Napoli, Donna Jo. Breath.NAPOLI, Donna Jo. Breath. Simon & Schuster Simon & Schuster U.S. publishing company. It was founded in 1924 by Richard L. Simon (1899–1960) and M. Lincoln Schuster (1897–1970), whose initial project, the original crossword-puzzle book, was a best-seller. , Pulse. 260p. c2003. 0-689-86177-X. $5.99. JS* To quote the review of the hardcover in KLIATT, November 2003: Young Salz, who suffers from terrible coughs and often cannot catch his breath, lives in the medieval German town of Hameln. The town is going through a bad time: the farm animals have been falling ill, rats are rampant, the plague is starting to sweep through Europe, and the townsfolk have been afflicted af·flict tr.v. af·flict·ed, af·flict·ing, af·flicts To inflict grievous physical or mental suffering on. [Middle English afflighten, from afflight, with fits of madness. Salz, whose grandmother has always forbidden him to drink mead like everyone else because he is sickly, is unaffected by the madness, and therefore suspect. He is locked up by the townspeople, but saves himself by telling of a piper he encountered in the woods who has the power to charm the rats away. The piper is summoned, but when he is not paid in full, he retaliates by charming away all the children--all but Salz, who hasn't the breath to follow. It's essential to read Napoli's postscript, which reveals that Salz suffers from cystic fibrosis cystic fibrosis (sĭs`tĭk fībrō`sĭs), inherited disorder of the exocrine glands (see gland), affecting children and young people; median survival is 25 years in females and 30 years in males. , and that the rats are not the real culprits in the town's madness. Instead, it's a killer fungus called ergot ergot (ûr`gət), disease of rye and other cereals caused by the fungus Claviceps purpurea. The cottony, matlike body, or mycelium, of the fungus develops in the ovaries of the host plant; it eventually turns into a hard pink or purple that affects the flowers of grasses or grains, and therefore the mead made from grains; ergot poisoning can cause hallucinations Hallucinations Definition Hallucinations are false or distorted sensory experiences that appear to be real perceptions. These sensory impressions are generated by the mind rather than by any external stimuli, and may be seen, heard, felt, and even and fits of insanity, as well as stimulate sexual desire (this sexual licentiousness Acting without regard to law, ethics, or the rights of others. The term licentiousness is often used interchangeably with lewdness or lasciviousness, which relate to moral impurity in a sexual context. LICENTIOUSNESS. is touched on in the book). Napoli, the author of Beast and many other novels for young readers, has clearly done her research and she vividly evokes the harsh and superstitious medieval world. This version of the Pied Piper tale is nightmarish but memorable. (An ALA Best Book for YAs.) Paula Rohrlick, KLIATT J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers. S--Recommended for senior high school students. *--The asterisk highlights exceptional books. |
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