Sun Signs

by Shelley Hrdlitschka

Unable to attend school while she battles cancer, fifteen-year-old Kaleigh Wyse tries to complete her classes online by correspondence. Developing a science project on astrology, Kaleigh enlists other online learners as study participants. What starts as a collaborative and supportive project based on the scientific method, slowly becomes unwieldy and then flawed when it is apparent that all the project participants are hiding vital clues about their identities. As Kaleigh struggles with the effects of chemotherapy and radiation, she is forced to examine the assumptions she has made about others and the manner in which she presents herself to the world. Sun Signs is a compelling story that examines the danger of blind faith in an electronic age and the ease with which our identities, in the absence of traditional clues, can shift and change.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2004

About the author

Shelley discovered her love for children’s literature while teaching school. This inspired her to write her own books, and she is now the author of eleven novels for teens, all published by Orca Book Publishers.

Shelley lives in North Vancouver, British Columbia. When she’s not reading or writing she can be found hiking, snowshoeing, practising yoga, Zumba dancing or hanging out with the grizzly bears at the Grouse Mountain Refuge for Endangered Wildlife.

Reviews

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: https://hiplibrariansbookblog.com/201...

[Linda Chen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book 'Sun Signs' is about a fifteen year old girl named Kaleigh Wyse who is unable to attend normal school while she is battling cancer. So she tries to complete her classes online through a correspondence program. Developing a science project on astrology, Kaleigh enlists other online learners as study participants. What starts as a collaborative and supportive project based on the scientific method, slowly becomes unwieldy and then flawed when it is apparent that all the project participants are hiding vital clues about their identities. As Kaleigh struggles with the effects of chemotherapy and radiation, she is forced to examine the assumptions she has made about others and the manner in which she presents herself to the world. Sun Signs is a compelling story that examines the danger of blind faith in an electronic age and the ease with which our identities, in the absence of traditional clues, can shift and change. I found the book not so appealing to be because I don't really under stand the Sun Signs. I would recommend this book to anyone who understands and takes passion in the Sun Signs.

[Malak · Rating 4 out of 5]

J'adore les romans épistolaires. C'est encore mieux quand les échanges entre les personnages est à partir des courriels, des messageries textes ou "chat". Je suis consciente qu’il y a des personnes qui ne considèrent pas ce type de romans comme un genre valant être reconnu comme de la littérature. Mais, personnellement, je crois que cette forme est simplement la version moderne des échanges de lettres dans les siècles passés.

Ce qui est magnifique dans ce roman c'est le mélange entre les courriels et les entrées de journal de Kaleigh. Ce qui est encore plus magnifique encore c'est que ces entrées de journal sont destinées à sa jumelle immortelle puisque son signe zodiaque est Gémeaux. J'ai beaucoup aimé cette partie puisque moi-même je destine mes entrées de journal à une personne imaginaire ( je suis pas folle :p). C'est comme permettre à une autre personne inconnue de garder ton secret pour l’éternité. Ce livre a aussi répondue à une idée que j'avais pour un bout de temps. Je voulais tester l'astrologie, mais Sun Signs l'a fait pour moi!!! Il ne faut pas croire l'horoscope même s'il semblent vrai.

L'évolution des personnages est très bien faite, malgré que j’aie eu un peu de mal à suivre les noms virtuels des personnages et savoir qui est qui. Mes personnages préférés sont 2good4u et Blondeshavemorefun. Ce sont deux gars, l'un s'invente une nouveau personnage virtuel alors que l'autre montre sa vraie personnalité.
Peut-être plusieurs seront étonnés que j’aie mis un tel roman dans le même catégorie que celle de Bouvard et Pécuchet l'œuvre centrale de Flaubert. Je l'ai choisi comme favoris, car il a touché le cœur de la petite adolescente que j'étais et m'a transmis beaucoup d'émotions et de plaisir. Les relations virtuelles entre Kaleigh et Jamie est sincère. Jamie fait son possible pour gagner la confiance de Kaleigh qui passe par des moments difficiles.

En quelques mots, histoire originale, relations intéressantes, style d'écriture moderne.

[Jessica-Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book for me to read because at the time that I found it I had just quit attending regular school to do my courses online via correspondence because I was sick. My courses were not nearly as interactive or drama filled as they were in this book, but it did make me feel less weird and alone. The idea that other kids were in a similar circumstance to me was nice to see. However, because I read this so very, very long ago I don't remember much else about it. I enjoyed the story, but the plot and characters aren't standing out in my mind enough for me to write about them with any sort of authority.

[Debby · Rating 3 out of 5]

The format of the this book was truly unique. It consists of emails between students who for various reasons attend classes through a distance learning program. The main character also writes to her immortal celestial twin through the pages of her diary. (She's a gemini and associates herself with the mortal half of the astrological twins.) I think the character development could have been done a little better, but the lessons learned are those all teens should consider with online relationships.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I REALLY liked this book. It is the second e-mail-format book that I've read, so my opinion might not be "experienced" but I really enjoyed it. There were some parts in which I was a little bored, but since I'm a little intrigued by horoscopes, I was able to keep reading. The story in general is good. But some parts pissed me off (2good, this is for you!). So if you like e-mail style books and horoscopes, you should check out this book.

[Nothing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it, it delves in to both the good and bad of the online experience. You can met someone that you truly connect to, and you cab meet people that lied about everything. I like how it showed both sides of that (as well as the question of astrology. I loved reading her emails with her teacher). A great book, I want to know what happened to all the kids!!!

[Nadina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the format of this book, consisting mostly of emails and a horoscope at the beginning of each chapter.
I loved how this book revolved around a science project, and looked at science in a flawed light, while teaching that online communication is not always to be believed.
A great format and a quick read.

[Taylor Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is about a student struggling and fighting cancer can't attend school so she must take her classes online. While the book explains the big project she must do it also shows the writing in email form. Which I thought was an interesting and cool way to write. I enjoyed reading it.

[Sai]

to read

[Sam - Spines in a Line · Rating 3 out of 5]

All taking place over online classes, each person hides their own secret from each other and it's up to the main character to try to weed out the lies.

[Pawsibility]

I thought that this book was interesting although it was quite strange because it was written in an email format from different people.