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.