Tag Archives: YA FIC

Speak

Posted on December 7, 2012 | 1 comment

speak book cover

Anderson, L.H. (2001). Speak. Canada: MacMillian.

Reader’s Annotation

Something terrible happened at the end of the summer before Melinda started her freshman year of high school. Now her best friends in the world won’t speak to her and she can barely stand to speak herself. Will Melinda make it through the school year unscathed? Will bad memory from summer fade so she can get on with her life or will Melinda have to raise her voice and take a stand?

Plot Summary

At the end of the summer between eighth and ninth grade Melinda and her best friends went to a party that ended with Melinda calling the cops. Now the whole high school knows who she is and they all hate her. Friendless and in pain Melinda is trying to negotiate all of the regular high school traumas while negotiating her horrible secret. She stops talking to her parents, and barely makes a noise in the classroom. Art is the only subject she particularly cares about, but she’s working on a final project she thinks sucks. Everyday she is faced with the accusatory glares of her old friends at best or perhaps even worse their complete obliviousness. The safest place for Melinda is in the janitor’s closet that she has requisitioned and repurposed for her own, and yet even as Melinda starts to surface and find herself that place comes close to being violated. Walk through the halls of Merryweather High with Melinda as she uncovers the truth and lies you’re taught in school.

Critical Evaluation

Speak is an incredibly powerful novel and the main character Melinda an excellent study of a young girl in pain, suffocated by and weighed down by her own inaction. Melinda slowly stops talking because she doesn’t feel like anyone cares enough about her to believe what has happened to her. Her parents are often feuding and even more often upset with or ignoring her. Her best friends from the year before are furious with her because of the phone call to the police and she’s been labeled as a pariah by the majority of the class. It is terrifying to think that a young woman could fall through the cracks so easily, but unfortunately not unthought or unheard of. More and more frequently we hear news stories of kids being bullied and pushed toward unspeakable acts of self harm and abuse. Where are the adults who should be looking out for these kids? Melinda gets called into the principal’s office a few times, is visited by the guidance counselor, and stuck in in-class detention. No one actually reaches out to her, the one teacher who tries to make a connection is the misfit art instructor who has rejected the majority of the administration’s policies. In the end the lesson that we are left with is that only you can save yourself, which Melinda eventually does, with no little thanks to the adults in her life.

While Melinda’s story can serve as a powerful story to young people today struggling with the decision to speak out again injustice, it also demonstrates that adults are largely untrustworthy and unreliable. As a parent to a daughter this is particularly unsettling, but I think can also serve as a worthwhile reminder. Pay attention to your kids, this book seems to scream. Cultivate bonds of trust and don’t let your life get in the way of your most important job, the one you signed up for when your teen was nothing but a dream, protecting your child.

Author Information

Laurie Halse Anderson was born in 1961 in upstate New York. After her early introduction to writing  poetry, second grade, she spent a great deal of her time reading all the books in her elementary school library, “the books took me everywhere” she said. She began her career as a freelance reporter but was largely unsuccessful until she joined the critical support group, Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators. Her published work varies largely, from picture books to young adult literature, to historical fiction as well as the popular American Girl Wild at Heart series, featuring Maggie and the happenings surrounding her grandmother’s veterinary office. Anderson lives in upstate New York with her second husband, their four children and a dog.

Genre

Young Adult Fiction, High School, Trauma, Abuse

Curriculum Ties

Supports reading curriculum goals for grades 9 and 10:

3.3 Analyze interactions between main and subordinate characters in a literary text (e.g., internal and external conflicts, motivations, relationships, influences) and explain the way those interactions affect the plot.

3.6 Analyze and trace an author’s development of time and sequence, including the use of complex literary devices (e.g., foreshadowing, flashbacks).

3.11 Evaluate the aesthetic qualities of style, including the impact of diction and figurative language on tone, mood, and theme, using the terminology of literary criticism.

Supports reading curriculum goals for grades 11 and 12:

3.3 Analyze the ways in which irony, tone, mood, the author’s style, and the “sound” of language achieve specific rhetorical or aesthetic purposes or both.

Booktalk Ideas

Anderson refers several times to the scabs on Melinda’s mouth. What are these scabs represent?

Why does Melinda stop talking?

Reading Level/Interest Age 

14-18

Challenge Issues

This books discusses several sensitive topics namely sexual abuse, bullying and underage drinking.

A clearly written collection development policy should offer readers and the library some protection. It is not the position of the library to police what children are reading, we trust that parents and their children have established guidelines for consumption. We support the ALA Bill of Rights and a child’s freedom to read. Forms for reconsideration are available for patron’s to fill out should they object to the material in the collection, all final decisions are made by the board after review.

Alternate suggested titles are: Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume, Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman

Reason for inclusion

Excellent title that handles realistic teen issues.

References

Anderson, S.H & Anderson, L.H. (2008). Laurie. Retrieved from: http://madwomanintheforest.com/laurie/.

Laurie Halse Anderson. (2010). In Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/

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Why We Broke Up

Posted on December 7, 2012 | 1 comment

why we broke up book cover

Handler, D. & Kalman, M. (2011). Why we broke up. New York: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Kindle.

Reader’s Annotation

Min is an atypical high school girl, she likes old movies and is solidly grouped in her own circle of quirky friends. When she starts dating the co-captain of the basketball team, things begin to change, for her and those closest to her. Why We Broke Up is Min’s letter to her beau explaining all the reasons why, though it may have seemed so right at the time, they broke up.

Plot Summary

At a party one night Minerva, Min, Green watches Ed Slaterton and his basketball teammate drink beer in her best friend’s backyard. She feels drawn to him, though she can’t exactly explain why. Eventually she meets him for a date at her favorite second run movie house and their romance blossoms. The story is told in reverse though, so even as Min recaps in painful detail the highs and lows of their chance meeting and first date, you already know that she’s doing so to explain why she and Slaterton broke up.

The story continues with Min explaining the backstory surrounding each souvenir that she returns to him. The toy truck from the big jock party, the stolen sugar, the post card from the movie house. All are accompanied with their own heart wrenching tale and the reminder of why they broke up. 

Critical Evaluation

Min’s character is charming. She’s a punky kind of indie kid who is not into typical highschool bs. She has a passion for classic and cult films, loves coffee and seeks out the unusual. Plus, even though she’s totally oblivious to it, her supes adorbs best friend has a monster crush on her. That she falls for the dopey co-capitan of the basket-ball team seems completely out of character. All of her friends try and ask her what’s up with the new boyfriend, but she stone walls them. She sends up MAJOR warning signs, withdrawing from her old group and solidly encasing herself at the side of her jock boyfriend. Her character is so typical of a fictitious high school girl, it’s almost insulting. Another book about a girl who is so in love with her boyfriend that she totally loses sight of what makes her special is exactly what the world DOES not need. So yeah, she shows an awful lot of personal understanding in recounting the whole awful tale back to the boyfriend, apparently he’s so stupid he can’t figure it out for himself, but it doesn’t change the fact that Handler wrote a book about a girl who lost herself in love and got burned. She went against her own belief system multiple times, betrayed herself, in the long run was seriously burned by the dork who said he loved her so much. While this book burns with a heat very realistic to young romance, the story isn’t challenging to any major stereotypes. Of course the indie-kid and the jock can’t date. Of course two teenagers have a passionate love affair that they lose themselves in. Of course the jock is sexually promiscuous. It’s a fun book, with great illustrations, but there’s no piss or vinegar in it, all it does is cement the same old stereotypes and enforce the same old boring gender roles.

Author Information

David Handler was born in San Francisco in 1970. He is most well known for his series of children’s books penned under the pseudonym Lemony Snicket. He’s also written a number of picture books, one of which was adapted into a play (The Composer is Dead), and adult novels. His first novel, The Basic Eight, was published in 1999 and Why We Broke Up published in 2011 is is most recent work.

Genre

Young Adult Fiction, High School, Romance.

Curriculum Ties

Supports the California Department of Education reading curriculum for grades 9 and 10 goals:

3.6 Analyze and trace an author’s development of time and sequence, including the use of complex literary devices (e.g., foreshadowing, flashbacks).

Supports the California Department of Education reading curriculum for grades 11 and 12 goals:

2.2 Analyze the way in which clarity of meaning is affected by the patterns of organization, hierarchical structures, repetition of the main ideas, syntax, and word choice in the text.

Booktalk Ideas

This books plays a lot with stereotypes. What are some of the stereotypical ways in which the characters act? What is unexpected?

Reading Level/Interest Age 

14-18

Challenge Issues

This book touches on sensitive topics like sex and teenage drinking. This is not at all new and many of the books in this collection include such topics. The protagonist rarely engages in drinking herself, indeed she comments that she “hates beer” on more than one occasion. The sex is not described in detail, and is a by product of the love that the main character and her beau have for one another, not a byproduct of some bacchanalian drinking-spree. This book clearly supports the department of education’s reading curriculum and the library has a strong policy of supporting every user’s right to read. We do not support censorship and operate under the guidelines developed by the ALA Library Bill of Rights.

Reason for inclusion

Daniel Handler is a seminal author of many well loved stories. Including this novel adds a popular title and author to the collection.

References

Lemony Snicket. (2012). In Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CH1000143627&v=2.1&u=csusj&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

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Temptation (Secret Diaries #1)

Posted on November 28, 2012 | 1 comment

temptation

 

Harrell, J. (1994). Temptation. New York: Scholastic. Print.

Only the first book from this series is included in the collection.

Reader’s Annotation

Joanna is new in town, deciding to move in with her father in the middle of the school year, and she doesn’t know anyone in her high school. She notices Penn and his group right away though, and knows that she’s got to be part of their group, no matter what it takes.

Plot Summary

Joanna is attracted to Penn from the very first moment she lays eyes on him, but she can’t figure out how to get to know him better. He and his group of friends seem so close and mysterious, it’s hard to break in. After Penn invites her to coffee with the gang Joanna feels even less sure of her ability to assimilate into the group, they all seem to be grieving over the disappearance of their friend Laurie and she while she is curious about the missing girl she’d much rather focus her attention on Penn.

As Joanna and Penn become more intimate warning signs begin to flare up. Super smart Casey is going out of his way to be extra annoying, while quite and sensitive Stephen starts have angry outbursts that frighten Joanna. One night she runs across Stephen and Tessa watching their car as it burns up. Joanna doesn’t know what to make of all this, and what she suspects is too terrible to take seriously. Surely this group of close knit friends couldn’t be responsible for the disappearance of one of their own, could they? Is Joanna in danger too?

Critical Evaluation

This is another one of those purely campy novels. It’s terrible, really. The story line is crystal clear, and the Joanna, the lead, has as much depth as a kiddie-pool, her main concern is getting (and holding) the attention of Penn, who drives his red Corvette too fast all over town. I have to admit that when I first read this book 15 or 16 years ago I was totally ga-ga over Penn too, so I guess I can’t fault Joanna that.

Author Information

There’s not a lot of information available about Janice Harrell out there, she isn’t a current author, has no Goodreads or Amazon page and no one has written anything about her in any of the literary review databases. It looks like she published a number of horror and suspense books in the mid-80s to the mid-90s and then completely fell off the radar.

Genre

YA Fic, horror, suspense

Curriculum Ties

n/a

Booktalk Ideas

What would you do in Joanna’s shoes? Would you keep the groups secret or go to the police?

Reading Level/Interest Age 

14+

Challenge Issues

This is a suspenseful horror novel and some parents/patrons may object to some of the material contained within. This library encourages ever reader’s right to read, and strongly urges parents and teens to discuss and decide what is right for them to read. We do not support censorship, in accordance with the ALA Library Bill of Rights.

Reason for Inclusion

I really liked this novel when I was a teenager and included it for that reason alone.

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Clockwork Angel

Posted on November 21, 2012 | 2 comments

clockwork angel

Clarke, C. (2010). Clockwork angel. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. Print.

Reader’s Annotation

When Tessa Gray sets out across the Atlantic to join her brother in London she expects a grand adventure and a new life. What she ends up discovering is a world rife with demons, vampires and other creatures that go bump in the night. Under the protection and guidance of the Shadow Hunters, an underground organization dedicated to fighting the monsters, Tess must work against the clock to save her brother and protect all she knows and loves.

Plot Summary

Tessa Gray is all alone in the world: the aunt who raised her has died and her brother is overseas trying to make his fortune. When he sends for her she is overjoyed at the thought of being reunited with him. Only she is kidnapped by the evil Dark Sisters and forced to do acts of magic that she barely understands.

After a daring rescue by the mysterious Shadow Hunters, Tessa takes up residence at their London Institute: headquarters and training grounds for the group. Tessa agrees to use her power to help the Shadow Hunters in exchange for their help finding her brother. That is if she can avoid the distraction of the two devilishly handsome Shadow Hunters Will and James, who both have an undeniable allure and their own secrets.

She soon finds that she may have to choose between the task she set out to complete and the promises she’s made. Unsure of who to trust and which are the right decisions Tessa must look within herself for the answers the strength to move on.

Critical Evaluation

Some of this novel is a little ridiculous. The teen boys, James and Will, take themselves a little too seriously and buy into their own hype a little too much for my taste. Will knows how dashingly handsome and mysterious he is and totally plays into it. It’s obnoxious. The efforts that James goes to to hide his illness is ridiculous, in not wanting to make a big deal about it or have people pass judgement on him because of it, he manages to come off and a whiny idiot and indeed does exactly what he’s trying to avoid. Overall though? It’s a fun novel if you can look past the self involved characters (and really, what teenager isn’t self involved) and just enjoy the novel for what it is: a mechanized novel that takes place in Victorian England (am I the only one who thinks that the inclusion of cogs = steam punk is hilarious?).

Author Information

Cassandra Clare was born overseas, in Tehran, Iran. She spent her formative years travelling the world with her family, living in locations all over Europe before her tenth birthday. She published her first work in 2004, a short story called The Girl’s Guide to Defeating the Dark Lord  which is included in a Baen anthology of humor fantasy. City of Bones was her first novel, and exists in the same world, though present day, of the Clockwork Angles world. She’s published 18 books, five of which are co-authored with Holly Black. Most recently she published the sequel to Clockwork Angels, titled Clockwork Prince and Yen Press is due to release a manga version of Infernal Devices this winter.

Genre

Steam Punk, YA Fiction

Curriculum Ties

n/a

Booktalk Ideas

In Tessa’s position would you have gone with the Dark Sisters?

Reading Level/Interest Age 

15+

Challenge Issues

There is violence and some smooching in this novel and some patrons may feel uncomfortable with that. As ever the library urges that readers and their parents choose for themselves what is appropriate for them to read. Should you wish to challenge a book forms for reconsideration are available, though the library reserves the right to make a final decision after review by the board. Alternate titles to consider in lieu of this novel are Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough and Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick.

Reason for Inclusion

A fun read that will appeal to those who enjoy steampunk culture.

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The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Posted on November 19, 2012 | Leave a comment

Book Cover

Chbosky, S. (1999). The perks of being a wallflower. New York: Gallery Books. Print.

Reader’s Annotation

Depressed high school freshman Charlie narrates a series of letters to a friend he’s never met. His letters reflect the confusing world around him as he negotiates this strange new world where people die, get high, have sex and experience all kinds of new feelings and ordeals.

Plot Summary

Charlie is depressed. His best friend committed suicide over summer and he doesn’t feel especially close to his parents or his older sister. He had an aunt Helen once, whom he adored and trusted, but she’s dead too. Things start to get better for Charlie when he befriends Sam and Patrick, an older step-sister and brother duo that take Charlie under their wing.

Charlie is still a teenager though, and still confused about his place in the world. Charlie has romantic feelings for Sam, despite the fact that they both agree that she’s too old for him. Even so he struggles with his affection, especially after Sam begins dating Craig, a “hunky” boy her own age. Charlie eventually begins dating a girl his own age, Mary Elizabeth, but that relationship ends when his preference for Sam becomes undeniably clear. Additionally Charlie appears to be suffering from something more than a mild depression as result from his friend’s death. This is especially telling as his favorite song is “Asleep” by The Smiths, a song rife with allusions of death and suicide, as well as his return to Catcher in the Rye, a book that is narrated by another troubled young man. He also confesses to memory loss and hallucinations, definite signs of more troubling mental problems.

There are several other important relationships explored in Charlie’s narrative. Sam’s stepbrother Patrick is in a relationship with Brad, high school football quarterback, who is still in the closet. After a series of close calls, the couple is caught in the act and a series of traumatizing events follow, ending with a gang of jocks attacking Patrick and Charlie rushing to his defense. Charlie’s English teacher, who allows Charlie to call him Bill outside of class, takes a special interest in Charlie and encourages him to take participate in the high school experience.

As the book comes to a close Charlie confront his desire for Sam and begins to resolve his emotional problems.

Critical Evaluation

Perks is a really great novel. Chbosky does an excellent job of creating a character that I believe many teens, and adults for that matter, can relate to. I read it for the first time when I was twenty and now eleven years later I appreciate it on a whole other level. As Charlie stumbled and tripped his way through his first year of high school I sometimes cringed at his innocence and other times railed at the way he had been manipulated and abused by other characters in the novel. Still other times I wanted to shake him for being so self-centered, in particular the truth or dare scene when he kisses Sam– that is such a crappy and passive aggressive way to end a relationship, way to be a dick, Charlie. Overwhelmingly though, my impression of Charlie was someone who really needed a hug and someone to help him through some really rough times. The question I keep asking myself, and it seems a common thread in this kind of novel, is where the hell were his parents? Why didn’t they know something was wrong, that he was suffering so? As a mom I have a really hard time understanding how you just wouldn’t know something was wrong with your child and in Perks (Speak too, for that matter), I just don’t get why Charlie folks were so checked out.

Author Information

Stephen Chbosky was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania in 1970. He achieved a BFA from USC in 1992 and wrote, acted and directed his first piece Four Corners of Nowhere in 1995. MTV Books published Perks in 1999 and it quickly become their best selling novel. Chbosky has written a number of other screen plays and movies, including the 2005 movie adaptation of Rent and most recently has directed the movie version of Perks. 

Genre

Young Adult Fiction, High School, Coming of Age.

Curriculum Ties

n/a

Booktalk Ideas

Charlie reads Catcher in the Rye several times in the course of this novel. How does his character compare to Holden Caulfield?

Reading Level/Interest Age 

14 and up

Challenge Issues

Sex, drugs, suicide, homosexuality, violence, abortion.

Reason for inclusion

Modern great American novel. Deals with very real issues that high schoolers face on the day to day.

References

Beisch, A. (2001). Interview with Stephen Chbosky, the author of the perks of being a wallflower. LA Youth. Retrieved from: http://www.layouth.com/interview-with-stephen-chbosky-author-of-the-perks-of-being-a-wallflower/

Bing, J. (2000). ‘Perks’ guy in pics; Nerve wracking up deals. Variety. Retrieved from: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117787257?refCatId=1007

Stax. (2005). 10 questions: Stephen Chbosky. ING. Retrieved from: http://www.ign.com/articles/2005/12/01/10-questions-stephen-chbosky

Stephen Chbosky. (2006). In Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CH1000161510&v=2.1&u=csusj&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

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Sisters Red

Posted on November 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

Pearce, J. (2010). Sisters red (a fairy tale retelling). New York: Hatchet Book Group. Kindle.

Reader’s Annotation

In this Little Red Riding Hood reboot, two sisters struggle with their family’s violent history as they struggle to affirm their individuality. Rosie is the younger sister, innocent and especially attractive to the Fenris, a breed of soulless werewolves. Older sister Scarlett, Lett, is an expert hunter, tracking down and killing the wolves with help from her sister and the neighboring woodsman, Silas. When Silas returns after an extended vacation he begins to urge the sisters to find a life outside of hunting wherewolves, will he be the wedge that drives them apart? Can the sisters survive in a world that doesn’t revolve around Fenris?

Plot Summary

Rosie and Scarlett March witnessed the violent death of their grandmother at a young age. Since then they have dedicated their lives to tracking and hunting Fenris, the soulless werewolves that killed their Oma March and permanently disfigured Scarlett. The girls were trained to hunt werewolves by none other than their woodsman neighbor, Pa Reynolds, and his brood. As the children age a close partnership develops between the woodman’s youngest son, Silas, and the girls. Silas trains and hunts with Scarlett, both of them becoming expert hunters, and while Rosie is deadly with knives it is the other two who strive to protect her. That is until Silas decides to leave town and travel across the country, abandoning their mission to protect the innocent from the Fenris so far as Scarlett is concerned. After the woodsman’s son comes back to town things begin to change between the sisters. Scarlett is as driven as ever to protect her sister and destroy the Fenris, but Rosie finds herself drawn to Silas and freedom from a life of hunter and hunted. After the trio moves to Atlanta together to bag their biggest hunt of all, the cracks in the relationship of the sisters begin to widen even more. As they work together to unravel the mystery of the new werewolf “potential”, they each begin to find themselves and discover who they are together and apart.

Critical Evaluation

I ran across this title while looking for books featuring strong female leads. I was tired of reading about boy crazy girls waiting around for dumb jocks who eventually ended up cheating on them and the girls subsequent crumble into dust. This story definitely offers up female characters that are anything but ordinary, though the romance between Silas and Rosie didn’t seem entirely necessary. Reading the book I often cringed at the characteristics of the two sisters, Scarlett’s obsession with hunting to the point of refusing to see her sister as her own person and Rosie’s simpering dependence upon Scarlett and Silas were equally obnoxious. Though one might argue that the whole point of the story was to demonstrate the girls’ ability to grow out of these less fortunate characteristics.

Author Information

Jackson Pearce started writing when she was 12 years old and her school librarian couldn’t recommend her a book that contained a “smart girl, horses, baby animals and magic”, she resolved to write it herself. Pearce lives in Atlanta, Georgia and is the author of five books, three fairy tales retold like Sisters Red and two stand alone novels.

Genre

Young Adult Fiction, Fairy Tale Reboot, Werewolves, Coming of Age.

Curriculum Ties

Supports grade 9-10 literary response and analysis cirriculum:

3.7 Recognize and understand the significance of various literary devices, including figurative language, imagery, allegory, and symbolism, and explain their appeal.

Supports grade 11-12 literary response and analysis cirriculum:

3.6 Analyze the way in which authors through the centuries have used archetypes drawn from myth and tradition in literature, film, political speeches, and religious writings.

Booktalk Ideas

How does the Little Red Riding Hood reboot differ from the original tale? What similarities are there?

What does family mean to these two sisters?

Does this change as the novel progresses?

Is Rosie really so dependent on Scarlett? Or is Scarlett dependent on Rosie?

Reading Level/Interest Age 

15-19

Challenge Issues

This is a violent book and some of the characters are preternatural, which may lend to some complaints from conservative and religious patrons.

It is not the responsibility of the library to monitor the reading habits of its patrons. We trust that children and parents have worked out what is appropriate reading material for themselves. The ALA Library Bill of Rights clearly states that, “Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves”. This popular novel allows readers afresh perspective on the classic Little Red Riding Hood tale, and features two strong female leads. Rather than telling the story of a little girl who waits for a man to save her, this story has the girl figuring out how to save herself and is an excellent example of modern day girl power.

Reason for inclusion

Strong female leads, on the Bitch list of best 100 books for young feminists

References

Jackson, P. (2010). About me. Retrieved from: http://www.jacksonpearce.com/

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Tiger Eyes

Posted on November 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

Tiger Eyes Book Cover

Blume, J.(1981). Tiger Eyes. New York: Random House. Kindle.

Reader’s Annotation

After Davey’s family faces terrible tragedy they move across the country to recover from the shock. Davey finds solace in the most unlikely place and learns a lot about herself in the process.

Plot Summary

When Davey’s father is brutally shot and killed in their family’s corner store the structure of her family crumbles. Davey begins having panic attacks at school, her mother can barely hold it together and her brother refuses to take off his super hero cape. With everything crumbling around their shoulders Davey’s mom moves the family to New Mexico to recover from their loss. In New Mexico Davey’s overbearing aunt and uncle don’t help her feel any more anchored, indeed she feels more lost and alone that ever. As she explores the beautiful canyons of Los Alamos, Davey meets a strange young man who calls himself Wolf. As Davey’s friendship with Wolf develops, she and her family begin to heal and find that though she may carry the pain of her father’s death, she doesn’t have to be afraid. After all, “how we handle our fears will determine where we go with the rest of our lives. To experience adventure or to be limited by the fear of it.”

Critical Evaluation

Tiger Eyes is a classic coming of age novel, the characters are strong and the pain the Davey and her family are attempting to cope with are palatable.

Author Information

Judy Blume is a prolific author of many adult, young adult and children’s novels. She’s been writing for over 40 years and is one of the most well loved writers in the field. Blume is known for writing about issues important to teens and adolescents like puberty, sexuality and divorce, which makes her work some of those most frequently challenged in libraries across the country.

Genre

YA Fiction, Coming of Age, Death, Family

Curriculum Ties

Supports literary response and analysis curriculum for grades 9 and 10:

3.3 Analyze interactions between main and subordinate characters in a literary text (e.g., internal and external conflicts, motivations, relationships, influences) and explain the way those interactions affect the plot.

3.4 Determine characters’ traits by what the characters say about themselves in narration, dialogue, dramatic monologue, and soliloquy.

Booktalk Ideas

What is the canyon a metaphor for?

What are some of the main differences in parenting styles between Davey’s aunt and uncle and her own parents. How does Davey cope with these differences?

How does Davey’s relationship with Wolf change after she meets his father?

Reading Level/Interest Age 

13+

Challenge Issues

The violent death of Davey’s father may be offensive to some readers or their parents. The library’s continued support of the ALA’s Library Bill of Rights clearly demonstrates that we work against censorship and strive to include literature in our collection that appeals to every reader. This work fulfills those qualities because it tackles the very real issues of parental death and depression with sensitivity and intuitiveness. Additionally the book supports the California Department of Education curriculum as demonstrated by the subtleties in the relationships between Davey and the adults in her life, as well as her brother and Los Alamos friends.

Reason for inclusion

I included this book because I remembered reading it as a teenager and loving it. I think it’s a valuable novel for any teen struggling through the murky business of growing up, whether or not they have been forced to deal with a tragedy such as Davey’s.

References

Judy Blume. (2012). In J. W. Hunter (Ed.), Contemporary Literary Criticism (Vol. 325). Detroit: Gale. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CH1132910000&v=2.1&u=csusj&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

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The Vanishing Game

Posted on November 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

Vanishing Game Book Cover

Myers, K. K.

Reader’s Annotation

Things just haven’t been quite right for Jocelyn since her twin, Jack, died. Once she begins receiving messages from him she finds she must follow the trail to the truth, regardless of the outcome.

Plot Summary

After everything that happened at Seale House Jocelyn and her twin Jack weren’t sure if they’d ever find a place to call home. After they were placed successfully with a nice home Jack died in a fatal car crash. Or did he? About a year after the car crash Jocelyn gets a mysterious letter signed only with the name, Jason December- exactly what Jack called himself at the Seale House. A name only known to Jocelyn and the twin’s close friend from Seale House, Noah.

As Jocelyn makes her way to Noah to ask his help unravelling the mystery of Jason December strange things begin to happen, she is certain someone is following her. When she sneaks into the Seale house to look for signs of her brother she discovers that the terror that the house held for her as a child hasn’t faded, indeed it seems as if the house remembers her and she struggles to get out in one piece.

One thing is clear, Jocelyn can’t go at this alone. With Noah’s reluctant help they follow the path that Jason December has laid out for them, fraught with intrigue and terrible dangers and horrors unimaginable. Jocelyn has no choice, she must find her twin before her past catches up with her.

Critical Evaluation

Vanishing Game is a good horror novel for folks who also like a bit of mystery thrown in. The story is told along two time lines, present day and in a series of flash backs from Jocelyn, Jack and Noah’s childhood. You get a clear picture of the terrible abuse they suffered in their foster house, as a mother that part was particularly unpleasant to read, and Myers does a good job of hooking her reader so that you’re compelled to finish, even reading through some of the requisite cheesy-intense-teen-romance. To top it off this book is genuinely scary! You’re never sure exactly what is going on, if the Seale House is haunted with angry spirits, or if there are hallucinogenic spores in the walls or somethin; you dont know if Jack is alive or dead; or to what lengths the men following Jocelyn and Noah will go to to get the information they seek. Recommended to anyone who likes a bit of a fright!

Author Information

By Myers own account her childhood was grueling and her teenager years were much the same. According to her bio she never wanted to be a writer as much as she has felt compelled to write, climbing inside her character’ s skin and creating their worlds. Vanishing Game is her first novel.

Genre

Horror, YA Fiction

Curriculum Ties

Grades 9-10 goal 3.6: Analyze and trace an author’s development of time and sequence, including the use of complex literary devices (e.g., foreshadowing, flashbacks).

Booktalk Ideas

What do you think about the reality Jocelyn has created for herself? Has this reality been fool-proof? What are some of the weaknesses in her story?

Reading Level/Interest Age 

14+

Challenge Issues

This book discusses topics like death and mental illness, and some adults may object to their children’s exposure to those sensitive topics.

A collection policy that clearly states that the library strongly supports the ALA Bill of Rights and everyone’s freedom to read should offer some protection to the library. The use of flashbacks in The Vanishing Game supports the California Department of Education English Language Arts Content Standards for grades 9 and 10. Finally, alternate titles could be The Long Walk by Stephen King and What She Left Behind by Tracy Bilen.

Reason for inclusion

This title is a good one for any fan of horror and mystery. It’s included in the collection to appeal to those readers.

References

Myers, K.K. (2012). Bio of Kate Kae Myers. Retrieved from: http://www.katekaemyers.com/

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Thirteen Reasons Why

Posted on November 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

Asher, J. (2007). Thirteen reasons why. New York: Razor Bill. Print.

Reader’s Annotation

When Clay Jensen gets a box in the mail full of old cassette tapes he doesn’t know what to expect; when they turn out to be from a classmate that recently committed suicide, he is even more perplexed. Follow along with Clay as Hannah tells him why she took her life.

Plot Summary

It all starts with a box on his porch. Clay Jensen hasn’t been oblivious to Hannah’s death, not by any means. They worked together at the local theater after all, and even if he was never really able to tell her, he had a huge crush on her. He never thought for an instant that he’d be the recipient of an after death message from her though. That’s what’s in the box though, 13 cassette tapes, 13 stories, of the reasons why Hannah took her own life. Clay digs up an old boom box in the garage and starts listening, not understanding how or why he made the list. He doesn’t want to hear what Hannah is saying, the secrets that she’s making known, but he’s got to know what happened. Clay takes to the street with a “borrowed” walkman and follows along with the map Hannah provided to the location of each offense, trying to make sense of all of Hannah’s pain, all the while trying to figure out what his part in the story is.

Critical Evaluation

This was a hard book for me. I read it because I knew that it won a bunch of awards and that everyone loved it, but I was turned off an annoyed by it right away. I don’t wan to speak ill of the dead, especially the fictional dead, but Hannah was kind of annoying. I don’t think I would have been able to sit through her 13 tapes of blame and accusation, with the exception of the one boy who couldn’t save her. Maybe I’m just too jaded, or too old to appreciate it, but the whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth. Highschool is a terrible, awful place, we all know it, blaming everyone else for your misery is such a cop out, and even though I feel bad about it because she committed suicide and awful things DID happen to her, Hannah was a seriously depressed girl who needed help and her actions don’t belong to anyone BUT herself. It’s such a load of crap to blame everyone else for your death, so manipulative and codependent, it really kind of pissed me off. That said, I understand the value of this book and why everyone loves it, I just wasn’t crazy about it myself.

Author Information

Jay Asher was born in 1975 in Arcadia, California. He attended CalPoly in San Luis Obisbo with the intention of becoming an elementary school teach, but dropped out his senior year to pursue his career as a writer. 13 Reasons Why is his first novel, he has also published The Future of Us with Carolyn Mackler and the novella Love in Progress. 

Genre

Suicide, YA Fiction, High School

Curriculum Ties

Supports CA Dept of Education literary response and analysis curriculum for grades 9 and 10:

3.3 Analyze interactions between main and subordinate characters in a literary text (e.g., internal and external conflicts, motivations, relationships, influences) and explain the way those interactions affect the plot.

3.4 Determine characters’ traits by what the characters say about themselves in narration, dialogue, dramatic monologue, and soliloquy.

3.6 Analyze and trace an author’s development of time and sequence, including the use of complex literary devices (e.g., foreshadowing, flashbacks).

Booktalk Ideas

Do you think suicide is a selfish act? Was Hannah’s?

What are some the ways Hannah was burned by those she thought were her friends? What about the adults in her life?

Why is Clay on the list? Why is Hannah apologizing to him?

Reading Level/Interest Age 

14+

Challenge Issues

This book is about a girl committing suicide. It also covers topics like sexual abuse, bullying, and underage drinking. The library defends each reader’s right to read, and has a policy against censorship. This book supports the CA Department of Education’s curriculum by using literary analysis techniques to determine the motivations and characteristics of the narrator and main protagonist  Additionally the book creates a safe space for teens to discuss the important topics of depression, bullying and worse. Furthermore, the book is the recipient of several awards and commendations by libraries and literary organization.

Alternate titles are: Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral, and Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson.

Reason for inclusion

It’s important for teens to be able to talk about depression and suicide. This book opens up that dialogue and creates a safe space for teens to talk about a topic that generally send parents and administrators into a frenzy.

References

Jay Asher. (2009). In Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CH1000185606&v=2.1&u=csusj&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w

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Chopsticks

Anthony, J. & Corral, R. (2012). Chopsticks. New York: Razor Bill. Print.

Reader’s Annotation

Since her mother died Glory has dedicated her life to playing the piano, until she meets the new boy in town, Frank. Follow along with Glory and Frank as their passions unfold and their lives fall apart.

Plot Summary

Chopsticks is a story told in pictures. It isn’t exactly a regular novel, nor is it entirely a conventional graphic novel. It’s more of a scrap book that follows several story lines. It begins with a newspaper clipping that tells how teen piano prodigy Glory has disappeared from the Golden Hands Rest Facility, a rehabilitation center for musical geniuses. We learn that previous to Glory’s residence at Golden Hands she was developing a relationship with her new neighbor, Frank. The evidence of their love story is displayed in track listings of mix tapes, text message and IM logs, as well as drawings and photographs. In this manner we also learn that since Glory’s mother’s death seven years ago she’s been dedicating herself to her craft, and until Frank has had little distraction from her life as a musician. Her father, sensing the disruption of Glory and Frank’s relationship has on her playing, whisks her away for a European recital tour, against Glory’s own wishes. She is hailed as the “Brecht of the piano” by supporters, but something strange happens at her largest performance, and in a fit of insubordination and insanity, Glory finds that she can play nothing but Chopsticks for the duration of the tour. Things aren’t exactly what they seem though, and you’ll find yourself reading this title again and again to unravel all of it’s mysteries.

*Note: I read this title’s print form, and skipped the accompanying Youtube videos that were created to enhance the experience. Reviews suggest that the e-book versions integrate the multimedia aspect of this title brilliantly, making it a true groundbreaker in it’s field.

Critical Evaluation

I enjoyed this title if for no other reason than that is was visually stunning. The arrangement of the pages, images and even the mix tapes that Glory and Frank exchange, were perfectly chosen and placed so that the reader is able to really grasp, assuming a certain amount of familiarity with indie music, what these two teens are feeling. It is beautiful and desperate, romantic and lonesome and heartbreaking all at once. The story may be a litte weak and predictable near the end of the book, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that this title takes reading to a new level and will certainly appeal to all kinds of teens.

Author Information

Genre

YA Fiction, Multimedia, High School, Art, Mental Illness, Contemporary

Curriculum Ties

Supports literary response and analysis curriculum for grades 9 and 10:

3.2 Compare and contrast the presentation of a similar theme or topic across genres to explain how the selection of genre shapes the theme or topic.

3.3 Analyze interactions between main and subordinate characters in a literary text (e.g., internal and external conflicts, motivations, relationships, influences) and explain the way those interactions affect the plot.

3.4 Determine characters’ traits by what the characters say about themselves in narration, dialogue, dramatic monologue, and soliloquy.

3.11 Evaluate the aesthetic qualities of style, including the impact of diction and figurative language on tone, mood, and theme, using the terminology of literary criticism.

Booktalk Ideas

Would you consider this a kind of Romeo and Juliet type situation? Explain your reasoning.

How did you feel about the medium in which is book was presented? What were some of the most appealing aspects of the medium?

What really happened to Glory?

What does her inability to play anything but Chopsticks represent?

In what ways does Glory change after she meets Frank?

Why doesn’t Glory’s father want Frank around?

Reading Level/Interest Age 

14+

Challenge Issues

Many of the books in this collection share the same themes: teenage sexuality, mental illness and death are topics we frequently see arise. In this library we support our patron’s right to read and strive to defeat censorship. We encourage our users and their guardians to communicate with one another regarding what is appropriate material for their consumption and make a habit of not keeping records of what our users are reading.

This title is useful for several reasons. It plays on the idea of the star-crossed lover, giving students a chance to compare and contrast classic and contemporary literature. The medium by which the story is told also allows students look at how stories are developed and consumed through the ages.

Alternare title: The Selected Work of T.S. Spivet by Reif Larsen

Reason for inclusion

Multi-media title, good addition for readers who enjoy visual and audio stories rather than the written word.

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Posted on November 18, 2012 in book

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