Marchetta, Melina. Jellicoe Road. New York: Harper’s Collins, 2006.
Annotation: Abandoned at a 7-11 when she was 11 years old, Taylor Markham is haunted by the last time she saw her mother.
Justification for nomination: Taylor Markham is the central protagonist in a story filled with many protagonists. She is rescued by a stranger at the 7-11 and taken to Jellicoe boarding school. She has limited relationships and is angry most of the time, but she decides in her 11th year to take on the responsibilities of leading her house. She learns about the war games between the cadets, townies, and the houses at the school. When I first started this book, I was very lost as to what was going on. I was frustrated because I could not make connections with the plot line, characters, and setting. I decided to stick with it because it was a Printz award winner and fellow students highly recommended it. Boy, am I glad I did. This is a book is a rollercoaster ride about two stories; one being told in the past and one being told in the present that come together in the end. The author Melina Marchetta is a master at weaving an intricate web decorated with many plot lines, characters, and a beautiful writing prose. The protagonists have an authentic teenage voice that many YA readers can relate to; this may be due to the fact that the author is also a school teacher. The story line can be intimidating to young or struggling readers. It definitely requires an effort from the reader to make connections and fill in the blanks as the author introduces new clues. The reader is not given any background information on the characters, the setting, or the plot. As Taylor learns more about her past and her life, so does the reader. It would be easy to give up on this book in the early chapters, but I suggest that the reader stick with it and be rewarded with an incredible ending. Marchetta touches on many themes that resonate with teen readers. The themes covered in the book are: abandonment, love, sex, hope, friendship, family, loss, forgiveness, identity issues, drugs, and self discovery.
Genre: Printz award winner, fiction, coming of age, suspense/mystery, edgy, search for identity, romance, realistic novel
Monday, August 10, 2009
Monday, August 3, 2009
Pedro and Me
Winick, Judd. Pedro & Me. New York: Henry Holt and Company, 2000
Annotation: Pedro Zamora changed many lives with his HIV/Aids education. He also had the disease. This is about his life during and after MTV’s The Real World: San Francisco.
Justification for Nomination: Judd Winick met Pedro Zamora on the set of MTV’s The Real World: San Francisco. Judd is a pretty liberal guy, but he was shocked at how he felt when he found out the Pedro had Aids. They ended up being roommates on the show and developed a mutual respect and love for each other. Pedro taught Judd the importance for safe sex and how to educate people. The author is a cartoonist and he wrote the book in as a graphic novel. The author chose to use square bound panels border in a thin black line with very little gutter space for an effective pacing. He tells their story with honesty, compassion, and humor. This is a great format to use for young adults because of the attractiveness of the graphic novel to teens, but also to educate the reader about HIV and Aids. What a great tool to use. Pedro was the international face for HIV and Aids awareness and Judd has take on his role to educate even more people.
Genre: Graphic Novel, Non-fiction, Edgy
Annotation: Pedro Zamora changed many lives with his HIV/Aids education. He also had the disease. This is about his life during and after MTV’s The Real World: San Francisco.
Justification for Nomination: Judd Winick met Pedro Zamora on the set of MTV’s The Real World: San Francisco. Judd is a pretty liberal guy, but he was shocked at how he felt when he found out the Pedro had Aids. They ended up being roommates on the show and developed a mutual respect and love for each other. Pedro taught Judd the importance for safe sex and how to educate people. The author is a cartoonist and he wrote the book in as a graphic novel. The author chose to use square bound panels border in a thin black line with very little gutter space for an effective pacing. He tells their story with honesty, compassion, and humor. This is a great format to use for young adults because of the attractiveness of the graphic novel to teens, but also to educate the reader about HIV and Aids. What a great tool to use. Pedro was the international face for HIV and Aids awareness and Judd has take on his role to educate even more people.
Genre: Graphic Novel, Non-fiction, Edgy
Hole in My Life Audio book
Gantos, Jack. Hole in My Life. New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2004.
Annotation: An honest memoir of life in and out of prison by a young man who is caught up an unbelievable drug bust.
Justification for Nomination: Jack Gantos writes a thoughtful biography of mistakes, redemption and success. He uses a humorous approach to tell his story of growing up with the itch to write, but thinks he does not have any good experiences to write about. He seems to fall into bad decisions without giving any thought to the ultimate consequences. This resonates with what teens are going through as their brains continue to develop. This audio book is read by the author, which, gives light to the intended voicing that a reader can not get from the written word. The literary pauses, accents, and pitch make the words come alive. This can be invaluable to the efferent reader. The author uses flashback and summary to tell his story with lots of action that will be riveting to teens. He references literary greats like Williams and Hemmingway and introduces the teen reader to the canon. The themes he discusses are crime and punishment, drugs, alcohol, who am I, and hope. While some of these themes are intense and some may think teens are too young to be exposed, the book allows for the opportunity to discuss healthy and healthy risks and decision making. These type of discussions are exactly what the young adult needs at this crucial time in their lives.
Genre: Audio book/ memoir, biography, coming of age, edge, non-fiction
Printz award
Newberry award
Annotation: An honest memoir of life in and out of prison by a young man who is caught up an unbelievable drug bust.
Justification for Nomination: Jack Gantos writes a thoughtful biography of mistakes, redemption and success. He uses a humorous approach to tell his story of growing up with the itch to write, but thinks he does not have any good experiences to write about. He seems to fall into bad decisions without giving any thought to the ultimate consequences. This resonates with what teens are going through as their brains continue to develop. This audio book is read by the author, which, gives light to the intended voicing that a reader can not get from the written word. The literary pauses, accents, and pitch make the words come alive. This can be invaluable to the efferent reader. The author uses flashback and summary to tell his story with lots of action that will be riveting to teens. He references literary greats like Williams and Hemmingway and introduces the teen reader to the canon. The themes he discusses are crime and punishment, drugs, alcohol, who am I, and hope. While some of these themes are intense and some may think teens are too young to be exposed, the book allows for the opportunity to discuss healthy and healthy risks and decision making. These type of discussions are exactly what the young adult needs at this crucial time in their lives.
Genre: Audio book/ memoir, biography, coming of age, edge, non-fiction
Printz award
Newberry award
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Mississippi Trial, 1955
Crowe, Chris. Mississippi Trial, 1955. New York: Speak, 2003
Annotation: 16 year old white Hiram has to face brutal realities as he is drawn into the torture and murder of 14 year old black Emmett Till in Greenwood, Mississippi.
Justification for Nomination: Mississippi Trial, 1955 is based on actual events that helped spark the civil rights movement. In 1955, America was a different place; especially in Greenwood Mississippi. The setting of the old south is an effective way to help tell about the African American struggle against hatred and bigotry. The reader is taken into the heart of racism. The author uses regional and historical language of the times to convey the message of racism. The book does a good job of giving the reader a glimpse of what racial hatred sounds like, looks like, and feels like. The teen reader will be able to relate to the protagonist Hiram and his inner struggle to do the right thing even though he is scared. This can be a tough read at times, but the book illuminates the darkness of hate because of skin color. There are brutal fights, dehumanizing scenes, and murder in the plot of this book, but it is necessary to convey the message of the book. Besides the themes of racism, bigotry, and hatred, it also has themes of courage, love, understanding, family dysfunction, alcohol abuse, and discrimination. The book shows how some characters try to change themselves or others around them. Readers have the opportunity to learn about the Jim Crow Laws, the White Citizen Council, and the NAACP.
Genre: historical fiction, multicultural, edgy, search for identity
Awards:
American Library Associations: 2003 Best Books for Young Adults list.
Parent's Guide Children's Media Awards: 2002 Honor Book.
National Council for Social Studies: 2003 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People.
Association for Mormon Letters: 2002 Best Novel.
International Reading Association's Children's Book Awards: 2003 award in the Young Adult Fiction category.
Jefferson Cup 2003.
Annotation: 16 year old white Hiram has to face brutal realities as he is drawn into the torture and murder of 14 year old black Emmett Till in Greenwood, Mississippi.
Justification for Nomination: Mississippi Trial, 1955 is based on actual events that helped spark the civil rights movement. In 1955, America was a different place; especially in Greenwood Mississippi. The setting of the old south is an effective way to help tell about the African American struggle against hatred and bigotry. The reader is taken into the heart of racism. The author uses regional and historical language of the times to convey the message of racism. The book does a good job of giving the reader a glimpse of what racial hatred sounds like, looks like, and feels like. The teen reader will be able to relate to the protagonist Hiram and his inner struggle to do the right thing even though he is scared. This can be a tough read at times, but the book illuminates the darkness of hate because of skin color. There are brutal fights, dehumanizing scenes, and murder in the plot of this book, but it is necessary to convey the message of the book. Besides the themes of racism, bigotry, and hatred, it also has themes of courage, love, understanding, family dysfunction, alcohol abuse, and discrimination. The book shows how some characters try to change themselves or others around them. Readers have the opportunity to learn about the Jim Crow Laws, the White Citizen Council, and the NAACP.
Genre: historical fiction, multicultural, edgy, search for identity
Awards:
American Library Associations: 2003 Best Books for Young Adults list.
Parent's Guide Children's Media Awards: 2002 Honor Book.
National Council for Social Studies: 2003 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People.
Association for Mormon Letters: 2002 Best Novel.
International Reading Association's Children's Book Awards: 2003 award in the Young Adult Fiction category.
Jefferson Cup 2003.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Tasting the Sky A Palestinian Conflict
Barakat, Ibtisam. Tasting the Sky A Palestinian Childhood. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2007.
Annotation: One minute you are watching your mother feed your baby sister. The next minute you are running for your life from the bulldozers that came to destroy your home, your village, and your way of life.
Justification for Nomination: Tasting the Sky offers a modest introduction to the Israel/Palestine six day war in 1967 through the eyes of a child. The author and narrator, and also the main character Ibiza writes in a first person narrative using a beautiful poetic prose to describe what she sees, smells, tastes, and feels during this traumatic time in her life. She uses flashback and summary to paint a picture of what it was like to grow up in the middle of a war, but she does it in a very unique way. The author writes in her childhood voice to the reader a glimpse of enduring the war and growing up as a refugee in her own homeland. This technique allows the reader to see the conflict through a child’s eye. The author gains the reader’s interest and sympathy by painting a picture of how families and children cope with the realities of war. The author never points a finger or lays blame. She allows her childhood self to convey the horrors and the beauty that she is surrounded by daily. While this would be a challenging read for the young reader, it is an important book to pursue to begin to understand what it is like for other children in other countries fighting for survival. There is a reference library provided in the back of the book for readers to learn more about this conflict. This would be a great classroom book for young adults to explore because it raises awareness about the six day war, opens minds, and offers the opportunity to engage in dialogue.
Genre: Memoir, multicultural, non-fiction, historical fiction
Annotation: One minute you are watching your mother feed your baby sister. The next minute you are running for your life from the bulldozers that came to destroy your home, your village, and your way of life.
Justification for Nomination: Tasting the Sky offers a modest introduction to the Israel/Palestine six day war in 1967 through the eyes of a child. The author and narrator, and also the main character Ibiza writes in a first person narrative using a beautiful poetic prose to describe what she sees, smells, tastes, and feels during this traumatic time in her life. She uses flashback and summary to paint a picture of what it was like to grow up in the middle of a war, but she does it in a very unique way. The author writes in her childhood voice to the reader a glimpse of enduring the war and growing up as a refugee in her own homeland. This technique allows the reader to see the conflict through a child’s eye. The author gains the reader’s interest and sympathy by painting a picture of how families and children cope with the realities of war. The author never points a finger or lays blame. She allows her childhood self to convey the horrors and the beauty that she is surrounded by daily. While this would be a challenging read for the young reader, it is an important book to pursue to begin to understand what it is like for other children in other countries fighting for survival. There is a reference library provided in the back of the book for readers to learn more about this conflict. This would be a great classroom book for young adults to explore because it raises awareness about the six day war, opens minds, and offers the opportunity to engage in dialogue.
Genre: Memoir, multicultural, non-fiction, historical fiction
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Maus
Spiegelman, Art. Maus. New York: Random House, 1992.
Annotation: A semi-autobiographical tale of Vledek and Anja Spiegelman living and surviving World War II in Hitler’s Nazi Poland.
Justification for nomination: This Pulitzer Prize winner of 1992 is a story of father who survived the holocaust, but can never forget the horror and atrocities he and his wife had to endure. Art is the son who attempts to tell his father’s story, but ends up with a better understanding of who is father is and what he has become since those tragic days of World War II. The author uses square bound panels with black and white imagery and limited gutter space. This allows the reader to move quickly through the story, but also, it seems easier to focus on the dialogue because it is in black and white. If vivid colors were used not only would it take away from the plot, but the use of vivid colors, I think, would brighten or cheer up a desolate time in history. This is not a story that has a happy ending; anyone involved is forever scarred. The author uses a variety of panel transitions that are fluid and true (action to action, subject to subject, and moment to moment). The word balloons and thought balloons were set up so it was easy to understand which character was speaking. The use of foreshadowing which started on the introductory pages was crucial for understanding the thought process of the protagonist—Vledek, Art’s father. The author uses two different narratives creating a story within a story. The present narrative is used when Art and Vledek are involved in the here and now dialogue and revealing their relationship. The past narrative is used when Vledek is retelling his experiences in Nazi Poland so the story jumps from present to past to present seamlessly without losing the reader. The double narrative seems to add a sense of importance of hearing stories told by your parent or grandparent. The themes of guilt (primary theme), racism, survival, death, violence (graphically, implied and language) foster passionate discussion and intense debate. For this reason, the book could and should be used in the classroom. It would work in a variety of classes, for example, history, sociology, and psychology. The author uses animal characterizations making the Jewish people mice, Germans cats, French frogs, and the Polish are Pigs. Some critics think that the use of animal depictions are insensitive to the Jewish people and the horrors that were inflicted upon them. I am of the thought that any stories about the holocaust are horrific and can be very hard to read about. The use on the animals gives the reader some distance from the horror to digest some of the themes.
Genre: Fiction/Graphic Novel/semi-autobiography/Historical/Challenged/Pulitzer Prize 1992
Annotation: A semi-autobiographical tale of Vledek and Anja Spiegelman living and surviving World War II in Hitler’s Nazi Poland.
Justification for nomination: This Pulitzer Prize winner of 1992 is a story of father who survived the holocaust, but can never forget the horror and atrocities he and his wife had to endure. Art is the son who attempts to tell his father’s story, but ends up with a better understanding of who is father is and what he has become since those tragic days of World War II. The author uses square bound panels with black and white imagery and limited gutter space. This allows the reader to move quickly through the story, but also, it seems easier to focus on the dialogue because it is in black and white. If vivid colors were used not only would it take away from the plot, but the use of vivid colors, I think, would brighten or cheer up a desolate time in history. This is not a story that has a happy ending; anyone involved is forever scarred. The author uses a variety of panel transitions that are fluid and true (action to action, subject to subject, and moment to moment). The word balloons and thought balloons were set up so it was easy to understand which character was speaking. The use of foreshadowing which started on the introductory pages was crucial for understanding the thought process of the protagonist—Vledek, Art’s father. The author uses two different narratives creating a story within a story. The present narrative is used when Art and Vledek are involved in the here and now dialogue and revealing their relationship. The past narrative is used when Vledek is retelling his experiences in Nazi Poland so the story jumps from present to past to present seamlessly without losing the reader. The double narrative seems to add a sense of importance of hearing stories told by your parent or grandparent. The themes of guilt (primary theme), racism, survival, death, violence (graphically, implied and language) foster passionate discussion and intense debate. For this reason, the book could and should be used in the classroom. It would work in a variety of classes, for example, history, sociology, and psychology. The author uses animal characterizations making the Jewish people mice, Germans cats, French frogs, and the Polish are Pigs. Some critics think that the use of animal depictions are insensitive to the Jewish people and the horrors that were inflicted upon them. I am of the thought that any stories about the holocaust are horrific and can be very hard to read about. The use on the animals gives the reader some distance from the horror to digest some of the themes.
Genre: Fiction/Graphic Novel/semi-autobiography/Historical/Challenged/Pulitzer Prize 1992
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Rats Saw God
Thomas, Rob. Rats Saw God. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996.
Annotation: 18 year old Steve York is not going to graduate. He has mastered the SATS, but doesn’t care enough about himself to finish his work to graduate. If he can complete a 100 page paper over the summer and retell how he got to where he is throughout his high school career, the guidance counselor will pass him.
Justification for nomination: Rats Saw God by Rob Thomas is a story filled with controversial themes. He seemed to have lived two lives in his 18 years. One in Houston with his astronaut father, who he does not respect, but he does well in school, has a girlfriend, and is part of a school club that pushes all the limits. He lives here through his sophomore year. He then moves to San Diego with his mother and sister in his senior year after he loses his girlfriend. alienates his friends, starts smoking pot, and is flunking out of school. A high school guidance counselor makes him a deal. If he can write a 100 page paper telling how he got to the place is at today, he will graduate. The unique structure of the book allows the reader to watch Steve’s character develop in opposite directions. He starts out failing in his relationships and school as a senior, but by the use of flashbacks, the reader sees how his life fell apart. It is like this is a book within a book. The structure sets up a series of contrasts between Steve’s life in California and his life in Texas; both have the same elements, a parent, a girlfriend, school setting, supportive faculty member, and friends, but Steve is not the same person. The back and forth travel between the present and the past highlights the cause and effects of his action and the consequences that follow. The flashbacks are written like a report so you can clearly distinguish between the now and the before. It is told in limited 1st person point of view present tense, almost an autobiography, when he speaks of the present. It is told in limited 1st person point of view past tense when he is in a flashback so he is able to use the benefit of hindsight throughout the story. The secondary elements in the narrative deals with the character development and maturation of the additional characters, like Dub, Doug, the astronaut, his sister, etc. The characters are realistic, strong, and honest. Teen readers will be able to relate the characters as well as the strong themes. The themes represented are family, friends and enemies, challenges, triumphs, love, losing virginity, drug and alcohol use, and romance. This book also makes the censored list because of its themes of sex, losing virginity, teacher and student affair, and drugs.
Genre: Coming of age/challenged/edgy/search for identity
Annotation: 18 year old Steve York is not going to graduate. He has mastered the SATS, but doesn’t care enough about himself to finish his work to graduate. If he can complete a 100 page paper over the summer and retell how he got to where he is throughout his high school career, the guidance counselor will pass him.
Justification for nomination: Rats Saw God by Rob Thomas is a story filled with controversial themes. He seemed to have lived two lives in his 18 years. One in Houston with his astronaut father, who he does not respect, but he does well in school, has a girlfriend, and is part of a school club that pushes all the limits. He lives here through his sophomore year. He then moves to San Diego with his mother and sister in his senior year after he loses his girlfriend. alienates his friends, starts smoking pot, and is flunking out of school. A high school guidance counselor makes him a deal. If he can write a 100 page paper telling how he got to the place is at today, he will graduate. The unique structure of the book allows the reader to watch Steve’s character develop in opposite directions. He starts out failing in his relationships and school as a senior, but by the use of flashbacks, the reader sees how his life fell apart. It is like this is a book within a book. The structure sets up a series of contrasts between Steve’s life in California and his life in Texas; both have the same elements, a parent, a girlfriend, school setting, supportive faculty member, and friends, but Steve is not the same person. The back and forth travel between the present and the past highlights the cause and effects of his action and the consequences that follow. The flashbacks are written like a report so you can clearly distinguish between the now and the before. It is told in limited 1st person point of view present tense, almost an autobiography, when he speaks of the present. It is told in limited 1st person point of view past tense when he is in a flashback so he is able to use the benefit of hindsight throughout the story. The secondary elements in the narrative deals with the character development and maturation of the additional characters, like Dub, Doug, the astronaut, his sister, etc. The characters are realistic, strong, and honest. Teen readers will be able to relate the characters as well as the strong themes. The themes represented are family, friends and enemies, challenges, triumphs, love, losing virginity, drug and alcohol use, and romance. This book also makes the censored list because of its themes of sex, losing virginity, teacher and student affair, and drugs.
Genre: Coming of age/challenged/edgy/search for identity
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Inside Out
Trueman, Terry. Inside Out. New York: HarperCollins, 2003.
Annotation: “Wong Gong”, “Gong Wong”, “Wasteoid”, “You need to die!” Zach’s brain doesn’t work so well. If he doesn’t get his medicine on time the Rat and Dirtbag, the tormenting voices inside his head will come back. When the teen robbers enter the coffee shop where Zach is waiting for this mom , Zach is pushed to his limit. He needs to take his meds or risk going over the edge.
Justification for nomination: Wow! What an intense psychological thrill ride from beginning to end. Zach is waiting for his mother to pick him up after school one day. He sits and waits in a coffee shop, knowing that she will be there and then it will be time to take his medicine. Two young teen boys enter the coffee shop with guns and demand money. Zach does not have the capacity to feel so he doesn’t know enough to be afraid of the young punks. This begins a long journey for Zach, the two hoodlums and the rest of the hostages. Trueman takes the reader through two simultaneous crisis situations in a sharp, vivid style. Trueman weaves together inner and outer conflicts, while grounding the reader with references to the here and now. Though the story would have been great without the epilogue, it adds an impact that teens will be able to identify with and hopefully will open dialogue about mental illness and empathy. The story is full of tight, crisp psychological dialogue and suspense with a hero who the reader may know from school or the playground. Zach’s matter of fact thinking makes the dark regions of his mind both real and chilling. This book will appeal to all levels of readers. It is also a pocket book, which is appealing to male readers. The author has created a fast paced read filled with powerful and gripping words. It is action packed and each character adds an important role in the book, major or minor. Although the reason behind the robbery is one that makes you take pity on the two antagonists, careful conversation with most teens about teen justice can help alleviate any fears parents or teachers have about the controversial matter in the book.
Genre: Realistic novel/problem novel/edgy fiction, thriller,
Annotation: “Wong Gong”, “Gong Wong”, “Wasteoid”, “You need to die!” Zach’s brain doesn’t work so well. If he doesn’t get his medicine on time the Rat and Dirtbag, the tormenting voices inside his head will come back. When the teen robbers enter the coffee shop where Zach is waiting for this mom , Zach is pushed to his limit. He needs to take his meds or risk going over the edge.
Justification for nomination: Wow! What an intense psychological thrill ride from beginning to end. Zach is waiting for his mother to pick him up after school one day. He sits and waits in a coffee shop, knowing that she will be there and then it will be time to take his medicine. Two young teen boys enter the coffee shop with guns and demand money. Zach does not have the capacity to feel so he doesn’t know enough to be afraid of the young punks. This begins a long journey for Zach, the two hoodlums and the rest of the hostages. Trueman takes the reader through two simultaneous crisis situations in a sharp, vivid style. Trueman weaves together inner and outer conflicts, while grounding the reader with references to the here and now. Though the story would have been great without the epilogue, it adds an impact that teens will be able to identify with and hopefully will open dialogue about mental illness and empathy. The story is full of tight, crisp psychological dialogue and suspense with a hero who the reader may know from school or the playground. Zach’s matter of fact thinking makes the dark regions of his mind both real and chilling. This book will appeal to all levels of readers. It is also a pocket book, which is appealing to male readers. The author has created a fast paced read filled with powerful and gripping words. It is action packed and each character adds an important role in the book, major or minor. Although the reason behind the robbery is one that makes you take pity on the two antagonists, careful conversation with most teens about teen justice can help alleviate any fears parents or teachers have about the controversial matter in the book.
Genre: Realistic novel/problem novel/edgy fiction, thriller,
Kissing Doorknobs
Hesser, Terry Spence. Kissing Doorknobs. New York: Doubleday, 1998.
Annotation: 11 year old Tara has some strange habits, counting cracks, praying, and kissing doorknobs. She has to repeat her habits over and over until it feels right. OCD not only destroys the sufferer, it destroys their family too.
Justification for nomination: Tara is eleven years old when she realizes that something is wrong with her. It starts because she heard the phrase “step on a crack, break your mother’s back” and now she can’t stop saying it over and over and over again inside her head. Not only does she repeat the phrase, but she has to count cracks in the sidewalk on her way to school and then back home again. If she gets interrupted or loses count then she has to start over again. Tara suffers from a biological disease called OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Over time the rituals takes over a person’s life and destroys friendships, families and the sufferer. The author does a brilliant job of describing in vivid, realistic detail through the 1st person point of view a debilitating disease. By using 1st person point of view the author engages the reader so that they can delve deep into the mind of the OCD sufferer offering insight and understanding. Tara, the narrator, tells her story with frankness and humor. The author does a good job of writing in the voice of a teen expressing thoughts, fears, hopes, and insecurities. Most of the focus of the book is on the ever widening scope of Tara’s affliction and the havoc it wreaks on her family. One of the most moving aspects is the disintegration of the relationship between Tara and her mother. The other characters are likeable and are not either good or bad, but human. Themes covered in the story are teen pregnancy, sex, smoking, drugs, alcoholism, anorexia, and family dysfunction. The book makes positive points of the themes and also points out the absurdities of drug use and teen sex. The themes are relatable by most of the teens today. The author includes an afterward by Dr. AJ Allen M.D. which adds a clinical perspective to the disease. There are many themes that teens can relate to, but also the writing style is one that teens can enjoy. It is a faced paced easy read littered with humor, sincerity, sadness, and hope.
Genre: Coming of Age, realistic novel/problem novel/edgy fiction
Annotation: 11 year old Tara has some strange habits, counting cracks, praying, and kissing doorknobs. She has to repeat her habits over and over until it feels right. OCD not only destroys the sufferer, it destroys their family too.
Justification for nomination: Tara is eleven years old when she realizes that something is wrong with her. It starts because she heard the phrase “step on a crack, break your mother’s back” and now she can’t stop saying it over and over and over again inside her head. Not only does she repeat the phrase, but she has to count cracks in the sidewalk on her way to school and then back home again. If she gets interrupted or loses count then she has to start over again. Tara suffers from a biological disease called OCD or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Over time the rituals takes over a person’s life and destroys friendships, families and the sufferer. The author does a brilliant job of describing in vivid, realistic detail through the 1st person point of view a debilitating disease. By using 1st person point of view the author engages the reader so that they can delve deep into the mind of the OCD sufferer offering insight and understanding. Tara, the narrator, tells her story with frankness and humor. The author does a good job of writing in the voice of a teen expressing thoughts, fears, hopes, and insecurities. Most of the focus of the book is on the ever widening scope of Tara’s affliction and the havoc it wreaks on her family. One of the most moving aspects is the disintegration of the relationship between Tara and her mother. The other characters are likeable and are not either good or bad, but human. Themes covered in the story are teen pregnancy, sex, smoking, drugs, alcoholism, anorexia, and family dysfunction. The book makes positive points of the themes and also points out the absurdities of drug use and teen sex. The themes are relatable by most of the teens today. The author includes an afterward by Dr. AJ Allen M.D. which adds a clinical perspective to the disease. There are many themes that teens can relate to, but also the writing style is one that teens can enjoy. It is a faced paced easy read littered with humor, sincerity, sadness, and hope.
Genre: Coming of Age, realistic novel/problem novel/edgy fiction
Friday, July 10, 2009
The Giver
Lowry, Lois. The Giver. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 1993.
Annotation: Imagine a perfect community. There is no crime, no homelessness, no sickness, no war. Or is it so perfect? Jonas discovers more than he wants about his society and has to make a difficult choice.
Justification for rejection: Jonas lives in a society where everything is taken care of for everyone that lives there. Everyone who lives there contributes to the community and obeys the rules. If the rules are broken, the violator is “released”, once you become to old you are “released”. If a newborn can’t adjust in the recommended fashion then they are “released”. The author creates a riveting, thought provoking story by introducing young readers to complex themes such as individuality, tolerance, empathy, social and personal responsibility, sex, euthanasia, and infanticide. Although, these themes are controversial and have led to the banning of the book, it also causes the reader to search within themselves and own thoughts about how they feel about these issues. The central conflict is the letting go of highlights in life to get rid of the low points in life. The young protagonist Jonas discovers that through the goal of sameness, freedom of choice and uniqueness has been eradicated. These themes are stepping stones towards thought provoking discussions among young adults. The author gives a vivid description of the killing of a child because it is flawed, which I believe teaches the importance of acceptance towards an individual no matter what or how many flaw that person may have. That being said, I did enjoy the brilliant beginning and middle of the story. The reason for my rejection is the ending. The ending is ambiguous with fabled overtones. For me, getting through the ending was a chore. It felt as if the author was in a hurry to finish so she cut out all the dialogue and quickly led the protagonist on a quest seeking journey, but the reader never really knows what the quest really is or where he is going and then it just ends. Some aspects of the story were not fully explained and as long as the reader can accept that it should be an enjoyable read for most people, but is not in my opinion award worthy.
Genre: Science fiction/fantasy/coming of age/challenged
Annotation: Imagine a perfect community. There is no crime, no homelessness, no sickness, no war. Or is it so perfect? Jonas discovers more than he wants about his society and has to make a difficult choice.
Justification for rejection: Jonas lives in a society where everything is taken care of for everyone that lives there. Everyone who lives there contributes to the community and obeys the rules. If the rules are broken, the violator is “released”, once you become to old you are “released”. If a newborn can’t adjust in the recommended fashion then they are “released”. The author creates a riveting, thought provoking story by introducing young readers to complex themes such as individuality, tolerance, empathy, social and personal responsibility, sex, euthanasia, and infanticide. Although, these themes are controversial and have led to the banning of the book, it also causes the reader to search within themselves and own thoughts about how they feel about these issues. The central conflict is the letting go of highlights in life to get rid of the low points in life. The young protagonist Jonas discovers that through the goal of sameness, freedom of choice and uniqueness has been eradicated. These themes are stepping stones towards thought provoking discussions among young adults. The author gives a vivid description of the killing of a child because it is flawed, which I believe teaches the importance of acceptance towards an individual no matter what or how many flaw that person may have. That being said, I did enjoy the brilliant beginning and middle of the story. The reason for my rejection is the ending. The ending is ambiguous with fabled overtones. For me, getting through the ending was a chore. It felt as if the author was in a hurry to finish so she cut out all the dialogue and quickly led the protagonist on a quest seeking journey, but the reader never really knows what the quest really is or where he is going and then it just ends. Some aspects of the story were not fully explained and as long as the reader can accept that it should be an enjoyable read for most people, but is not in my opinion award worthy.
Genre: Science fiction/fantasy/coming of age/challenged
Monday, July 6, 2009
Dust
Slade, Arthur. Dust. Canada: Harper, 2001
Annotation: In the quiet, sleepy town of Horseshoe, Saskatchewan, evil is coming. For Robert’s 7 year old brother Matthew it’s too late. Is Robert next?
Justification for Nomination: The story begins in the depression era dustbowl farming community in Horseshoe, Saskatchewan. Eleven year old Robert’s younger brother Matthew disappears while walking to town. A strange man shows up and things start to get weird. I was hooked from the beginning. The uncertain, but driven hero is on a quest to find out what happened to his brother and other kids that are missing. The author uses Robert’s thoughts to build the mood of the story. The plot is littered with foreshadowing combined with unique twists and turns to keep the reader guessing and spellbound. Slade uses graphic imagery to describe the town, its people and the antagonist that harasses Robert until the end. The skillfully crafted sentences are easy to follow and it is an example of a good stepping off point for young readers to adult fiction. The dialogue is pretty strong and the characters stay true to themselves and the plot of the book. This story has all of the elements of a terrific young adult book that touches on many developmental dynamics that teens are going through. For example, family relationships, Robert and his parents become closer after Matthew disappears. Fear, hope and courage are all points that are experienced or shown by the young adult protagonist. The theme of good versus evil is strewn throughout the story. While there was not a lot of gore in the book, it provided intensity and thrills that teens find exhilarating. I found the ending to be satisfying with the hero winning the fight, but still left room for the imagination. This author is to teens as Stephen King is to the adult reader.
Genre: Fantasy/Horror/Mystery
Annotation: In the quiet, sleepy town of Horseshoe, Saskatchewan, evil is coming. For Robert’s 7 year old brother Matthew it’s too late. Is Robert next?
Justification for Nomination: The story begins in the depression era dustbowl farming community in Horseshoe, Saskatchewan. Eleven year old Robert’s younger brother Matthew disappears while walking to town. A strange man shows up and things start to get weird. I was hooked from the beginning. The uncertain, but driven hero is on a quest to find out what happened to his brother and other kids that are missing. The author uses Robert’s thoughts to build the mood of the story. The plot is littered with foreshadowing combined with unique twists and turns to keep the reader guessing and spellbound. Slade uses graphic imagery to describe the town, its people and the antagonist that harasses Robert until the end. The skillfully crafted sentences are easy to follow and it is an example of a good stepping off point for young readers to adult fiction. The dialogue is pretty strong and the characters stay true to themselves and the plot of the book. This story has all of the elements of a terrific young adult book that touches on many developmental dynamics that teens are going through. For example, family relationships, Robert and his parents become closer after Matthew disappears. Fear, hope and courage are all points that are experienced or shown by the young adult protagonist. The theme of good versus evil is strewn throughout the story. While there was not a lot of gore in the book, it provided intensity and thrills that teens find exhilarating. I found the ending to be satisfying with the hero winning the fight, but still left room for the imagination. This author is to teens as Stephen King is to the adult reader.
Genre: Fantasy/Horror/Mystery
Sunday, June 28, 2009
The Brimstone Journals
Koertge, Ronald. The Brimstone Journals. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2001
Annotation: Meet 15 teens from any town high school, the jock, the slut, the fat kid, the anorexic, the smart Asian, the dyke, the black girl from the ghetto and the angry boy with a grudge and a gun.
Justification for nomination: The Brimstone Journals is narrated by fifteen teenager characters from a suburban high school. They all have problems and issues that most high school young adults deal with everyday, but this book describes how one boy makes a hit list and plans a day of violence to end the lives of innocent kids. Anyone who has been through high school can relate and understand the individual characters that are given a voice to speak their inner most secrets. In this realistic, quick read, themes of freedom, fitting in, not fitting in, love, going green, being superior, body image, and abuse are voiced in a first person free verse poetic style. The author uses a lot of dialect, which makes the characters voice stand out. He knits his characters together providing a deep insight into the lives of American teens. Through these voices he exposes qualities of our society that many would like to ignore. Koertge achieves a very swift characterization through language used and the language that separates the characters, but also the rhythm of how they are speaking and general slang makes this a very realistic read. The book suggests that stereotypes are dangerous and in need of a closer examination, but he relies on these types to establish his characters. Although, this poignant poetic novel evokes familiar and terrifying reality, it also provides an ideal opportunity for young adults to discuss violence in their schools.
Genre: Poetic verse novel/fiction/coming of age/realistic noves/problem novels/edgy fiction
Annotation: Meet 15 teens from any town high school, the jock, the slut, the fat kid, the anorexic, the smart Asian, the dyke, the black girl from the ghetto and the angry boy with a grudge and a gun.
Justification for nomination: The Brimstone Journals is narrated by fifteen teenager characters from a suburban high school. They all have problems and issues that most high school young adults deal with everyday, but this book describes how one boy makes a hit list and plans a day of violence to end the lives of innocent kids. Anyone who has been through high school can relate and understand the individual characters that are given a voice to speak their inner most secrets. In this realistic, quick read, themes of freedom, fitting in, not fitting in, love, going green, being superior, body image, and abuse are voiced in a first person free verse poetic style. The author uses a lot of dialect, which makes the characters voice stand out. He knits his characters together providing a deep insight into the lives of American teens. Through these voices he exposes qualities of our society that many would like to ignore. Koertge achieves a very swift characterization through language used and the language that separates the characters, but also the rhythm of how they are speaking and general slang makes this a very realistic read. The book suggests that stereotypes are dangerous and in need of a closer examination, but he relies on these types to establish his characters. Although, this poignant poetic novel evokes familiar and terrifying reality, it also provides an ideal opportunity for young adults to discuss violence in their schools.
Genre: Poetic verse novel/fiction/coming of age/realistic noves/problem novels/edgy fiction
In the Forest of The Night
Rhodes, Amelia Atwater. In the Forests of the Night. New York: Delacorte Press, 1999
Annotation: In the 18th century a 17 year old girl has been transformed against her will into a vampire, in the process she gets into a bitter dispute with another male vampire that lasts 300 years.
Nomination for Rejection: Amelia Atwater-Rhodes writes an average vampire tale for young adult readers. She creates a 17 year old girl from the 18th century who is transformed into a vampire against her will. While this book is fast paced and action packed, it has a vague plot. It is written in large font with lots of white space and forced transitions. I found the characters to be one dimensional and not developed enough. The author has a good sense of drama and uses elegant phrasing. She writes mostly in first person with a suspenseful tone. The setting shifts between 18th century and 20th century and is mostly organized around the forest and back alleys. The author does a good job of changing between the centuries listed making the story line play out very well. The main character Riska or Rachel is not very developed for being three hundred years old. I would think by now she should know more about herself and her nemesis. I never really got to know the characters and ended up not caring about them or what happened to them. I found the author to use more description than dialogue throughout the text. The most inspiring item about this book is that the author was fourteen years old when she wrote it. This will resonate with inspiring young adult writers. As this author matures, she should develop the skills worthy of an award winning author.
Genre: Supernatural/Horror/Vampire Fiction
Annotation: In the 18th century a 17 year old girl has been transformed against her will into a vampire, in the process she gets into a bitter dispute with another male vampire that lasts 300 years.
Nomination for Rejection: Amelia Atwater-Rhodes writes an average vampire tale for young adult readers. She creates a 17 year old girl from the 18th century who is transformed into a vampire against her will. While this book is fast paced and action packed, it has a vague plot. It is written in large font with lots of white space and forced transitions. I found the characters to be one dimensional and not developed enough. The author has a good sense of drama and uses elegant phrasing. She writes mostly in first person with a suspenseful tone. The setting shifts between 18th century and 20th century and is mostly organized around the forest and back alleys. The author does a good job of changing between the centuries listed making the story line play out very well. The main character Riska or Rachel is not very developed for being three hundred years old. I would think by now she should know more about herself and her nemesis. I never really got to know the characters and ended up not caring about them or what happened to them. I found the author to use more description than dialogue throughout the text. The most inspiring item about this book is that the author was fourteen years old when she wrote it. This will resonate with inspiring young adult writers. As this author matures, she should develop the skills worthy of an award winning author.
Genre: Supernatural/Horror/Vampire Fiction
Witch Hunt Mysteries of the Salem Witch Trials
Aronson, Marc. Witch Hunt Mysteries of the Salem Witch Trials. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2003
Annotation: It was mass hysteria. More than 100 people accused, by October 1692, 19 people were executed, one man tortured, and many died in prison for witchcraft.
Justification for rejection: Marc Aronson examines the events in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. A group of young teenage women accused many people of witchcraft. They claimed to have been assaulted by being bitten and pinched by invisible agents, their limbs wracked with pain, “taken dumb” or not being able to talk, uttering foolish remarks, and hiding under chairs. This was witnessed by their families and friends. Once in court upon seeing and hearing the accused try to defend themselves would scream in pain, contort their bodies, and hallucinate. The accused were often odd women who kept to themselves, although some were upstanding women and men of the community and church. It seemed that the same core group of girls made most of the accusations, but neighbors did turn against each other, but mostly as a revenge circumstance. Aronson delivers a brilliant introduction designed to speak directly to teens putting the history in context that sharp teens can grasp. Aronson encourages them to think about how the events connect to their lives and to contemporary culture. He draws parallels between Salem and post September 11th society, writing with an undiminished political bent. The author actively encourages the rethinking and past ideas of the events leading up to the accusations and trials. Some readers may get bogged down in the monotonous he said/she said dialogue, while others may feel that the direct quotes are just. While Aronson trusts the reader to form their own deduction about what happened and why he does caution that while the reader’s interpretation may be valid, a conclusion may not be possible. One of the reasons for my rejection is that this book does not represent all age groups within the young adult arena. It is definitely for the avid reader and would not appeal to the efferent reader. This is for teens who love to debate and dig into history. Aronson shows off his talent for historical interpretation and his purpose as a non-fiction writer as he rebuilds events surrounding the witch trials of 1692. He isn’t afraid to give his opinion throughout the text. To enrich and illustrate the history, he uses a wide array of documented sources and recorded testimonies of the accused and the accusers. The author produces a close view of the tragedy that assesses the theories from deceit and outright fraud to spoiled food that caused hallucinations. The avid reader will appreciate the time line of events, epilogue, and notes & comments section that deals with myths, legends, and misinterpretations. He offers the avid reader a series of questions to think about throughout the book, focusing not only on the accusers, but on the judges, witnesses, jury, skeptics, and other protagonists. Although, he sites contemporary 911 events as a means of encouraging readers to think about relevance in their own lives, but he didn’t develop the theories well enough to inform the reader of why he made the comparison. Another reason for rejection is the pictures accompanying the text have no captions and are often difficult to see. This book did win the School Library Best Book of the Year award, but in my opinion it is only going to stimulate a more mature teen reader.
Genre: Historical/ Non-Fiction/ Mystery/
Annotation: It was mass hysteria. More than 100 people accused, by October 1692, 19 people were executed, one man tortured, and many died in prison for witchcraft.
Justification for rejection: Marc Aronson examines the events in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. A group of young teenage women accused many people of witchcraft. They claimed to have been assaulted by being bitten and pinched by invisible agents, their limbs wracked with pain, “taken dumb” or not being able to talk, uttering foolish remarks, and hiding under chairs. This was witnessed by their families and friends. Once in court upon seeing and hearing the accused try to defend themselves would scream in pain, contort their bodies, and hallucinate. The accused were often odd women who kept to themselves, although some were upstanding women and men of the community and church. It seemed that the same core group of girls made most of the accusations, but neighbors did turn against each other, but mostly as a revenge circumstance. Aronson delivers a brilliant introduction designed to speak directly to teens putting the history in context that sharp teens can grasp. Aronson encourages them to think about how the events connect to their lives and to contemporary culture. He draws parallels between Salem and post September 11th society, writing with an undiminished political bent. The author actively encourages the rethinking and past ideas of the events leading up to the accusations and trials. Some readers may get bogged down in the monotonous he said/she said dialogue, while others may feel that the direct quotes are just. While Aronson trusts the reader to form their own deduction about what happened and why he does caution that while the reader’s interpretation may be valid, a conclusion may not be possible. One of the reasons for my rejection is that this book does not represent all age groups within the young adult arena. It is definitely for the avid reader and would not appeal to the efferent reader. This is for teens who love to debate and dig into history. Aronson shows off his talent for historical interpretation and his purpose as a non-fiction writer as he rebuilds events surrounding the witch trials of 1692. He isn’t afraid to give his opinion throughout the text. To enrich and illustrate the history, he uses a wide array of documented sources and recorded testimonies of the accused and the accusers. The author produces a close view of the tragedy that assesses the theories from deceit and outright fraud to spoiled food that caused hallucinations. The avid reader will appreciate the time line of events, epilogue, and notes & comments section that deals with myths, legends, and misinterpretations. He offers the avid reader a series of questions to think about throughout the book, focusing not only on the accusers, but on the judges, witnesses, jury, skeptics, and other protagonists. Although, he sites contemporary 911 events as a means of encouraging readers to think about relevance in their own lives, but he didn’t develop the theories well enough to inform the reader of why he made the comparison. Another reason for rejection is the pictures accompanying the text have no captions and are often difficult to see. This book did win the School Library Best Book of the Year award, but in my opinion it is only going to stimulate a more mature teen reader.
Genre: Historical/ Non-Fiction/ Mystery/
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Hilter's Youth Growing up in Hitler's Shadow
Bartoletti, Susan Campbell. Hitler Youth Growing up in Hitler’s Shadow. New York: Scholastic Inc, 2005.
Annotation: “I begin with the young. We older ones are used up…But my magnificent youngsters! Look at these men and boys! What material! With them, I can create a new world.” Adolf Hitler.
This was the beginning of a world changing event. Hitler built an army on the shoulders of average children and teenagers to carry out his mass murder of the Jewish people and many other groups deemed impure.
Justification for Nomination: Hitler preyed upon the vulnerability of Germany’s youth. His message of contributing to the well being of the people resonated with the youth, who grew up with World War One, poverty, and unemployment. They believed that Hitler could get them out of the mess they were in as a country. With Hitler in power, the Nazi’s took over the schools, rewrote all textbooks to promote the national party and added two new subjects. Racial Science taught that Aryans belonged to a superior master race that was intended to rule Europe. Eugenics taught that Aryans should only marry healthy Aryans and how to identify Jews by learning their physical traits. This class taught that Jews were “inferior” and were the cause of all of Germany’s misfortunes. Bartoletti begins the book with a neutral presentation of a dozen young Germans. Part of the allure for teen readers is the pictures that accompany the text. She uses black and white photography and thumbnail biographies to introduce the twelve people. These are the real characters she will follow throughout the war. The extraordinary photographs are vivid and candid. When placed with the text, they become chilling reminders of what brain washing looks like. I think this literary technique will draw in her intended audience and help spark deep discussion. A significant part of the text is told in the words of the focused on twelve, but she also offers details to help the reader understand how this could ever happen. Bartoletti lets many of the subjects' words, emotions, and deeds speak for themselves, offering realism and candor to the plot. The author researched this topic for two years and provided details of how the Hitler Youth became the back bone of the German army in a cool neutral tone to demonstarte the horror of the war in an unbiased manner. Through the use of interviewing, emails, phone calls, letters, research, visiting national and historic museums, traveling to the places in Germany mentioned in the book, reflection, and writing the author compiled a mass of historical and truthful information and attempted to make sense of a senseless period. She presented it in an easy to read engaging narrative that brought authenticity to the subject. She frequently quoted survivors, used dialogue from diaries, listened to personal accounts which can stimulate critical thinking skills in any reader. By using these tools, she was able to add “flesh & blood” to the facts and figures of World War One. The organization and lay out of the text was a mix of words, quotes, photographs, maps which provides visual stimulation so important to the YA reader. She also provides a glossary and index which is helpful when confronted with a word that may seem challenging to a new reader. The authenticity is further upheld by the Quote Source in the back of the book. The author also included a photography section that helped to explain where the pictures came from, whether from the National Archives, National Holocaust Museum, Soldiers pictures, or from Hitler’s personal photographer. She poured through millions of pictures before selecting the ones chosen for the book. Adding further to the authenticity, she provides websites where the reader can go to view more pictures. This will appeal to the technology driven YA, sparking imagination and indulging curiosity. This book gives the reader a chance to not only learn history through the eyes of a person the same age as the reader, but to also experience the horror of what war is really like. The author shows respect for the reader throughout the book by making the material easily understandable, intermediate pacing, factual tone, but also challenging the reader to think about what it must have been like to be a teen under Hitler’s control. She includes the message of hope by writing about the Hitler Youth that quit and began an underground anti-Nazi campaign to inform the German people about what was really happening to the Jewish people. This would be a great book to accompany a history lesson on WWl in any history class.
Genre: Historical Non-Fiction
Annotation: “I begin with the young. We older ones are used up…But my magnificent youngsters! Look at these men and boys! What material! With them, I can create a new world.” Adolf Hitler.
This was the beginning of a world changing event. Hitler built an army on the shoulders of average children and teenagers to carry out his mass murder of the Jewish people and many other groups deemed impure.
Justification for Nomination: Hitler preyed upon the vulnerability of Germany’s youth. His message of contributing to the well being of the people resonated with the youth, who grew up with World War One, poverty, and unemployment. They believed that Hitler could get them out of the mess they were in as a country. With Hitler in power, the Nazi’s took over the schools, rewrote all textbooks to promote the national party and added two new subjects. Racial Science taught that Aryans belonged to a superior master race that was intended to rule Europe. Eugenics taught that Aryans should only marry healthy Aryans and how to identify Jews by learning their physical traits. This class taught that Jews were “inferior” and were the cause of all of Germany’s misfortunes. Bartoletti begins the book with a neutral presentation of a dozen young Germans. Part of the allure for teen readers is the pictures that accompany the text. She uses black and white photography and thumbnail biographies to introduce the twelve people. These are the real characters she will follow throughout the war. The extraordinary photographs are vivid and candid. When placed with the text, they become chilling reminders of what brain washing looks like. I think this literary technique will draw in her intended audience and help spark deep discussion. A significant part of the text is told in the words of the focused on twelve, but she also offers details to help the reader understand how this could ever happen. Bartoletti lets many of the subjects' words, emotions, and deeds speak for themselves, offering realism and candor to the plot. The author researched this topic for two years and provided details of how the Hitler Youth became the back bone of the German army in a cool neutral tone to demonstarte the horror of the war in an unbiased manner. Through the use of interviewing, emails, phone calls, letters, research, visiting national and historic museums, traveling to the places in Germany mentioned in the book, reflection, and writing the author compiled a mass of historical and truthful information and attempted to make sense of a senseless period. She presented it in an easy to read engaging narrative that brought authenticity to the subject. She frequently quoted survivors, used dialogue from diaries, listened to personal accounts which can stimulate critical thinking skills in any reader. By using these tools, she was able to add “flesh & blood” to the facts and figures of World War One. The organization and lay out of the text was a mix of words, quotes, photographs, maps which provides visual stimulation so important to the YA reader. She also provides a glossary and index which is helpful when confronted with a word that may seem challenging to a new reader. The authenticity is further upheld by the Quote Source in the back of the book. The author also included a photography section that helped to explain where the pictures came from, whether from the National Archives, National Holocaust Museum, Soldiers pictures, or from Hitler’s personal photographer. She poured through millions of pictures before selecting the ones chosen for the book. Adding further to the authenticity, she provides websites where the reader can go to view more pictures. This will appeal to the technology driven YA, sparking imagination and indulging curiosity. This book gives the reader a chance to not only learn history through the eyes of a person the same age as the reader, but to also experience the horror of what war is really like. The author shows respect for the reader throughout the book by making the material easily understandable, intermediate pacing, factual tone, but also challenging the reader to think about what it must have been like to be a teen under Hitler’s control. She includes the message of hope by writing about the Hitler Youth that quit and began an underground anti-Nazi campaign to inform the German people about what was really happening to the Jewish people. This would be a great book to accompany a history lesson on WWl in any history class.
Genre: Historical Non-Fiction
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
extra credit
Trueman, Terry. Stuck in Neutral NewYork: HarperCollinsPublisher, 2000
Annotation: 14 year old Shawn McDaniel has Cerebral Palsy. Everyone around him thinks he has no brain function, in reality, he can see and hear everything. He has the amazing ability to remember anything he has ever heard. His mother, brother, and sister treat him like a baby, but take good care of him. His father can not accept Shawn’s condition and it ends up splitting the family. His father is also convinced that Shawn is suffering and thinks the best thing for him is to die.
Justification for nomination: This Printz award winner is brilliantly written from the point of view of the main character. Although, everyone around him thinks he is “retarded”, he has all of the brain function of a able bodied teenager. The text has a progressive pattern of action that builds towards a climax at the end. The reader has to make an assumption as to whether Shawn’s father really does kill him or not, leaving the reader in a cliffhanger situation. The main character tells his story in first person that fits the story because we know how he feels and where he is at emotionally throughout the book. The writer uses humor, imagery, descriptive words, and irony to engage and challenge the reader. The setting does not change much for the main character because he is confined either to a wheelchair or his bed, but we as readers get to leave his environment and travel with his family. Shawn’s quest is finding out whether his father is really trying to kill him or not and if he would be better off dead. Along the journey, he begins to learn things about himself, of who he is in the world and realizes he wants to live. The plot is excellent. It grabs the reader’s attention and holds on. It is hard to put the book down. The cover illustration is hard to walk by and not pick up. It makes you want to pick up the book and read it. It’s dark and haunting and leaves the reader with a picture of what Shawn looks like making the story personal. This is a must read book.
Genre: Printz award/realistic novel/problem novel/search for identity
Annotation: 14 year old Shawn McDaniel has Cerebral Palsy. Everyone around him thinks he has no brain function, in reality, he can see and hear everything. He has the amazing ability to remember anything he has ever heard. His mother, brother, and sister treat him like a baby, but take good care of him. His father can not accept Shawn’s condition and it ends up splitting the family. His father is also convinced that Shawn is suffering and thinks the best thing for him is to die.
Justification for nomination: This Printz award winner is brilliantly written from the point of view of the main character. Although, everyone around him thinks he is “retarded”, he has all of the brain function of a able bodied teenager. The text has a progressive pattern of action that builds towards a climax at the end. The reader has to make an assumption as to whether Shawn’s father really does kill him or not, leaving the reader in a cliffhanger situation. The main character tells his story in first person that fits the story because we know how he feels and where he is at emotionally throughout the book. The writer uses humor, imagery, descriptive words, and irony to engage and challenge the reader. The setting does not change much for the main character because he is confined either to a wheelchair or his bed, but we as readers get to leave his environment and travel with his family. Shawn’s quest is finding out whether his father is really trying to kill him or not and if he would be better off dead. Along the journey, he begins to learn things about himself, of who he is in the world and realizes he wants to live. The plot is excellent. It grabs the reader’s attention and holds on. It is hard to put the book down. The cover illustration is hard to walk by and not pick up. It makes you want to pick up the book and read it. It’s dark and haunting and leaves the reader with a picture of what Shawn looks like making the story personal. This is a must read book.
Genre: Printz award/realistic novel/problem novel/search for identity
My Heartbeat
Weyr-Freymann, Garrett. My Heartbeat. Massachusetts: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002.
Annotation: Ellen loves James and James loves Link, but Link is too confused to know who he loves. Garrett Freymann-Weyr writes a humor filled, coming of age portrait of a young girl becoming a woman. Ellen’s innocence and naivete are put to the test as she slowly realizes that the love of her life and her brother may be a couple.
Justification for rejection: My Heartbeat is story about a 14 year old girl trying to come to terms with her feelings for her older brother’s best friend. As she stumbles through this emotional journey, she begins to realize that the love of her life is love of her brother’s life, too. Unfortunately, her brother has internal demons that keep him from expressing any real emotion and hiding the fact that he may be gay. This book is a true depiction of a coming of age young adult novel. The main character, Ellen, is the innocent beginning her journey into adulthood. Her brother link is friend, her sage, but also becomes Ellen’s antagonist as she tries to break the traditional non-communication that absorbs her family. She wants to understand her brother’s conflicting emotional despair and try to help him embrace his sexual identity, whatever that ends up to be. At the same time, she is madly in love with James, her brother’s love. As her brother runs from his internal demons, Ellen and James become closer and begin to date. As James and Ellen get closer, Link goes deeper inside himself. This was a great book, but I don’t think it is worthy of a Prinz award nomination. There are many themes that run through the narrative. For example, homophobia, loss of innocence, who am I, defiance of authority, and finding the inner voice. Ellen metamorphosis from child to adult starts when she realizes that her brother Link may be gay. She learns through books about what homosexuality is and learns through James about how it feels. She also learns that her father is not as open minded as he thinks he is. Although Ellen is the main character, I think not enough attention was paid towards Link. I think his character should have been developed more. There were many insinuations as to what Link thought, valued or believed, but he was never given a voice to confirm or deny. It left me feeling at a loss and confused. I wanted more as a reader and this was frustrating to me. Although, I do think that the book will stimulate the reader to think about the themes presented in the text.
Genre: Coming of age/edgy/realistic
Annotation: Ellen loves James and James loves Link, but Link is too confused to know who he loves. Garrett Freymann-Weyr writes a humor filled, coming of age portrait of a young girl becoming a woman. Ellen’s innocence and naivete are put to the test as she slowly realizes that the love of her life and her brother may be a couple.
Justification for rejection: My Heartbeat is story about a 14 year old girl trying to come to terms with her feelings for her older brother’s best friend. As she stumbles through this emotional journey, she begins to realize that the love of her life is love of her brother’s life, too. Unfortunately, her brother has internal demons that keep him from expressing any real emotion and hiding the fact that he may be gay. This book is a true depiction of a coming of age young adult novel. The main character, Ellen, is the innocent beginning her journey into adulthood. Her brother link is friend, her sage, but also becomes Ellen’s antagonist as she tries to break the traditional non-communication that absorbs her family. She wants to understand her brother’s conflicting emotional despair and try to help him embrace his sexual identity, whatever that ends up to be. At the same time, she is madly in love with James, her brother’s love. As her brother runs from his internal demons, Ellen and James become closer and begin to date. As James and Ellen get closer, Link goes deeper inside himself. This was a great book, but I don’t think it is worthy of a Prinz award nomination. There are many themes that run through the narrative. For example, homophobia, loss of innocence, who am I, defiance of authority, and finding the inner voice. Ellen metamorphosis from child to adult starts when she realizes that her brother Link may be gay. She learns through books about what homosexuality is and learns through James about how it feels. She also learns that her father is not as open minded as he thinks he is. Although Ellen is the main character, I think not enough attention was paid towards Link. I think his character should have been developed more. There were many insinuations as to what Link thought, valued or believed, but he was never given a voice to confirm or deny. It left me feeling at a loss and confused. I wanted more as a reader and this was frustrating to me. Although, I do think that the book will stimulate the reader to think about the themes presented in the text.
Genre: Coming of age/edgy/realistic
Friday, June 5, 2009
The Sandman
Gaiman, Neil. The Sandman. New York: DC Comics, 1994
Annotation: This is not a bedtime story. World’s End is filled with bizarre characters, some barely human, each waiting to spill their dark fantasy and twisted tales of terror. Each tale is richly illustrated to scare even the most hardened reader.
Justification for Nomination: The Sandman is a graphic odyssey of stranded travelers waiting out a storm at the World’s End inn. To pass the time, while the storm rages around them, they take turns telling tales of horror and mystery. I have to be honest and say that I was not looking forward to reading a graphic novel. I did not think that this kind of literature would satisfy and keep my interest. Boy was I wrong. Once I picked it up I could not put it down and read it the whole way through. Gaimen’s rock solid story telling is awesome. It reminded me of a cross between Ray Bradbury and Stephen King. Each story is smart and frightening. The illustrations are classic comic book style with a wide spectrum of vivid colors to grab the reader’s attention. The drawings detail from the setting to the expression on the characters faces reach out and grab the reader. The square bound panels made it easier to follow for a first time graphic novel reader, like me. The Author uses word balloons in each panel that designated who the speaker was and bordered captions for transition and narration. The gutter spaces were very small which helped with the quick pacing throughout the novel. There were many different panel to panel transitions. Moment to moment, action to action, subject to subject, and scene to scene were all used throughout the text. The Sandman is the 8th installment in the series of graphic novels written by Gaimen. All publishing rights are reserved to DC Comics. I am excited to start at volume one and read through them all. I do agree with the author when he stated that it was intended for mature audiences. Some of the concepts would be hard for a younger YA to grasp. For example, a character named Jim is telling a tale and within the tale a different character begins to tell a tale and then the story reverses back Jim the original story teller. A more mature YA would be able to follow this type of dialogue without losing track of who is telling the story. I encourage anyone with a liking or as in my case a dislike for gothic graphic novels to read this book.
Genre: Graphic Novel/Horror/Mystery
Annotation: This is not a bedtime story. World’s End is filled with bizarre characters, some barely human, each waiting to spill their dark fantasy and twisted tales of terror. Each tale is richly illustrated to scare even the most hardened reader.
Justification for Nomination: The Sandman is a graphic odyssey of stranded travelers waiting out a storm at the World’s End inn. To pass the time, while the storm rages around them, they take turns telling tales of horror and mystery. I have to be honest and say that I was not looking forward to reading a graphic novel. I did not think that this kind of literature would satisfy and keep my interest. Boy was I wrong. Once I picked it up I could not put it down and read it the whole way through. Gaimen’s rock solid story telling is awesome. It reminded me of a cross between Ray Bradbury and Stephen King. Each story is smart and frightening. The illustrations are classic comic book style with a wide spectrum of vivid colors to grab the reader’s attention. The drawings detail from the setting to the expression on the characters faces reach out and grab the reader. The square bound panels made it easier to follow for a first time graphic novel reader, like me. The Author uses word balloons in each panel that designated who the speaker was and bordered captions for transition and narration. The gutter spaces were very small which helped with the quick pacing throughout the novel. There were many different panel to panel transitions. Moment to moment, action to action, subject to subject, and scene to scene were all used throughout the text. The Sandman is the 8th installment in the series of graphic novels written by Gaimen. All publishing rights are reserved to DC Comics. I am excited to start at volume one and read through them all. I do agree with the author when he stated that it was intended for mature audiences. Some of the concepts would be hard for a younger YA to grasp. For example, a character named Jim is telling a tale and within the tale a different character begins to tell a tale and then the story reverses back Jim the original story teller. A more mature YA would be able to follow this type of dialogue without losing track of who is telling the story. I encourage anyone with a liking or as in my case a dislike for gothic graphic novels to read this book.
Genre: Graphic Novel/Horror/Mystery
Monday, June 1, 2009
Sold
McCormick, Patricia, Sold. New York: Hyperion Books for Children 2006
Annotation: Sold into the sex slave industry by her gambling step father, Lakshmi must endure unspeakable horrors for a thirteen year old girl. Her only hope is work off her step father’s debt so she can return to her mountain village in Nepal and see her mother again.
Justification for nomination: This book is written in free verse by the main character, Lakshmi.. It is raw and real as the author Patricia McCormick details the horrific nightmare this young girl must endure. She is drugged and beaten into submission until she gives in and lives a life of a prostitute. McCormick traveled to India and Nepal, where she interviewed the women of Calcutta’s red light district. Sold is based on the reality of the lives of many young girls and women who are told they are going to the beautiful cities to work as maids in homes where they will be treated wonderfully. These women endure cruelty beyond words just to survive. McCormick depiction of the life and struggles of Lakshmi is creative and skillful. Her depth of detail makes the characters believable. Sold was also a National Book Award Finalist. I recommend everyone to read this book to get a sense of looking through a vivid window into the harsh, cruel existence suffered by so many in India.
Genre: Multicultural/Memoir
Annotation: Sold into the sex slave industry by her gambling step father, Lakshmi must endure unspeakable horrors for a thirteen year old girl. Her only hope is work off her step father’s debt so she can return to her mountain village in Nepal and see her mother again.
Justification for nomination: This book is written in free verse by the main character, Lakshmi.. It is raw and real as the author Patricia McCormick details the horrific nightmare this young girl must endure. She is drugged and beaten into submission until she gives in and lives a life of a prostitute. McCormick traveled to India and Nepal, where she interviewed the women of Calcutta’s red light district. Sold is based on the reality of the lives of many young girls and women who are told they are going to the beautiful cities to work as maids in homes where they will be treated wonderfully. These women endure cruelty beyond words just to survive. McCormick depiction of the life and struggles of Lakshmi is creative and skillful. Her depth of detail makes the characters believable. Sold was also a National Book Award Finalist. I recommend everyone to read this book to get a sense of looking through a vivid window into the harsh, cruel existence suffered by so many in India.
Genre: Multicultural/Memoir
Monday, May 25, 2009
Monster
Myers, Walter Dean. Monster. New York: HarperCollins, 2001.
Annotation: 16 year old Steve Harmon is on trial for murder
In jail, awaiting trial, he could get 25 to life.
Did he do it or is a victim of being black?
Justification for nomination:
The first person narrative is told by the main character, Steve Harmon, a black, 16 year old. The plot is compelling because it is real for a lot of black young males today. He is accused of being involved in the murder/robbery of a local, respected store owner in his neighborhood. Since it is told from the accused point of view, you never find out the truth of his innocence or guilt. The story is realistic as it talks about the horrible conditions in jail for a young boy. The narrator/main character tells the story in the form of a movie with stage direction, lighting, and dialogue. This is interesting because the character begins to find his moral compass, as well as, the realization that he can lead a better life and make something of himself. The setting revolves around the jail and the court proceedings, but also uses literary tools, such as; flashbacks of his life before being arrested. The book is also uses proper grammar, punctuation, and proper verb tenses making it a trust worthy, and reliable book for me, as a reader. The setting also supports the conflict of boy against society. The examples of description of what it is like to hear the screaming at night, to watch the beatings of other inmates, and the constant fear of being raped or attacked was realistic and believable. What touched me about this book is the voice/language of the main character. It made the book come alive. It was a story voiced by a young, black, male, living in the projects. I could hear the nuances, accent, and slang in the writing as the conversations between the narrator and his friends. his lawyer, and his parents. It was solid writing about the environment of his life.
Genre Category: Realistic/”Edgy”/Problem Printz Award
Annotation: 16 year old Steve Harmon is on trial for murder
In jail, awaiting trial, he could get 25 to life.
Did he do it or is a victim of being black?
Justification for nomination:
The first person narrative is told by the main character, Steve Harmon, a black, 16 year old. The plot is compelling because it is real for a lot of black young males today. He is accused of being involved in the murder/robbery of a local, respected store owner in his neighborhood. Since it is told from the accused point of view, you never find out the truth of his innocence or guilt. The story is realistic as it talks about the horrible conditions in jail for a young boy. The narrator/main character tells the story in the form of a movie with stage direction, lighting, and dialogue. This is interesting because the character begins to find his moral compass, as well as, the realization that he can lead a better life and make something of himself. The setting revolves around the jail and the court proceedings, but also uses literary tools, such as; flashbacks of his life before being arrested. The book is also uses proper grammar, punctuation, and proper verb tenses making it a trust worthy, and reliable book for me, as a reader. The setting also supports the conflict of boy against society. The examples of description of what it is like to hear the screaming at night, to watch the beatings of other inmates, and the constant fear of being raped or attacked was realistic and believable. What touched me about this book is the voice/language of the main character. It made the book come alive. It was a story voiced by a young, black, male, living in the projects. I could hear the nuances, accent, and slang in the writing as the conversations between the narrator and his friends. his lawyer, and his parents. It was solid writing about the environment of his life.
Genre Category: Realistic/”Edgy”/Problem Printz Award
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