Oliver, Lauren. (2011). Delirium. New York: Harper Collins.
Textbook Chapter: 7
Subgenre: Dystopian/ Utopian Societies; Science Fiction
Book Summary: Delirium is a novel set in Portland, Maine, sometime in the future. The book's protagonist, Lena, is a seventeen year old high school student who loves to run with her best friend Hana. Lena appears to be a normal teenager, but her family is scarred because of her mother's suicide when she was younger. In the novel, all people must be "cured" around their 18th birthday, or they are imprisoned, killed, or exiled. The cure is a procedure that removes the part of a person's brain that makes them feel love. According to the government, love is what destroys people's lives, and makes them go crazy, so every person must be cured in order to remain in the city. Lena is following along with the plan, and knows she must be cured, until she meets Alex, who is an Invalid, or a person who lives in the Wilds, and is not cured. Alex has a fake identity which allows him to live in the city, and he and Lena fall in love despite all the risks. Alex also shows Lena that her mother was not dead, but had been imprisoned for 12 years. This fact made Lena decide to runaway with Alex to the Wilds. Lena and Alex are caught trying to escape into the Wilds by regulators from the government, and Lena is forced to get the cure early. However, Alex comes to rescue her, and she is able to escape into the Wilds. Alex, on the other hand, sacrificed himself to save Lena, and is killed by the Regulators.
Personal Reaction/ Why Teens Would Want to Read this Book:
I thought this book was great! It was interesting and kept my attention throughout the novel. The futuristic aspect of the novel reminded me of The Hunger Games, and I am seeing a trend in Utopian/Dystopian societies in young adult literature. I think that teens find this subgenre intriguing because they wonder where their life is going, and what life will be like in the future. This book is also a great read for teens because of the relationships between the characters. The novel has many parallels with Romeo and Juliet, and the theme of forbidden love will always draw a reader back for more. I know that many teens can relate to Lena in the story as she struggles with authority, relationships, and maturing into an adult. I highly recommend this book for any teen!
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Book 7: Challenged Book
Ockler, Sarah. (2009). Twenty Boy Summer. New York: Hachette Book Group.
Textbook Chapter: 4
Subgenre: Realistic Fiction
Book Summary:
Twenty Boy Summer is a novel about two teenage girls, Frankie and Anna, who are lifelong best friends, neighbors, and practically sisters. Frankie’s older brother, Matt, was also extremely close to his sister and Anna, and the three were basically inseparable. However, Matt and Anna begin to be more than just friends, and they fall in love. Before they can tell Frankie or really act on their feelings, Matt dies in a car crash due to a heart condition, but Frankie and Anna survive the accident. The story continues a year later as Anna continues to try to protect Frankie from being hurt and travels with Frankie and her parents to California on vacation. While there, Frankie and Anna challenge themselves to meet at least 20 different guys, and Frankie tries desperately to help Anna find a guy with which to lose her virginity. While in California, Anna and Frankie meet two guys, Jake and Sam, and eventually Anna does lose her virginity to Sam. After this, Frankie finds out about Anna and Matt and is devastated by the secret Anna had hidden from her. As it turns out, Frankie was actually a virgin, and had been lying to Anna all along. After a terrible fight, the girls eventually work things out when they get home, and Frankie even accepts the fact that Anna and Matt were in love. Frankie gave Anna Matt’s most prized possession, his turquoise sea glass necklace, and the girls remain best friends despite their grief.
Personal Reaction/ Why Teens Would Want to Read this Book:
I really enjoyed this book. I can tell it is written more for high school students, as the vocabulary, sentence structure, and content are more mature than several of the other books I have read for this class. I thought the story was heart wrenching, and the author does an excellent job of describing the protagonists’ feelings of loss, love, and betrayal. I think teens would want to read this book because many of them can relate to the main characters. Although most teens have not lost a sibling, they have continued to search to find someone to love them, despite their past. Teens will be able to relate to the feelings that the author describes about finding love, friendship, and acts of rebellion. There was some sexual content in the book, as one of the main characters loses her virginity to her summer love. However, the book does mention that they use a condom, which relates back to the article I read about contraceptive use in teen novels. It is rare to find a book where condom use is talked about, and I am glad they included that part in the novel. Overall, I think this is an excellent book and I can see how it might be a favorite among high school girls.
Why was this book banned?
Twenty Boy Summer was challenged in a Missouri school district in 2010 because it was “soft-pornography” and “glorifies drinking, cursing, and pre-marital sex.” An associate professor at a Missouri college is the person who challenged the book because it taught things that opposed the views of the Bible. As of July, 2011, the schools in Republic, Missouri removed this book from their shelves as a result of a school board vote to ban the book. This created a lot of uproar in the community, and students at a nearby college protested by holding public readings of the book on campus. Another book, Slaughterhouse Five, was also removed from the shelves.
I can see how this book would be perceived in a negative way if some of the scenes and descriptions of the novel were taken out of context. However, the main point of the novel is not to glorify drinking, cursing, or premarital sex; instead, it is to discuss how the teens are dealing with the death of a sibling and boyfriend. The drinking, cursing, and sex were the result of negative choices made by the characters as they dealt with their grief, and the book ends with resolution that the characters were not happy with their choices and are going back on the right path. The book is more about overcoming obstacles and maintaining friendships during tough times, than about sex and drinking!
Reviews:
All of the reviews that I read for this book were positive. The review from Booklist raved about the way that Anna, one of the main characters, approached the tragedies and issues in her life with great maturity. The review also states that the mix of romance, tragedy, and drama will draw in many teen readers. A review from Children’s Literature is also glowing. The review notes that the characters are well developed and the reader will feel compassion for the characters and their difficult situations. The review does mention the fact that there is explicit sexual discussion, but also states that this book would be a great discussion starter for teens dealing with loss. Overall, the reviews were very positive!
*I did not find any awards that the book had won at this time.
Textbook Chapter: 4
Subgenre: Realistic Fiction
Book Summary:
Twenty Boy Summer is a novel about two teenage girls, Frankie and Anna, who are lifelong best friends, neighbors, and practically sisters. Frankie’s older brother, Matt, was also extremely close to his sister and Anna, and the three were basically inseparable. However, Matt and Anna begin to be more than just friends, and they fall in love. Before they can tell Frankie or really act on their feelings, Matt dies in a car crash due to a heart condition, but Frankie and Anna survive the accident. The story continues a year later as Anna continues to try to protect Frankie from being hurt and travels with Frankie and her parents to California on vacation. While there, Frankie and Anna challenge themselves to meet at least 20 different guys, and Frankie tries desperately to help Anna find a guy with which to lose her virginity. While in California, Anna and Frankie meet two guys, Jake and Sam, and eventually Anna does lose her virginity to Sam. After this, Frankie finds out about Anna and Matt and is devastated by the secret Anna had hidden from her. As it turns out, Frankie was actually a virgin, and had been lying to Anna all along. After a terrible fight, the girls eventually work things out when they get home, and Frankie even accepts the fact that Anna and Matt were in love. Frankie gave Anna Matt’s most prized possession, his turquoise sea glass necklace, and the girls remain best friends despite their grief.
Personal Reaction/ Why Teens Would Want to Read this Book:
I really enjoyed this book. I can tell it is written more for high school students, as the vocabulary, sentence structure, and content are more mature than several of the other books I have read for this class. I thought the story was heart wrenching, and the author does an excellent job of describing the protagonists’ feelings of loss, love, and betrayal. I think teens would want to read this book because many of them can relate to the main characters. Although most teens have not lost a sibling, they have continued to search to find someone to love them, despite their past. Teens will be able to relate to the feelings that the author describes about finding love, friendship, and acts of rebellion. There was some sexual content in the book, as one of the main characters loses her virginity to her summer love. However, the book does mention that they use a condom, which relates back to the article I read about contraceptive use in teen novels. It is rare to find a book where condom use is talked about, and I am glad they included that part in the novel. Overall, I think this is an excellent book and I can see how it might be a favorite among high school girls.
Why was this book banned?
Twenty Boy Summer was challenged in a Missouri school district in 2010 because it was “soft-pornography” and “glorifies drinking, cursing, and pre-marital sex.” An associate professor at a Missouri college is the person who challenged the book because it taught things that opposed the views of the Bible. As of July, 2011, the schools in Republic, Missouri removed this book from their shelves as a result of a school board vote to ban the book. This created a lot of uproar in the community, and students at a nearby college protested by holding public readings of the book on campus. Another book, Slaughterhouse Five, was also removed from the shelves.
I can see how this book would be perceived in a negative way if some of the scenes and descriptions of the novel were taken out of context. However, the main point of the novel is not to glorify drinking, cursing, or premarital sex; instead, it is to discuss how the teens are dealing with the death of a sibling and boyfriend. The drinking, cursing, and sex were the result of negative choices made by the characters as they dealt with their grief, and the book ends with resolution that the characters were not happy with their choices and are going back on the right path. The book is more about overcoming obstacles and maintaining friendships during tough times, than about sex and drinking!
Reviews:
All of the reviews that I read for this book were positive. The review from Booklist raved about the way that Anna, one of the main characters, approached the tragedies and issues in her life with great maturity. The review also states that the mix of romance, tragedy, and drama will draw in many teen readers. A review from Children’s Literature is also glowing. The review notes that the characters are well developed and the reader will feel compassion for the characters and their difficult situations. The review does mention the fact that there is explicit sexual discussion, but also states that this book would be a great discussion starter for teens dealing with loss. Overall, the reviews were very positive!
*I did not find any awards that the book had won at this time.
Book 6: Challenged Book
Halpern, Julie. (2007). Get Well Soon. New York: Feiwel and Friends.
Textbook Chapter: 4
Subgenre: Realistic fiction
Book Summary:
Get Well Soon is a novel about sixteen year old Anna, who suffers from anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. After laying out of school and threatening suicide, Anna’s parents admit her into a mental hospital to receive treatment. Anna is put on suicide watch for a few days, and the only thing she has to keep her occupied is a pencil and paper. As a way to deal with her situation, Anna begins to write about her experiences in the mental hospital in letters to her friend, Tracy. The book is in letter format, and is told through Anna’s point of view. As Anna spends more time in the hospital, she begins to make new friends, lose weight, and even has a forbidden relationship with one of the other patients. Although everyone else who is in the hospital cannot wait to get out, Anna begins to feel like it is the only place she belongs. However, after several different rounds of therapy, Anna’s insurance runs out, and she is sent home to deal with the real world. After arriving home, Anna realizes that she is better, as she gets angry, stands up to her mother, and does not feel any anxiety. Overall, Anna finds confidence in herself, and gains a new appreciation of who she is from her time in the mental hospital.
Personal Reaction/ Why Teenagers Would Read this Book:
In my opinion, this book was just ok. I thought the author did a good job of approaching the sensitive issue of mental illness in teens, but I was not a fan of the letter format. I think that teens would identify with the book, as the protagonist is a sixteen year old who struggles with body image, relationships, and feeling comfortable in her own skin, although she does have deeper issues than most teens. The book is definitely written the way a teen would write and think, with curse words, subtle digs at others, and funny asides. I can see how the word choice and style would appeal to the teenage reader. I do think it is important that teens are aware of how depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts can affect their perceptions about the world and themselves, and this book would definitely make teens think. Overall, this would not be my first choice to read again, but I think it does a good job of addressing a difficult issue.
Why was this book banned?
Get Well Soon was challenged by a parent of a teen in a public library in Wisconsin for inappropriate language and content that was inappropriate for children. The parent claimed that the “f-word” was not suitable for this age group, and the content of the book was not appropriate for her twelve year old. The parent was angry and asked a supervisor to remove it from the shelves of the library, and it was then thrown in the dumpster, without question, and without going through proper challenge procedures. This book was also challenged at a middle school library. However, the middle school responded to the challenge by keeping the book on the shelves.
Get Well Soon received great reviews! A review from Booklist says that teens will be able to relate to Anna’s character and her humorous sarcasm about her situation. It also says that teens will be able to connect to the way Anna is trying to shape her own life into what she wants it to be. A review from the Library Media Connection also gives good reviews and recommends the book. That review states that the book will have readers laughing and although there is some swearing, it is in line with how teens talk and think. It cites one of the important themes of the book in the review, saying that the book is about the relationship between teens and those who they would not typically associate. Overall, the reviews I read were very positive.
Awards Won:
Kirkus Best Young Adult Books: 2007
Young Adults’ Choices: 2009
YALSA Quick Picks for Young Adult Readers, 2008
Overall, I feel like this book should not have been challenged. Yes, the book does have some swearing, and the f-word does appear on the first page, but the words are not the focus of the story. They are used in a way that teens would use them, and they do not detract from the content. The benefits of teens reading about other teens dealing with mental illness far outweigh the bad language that most teens read, hear, or say on a daily basis. I am sad that the public library in Wisconsin threw the book away and did not follow proper challenged book procedures, but I am glad that the middle school chose to keep the book on the shelves as it does have great value to teens.
Textbook Chapter: 4
Subgenre: Realistic fiction
Book Summary:
Get Well Soon is a novel about sixteen year old Anna, who suffers from anxiety, panic attacks, and depression. After laying out of school and threatening suicide, Anna’s parents admit her into a mental hospital to receive treatment. Anna is put on suicide watch for a few days, and the only thing she has to keep her occupied is a pencil and paper. As a way to deal with her situation, Anna begins to write about her experiences in the mental hospital in letters to her friend, Tracy. The book is in letter format, and is told through Anna’s point of view. As Anna spends more time in the hospital, she begins to make new friends, lose weight, and even has a forbidden relationship with one of the other patients. Although everyone else who is in the hospital cannot wait to get out, Anna begins to feel like it is the only place she belongs. However, after several different rounds of therapy, Anna’s insurance runs out, and she is sent home to deal with the real world. After arriving home, Anna realizes that she is better, as she gets angry, stands up to her mother, and does not feel any anxiety. Overall, Anna finds confidence in herself, and gains a new appreciation of who she is from her time in the mental hospital.
Personal Reaction/ Why Teenagers Would Read this Book:
In my opinion, this book was just ok. I thought the author did a good job of approaching the sensitive issue of mental illness in teens, but I was not a fan of the letter format. I think that teens would identify with the book, as the protagonist is a sixteen year old who struggles with body image, relationships, and feeling comfortable in her own skin, although she does have deeper issues than most teens. The book is definitely written the way a teen would write and think, with curse words, subtle digs at others, and funny asides. I can see how the word choice and style would appeal to the teenage reader. I do think it is important that teens are aware of how depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts can affect their perceptions about the world and themselves, and this book would definitely make teens think. Overall, this would not be my first choice to read again, but I think it does a good job of addressing a difficult issue.
Why was this book banned?
Get Well Soon was challenged by a parent of a teen in a public library in Wisconsin for inappropriate language and content that was inappropriate for children. The parent claimed that the “f-word” was not suitable for this age group, and the content of the book was not appropriate for her twelve year old. The parent was angry and asked a supervisor to remove it from the shelves of the library, and it was then thrown in the dumpster, without question, and without going through proper challenge procedures. This book was also challenged at a middle school library. However, the middle school responded to the challenge by keeping the book on the shelves.
Get Well Soon received great reviews! A review from Booklist says that teens will be able to relate to Anna’s character and her humorous sarcasm about her situation. It also says that teens will be able to connect to the way Anna is trying to shape her own life into what she wants it to be. A review from the Library Media Connection also gives good reviews and recommends the book. That review states that the book will have readers laughing and although there is some swearing, it is in line with how teens talk and think. It cites one of the important themes of the book in the review, saying that the book is about the relationship between teens and those who they would not typically associate. Overall, the reviews I read were very positive.
Awards Won:
Kirkus Best Young Adult Books: 2007
Young Adults’ Choices: 2009
YALSA Quick Picks for Young Adult Readers, 2008
Overall, I feel like this book should not have been challenged. Yes, the book does have some swearing, and the f-word does appear on the first page, but the words are not the focus of the story. They are used in a way that teens would use them, and they do not detract from the content. The benefits of teens reading about other teens dealing with mental illness far outweigh the bad language that most teens read, hear, or say on a daily basis. I am sad that the public library in Wisconsin threw the book away and did not follow proper challenged book procedures, but I am glad that the middle school chose to keep the book on the shelves as it does have great value to teens.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Book 5: Graphic Novel
Reed, Gary. (2005). Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein: The Graphic Novel. New York: Penguin Books.
Subgenre: Science Fiction/ Graphic Novel
Book Summary:
This book is a graphic novel interpretation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel, Frankenstein. The novel is written on an upper elementary school grade level, but the content is more suitable for young adults. The book begins with an ill man describing the tragedies of his life to some sailors who had found him traveling. The ill man was named Victor Frankenstein. Victor tells the story of his wonderful childhood, and how he found the love of his life, Elizabeth, at a very early age. However, his life was changed dramatically when his mother died as he was preparing to attend a university. His mother’s death made him question death, and his love of science led him to create a creature from the parts of dead humans. However, his creature did not turn out as planned, and was actually a dangerous man-like monster with amazing strength and intelligence. Victor did not know what to do with this monster, and he ran away in fear. All that the monster wanted was to be accepted and loved, but no humans would accept him because of his looks and strange actions. The monster then went on a killing spree, and killed every human who was close to Victor. In the end, Victor died of a broken heart, as all that he loved had been taken from him, and the monster ran away and also died.
Personal Reactions/ Why a Teen Would Read this Novel:
I am not a huge fan of graphic novels, personally. I can definitely see why they are popular with children and young adults, but I would not choose to read a graphic novel just for pleasure. I find them difficult to follow, and I do not enjoy the simplicity of the text. However, this book was easy to follow, and the graphics helped to enhance the plot. The vocabulary in this text was simple, but more difficult words were written in bold. Overall, this book was a quick read, as there were just a few sentences per page, but I would prefer to read a novel with more detail. I have never read the Shelley’s Frankenstein, but the graphic novel did peak my interest in the story, so I may want to go read that next!
I believe that an older child or teen would enjoy reading this book. As I said, the text is simple and easy to understand, and there are not many words on a page. Struggling readers would appreciate the simple vocabulary that describes a complex story like Frankenstein. The graphics and comic book like features of this novel really appeal to the younger reader, and in my experiences, male students seem to be drawn to the graphic novel. Although this type of literature is not my personal favorite, I can definitely see the reasons why they are popular and I think they would be appropriate to use in the classroom.
Library Lesson/ Collaboration with Classroom Teacher:
Although I have not read the original Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, I think the graphic novel lends itself to being used in the library as a method of comparing and contrasting two different versions of a story. As a media coordinator, I could collaborate with a classroom English teacher to prepare a series of lessons on comparing and contrasting. Students could read both the original novel, Frankenstein, and the graphic novel in their English classes, and then come to the library to work on various literacy skills.
After students read the novel, I would work with the classroom teacher to schedule a three week unit to analyze the works of literature in the media center. To start the unit, students would make a Venn diagram, comparing and contrasting the two different versions of the story, in small groups. I would then regroup the students and have them share their similarities and differences with the other groups, and we would create a large Venn diagram together. Based on what the students came up with in their groups, I would then use the information to dig further into what makes a graphic novel enjoyable to students. We would discuss the text features (dialogue, bold print, graphics, etc) and how those features affect the readability of the novel. We would discuss plot development, sequencing, and character development in the graphic novel, and how that relates to the original novel. Finally, after several classes of analyzing the similarities and differences in the two different versions, I would allow students to create a brief graphic novel based on another short story they have read in class. Students would not be able to make a full length graphic novel, but they would be able to make a short story work. We would use a comic making website to finalize and publish the works for the students. The teacher and I would be observing the students as they created their own graphic novel, and would grade the students based on a rubric that we created.
Subgenre: Science Fiction/ Graphic Novel
Book Summary:
This book is a graphic novel interpretation of Mary Shelley’s classic novel, Frankenstein. The novel is written on an upper elementary school grade level, but the content is more suitable for young adults. The book begins with an ill man describing the tragedies of his life to some sailors who had found him traveling. The ill man was named Victor Frankenstein. Victor tells the story of his wonderful childhood, and how he found the love of his life, Elizabeth, at a very early age. However, his life was changed dramatically when his mother died as he was preparing to attend a university. His mother’s death made him question death, and his love of science led him to create a creature from the parts of dead humans. However, his creature did not turn out as planned, and was actually a dangerous man-like monster with amazing strength and intelligence. Victor did not know what to do with this monster, and he ran away in fear. All that the monster wanted was to be accepted and loved, but no humans would accept him because of his looks and strange actions. The monster then went on a killing spree, and killed every human who was close to Victor. In the end, Victor died of a broken heart, as all that he loved had been taken from him, and the monster ran away and also died.
Personal Reactions/ Why a Teen Would Read this Novel:
I am not a huge fan of graphic novels, personally. I can definitely see why they are popular with children and young adults, but I would not choose to read a graphic novel just for pleasure. I find them difficult to follow, and I do not enjoy the simplicity of the text. However, this book was easy to follow, and the graphics helped to enhance the plot. The vocabulary in this text was simple, but more difficult words were written in bold. Overall, this book was a quick read, as there were just a few sentences per page, but I would prefer to read a novel with more detail. I have never read the Shelley’s Frankenstein, but the graphic novel did peak my interest in the story, so I may want to go read that next!
I believe that an older child or teen would enjoy reading this book. As I said, the text is simple and easy to understand, and there are not many words on a page. Struggling readers would appreciate the simple vocabulary that describes a complex story like Frankenstein. The graphics and comic book like features of this novel really appeal to the younger reader, and in my experiences, male students seem to be drawn to the graphic novel. Although this type of literature is not my personal favorite, I can definitely see the reasons why they are popular and I think they would be appropriate to use in the classroom.
Library Lesson/ Collaboration with Classroom Teacher:
Although I have not read the original Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley, I think the graphic novel lends itself to being used in the library as a method of comparing and contrasting two different versions of a story. As a media coordinator, I could collaborate with a classroom English teacher to prepare a series of lessons on comparing and contrasting. Students could read both the original novel, Frankenstein, and the graphic novel in their English classes, and then come to the library to work on various literacy skills.
After students read the novel, I would work with the classroom teacher to schedule a three week unit to analyze the works of literature in the media center. To start the unit, students would make a Venn diagram, comparing and contrasting the two different versions of the story, in small groups. I would then regroup the students and have them share their similarities and differences with the other groups, and we would create a large Venn diagram together. Based on what the students came up with in their groups, I would then use the information to dig further into what makes a graphic novel enjoyable to students. We would discuss the text features (dialogue, bold print, graphics, etc) and how those features affect the readability of the novel. We would discuss plot development, sequencing, and character development in the graphic novel, and how that relates to the original novel. Finally, after several classes of analyzing the similarities and differences in the two different versions, I would allow students to create a brief graphic novel based on another short story they have read in class. Students would not be able to make a full length graphic novel, but they would be able to make a short story work. We would use a comic making website to finalize and publish the works for the students. The teacher and I would be observing the students as they created their own graphic novel, and would grade the students based on a rubric that we created.
Book 4: Series Book 2: The Hunger Games
Collins, Suzanne. (2008). The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic Press.
Textbook Chapter: 7
Subgenre: Survival; Dystopian Society; Science Fiction
Possible Curriculum Connections: Compare/Contrast The Hunger Games with similar futuristic books like Z for Zachariah or The Giver.
Book Summary: The book is based on a future North American society called Panem. Panem is broken into 12 districts, and to remind all of the districts that the Capitol is in control, each district has to sacrifice two older children/ teenagers to participate in the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is an annual competition where each teen has to fight to the death in an arena like setting, where the Capitol adds obstacles like rain, fire, crazed animals, etc, to make the competition more difficult and more exciting to watch. In the end, whoever survives is the Hunger Games champion, and they are revered throughout Panem. Throughout the Hunger Games, a love story develops between Peeta and Katniss, who are two of the chosen teens for the Hunger Games, and between Katniss and Gale, who is Katniss’s best friend from District 12. The reader follows Katniss and Peeta throughout the Hunger Games as they struggle to survive. In the end, the love story between Katniss and Peeta helps to save their lives.
Personal Reaction/ Why Teens Would Read this Book:
I LOVED The Hunger Games! It was an interesting, captivating read with a unique plot! I know that the movie that comes out in March has added extra hype to the books, but they are legitimately great! By including Peeta, Gale, and Katniss in the novel, almost all teens will be able to identify with one of the main characters. They are all very different, but they are still typical teens. The book is also action-packed, with many twists and turns that make the reader want to see what comes next. The series is small, with only three books, but the author does a great job of setting the plot up for the next book. The end of The Hunger Games definitely makes the reader want to read the next book, Catching Fire. Overall, I am extremely impressed with this series!
Personal Reaction/ Why Teens Would Read this Book:
I LOVED The Hunger Games! It was an interesting, captivating read with a unique plot! I know that the movie that comes out in March has added extra hype to the books, but they are legitimately great! By including Peeta, Gale, and Katniss in the novel, almost all teens will be able to identify with one of the main characters. They are all very different, but they are still typical teens. The book is also action-packed, with many twists and turns that make the reader want to see what comes next. The series is small, with only three books, but the author does a great job of setting the plot up for the next book. The end of The Hunger Games definitely makes the reader want to read the next book, Catching Fire. Overall, I am extremely impressed with this series!
Book 3: Series Book 1: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Rowling, J.K. (2007). Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. New York: Scholastic Press.
Textbook Chapter: 7
Subgenre: Fantasy
Possible Curriculum Connections: Fantasy genre study; Plot and character development lessons
Book Summary:
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the final book in the epic 7 volume Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. The book begins in the midst of turmoil in the wizarding world. Lord Voldemort, the series’ ultimate villain, has come back and the Ministry of Magic has been overtaken by Death Eaters, who are Voldemort’s followers. Harry, Ron, and Hermione begin a quest to find and destroy all of the Horcruxes, which contain parts of Lord Voldemort’s soul. The trio is in terrible danger as they try to decipher the clues and gifts that Dumbledore gave them to defeat the Dark Lord. After a bloody battle at Hogwarts where several of the book’s beloved characters were injured or killed, good overcomes evil and Lord Voldemort’s horcruxes (and himself) were destroyed! An afterword was included that gave information about what Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the other characters ended up years later.
Personal Reaction/ Why Teenagers Would Read this Book:
The Harry Potter series is my all-time favorite series of books, young adult or otherwise! I think J.K. Rowling is a genius! Her ability to develop her characters is simply amazing! I have never read a book that gave as much detail about a character’s thoughts, actions, and looks as those from the Harry Potter series. This book, specifically, was action packed! I honestly could not put it down, and something new and exciting happened during every single chapter!
I think a teenager would enjoy reading this book because of the fantasy aspect of the story. The fact that teenage Harry Potter started out as an ordinary boy, living in a life that was unpleasant, but turned into something magical, would appeal to many teens. Teens may also want to read this book because it is fast paced, and it does have a lot of action. In general, I think that young adults like series books because they can relate to the characters, and are able to grow up with the characters as well. For example, in the Harry Potter series, we first get to know the characters at age 12, and then we end the Deathly Hallows with a glimpse of life in the future for the main characters.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Book 2: Found
Haddix, Margaret Peterson. (2008). Found. New York: Simon & Schuster.
Textbook Chapter: 7
Subgenre: Science Fiction
Possible Curriculum Connections: Time travel, Adoption, Famous Missing Persons from History (Amelia Earhart, Virginia Dare, etc)
Book Summary:
Found is an excellent beginning to The Missing Series by Margaret Peterson Haddix. The prologue to the book grabs the reader's attention as a mysterious plane filled with only babies appears and disappears at a US airport roughly 13 years prior to the book. The plot unfolds several years later as Jonah, an adopted 13 year old boy, and Chip, his new neighbor and friend, begin receiving notes in the mail saying "You are one of the missing." and "Beware! They're coming back for you!" These mysterious notes lead Chip into discovering that he, too, was adopted, although his parents had hidden that from him his entire life. As Jonah, Chip, and Jonah's sister Katherine begin investigating these notes, they follow a lead to FBI agent, James Reardon, who is anything but helpful. While at the FBI, the teens are helped by a "ghost" who shares a file with them about other kids who were also "missing." Upon further investigation, all of the teens on the list were adopted around the same time, were close to the same age, and all live in the same area. After a meeting with an airport worker who witnessed the plane disappear years earlier, the teens believe that they may be part of something bigger and scarier than they thought. Finally, the book concludes as the trio attend an adoption conference, where they notice that they are paired with all of the other "missing" kids from the list. They end up being tricked into a cave which was actually a time continuum by two opposing time travelers/ manipulators. The reader discovers that the teens are not actually teens, but are actually famous missing people from history that have been transported to present day America. The book ends with the trio being transported back to the 15th Century. I guess I will have to read the next book in the series to discover what happens next!
Personal Reaction/ Why Young Adults would Read this book:
From the very beginning, this book caught my attention! The prologue was definitely a hook for the reader, as discovering who the missing babies were, where the plane went, and what was going to happen next became my life for the next several days! However, after the prologue, I felt that the book was a little slow in developing. Although it is a great plot, the climax does not happen until the very end of the book in the cave. I know that series books are written in this manner to keep the reader wanting more, but I would have liked a little more action, a little sooner! The science fiction aspect of the book was very interesting! The combination of historical figures and science fiction makes the book unique for sure! I definitely want to read the next books in the series to see what happens next because the end of the book was one of the best climaxes I have read in a long time!
I think that young adults would like to read this book. The plot develops slowly, but steadily, and the twists, turns, and surprises were fairly easy to follow. The main characters in the novel were 12 and 13 years old, which would appeal to the age of the intended audience. Also, what teen, or anyone really, wouldn't want to time travel!? The themes in the book were teenage appropriate and would also appeal to the reader. Finally, the adoption theme would tie into adolescence because just like the characters in the story, most teenagers are struggling to find out who they really are, both literally and figuratively. This would be a great series for both male and female young adults to read!
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