Module 9 - Poetry, Drama, Humor, and New Media

Summary

High school student Jane and her family move to the suburbs after Metro City is bombed. An unidentified John Doe is injured near Jane as the bomb goes off in Metro City. Jane finds inspiration in John’s sketch book of art and vows to continue his work. Jane decides to change her life; she cuts her long blond hair short and dyes it black. At her new school in boring Kent Waters, she decides not to befriend the popular girls she would’ve been friends with before and instead joins a group of loners, who happen to all be named Jane as well. In her effort to change, Jane forms P.L.A.I.N. (People Loving Art in Neighborhoods) with the other Janes, a secret underground group that “attacks” the town with art. After the recent bomb attack in Metro City, the town panics and police search for the artists they deem to be terrorists. Will the P.L.A.I.N. Janes be found out?

Analysis

Castellucci and Rugg have done a good job writing a graphic novel geared toward teen girls. The circumstance seems familiar, as the bomb attack reminds the reader of September 11. Even though it isn’t too believable that all the girls at one table would be named Jane, I bought into it because of the graphic novel format. It just seemed right. And the fact that the name of the art group is P.L.A.I.N. is a funny play on words. Each Jane in the group has a different stereotypical personality. There is “Main Jane,” our strong willed protagonist, “Brain Jayne,” the nerd, “Sporty Jane” the soccer playing benchwarmer with full uni-brow, and “Theater Jane,” the self-proclaimed actress and comedienne. The drawings of each Jane fit the stereotypes as well. Then there is the stereotypical cheerleader and flamboyantly gay character that somehow end up joining P.L.A.I.N. There stereotypes in the book somehow seem to work though. I think they add a tongue-in-cheek element to the story and high school angst. I enjoyed Jane’s letters to John Doe throughout and shared her emotional connection to this nearly nonexistent but very important character. This book was a great introduction for me into the graphic novel genre. It is a quick, easy read, and I recommend it for any middle school or high school library.     

Module 8 - Nonfiction

Bibliographic Citation

Scieszka, J. (Ed.) (2005). Guys write for guys read. New York, NY: Viking. ISBN 9780670060078.

             272 p.

Summary

In this compilation of short stories, eighty-some male authors and illustrators write or display drawings about just being a guy. The entries are in alphabetical order by author/illustrator last name and range from silly memories and funny lists to drawings, cartoons, and fictional stories. The stories and drawings include topics such as super heroes, sports, bullying, bodily functions, gross-outs, girls, motivational words, and other “guys only” topics. There is something for everyone in this collection!

Analysis

Each story in this collection of short stories is only about three pages long or less, allowing the reader to read at his (or her) own pace. As Jon Scieszka mentions in the forward, it doesn’t have to be read in any particular order or all at once and is to be read purely for enjoyment. The brevity of the stories will probably appeal to struggling and reluctant readers, but I sometimes found myself wanting a little more. Some of the favorite authors and illustrators included in this compilation are Tedd Arnold (of Fly Guy fame), Matt Groening (The Simpsons), Dav Pilkey (Captain Underpants), Gary Paulsen (Hatchet), David Shannon (No David!), and countless others. Each entry includes a small biography including a silly random fact about each writer and a selected bibliography. I almost wished these facts were presented at the beginning of the entry rather than the end because I found myself flipping to the end of each story to read more about the author. I really enjoyed the inclusion of the artwork and cartoons done when the illustrators were children. Most times the illustrator included his drawings done as an adult as well. It was fun to see the progression of writing and drawing from child to adult. I sometimes felt the stories were a little repetitive in the fact that many of them mentioned something along the lines of “back in the 60s when I was a kid…”  I do understand prefacing the stories with this to help the readers understand the setting, but sometimes it felt like I was reading the same story over and over. There are several laugh out loud stories including Bruce Hale’s Boys, Beer, Barf, and Bonding and Andy Griffiths’s My Dad is Better Than Your Dad. Overall, this is a fun collection of stories and artwork that will appeal to guys (not boys) in middle school or high school.        

Book Trailer

Click the link below to check out my book trailer for Divergent by Veronica Roth.


http://animoto.com/play/Rt4BFLso3jPJsICf5B6NNQ

Module 7 - History

Bibliographic Citation

Hesse, K. (1997). Out of the dust. New York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780590360807. 227 p.

Summary

Thirteen-year-old Billie Jo Kelby lives with her mother and father in 1930s Oklahoma in the midst of the Dust Bowl. Although they have little money and must live with dust covering every inch of everything including their food, the family remains strong. Billie Jo is a piano prodigy who loves to play and travel with a band until a tragic accident occurs. Her hands are burned beyond recognition and her pregnant mother is devastatingly injured when a bucket of kerosene is mistaken for water. Billie Jo must live with the guilt of her role in the accident and the anger she feels toward her father for his role. Can Billie Jo and her father weather the storms of dust and resentment?

Analysis

Written in free verse, this novel’s strength is the beauty of the poetry. It tells such a sad and devastating story, but the poetry itself is beautifully and hauntingly written. My favorite poem was the staccato “On Stage” in which Billie Jo narrates the joy she feels while playing the piano. In a book filled with sadness, this poem expresses a small moment of happiness. While I did appreciate learning more about the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression, I was just so sad for Billie Jo throughout the book. The end does offer a glimmer of hope, but overall, this book was just too depressing for me to enjoy. It is easy to read and I read it very quickly, so it could be read by middle school or high school students. The fact that the book is written in free verse may appeal to struggling or reluctant readers. I would recommend that some of the poems be shared with history classes to give students an emotional connection to the Dust Bowl.    

Module 6 - Adventure, Sports, Mysteries, and the Supernatural

Bibliographic Citation

Miranda, M. (2012). Fracture. New York, NY: Walker Publishing Company, Inc. ISBN 9780802723093. 262 p.

Summary

Eleven minutes under a frozen pond. She should be dead. But 17 year-old Delaney Maxwell survived and is living a normal life again. Until she starts feeling strange pulling feelings inside her body and realizes she is drawn toward death. She can’t tell her best friend and next door neighbor Decker, who was at the pond with her, about her strange sensations, but she quickly realizes she isn’t alone. A stranger named Troy comes to town and claims he can sense death too. Who is Troy, where did he come from, and what is his agenda? Is Delaney sensing death or causing it? She must make it through her senior year while struggling to understand all that is happening around her.

Analysis

The supernatural elements of Fracture really drew me into the story and made me not want to put the book down. The appearance of Troy also intrigued and scared me as much as he intrigued and scared Delaney in the book. I enjoyed the friendship aspect of the relationship between Delaney and Decker. I believed Delaney’s jealousy of Decker and Tara, but I didn’t really buy her coldness to Decker afterwards. If their friendship was strong enough, she wouldn’t have treated him that way. Other than that, I thought this book was mysterious and entertaining. I enjoyed the fact that the book is grounded in reality with a supernatural aspect. It makes the story seem very believable. Fracture is Megan Miranda’s first novel and I am anxious to see what she writes next. I would recommend this book for any middle school or high school library.

Module 5 - Science Fiction and Fantasy

Bibliographic Citation

Roth, V. (2011). Divergent. New York, NY: Katherine Tegen Books. ISBN 9780062024039. 487 p.

Summary

Set in post-apocalyptic Chicago, Divergent tells the story of 16-year-old Beatrice Prior, who, like all other 16-year-olds, must decide her future by choosing which faction to join as an adult. Before choosing, the teens must participate in an aptitude test which is a simulation of reality that determines which faction is the best fit. There is Abnegation, Beatrice’s born faction, the selfless, Candor the honest, Amity the peacemakers, Erudite the wise, and Dauntless the brave. These factions have been created to help keep society peaceful and reduce the destruction of the human race. The results of Beatrice’s aptitude test determine she is Divergent, meaning she doesn’t fit into just one faction. She learns this is a very dangerous label and she must not tell anyone. She decides to choose Dauntless, as she believes she isn’t selfless enough to remain in Abnegation. Having renamed herself “Tris,” she must survive Dauntless initiation or risk being factionless, a fate worse than death. Just as it looks like Tris will be a successful Dauntless member, the unimaginable happens and Tris, along with her boyfriend, Four, must fight for their lives and the lives of many others.

Analysis

At first, it took me a while to really buy into the world of the separate factions and the fact that Dauntless compound itself was so strange and its initiation so brutal. However, as I continued to read, I fully bought into the storyline and couldn’t put it down. The fact that the book is written in the present tense helps move the story along quickly. I found myself cringing at the intense, bloody training scenes and the attacks made on fellow initiates. Tris is a character I cared about and rooted for throughout. She is tough and strong willed, but vulnerable at the same time, though she doesn’t like to show it. I also like the romance between Tris and her trainer, Four, whom she discovers some secrets about later in the book. The book ends with a cliffhanger, forcing the reader to buy the second book in the series, Insurgent. It is now next on my list of books to read. I have to know what happens to Tris and if we ever find out what is really beyond the fence around the city. I think that although this is a novel in itself, Roth has set the stage for much more to come in Tris’s story. This book is long, but written at a level so that even a middle school student could easily read and understand it. Overall, Roth writes a captivating thriller of a novel if the reader can buy into the strange future city that was once Chicago.

Module 4 - Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Bibliographic Citation

Johnson, A. (2003). The First Part Last. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780689849220. 131 p.

Summary

On his sixteenth birthday, Bobby is surprised with the news from his girlfriend, Nia, that she is pregnant. They struggle to make the right decision for the baby. Should they keep the baby or place her for adoption? Through a series of alternating present day scenes and flashbacks, the reader quickly realizes Bobby keeps the baby and takes care of her on his own. One is left to wonder until the end: What happened to Nia?

Analysis

This Printz Award and Coretta Scott King Award winning book hooks the reader by alternating the chapters between “then” and “now.” “Now,” we see Bobby struggling to care for his baby girl, Feather. Johnson paints Bobby’s feeling for his baby clearly: he loves his baby girl more than anything, but there is sadness in him as well. “Then,” we see Bobby and Nia during her pregnancy and Bobby’s friends’ reaction to it. While the book did hook me, I felt it was lacking dialogue between characters even though it is told through Bobby’s point of view. It is short and I felt like it could’ve had more depth of story, especially Bobby’s relationship with Nia. I felt as if I didn’t know her at all. However, since Bobby’s character is known so intimately, I felt extreme sadness when the plot twist at the end is revealed. I felt sadness for Bobby and the baby, but not so much for Nia. I think this book would be a good addition to a high school or even middle school library. It is a quick, easy read and will resonate with boys especially.

Module 3 - Award Winner

Bibliographic Citation

Green, J. (2005). Looking for alaska. New York, NY: Dutton Books. ISBN 0525475060. 221 p.

Summary

Miles Halter is a 16 year old loner, obsessed with people’s last words, living in Florida with no friends. He decides to go to the same boarding school his father attended in Alabama in search of “The Great Perhaps.” Nicknamed Pudge by his roommate the Colonel on account of his extreme skinniness, Miles makes strong connections with a tightknit group of friends, including the Colonel who is a brilliant kid from the trailer park, Takumi the Japanese rap enthusiast, Lara the Romanian student, and Alaska Young. He develops a crush on the beautiful and energetic but deeply disturbed Alaska as the group drinks, smokes, and plays pranks on the preppie “Weekday Warriors.” After tragedy strikes, Miles struggles with his own actions on the fateful night and wonders if he can ever escape “the labyrinth of suffering.”

Analysis

This Printz Award winning book takes place over one school year and is divided in two sections: before and after; meaning before the tragic accident and after it. The titles of the chapters tell the reader the number of days before and after the accident. This feature really hooks the reader to continue reading to see what exactly will happen when the days count down to zero. Green writes the teenage characters with such realness partly due to the fact that some characters and events were based on his own experiences at a boarding school in Alabama. Although the book has taken criticism for containing sexual related content and teen drug and alcohol use, the portrayal of the teens was realistic, not glamorized in any way. The plot line before the accident really has no mystery or real major event other than the prank on “Barn Night,” but the reader knows something significant is going to happen soon that will change the lives of the teens. The section after the accident shows the reader how deep the characters really are and how their friendships are challenged but remain strong. This book will appeal to both boys and girls alike, and would be a strong addition to any high school library. 

Module 2 - Challenged

Bibliographic Citation

Blume, J. (1975). Forever. New York, NY: Simon Spotlight Entertainment. ISBN 9781416953913. 192 p.

Summary

Forever tells the story of Katherine Danziger, a senior in high school and her growing relationship with Michael, a fellow senior. They immediately fall for each other, and their relationship blossoms through a series of dates, trips, and long phone calls. Katherine loses her virginity to Michael and they vow to be together forever. But with going away to college looming and summer jobs in different states, can Katherine and Michael’s relationship really last forever?

Analysis

Blume’s straight forward writing makes this book an easy read. The descriptive sex scenes, which comprise about 1/3 of the book, depict a tender teenage first sexual relationship. These scenes are the culprit in getting this book challenged frequently. While the book doesn’t come off as preachy, sex is definitely presented as something to take seriously. Sybil, a friend of Katherine’s, is very promiscuous and ends up pregnant, Katherine insists on using birth control, and Michael discusses a previous bout with an STD. The relationship between Katherine’s friend Erica and Michael’s friend Artie is extremely interesting and left me wanting to know more about these two characters. While some of the dialogue is a bit awkward, I enjoyed reading this book and reminiscing about my own teenage days. The book was written and set in the 70’s, but the sometimes funny 70’s references won’t deter today’s teens from reading it. Although the storyline is pretty predictable, I think this book is a good addition for a high school library, and teen girls will definitely identify with Katherine even if her character lacks in being fully developed. I feel Blume purposely wrote Katherine’s character this way to keep the reader’s focus on the relationship rather than the individual characters. Overall, Forever is a first love story that teens (girls especially) would enjoy.

Module 1 - Classics

Bibliographic Citation

Taylor, M. D. (1976). Roll of thunder, hear my cry. New York, NY: The Dial Press. ISBN 0803774737. 276 p.

Summary

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor tells the story of the Logans, an African American family in rural Mississippi in 1933. The story is narrated by Cassie, a spunky 4^th grader who sometimes doesn’t understand the racism rampant in her segregated town. With her brothers by her side, Cassie endures a difficult year. With money tight, Papa has to work in Louisiana to support the family in an effort to hold on to their land, the family’s most prized possession. Night men terrorize innocent black families and Cassie experiences racism first hand. No matter what the family experiences, they remain a tight knit family with a resilient outlook.

Analysis

While harsh and difficult to read at times, Taylor’s uncensored writing brings a realness to the characters and situations. I had the pleasure of reading the prequel to this book titled The Land, so I already had a vested interest in the Logan family and their land. However, if I hadn’t read The Land, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry stands on its own. Taylor’s writing makes the reader genuinely care about the Logans and root for them throughout the book. Taylor captures the southern slang and dialect of the time beautifully. While the setting of a book is generally the backdrop for the story, Taylor brings it to the forefront with her vivid descriptions of the red dusty road, the hot humid summer, the drenching rainy season, and the chilly winter. The ending is left with somewhat of a cliffhanger. It leaves the reader satisfied but still wanting more. I now have Let the Circle Be Unbroken, the sequel to this book, next on my reading list.