Monday, October 12, 2009

Artemis Fowl [sound recording], by Eoin Colfer

Artemis Fowl [sound recording], by Eoin Colfer. Read by Nathaniel Parker. New York: Random House/Listening Library, 2004 [first published print version: Viking 2001]. 5 CDs/6 hours, 7 minutes. ISBN-10: 1400085861.


“The Mud People destroyed everything they came into contact with. Of course they didn’t live in the mud anymore….Oh no. Big fancy dwellings with rooms for everything – rooms for sleeping, rooms for eating, even a room to go to the toilet! Indoors! Holly shuddered. Imagine going to the toilet inside your own house. Disgusting!” -CD 1 (p. 50 of printed version)


Reader's Annotation
Artemis Fowl, 12-year-old criminal mastermind, has set in motion an ingenious plan to capture a fairy, and eventually the legendary fairy gold for himself. He didn’t count on meeting Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon unit, however, who’s got some counter-plans of her own...

About the Author
Irish author Eoin Colfer loved reading history and stories about the Vikings as a child, and eventually became an elementary school teacher. Between 1992 and 1996 he worked in Saudi Arabia, Italy, and Tunisia, the last of which inspired his first book, Benny and Omar, published in 1998. Since Artemis Fowl was published in 2001, Colfer has been able to focus on writing full-time.

Genre
Fantasy, adventure

Reading Level/Interest Age
11 – 14 years

Plot Summary
Artemis Fowl II is a 12-year-old boy, the youngest member of a powerful Irish crime family, and possibly the most dastardly of his line yet. Aided by his assistant, Butler, and Butler’s sister Juliet (members of the Butler family have been trained as assistants to the Fowl family for as long as anyone can remember), Artemis has masterminded and implemented all manner of criminal plots for financial gain, and simply for the shear fun of it. He does worry quite a bit about his mother Angeline, however, who has not left her bedroom for quite some time due to mental health issues. Artemis’s latest plot is his most ambitious yet: to find and capture a fairy, whom he will then compel to lead him to the legendary fairy gold and thus become even wealthier than he already is. Enter Captain Holly Short, an elf and an astute and tenacious member of the subterranean fairy world’s reconnaissance team, LEPrecon. She’s been ordered by Commander Julius Root to recharge her fairy powers by completing the Ritual above-ground, where the Mud People (a.k.a. humans) live. Aided by friend and centaur Foaly and others, she’s chosen a spot in Ireland and is about to start the procedure. Unfortunately, Artemis has been researching fairy lifestyle and decoding their secrets, and is staking out various possible fairy recharging locations. What ensues is a no-holds-barred battle between fairies and humans, in which each character engages with his or her own distinct personality and agenda.

Series Note
Eoin Colfer’s subsequent books in this series are: (2) Artemis Fowl : The Arctic Incident, (3) Artemis Fowl : The Eternity Code, (4) Artemis Fowl : The Opal Deception, and (5) Artemis Fowl : The Lost Colony. And with Andrew Donkin, Colfer has also published Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel, illustrated by Giovanni Rigano and Paolo Lamanna.

Critical Evaluation
What stands out most for me in this fast-paced and often hysterical novel are the detailed, multi-faceted depictions of the main characters. Artemis Fowl II is a fairly selfish and highly intelligent 12-year-old who has a little too much free time on his hands due to lack of parental supervision. Having decided to relieve himself of the requirement of attending school, he devotes himself full-time to criminal enterprise. He does show growth in the novel, however, stopping at times to reflect on how his actions in life so far may be negatively affecting others. Captain Holly Short is the first female officer of the fairy reconnaissance squad, and while extremely intelligent and accomplished herself, she has botched a couple assignments due to her impulsiveness. She too grows in her ability to empathize with others, surprising even herself with new tender feelings toward humans. Both characters are good examples of how important it is to balance our own desires in life with those of others. In addition to characterization, Colfer’s detailed descriptions of many aspects of the novel in general draw the reader in: particularly of the setting of the underground fairy world and their beliefs and practices. The tone of the novel is darkly humorous, but never in a frightening way. And while there are a couple instances of graphic violence, it is never excessive, and is always in service to the plot. This is a suspenseful story with some surprise outcomes, and the addition of an encoded message (in the print version) for readers to figure out increases the fun. Irish actor Nathaniel Parker reads this audio version very expressively and with great comedic timing.

Booktalking Ideas
• Summarize the plot from Captain Holly Short’s point of view, suggesting her independent nature.
• Give an episode booktalk about Artemis’s interrogation of Holly, including his at moments remorseful thoughts.
• Give a character booktalk as Juliet Butler, with all her humorous conceitedness.

Curriculum Ideas:
• History/Language Arts: There is an encoded message running along the end of each page in the novel’s printed version. Students can study historical uses of code and create a classroom code together.
• Literature: Students study both historical and modern fairy lore, and write their own stories containing fantastical characters.
• Ecology: The fairies and humans in the novel have different beliefs/practices re the environment. Students can discuss these differences, brainstorm ways to better care for our environment, and put some of these ideas into practice in the classroom.

Potential Challenge Issue & Defense
Somewhat graphic violence:
• Become familiar enough with the book’s content to promote its literary merits.
• Refer to library’s collection development policy.
• Refer to book reviews from authoritative sources such as ALA, School Library Journal, etc.
• Obtain book reviews from tweens who have heard/read the novel.

Why I Chose This Book
The idea of a 12-year-old criminal mastermind sounded very entertaining, as did Colfer’s take on fairy lifestyle. And I’ve met many library patrons, both children and adults, who are devoted to this series.

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