Book Reviews 4-9
B. Summary:
A commonly banned book, Annie on my Mind is a young adult novel about two teenage girls that fall in love. They meet at the Metropolitan Museum in New York and instantly click. Liza and Annie live in two different worlds. Liza attends a private school and Annie lives with her lower middle class parents and attends a public school. Liza gets suspended from school for a minor issue. This creates an opportunity for the girls to bond as Liza is brought to reality as Annie explains what her school is like. A romance forms between Liza and Annie. Liza volunteers to cat-sit while her teachers are on vacation, but it is there that one of the religious teachers finds Annie and Liza together. It is then discovered that the teachers who she cat-sat for were lesbians too. The teachers are fired, but lend their support to the two girls.
C. Strengths of the Book:
It is hard to believe that this book came out in the early 80s! I can only imagine the courage that Nancy Garden possessed at that time. I liked the review on the back cover, "No single work has done more for young adult LGBT fiction than this classic about two teenage girls who fall in love." (School Library Journal). There were so many inspirational lines in the book to bring awareness and understanding to people who are struggling with their identities for fear of judgment by others. Ms. Widmer and Ms. Stevenson, the two lesbian teachers in the book, stated, "Please don't punish yourselves for people's ignorant reactions to who we all are. Don't let ignorance win. Let love." (232). The theme of this realistic fiction novel is love and acceptance.
D. Educational Connections:
Along with Lily and Duncan, this book supports the topics of self-realization, acceptance and individuality. Annie on my Mind brings awareness of the LGBT community. Readers will gain empathy and knowledge of the struggles that the LGBT community faces to be accepted by society.
E. My Personal Connections:
I was a little skeptical when I saw this book on the list and read the synopsis of it, but after watching the textbook videos about young adult development, I really appreciated Garden's portrayal of LGBT relationships in this book. As librarians, we have to be knowledgeable and open-minded about all topics to serve our community.
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Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi: A Girl in Pieces. El Paso, TX: Cinco Puntos Press. ISBN: 9781935955955.
B. Summary:
Gabi: A Girl in Pieces is written in diary format It tells of Gabi's final year as a senior in high school and her transition into adulthood. This novel tells of Gabi's struggle with anxiety and how she binge-eats to cope, something that a lot of teens can identify with. Gabi: A Girl in Pieces tells of Gabi and the issues that occur during her final year of high school: from her best friend Sebastian coming out and not being accepted by his family, to her other best friend getting pregnant after a rape. The story's themes revolve around friendship, family values, society and cultural expectations. The readers sees Gabi flourish in this novel as she stands up for what she knows is right, thinks for herself and becomes a woman.
C. Strengths of the Book:
The journal entry style of the book is very reader friendly. I could not put this book down because the protagonist Gabi is so likable and funny. This novel gives the reader some background knowledge about Mexican/Southern California infused culture. I cracked up on the very first page because it is so honest and endearing. "Every time I go out with a guy, my mom says, '...Eyes open, legs closed'...I don't necessarily agree with that whole wait-til-you're-married crap though. I mean, this is America and the 21st century. I can't tell my mom that because she'll think I'm bad. Or worse: trying to be white." (7) I instantly chuckled because I remember having those same thoughts growing up as an Indian American with a mom and dad who shared the same values as Gabi's mom. Gabi is a character that girls can relate to. The development of character and theme is a strength of this book. There are many topics that teenage girls can relate to such as poor self-image, sexuality, friendships and support.
D. Educational Connections:
Poetry is a passion of Gabi's. Students could analyze and pick out their favorite poem written by Gabi. There so many hard to discuss topics presented in this novel: rape, sexual preference, drugs, self worth and body image, first relationships, sexuality, pregnancy. Gabi: A Girl in Pieces covers it all. This is a great read for high school girls because it encourages them to stand up for what they believe and addresses difficult topics that are not found in many young adult books.
E. My Personal Connections:
The scene where Cindy reveals that she got pregnant because of rape really spoke to me because it opened my eyes about how teenagers think and their innocence. Cindy didn't want to call the police because German did not hit her. It's sad to think that a lot of teenagers only consider it rape if violence is involved. I liked the realness of the book. I appreciated the honesty where Sebastian got kicked out because it is a real life situation, and not all parents are 100% supportive when their children come out. My favorite part of the novel was when Ms. Abernard stood up for Sebastian when he was getting insulted by a classmate due to his sexuality. It was interesting to hear a student's perspective when a teacher denounces hate from her classroom. She stated that her teacher was her new hero. This made my teacher heart happy!
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B. Summary:
Monster is an award winning novel that tells of a teenage boy's experience on trial for a murder of a drugstore owner in New York. The interesting spin to this book is that the protagonist, Steve, has written the story of his trial in screenplay format. The book goes back and forth to his personal journal entries, weaving his innocent thoughts into the plot line. The prosecution states that Steve was the look out man during the store robbery gone wrong. The supposed crime scene plays out as many people are called to the stand during trial. The book ends with Steve's final scene in his play, the reading of the verdict. As he is found not guilty, his defense lawyer turns away from him without saying a word, leaving the reader in final suspense.
C. Strengths of the Book:
Monster earned many awards, such as the Coretta Scott King Honor Award for Nonviolent Social Change, the Printz Award for Young Adult Writing, and National Book Award Finalist. The different styles of writing featured in this novel make it an interesting read, especially for such a serious topic. While reading the protagonist's journal entries, the reader gets a sense of his innocence and pure heart. "I wanted to tell her to look into my heart to see who I really was...I'm just not a bad person. I know that in my heart I am not a bad person." (92-93) This line tugs at the reader's heart strings. The development of the main character, Steve is phenomenal. The final two pages are beautifully written with vivid descriptions of each character's reaction to the verdict. Monster has several themes, but the major ones are lies, deceit and justice.
D. Educational Connections:
This book reminded me of the many crime shows that I have watched in the past: Law and Order, OJ Simpson trial, A Few Good Men, etc. The author includes discussion questions for educators to use in book clubs or class discussions. For reading, I could see a high school teacher using appropriate parts of Steve's screenplay to use as reader's theater.
E. My Personal Connections:
For such a serious topic (trial and murder), I was surprised at the format chosen by Walter Dean Myers. The risk that he took really paid off as it allowed the reader to connect with the protagonist, Steve.
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B. Summary:
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian is about a boy who wants better for himself. Junior introduces himself by telling the reader about his brain condition (hydrocephalus) in which too much fluid was built up. He is a teenage boy living on the Spokane Indian Reservation. The story unfolds and we discover that he lives in poverty and he gets bullied. The one positive in his life is his best friend Rowdy who stands up for him. That is, until Junior decides to leave the reservation after talking to his teacher Mr. P. about better educational opportunities. Junior transfers to Reardan, a more wealthy school . The boys fight and Rowdy stops talking to Junior. Junior becomes Arnold (his real name) when he attends his new school. He becomes friends with a pretty girl Penelope. She feels bad for him because she discovers that he's poor. Junior finds out that Penelope is bulimic and they get closer as they support each other. Junior suffers many tragedies in his life due to alcohol: his grandma's death due to a hit and run, his sister dies in a fire after getting drunk and his dad's best friend is shot in a drunken fight. Throughout all of these trials, Junior stands on top as he focuses on his academics and rekindles his friendship with Rowdy.
C. Strengths of the Book:
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian is another example of realistic fiction with some difficult themes to it. One theme of this novel is the effect of alcoholism. Junior loses three loved ones due to alcohol related situations. I really liked the idea of Junior always improving himself. He could have just settled with a school that wasn't up to standard. But following his heart and his teacher's advice, he moved to a school that would challenge him more because he didn't want to follow in the same miserable footsteps of his parents. The part where his dad has to kill the dog due to lack of funds for vet care is eye opening to the reader and shows the level of poverty Junior is experiencing. The main theme of this novel is finding out who you truly are and not letting anything get in your way of accomplishing your goals.
D. Educational Connections:
When reading this book, I instantly thought back to the picture book Crowboy by Taro Yashima. It is about a Japanese boy who is an outcast and is looked down by his classmates. Students would find a lot of connections between these two texts. This is a great novel to discuss the idea of bettering one's life. It teaches kids not to settle for anything less than what they expect for themselves. Another great discussion to have with kids is the importance of being or finding a good role model like Junior found in Gordy.
E. My Personal Connections:
I felt that there were so many great life lessons to learn from Junior's experiences. He's had to grow up at a young age due to circumstances in his family. A lot of kids can connect to the multi-cultural environments. Junior struggles with finding his identity in the novel. This is something I really connected to as I grew up one of the only Indian Americans in a predominantly Latino community. I had cultural identity issues all throughout elementary, middle and high school. Because I was exposed to many cultures growing up, I have such an appreciation for other cultural groups and I can really relate to my ESL students and their families.
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B. Summary:
It's Perfectly Normal is nonfiction book about puberty and sexual health written for children and young adults. This is another book that is on the commonly challenged and/or banned list. It covers topics such as questions, sex, gender, straight or gay, bodies, puberty, masturbation, families, birth, abortion, STDS and sexual abuse. It's Perfectly Normal features two cartoon characters, a bird and a bee, that guide you through the various topics and provide entertainment along the way. The book is filled with detailed illustrations and explanations that answer many of those hard to answer questions that we get from our children and students.
C. Strengths of the Book:
What I like most about It's Perfectly Normal is how much the characters emphasize that it is perfectly normal for kids to wonder and ask questions about these "uncomfortable" topics. The book encourages open and honest conversation with someone you trust, as well as not feeling guilty about these questions. "You needn't feel embarrassed or stupid if you don't know the answers...Remember there are no stupid questions." (Harris and Emberly, p. 10) The illustrations are simple, yet detailed enough with labels to ensure children and young adults understand the topics covered. The book is written in depth with kid-friendly language, yet also vocabulary that adults would use. It is not dumbed-down for our children.
D. Educational Connections:
It's Perfectly Normal is a great book for the school nurse to have on their shelf in case a parent is seeking a resource on how to have those "difficult and sometimes uncomfortable" conversations with their child about sexual health and puberty.
E. My Personal Connections:
I personally plan on adding a copy of It's Perfectly Normal my bookshelf at home. Having a young son, I know that many of the questions asked in the book are going to come up at one point. I like that the book was written in a way that children would enjoy, such as including playful characters. It is upfront, honest and encourages open conversation between parents and their children. It's Perfectly Normal prepares children and young adults for the changes in their bodies and relationships.
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B. Summary:
Six of Crows is a high fantasy novel for young adults told in varying points of view. The main character, Kaz Brekker, a thief and criminal, has suffered many hardships in his young life which made him the tough, resilient guy that he is. A seemingly impossible heist is presented to him for the right amount of money. Kaz forms a team to join him on this heist of a lifetime to rescue Bo Yul-Bayur, a scientist who developed an addictive street drug, out of a dangerous prison. Each member of Kaz's team brings a different skill set as they set out on the heist.
C. Strengths of the Book:
Six of Crows is an action packed high fantasy novel filled with adventure, sadness, and yes, even romance. There are so many themes in this novel. One major theme is the feeling of acceptance and belonging. Each member of the heist team is a social reject in some type of way. Some other themes are greed and revenge The main strength of Six of Crows is the character development. Since the book is told from varying points of view, the reader never gets bored. We learn each character's back story and what has made them into the person they are today.
D. Educational Connections:
I had a text connection to The Child Thief by Brom. Kaz's character reminded me a lot of Peter from Child Thief: confident, dangerous, violent, persuasive and many other similar character traits. This novel features various points of view which is an important learning objective for students. There are many characters in this book and Bardugo provided detailed backstories on each one. This helps our students learn about character development and traits.
E. My Personal Connections:
I made a lot of personal connections to movies that I've seen. While reading the book, the only thing I could think of was the similarity to one of my favorite movies: Ocean's Eleven. When Kaz is rounding up his group for the heist, all that came to mind was George Clooney and Brad Pitt gathering their group.
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