LSSL 5385 Book Blogging Part 2

Crutcher, C. (2009). Angry Management. NY: Harper Collins. 

16. Requirement met: Required author Chris Crutcher

Summary: Crutcher uses several former characters in this set of three short stories, merging them with the premise of the six characters belonging to the same anger management counseling group. The first story is about Sarah Byrnes and Angus Bethune who both that parent issues. When Angus hears Sarah's tragic story he convinces Sarah to go look for her mother, who abandoned her when she was young. To Sarah's shock, she finds that her mom not only has another daughter, but she named her Sarah, leaving her to feel both abandoned and replaced. The second story involves Montana West who was adopted by an overbearing father and passive mother. When Montana refuses to submit to her father's demands of sending her little sister back into CPS custody, she leaves and moves in with Trey Chase and his grandmother. Together they seek a way to help Montana's sister and show everyone what her father is really like. The third story is about Marcus James who is a black, gay senior in an all white high school. After someone leaves a noose on his locker, the whole school is turned upside down while the suspects (three football players) smugly proclaim their innocence. Matt Miller, the state wrestling champion, calls them out eventually leading to their suspension and Marcus's murder. Each story tells of horrific events in the lives of teenagers, but woven throughout are wise, respectable kids who use strong, supportive adults in their life to find their way.

My take: I read summaries for many Crutcher books before choosing this one, so I had a little bit of familiarity with the characters. I enjoyed these short stories and I found myself getting quickly attached to the characters. The six teenagers who belong in the anger management group have so many redeeming qualities that isn't always the case in YA novels. I loved the line "with guys like Andy Bean, you turn down the sound and watch the picture" and I found the character of Matt Miller, who was named after a Crutcher fan, to be one of the most interesting and unique YA characters I've come across.

Textbook Tie-in: All three stories rely heavily on the conflict faced by the lead characters. Sarah and Angus are in conflict with the world around them partly because of their physical condition, Sarah has burns on her face and Angus is overweight. They both feel judged wherever they go and that conflict is resolved when they end up working at a camp for blind students where they are accepted for who they are. Montana experiences conflict with her father for multiple reasons. In the end, she realizes she doesn't have to win to beat him. Marcus and Matt face conflict in the form of lies and racism. Sadly, Marcus never resolves that conflict and Matt is left to reconcile his feelings with his faith.

Phelan, M. (2016). Snow White. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. 

15. Requirement met: Great Graphic Novel award winner

Summary: Samantha, or Snow as her mother calls her, lives happily with her wealthy parents in pre-Depression era New York. After sickness strikes her mother, Snow is sent away by her greedy, evil stepmother. Snow returns after her father's death only to realize she is in danger and has nowhere to go. She is rescued by seven little street toughs who take her in and give her a safe place to stay. While out finding food, Snow is tempted with a perfect red apple that poisons her and causes her to sleep.  The seven boys are desperate to help her and take her to her favorite spot in New York, the Macy's window display. Snow is discovered by a police detective who is taken by her. His kiss wakes her and they live happily ever after in her father's house with the seven boys who saved her.

My take: Graphic novels are not my first choice of reading material and while I've read some that I really like, this book didn't do much for me. There are very few words and I found the illustrations to be a little hard to make out, as they are supposed to be dark and bleak with a vintage feel. Obviously the story is familiar and there aren't any surprises regarding the plot, but I didn't find myself invested in any of the characters. Phelan does change up the fairy tale by moving the setting to 1920s New York which is what drew me to the book in the first place, but I finished the book thinking "this is one of those graphic novels that causes this genre to be a hard sell with some teachers."

Textbook Tie-in: This book is an excellent example of mood and tone being set by the illustrations. Since the majority of the book lies in the images, the dark and vintage tone carries over to the dialogue. There is a bleak mood set in the images of the stepmother, making the reader feel a tension or dislike for her before she even shows her evil side.

Extensions: If doing a traditional literature unit, this would make for an interesting contrast and open the door for a conversation about the significance of the setting. Phelan takes a classic fairy tale and moves it into a realistic setting in a time period that offers its own unique challenges. Students could analyze this book, as well as Rapunzel's Revenge, against their traditional counterpart for an interesting look at the same story told in two different genres.



Aveyard, V. (2015). The Red Queen. NY: Harper Collins. 

14. Requirement met: Quick Picks for 2016

Summary: Mare is a thief and is considered inferior because of her family, her home and her red blood. Desperate to escape the impending draft (or conscription) into the war, she finds herself making deals with dangerous strangers. Just when she feels she cannot hold her end of the agreement, she meets a generous stranger who not only gives her the money she needs but also a job working for the royal family. Her new employment saves her from war but reveals that she has powers that only belong to the Silvers, those with silver blood and that the kind stranger is Prince Cal. Forced to hide this discovery, the royal family presents Mare as a long-lost Silver princess set to marry Prince Maven. Now Mare is living amongst the people she despises and wants badly to bring them down. Along the way, she meets other Silvers who believe that the war must end and that the Reds deserve a better life. With Prince Maven at her side, they are determined to bring down the Silvers by helping the rebellious Scarlet Guard. As plans are made and Mare's feelings are pulled in many directions, Maven reveals his own intentions and Mare discovers she was a pawn all along. Now the king is dead, the rebellion is finished, Maven is king and Cal and Mare have been sentenced to death. As they face a bloodthirsty crowd and Silver killing squad, Cal and Mare must rely on their initial connection, skill and trust for one another to survive. Just as all hope seems to have faded, they are rescued by the Scarlet Guard and welcomed aboard as they plan to take down King Maven.

My take: My 14 year old read and loved this book so she enjoyed that this was a book I chose to read. As she was reading it last year, I remembered some of the details she shared with me so I had some ideas about plot twists. (She was so outraged by the evil queen and ranted about it one night at dinner!) My daughter also needed to talk through Mare's love triangle so I was very cautious about my feelings about both princes. Mare didn't know which one to choose and neither did I! I enjoyed reading this book and was happy to come across a YA novel that wasn't overrun by profanities. I have found that to be a frustrating distraction in so many books.

Textbook Tie-in: Red Queen offered a great story about a fictitious and imaginative world with a well-developed setting, intriguing characters and great plot twists. This is one of those books that has great appeal for readers in both middle school and high school, with much to offer for either age group.

Connection: This would be a great book to use for a character study. The wide range of characters we meet in Mare's world shows a huge contrast, from her ever-hopeful mother to the evil, vindictive queen. From poverty to power, analyzing the variety of characters used by Aveyard would be an interesting way for students to use this book.

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Sepetys, R. (2011). Between Shades of Gray. NY: Penguin Books.

13. Requirement met: William C. Morris award winner

Summary: Lina and her family were living a comfortable life in 1940s Lithuania, when they were suddenly ripped apart by Soviet soldiers and forced onto a crowded train car with hundreds of people. Lina, her brother and her mother find themselves sentenced to live in a Siberian work camp where they must endure hunger, hard labor, horrible Russian soldiers and miserable living conditions. Lina uses her artistic ability to document the people and events they experience while also trying desperately to send word to her father. When Lina thinks her circumstances can't get worse, she learns her father has been killed and her family will now be sent away again forcing her to leave her only friend Andrius. Forced even further north, near the Arctic Circle, Lina and the other prisoners face harsher conditions and are made to build their own housing. The cold and disease spread with Lina forced to watch many die, including her dear mother. When Lina's brother is close to death, they are saved by a Russian doctor who comes to the camp to report on the living conditions. He brings the needed medicine and saves many, including Lina's brother. The story comes to a close with a flash forward to the 1995 discovery of a time capsule detailing Lina's sentence of 12 years, which was widely unknown to the rest of the world.

My take: I love historical fiction but I put this book down twice with the intention of not coming back to it. It is not an easy read. I read this on my way to a family vacation to the beach so reading a 16 year old's description of babies dying and being thrown from moving trains or women being shot in the head was not how I wanted to spend this time but I'm glad I stuck with it. The atrocities suffered by these poor people is little known and as soon as I finished I did my own research into the history of Lithuania. I was so captivated by Lina and the author does a beautiful job of telling the story through her eyes.

Textbook tie-in: This book is chock full of antagonists! Lina must endure the evil of Joseph Stalin by way of his NKVD soldiers, the bald man who liked to spread his misery and cause fear, the grumpy woman who did nothing to make life easier for the other prisoners and the war. There is so much fear that the unknowns become an antagonist of sorts.

Extensions: If I were teaching World History, this would be a book I would recommend to my students. Not only does teach on the atrocities of World War II, but it covers a little known aspect of the war and the affect it had on the Baltic states. The topic naturally lends itself to a comparison of Nazi concentration camps and would make for an interesting discussion for students. It also would serve as beneficial for students to gain some perspective on fairness and the liberties we enjoy in the US.

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Ness, P.  (2008). The Knife of Never Letting Go. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press. 

12. Requirement met: required book

Summary: Todd is almost a man in a womanless world where men's thoughts can be heard through their Noise. Todd's life consists of his dog Manchee, his father figure Ben and the thoughts of all the men in Prentisstown. After discovering silence in the form of a girl in the swamp, Todd is forced to leave Prentisstown and run for his life. Everything Todd has ever been told is tested as he runs from the men he's known all his life with a girl, Viola, who shouldn't exist. As they meet people that want to help, they realize they aren't safe anywhere and no one can protect them from the danger chasing after them. Their hope is in a town called Haven but they are unsure if they will find refuge there or if they can even survive the journey. Todd must survive attacks, pain and hunger while taking an emotional beating as he learns that everything he knows is all a lie. The tension and difficulties of the journey come to a close when they finally defeat the horrible Aaron and walk into Haven, only to find it abandoned and filled with the men of Prentisstown, leaving the reader to wonder if Viola can survive her gunshot wound and if Todd will join the army of men.

My take: When I started this book, I knew nothing about it! I did that on purpose. I didn't know it was science fiction and didn't until Todd spots Viola's spaceship! I didn't know it was a series until the very end when it ended on a cliffhanger with the words "end of book one" UGH!! I was hoping for a resolution and that all their hope would be fulfilled by Haven. I was captivated by the action and I couldn't put it down. (I literally read a few pages while I was pumping gas) The plot was so unique and Todd and Viola were so relatable and likable, which for me, is the perfect combination. Give me something different with characters I can root for. I'm so grateful that Noise is not part of our reality and I hope I never come across the likes of Aaron.

Textbook Tie-in: This is one of those books that you can get lost in easily. For me, I found the phonetic spelling to be charming and a reflection of who Todd is. (Normally this would drive me crazy!) While typical YA protagonists are independent, I would consider Todd to be more alienated than independent. The story is told over a manner of days yet it feels like a lifetime as each harrowing experience is detailed. Todd must make more decisions than most protagonists and each one affects him in his journey to Haven. 

Connections: Next in series...

This premise would make an interesting creative writing assignment. Imagine we could hear each other's thoughts. Reflect on what life would be like and explore some advantages and disadvantages of this condition. After students have a chance to think this through and write their thoughts, a teacher could introduce the series.

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Black, Holly. (2015). The darkest part of the forest. NY: Little, Brown and Company.

11. Requirement met: Author Holly Black

Summary: Hazel lives in a strange town where strange things happen. People and faeries live side by side and with the exception of a few violent attacks on tourists, they coexist. As children, Hazel and her brother Ben dreamed that they would grow up to fight and battle the monsters that lurk in the forest. They also share a fascination with the mysterious horned boy that sleeps in a glass coffin in the middle of the woods. As teens, Hazel and Ben get their chance to fulfill their dreams when a monster is set loose on the town, their friends are being attacked and the horned boy wakes up. Hazel suspects that she has played a part in releasing the horned boy and the search for answers takes her on a journey that reveals secrets she has kept from herself. Hazel must decide if she trusts her night self who is in service to the faerie king or her day self who is loyal to her brother and her friends. In the end, Hazel and her brother get the chance to prove their bravery and are successful in defeating the faerie king.

My take: I'm not one for creepy or dark books, but I enjoy stories that create fantastic or magical worlds. In Black's attempt to create a mythical world that closely borders a realistic teenage world, she throws out references to timely elements like Sharpie markers or Facebook. I found these references to be so disruptive to the world she was trying to create. It was very distracting! Also, there wasn't a single character in this book that appealed to me. Hazel realized that the fate of the town was in her hands and yet, I was ambivalent about her success.  Unlike other protagonist with similar expectations, like Harry Potter or Katniss Everdeen, Hazel is reckless and unpredictable. Her motivation is mostly selfish and I found myself just wishing the story would end. I found the storytelling to be disjointed with flashbacks that were only occasionally relevant. With constantly shifting third person perspective, it was sometimes difficult to follow the plot.

Textbook Tie-In - The biggest takeaway for me was the creativity and imagination this book evoked as I read it. So much of the magical world comes from Black's imagination that her appreciation of the faerie world is evident in her careful details and descriptions.

Other books by Holly Black: 

   

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Alexander. K. (2014). The Crossover. NY: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

10. Requirement met: Author Kwame Alexander

     Summary: Presented in a variety of poetic forms, Crossover tells the story of twin brothers Josh and Jordan Bell, their basketball player dad and their assistant principal mom. Josh and Jordan are gifted basketball players, but as they near their teen years, their attention often shifts to school, girls and family struggles. Their dad is sick and refuses to go to the doctor, which adds strain to Mrs. Bell and the boys. Josh takes the reader through their family's story that models a loving father, a strong mother, and devoted sons. When tragedy strikes, Josh's love for his father and their shared love of basketball is truly touching and heartbreaking at the same time.
     My take: The rhyme and verse set the tone for this family and their world as it revolves around basketball. Their enjoyment of music creeps its way into the poetry and many pages read like a song. Each turn of the page reveals a new style of verse without losing any rhythm in the plot or distracting from the characters. Kwame Alexander managed to capture the essence of basketball, family and heart in this innovative approach to poetry and it is a masterpiece. In my experience, this is one of those novels that can grab the attention of reluctant readers and expose them to storytelling in a wonderful new way.

Textbook Tie-In - This is one of those books you can get lost in, at least I did. It's tone and tempo are so unique and the story so engaging that I felt like the pages turned themselves. Before I read it, I had a 5th grade boy tell me that as soon as he finished this book, he went back to the beginning and read it again. He unashamedly told me he cried both times, so I had to read it. There's nothing like having an 11 year old highly recommend an amazing book!

Other books by Kwame Alexander:

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Stead, R. (2009). When you reach me. New York, NY: Wendy Lamb Books.

9. Requirement Met: Author Rebecca Stead

Summary: Miranda is 12 years old in 1978 New York City, where she has safely learned to navigate her neighborhood with her best friend Sal. One day, Sal is beaten up on his way home from school and their friendship takes the biggest hit. Miranda tries to learn the delicate balance of new friends, her single over-worked mother, and a handful of men who she faces everyday. When she starts receiving cryptic, future-telling messages, she learns there are some things you have to face alone. The underlying mystery of the notes is always in her mind, but her focus is on her new friends and her mom's upcoming appearance on The $20,000 Pyramid. In the end, the promises of the notes come to fruition and she realizes she has been closely watching the future version of her friend Marcus who has traveled through time to right a wrong.

My take: Honestly, I only stuck with this book because of the Newbery Medal on the front cover. I kept expecting some great connection to all the elements of the story, but for me it was a bit anti-climactic. The discussions and elements of time travel were confusing to me and the main character. She finally gave up trying to figure it all out, which gave me permission to do the same.

Textbook Tie-in: I would consider this low fantasy geared to the middle grades. It hits most of the bullet points for YA literature; an independent protagonist, contemporary issues, limited setting and facing circumstances on her own. 

Connections: Throughout the novel, she reads from and quotes A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle which would make a great companion novel for a book study. Despite the lackluster plot, there were some great quotes and revelations that students can learn from and relate to sprinkled throughout the novel. 

"Sometimes you never feel meaner than the moment you stop being mean." 

"It's simple to love someone,' she said. 'But it's hard to know when you need to say it."

"That's when I officially gave up the forgetting and started doing all this thinking."

"Einstein says common sense is just habit of thought. It's how we're used to thinking about things, but a lot of the time it just gets in the way."

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