

I really liked how this book was written. Hearing the story told through two voices was really captivating and I could see how this book would be appropriate for all audiences, male and female. Interspersed between the narration of Marina and Jed are F.B.I. files, letters, excerpts from radio interviews, emails and sermons. This breaks up the continuity of the story and yet manages to add depth. I thought this book could easily be taught or used as a free-read because it has so many possibilities. It touches on religion, love, family, relationships, the idea of a Utopian society as well as the experience of being an adolescent in society.

I think the text is strong enough to stand on its own and has great things to offer in the classroom. I would definatly use this book in the classroom, but I am undecided about teaching it on its own, pairing it with another text or using it as an optional free-read. I think it will depend on the needs of my class and my students. In any case, this book is written by two outstanding authors. Jane Yolen has written The Devils Arithmetic and the picture book Owl Moon, so you may have heard of her. Bruce Coville has written many children’s and middle level books, including the “Sixth Grade Alien” series and numerous collections of ghost stories. Both authors are well respected in the writing community so it is just natural that their efforts together are successful. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to exploring the possibilities of using it in the classroom.