Haddix, Margaret Peterson. (2004). The House on the Gulf. New York: Simon and Schuster.
Subgenre: Mystery
Textbook Chapter: 6
Possible Curriculum Connections: Mystery genre study; Author study of Margaret Peterson Haddix
Book Summary:
This novel begins with Britt (short for Brittany), Bran (short for Brandon), and their mother moving into a new house for the summer. The family had moved to Florida so that the mother could go to college and earn a scholarship for single mothers. The three always struggled to survive, which left sixteen year old Bran to get two jobs, one at a restaurant, and one housesitting for the Marquis family. The three moved into the Marquis house for the summer, where they were living rent free. Things were finally starting to look up for them! However, as soon as they move in, the always responsible Bran starts acting strangely, and Britt catches him in several lies. Their mother is too busy and distracted to notice, but Britt is determined to get to the bottom of it. When Britt discovers that the family they are housesitting for is really the Marcus family, she begins to piece everything together. Marcus is her mother's maiden name, and Bran reveals that they are living in what he thinks is their grandparents' house. However, the trio is estranged from the Marcus family, so Bran doesn't want his mom to find out. In the end, it is not even their grandparents, as Bran had found the wrong Marcus family, and they almost get arrested for trespassing. However, everything worked out and the family was basically adopted by an elderly neighbor who had become friends with Britt.
Personal Reaction/ Why Teens Would Want to Read this Book:
I liked this book, but I did not love it! I thought there would be a little more suspense or mystery, but it was actually pretty predictable. I have read some novels by Haddix and really liked them, but this one was slightly disappointing. With that being said, it was an easy read and not unenjoyable. The story was intriguing, especially in the beginning, and it had a happy ending. I like stories where everything comes together. :-) I think teens would like to read this book because of the mystery aspect to the story. Although it was predictable, it was still fun to try to figure out what would happen next! Also, the main characters are both young adults, so teenagers may be able to put themselves in the character's shoes. The theme of finding one's identity is also present in the novel, which many teens can relate to. Overall, I would recommend this book to a young adult.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Book # 24- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Alexie, Sherman. (2007). The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York: Hachette Book Group.
Subgenre: Realistic Fiction; Native Americans
Textbook Chapter : 6
Possible Curriculum Connections: Unit on Native American stereotypes; life on a Native American Reservation
Book Summary:
Junior is a freshman in high school who is living on an Indian Reservation, or rez, with his family. He lives with his mother, father, grandmother, and older sister, but always hangs out with his best friend, Rowdy. Junior is kind of an outcast, and was born with "water on his brain" and a variety of other ailments which have made him stand out in a crowd. He is very smart, and an interaction with one of his teachers made him realize that he had to have more in his life. He decided to move to a middle class white school outside of town to give himself hope. At first, he was ridiculed, and then ignored, but after punching a popular kid in the nose for making fun of him, he gained respect from the white people at the school. He gets a girlfriend named Penelope, and even becomes a star on the basketball team. However, he feels like he is only living his life halfway, as he is torn between his Indian side and his newly found "white" side. By the end of the book, he suffers enormous loss in his life, but realizes that he can stay true to his Indian roots as well as want better for himself. He overcomes the odds and is successful.
Personal Reaction/ Why Teens Would Want to Read this Book:
I loved this novel! I had heard several different people in our class mention it, so I decided it was worth a try! What a refreshing viewpoint! With humor, the author was able to address some stereotypes of Native Americans, and some even proved to be true in this story, like Native Americans enjoying drinking and gambling. I loved Junior's character, and truly felt his struggle between his native side and the white side that he entered in. I think that teens would want to read this book because it is an entertaining story with humor, love, some crude language, and clever illustrations! Teens would be able to relate to Junior's struggle with finding himself, although they may not have the exact same experiences. Overall, I thought this book was great, and I would highly recommend it to any young adult!
Subgenre: Realistic Fiction; Native Americans
Textbook Chapter : 6
Possible Curriculum Connections: Unit on Native American stereotypes; life on a Native American Reservation
Book Summary:
Junior is a freshman in high school who is living on an Indian Reservation, or rez, with his family. He lives with his mother, father, grandmother, and older sister, but always hangs out with his best friend, Rowdy. Junior is kind of an outcast, and was born with "water on his brain" and a variety of other ailments which have made him stand out in a crowd. He is very smart, and an interaction with one of his teachers made him realize that he had to have more in his life. He decided to move to a middle class white school outside of town to give himself hope. At first, he was ridiculed, and then ignored, but after punching a popular kid in the nose for making fun of him, he gained respect from the white people at the school. He gets a girlfriend named Penelope, and even becomes a star on the basketball team. However, he feels like he is only living his life halfway, as he is torn between his Indian side and his newly found "white" side. By the end of the book, he suffers enormous loss in his life, but realizes that he can stay true to his Indian roots as well as want better for himself. He overcomes the odds and is successful.
Personal Reaction/ Why Teens Would Want to Read this Book:
I loved this novel! I had heard several different people in our class mention it, so I decided it was worth a try! What a refreshing viewpoint! With humor, the author was able to address some stereotypes of Native Americans, and some even proved to be true in this story, like Native Americans enjoying drinking and gambling. I loved Junior's character, and truly felt his struggle between his native side and the white side that he entered in. I think that teens would want to read this book because it is an entertaining story with humor, love, some crude language, and clever illustrations! Teens would be able to relate to Junior's struggle with finding himself, although they may not have the exact same experiences. Overall, I thought this book was great, and I would highly recommend it to any young adult!
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Book # 23- Required Reading- Clockwork Angel
Clare, Cassandra. (2010). Clockwork Angel. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.
Subgenre: Fantasy
Textbook: Chapter 7
Possible Curriculum Connections: Fantasy Genre Study in High school English Class
Book Summary:
Sixteen year old Tessa has just moved to London to find her brother Nate after her Aunt Harriet passed away. Tessa is surprised to find her brother is not at the station to pick her up, and instead, some scary looking women hand her a note from Nate that says she needs to go with them. Tessa soon realizes that these scary looking ladies really are scary! They are the Dark Sisters who are part demon, and they hold Tessa hostage and train her to use a power that she did not know she had. Tessa has the ability to change into any person, did or alive, if she has something of theirs in her possession. Luckily, two boys, Jem and Will, come to save Tessa, and they take her to the Institute, which is a place for people with magical gifts or abilities to stay safe. The Shadowhunters who live in the Institute are trying to find the Magister, who is the one responsible for holding Tessa hostage, and they are also trying to locate Tessa's brother, Nate. Throughout their quest, Tessa begins to make friends with Jem, and is beginning to fall in love with Will. The Magister tricks the Shadowhunters and breaks into the Institute by using robot like machines, and then escapes. The Shadowhunters will continue to look for the Magister and keep London safe in the next books in the series.
Personal Reaction/ Why Teens Would Want to Read this Book:
I had a difficult time reading this novel. Although I liked the overall idea of the book, I struggled with the heaviness of the beginning. I felt like I was bogged down with a lot of details, and I struggled to follow the plot. As the book went on, it did get better, but I am not sure that I want to read the next books in the series. I often struggle with the fantasy genre anyway, but this book did have a unique plot. It reminded me of Harry Potter mixed with Sherlock Holmes.
Although it was not my favorite novel, I feel like most young adults would like this novel. The plot is action packed, there is a bit of a love story, and fantasy is a very popular genre right now. I am sure that both male and female high school students would find something to like in this novel, and it is a plus that it is a series because series books are also extremely popular right now. This is a book I would recommend to high school students who enjoy the fantasy genre.
Subgenre: Fantasy
Textbook: Chapter 7
Possible Curriculum Connections: Fantasy Genre Study in High school English Class
Book Summary:
Sixteen year old Tessa has just moved to London to find her brother Nate after her Aunt Harriet passed away. Tessa is surprised to find her brother is not at the station to pick her up, and instead, some scary looking women hand her a note from Nate that says she needs to go with them. Tessa soon realizes that these scary looking ladies really are scary! They are the Dark Sisters who are part demon, and they hold Tessa hostage and train her to use a power that she did not know she had. Tessa has the ability to change into any person, did or alive, if she has something of theirs in her possession. Luckily, two boys, Jem and Will, come to save Tessa, and they take her to the Institute, which is a place for people with magical gifts or abilities to stay safe. The Shadowhunters who live in the Institute are trying to find the Magister, who is the one responsible for holding Tessa hostage, and they are also trying to locate Tessa's brother, Nate. Throughout their quest, Tessa begins to make friends with Jem, and is beginning to fall in love with Will. The Magister tricks the Shadowhunters and breaks into the Institute by using robot like machines, and then escapes. The Shadowhunters will continue to look for the Magister and keep London safe in the next books in the series.
Personal Reaction/ Why Teens Would Want to Read this Book:
I had a difficult time reading this novel. Although I liked the overall idea of the book, I struggled with the heaviness of the beginning. I felt like I was bogged down with a lot of details, and I struggled to follow the plot. As the book went on, it did get better, but I am not sure that I want to read the next books in the series. I often struggle with the fantasy genre anyway, but this book did have a unique plot. It reminded me of Harry Potter mixed with Sherlock Holmes.
Although it was not my favorite novel, I feel like most young adults would like this novel. The plot is action packed, there is a bit of a love story, and fantasy is a very popular genre right now. I am sure that both male and female high school students would find something to like in this novel, and it is a plus that it is a series because series books are also extremely popular right now. This is a book I would recommend to high school students who enjoy the fantasy genre.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Book # 22- The California Gold Rush
Hudson-Goff, Elizabeth. (2006). Graphic Histories: The California Gold Rush. Milwaukee: World Almanac Library.
Subgenre: Graphic Novel; Nonfiction
Textbook Chapter: 5
Possible Curriculum Connections: Middle School United States history lesson on the history of the western United States.
Book Summary: The California Gold Rush is a nonfiction graphic novel found in my school's library. This book is a comic book and nonfiction informational book wrapped up in one! The book began with the history of the western United States, starting with the Native Americans that lived in the area. It continues with the Spanish soldiers and Catholic priests that settled the area, and then about how the state of California wanted to become its own country. Finally, the gold rush begins when Johann Sutter finds gold at his mill in California in 1848. This discovery spurred the great Californian gold rush! The book continues to describe the hardships that the goldrushers faced, like long hours, traveling great distances, and eventually, some rushers even died of disease or starvation. Finally, the book describes how the gold eventually ran out in California, and the rush moved north, to what is now Alaska and Canada.
Personal Reaction/ Why Teens Would Want to Read this Book:
Although graphic novels and comic books are not my favorite genre, I did enjoy this book. I really like history, and the format in which this book was written made the facts easy to understand and interesting. Unlike some graphic novels I have read, this book's illustrations were not very distracting. Instead, the illustration enhanced the facts that the author was sharing with the reader. I think that teenagers would like to read this book because it is easy to read! The text is fairly simple, and there are many facts found in very few pages. Struggling teens who need to read informational text may choose to read these books because they are not as overwhelming, but still contain good information.
Subgenre: Graphic Novel; Nonfiction
Textbook Chapter: 5
Possible Curriculum Connections: Middle School United States history lesson on the history of the western United States.
Book Summary: The California Gold Rush is a nonfiction graphic novel found in my school's library. This book is a comic book and nonfiction informational book wrapped up in one! The book began with the history of the western United States, starting with the Native Americans that lived in the area. It continues with the Spanish soldiers and Catholic priests that settled the area, and then about how the state of California wanted to become its own country. Finally, the gold rush begins when Johann Sutter finds gold at his mill in California in 1848. This discovery spurred the great Californian gold rush! The book continues to describe the hardships that the goldrushers faced, like long hours, traveling great distances, and eventually, some rushers even died of disease or starvation. Finally, the book describes how the gold eventually ran out in California, and the rush moved north, to what is now Alaska and Canada.
Personal Reaction/ Why Teens Would Want to Read this Book:
Although graphic novels and comic books are not my favorite genre, I did enjoy this book. I really like history, and the format in which this book was written made the facts easy to understand and interesting. Unlike some graphic novels I have read, this book's illustrations were not very distracting. Instead, the illustration enhanced the facts that the author was sharing with the reader. I think that teenagers would like to read this book because it is easy to read! The text is fairly simple, and there are many facts found in very few pages. Struggling teens who need to read informational text may choose to read these books because they are not as overwhelming, but still contain good information.
Class # 6 Reflection
The majority of our class time in class number 6 was spent watching each other's book talks. Wow! Our class sure did do a great job! I loved seeing the different online tools that our classmates used to convey their booktalks, many of which I had never heard! I also now have a rather large list of young adult novels that I need to add to my summer reading list! What a great night of sharing young adult literature with each other! This has been very helpful to my personal reading list, as well as to my future career as a librarian.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Book 21: The Lightning Thief
Riordan, Rick. (2006). The Lightning Thief. New York: Hyperion Books.
Subgenre: Adventure/ Fantasy
Textbook: Chapter 6
Curriculum Connections: Integrated Social Studies unit on Greek Gods and Goddesses; Mythology
Book Summary:
The Lightning Thief is the first novel in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan. As the book begins, Percy Jackson is attending an alternative school with his friend, Glover, who is in a wheelchair. Both Percy and Glover are outcasts, and the only class they do well in is Latin. However, soon, really strange things start happening to Percy. He and his mother try to go to the coast for a summer vacation, and they are attacked! Percy even thinks his mother is killed. After this attack, Percy learns that he is actually being targeted by Greek gods because he is half god, and his father is Poseidon. Percy and Glover are taken to Camp Halfblood, where Percy learns that Glover is actually a satyr. They are both given a quest with Annabeth, daughter of Athena, to recover Zeus's lost lightning bolt. The quest is full of twists and turns, and the trio eventally ends up at Mt. Olympus, which is actually above the Empire State Building! This is just the beginning of many adventures for Percy Jackson and his friends!
Personal Reaction/ Why Teens Would Want to Read this book:
I loved The Lightning Thief! I thought that Riordan did a great job of combining Greek mythology with an interesting plot. I am not a huge fan of mythology in general, but learning about the different gods' characteristics through the novel has peaked my interest in learning more! I can see why many middle school students are interested in the Percy Jackson series because of the action and adventure aspects of the novel. I think that deep down, all of us wish that we would wake up and find out we had hidden powers, which is a similar theme that we find in Harry Potter and other popular young adult books. I have not seen the movie about this novel yet, but I hear it is good!
Subgenre: Adventure/ Fantasy
Textbook: Chapter 6
Curriculum Connections: Integrated Social Studies unit on Greek Gods and Goddesses; Mythology
Book Summary:
The Lightning Thief is the first novel in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan. As the book begins, Percy Jackson is attending an alternative school with his friend, Glover, who is in a wheelchair. Both Percy and Glover are outcasts, and the only class they do well in is Latin. However, soon, really strange things start happening to Percy. He and his mother try to go to the coast for a summer vacation, and they are attacked! Percy even thinks his mother is killed. After this attack, Percy learns that he is actually being targeted by Greek gods because he is half god, and his father is Poseidon. Percy and Glover are taken to Camp Halfblood, where Percy learns that Glover is actually a satyr. They are both given a quest with Annabeth, daughter of Athena, to recover Zeus's lost lightning bolt. The quest is full of twists and turns, and the trio eventally ends up at Mt. Olympus, which is actually above the Empire State Building! This is just the beginning of many adventures for Percy Jackson and his friends!
Personal Reaction/ Why Teens Would Want to Read this book:
I loved The Lightning Thief! I thought that Riordan did a great job of combining Greek mythology with an interesting plot. I am not a huge fan of mythology in general, but learning about the different gods' characteristics through the novel has peaked my interest in learning more! I can see why many middle school students are interested in the Percy Jackson series because of the action and adventure aspects of the novel. I think that deep down, all of us wish that we would wake up and find out we had hidden powers, which is a similar theme that we find in Harry Potter and other popular young adult books. I have not seen the movie about this novel yet, but I hear it is good!
Monday, April 2, 2012
Book vs. Movie Paper
Caitlin Hunter
Lib 5160
Dr. Truett
25 March 2012
Young
Adult Book vs. Movie Comparison
For my young adult book and movie comparison, I chose to
read and watch The Hunger Games,
which is a novel by Suzanne Collins. I
read The Hunger Games series a few
months ago, and was extremely impressed by the quality of the series. The books were well written, engaging, and
thought provoking. I particularly
enjoyed the first two books in the series: The
Hunger Games and Catching Fire. I could not put the books down, and although
there has been a lot of hype about the books and the movie, I can honestly say
that the series lives up to all of the excitement!
There are many aspects of The Hunger Games novel
that I found compelling. First of all,
the plot of the story is sensational!
The premise of the book is this:
A futuristic North American society is divided into thirteen districts,
with one district hosting the Capitol.
Years prior, the districts decided to rebel against the Capitol, and war
ensued. As a reminder that the Capitol
is in control, each year, they host The Hunger Games, which is an arena type
setting where two teenagers from each district are randomly chosen to fight to
the death, leaving a lone victor. The
book focuses on one tribute, Katniss Everdeen, and her plight of leaving her
family and fighting to survive. Overall,
this is one of the most unique, creative books that I have ever read!
Another aspect of the book that I found to be amazing was
the character development. The novel was
told from a first person perspective through Katniss’s eyes. By doing so, the reader is given insight into
all of Katniss’s thoughts and emotions throughout the story. We can quickly see that Katniss is no
ordinary teenager; instead, she is strong, mature, and wise beyond her
years. The reader cannot help but be
captivated by her story and pull for her to come out as the victor! Also, seeing the story unfold through
Katniss’s eyes gives the reader an opportunity to observe the other characters
in the story as Katniss does, which adds a new dimension to the story. Overall, I found that Collins did an
excellent job of developing the characters in the story, and forcing the reader
to become emotionally attached.
Since I loved the novels of The Hunger Games series so much, I was torn on whether or not to
see the movie. Although I wanted to see
it, I knew that there was no way that the movie could be better than the
book! It has been my experience in 99
percent of the films that I have seen that are based on books I have read, the
book is always better! However, I
overlooked my hesitation and went to see the movie on opening weekend! J
Overall, I thought the movie was a good representation of the book. Although it was not nearly as detailed as the
book, I did think that the movie kept the integrity of the story without
leaving out too much important information that made the book flow.
There were a few major differences between the book and
the movie. First of all, the movie was
told from a third person perspective, with no narrator, and the book was
written from the first person perspective of Katniss. I was wondering how the movie was going to
explain the plot without making it first person, and although I think they left
a few things out, they used the Hunger Games announcers to explain things that
the audience needed to know, like they were explaining it to the audience in
the movie. I thought that was a clever
way to cover the information! I still
felt like some emotions and thoughts were lacking in the film, and I am not
sure how someone who had not read the books would be able to understand
everything, but the movie did a pretty good job of covering the plot.
Another main difference between the book and the movie
was the elimination of the character Madge in the movie. In the novel, Madge was one of Katniss’s best
friends growing up, and she was the one who gave Katniss the infamous
Mockingjay pin, which would eventually be a symbol of revolution for the
districts. Madge was not even mentioned
in the movie, and I am not sure exactly why that was! Madge was central to Katniss’s life, so the
lack of her presence was definitely noticed!
In addition to missing Madge, I feel like viewers of the movie may be
missing the way that the movie was setting itself up for movie number two, Catching Fire. To those who read the book, it was obvious
that something ominous was about to happen in Katniss’s life at the end of the
first book, but the movie did not have quite as much foreshadowing.
Overall, I thought that the movie was a good
representation of the book, but there is no way that the book could have been
surpassed in greatness! One of the best
things about reading is that the reader can imagine the story however they
like, so I had developed my own visual images of the characters and setting
from the story. When I watched the
movie, everything was not as I had pictured it, which is slightly
disappointing. I hope that if people see
the movie, they will go back and read the books and realize the superiority of
literature to film! I would highly
recommend this series of books to any young adult, as I think there is a lot of
symbolism in the story that can be related to our world today. If you want to be entertained, seeing the
movie would be a good option as well!
Lib 5160
Dr. Truett
25 March 2012
Young
Adult Book vs. Movie Comparison
For my young adult book and movie comparison, I chose to
read and watch The Hunger Games,
which is a novel by Suzanne Collins. I
read The Hunger Games series a few
months ago, and was extremely impressed by the quality of the series. The books were well written, engaging, and
thought provoking. I particularly
enjoyed the first two books in the series: The
Hunger Games and Catching Fire. I could not put the books down, and although
there has been a lot of hype about the books and the movie, I can honestly say
that the series lives up to all of the excitement!
There are many aspects of The Hunger Games novel
that I found compelling. First of all,
the plot of the story is sensational!
The premise of the book is this:
A futuristic North American society is divided into thirteen districts,
with one district hosting the Capitol.
Years prior, the districts decided to rebel against the Capitol, and war
ensued. As a reminder that the Capitol
is in control, each year, they host The Hunger Games, which is an arena type
setting where two teenagers from each district are randomly chosen to fight to
the death, leaving a lone victor. The
book focuses on one tribute, Katniss Everdeen, and her plight of leaving her
family and fighting to survive. Overall,
this is one of the most unique, creative books that I have ever read!
Another aspect of the book that I found to be amazing was
the character development. The novel was
told from a first person perspective through Katniss’s eyes. By doing so, the reader is given insight into
all of Katniss’s thoughts and emotions throughout the story. We can quickly see that Katniss is no
ordinary teenager; instead, she is strong, mature, and wise beyond her
years. The reader cannot help but be
captivated by her story and pull for her to come out as the victor! Also, seeing the story unfold through
Katniss’s eyes gives the reader an opportunity to observe the other characters
in the story as Katniss does, which adds a new dimension to the story. Overall, I found that Collins did an
excellent job of developing the characters in the story, and forcing the reader
to become emotionally attached.
Since I loved the novels of The Hunger Games series so much, I was torn on whether or not to
see the movie. Although I wanted to see
it, I knew that there was no way that the movie could be better than the
book! It has been my experience in 99
percent of the films that I have seen that are based on books I have read, the
book is always better! However, I
overlooked my hesitation and went to see the movie on opening weekend! J
Overall, I thought the movie was a good representation of the book. Although it was not nearly as detailed as the
book, I did think that the movie kept the integrity of the story without
leaving out too much important information that made the book flow.
There were a few major differences between the book and
the movie. First of all, the movie was
told from a third person perspective, with no narrator, and the book was
written from the first person perspective of Katniss. I was wondering how the movie was going to
explain the plot without making it first person, and although I think they left
a few things out, they used the Hunger Games announcers to explain things that
the audience needed to know, like they were explaining it to the audience in
the movie. I thought that was a clever
way to cover the information! I still
felt like some emotions and thoughts were lacking in the film, and I am not
sure how someone who had not read the books would be able to understand
everything, but the movie did a pretty good job of covering the plot.
Another main difference between the book and the movie
was the elimination of the character Madge in the movie. In the novel, Madge was one of Katniss’s best
friends growing up, and she was the one who gave Katniss the infamous
Mockingjay pin, which would eventually be a symbol of revolution for the
districts. Madge was not even mentioned
in the movie, and I am not sure exactly why that was! Madge was central to Katniss’s life, so the
lack of her presence was definitely noticed!
In addition to missing Madge, I feel like viewers of the movie may be
missing the way that the movie was setting itself up for movie number two, Catching Fire. To those who read the book, it was obvious
that something ominous was about to happen in Katniss’s life at the end of the
first book, but the movie did not have quite as much foreshadowing.
Overall, I thought that the movie was a good
representation of the book, but there is no way that the book could have been
surpassed in greatness! One of the best
things about reading is that the reader can imagine the story however they
like, so I had developed my own visual images of the characters and setting
from the story. When I watched the
movie, everything was not as I had pictured it, which is slightly
disappointing. I hope that if people see
the movie, they will go back and read the books and realize the superiority of
literature to film! I would highly
recommend this series of books to any young adult, as I think there is a lot of
symbolism in the story that can be related to our world today. If you want to be entertained, seeing the
movie would be a good option as well!
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