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 9^th- 12^th, 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.  

Links and URLs:

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.  

Links and URLs:

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.

Links and URLs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4KsBuOB0pM book trailer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It-XG0hLvMU video analysis.