Enchanted

Bibliography

Kontis, Alethea. Enchanted. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012. Print.

Nilsen, Allen Pace, James Blasingame, Kenneth L. Donelson, and Don L. Nilsen. Literature for Today's Young Adults. 9th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2013. Print.

Summary

Sunday is one of the Woodcutter Sisters named for each day of the week. Each sibling has a magical power and what Sunday writes comes true. While writing one day, Sunday meets and becomes friends with an enchanted frog. Their feelings for each other become close enough that Sunday kisses the frog which transforms him back into a man. Unfortunately, this young man is part of a family that has been at odds with her family for a long time. Will she learn to love the man who was her dear friend?

Analysis

“Magic and monsters, all before breakfast. Sunday wouldn’t have it any other way” (Kontis 187).

Enchanted is a fun read full of satire and sarcasm. There are surprises sprinkled throughout as a family story slowly turns out to be a familiar fairy tale such as Jack and the Beanstalk or The Golden Goose.

Like many other YA novels, Enchanted is blurred between genres. It mostly falls in the fairy tale category, but could also fall under humor, romance, or even adventure. It is not told in the first person. However, it does have traditional YA traits such as doubt about his and her strength, personal growth throughout the story, a mean mother and loving father. This book also features a traditional fairy tale happy ending.

The writing is verbose. This novel could have been told in about half of the words. Although, the story may be a bit meandering, it may be to layer in the other fairy tales and magic.

Overall, I would recommend this book to a female YA reader because it has a clever combination of familiar fairy tales, romance, and light humor. It would be an ideal read for the summer or over a weekend.

We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball

Bibliography

42: The Jackie Robinson Story. Dir. Brian Helgeland. 2013. Warner Bros., Legendary Pictures, 2013. Film.

Nelson, Kadir. We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. New York, NY: Jump at the Sun/Hyperion Books for Children, 2008. Print.

Nilsen, Allen Pace, James Blasingame, Kenneth L. Donelson, and Don L. Nilsen. Literature for Today's Young Adults. 9th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2013. Print.

Summary

This nonfiction book is written to tell the story of Negro League baseball, the time during segregation when African-American baseball players had their own league. It is a passionate book written in nine innings (chapters) with full page illustrations. We Are the Ship describes the formation of the league, travel conditions, personalities and strengths of the players, and the ultimate acceptance of African-American players into the major leagues. The full page pictures in the book convey the emotion of the time, the strength of the players, and the excitement of the games.

Analysis

“We are the ship; all else the sea.”—Rube Foster, founder of the Negro National League

Nelson shows the “strength and resilience of the human spirit” through Negro League Baseball (81).  We Are the Ship features the unsung heroes who had a deep love of the game which helped them to overcome serious obstacles brought on by segregation.

The chapters are organized into 9 innings with an extra inning for follow-up notes. The book opens with gripping quotes from the players about the game. It is written in a conversational tone, as if one of the old-timers is sitting in front of the reader telling a story about how it was.

Nelson puts a face on segregation and racial discrimination in the sports leagues during segregation. The phrase “It was downright shameful” was used multiple times in describing the treatment of African-Americans for the duration of the league. He also goes into the politics of money and the “us versus them” mentality in sportsmanship with the non-negro leagues. However, it all comes back to the camaraderie of the players and their supreme love of the game.

           

This nonfiction book is very factual, thorough, and well rounded. It features a historical perspective of baseball in general while also layering in how the Negro League was unique. For example, Nelson describes that this was before all the safety equipment to protect their heads from the ball and shins from the shoe spikes. He also described the day-to-day living conditions of eating and housing between games, and working conditions in a segregated nation. An interesting addition is a chapter on Latin America where men from the Negro Leagues would play in the off season. Nelson also provides a list of Negro Major Leaguers, Hall of Famers, an authors note, bibliography, filmography, and endnotes.

           

The illustrations support the facts by featuring the key players and help the reader visualize all the different fields where the players competed. There are many names and places in the book, so having a visual of the person helps to make an emotional connection with the players.

           

Nelson goes into great detail about the personalities of the players and strife of having to compete on a secondary level as a Negro ball player. Nelson does a great job of presenting both the good and the bad personalities of the men in the League. He also mentions previous jobs they had had before becoming involved in baseball. For example, some men were working menial jobs and others were college educated. He presents the whole spectrum in an unbiased way.

           

One weakness is the density of the text. While this book is at the reading level of the intended audience, Nelson uses large, full pages of small text throughout the book. This would probably not be very engaging for a younger (third to fifth grade) audience. However, this may have been a concession to maintain the style of the book. The illustrations take as much of the focus as the text. A compromise would be to add focus boxes to help highlight the main themes and people in each chapter.

           

Overall, I would recommend this book to a young YA reader because it will leave a mark on their impression of the beginnings of baseball in the United States, the impact of segregation for a large part of the population, and ultimately, the love for a game.

           

As a side note, although this book is written for a YA audience, parents might be interested in a similar story in the Baseball movie 42: The Jackie Robinson Story (rated PG-13). Jackie Robinson was the first African-American baseball player in the major leagues and paved the way for all later players. We Are the Ship features a full chapter on Jackie Robinson.

Between Shades of Gray

Bibliography

Sepetys, Ruta. Between Shades of Gray. New York, NY: Philomel Books, 2011. Print.

Nilsen, Allen Pace, James Blasingame, Kenneth L. Donelson, and Don L. Nilsen. Literature for   

       Today's Young Adults. 9th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2013. Print.

Summary

In 1941, Lina, fifteen, and her family are forcefully taken from Lithuania as part of Stalin’s “intellectual cleansing” program. She, her mother, and brother are shipped via cattle cars and trucks for weeks before they are imprisoned in multiple Soviet labor camps in inhospitable places such as Siberia and the North Pole. Lina uses hope, her family, and her drawings, to attempt to survive the 6500 mile journey and life in labor camps.

 

Analysis

“Was it harder to die, or harder to be the one who survived?” (Sepetys 319). 

Between Shades of Gray allows the reader to immerse themselves as a prisoner of war in Stalin-era labor camps. The book is “steeped in time and place” and weaves in national pride, religion, and customs, including some of the political issues that led to Lina’s family being persecuted and labeled as criminals (Nilsen, et al. 258). There is a constant sense of danger, confusion, mystery, and even adventure. The characters in this book constantly move between total despair and hope, deep love and mindless hatred, and compassion and cruelty from the guards.  

Unlike many YA novels, the teen protagonist in Between Shades of Gray is not going through her challenges alone. Lina is with her family for the majority of the novel. The reader is witness to their suffering as well as the effect on Lina. Lina is mature and immature at different points. As things get worse, she progressively loses any remaining childhood and becomes a responsible adult trying to survive and protect her family. She has to make a choice to give up or fight for her life. She deals with her new reality by accepting the challenge of having to keep her brother alive by all means. 

Sepetys creates a believable 15-year-old character. She keeps sane by expressing herself and reflecting on her situation through her drawings. It is very easy to relate to Lina’s thoughts throughout her ordeal. Sepetys has a clever writing style, interlacing flashbacks of Lina’s previous privileged life with her current, stark situation. 

To Sepetys credit, several of the guards are also presented as three-dimensional characters. They are experiencing confusion and inner turmoil at having to enforce the brutal, and often inhumane, treatment on the prisoners that is demanded of them. Some of them are prisoners in their own right, just better fed.

Between Shades of Gray would be a good novel for introducing a discussion about Stalin, Communism, and the “intellectual cleansing” that claimed nearly 1/3 of the populations of Estonia, Bulgaria, and Lithuania. Lina’s family was sent to the labor camps and branded a thief and traitor because her father was the Provost at the University and an educated man. Students today could discuss what effect a political move like this would effect them and their family. Additionally, students could discuss current countries that do not allow freedom of speech such as enforcing a tight information barrier to the Internet and media, like in North Korea.

There is much action in the book as Lina and her family try to survive each day. At times, the action seems too thick as there is constant movement from some event to the next. There author needed to better balance mundane existence in a prison camp with more dramatic moments. 

Overall, I would recommend this book to a male or female YA reader because of the historical significance of this novel. Few books capture the history of a prisoner during Stalin’s genocide of the Baltic people. Sepetys’ writing makes this very accessible to a teen audience. 

Take Me to the River

Bibliography

Hobbs, Will. Take Me to the River. New York, NY: Harper, 2011. Print.

Nilsen, Allen Pace, James Blasingame, Kenneth L. Donelson, and Don L. Nilsen. Literature for Today's Young Adults. 9th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2013. Print.

Summary

Two cousins, Rio, 15, and Dylan, 14, attempt to whitewater raft the 116 miles of the Lower Canyons of the Rio Grande River for ten days on their own. In addition to trying to survive in this harsh climate, they encounter a tropical storm possibly heading their way and a murdering kidnapper on the loose somewhere in their vicinity with both the Mexican and American authorities on the hunt. Will they complete their journey alive?

Analysis           

Take Me to the River is a good adventure novel in that the “pace moved faster and faster to speed us into the tale” (Nilsen, et al. 227). There is much anticipation throughout the book as the boys battle for survival in the harsh, remote land and with two perceived threats looming – an incoming tropical storm and a fugitive on the loose. The reader can live vicariously through the boys as they travel down the Rio Grande like modern day Huck Finns.

Hobbs does a good job of quickly setting up major decisions that create tension for the main characters. Dylan constantly doubts himself as he is frequently confronted with having to take greater risks and go further outside his comfort zone as the trip progresses. For example, Dylan thinks to himself “You play it safe, you’ll disappoint your cousin and yourself. You’ll have to live with that.” He then says “I’m in. I’m going all the way, till the wheels fall off and burn” (Hobbs 77). This inner turmoil keeps his character believable and likeable. It also provides a reflection point for the reader to ask “what would I do in this situation?” Over time Dylan gains more confidence in his capabilities.

Hobbs provides an accurate picture of the day-to-day life on the border of Mexico and United States and how it has changed after the events of 9-11. He goes into detail about the trade relations and the political situation for people in this remote area including jobs and work situations, smuggling and trading of goods, illegal aliens, and the border patrol. Additionally, he gives a fairly detailed history lesson on the city of Boquillas, Mexico to personify the struggles of many remote border towns. 

Although the focus of an adventure book shouldn’t be the setting (Nilsen, et al. 228), the descriptive writing for this novel could have been stronger. Namely, many vocabulary terms and geological descriptions weren’t fully explained. An illustration would have been helpful to set the scene or provide more thorough descriptions than the cursory writing. The reader is left with a sense of the remoteness and poverty in the area, but often wouldn’t know what a Cat’s Claw Tree looks like or an octocillo. Hobbs also uses rafting terms that the average youth may not know. This takes the reader out of the rhythm of the book.  A short glossary in the back to describe some of the flora and fauna or what a “Canadian Stroke” is would be helpful. I found myself going to the Internet to help visualize what he was trying to describe.

Another weak piece of writing is in the characterization of the “bad guy.” He is very flat and not realistic. For example, he calls himself a gangster and is constantly waving his gun around. This character is too stereotypical to believe he is a serious cartel member.

           

Overall, I would recommend this book to a male YA reader because of the connection to nature, stirring adventure plot, and exposure to life on the Mexican-American border.

Across the Universe

Bibliography

Revis, Beth. Across the Universe. New York, NY: Razorbill, 2011. Print.

Nilsen, Allen Pace, James Blasingame, Kenneth L. Donelson, and Don L. Nilsen. Literature for Today's Young Adults. 9th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2013. Print.

Summary

Amy, 16, and her parents are three of 100 people who have been cryogenically frozen for the 300-year trip to a new planet, Centauri-Earth. However, she is mysteriously unplugged 50 years before the scheduled landing, possibly by someone trying to murder the cryogenically frozen “cargo.” Amy must make sense of the new world she has awoken into onboard the Godspeed. At first Godspeed appears to be a harmonious Utopia, and a perfect society, but it turns out to be a dystopia full of secrets and lies run by a tyrannical leader, Eldest. Amy meets another teen, Elder, who is slated to be the next ruler, and together they try to untangle reality from appearances. Will they ever escape the cold metal walls of the ship and arrive on the new planet?

Analysis

Across the Universe has multiple layers of a true science fiction novel in that it involves time and space travel but also mad scientists, and a touch of cyberpunk. Revis describes the technology that runs the multi-thousand person ship and she also methodically unfolds the layers of genetic engineering that is taking place on the ship in preparation for colonization of the new planet. She also explores the sociological and environmental concerns of a planned society that has been operating inside the ship for hundreds of years. The workers are described as “empty” but compliant (Revis 321). This book also lists the causes of discord as: differences, lack of a strong leader, and individual thought. This would be a good discussion point for a teen audience.

Additionally, Revis throws in a cyberpunk thread in the use of “technology and [Eldest’s] power of communication as it is used to manipulate people” (Nilsen, et al. 177). This theme can be juxtaposed with current events in Istanbul and Egypt where people are protesting because of their perceived lack of influence in their government.

The two teen protagonists, Elder and Amy, are exploring the dualities of good versus evil, reality versus appearance, and order versus anarchy (Nilsen, et al. 144). Eldest states multiple times that “this ship is built on secrets; it runs on secrets” (Revis 314). Elder must decide if secrets are a necessary evil but has to contend with whether or not he will follow the status-quo as leader.

Revis has designed the book to move between the thoughts of Amy and Elder and has a strong command of youth voice from the first page of the book. It is unique to have two voices instead of only one first person narrative, and it is a major strength of the book. However, once Revis begins moving more quickly back and forth between the thoughts of Amy and Elder, the voice becomes muted because both characters are too similar. 

The characters fall into traditional YA roles. Elder wants more information and responsibility and resents the established structure. Additionally, he is constantly questioning himself as he grows into his position as leader. He is also a foil to Eldest in that Elder self proclaims that he likes “a little chaos” (Revis 42) and “needs a little disturbance” (313) in opposition to Eldest who likes things quiet and controlled. Many teenagers can relate to this. Amy is wild and rebellious because she is different than the other people who were born on the ship and is having to come to terms with how and if she wants to fit in. She and Elder make a good team as they investigate who might be trying to kill people who have been cryogenically frozen.

Amy and Elder together provide emotional and physical tension as they struggle with feelings of love and lust. Of note: the book contains some description of nudity and sexual thoughts by Elder. The author also creates a time termed “The Season” where people are drawn to mate. The scenes say that people are having sex, but do not describe any sex acts. This could be a point of contention for some parents and/or teachers.

          

Overall, I would recommend this book to a male or female YA reader because of the strong science fiction themes, unique narration style, and plot full of mystery and adventure.

Words in the Dust

Bibliography

Reedy, Trent. Words in the Dust. New York, NY: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2011. Print.

Nilsen, Allen Pace, James Blasingame, Kenneth L. Donelson, and Don L. Nilsen. Literature for Today's Young Adults. 9th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2013. Print.

Summary

Zulaikha, thirteen, is growing up in a medium-sized village in Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban. She was born with a cleft palate that has left her severely disfigured, a bullied outcast. The Americans offer their assistance, but, her father, the head of the household, is not sure he wants their help. She is not sure she will get the life-altering surgery she needs. She is trapped between hope and despair. At the same time, Zulaikha hides a secret. She is learning to read. When she is given the option to leave her village she has a hard choice to make. Does she leave the family she loves and cares for to obtain a different life or stay at home, get married, and fulfill her duties as a good Muslim woman?

  

“Every triumph from patience springs, the happy herald of better things.” (Meena)

 Analysis

Words in the Dust is a traditional problem novel in that it contains hope, despair, friendships, and wish fulfillment but it also addresses family roles. Zulaikha’s sister, Zeynab is a foil to Zulaikha. While Zulaikha doesn’t think she will ever marry or live a normal life with her disfigurement, Zeynab is a dreamer and optimist speaking often of the children and marriages that they both will have. Zeynab also believes strongly in the old Muslim ways, while Zulaikha believes she wants a different life away from the “twisted” Islam and remaining echoes of the Taliban rule.

            

Reedy presents a believable story that layers in many viewpoints and moves effortlessly from one issue to the next. Unlike many other YA novels, Words in the Dust contains many main characters who are thoroughly explored. We get to see many sides of each character, including their growth throughout the book.

            

Words in the Dust captures the differing viewpoints of generational gender roles for men and women in Afghanistan. Zulaikha is very excited about daring to dream about going to school and learning to read. However, her traditional father still sees women in a subservient role and doesn’t understand why they need to be educated.  For example, he tells Zulaikha’s nineteen-year-old brother that he is “getting too old to listen to women” (Reedy 25). Zulaikha’s father is a sympathetic character in other regards, as he is fine with her keeping a cleft because he sees her for who she is and thinks she is beautiful. He strongly believes he can still pay a bride price for her and find her a husband.

            

Words in the Dust puts a face to a people and allows the reader to experience the day-to-day life in the sometimes harsh and difficult life of rural Afghanistan. This would be a good book to read in a history class to prompt a discussion about the current American drawdown in Afghanistan and Iraq. In addition to putting a face on an Afghani girl, it also personifies the role of the American government beyond a military presence; the Americans are helping to rebuild, educate, and provide medical services to citizens of Afghanistan. Reedy captures the rhythm of the day with references to the heat, dust, and call to prayer. He also frequently inserts Arabic words and colloquialisms. There is a glossary and pronunciation guide in the back of the book.

            

The only negative issue with this book is sometimes the “American viewpoint” can come across too forcefully in the attitudes of the American military personnel. These characters came across as a little flat.

Overall, I would recommend this book to a YA reader because of the exposure to day-to-day life in Afghanistan, the window it provides into another life and family structure, and the touch of politics. The reader will be left with something to think about.

Of Mice and Men

Bibliography

Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men. New York, NY: Penguin Books, 1993. Print.

Nilsen, Allen Pace, James Blasingame, Kenneth L. Donelson, and Don L. Nilsen. Literature for Today's Young Adults. 9th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2013. Print.

Summary

Of Mice and Men details the unique friendship of two men working the ranches of California. Lennie is a developmentally disabled man who is very large and strong. His friend and caretaker George is small but smart. The two of them work together and face the tough life of field labor. They are trying to make a better life for themselves, but this is not always easy. 

Analysis

This is a beautifully written book. Steinbeck creates a vivid description of the Salinas Valley, both the physical setting and the societal underpinnings of life on a ranch. Another unique feature of this book is the interesting blend of describing the scene in detail interspersed with the dialogue of the characters. At times, Steinbeck uses this to promote tension. It gives the book a feel of being a play script more than a novelette.

He also captures the characters on the ranch, most of whom are lost souls with fading dreams. Each character has a multifaceted tough past leading to an overall feeling of irritation and rawness. The reader can experience the life of a ranch hand living hand-to-mouth. 

Of Mice and Men is missing the normal trends of a YA novel. It is not written in the first person told through the eyes of a young person, nor does it involve parents. These characters are all adults, but they do reflect on Lennie’s childhood. Also, these characters are not truly optimistic for the future or  accomplishing anything in the present; most are making the same mistakes keeping them in their current situation. Throughout most of the book the characters do not evolve. In fact, it is because of the repeating patterns in their lives that George makes his final decision.

Of Mice and Men would be a book to use with an older YA audience. This book contains strong language and racial slurs, but it is fitting for the time and setting. The colloquial writing is hard to read sometimes, for example “It ain’t so funny, him an’ me goin’ aroun’ together,” would be difficult for a student to understand. There are also many time-specific words that a modern audience may not be familiar with such as “bucker” and “skinner.” This book would not be a good candidate for a beginning English language learner. Also, there are some sexual undertones that a less mature audience may not immediately identify. 

Overall, I would recommend this book to a YA reader because of the signature eloquent writing of Steinbeck who captures the rough personalities and lifestyles of working in the American West. Also, this classic is a gateway into adult books with more adult themes.

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret

Bibliography

Blume, Judy. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. Englewood Cliffs, N.J: Bradbury Press, 1970. Print.

Nilsen, A P., J. Blasingame, K. L. Donelson, and D. L. Nilsen. Literature for Today's Young Adults. 9th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2013. Print.

Summary

Eleven-year-old Margaret has recently moved from New York to New Jersey and is exploring life as an adolescent. She has questions about choosing a religion, what the normal physical features are for a girl her age going through puberty, and what boys think. It is a tough time, but she finds answers to some of these questions through conversations with God and her new friends. 

Analysis

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret is narrated from the point of view of Margaret during her sixth grade year as she ages from eleven to twelve years old.

Blume does a very realistic job of narrating Margaret’s exploration of puberty and the accompanying concerns of bras and bust size, getting her period, and boys and sexuality.  Much of this searching is done through observation of her classmates and  with her close friends in a girls-only club..  

Additionally, Margaret has a continued deep introspection of what it means to be a child in a home with parents of two different faiths who practice no religion. She sees God as an omniscient presence belonging to neither Judaism nor Christianity. He is also the one place she can turn to have a conversation where she is not judged. Her friends are asking for her to choose between the YMCA and the Jewish Community Center, so she takes it upon herself to explore Judaism and Christianity.  Her parents do not push this analysis upon her, she takes on this challenge. Blume portrays this exploration realistically as eleven-year-old Margaret, who is still missing the component of faith in religion, soon becomes bored at the services.

By the end of the book, Margaret feels she is starting to understand more and making progress on her analysis of religion and what is normal in puberty. Some of these realizations come through unanticipated events and uncovered misinformation from her friends.  Margaret is still insecure about boys and puberty, but she has learned a great deal. 

One weakness of this book is a lack of diversity. There appear to be only white characters; however, there are many different religious and socio-economic groups represented in the cast of friends. Also, this book is often challenged because of Blume’s honest portrayal of both puberty and religion. If a parent was uncomfortable with their child reading this book, I would point out that it helps adolescents meet some developmental tasks such as improving social skills, understanding body changes, developing “a personal ideology and ethical standards,” and taking on membership in a community (Nilsen, et al., p. 38).

Overall, I would recommend this book to a female YA reader because of the in-depth exploration of puberty and religion through the eyes of an eleven-year-old. 

Hatchet

Bibliography

Paulsen, G. Hatchet. New York, N.Y: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1987. 1-195. Print.

Nilsen, A P., J. Blasingame, K. L. Donelson, and D. L. Nilsen. Literature for today's young adults. 9th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2013. Print.

Summary

Brian Robeson, 13, is leaving his mother in New York to visit his father in the rural Canadian North Woods. His single-engine bush plane goes down somewhere in the vast woods next to a lake. Brian is left all alone with only a hatchet and his wits. On top of his need for survival, Brian is struggling with his parents’ recent divorce and his mother’s “secret.” Will he survive physically and mentally? 

Analysis

Hatchet is a coming of age adventure story as the protagonist, Brian, learns to survive and adjust from a passive “Big City” boy to a mature, self-sufficient, young adult alone in the wild.

Strengths:

This book is engaging because Brian is very reflective on his situation as a teen all alone. His thoughts and actions are very believable. It is impossible not to put yourself in his shoes and think, “What would I have done in this situation?” Brian often compares  the drama of television wilderness shows to the reality of actually surviving in the Canadian wilderness. This adds another layer of familiarity as modern readers might also use television references as a guide in this situation. 

Paulsen’s writing is also engaging to a YA audience because he layers relevant topics such as confidence, self-motivation, and generalizations about the surrounding world into Brian’s fight for survival. Part of Brian’s coming of age comes from adapting, changing, slowing down and observing his world. He uses a quote from his English teacher as a mantra ‘You are your most valuable asset. Don’t forget that. You are the best thing you have’ (Robeson, p. 51). Additionally, Brian makes a point of recognizing his mistakes and chastising himself for them, but also growing from them and recognizing his accomplishments. As is common with this genre, the protagonist is permanently changed by his experience that helps shape his adult identity (Nilsen, et al., p. 4).

Paulsen clearly writes about Brian’s surroundings in the wilderness. He juxtaposes the grey color of the city with the green of the wilderness. He does the same with  the city’s constant noise and the relative quiet of the forest and water. Often the reader is pulled into the description of the forest and can almost smell the sap of the trees and feel the wind coming off the lake.

Weaknesses:

Some readers will be attracted to this book because it deals with divorce and is even listed with the sub-genre of divorce topics.  However, while divorce is the driving force to have him take the trip which leads to his time in the wilderness, the theme of divorce does nothing else to further the story or give depth to the character. It almost feels added on. Also, the epilogue focuses primarily on the way his Canadian wilderness experience affected him, and there is very little follow up about the effects of the divorce on his life. 

The book starts off with a very linear flow, but the second half of the book does not give any markers of time. Paulsen makes a point of saying that the protagonist is keeping track of the days so it is unclear why Paulsen changes the flow of the book.

Please note, the front flap of this edition of the book, in essence, reveals the ending of the book. While this increases tension, it also somewhat ruins the joy of reading the book and independently discovering how it ends. The summary could still be effectively written without listing the number of days Brian is in the Canadian wilderness.  

Overall, I would recommend this book to a male or female YA reader because of the universal themes and gripping writing. 

5623 Advanced YA Literature

Feathers

Bibliography

Woodson, Jacqueline. Feathers. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2007. ISBN 9780142415504

Plot Summary

Jacqueline Woodson has created a fluid story about a sixth grade classroom whose routine is disrupted by a new kid. This new kid is white, but attends a predominantly black school on “the other side of the highway” in 1971. Feathers demonstrates depth and encourages reflection about complex issues. The narrator, Frannie, is only eleven, but has already dealt with a lot of issues. She has a deaf brother. Her mother suffered many miscarriages and now struggles with depression. Her father is often away. Woven into the story are Frannie’s contemplations about religion, being different, segregation, problems in the world, family, and growing up. 

Critical Analysis

There is a mixed focus for this story. It is mainly on Frannie’s inner dialogue, but it is also divided between the actions in the classroom, at home, and on the playground. Those places serve as a backdrop to Frannie’s analysis of her world as reflected through other people's reactions to these situations. Woodson offers a very believable analysis of these life experiences. 

Although the character didn't undergo a major revelation, it seemed she was on the crux of one: she’s trying to find her place in it all. Her reactions are clearly those of an eleven-year old, which increases the authenticity of Woodson’s story. Frannie admires the features of older people, since currently she is not feeling pretty or old enough. She tries to use new words she’s heard adults and older kids using; however, she doesn’t seem to want to grow up too fast. She enjoys where she is in the world and is taking it all in.

Woodson sets the time and place when Frannie refers to the music of the period, such as the Jackson Five. There are additional hints of culture, class, and time period through the use of jive, a reference to the Vietnam War, and the constant reference to what it would be like to live on the “other side of the highway.”

Woodson does a good job of using the weather to play into the characters mood and events in the story, such as grey snowfall during a low time and sunshine filling a room for a happier time. Overall, there is an ethereal feeling as the narrator goes in and out of the physical and into her thoughts. She is often dreaming and mulling over the world around her. She thinks about real life and real world problems through the eyes of an eleven year old. 

Personally, I would think about the audience before using this book. Very young children might not relate to some topics, such as miscarriage. However, for some mature children, this book could serve as a launching point to think about some complex issues. 

Review Excerpts

This book is a:

  -  Newbery Honor Book

  -  Publishers Weekly starred review

  -  School Library Journal starred review

  -  Booklist starred review

Publishers Weekly

“Narrator Frannie is fascinated with Emily Dickinson's poem, "Hope is the thing with feathers/ that perches in the soul," and grapples with its meaning…Frannie's keen perceptions allow readers to observe a ripple of changes. Because she has experienced so much sadness in her life (her brother's deafness, her mother's miscarriages) the heroine is able to see beyond it all—to look forward to a time when the pain subsides and life continues.” 

School Library Journal

“With her usual talent for creating characters who confront, reflect, and grow into their own persons, Woodson creates in Frannie a strong protagonist who thinks for herself and recognizes the value and meaning of family. The story ends with hope and thoughtfulness while speaking to those adolescents who struggle with race, faith, and prejudice. They will appreciate its wisdom and positive connections.”

Connections

-  This book would be good for a discussion on cultural diversity or being different. 

Ship Breaker

Bibliography

Bacigalupi, Paolo. Ship Breaker. New York: Little, Brown, and Co, 2010. ISBN 9780316056199

Plot Summary

Bacigalupi has created a science fiction adventure book set 50 years in the future along the Gulf Coast. There are environmental issues since this world has been destroyed by global warming. The protagonist, Nailer, works with a crew dismantling the wiring from one of the large oil tankers no longer used. Nailer is a small teenager with large responsibilities. He must make his quota while staying alive in his hazardous job and take care of his drunkard and drugged up father. Nailer lives by a code of honor and loyalty. He often dreams of a better, less gritty, life by watching the high-tech catamarans leave the port.

After a large hurricane, what they call a “city killer,” Nailer and his friend discover an expensive beached ship that will forever change his life. Should he strip the ship and leave this hard life, or help the hunted lone survivor and possibly pay the consequences? The thriller of an ending leaves readers guessing. Will Nailer survive? And if he does, will he have the better life he seeks?

Critical Analysis

Bacigalupi does an excellent job of using figurative language to lay the foundation of life on the water and its favela-like living conditions. There are rich characters with flawed backgrounds. The feeling of the harbor city is raw and cut-throat. The cost of a life is negligible. This creates juxtaposition to the better life in another place and makes the discovery of the expensive ship so important. 

The events in the story logically move from one place to another, yet he still throws in some surprises and twists along the way. As the story grows more complex, he keeps the reader engaged through to the conclusion. 

One day at his job, Nailer is in a life or death situation and is dependent on another to save him. This creates a turning point for him when soon after, he has to make the choice to save or kill the survivor. He states to himself that it would have been easy to kill her before and it would have been different, but now he has changed. In the past, he would have outright killed her for the money, but now that he has had to plead for his life, it is not so clear. 

Nailer and his friends form a diverse community, yet they seek the same things typical of any teen: romance, first jobs, futures, and a different life. These are the themes of growing up into adulthood. Of import to this genre, the male and female characters hold equally relevant positions in Bacigalupi’s Ship Breaker. 

I personally could not put this book down. It was very exciting, vivid, and full of plot twists. I would highly recommend this book to a YA reader or adult. 

Review Excerpts

This book is a:

  -  National Book Award Finalist

  -  L. A. Times Book Award Finalist 

  -  Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature

  -  Lone Star Book

  -  Booklist starred review

Booklist

“This YA debut by Bacigalupi, a rising star in adult science fiction, presents a dystopian future like so many YA sf novels. What is uncommon, though, is that although Bacigalupi's future earth is brilliantly imagined and its genesis anchored in contemporary issues, it is secondary to the memorable characters. In a world in which society has stratified, fossil fuels have been consumed, and the seas have risen and drowned coastal cities…Clearly respecting his audience, Bacigalupi skillfully integrates his world building into the compelling narrative, threading the backstory into the pulsing action. The characters are layered and complex, and their almost unthinkable actions and choices seem totally credible. Vivid, brutal, and thematically rich, this captivating title is sure to win teen fans for the award-winning Bacigalupi.”

Connections

-  This book would be easily adapted into a dynamic skit.

-  This book could be used as an entry into a writing assignment set 50-100 years in the  

    future.

-  Since this book discussed global warming, it could serve as a starting place for a 

   discussion about the future effects of global warming and/or be paired with a research 

   assignment about climate change. 

Lunch Lady and the Mutant Mathletes

Bibliography

Krosoczka, Jarrett. Lunch Lady and the Mutant Mathletes. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2012. ISBN 9780375870286

Plot Summary

To set the stage, Lunch Lady and the Mutant Mathletes opens to the lunch ladies stopping a robbery. The main story is about three students who made a bad decision and as punishment are forced to join the mathlete team and compete with them in the upcoming competition. At first the students are reluctant, but, once challenged by the opposing team, they put all their effort into winning. The mathletes have a commanding lead, but something is foul with the opposing team. One of the Lunch Ladies goes to investigate. She runs into trouble after finding out the real story of their competitors, and the custodian comes to her rescue! At the final championship, the mutant mathletes make their appearance and the lunch ladies are there to protect everyone with their food weapons, like a pineapple mace. 

Critical Analysis

Lunch Lady and the Mutant Mathletes is a fun read with quirky characters. The book is designed as a graphic novel. This style lends itself to the problem-solving questions and plot of the book. It also worked for the action scenes. It comes off very Batman and Robin with the two crime fighting Lunch Ladies. The dialogue is focused and helps drive the plot. The graphic novel reads differently than a fiction novel but, again, it lent itself to the plot to have the illustrations support the dialogue and vice versa. 

The characters grow throughout the book as they learn loyalty to their team and confidence in their ability to do math. Over time, student pride beams through the initial reluctance to join the team. Also, the Lunch Ladies are very proud of their work saving the students and the school. 

There are some predictable moments as the team gets teased by the football players and are called nerds. This really didn’t need to be in there, since it did not move the plot along, but the kids will enjoy reading it, so it works. There were also some stereotyped school features, such as the teachers holding coffee cups and the Lunch Ladies serving fish sticks at lunch. Although stereotypical, the images help set the stage for time and place, since any public school student can relate to these features. 

Personally, this was a fun read. This is my first graphic novel and I can see why they are very popular with this age group. 

Review Excerpts

Graphic Novel Reporter

“The Lunch Lady books are fun, quick reads for kids, with lots of zany and culinary-inspired humor. Though Lunch Lady is the titular character, she’s only in part of the book, with Dee, Hector, and Terrence also being important characters. The art has that purposefully cartoony style, like something you might see on Cartoon Network or Nickelodeon, and the colors come in black, gray, white, and yellow. Is that to bring more attention to Lunch Lady’s yellow gloves? Lunch Lady’s definitely the one who steals the show, and readers who enjoy this book ought to check out the others in the series.”

Connections

-  This book would be easily adapted into a dynamic skit.

-  Students could be encouraged to read other books from the Lunch Lady Series. 

Turtle in Paradise

Bibliography

Holm, Jennifer L. 2010. Turtle in Paradise. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780375836909

Plot Summary

During the Great Depression, 11-year-old Turtle is sent to live with her aunt and cousins in Key West, Florida. When she arrives, she meets them for the first time. She immediately begins to spend all of her time with her cousins and the neighborhood boys. The boys run the “Diaper Gang,” a rough and tumble group who cares for the island babies. They initially do not let her join this “gang,” but she prides herself on being clever enough to be accepted. Although the island provides buffering from the Great Depression, Turtle knows that elsewhere people don’t have enough to eat or a roof over their heads. Once she adjusts to the heat and culture, she finds herself with plenty to eat, family all around, and an island to explore. There’s possibly buried pirate treasure to find! 

Critical Analysis

Holm captures the tropical island feel of constant heat, humidity, and omnipresent tropical insects and animals. She uses wonderful imagery with examples like shaking out shoes to check for scorpions, although few people wear shoes. She also uses local terms, such as alligator pear for avocado and leche for Cuban coffee. Holm also blends in the popular culture of the time by referencing Hollywood films and newspaper comics. 

Holm uses extensive figurative language early in the book, but this dwindles after the first few chapters. For example, she began using terms like only “a heartbeat later” but reverted to very few phrases with any local flavor. She did maintain nicknames for all the island characters because that was the common practice on their key.  

Turtle comes from a home with a caring, working, mother and no strong father figure. She channels her mother’s love of Hollywood by reflecting on different situation through Little Orphan Annie. On the island, she meets new kids and tries to fit in, but retains her strong character. The kids in this story are typical boys looking for trouble, but with a softer side of caring for the island babies as the “diaper gang.” One of the locals reminds her of her namesake - that they have a hard shell but soft underside.

This book felt more like a fictional book than an historical fiction creation. Many of the details that the author gives were not unique to this story and could be found in any story about the Keys or island living. This gave a generic feeling to the story. Holm does include an author’s note with photos, a short bibliography, and web sites about the Keys, but they are not specific to the story. For example, two of the resources are about the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935; however the only reference to this hurricane in the story is a passing note that it happened and killed a lot of people. This could be true of any hurricane in the early part of the century. Turtle in Paradise is a nice escape into the Florida Keys, but could have included more than vague details about that time period to better qualify as historical fiction. 

Review Excerpts

This book is a:

  -  New York Times bestselling book

  -  Newbery Honor book 

School Library Journal

“In 1935, jobs are hard to come by, and Turtle's mother is lucky to find work as a live-in housekeeper. When she learns that her employer can't stand children, she sends her 11-year-old daughter from New Jersey to Key West to live with relatives. Turtle discovers a startlingly different way of life amid boisterous cousins, Nana Philly, and buried treasure. This richly detailed novel was inspired by Holm's great-grandmother's stories. Readers who enjoy melodic, humorous tales of the past won't want to miss it.”

Booklist

“Eleven-year-old Turtle is not one to suffer fools gladly. And she runs into a lot of fools, especially the no-goods her starry-eyed mother meets. So it's a tough little Turtle who arrives in Key West in June of 1935…As Turtle soon learns, everything is different in Key West, from the fruit hanging on trees to the scorpions in nightgowns to the ways kids earn money. She can't be part of her cousins' Diaper Gang (no girls allowed), which takes care of fussy babies, but when she finds a treasure map, she hopes she'll be on Easy Street like Little Orphan Annie. Holm uses family stories as the basis for this tale, part romp, part steely-eyed look at the Depression era…the plot is a hilarious blend of family dramas seasoned with a dollop of adventure. The many references to 1930s entertainments (Terry and the Pirates, Shirley Temple) will mostly go over kids' heads, but they'll get how much comics and movies meant to a population desperate for smiles.”

Connections 

-  Some chapters of this book would be easily adapted into a readers theatre.