The First Part Last - Novel Review - TWU LS5623-20 - SU2012

Johnson, Angela. The First Part Last. New York, Simon Pulse, 2003. Print. ISBN 978-0-689-84922-0, 132p. Feather was never supposed to be in his life, Nia was. For sixteen year-old Bobby, replacing the love of his life with the child they created together has given him a life he never expected to have. Told from the perspective of both the past and the present, readers journey with Bobby as he learns to be the man he can be, a diamond in the rough polished to shining through a horrible tragedy. Angela Johnson’s Michael L. Printz winning novel draws readers deftly into the life of new teenage father Bobby as he grows to cherish his baby daughter, Feather. Told in beautifully accessible language with a limited but gripping cast of characters the realness of the story shines through as a hook to readers of all ages. Neither too graphic nor too bland the story is perfect for young adults as it handles mature situations in a manner that is both honest and considers the issue from a teenage perspective. “Some kids my age are hanging around this arcade I’ve been wanting to check out, but haven’t had the time, and probably won’t ever have. They lean against the games and each other. I look at them and feel like I’m missing something” (pg. 111). By far the most exceptional element of this wonderful read is the deft way that Johnson makes readers fall in love with her protagonist, Bobby. Though he made a mistake in his past, it was truly a mistake, and one we watched him struggle with. We saw the loving but disjointed relationship of his divorced parentsd as they struggled to come to grips with the pregnancy of Bobby’s girlfriend. We see Bobby through his friends eyes, young men who love him and are still with him no matter what. Bobby makes the book and his love for Feather, his cherubic daughter, and Nia, the girl he will never hold again, keeps us clinging to the last page. In struggling to find a negative element to this novel to give perspective The only issue that came to mind was that the literary element whereby the author shifts back and forth in subsequent chapters from the present to the past might cause some issues for younger or less able readers. Comprehension and story sequence must be built over time as the components of the story from two different time periods unfold. This could cause issues for some readers. It also, though, creates a great opportunity to assist young adult readers in connecting story elements in their mind and in attempting to predict story outcomes. Overall, a fantastic read and highly recommended for most YA readers! Johnson, Angela. The First Part Last. New York, Simon Pulse, 2003. Print.

How I Live Now - Novel Review - TWU LS5623-20-Sum2012

Novel Review - how I live now Rosoff, Meg. How I Live Now. New York, House Digital, Inc., 2004. Digital. ISBN 0141318015, eISBN 0375890548. 192p. Moving to live with her cousins in England couldn’t be any worse than having to play nice with her father’s new family-to-be. Yet Daisy is surprised by how well she fits into her odd grouping of new family members. As war looms she draws closer to this group of cousins. While her aunt becomes trapped in another part of the country, violence arrives at the farm. A taboo love blooms even as the family members are torn apart by the conflict. It will take all of Daisy’s emotional, physical and mental power to survive the fight that follows to reunite with her family of the heart. As a winner of the Guardian Award, the Whitbread Children’s Book of the Year Award and the coveted Michael L. Printz Award of 2004, much has been written and said about how I live now. The excitement brewing about this book was rewarded in its reading with both amazing and troubling aspects. The initial chapters were rather jarring and difficult to read. The style of stream-of-consciousness first person writing that hinges on excessively long compound sentences was difficult to fall into. I found myself struggling to be enveloped in the story-line as I was constantly trying to edit sentences in my mind. I understand the writer’s technique as a means of authenticating the teenage voice of daisy, the protagonist. Still, it made the book much more difficult to read. I would most certainly not choose this book for struggling or second language readers as trying to follow the story line would be very hard for them. An additional issue surfaced with the incestuous relationship of Daisy and her cousin Edmund. While the author worked to show that the relationship was non-traditional it is still the significant romantic enouncter of the book, and one which the entire story and its aftermath are predicated on. “The real truth is that the war didn’t have much yto do with it except that it provided a perfect limbo in which tewo people who were too young and too related could start kissing without anything or anyone making us stop…There was nowhere to go and nothing to do that would remind us that this sort of thing didn't happen in the Real World” (pg. 50). As an adult reader I can see where some concern might arise over this relationship being glamorized. Also of concern for parents might be Daisy’s devotion to an anorexic lifestyle which is only mitigated by the demands of fleeing from a war zone. These three elements can make the book a difficult read, or a difficult choice for adults to give to young people. As always, adults should thoroughly preview texts they that might be of concern before giving them to their children. Ensure the child is mature enough to handle the subject matter. The story line itself, the adventure that develops when the children flee the farm in the English countryside and fall in with various groups controlled by or running from the occupying forces, is an amazing tale. Determination, wits, special abilities and love and caring all surface as we follow Daisy and her younger cousin, Piper, especially. They grow into their abilities and Daisy begins to see how resilient she is when she takes on the responsibility of keeping Piper safe and reuniting the family. The story elements are satisfying enough to make this a very good read, however adults should again preview the text to ensure their young readers are mature enough and prepared for the violence, incest and adult issues that are infused through Rosoff’s award-winning story. Rosoff, Meg. How I Live Now. New York, Random House Digital, Inc., 2004. Digital.

Bridge to Terabithia-Novel Review-TWU LS5623-20-SU2012

Paterson, Katherine. Bridge to Terabithia. Rev. ed. New York: Harper Trophy, 2003. Print. ISBN 0690046359. 163p. Jess Aarons’ dreams of being the fastest boy in his grade are shattered the first day of school when he is beaten by the new girl in town, Leslie. In quick time, however, experience bonds them into fast friends. As Jess’ neighbor Leslie uses her imagination to open Jess’ mind to an amazing land of their own creation, Terabithia. When tragedy strikes, however, Jess is left to struggle with the understanding that relationships don’t last forever, and we learn to grow, or we lose ourselves. This award winning piece of young adult literature is a staple of English courses, surviving numerous challenges over the course of its thirty-plus years in circulation. Listed as one of the ALA’s 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books complaints have been waged against the book for possible occult references, the inclusion of death in the story line, and a number of other issues (Top 100). Still, the popularity of the story as a great piece of YA literature keeps it popular. Central to the story is the growth of Jess Aarons from a somewhat shy, introverted and self-limiting young man to one who grows to trust his own imagination, creativity, courage and selflessness. Seeking only to make a name for himself through his running, with Leslie’s help and the experiences she gives him he begins to challenge what he knows and believes of others, and himself. In their magical land of Terabithia which Leslie originates and is the driving force for, Jess begins to see possibilities for himself and even begins to create the world along with her. Previously hiding his artwork, one of his true talents, he grows in his courage to share it and the value he places on it himself. Both Jess and Leslie are the crowning jewels of the book. Their frankness, their honest friendship and the challenges that they face and master together are what make this work such a model for stories of growth, development and finding faith in oneself that are such a staple of young adult literature. Please be aware that the remainder of the review contains spoilers. Do not read further if you wish to avoid pivotal information about the climax of the book. In considering possible faults for this novel the truthfulness and real-to-life nature of the children’s experiences are somewhat tarnished by the complete neglect of dealing with guilt Jess would feel at being away with his choir teacher at the time of Leslie’s death. This element of Jess’ confrontation with the loss of his friend is essentially glossed over and, especially for modern readers, an expression of that guilt seems necessary. While we see Jess grow after losing Leslie, as embodied by his bringing of his little sister into Terabithia, we see little to no crisis or self-doubt related to Jess being with the woman he has a crush on at the moment Leslie needs him most. We see the reality of teenage emotions related to the feeling of closeness to and “owning” a friend more so even than her family in this passage: “That meant Leslie was gone. Turned to ashes…How could they dare? Leslie belonged to him. More to him than anyone in the world. No one had even asked him. No one had even told him” (pg. 145)” The realness of this passage as a common young adult response to a loss like this is so honest. Yet I felt myself constantly searching for the struggle of guilt that would naturally come with the scenario of Leslie’s death that Paterson portrays in the novel. Overall however the popularity of the book shows the extent to which young adult readers find commonality between themselves and the young protagonists of the book. Growth, a true friendship, memorable times and new beginnings keep this book in print and in the hands of readers year after year. Paterson, Katherine. Bridge to Terabithia. Rev. ed. New York: Harper Trophy, 2003. Print. "Top 100 Banned/Challenged Books: 2000-2009." American Library Association. American Library Association, 2012. Web. 20 June 2012. .

Novel Review - A Day No Pigs Would Die-TWU LS5623-Su2012

Novel Review - A Day No Pigs Would Die Peck, Robert N. A Day No Pigs Would Die. New York: Laurel-Leaf, 2000. Print. ISBN 978-0-394-48235-4 In a moment of fear-induced bravery Rob saves the life of a neighbor’s cow and her unborn calf. The sweet white piglet he is given as a gift of gratitude becomes his friend, confidant and pride and joy as Rob grows to manhood through the struggles of farm living. As the son of a pig slaughterer Rob is no stranger to hard times but the true test of his courage comes when becoming a man conflicts with the desires of his heart. As a work of classical young adult literature A Day No Pigs Would Die is considered a model of the coming-of-age story. Both joy and sorrow are woven through its pages as the author shares moments of his life growing up hard on a 5 acre Vermont family farm. By its very nature this work may connect more with some young readers than others as urban children may find the tale of growing up a farmer foreign to their understanding. Additionally certain elements of the language specific to both the Vermont country vernacular as well as farm life can make more reticent readers pause. “With a handturn, papa sunk holes into the fresh planks at both ends, and into the old wood beyond. In each hole he used a mallet to pound in a trunnel peg of white oak that he had soaking in linseed oil. And the sty was done” (pg. 39) Struggling readers and readers whose native language is not English may find drawing meaning from the context more difficult, however this book provides all of the knowledge necessary for understanding and enjoyment to the capable young adult reader. The story of Rob and his sweet pig Pinky still has the power to draw readers in, though, as the care and love given to and received from an animal can transcend urban and rural boundaries. This story line, more than those related to farm life and rural education, specifically makes this book still viable for most young adult readers. That being said the violence of Rob’s difficult choice and the loss of his father as well as the abruptness of the conclusion can be somewhat jarring. Reality sets in quickly for readers of this book and the subtleness of the relationship of Rob and his father may be less tangible than modern readers are accustomed to. This book has much to offer as a classic description of Vermont farm life in the 1930’s and still holds value for modern readers, even if there are moments that may be painful or slightly difficult to grasp. In many ways the story is timeless and the boy’s love for both his family and his pig still communicate even in the 21st century.

American Born Chinese - Book Review - TWU LS5603 - Spring 2012

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Yang, Gene Luen. 2006. AMERICAN BORN CHINESE. Color by Lark Pien. New York: First Second. ISBN 1596431520 2. PLOT SUMMARY Tales of the Monkey King, an American-Born Chinese (ABC) named Jin Wang and the ultimate Anglo-American boy Danny and his stereotypical Chinese cousin Chin-Kee are the pillars this award winning graphic novel rest upon. Upon beginning this graphic novel the reader is introduced to what they come to know as a traditional tale of the Monkey King. When he is shunned at a party of the heavens for being a monkey, he pushes himself to learn more disciplines of Kung Fu in order to change himself as he wills it. With these powers his story line continues as he exacts revenge on those that mocked him, and finally confronts the god of his existence, who punishes him for his crimes by trapping him under a mountain of magically sealed rock. Entertaining as this story is, it is the elements related to Jin Wang that are the most compelling. As he struggles to find his identity in the country of his birth he calls into question his race, his language, the barbaric treatment of other children, and whether one should change themselves for love. It is Jin’s story that keeps the reader connected. The introduction of Danny’s storyline might seem a bit confusing as we are shown how his sometimes awful Chinese cousin Chin-Kee seems to come in and ruin his perfectly scripted white American teen life. It is only later that we find out all three of these stories actually center around Jin, as Danny is revealed to be Jin, changed into his idealized American self. Chin-Kee is actually the Monkey King, long since made aware of the need to accept and love one’s own identity. In the end the reader is left hopeful that Jin will be able to accept and love himself as an American Born Chinese, and that others can too. 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS Jin is the perfect teen protagonist as he encounters nearly every emotion young people that age are apt to go through. He fights to belong, chooses to change himself to fit in better, hurts others to protect himself, swoons over the opposite sex, feels jealousy and anger and struggles with simply knowing who he is. He is very compelling and rings absolutely true to readers. If the characters of Danny and Chin-Kee seem a bit false and one dimensional, it is because they are. The reader should know that something isn’t quite right here, and the reveal at the end makes that unease all the more satisfying. We are told that these people were not who they were supposed to be, and told why. The entire theme of finding ones identity and learning to love and accept yourself are bound up in the development of the characters and how they all relate to Jin. After revealing himself to be Chin-Kee in his effort to help Jin find his true identity and stop being the transformed version of Danny he becomes, the Monkey King speaks to us. We are left with these parting words in a simply drawn panel focusing only on the Monkey King’s face. “You know, Jin. I would have saved myself five hundreds years’ imprisonment beneath a mountain of rock had I only realized how good it is to be a monkey.” Yang’s illustrations allow the setting to come to life. The drawings of most locations are non-descript allowing the high school, the homes and the outdoor scenes to take place almost anywhere in America. The focus on the drawings remains steadfastly on the characters. Even the elements of the story which appear to occur in China, those related to the early adventures and imprisonment of the monkey king, are still relatively undetailed allowing the reader to again transfer those graphic experiences in their mind’s eye to their own experiences. The overall style of the graphic novel in words and images is that of simplicity, clearness and a focus on the people involved. The transformations they take, as symbolized by the transformers the young boys have as they begin their journeys, are what the novel is about. 4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S) THE NEW YORK TIMES: ““[W]ith Chin-Kee’s striking embodiment of ethnic confusion and self-betrayal, Gene Luen Yang has created that rare article: a youthful tale with something new to say about American youth..” PUBLISHERS’ WEEKLY REVIEW: “This much-anticipated, affecting store about growing up different is more than just the story of a Chinese-American childhood: it's a fable for every kid born into a body and a life they wished they could escape. The fable is filtered through some very specific cultural icons: the much-beloved Monkey King, a figure familiar to Chinese kids the world over, and a buck-toothed amalgamation of racist stereotypes named Chin-Kee. Jin's hopes and humiliations might be mirrored in Chin-Kee's destructive glee or the Monkey King's struggles to come to terms with himself, but each character's expressions and actions are always perfectly familiar. True to its origin as a Web comic, this story's clear, concise lines and expert coloring are deceptively simple yet expressive.” 5. CONNECTIONS 2006 National Book Awards Finalist *Students could use this graphic novel as a jumping off point into a study of prejudices and stereotyping in the media. Students could collect physical and digital examples where stereotyping is present in the media and create a critical analysis as to why advertisers and others feel the necessity to use stereotypes. *Students could be asked to research and locate, with the help of their teacher and librarian other books that consider identity and finding one’s true self. They can then read this additional report and create a comparison and contrast presentation over the two novels.. *Other graphic novels and comic collections for YA readers by Gene Luen Yang: Yang, Gene Luen. ANIMAL CRACKERS. ISBN-10: 1593621833 Yang, Gene Luen. THE ETERNAL SMILE. ISBN-10: 1596431563

Ship Breaker - Book Review - TWU LS5603 - Spring 2012

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Bacigalupi, Paolo. 2010. SHIP BREAKER. New York: Little Brown and Company. ISBN 9780316056212 2. PLOT SUMMARY Nailer thought the greatest “lucky strike” he might ever get in his life would be to stay small enough to work light crew for a few more years. Luckily for him a lack of food and the hard life that working salvage entailed were doing their job to keep him small and able to climb through the rusty hulks of the great ships of the past. For Nailer, a good day was making quota, spending time with his crew and staying away from his drug and alcohol enraged father. All of that changed, though, when a city-killer storm blew into town bringing a gorgeous, young, rich girl whose troubles captured him just as much as her deep eyes and playful smile. “If he was honest with himself Nailer could admit he had no idea what he was doing. He was making it up as he went along, some new version of the future, and all he really knew was that this strange swank girl needed to be a part of it.” As the trouble continues to brew among both the wealthiest of the wealthy merchants and the lowest of the low scrap-workers, Nailer and Nita, Lucky Boy and Lucky Girl, have to trust that there luck will continue to hold. 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS As family become enemies, friends become family, and the truth about the ties that bind are slowly revealed in this engaging and at times harrowing novel by Paolo Bacigalupi. Set in a future where the great cities of the past are devastated by natural disasters grown too large to ever prepare for, where trade routes have shifted to now race over the melted North Pole, and where the barter system has re-emerged for those not swank enough to hold good Chinese Red cash, the tale seems all too likely to happen. The protagonist of the tale is utterly relatable to teen readers as a young man working as an adult, struggling to care for himself in a time when the remaining parent he has is more likely to hurt him than help him. He finds solace in the other members of his light salvage crew, until he comes face to face with how need and greed can make one turn on even a blood oath. When his chance comes to let greed overshadow choosing to protect the life of another, Nailer chooses life. The reoccurring theme in the Ship Breaker is really two sides of the same coin. First, family is a choice, not something based on biology alone, and one must choose to care and support those we love most deeply. The other side of this coin is that even if one’s own nature may reveal tendencies to act or think wrongly, we can also choose to overcome our baser nature. The world Bacigalupi reveals in his National Book Award Finalist tale is rich in texture and character nuances that ask the reader to evaluate people on a multitude of levels, not simply what is on the surface. Swanks, ship breakers and salvage yard rats as well as genetic half-breeds who also reveal their ability to choose their destiny bring the novel to life. As the world of a post natural apocalypse Earth is traversed by clippers of remarkable technology and grace, the day to day life of the struggling ship breaker is disheartening. Yet it also reveals the ability of young people to rise above trials, band together and fight for their own survival. The grittiness of the world the novel is set in is paired with a flowing narration that keeps readers engaged. The details of sights, smells, sounds and feelings of both pain and pleasure are tangible and entrancing, and they are told with particular significance from the perspective of the teenagers at the heart of the story. There is a reason why this book is an award winner! 4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S) PATRICK NESS -THE GUARDIAN: “It's a taut, disciplined novel, moving with tremendous coiled energy and urgency. I found it a tad colourless in places, but Nailer is a fine hero, complicated and questioning, always wondering whether he's doomed to inherit his father's failings or whether he can make his own destiny.” KIRKUS REVIEWS: “As Nailer experiences brutal betrayals, he relies on his wits and learns the people worth calling family are the ones who “[cover] your back.... Everything else [is] just so much smoke and lies.” In Bacigalupi’s defiled, depressing landscape populated by mercenary humans and mechanical dog-men, Nailer’s loyalty offers hope.” 5. CONNECTIONS 2010 National Book Award Finalist 2011 Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature *Students could research one element of climate change discussed in the book such as growing storms, loss of the polar caps, coastal city loss, etc. Then students could embed quotes from the novel into presentations on their chosen climate change subject. *Students could embed this book in a design course where they attempted to redesign the ships that Nailer and his crew salvage into more environmentally friendly ships. This project could be as simple or as advanced as student skill dictates. It could also incorporate simple digital drafting programs or even CAD drafting as well. *Other books for high school readers about a post-apocalyptic world: Aretha, David. MEMORY BOY. ISBN-10: 0060288116 Aguirre, Ann. ENCLAVE. ISBN-10: 0312650086

The Graveyard Book - Book Review - TWU LS5603-Spring 2012

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Gaiman, Neil. 2008. THE GRAVEYARD BOOK. With illustrations by Dave McKean New York: Harper Collins Children’s Books. ISBN 9780060530921 2. PLOT SUMMARY When a frightening killer ends the lives of his parents and older sister, a young boy finds himself cared for and hidden by the spirits of a local graveyard. Named Nobody Owens by his adoptive ghost parents Bod, as he comes to be called, learns the skills of the graveyard from his guardian, Silas. As one who walks between the worlds Silas is able to bring food to Bod and often goes on extended leaves from the graveyard. It is not until later that Bod learns the truth of these trips. Silas and others who can cross between the worlds have been working to protect him from the man who originally killed his family and who seeks even now, with his brethren, to finish the job he began years earlier. It takes not only the love and support of his ghostly family, but also the courage, determination and skill of Bod himself to end the deadly game those chasing him are playing. 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS The truest telling element of a Young Adult fantasy novel is the protagonist and the ability of young readers to make a connection to them. Nobody Owens most certainly fits the bill. As is often felt by many teenagers Bod walks the line between two worlds, never fully fitting in either. Those once his friends as a child drift away as he ages, and he must continually seek his own identity in a place that is not made for him. While the love and support he receives from his graveyard family are helpful, he must learn to survive on his own. Only by confronting his fears and the dangers of the world is Bod ever truly free to live. This plot and the nuances of Bod’s character will ring very true for young adult readers. Though set in the unlikely location of a somewhat run-down graveyard, the believability of the inhabitants and the daily “life” they engage in as they while away the days after their deaths are both evocative and engaging. Both a maturation story and a fight against evil where only one can prevail, the plot elements are tested and true for Fantasy and are a large part of why Gaiman’s book is a Newbury medal winner. This struggle against those wishing to end his life is evident from early in the book, yet as Bod grows older, the concern crystalizes in his mind. “The only way into the northwest part of the graveyard was through the Egyptian Walk. And to get there he would have to go past the little man with the black silk rope. A man who was looking for him, and who wanted him dead…” Yet it is Bod’s resilience and his belief in himself that wins through in the end. Bod grows to recognize his skills and trust that he will be able to do the right thing. “He was Nobody Owens, he told himself. He was a part of the graveyard. He would be fine.” This growing belief in his own abilities also mirrors the transition teenagers make as they move from reliance to self-reliance. The mists of the graveyard, the feel of the terrain and the visions of his home in both daylight and moonlight help to bring this book and Nobody’s situation to life. As the themes of maturation and the struggle against wrongdoers are developed, it is the characters that live in the graveyard and the graveyard itself, that help fully develop the reader’s connection to Bod and his predicament. Gaiman does a compelling job of bringing this world to life, and readers can accept it, connect with it and become engrossed. 4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S) THE NEW YORK TIMES: ““The Graveyard Book,” by turns exciting and witty, sinister and tender, shows Gaiman at the top of his form.” KIRKUS REVIEWS: “Wistful, witty, wise—and creepy. Gaiman’s riff on Kipling’s Mowgli stories never falters, from the truly spine-tingling opening, in which a toddler accidentally escapes his family’s murderer, to the melancholy, life-affirming ending…Closer in tone to American Gods than to Coraline, but permeated with Bod’s innocence, this needs to be read by anyone who is or has ever been a child.” 5. CONNECTIONS 2009 Newbury Medal Winner *Students could combine the reading of this book with their own charcoal drawings of scenes from the story. By extension they could choose to work in other mediums and compare and contrast how their own representations might affect the interpretation of the story when compared to McKean’s original black and white illustrations. *Students could engage in a local history project where they visit a graveyard with older graves, if possible. Students can learn to do rubbings and work with local historians and genealogists to research the lives of the individuals they find rubbings for. Additional pre-work by the teacher to recommend gravestones where local history and connections are likely to appear would support this connection. *Other books for YA readers with a teenage protagonist and a melancholy setting: Gaiman, Neil. CORALINE. ISBN-10: 0380807343 Gaiman, Neil. MIRRORMASK. ISBN-10: 0060821094