Book Blogs 9 - 16 (LSSL 5385)

Annie on My Mind

Required Young Adult Novel

by Nancy Garden

Garden, N. (1982). Annie on my mind. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Liza Winthrop is a senior at Foster Academy, a conservative private high school in New York, with aspirations of attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology when she meets Annie at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. They begin a friendship, which later turns into love. Liza struggles internally as she fights the urge to connect with Annie physically and to decide whether or not she is gay. While cat-sitting for two of Liza's teachers who are on vacation, the girls "play house" and begin a sexual relationship. After their relationship is discovered and exposed by a school administrator, Liza risks expulsion. However, the board ultimately allows her to remain a student. She and Annie part ways when they leave for college until Liza makes a life-defining decision and phone call.

What surprised me the most about this novel was that it was written in 1982. Although living a gay lifestyle is currently a social trend and almost common place, this was not the case in the early 1980's. I was in high school at that time, and this subject was still considered private and shameful. So, for an author to write about it at that time was pretty groundbreaking. In addition, although the girls do begin a sexual relationship, Garden chooses to focus on the aspect of love in this realistic young adult novel. This provides the reader the opportunity to vicariously experience the complexity of emotions that coincide with falling in love with someone of the same sex. As Liza struggles with her decision, she experiences Havighurst's developmental stages including a changing relationship with her parents, developing personal morals/values, and defining appropriate sex roles. This book requires much philosophical speculation and causes the reader to ask questions such as: What is the difference between friendship and romantic love? What defines a homosexual relationship? Is homosexuality right or wrong? Regardless of how the reader answers these questions, reading Annie On My Mind will develop empathy for others.

Author, Nancy Garden's website: http://nancygarden.com/

A more recent novel about defining someone according to a single characteristic:


🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮

Persepolis

Required Young Adult Novel

by Marjane Satrapi

Satrapi, M. (2003). Persepolis. New York: Pantheon.

Marji is a young girl growing up in Iran. As political turmoil begins in her country, she is forced to wear a veil at school and the children are separated by gender. Her parents often attend protests against the Iranian regime and support the revolutionaries. Marji begins to follow in the footsteps of her parents, grandmother, and uncle and attends a protest, which results in many deaths...thankfully, not hers. She also becomes outspoken at school, causing her to be expelled. When things become too dangerous, her parents send her to Vienna to keep her safe.

Persepolis is the personal memoir of author, Marjane Satrapi's childhood written in graphic novel format. It is a coming of age story in a time of war. If it were not a memoir, I think the events would be challenged as being false. But since it is a memoir, sadly, the events are true. Even though I was a teen during this time period, I was unaware of the details of what was occurring in the Persian Gulf area. The young boys being sent to serve in the military and how they were brainwashed reminded me of Hitler's regime. This book made difficult-to-understand history become interesting and easier to comprehend when told in a graphic novel format from a child's point of view than it would have been as part of a history textbook. It would be a great book for students to read as part of a high school World History class. Reading it made me thankful for the freedoms that I have as a citizen of the United States and caused me to develop empathy for those who are not as blessed. Within the story, the expressions and thoughts of Marji are realistic in their child-likeness. It was interesting to see Marji repeat the things that she heard from her parents, uncle, grandmother, or the TV without really understanding. Initially, she based her opinions on her emotions and on what she was taught. As Marji matured, she grew from taking the word of her teachers as truth to becoming an independent thinker, progressing from Kohlberg's preconventional to post-conventional stage.

After you finish reading Persepolis, you will likely want to read the sequel:


Persepolis and Persepolis 2 were made into a movie. Here is the official trailer:

Some information about the Islamic Revolution of 1979: http://www.iranchamber.com/history/islamic_revolution/islamic_revolution.php

🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮

Gabi: A Girl in Pieces

Required Young Adult Novel

by Isabel Quintero

Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi: a girl in pieces. El Paso: Cinco Puntos Press.

Gabi Hernandez is a senior in high school who documents her drama-filled year through diary entries. She was conceived out of wedlock to the chagrin of her grandmother, and, as a result, is repeatedly told to keep her eyes open and her legs closed by her mother. She is also frequently shamed by the adults in her life for giving in to her food cravings. Gabi has two best friends, Cindy and Sebastian. During the year, Cindy becomes pregnant after being raped and Sebastian comes out as gay. Gabi writes poetry to help her process her emotions, especially after she finds her meth-addicted father dead in the garage. Through it all, Gabi falls in love, has her first sexual experience, and comes to accept herself.

The cover art on this realistic fiction novel immediately reminded me of both Picasso's and Frida Kahlo's art. It was very befitting for this novel. Oh my goodness! What an interesting bunch of characters. One is gay; another was raped and became pregnant out of wedlock while drunk; yet another is addicted to meth and wanders the streets as though homeless periodically. Hopefully this is a book for the reader to live vicariously through rather than one for which they will relate due to personal experience. There are Spanish words laced throughout the book which help transmit the Mexican culture and that can usually be figured out through context clues. I looked some of them up to double-check my understanding, then about had a heart attack when one of the phrases was translated into what I consider the most vile expression in the English language. It breaks my heart that this is real living for numerous people. It also made me sad that Gabi defines herself as a fat girl. But I suspect that many high schoolers will connect with the book because they define themselves according to one personal trait which they dislike. It was refreshing at the end to see Gabi enter a maturity phase of making her own choices and of accepting who she is, evidenced by her willingness to wear a 2-piece swimsuit on the senior skip day trip. I read Gabi's Feb. 7th journal entry right after my best friend's father-in-law died, and I cried thinking about the mortality of my own 80 year old father and how time continues to pull us towards the inevitable. This book demonstrates that excellent poems/writing can come from pain. It will force the reader to think about stereotypes (Mexican, White, female, male, gay, drug addict), rape, whether or not there is a God, what defines "being good," and what happens when you die? It will also inspire students to find and read the poems noted within the text.

This book reminded me of Speak because both contained girls who were raped and afraid to speak up, of All American Boys and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian due to the included stereotypes, and of Winger because it addresses defining people by a single characteristic.
      

Information about Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo: https://www.fridakahlo.org/

Information about Pablo Picasso's Cubism period: https://www.pablopicasso.org/cubism.jsp

🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮

Smile

Required Young Adult Author

by Raina Telgemeier

Telgemeier, R. (2010). Smile. New York: Graphix.

As a sixth grader, Raina visits the orthodontist and discovers that she needs braces in order to correct an overbite. Before she even becomes accustomed to the idea, she has a terrible accident which knocks out one tooth and compacts another. Her dentist, Dr. Golden, puts one tooth back in and pulls the other down. A week later, her plaster cast is removed, but more damage is found. Poor Raina continues having work done on her teeth and gums for the next 4 years, but that's not the worst of her problems...her friends are. They like to make fun of her. During her sophomore year of high school, she finds a new group to hang out with, finally has her braces removed, and becomes truly comfortable in her own skin.

Smile is Raina Telgemeier's personal memoir in graphic novel format. It is informative and entertaining. The pictures portray diversity, are hilarious, and capture the mood of each moment. Just look at the ones of the orthodontist making a mold of Raina's teeth on pages 40 - 41, and you'll see what I mean! In the Author's Note at the end of the book, Raina shares that it was quite therapeutic for her to create this book. Being 11 years old and in the 6th grade is a time when girls begin to feel awkward and have a desire to fit in. To have to deal with her friends' careless words of youth ("You'll look normal soon."), pimples, and headgear, in addition to the normal social awkwardness, would have been extremely difficult. I found myself asking, "Will this ever end!?" Middle school students will likely relate to some aspect of the book and will hopefully follow in Raina's footsteps by focusing on their interests rather than their looks. This will bring to light the things that they like about themselves which may have a positive affect on how others see them, as it did with Raina.

If you liked Smile, another great graphic novel memoir you might enjoy is:


Other graphic novels by Raina Telgemeier:
    

🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮

I Crawl Through It

Required Young Adult Author

by A.S. King

King, A.S. (2015). I crawl through it. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Someone is sending daily bomb threats to the school which interrupts the standardized testing schedule. Is it Gustav, Stanzi, China, Lansdale, or someone else? Each is dealing with complex issues such as rape, death of a sibling, depression, and anxiety along with trying to survive in a pressure-filled society. After Stanzi and Gustav return from a trip in an invisible helicopter, all four learn that the best way to deal with their reality is to face it.

If you like weird books, chances are high that you will enjoy I Crawl Through It. It is a hard one to classify. It has characteristics of realistic fiction (kids in high school dealing with pressure and family issues), but also aspects of fantasy due to its invisible helicopter and girl who swallows herself. I had to read about 50 pages before I had a clue as to what was going on in the story, and it was difficult to keep track of the characters since the chapters switch narrators with no predictable pattern. Even so, King's writing style is intriguing...I was tempted at times to stop reading, but my brain wanted to put the pieces of the puzzle together, so I continued. Each of the characters teeters on the edge of insanity brought on by their own unique situation. With mature content such as sadomasochism, rape, and the death of a sibling, in my opinion this book is most appropriate for new adults of late high school/college age and adults, even though it was written as a young adult novel since the characters are under 19 years old. However, some young adults will be mature enough to handle the content. By the conclusion of the novel, Stanzi has learned how to crawl through situations in order to keep her sanity, hence the title of the book which is revealed as a metaphor of survival at the end.

Book trailer:

Author, A.S. King's website: https://www.as-king.com/

🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮

Winger

Required Young Adult Author

by Andrew Smith

Smith, A. (2013). Winger. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Ryan Dean West is a junior at Pine Mountain High School, a boarding school for rich kids. Although he plays wing on the varsity rugby team and is extremely bright, the one characteristic that he is identified by is his age: fourteen. "Winger" is sentenced to reside in O-Hall, the trouble-makers' dorm, after breaking into a teacher's cell phone to call his best friend, Annie, on her birthday...who also happens to be his love interest. As he navigates through school, O-Hall, athletics, first love, and friendship, he makes difficult decisions and some errors in judgement. When tragedy strikes, he must discover how to continue on. With the support of Annie and her family, he does just that.

This realistic fiction novel is a coming-of-age story that would have made a great 1980's movie. It was reminiscent of Dead Poets Society in my mind. It was particularly interesting to read a first love story told from the boy's point of view. Since Winger is 14, the book is full of foul language and sexual inuendos, often portrayed in his comic sketches. Because of this, it's a bit mature for junior high students. I have to admit that when the rugby team arrived at Sacred Heart with bandaids on (pg 202) and when Ryan Dean goes through security and then heads to the boarding gate at the airport (chapter 49), I laughed out loud! Although also about friendship and trust (especially between Ryan Dean and Joey), the entire story revolves around Ryan Dean's characteristic of being 14 years old. However, at the very end, the writer surprises you by going deeper and connecting to the reality that Joey was identified/judged/murdered because of his one definable characteristic of being gay. This drives the theme home: Nobody should be classified/judged by one trait. I expect that it will develop empathy in the reader as personal biases are examined and as they identify with the emotional/psychological development of Ryan Dean.

Author, Andrew Smith's website: http://www.authorandrewsmith.com/Author_Andrew_Smith/Home.html

If you liked Winger, you might also enjoy:

          

🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮

Go: A Kidd's Guide to Graphic Design

Required Young Adult Novel

by Chip Kidd

Kidd, C. (2013). Go: a Kidd's guide to graphic design. New York: Workman Publishing.

Chip Kidd explains what graphic design is and what it is not by sharing numerous verbal and pictorial examples. After a brief timeline of the history of graphic design is portrayed, four chapters delve into its components: form, typography, content, and concept. The book concludes with 10 design projects which Kidd assigns to the reader and an avenue in which to share them.

This nonfiction book is chock-full of information which could be mentally overwhelming. However, Kidd presents the information in such a creative way, utilizing all of the components of graphic design, that it is digestible and fun! I read this book side-by-side with my 14 year old daughter who is gifted in art, and she was engrossed in every word. I have to admit that I learned a lot while reading the book, too, even as an adult who thought she understood the subject. Even those who are not interested in pursuing graphic design as a career will collect helpful tips that can be utilized in creating posters and school projects. Go is also unique in that it is appropriate for elementary students through adults. Kidd invites everyone who completes one of his suggested design projects to share them at gothebook.com.

A Ted Talk with author, Chip Kidd

Author, Chip Kidd's website: http://chipkidd.com/home/

Take the book cover challenge: http://gothebook.tumblr.com/challenge

🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮

It's Perfectly Normal

Required Young Adult Novel

by Robie H. Harris

Harris, R. H. (2009). It's perfectly normal. New York: Candlewick Press.

A narrator explains to a bird and a bee facts about changing bodies, growing up, sex, and sexual health. The term "sex" is defined, bodies are discussed including the differences between those of males and females, and puberty is described in detail. The book then moves on to a discussion of families, babies, postponement, abstinence, birth control, abortion, and how to stay healthy including information on sexual abuse, STDs, and even internet safety.

I was not looking forward to reading this nonfiction book because sex can be an awkward subject. Though as with Harris' book for younger children, It's So Amazing!, the information was covered thoroughly through the text and drawings, but felt light due to the presence of the two animal "mascots," the bird and the bee. Harris and Emberley again kept a nice balance between comic-style anecdotes, anatomically correct drawings, and informational text. This balance helped the book to feel less embarrassing and somewhat fun. I think that this book would be best utilized by parents with their teenagers when paired with discussions on the topics rather than allowing the book to completely educate young adult readers. However, for those who do not have parents willing to share this type of information with them, this book will provide factual information to help them understand their own physical development.

Author, Robie Harris's website: http://robieharris.com/

Harris and Emberley's book for children aged 7 years and up:

Book Blogs 1 - 8 (LSSL 5385)

Turtles All the Way Down

NYT Bestseller List (10/29/2017 - present)

by John Green

Green, J. (2017). Turtles all the way down. New York: Dutton Books.

Being sixteen carries its own set of challenges. When you add to it the death of a father and a personal struggle with OCD, it becomes nearly unbearable. Aza's spiraling thoughts seem to control her life. At times, she is not even sure if she is real or fiction. When the local millionaire, Russell Pickett, disappears without a trace, Aza and her best friend, Daisy, go on a quest to solve the mystery with hopes of receiving a $100,000 reward. In the process, Aza reunites with a past friend from grievance camp, who happens to be Russell's eldest son, Davis, and a blossoming romance ignites. After Aza and Daisy ultimately solve the mystery, Davis and his brother are left fatherless and decide to start a new life in Colorado.

As the mother of a child with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, this book gave me a glimpse into my daughter's internal world. Although I don't recall an actual label of OCD ever being assigned to Aza within this realistic fiction young adult novel, it was clear that this was what she was struggling with. We live in a world where people throw around the term OCD when referring to a tendency to keep things extremely neat and orderly. This book gives a realistic look at what OCD actually is through the eyes of a youthful protagonist who experiences gradual change as she begins to understand and accept her personal limitations and the affects of OCD on her life. This was refreshing, due to the assumptions that people make about this disorder and how people who have it are often misunderstood. As seen with Aza, it affects every aspect of one's life: from personal relationships to health. John Green's understanding of this comes from his personal experience with OCD and was evident in his writing. Due to some strong language and a sexual picture sent to Daisy in response to her fanfiction writing, none of which were really necessary in this novel, I would only recommend this book for a mature high school audience. This is a shame since, in my opinion, the book would be beneficial for young adults beginning at about age 13 to understand mental struggles without having to experience them personally.

Author, John Green's website: http://www.johngreenbooks.com/

An interview with John Green: http://time.com/4976944/john-green-turtles-all-the-way-down-mental-illness/

Learn more about OCD from the International OCD Foundation: https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/

🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮

All American Boys

Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers Top Ten (2017)

by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

Reynolds, J., & Kiely, B. (2015). All American boys. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers.

Rashad is an ROTC member, but he’d much rather don oversized jeans, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes and head to a party with his best friends...like he does every Friday after ditching his stiff uniform. On one particular Friday, he stops to grab some chips at Jerry’s corner store before meeting his friends, but a police officer (falsely) accuses him of stealing and Rashad lands in the hospital with broken bones and internal bleeding. When a video of the event finds its way into the hands of the media, students take sides. Some claim that Officer Paul Galluzzo was just doing his job and others proclaim racially motivated police brutality. Quinn, who has strong ties to the Galluzzo family, was an eyewitness and is torn on what to do. As racial tension ripples out into the community and beyond, a peaceful protest results, in which both Rashad and Quinn participate, beginning a breakdown of racial barriers and uniting hearts.

This book really made me think, not only about racial prejudice and police brutality, but also about family relationships, assumptions, and what drives people to make certain decisions. The numerous conflicts within this novel make it a fantastic catalyst for classroom discussions and appealing to junior high and high school students. Alternating chapters are written from different characters' points-of-view: Rashad, the attacked, and Quinn, the witness. It wasn’t until about halfway through the book that the skin color of each was stated. This was very effective in revealing my own assumptions about the characters before knowing them. The book delves into the internal struggle that Quinn experiences in trying to determine if his loyalties to Paul are greater than his sense of right and wrong as he moves from Kohlberg's conventional stage to the post-conventional moral stage of development by the end of the book. Rashad also deals with inward challenges, as he struggles between the pressures his father has always put on him and what he finds out about his father’s own experience as a police officer. This book could certainly be used to examine the assumptions and prejudices that students may unknowingly have. It would also be great for discussions related to loyalties, right and wrong, racial and other prejudices, and even in comparing segregation from the past to that in today’s world.

Book trailer: 

Authors, Reynolds and Kiely, answer questions from readers: 

Another novel exploring racial tension and police brutality: 

🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮

Looking for Alaska

Michael L. Printz Award Book (2006)

by John Green

Green, J. (2005). Looking for Alaska. New York: Speak.

Miles Halter lacks friends, but that is not why he wants to leave Florida to attend Culver Creek, a boarding school in Alabama. Instead, he desires to seek a “Great Perhaps” while he is still living. His life at boarding school is full of adventure and new experiences including smoking, drinking, sex, pranks, and a unique group of friends, including the alluring Alaska Young. When Alaska dies in a tragic car accident, Miles and the Colonel wrestle with guilt and try to figure out what actually happened on that dreadful night, but come up empty. While writing his final essay for religion class at the end of the school year, Miles finally finds the ability to move on as he realizes that forgiveness is what allows you to survive in the labyrinth of suffering.

This young adult novel is written from Miles' point-of-view, presenting his interpretation of his development as well as how he perceives that of his friends. It brought tears to my eyes as I read about the death of Alaska’s mom and then her own. It surprised me when the Before and After sections ended up being linked to Alaska’s death, as I expected the turning point “event” to be Miles and Alaska having intercourse. It also shocked me when Lara and Miles had oral sex and it was explicitly described. However, all of these things combined together truly set the scene and contribute to the development of the characters, as well as the story-line. With these mature topics, I’d reserve this book for older teens. However, the topics this book broaches (religion, death, loss, forgiveness, depression, parent/child responsibility for one another, friendship) are definitely worth exploring with them. Depending on the reader, it will provide an autobiographic or vicarious reading experience. In addition, philosophical speculation will definitely occur as topics are raised during religion class for exploration.

Author, John Green, on the banning of this book: 

Book trailer: 

🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮

Eleanor & Park

Michael L. Printz Award Book (2014)

by Rainbow Rowell

Rowell, R. (2013). Eleanor & Park. New York: St. Martin’s Griffin.

Eleanor, a heavy-set, awkward red-head from an abusive home, and Park, a half-Korean comic book lover, end up sitting together on the school bus one day. Over time, a friendship develops through the silent sharing of comic books and music. Later, first love ignites and the two become deeply connected. When Eleanor discovers that her alcoholic stepfather has been writing obscene messages on her school books, she knows that she cannot go back home without risking her safety. Park, supported by his parents, demonstrates his love by driving her to her uncle’s house in Minnesota. After six months of writing letters to her with no response, Park receives a postcard in the mail containing three life-giving words.

This was a very sweet love story. It brought back memories of my own first love, including the sweaty palms, fast-beating heart, consumed thoughts, and enhanced sensory awareness from when we first held hands. For me, it was a realistic fiction novel since I was a teen in the 80's. However, for current young adults, it will likely be perceived as historical fiction with accurate historical facts as demonstrated often through Park's music and reading selections. I loved how the main characters were different than those in most teen love stories; they were not the popular kids or people who were trying to become known. They were much more like the majority of us and readers will likely identify with them. : ) Rowell realistically presents two very different family lives and the struggles that Eleanor and Park have within their own. I found Richie repulsive and desperately wanted to help Eleanor, her siblings, and her mom get out of the terrible situation they were in. You never really know what goes on behind closed doors in other people’s families. This book gives high school and mature junior high readers a glimpse into other households without having to experience it themselves. In addition, it communicates permission to seek help for those who find themselves in an abusive household.

Books by Rainbow Rowell:

Author's website: http://www.rainbowrowell.com/

🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮

Mighty Jack

Great Graphic Novels for Teens Top Ten (2017)

by Ben Hatke

Hatke, B. (2016). Mighty Jack. New York: First Second.

It is finally summertime. Jack wants to sleep in, but his single mom works two jobs to try to make ends meet, so he must take care of his autistic sister, Maddy, instead. During a family outing to the flea market, Jack trades the family car for a box of seeds when normally-silent Maddy expresses an interest. Back home, Jack works with her to till the ground and plant the seeds. They are both surprised when the plants come alive and begin to attack! As they investigate the magical garden with their neighbor, Lilly, Maddy begins to blossom and grow close to Jack, a spark ignites between Lilly and Jack, and Jack becomes mighty!

Although the basic story-line is the same, Mighty Jack takes an entirely new twist on the classic Jack and the Beanstalk tale by modernizing it, adding a touch of sci-fi along with a superhero vibe, and throwing in additional characters. Jack is still a boy from a poor home who foolishly trades his family’s possession for seeds, and he still faces a giant. I’d like to read Book 2 to find out if a fortune results at the end of the story for Jack as it does in the original. This graphic novel’s spin contains additional characters, and each of them have a different approach to the seeds and dangerous garden in which readers will be able to relate. Maddy, though usually silent and anxious, approaches them with curiosity and uncharacteristic boldness. Jack is fearful of them, but bravery comes out because he is driven to protect his family. Lilly looks at them in an investigative way stating, “Just because something’s dangerous doesn’t make it evil.” True, but that doesn’t mean you should knowingly involve yourself with danger, in my opinion. Statements like Lilly’s and the family bonds in this book would make for great discussions with middle, junior high, and high school students. In addition, the graphic novel format makes it appealing to modern youth with detailed illustrations, especially of the garden and dragon, complementing the text.

Author, Ben Hatke’s blog: http://www.benhatke.com/

Book trailer:

The sequel:

🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Required Young Adult Novel

by Sherman Alexie

Alexie, S. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. New York: Little, Brown and Company. 

Arnold Spirit Junior lives on the Spokane Indian Reservation. Because he was born with hydrocephalus, he looks strange, has a lisp, and stutters. On the rez, these things make him a target for bullying and cause him to be beat up frequently, not only by kids, but also by 30-year-old adult men. His only solace is his family and his best friend, Rowdy, who happens to be tough and full of anger. When Mr. P, Junior’s teacher at Wellpinit High School, encourages him to leave the reservation so that he does not become trapped and fall into the depressed, drunken cycle that the other Indians have, he takes the leap and transfers to Reardan High School, a rich, white school twenty-two miles from the rez. Although it’s very difficult for him at first, when he punches the school giant in the face for making a racist joke, he surprisingly gains respect. Unfortunately though, by leaving the rez to attend Reardan, he loses the respect of his tribe and the friendship of Rowdy. Thankfully, his family remains loyal and supportive of him. A series of events including a basketball game and the death of three people he loves reunite him with his tribe and, most importantly, with Rowdy. 

This book appears on ALA’s Frequently Challenged Young Adult Book List from schools, probably because of its inclusion of sexual references and terms. I am a very conservative person and tend to shy away from these things with younger adults. However, I’ve noticed as an adult when I reread books or rewatch movies that I first viewed as a teen, there are mature situations within them that I did not tune into when I was a young adult. With this book, I think we must be careful not to lose sight of the forest for the trees...and the forest in this novel is worth seeing. There are so many rich, positive lessons in this book; it really should not be passed up. In fact, I began marking thoughts that I wanted to remember when I was a little over halfway through the book so that I could go back and recall the important lessons later. However, by the end of the book, I felt like I had every other page marked (pg. 153, 157, 176, 180, 186, 188, 189…). Seriously, it is just that rich. In addition, it is hilarious. Alexie’s writing style is very enjoyable, Junior’s comic sketches are awesome, and there are laugh-out-loud moments, as well as shed-a-tear passages. It will definitely provide an aesthetic experience and can be read for fun, but will also develop empathy in the reader. Personally, it was extremely interesting to me to read about the reality of an Indian reservation, too. I lived in South Dakota, home of numerous reservations, for a few years as a child. In addition, I participated in the Minority Mentorship Project during college, which was led by a Native American woman who was raised on a reservation and, therefore, had a heart for helping students who were poor. Each person in MMP was paired up with an “at risk” local elementary school student whose family had limited financial resources. We mentored our student for multiple years and, hopefully, made a difference in their life, much as Mr. P did in Junior’s. 

Learn about the Spokane Tribe of Indians: http://www.spokanetribe.com/ 

Author, Sherman Alexie’s website: http://fallsapart.com/ 

Sherman talks about the book: https://www.c-span.org/video/?202083-3/the-absolutely-true-diary-part-time-indian

🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮

Speak

Required Young Adult Novel

by Laurie Halse Anderson

Anderson, L. H. (1999). Speak. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.

Melinda and her best friend, Rachel, attend an end-of-summer party before beginning their freshman year at Merryweather High hoping that it will propel them into popularity. But, it has the opposite effect on Melinda after she calls the cops and they break up the party. Now her friends, including Rachel, ignore her, and everyone else glares at her in the school halls. What they don’t understand is that something terrible happened at the party. Melinda was raped. Unfortunately, instead of telling the police, she flees the party in fear. Now, she can’t bring herself to speak about it to anyone. When her perpetrator traps her in an abandoned janitor’s closet and attempts to have his way with her again, she breaks her silence. It is only then that she can begin to heal.

This National Book Award finalist offers numerous topics of discussion with students including friendship, cliques, loyalty, depression, mentors, art therapy, family relationships, mutism, alcohol use, parties, healing, and rape. Although the description of the forced sexual assault is not graphic, the topic is a mature one. So, this realistic fiction book is most appropriate for a Young Adult audience (13 - 18 yrs). The opening pages of Anderson’s novel reminded me of Divergent because both mentioned factions. The story is told from Melinda’s point of view. Her sarcasm is sad, but hilarious, and her thoughts run very deep, often revealing much more about her than would appear at surface level. I have a number of favorite quotes from this book. “Instead of multicultural, we have no-cultural” (pg 69). I thought this was clever of Melinda to observe and say. “Maybe I’ll be an artist if I grow up” (pg 78). Notice she said “if,” not “when,” which reveals the level of pain she is going through and that she is not sure if she can survive it. “The whole point of not talking about it, of silencing the memory, is to make it go away. It won’t” (pg 82). SO deep and revealing and sad. “He’s not chopping it down. He’s saving it. Those branches were long dead from disease. All plants are like that. By cutting off the damage, you make it possible for the tree to grow again” (pg 187). Revelation! A way to survive and enter back into the land of the living, as well as bring closure to the tree metaphor displayed throughout the novel. Although this was an emotion-packed read, I shed only one tear. I could not prevent it from slipping out as I read the last page.

Book trailer:

Movie trailer:

Watch Laurie Halse Anderson read a response poem called Listen in which only 2 stanzas are written by her. All of the other words are taken from letters she received from readers of Speak:

Go to the RAINN website (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) for information about the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline: https://www.rainn.org/about-national-sexual-assault-telephone-hotline

🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮🕮

Lily and Dunkin

Required Young Adult Novel

by Donna Gephart

Gephart, D. (2016). Lily and Dunkin. New York: Delacorte Press.

Tim McGrother wants to be called Lily Jo and start taking hormone blockers because he identifies as a girl. His best friend, Dare, fully supports him, as do his mother and sister, Sarah. However, his dad is definitely not on board and forbids him to leave the house wearing girl's clothes or makeup. When Tim’s psychologist speaks to his dad alone, though, his attitude suddenly changes. In the meantime, Norbert Dorfman (nicknamed Dunkin by Tim), who just moved to town from New Jersey, is dealing with his own struggles. He’s wrestling with trying to fit in, making friends, learning to play basketball, and deciding whether to keep taking his bipolar medications. Everything comes to a head during a basketball game after he stops taking his medications. A mental hospital helps him to get back on track and to deal with the truth about his father.

In the Author’s Note at the end of this realistic fiction novel, Donna Gephart shares that her desire to write a story about the transgender experience was sparked after viewing a film called I Am a Girl! during Lunafest and that she wanted to write about the bipolar experience after walking through it with her own son. I admire her desire to help others experience empathy and to walk in the shoes of transgender and bipolar youth vicariously by writing this book. However, I think the ending of the story was a bit deus ex machina. It was somewhat implausible for Lily’s father to show up at the dance in an “I love my DAUGHTER!” t-shirt, Vasquez to stop bullying Tim, Dare to reveal that she is a lesbian, and Norbert to go to the dance after being picked up from the mental health hospital, then easily proceed to ask Lily to dance. Nonetheless, there are positive themes in this book worth discovering such as: Children need the unconditional love of their parents; Living to make other people happy is hard; and, A true friend sticks by you when no one else will.

Author, Donna Gephart’s website: http://www.donnagephart.com/

Link to Gender Diversity website: http://www.genderdiversity.org/

Link to National Alliance on Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/

Textbook Reflections 3 (LSSL 5385)

Chapter 11

Realistic Fiction

Realistic fiction is also known as contemporary realistic fiction (CRF) or modern realistic fiction (MRF). To be classified as realistic fiction, the story must take place in a contemporary or modern time setting, be believable, and be consistent with the real world.

The criteria for evaluating realistic fiction includes:

• Everything is consistent with the real world
• Naturally emerging theme(s)
• Topic relates to modern readers

Because realistic fiction must be consistent with the contemporary real world, it leads me to believe that books which could be classified as realistic fiction today will become historical fiction 50 years from now. That's an intriguing thought in my mind. When reading about the criteria for evaluating realistic fiction and how the theme has to appear slowly and consistently, I realized how difficult it must be to be a truly excellent author. I wonder if authors think about these sorts of things while they are writing or if great authors just incorporate these sorts of things into their writing naturally. Because realistic fiction has to relate to modern readers, these stories must take on societal norms. This is an area which likely causes books to be challenged and/or banned since individual members of a society may or may not agree with what has become a societal norm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 12

Nonfiction

According to Dr. Robert Small, nonfiction is defined by what it is not: fiction. It includes narrative, expository, biography, autobiography, and memoir writings.

The criteria for evaluating nonfiction from Nonfiction for Young Adults from Delight to Wisdom by Betty Carter and Richard F. Abrahamson includes:

• Qualified author (check the book cover and author website): excellent examples are Kathleen Krull, James Cross Giblin, Steve Jenkins, Don Brown, Loree Griffin Burns, and Seymour Simon
• Accurate facts (have the kids compare facts in different books)
• Purpose and scope
• Book organization assists in finding answers (ex: table of contents, index, glossary, suggestions for further reading, timeline, picture credits, bibliography)
• Visuals (elaborate on text, break text up, real photos)

In addition, the chapter included 10 lines of questioning by Carter and Abrahamson that are great for asking students about nonfiction.

Nonfiction seems to be very interesting to practically every elementary school child. Kids at this age want to learn about the world that they live in. They are curious about animals, acts of nature, scientific facts, and interesting people. However, it seems like less nonfiction books are checked out by older students, unless the kid is "brainy" or collecting information for a research assignment. This is sad to me. In my library, I want to be sure that I share an excitement for nonfiction. I plan to utilize the criteria for evaluating nonfiction shared in this chapter in selecting current nonfiction books that will appeal to students. The questions that Carter and Abrahamson suggest to ask students are excellent and will help me when collaborating with teachers or when discussing nonfiction books with students. I think it would be interesting to have students write their own nonfiction books, too. They could check out a camera from the library to take pictures, compose their information in a Google doc, and then print it in the library. This might build an excitement for nonfiction.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 13

Fantasy/Science Fiction

Fantasy fiction is a genre which includes books with content that violates the laws of physical reality. Science fiction is a sub-genre of fantasy. There are 2 subcategories within it: soft (more emphasis on story/plot/characters) and hard (more emphasis on science). There are many types of science fiction including apocalyptic, post-apocalyptic, steampunk, cyberpunk, biopunk, other punks (diesel, splatter, elf), dystopia, extrasensory perception, robots/androids/cyborgs/artificial intelligence, space/aliens/extraterrestrials, time travel/parallel universes, virtual reality/gaming, and other miscellaneous types. The criteria for evaluating science fiction are the same as those for evaluating fantasy.

The criteria for evaluating fantasy and science fiction include:

• Characters that behave in consistent and believable ways
• Rules for the fantasy world
• Authors who assist readers in the "willing suspension of disbelief"
• Themes that explore universal truths

Sci Fi on the Fly by Karin Perry is a helpful guide to science fiction for YAs. I learned a lot about science fiction books and categories while watching Dr. Perry's video as she walked through numerous novels. I tend to be drawn more towards apocalyptic, post-apocalyptic, and dystopian types of science fiction. Many of the other types tend to creep me out and cause me to have nightmares, but I may venture more into these categories after hearing Dr. Perry's overviews so that I will be able to better connect books with students who love them. I think that Sci Fi on the Fly would be a great resource to have in the library for guiding students to titles of interest and for helping me to build a well-rounded collection as well. On a sidenote, I wonder how many science fiction books written 50 years ago contained far-out ideas that are now realities in our current technological world.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 14

Graphic Novels

A graphic novel is a form/format, not a genre. They use sequential art to tell a story. The text and illustrations work together to convey the story or information. Graphic novels are not comic collections. Generally, they contain stand-alone stories with plots which are more complex than comic books. The major types of graphic novels are manga, superhero story, personal narrative, and nonfiction. Graphic novels include a cover and inside pages. Each page contains elements including panels, gutters, dialog balloons, thought balloons, captions, and sound effects. They promote literacy by motivating readers, teaching mood/tone, benefiting special needs students, containing all elements of literature, and promoting content area literacy.

Believe it or not, before I started working at a library, I had never heard the term "graphic novel" or "manga" even though I had read Baby Mouse with my daughter. I remember the first time a student came in and asked where the mangas were. I thought it was an author's last name! How embarrassing! I now feel much more equipped to serve students. Without a doubt, the graphic novels in our library have a higher circulation rate than any other form of literature. I see some students 3 times a day because they devour them and read them for enjoyment. Most of the graphic novels in our library are manga series. It was refreshing to see and hear summaries of numerous other graphic novels on the video/slideshow in this chapter. I think it is important to have various types of graphic novels in a collection, just as there are diverse forms of other fiction and nonfiction within a library.

Textbook Reflections 2 (LSSL 5385)

Chapter 7

Literary Elements

The following basic literary elements and devices are important to know in order to critically evaluate YA literature:

LITERARY ELEMENTS:

• Antagonist: character(s) opposing main character
• Character: person/figure/object/animal in a story
• Conflict: protagonist's difficulty (with self, world, others); struggle between opposing forces
• Mood: author's emotional stance used to evoke a response
• Tone: author's attitude towards a character/place/audience
• Plot: storyline; events that make up a story
• Protagonist: central character; sometimes the "hero"
• Setting: time/place/mood in which story takes place
• Themes: complete sentence which conveys the main global message(s)

LITERARY DEVICES:

• Allegory: tangible symbol of a more abstract concept
• Allusion: connected referral to another place/event/literary work
• Archetype: prototype for understanding
• Deus ex machina: implausible conflict resolution which brings a pleasing solution
• Hyperbole: exaggeration for emphasis
• Imagery: using senses to create mental images for the reader
• Metaphor: comparison without using "like" or "as"
• Motif: noticeable and recognizable theme present throughout
• Point of view: perception of the storyteller; the way a story is narrated and by whom
• Simile: comparison using "like," "as," or "such as"
• Symbolism: object/action holding more than literal meaning

Theme is important to understand. When determining the theme(s), ask yourself the following questions. What message is the author trying to convey to readers? Is this message universal? In other words, does it apply outside of the story to the world at large? Remember that theme is a message suggested by the author, it must be stated in a complete sentence, it must be a truism, there can be more than one per literary work, and there must be evidence from the text to support it. A theme is not the main idea, a topic, a summary statement, an old saying such as a moral, or a single word.

Prior to reading this chapter, I knew many of the basic literary elements and devices mainly from helping my children with their English homework. Terms that were either new to me or those that I needed to understand more thoroughly were theme, archetype, deus ex machina, and motif. Because I've been a math teacher in my most recent teaching years, I have not had to utilize these terms in my everyday life. So, the information was helpful. I am sure that when I begin working with students as a librarian that I will utilize these terms as I teach/read with students and collaborate/co-teach with teachers. Out of all of the information shared in this chapter, I learned the most from the video on themes. It was beautiful to see how numerous themes could be extracted from a picture book such as Where the Wild Things Are. It excites me that picture books convey such wonderful messages about the world. I can't wait to guide students in finding them!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 8

Awards

This chapter contained links to 27 different literary awards. Here is a description of each award, when the awards/lists are announced, and a link to access them.

Award/List	Description	When Announced	Where to Find Listing
Printz Award	Book exemplifying literary excellence in YA literature	Annually at ALA Midwinter Meeting	Teen Book Finder Database
YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction	Best nonfiction book published for young adults (12 – 18) between 11/1 and 10/31	Annually at the ALA Youth Media Awards; shortlist named first week of December	Teen Book Finder Database
Great Graphic Novels for Teens	Recommended graphic novels and illustrated nonfiction for young adults (12 – 18) because they have appeal to teen tastes in reading	Annually at ALA Midwinter Meeting	Teen Book Finder Database
Best Fiction for Young Adults	Recommended fiction for YAs (12 – 18) published in the past 16 months	Annually in January	Teen Book Finder Database
Margaret A. Edwards Award	Honors author and their body of work for significant and lasting contribution to YA literature in helping adolescents become self-aware and addresses questions about their role in relationships/society/world	Annually at ALA Midwinter Meeting	Teen Book Finder Database
ALEX Award	Awards 10 books for adults that appeal to YAs (12 – 18)	Announced beginning of February	Teen Book Finder Database
Odyssey Award	Awarded to producer of the best audiobook for children or YA available in English in the US	Annually in January during ALA Midwinter Meeting	Teen Book Finder Database
Morris Award	Honors a book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating new voices in YA literature	Annually at the ALA Youth Media Awards; shortlist named first week of December	Teen Book Finder Database
Outstanding Books for the College Bound	Must offer opportunities to discover new ideas and introduce a variety of academic discipline subjects	List is developed every 5 years	Teen Book Finder Database
Popular Paperbacks	List of books which encourage YAs to read for pleasure; widely available in paperback	Annually by the end of the ALA Midwinter Meeting	Teen Book Finder Database
Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers	List identifying fiction/nonfiction books which encourage teens who dislike reading to read	Annually in January	Teen Book Finder Database
Readers’ Choice	List of books which engage a wide audience of librarians/educators/teens/YA literature enthusiasts	Nominations are posted monthly; final vote in November	Teen Book Finder Database
Teens Top Ten	Books nominated by teens as their favorites	Nominations posted on Thursday of National Library Week; winners announced the week following Teen Read Week	Teen Book Finder Database
Amazing Audiobooks	Notable audio recordings which are significant to YAs from the last 2 years	Annually in January	Teen Book Finder Database
YA Choices	List of new books that encourage adolescents to read	Annually	International Literacy Association
Lone Star Reading List	List of recommended reading for 6th – 8th graders developed by public and school librarians	Annually on December 1	Texas Library Association
TAYSHAS Reading List	High School reading list to motivate YAs (9th – 12th grade) to become lifelong readers and to participate in the Texas YA community of readers	Annually on December 1	Texas Library Association
Maverick Reading List	List of graphic novels which encourage YAs (6th – 12th grade) to explore a variety of GNs	Annually on December 1	Texas Library Association
Edgar Award for Mystery	Most prestigious mystery award	Presented last week of April at the Edgar Awards banquet	The Edgars website
NCTE Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children	Honors a living American poet for aggregate work for children (3 – 13)	Presented in even years at the Children’s Book Awards Luncheon during the NCTE Annual Convention	National Council of Teachers of English website
Orbis Pictus	Recognizes excellence in nonfiction writing for children with purpose of sharing information	Presented annually at the Children’s Book Awards Luncheon during the NCTE Annual Convention	National Council of Teachers of English website
Batchelder Award	Awards most outstanding children’s book originally published in a language other than English and in a country other than the US that has been translated into English for publication in the US	Annually in January during ALA Midwinter Meeting	Association for Library Service to Children
Scott O’Dell Award for Historical Fiction	Award for author of a meritorious historical fiction book for young readers published by US publisher, set in South/Central/North America, and US citizen as author	Usually awarded during annual ALA Conference, but sometimes during Winter Meeting	Scott O’Dell website
Pura Belpré Award	Award for Latino(a) writer and illustrator whose work best portrays/affirms/celebrates the Latino cultural experience for children and youth	Annually in January during ALA Midwinter Meeting	Association for Library Service to Children
Schneider Family Award	Honors and author or illustrator of a book that embodies and artistic expression of the disability experience for children and adolescent audiences	Announed at ALA Youth Media Award Press Conference during Midwinter Meeting	American Library Association
Sibert Award	Award for author and illustrator of the most distinguished informational book published in the US in English	Annually in January during ALA Midwinter Meeting	Association for Library Service to Children
Stonewall Award	Award for exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender experience	Announced in January and presented at the ALA Annual Conference in June or July	GLBTRT

Wow! There are a lot of literary awards/lists. How wonderful! I think the best way for me to learn them all is to read selections from each. I definitely think that reading 10 books which received the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Pura Belpré, and Geisel awards for my LSSL 5360 course helped me to understand and remember those awards. Of course, with the number of awards/lists included here, reading selections from each will take a lot of time...so that is a long-term goal. For now, I will be more attuned to listening for the mention of these awards and will look for them when I receive my School Library Journal and American Libraries Magazine. Once I have a library to oversee of my own, I will know where to go when seeking books to add to our collection. In addition, after reading descriptions of these awards/lists, as well as the most recent recipients of each, I feel more equipped to help students find books of interest within our school library. Now, when a student says they enjoy mysteries, I can pull up the Edgars website and connect them with Edgar Award for Mystery winners.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 9

Poetry

This chapter is chock-full of content. Here is a summary:

• Poetry is a form/format, but not a genre. It can be found in fantasy, historical fiction, realistic fiction, and traditional literature. It is the most neglected form, probably due to fear or negative experiences. There are no rules for writing poetry. Research with elementary students shows that kids prefer narrative poetry; poems where rhyme/rhythm/sound devices are present; poems that are funny, about familiar experiences, or about animals; contemporary poems; and those that contain visual images/imagery. Kids tend to dislike free verse and haiku poems.
• Jean LePere's reasons for sharing poetry:
• For enjoyment
• Provides knowledge of concepts
• Increases vocabulary
• Helps identify with people and situations
• Helps understand feelings
• Grants insight to feelings and universal emotions
• Evaluation criteria for children:
• Needs to be a familiar subject
• Should have accessible imagery (sights, sounds, tastes, smells, textures)
• Rhyme is necessary for the young
• Rhythm used that fits the subject and is natural
• Sound and language play a role (ex: alliteration, consonance, assonance, onomatopoeia, repetition)
• Contains humor
• Has emotional intensity
• Has quality of imagination
• Has substance
• Achieves a purpose

Elements of poetry include rhythm, rhyme, alliteration, assonance, onomatopoeia, repetition, imagery, and shape. There are numerous forms of poetry including lyrics, narrative, ballads, limericks, concrete, and haiku. In addition, numerous poems and poets were shared.

Even as an adult, I prefer the types of poetry that elementary school children enjoy to more abstract poetry. This is probably because the latter was read in my high school and college courses for evaluation, not for enjoyment, as mentioned in the video. I think that the research shared regarding types of poems that children prefer ties into Piaget's intellectual stages. Because younger children are sensorimotor or concrete learners, poems that relate to those stages appeal to them because they can understand the content. When poems do not rhyme, I feel like it is important for them to still have a pleasing rhythm/sound. The poem which Dr. Perry read at the end of the video by Judith Viorst ("Our Mom's a Real Nice Mom But She Can't Cook") did not have a pleasing rhythm/sound to my ear, even though Viorst is an amazing writer. Every 5th line sounded like it ended too abruptly and seemed forced. It might have sounded better if the 5th line rhymed with the 4th, rather than the 1st. When I oversee a library of my own, I think it will be fun to read poetry to and with the children all year long, but especially for fun if they are doing a poetry unit...to give them a breathe some air back into it in case their teacher spends too much time removing the fun from it. :-)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 10

Historical Fiction

Historical fiction is set in the "past," but this is a term which is relative to the age of the reader. So we have to be careful when we classify literature as historical fiction. Historical fiction allows its readers to live vicariously in a past time and place.

The criteria for evaluating historical fiction (from Barbara Z. Kiefer and Cynthia A. Tyson) includes:

• Book tells a good story and effortlessly blends history within
• Contains accurate historical facts
• Values of the time are brought to life
• Consistent with social milieu
• Theme relates to contemporary readers (universal)

I tend to think of historical fiction as being set way in the past. So, it was interesting to think about what the term "past" means to people of various ages. This will be an important aspect to consider when identifying literature as historical fiction with my current students as well as with those I will work with later when I oversee a library. I think that good historical fiction, meaning that it meets the evaluation criteria, is a wonderful way for children, young adults, and adults to learn about history in an enjoyable way. Reading a history book is extremely boring to me, and I have difficulty remembering facts of various time periods unless I study them. However, when I read an accurate historical fiction story, I am able to remember the same facts easily because they connect to an interesting story in my mind. To me, it is kind of like learning geography. If I read about a place, it is very abstract and difficult to understand. But, if I experience the physical location and experience the culture there, it becomes concrete and I am able to understand it differently. As a librarian, I can help teachers and students by sharing historical fiction as they progress through their social studies/history units.