Smith, A. (2015). Grasshopper Jungle. Harper Collins Uk.
Summary of the book:
Response:
Summary of the book:
Response:
Links and URLs:
Book trailers:
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Book 24
Hardinge, F. (2016). The Lie Tree. New York: Abra
Summary of the book:
Response:
Links and URLs:
Book trailer:
Author analysis of book:
Book 23
Ruby, L. (2017). Bone gap. London: Faber &: Faber.
Summary of the book:
Summary of the book:
Response:
Links and
URLs:
Book trailer:
Book in-depth trailer:
Book 22
Fey, T. (2012). Bossypants. London: Sphere.
Summary of the book:
Summary of the book:
Response:
Links and
URLs:
Book trailers:
Book 21
Reynolds, J., & Kiely, B. (2016). All American boys. New York: Scholastic.
Summary of the book:
“All American Boys,” is a story that begins on a Friday afternoon, a regular Friday or so Rashad thought. Rashad Butler is an ROTC member at Springfield Central High School. Rashad was ready to have fun that Friday evening, like a typical teenage boy. However, he experiences an unfortunate event at a corner store, when Officer Paul Galluzo thinks that he is trying to shoplift. Rashad is the unfortunate target of racism, as he is African-American, and Quinn his schoolmate is Caucasian, are forced to confront the issue that racism is still alive in America even now. Through his experiences, Rashad recovers from the incident and sees that support can come from those that you least expect.
Response:
This young adult novel tackles social issues that have been heavily covered in the media for the past decade. This book serves as an outlet for those teens who want to read a book that deals with current social issues, such as the ongoing racism, prejudice, racial profiling and police brutality going on in the world. The themes covered are racism and making a difference is prevalent in this book, and is told in a compelling manner. The targeted audience of this book is grades 8 and up. Textbook connections for this book can be “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas and “Dear Martin” by Nic Stone.
Links and URLs:
Book trailer:
Synopsis video:
Book 20
Green, J. (2007). Looking for Alaska. New York: Speak.
Summary of the book:
Summary of the book:
John Green’s novel, “Looking for Alaska,” begins with Miles, the protagonist, with his family at his going away party. He is moving from Florida to the boarding school in Alabama. Miles leaves his boring and safe life with his parents and encounters new experiences. In the boarding school, he meets Chip, his roommate aka the Colonel. The Colonel gives Miles the nickname of Pudge and introduces him to the rest of the inner circle. Miles then meets Alaska Young who is a complex teenage girl, and together they face situations. In the end, this group of teenagers experiences a major loss, when one of them makes a bad choice, on a cold wintry night.
Response:
“Looking for Alaska” is a well-written novel that will surely capture the interest of its intended audience, young adults. This novel will be relevant to teenagers, since it is about the experiences a group of teenagers go through, learning about life and death, and having to pick up the pieces and move on with their lives. It is worth mentioning that this book was in the ALA’s most frequently banned books I the 21st century. The grade levels targeted are 9-12. Textbook connections can be, “Paper Towns” by John Green and “Turtles All the Way Down” by John Green, as well.
Links and URLs:
Book trailer:
On the Banning of Looking for Alaska video:
Book 19
Reynolds, J. (2017). Miles Morales Spider-man. Los Angeles: Marvel Press.
Summary of the book:
Summary of the book:
Jason Reynolds’s “Miles Morales: Spider-Man” is a
young adult novel, who’s protagonist is a teenaged boy named Miles Morales. The
story is set in Brooklyn, New York, and his story begins will Miles finishing
up his punishment for getting suspended from school. As the story develops,
Miles is learning to deal with his Spider-sense and balancing the quirks of being
a teenage boy and rescuing people. Miles’ experiences the effects of racism, as
he is of mix race (Puerto Rican and African-American) proving that racism does
not care if you are a superhero. His journey as Spiderman and learning what it
means to be a superhero in a not so perfect world is an interesting one.
Response:
Reynolds’s take on Spider man is one that young adults nowadays
can relate to because of Miles being ethnically diverse. Miles Morales being of
mix race is ground breaking, as the pool for characters of a minority race do
not often have starring roles in a novel. So it is important to have diversity
in your characters so to appeal to all readers. The themes explored in the book
are bullying and prejudice. The book will likely attract graphic novel readers,
Marvel fans, and/or superhero fans who enjoy reading those types of formats. The
targeted audience would be grades 6 and up. Textbook connections can be Ronald
L. Smith’s “Black Panther: The Young Prince” and Jason Reynolds’s “Long Way
Down.”
Links and
URLs:
Audio Book excerpt:
Book trailer:
Book 18
Crutcher, C. (1983). Running loose. New York: Greenwillow Books.
Summary of the book:
Chris Crutcher’s novel, “Running Loose,” features Louie
Banks, who is a senior in high school, in Idaho, and happens to have very understanding
and supportive parents. Louie faces some ups and downs, and has to learn to
grow up and mature, in order to deal with all the situations surrounding his
life. He quits the football team, in which he played alongside his best friend,
hothead Boomer Clowns. His relationship with his football team, shows the
dynamic, and ins and out of the mentality of the team. When Boomer decides to
take a tackle to far, that upsets Louie making it his last play of his football
career. In the end, he learns many lessons regarding, school, friendship, love
and life.
Response:
Crutcher’s novel deals with a lot of important issues
that many young adults have experienced. Young adults may relate to the book’s protagonist,
Louie, as well as to other characters. The setting of the book is set in a high
school, relating to young readers who themselves might be high school students;
especially athletes who can identify with the good, the bad and the ugly of
being part of a team. The ending of the book closes the story with moral
lessons that Louie learned. The target audience would be grades 7-12, the length
of the book is 216 pages. Textbook connections can be “Boy21” by Matthew Quick
and “Dog Man Unleashed” by Dav Pilkey.
Links and URLs:
Book trailers:
Book 17
King, A.S. (2016). Still life with tornado: New York, NY: Dutton Books: an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC.
Summary of the book:
Summary of the book:
A.S. King’s novel, “Still Life with a Tornado,” stars a sixteen-year-old protagonist named Sarah, who loves to draw and create art, the story begins with Sarah talking about her art class, and how her friend Carmen drew a picture of a tornado. In the art class is where Sarah loses the will to draw and shortly after stop attending school. Her parents want her to do something productive, but all the while she is skipping school. Her family is not what it seems; it’s been broken ever since her brother Bruce left after that vacation in Mexico. So instead of going to school, she is wandering the streets of Philadelphia. While wandering the streets, she first runs into her 23-year-old self, then her 10-year-old self later, and then her at 40-year-olds. At the surface, it appears that Sarah is having an existential crisis but she is really just trying to make sense of her life.
Response:
This novel is not what it seems, it can best be described as realism with a touch of magical elements, therefore falling under the umbrella of science fiction, in that it contains a realistic setting, but has futuristic elements. A.S. King’s take on a difficult subject matter like family abuse is done in a captivating and relatable manner that makes it easier for a young adult to gravitate to reading it. The appropriate grade levels would be grades 9 and up. Textbook connections would be “The Sun is Also a Star” by Nicola Yoon and “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas.
Links and URLs:
Author pitching book video:
Book talk with author video:
Monday, March 26, 2018
Book 16
Stead, Rebecca. (2009). When you reach me. New York: Wendy Lamb Books, an imprint of Random House.
Summary of the book:
The story begins when the mother is finally selected as a contestant on the $20,000 Pyramid Show. Miranda helps her mom study for the show with the help of Richard. Miranda’s name is derived from the infamous Miranda Rights. Miranda grew up alongside Sal, her best friend, but all that changes when Sal is punched by a stranger. Since her friendship with Sal is at a standstill, she is now left with having to socialize with her other peers. One day, after coming home from school, Miranda notices that her door is unlocked, so she decides to run to Sal’s place; however, he is not very welcoming, so she returns to her place. When her mother arrives, and they discuss the situation, that is when Miranda finds the first note asking her to write a letter, and that is where the plot starts to develop.
Response:
When You Reach Me is a science fiction novel that contains a realistic setting, sprinkled in with a lot of mystery, therefore, enticing the reader to continue reading. The inclusion of time travel, which is hinted through the letters written to Miranda, adds a twist to the plot of the story. The length of the novel is one-hundred and ninety-seven pages, but the font is not your standard size 12, so this makes for the novel to be a quick read. The targeted audience for this book can be ages 8-12, with grade levels ranging from third to seventh grade; however, I do see this book appealing to older readers as well. Textbook connections could be “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle and “Moon Over Manifest” by Claire Vanderpool.
Links and URLs:
Book summary analysis video:
Book review video:
Book 15
Block, F. L. (1998). I was a teenage fairy. New York:
HarperCollins.
Summary of the book:
The protagonist, is eleven year old Barbie, who was
named after the world-famous doll. Barbie is a young model, whose ex-model mother
wants her to be a successful model no matter what it takes. The setting of the
story is San Fernando Valley in Los, Angeles. In comes the little fairy, Mab,
who helps Barbie cope with all her experiences, and the one painful personal
experience she unfortunately went through. Mab, serves as a guide of sorts and
friend for Barbie. Barbie is caught up in a grown-up world, filled with models,
all the while her and Griffin deals with their issues. Griffin is dealing with
the confusion regarding his sexual orientation. Mab’s purpose is to help them
overcome their adversaries, their pain and issues and to show them that they
can come out stronger because of it. Love is established as that it can heal
all wounds. Is Mab real or is she a coping mechanism for Barbie?
Response:
The author’s style is filled with imagery and the
incorporation of a fantasy element, such as a fairy, which adds to the mystique
an allure to the book. The plot of the story is not the greatest but it is
interesting enough to keep the reader involved in the story. The length of the
book is one hundred and ninety two pages. The targeted audience is ages 12 and
up. This book can appeal to young girls who have experience similar feeling or
issues, such as the unfortunate tragedy Barbie encounters. Textbook connections
can be “Dangerous Angels: Five Weetzie Bat Books” and “Little Bram” by Michael
C. Barrett.
Links and URLs:
Book talk video analysis:
Reference information:
Book 14
Alexander, K. (2013). He said, she said. New York, NY:
Amistad, an imprint of HarperCollins.
Summary of the book:
Kwame Alexander’s novel, “He Said, She said,” tells
the story of Omar Smalls who is the All-American Football Quarterback and
Claudia Clarke, an intellectual, good girl who is college bound and wants to
make a positive impact in the world around her. As the story develops, Omar and
Claudia’s romance blossoms, while the plot of the story continues to develop
regarding the social protest surround the problem that their school is going
through. Their school is losing funding, and as a result losing electives, so
they form a plan and assemble to convince the school board to listen to their
requests. The contrast between the characters makes the story interesting.
Response:
This book is told through the perspective of the main characters
Omar and Claudia. The use of dialogue is how the story is developed, the
addition of the online post and comments from the posts makes it relatable to
teens these day. The chapter alternate from Omar to Claudia. The length of the
novel is three hundred and thirty-six pages. The targeted audience is Grades 10
and up and this type of literature will appeal to readers who are in high
school, are athletes, female readers, of perhaps anyone who relates to the characters
and plot. Textbook connections can be “Tyrell” by Coe Booth and “The Skin I’m
in” by Sharon Flake.
Links and URLs:
Book trailer:
Book talk with author:
Book 13
Albertalli, B. (2015). Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens agenda. New York: HarperCollins.
Summary of the book:
Summary of the book:
Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, written by Becky
Albertalli stars the protagonist, Simon is a sixteen year old high school
student, who has not yet announced his homosexuality. Simon’s secret is threatened
to be exposed by Martin Addison, who reveals to him that he took screenshots of
his emails and then attempts to blackmail him to asset him in dating a girl.
Simon wants to not only protect his secret, but also Blue’s privacy as well.
Simon whose online pen name is Jacques, has been talking to Blue for quite a
while. Through their online conversations their correspondence has developed
into more than a friendship. All Simon knows about Blue is that he is also gay
and a student at his high school. The plot of the story develops through what
is happening with Simon.
Response:
The novel’s length is three hundred and three pages.
The inclusion of the emails adds to the format and content of the story. The
emails provide the reader with insight from the main characters and through
them Simon’s personality is shown. This book’s protagonist Simon is well
developed and can be relatable to the readers. The mystery surrounding who Blue
is will surely keep the reader engaged. This is a very important book because
it gives a platform to characters who offer plenty of diversity, begging from
sexual orientation, to religion and race. The fact that the protagonist is a
gay character is very impactful and powerful and important to any format of
literature. There are some adolescents who will identify with the characters,
themes or because it addresses the LGBTQ Community. The targeted audience is
grades 9-12. Textbook connections can be “Call Me by Your Name: A Novel” by
Andre Aciman and “Cupid Painted Blind” by Marcos Herzig.
Links and URLs:
Book trailer:
Book and video critique:
Movie trailer:
Book 12
Sartrapi, M. (2004). Persepolis. NY: Pantheon
Summary of the book:
Marjane Satrapi’s, “Persepolis: The Story of a
Childhood” is a graphic novel that depicts the story of an Iranian girl’s life,
her trials and tribulations, through which she offers a depiction of what is
going on in her country. She offers her perspective on what is happening around
her, the book contains nineteen sections, and within each section there are
highlights of what she experienced. In “The Veil” she writes about and
illustrates about the changes the revolution brought, and she firsthand
experienced at the age of ten, going from a liberal coed school, to having to
wear a veil. She describes the aspects of the revolution and what was
institutionalized thereafter. The way that the political topics and
demonstrations are explained and addressed makes the text livelier. Throughout
the book’s sections the daily Iranian life is depicted and explored. Satrapi’s
accounts are from her point of view of growing up during a time of war, its
effects and overcoming it all.
Response:
The artwork in the graphic novel was simplistic, yet
enough to help in the telling of the story. The comic strips are black and
white, with the black overpowering the panels. There are nineteen sections in the
graphic novel with each one averaging seven to ten pages. The targeted audience
would be secondary level. The themes explored are remorse, and the effects of
war. Although it is a graphic novel, the way the content is written it is appropriate
for older readers versus middle grade. Textbook connections can be Marjane
Satrapi’s “Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return” and Gene Luan Yang’s “American
Born Chinese.
Links and URLs:
Book and Movie analysis video:
Movie trailer:
Book 11
Telgemeiser, R., Roman D.,&:A. (2009). X-men. New York: Del Rey
Summary of book:
The main character, Kitty Pride who is fifteen years
old is the middle daughter in her family, wants to fit in when she was born to
stand out. She works in her parents’ restaurant along with her two sisters. She
is then offered a scholarship to a private school in Westchester, New York. She
agrees to attend Xavier’s Academy. Once their Professor Xavier explains to
Kitty that her feelings of confusion are normal, for someone like her, and that
she will get a better sense of who she is if she embraces her powers. She soon,
learns that she is the first female to enroll in the school for years, she then
joins the Hellfire Club and through her practice in the danger room she finally
starts accepting her mutant side. She starts spending time will the Hellfire
Club members, especially Pyro. During the trip to New York, Kitty realizes that
Pyro and company are bad news, so she distances herself. As they go into winter
break and she heads home, there’s a foreshadowing of a new love interest…”Iceman,”
Response:
The graphic novel’s script is filled with interesting
and fun dialogue that captivates the reader. The art in the panels is extraordinaire,
it really offers more than just support to the text, without the images being
so alluring the graphic novel would lose its edge. The fact that the characters
are very cartoonish like, that is what makes them appeal to the younger
readers. The story will definitely draw in readers who are into graphic novels
and they will relate to the plot. The targeted audience would be grade 6-12. Textbook
connections can be Dima Zales’s “The Thought Readers” and Noelle Stevenson’s “Nimona.”
Links and URLs:
Synopsis video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_aUM-GR290
Comic analysis and video critique:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUN0avrIFIc
Book 10
Geary, R. (2016). Black Dahlia. New York: NBM Graphic Novels.
Summary of the book:
Rick Geary’s, “Black Dahlia,” is a graphic novel in which he offers biographical information regarding the murder of a young woman. Part one deals with the story of the murder of Elizabeth Short and is retold very vividly through the comic panels. Part two chronicles the life of Elizabeth before she was murdered. Part three tells of her last days here on earth. In part four, the investigation process is explained. Part five wraps-up and concludes as an unsolved murder. The nature of the murder was very graphic and is illustrated accordingly. Rick Geary’s rendition of the events that occurred is detailed through his graphic and eerie panels.
Response:
This graphic novel was a quick read, with a length of eighty pages and it was very informative and explicit in the telling of this true crime. Geary provides a basic overview into the unsolved mystery. It is exceptionally illustrated and he summarizes the events through his drawings, in which he grimly depicts his subjects. This type of literature will definitely appeal to comic book readers because of its format, and it will also appeal to readers who are interested in murder mysteries. The targeted audience for this graphic novel is young adults, grade levels 9-12.The textbook connection can be Rick Geary’s “Jack the Ripper” and “Louise Brooks: Detective.”
Links and URLs:
In-depth analysis:
Movie Trailer:
Book 9
Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi: A girl in pieces. TX: Cinco Puntos.
Summary of the book:
Isabel Quintero’s, “Gabi, A Girl in Pieces” is a telling story of a seventeen-year-old high school student, Gabi Hernandez who experiences are what shapes her life and future. Gabi, along with her two best friends Cindy and Sebastian, who both go through heavy personal experiences, experiences the ups and downs of high school. She encounters many difficulties, like the death of her meth-addicted father, her overbearing mother, her brother Beto’s rebel ways, and her uber-religious Tia Bertha. Gabi finds love, not once but twice, Eric turned out to be a bust, while Martin proves to be her true love. With Ms. Abernard’s support, Gabi’s confidence and poems blossom. In the end, Gabi’s future is looking brighter than ever, even though she can’t walk the graduation line, but she still has Berkeley!
Response:
This novel is written in a diary format, with a length of two-hundred and eighty-four pages, in it the protagonist Gabi Hernandez expresses herself through her poems, pictures, and diagrams. This type of literature would appeal to high school students, secondary level, specifically young adult, adolescent female readers since they might be able to relate to certain topics discussed in the story and might even be able to identify with the characters. Some of the themes explored are love, mourning, and overcoming obstacles. The targeted audience would be grades 9 and up. The textbook connection would be Angie Thomas’s “The Hate U Give” and Judy Cory’s “Meet Me There.”
Links and URLs:
Book Trailer:
Book Trailer:
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Book 8
Ness, P. (2008). The knife of never letting go.
Boston, MA: Candlewick Press
Summary of the book:
This is the first book in the trilogy. Todd Hewitt is
the only boy in the town full of men, Prentiss town, is in the new world. In this
town the men can all hear their thoughts and those of creachers as well,
because of the white noise. Todd is about to turn thirteen in thirty days,
which is when they become “men.” He thinks that there are no other settlements
and that the women were killed off. According to the mayor, they are the last
surviving settlement in the new world. The local swamp is an area that is
unaffected by white noise. Todd’s adoptive parents are Ben and Cillian, they
help him escape because they are trying to protect his innocence and so he can join
the world out there. As he escapes he meets a girl, Viola who joins him on his
journey and they experience many ups and downs, as they are going from
settlement to settlement trying to escape the men who are after Todd. Chaos and
drama ensue and Manchee his dog sacrifice himself for Todd and Viola, the ending
is nostalgic.
Response:
This dystopian novel is lengthy, and the readers who
are into science fiction and series reading will enjoy this trilogy. This sci-fi
novel will intrigue those who enjoy this format of literature. It really will
captivate all types of readers who might be interested in other dystopian novels
like the Divergent Series and The Hunger Games. The targeted audience for this
book is grades 9th- 12th, ages 12 to 18 years of age. The
textbook connection would be the following books, Book Two: The Ask and the
Answer” and Book Three: “Monsters of Men” by the same author Patrick Ness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=68&v=TeT1ga5ZqFI this video in which the author provides a
reflection as to why he wrote the book and what lead to the trilogy.
Book 7
Myers, W. D. (1999). Monster. NY: Harper.
Summary of the book:
In the introduction of this book, Monster, aka Steve
Harmon offers a glimpse into his mindset of what he is experiencing in prison. Steve
Harmon is a sixteen year old boy, who is on trial for felony murder, along with
three other suspects, James King, Richard “Bobo” Evans and Osvaldo Cruz. The
setting of the story is the Manhattan Detention Center. His defense attorney “with
doubts” Kathy O’Brien doesn’t seem too keen on Steve, she appears to be all
business and is focused on providing equal justice. The store owner who was
killed was named Alguinaldo Nesbitt, the plan was a robbery not a murder. Steve
is being accused of being a lookout in this case, his attorney is trying to
create reasonable doubt to prove that he is innocent. At the end of the trial,
King is found guilty of murder and Steve Harmon is found innocent and released.
Response:
The fusion of diary writing and the script are an
interesting combination for the reader. The story can appeal to young adults,
especially males because of the format it is written in, it makes it easier to
gravitate to it. The conversational tone of the diary entries capture the reader’s
attention and while the movie script adds a different element to the novel’s
outlook. The perception of the reader also comes into play when determining if
they agree with the verdict of innocence that the jury provides. This book is
realistic fiction, and the targeted audience is ages 12-18 years old. The textbook
connection would be “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas.
Links and URLs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtlkXnf3-vY
background information and author talks about the book
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc6d_YNPZ9I
summary of book.
Book 6
Kidd, C. (2014). Go:A Kidd’s guide to graphic design.
NY: Workman.
Summary of the book:
This book is a guide to graphic design, it provides
the author’s credentials and works’ as references. Kidd states background information
and the history of this subject matter. Kidd’s most well-known book cover is “Jurassic
Park” which is the one he illustrated for author Michael Crichton. The term
graphic design was not established until, 1922. Cave paintings, Egyptian Hieroglyphics,
manuscripts, the Gutenberg Bible, logos, posters, book covers, fonts, maps, and
even the world wide web are all interconnected to what graphic design is. In his
book, Kidd explains what graphic design is, how it began, its purpose and how it’s
changed and will continue to influence our daily lives without us event being
aware that what we are looking at are graphic designs.
Response:
This book provides a great deal of introductory
information into the art of graphic design. It is visually appealing and
colorful and full of pictures that support the text and enrich its message and
subject material. Young readers will be drawn to it, the way it is written
makes it fun and informative for the curious reader. Kidd explains the elements
of design and provides advice on how to use those elements in a fun, innovative
and creative ways! He captivates the reader with his illustrious designs and
the addition and reference to others’ works add to the well-organized layout of
the book, it is bold and eye-catching until the end. The targeted audience is
grades 5 and up: ages 10- 17 years old. The textbook connection is “Design for
Kids” by Pamela Pease.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHjnqXqFVK8
book trailer.
Book 5
Harris, R.
(2009). It’s perfectly normal. Boston, MA: Candlewick Press
Summary of the book:
This sex-education book explains and answers the
questions that children and young adults want to know about, it is explain to
them in a manner that is informative and unbiased. Topics like puberty,
masturbation, sexual intercourse, sexually transmitted diseases, birth control,
abortion and aids. This nonfiction book provides real and verified information
about the topics that children have questions about, this book provides the reader
with the knowledge and consequences and issues that can and will encounter if
they do certain things. As a result, this book informs and makes the reader
aware of the responsibility they might have to take if they make certain decisions.
Response:
This book is a good resource for children and young
adults to find the answers to what they are looking for, in regards to sexual health,
emotional health, relationships, and even sexual orientation. The pictures completely
compliment the text, they are true to form, and anatomically correct. The new
edition to the book which was revised, have two new topics, internet safety and
information on sexting. Some information and explanations have been updated as
well, they are the ones dealing with gender, sexual abuse and information for transgender
youth. This subject matter is extremely relevant for children who are curious, inquisitive
and want to know about their bodies, relationships and other normal things but
are too shy to ask. The targeted audience for this book is 10-14 years of age.
A textbook connection would be: ‘What’s happening to My Body? Book for Boys:
Revised Edition” by Lynda Madaras.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vya_DTyPbgU
overview video on book.
Book 4
Gephart, D. (2016). Lily and Dunkin. NY: Delacorte.
Summary of the book:
Lily Jo, also known as Timothy McGrother, is
introduced wearing her mom’s red dress and white sandals. Lily is a transgender
girl trying to be accepted and is practicing to be who she was meant to be, a girl.
Her dad is trying to be supportive of her wanting to transition but is having a
hard time with it, especially with the hormonal therapy. Furthermore, Norbert
Dorfman, also known as Dunkin, is the new boy in town. The first time he and
Lily meet, he meets her as a girl; he doesn’t seem to mind, he also has a
secret of his own. He takes two medications to help him with his bipolar
disorder. After that summer when they first meet, their lives change and they
become friends. Through their ups and downs, their experiences, her transgender
journey and his bipolar disorder make them who they are.
Response:
This book covers topics such as sexuality, mental
illness, bullying, family drama and the LGBTQ issues that teens deal with. Therefore,
making this book very relevant to young adults who are experiencing something similar
and identify themselves in it. This book also can serve as a way for parents to
understand the point of view of a child who might be transgender or might have
bipolar disorder. These topics covered in this book are important to adolescents
and are a good part to have in their literature. The targeted audience for this
book is 10-14 years of age. A textbook connection would be “Gracefully Grayson”
by Ami Polonsky.
Links and URLs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07KniLJp7q4 video: book talk with author.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBDtalThIRE
summary video of book.
Book 3
Garden, N. (1982). Annie on my mind. NY: FSG
Summary of the book:
Two teenage girls, Eliza “Liza” Winthrop and Annie
Kenyon, first meet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Liza is drawn to
Annie. They become friends, that friendship soon blossoms into something more.
Liza finds herself falling in love with Annie. Through this friendship Liza is
confused over her new sexuality and is devastated by being caught making love
to Annie. The characters’’ plight of loving another person of the same sex is what
Liza and Annie deal with. The story of these two seventeen year old girls is reiterated
through Ms. Stevenson and Ms. Widmer’s own relationships and experiences they
had to endure because of them being in a same-sex relationship. Liza and Annie’s
love thrives at the end, they “don’t let ignorance win… they let love…” win.
Response:
This book deals with a social and relevant issue, it
depicts a lesbian relationship between two teenage girls. This social topic is
especially relevant to young adults who are gay, lesbian, transgender,
bisexual, or queer. The emotions that these two girls go through and how they
are made to feel that their love is wrong, is something that young adults might
relate to. This book even though it was written in 1982 still resonates now
more than ever, with the legalization of gay marriage, teenagers who identify
with any of the mentioned sexual preferences are now able to feel free to love watch
other without the law saying it is illegal, therefore making this book one of
the pioneers for this subject material. The target audience for this novel is
12-18 years of age. A textbook connection could be “Keeping You a Secret” by
Julie Anne Peters.
Links and URLs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3aChHmZYac
book trailer.
Book 2
Anderson, L. H. (1999). Speak. NY: Penguin
Summary of the book:
The narrator and protagonist Melinda Sordino, goes
through a several of changes and then withdraws into a shell of her former
self. Melinda is a freshmen in Merryweather High School who experiences a
horrible personal tragedy. After her rape, she is left confused, terrified, and
alone and so she withdraws and speaks as little as possible. She is outlasted
by all her friends because of misunderstanding that happened in the summer
party. No one knows that she was raped, she never spoke about it. It is ironic
that her ex-best friend Rachel is the one who took her and the girls to that
summer party in which she was assaulted, then she turns her back on her.
Moreover, the fact that Rachel starts dating Andy “Beast” Evans is even more hurtful
to Melinda. Melinda comes full circle when Andy tries to assault her for a
second time, she fights back physically and verbally, she speaks out!
Response:
The book’s message is important and it is a good one
for young adults to have a book that deals with topics such as rape, depression
and bullying. The voice of the protagonist evokes strong feelings and captures the
internal and external conflicts that some high school students deal with, like
stress and conflict. Although the subject matter is controversial, it is vital
to have this story being told, as it is an outlet for some teens that may have experienced
something similar and don’t know where to turn. The target audience and age
level is 12-18 years old. The textbook connection would be “The Perks of Being
a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky.
Links and URLs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3cdQdeKhlw
video discussion on the novel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y87HizgVplM
book review analysis video.
Book 1
Alexie, S. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a
part-time Indian. NY: Little Brown
Summary of the book:
The protagonist, Arnold Spirit, known as Junior, he is
a Spokane Indian who was born with “water on the brain,” and lives on the
reservation with his alcoholic father, his quiet mother, grandmother and older
sister. Junior has hope, hope for a better and successful life. After his first
day in Wellpinit High School he realizes that if he doesn’t “leave” the
reservation he will end up miserable like all those around him, including his best
friend Rowdy. So he goes out and attends Reardan High School which is outside
of the Rez. Through his journey, he meets Penelope his “somewhat girlfriend,”
Roger his basketball teammate and friend, and Gordy his intellectual friend. In
his first year at Reardan High School he experiences three family deaths, yet
proves to himself and those around him that he has what it takes to become successful
in the world, wherever that may be!
Response:
This book has a very important theme, one of
self-discovery, of becoming who you are meant to be, and dealing with the feeling
of feeling like an outsider. This is a very relevant and inspiring story that
young adults will connect to and with. They can identify with the protagonist’s
struggles of dealing with everyday issues, like self-esteem, bullying, family
problems and friendship. The drawings help add to the text’s meaning. The
targeted audience is 12-17 years of age. I can definitely see high school
students gravitating towards this story. Overall, this story was very
inspirational and was a great read, with its protagonist making the reader feel
like they were there with him! A textbook connection relating to this book
would be “American Born Chinese” by Gene Luan Yang.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It-XG0hLvMU
video analysis.
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