Chamen R. Haque
Monsters in
Cyberspace
Dian Curtis
Regan, Illustrated by Melissa Sweet
February 8,
2002
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Dian Curtis Regan is originally from Colorado springs. She is author of
many book for young readers, ranging
from picture books to young adult novels. Over a million copies of her
books are in print. Monster of the Month Club, Monster in the
attic and Monster and My One true love, are some of her famous book.
She got her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from the University
of Colorado in Boulder. Former resident of: Westminster, Colorado,
Amarillo, Texas, and Edmond, Oklahom
In 1993, she was named "Member
of the Year" by the Society of Children's Book
Writers and Illustrators. She
has been inducted into the Oklahoma Professional Writers Hall of Fame, and has
received a "Distinguished Medal of Service in Children's Literature"
from the Oklahoma Center for Writers. Regan has
published fiction, nonfiction, and poetry in many children's magazines and has
written on assignment for Writers Digest, Byline, and Scholastic Scope.
After graduating with honors from
the University of Colorado in Boulder, she taught school in Denver (Adams
County, District 12) until taking "one year off to write." More than a
year has passed, and she is still writing full time. Her husband's job moved her
from Denver to Amarillo, Texas, and from there to Edmond, Oklahoma.
Presently, she lives in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela.
This is a book about a little girl and her fantasy. The main character is a thirteen years old girl Rilla Harmony Earth who lives in a House named “Bed and Breakfast” owned by her mother, Sparrow Harmony Earth, and her aunt, Poppy Harmony Earth). Although this book is based on a young girls fantasy, there was also a little touch about computer and technology that is very common in this century. Now a days computer is not only a matter for “Bil Gates” to make software and make money but also for little kids to substitute their toys. The main character, Rilla seem to have love for animal. She has three cats and a dog. She resembles nineteen kind of girl, who collects the stuffed animal from the Monster of the Month Club that arrives by mail. She and her friend Joshua believes that when the stars are aligned a certain way, the monsters comes to life in her attic bedroom.
As teen girl Rilla also has a computer at her attic bedroom like any other. She surfs the net in search of her lost father. She also use the computer to email her favorite people, which show how the habit of sending regular post mail is changing in new generation. She frequently writes emails to her family guest Mr. Tamerow and jose. Mr. Tamerow is one of the common guest of the house B & B ( Bed and Breakfast). He travels all over the globe on business and brings her nice gifts. Gifts like a gold-and silver sarong from New Delhi, sand dollar from Greek and much more. Also he was the one who got her the “own top of the line home computer” from France. The second person she likes the most is Jose Pacheco. Jose used to be also a family friend but later on he became the love of her aunt Poppy, and got engaged to her.
Rilla was a only child. Her mother
was a single parent, who is running a business and home schooling Rilla. In her
daily life Rilla was very regulated girl. Her mother always snack her healthy
foods. She has this fantacy about the stuffed monsters that some of them are
alive. When each months monsters arrives she reads the monthly selection cards
very carefully and then treats the monsters accordingly. Some such monsters are:
“Sparkler” (July selection), “Butterscotch” (August selection) and
“Owl” (September selection). The one that help her most is Owl who likes of
Poetry, numbers, and literature. Owl likes to eat those kind of book, not read.
Which makes me think that this girl is treating Owl as an super computer who is
capable of storing memory. As Owl
know how to store information he turned out the best monster Rilla could use him
for doing her own home work, or fixing electronic device. In trade, she had to
let Owl use the computer. As both Rilla and Owl surf the net the limited time
that was allowded to her using the net by the telephone company was not enough.
Fifteen hour each month was finishing in a week.
Although Rilla had three cats and a dog and room full of stuffed animal
(or she calls them monsters), she seem to use the computer more than playing
with them. Some times she feels guilt but in the story the writer show how
computer is Rillas best companion. She trust the computer to find her lost
father. To her the computer is the only way to spread the word: “HAS ANY ONE
SEEN MY DAD?” she filled out the
necessary forms and submit it to the company name LAF Inc. ( Lost and Found
Incorporated). Finally she gets a reply for her lost father and things end
happily: Rilla has her first date; the monsters remain undetected; and best of
all, the girl finds her father and her mother is amenable to his holiday visit.
Sweet's whimsical black-and-white sketches appear at the beginning of each
chapter.
Critique:
This is one of the book that I have ever read. It contains Sweet's whimsical black-and-white sketches at the beginning of each chapter. And the each chapter has a title which is mixture of computer term but used as simple word. For example, chapter 2 reads “Monster and Modem” or “brain Food” as chapter 9. In the book the computer is used as an toys that is necessary for a 90’s kind of girl. Rilla, who is 13 years old. Uses the computer in quest for her lost father. The idea of depending on computer was noticeable. The book showed how computer replaced a life of a teen. It compares past and presents in such a way that does not make and harm or discrimination on any thing. For example Rilla used computer to E-mail her favorite guest Mr. Tamerow and jose, whereas she used to write them regular mail through postal service. One other point that I noticed is that the idea of computer and technology is now in the playground. What I mean is: Rilla’s monster “Owl” can save information in his memory by eating the book of any subject. A child from 70 or 80 would not have that imagination as Rilla. Because the technology was not as high as it is now. Overall It was an enjoyable and quick read that successfully combines realistic family situations with a touch of fiction fantasy and technology.
ACM code of ethics: As one of the main subject of the story was to find Rillas lost father by using the net the rule numbers 1.1 (contribute to society and human well-being), 1.2 (Avoid harm to others), was followed fully in this book. There was no copyright, dishonesty and discrimination towards any one so 1.3, 1.4, 1.5 and 1.8 was also not violated.
There was a slight problem in acknowledgement so ACM code of 3.3 may be violated here. Also the code 2.7 where it say improve public understanding of computing and its consequences, was violated. Because this book does not provide the way amodem was used and how Rilla was controlling her monster from using the net. Overall the book was mostly following the code.