Old Hickory: Andrew Jackson and the American People: Albert Marrin

Title: Old Hickory: Andrew Jackson and the American People

Author: Albert Marrin

Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (2004)

Media Format: Book

Genre: Biography, Non-Fiction

Selection Source: Text p. 296

Reading Audience: High School

Reading Recommendation: 3 ***

Curriculum Connection: American History

Summary

This biography tells the story of our first populist president. All the presidents before him, and most after him had elite educations, and came from aristocratic backgrounds. Jackson was the first president who rose up from the dirt to hold the highest office in the land. Despite being poor, Jackson seemed like a special child with a feel for horses, an adventurous streak, and toughness that got him in a lot of fights. Jackson's ambitions stayed with him through adulthood as he thrived in each position he held and hungered for more. Despite having extremely insensitive racial views, and pre-feminist movement thoughts about women, Jackson was a loving husband, and had a special relationship with his wife. After enduring a bitter presidential campaign, Jackson became the seventh president of the United States. His presidency was a success in terms of accomplishing what he set out to accomplish. Unfortunately, one of those things was driving Indians off their land. For better or worse, Jackson is the quintessential American president. His narrative fits perfectly with the American myth. Even his flaws are part of the American story.

Evaluation

This book does what a biography is supposed to do. It engagingly tells a person's story. It draws us in by talking about Jackson's adventurous boyhood. It shows us his humanity by documenting his relationship with his wife. Finally, it lets his actions speak for themselves without passing judgement. It allows the reader to judge Jackson for what he was, a flawed human, living in less sensitive times, who rose to the White House, and did what he felt was right.

The primary use of this book would be in connection with an American History course. Not too many YAs are going to read it for pleasure, but if they are forced to read it as part of a class, many might find it more interesting than they had expected.

Boy Meets Boy: David Levithan

Title: Boy Meets Boy

Author: David Levithan

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (2005)

Media Format: Book

Genre: Homosexuality, Speculative Fiction

Selection Source: Teen Reads

Reading Audience: Junior High+

Reading Recommendation: 3 ***

Curriculum Connection: Tolerance

Summary

This novel is different from most teen novels that deal with homosexuality. By working within the speculative fiction genre, Levithan bypasses most of the issues that teenage homosexuals are faced with; grappling with one's sexuality, coming out of the close, guilt, and isolation. By normalizing homosexuality in this one town, he allows us to consider the way things could be. Paul is gay. He has known he was gay since kindergarten. His parents accepted the news that he was gay with the same disinterest some parents might feel if the kindergarten teacher told them their son prefers soccer to dodgeball. It doesn't end in Paul's household. The star quaterback is a transvestite who gives new meaning to the the phrase homecoming queen. Against this backdrop we read about the love story between Paul and Noah. The most unusual thing about it is how normal it is. We are allowed to forget about the homosexuality and take it for what it is, a romance between two individuals who have strong feelings for each other, but their immature love leads them to do things that have the potential to alienate each other.

Evaluation

This book works. It does what it sets out to do which is to make a "normal" love story about two gay boys. It also does what all books offering a minority viewpoint should do, it allows us to feel what the protagonist feels, and see the world as the protagonist sees it. In my view, books like this are more powerful than divisive arguments about homosexuality. It appeals to our sense of empathy rather than intellect, and in the end we are happy when Paul inevitably gets the boy.

Autobiography of my Dead Brother: Walter Dean Myers

Title: Autobiography of my Dead Brother

Author: Walter Dean Myers

Publisher: Amistad

Media Format: Book

Genre: Urban, Ethnic Experience

Selection Source: National Book Award Finalist

Reading Audience: Jr. High+

Reading Recommendation: 3***

Curriculum Connection: Black History Month

Summary

Jesse has always looked up to his older friend and blood brother, Rise. They were raised together, and have spent a lot of time talking about life, and the problems of the city. They are a part of a club called The Counts, and when one of their members gets in trouble with the law, the fissure of their diverging world views becomes apparent. Rise begins to see little value in living the straight life, and views people who live it to be either suckers or weak. He adopts a fatalistic attitude towards drug use in the neighborhood to justify his desire to start peddling. The shift really shakes Jesse up, and he realizes that he needs to decide what he believes in and what is important, so he can walk his own path clearly.

Evaluation

This book tackles an important issue for inner city youth, the notion of selling out via success. This is the idea that by doing well and school and trying to get to college are examples of acting white; not keeping it real. Myers does a great job of creating a protagonist that cares about his street reputation, but also cares about living a successful life. He illustrates the tension within youth that have to walk that tight rope. He shows that he is sympathetic to the allure of the more rebellious position, but also shows that when viewing the big picture the choice is an easy one to make. Youth who enjoy reading this might want to move on to the more complex television drama The Wire (ages 16+) which addresses many of these issues in a terrifyingly realistic representation of the inescapability of urban life.

10 Things I Hate About You

Title: 10 Things I Hate About You
Director: Gil Junger
Produced: Touchstone Pictures (1999)

Media Format: Movie
Genre: Romance, Humor
Selection Source: YALSA Fabulous Films for YAs
Audience Recommendation: High School
Watching Recommendation: 3 ***
Curriculum Connection: Literature, Drama

Summary
New kid Cameron is being shown around the school by fellow dork, Michael when he immediately falls in love with the popular Bianca. Bianca is being sought after by jock and top-jerk, Joey. The problem for both Cameron and Joey is that Bianca's over protective father does not allow her to date. Bianca's older sister Kat has no interest in any of the boys in her school. She is simply counting the days until she graduates and can move out East in order to attend Sarah Lawrence. Knowing that Kat doesn't date, the father tells Bianca that she can start dating as soon as her sister does. Cameron hears about his, and hatches a plan to get the school rebel, played by the late Heath Ledger to ask Kat out. As one can imagine all sorts of hijinks and misunderstandings ensue.

Evaluation
This movie is a modern retelling of Shakespeare's Taming the Shrew. I don't know much about Shakespeare, so I didn't catch it, but it could be a great way to introduce Shakespeare to a skeptical class of young English students. There is a little bit of harsh language and sexual situations, but it's pretty pg-13. It's a pretty typical romance in many ways. Girl discovers dorky guy is better than dumb jock. The rebel starts a romance for the wrong reasons, but then falls for the girl who finds out about his alterior motives, dumps him, he then figures out how to show girl that he really cares. But, it is quite funny, and the characters communicate with sophisticated language that is rarely seen in teen movies.

Hatchet: Gary Paulsen

Title: Hatchet
Author: Gary Paulsen
Publisher: Aladin (1996)

Media Format: Book
Genre: Adventure, Coming of Age
Selection Source: Newbery Honor Book
Reading Audience: Jr. High+
Reading Recommendation: 4 ****
Curriculum Connection: Boy Scouts, Hunter's Safety

Summary
This is a story about a boy who survives a plane crash, only to be stranded in the Canadian wilderness with nothing but the clothes on his back, and the hatchet his mother gave him. Brian uses his determination and his wits to survive in the wilderness. He overcomes swarming insects, large bears, no fire (until he figures it out), and no food. He gathers berries, and learns how to fish using a hand crafted boy and arrow made from a tree and his shoe laces. He eats turtle eggs, and stalks wild grouse. It's fascinating to read how Brian uses his resources to stay alive, and even thrive, while marooned in the harsh bosom of mother nature.

Evaluation
This works very well as an adventure story, and would be a good book for reluctant boy readers. The intensity of the plane crash grabs readers' attention right away, and the book is almost a mystery in the sense that the reader is always guessing and anticipating how Brian is going to solve the next inevitable obstacle that confronts him. It's an inspirational adventure story that readers won't want to set down.

The P.L.A.I.N. Janes: Cecil Castellucci

Title: The P.L.A.I.N. Janes

Author: Cecil Castellucci

Publisher: Minx (2007)

Media Format: Graphic Novel

Genre: Female Protagonist, Friendship

Selection Source: MDPLS Staff YA picks

Reading Recommendation: 3***

Audience Recommendation: JR High +

Curriculum Connection: Art

Summary

The Plain Janes is a graphic novel about dislocation, friendship, and art. Jane moves from the city after a terorrist attack frightens her parents into taking refuge in the suburbs. She is dismayed by how tragically unhip the kids in her new school are, especially the cool kids. Then, she comes across the nerd table, where three outcasts named Jane are sharing their lunch. The three plain Janes don't seem to interested in Jane until she comes up with an idea to become an art terorrist. They begin a friendship by creating public art in unlikely places, and they begin to gain quite a following, including from local law enforcement. When the heat gets turned up, they get an oportunity to see what friendship is really about.

Evaluation

This is a graphic novel aimed at a primarily female audience (although it's quite readable for males). It's a fun, light hearted book, that can easily be read in one sitting. The female lead, Jane is likable and believable, and plenty of people can sympathize with the desire to establish connections with others in a seemingly superficial world. It's primary a leisure reading book, but could be read in connection with an art class. Although, the teacher probably wouldn't want to be seen as encouraging acts of vandalistic art.

Title: The Perks of Being a Wallflower Author: Steven Chbosky
Publisher: MTV (1999)


Media Format: Book
Genre: Coming of Age
Selection Source: YALSA Popular Paberbacks for YAs
Reading Audience: High School
Reading Recommendation: 4 ****
Curriculum Connection: none


Summary
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming of age story inspired by The Catcher in the Rye. It deals with issues such as homosexuality, sexual abuse, drug abuse, and friendship. The main character, Charlie has a relatively typical family life and caring parents. In school he's not really disliked, he just kind of blends in. This story is about him meeting his first real friends, and how having friends brought both love and pain into his life. He struggles to overcome his passivity, so he can participate in life and friendship. He also develops an apprentice-like relationship with his English teacher Bill, who gives Charlie books to read, so Charlie can write reports on them, including of course, The Catcher in the Rye.


Evaluation
This is a very engaging novel, and although I'm not a sensitive emo type like Charlie, so I didn't necessarily identify with him, I found him very endearing, and I got a lot of vicarious pleasure out of reading about him establishing very real connections with his friends. This book deals with mature issues, but is meant to be read by young high schoolers (the protagonist is a freshman). It's an enjoyable read for anyone, but it's a perfect read for adolescents who feel alienated, and it has an added bonus of suggesting many great works of literature and music to young readers.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Title: The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Publisher: Harper Collins 1992 (1892)

Media Format: Book

Genre: Mystery

Selection Source: Textbook p.204

Reading Audience: Junior High+

Reading Recommendation: 4 ****

Curriculum Connection: none

Summary

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is a compilation of 12 short stories. Sherlock Holmes is one of those stories that has been remade, redone, and spoofed so many times that even though I had never read it, I felt like I've known it my whole life. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the stories. Besides being the quintessential mystery series, it's a great friendship book. The cold and rational Holmes has little use for emotions that cloud his intellect (he doesn't seem to have the same worries about cocaine), but his affection for Watson is obvious every time Watson stops by. Holmes is always delighted to see him, and almost always has an adventure for him. Mostly, I was impressed by how fun the stories were. I had imagined them being much more stuffy. I loved an exchange between Holmes and Watson where Holmes told Watson that he needed his help. Watson said OK. Then Holmes asks, "you don't mind going to jail?" Watson replies, "not if it's a good cause." Of course, what really makes the stories is Holmes' ridiculous ability to make grand deductions from the smallest of clues.

Evaluation

These stories are a fun read for anyone 12 or older. I like how they show intellectualism as being a hip and Bohemian lifestyle. The one complaint I have about the short stories is that the clues Holmes uses aren't always available to the reader. I'm willing to overlook it, because Holmes draws from a deep body of knowledge that is also unavailable to the reader, so the reader would have little chance to come to the conclusions that Holmes does. If readers are looking for a modern Holmes allegory they can watch the television program House M. D. which was inspired by the Sherlock Holmes stories. Also, I expect a resurgence of popularity due to the Sherlock Holmes movie which will be released on Christmas of 2009.

The Giver: Lois Lowry

Title: The Giver

Author: Lois Lowry

Publisher: Laurel Leaf (2002)

Media Format: Book

Genre: Dystopian

Selection Source: Text p.24

Reading Audience: 12+

Reading Recommendation: 4 ****

Curriculum Connection: Social Studies

Summary

The Giver is a Dystopian novel for children and young adults. We are introduced to Jonas who lives in a seemingly idyllic society. Everyone gets along. There is no crime. People don't hurt each others' feelings. Families talk about their day at dinner, and discuss their dreams in the morning when they wake up. The reader always has the nagging feeling that the society is too good to be true. The society has many rules, and though the characters in the book don't mind obeying them, they seem silly, if not ominous to the modern, freedom loving, enlightened American. We slowly learn that the characters are not living in an overzealous country club society, but a bio-geo-engineered Dystopia. We find this out, because will has been selected as the receiver. This means that he is honored and burdened by being the one person in the society who holds the memories of the way society was before the "sameness." Will then discovers the horrors that lurk beneath the surface of his idyllic city. He can no longer live with his knowledge, and he is left with only one option.

Evaluation

Great book, easy read, and thought provoking, that's why The Giver is on all sorts of reading lists for young adults. I've reviewed two other Dystopian novels (I know, I'm pushing it), like Feed and unlike A Handmaid's Tale, The Giver does the most important thing a Dystopian novel needs to do, it shows us a terrible society, that we recognize as our own.

The Dragons of Babel: Michael Swanwick

Title: The Dragons of Babel

Author: Michael Swanwick

Publisher: Tor Books (2009)

Media Format: Book

Genre: Fantasy

Selection Source: Alex Award

Reading Audience: Older YAs who have read other fantasy titles

Reading Recommendation: 3 ***

Curriculum Connection: none

Summary

For lack of better terms, this book gets labeled a fantasy novel, but it's definitely a next generation fantasy. The post-industrial fantasy aesthetic is nourishment for the imagination. It takes place on Earth in an alternative present. Where Babylon is the leading empire on Earth, and the great Tower of Babel is the center of it all. The orphaned protagonist, Will's village is attacked by a metal, magical dragon, who declares himself king. He chooses the half-mortal Will to be his lieutenant. Of course, being the Lt. of a tyrannical, dictatorial dragon alienates Will from his friends and family. Even slaying the beast does not redeem Will, so he is forced to exile, where his adventures begin. If this ever becomes a movie, it has to be directed by Guillermo Del Toro who would absolutely delight in making the array of fabulous creatures that Will encounters. Potty mouthed centaur mares are the first indication that we're not in Narnia. After half adopting an immortal child who sold her memories for eternal good luck, he heads to Babylon, where he meets up with a donkey eared prankster who plans on putting Will on the Obsidian Throne of the long lost king. Meanwhile Will becomes Lt. of an underground leader who is an elf of high blood who suffers from the ennui of being immortal and perfect, so he conjures up an underground army. After escaping detail he falls in love with a high blooded elf-punk, who could never love him back, because it would put her in a coma. As in most fantasies, Will learns more from the voyage than he does by reaching his destination.

Evaluation

This is really a niche read. Of all the books I've reviewed this one has the narrowest appeal. This book is for kids who've read Lord of the Rings, and its R. A. Salvatore offspring, but are looking to branch out. That doesn't mean it's not good. It's a beautiful story, and some of the plot lines have obvious parallels to modern society. The author does a great job of imagining an alternative world, albeit one where slobs still throw Pepsi bottles on the streets. It does feature strong language and sexual situations.

Nation: Terry Pratchett

Title: Nation
Author: Terry Pratchett
Publisher: HarperCollins

Media Format: Book
Genre: Speculative Fiction
Selection Source: YALSA Top 10 Books for YAs 2009
Reading Audience: All YAs+
Reading Recommendation: 4 ****
Curriculum Connection: none

Summary
Nation is set in a parallel universe with similarities to Victorian Age England. Almost all of it takes place on an island in the Pacific, known to its inhabitants as The Nation. After a tsunami wipes out everyone on the island, but a boy who was away on his manhood journey. It also wrecked a ship that killed everyone and everything on it except for a young girl and her Victorian sensibilities. It's one of those classic tales that must appeal to humans on a deep level, because they're always being retold. It's a tale of two civilizations meeting, a tale of rebuilding a nation from the ground up, and a friendship tale about two people from alien civilizations who learn to communicate and understand each other.

Evaluation
This story of two cultures meeting and of friendship should appeal to many readers. It allows us to relive and rewrite our tragic history of the meeting of civilizations. We realize that things might have worked out better if those people who met in 1492 had the sense and curiosity of young people. It is really a leisure reading book, but one that has the potential to teach and provoke thoughts.

Bridge to Terabithia: Katherine Paterson

Title: Bride to Terabithia
Writer: Katherine Paterson (novel)
Director: Gabor Csupo
Produced by: Walt Disney (2007)


Media Format: Book
Genre: Realistic with elements of fantasy
Selection Source: Newbery Medal
Reading Audience: Older Children & Young YAs, but the book/movie deals with mature themes
Watching Recommendation: 3.5 ***
Curriculum Connection: Dealing with death/dying


Summary
I, like the person who reviews this movie in the video above, and many others, was surprised to find out, upon watching this movie that it was not a fantasy. It was really marketed as a fantasy like The Chronicles of Narnia. It didn't bother me as much as some people, but it was something I noticed when the movie was about three quarters of the way over. This is not a fantasy movie. It incorporates elements of fantasy into a realistic story about two junior high school students who form a deep friendship. The protagonist is a boy named Jess. At first, he was dismayed by the new girl, Leslie who beats him in a foot race. She's quite persistent in pursuing his friendship, and it turns out there is a lot he can learn from her. She learns from him too, but she is the one who brings the energy to the relationship, and opens his eyes to the world and to himself. Unfortunately, beautiful friendships to not always last as long as they could/should, and Jess has to figure out how to move on without forgetting the magic that Leslie brought into his life.


Evaluation
This story is primarily aimed at junior high students, but it's possible that mature children could watch it, as well as older YAs. It's an archetypal friendship story. It's about two people who recognize that life is better, because they can share it with each other. They work together to help the teacher, thwart bullies, do chores at home, and create a magical kingdom which they rule from an abandoned tree house.
----Spoiler Alert----
It's primary use is to teach young people about dealing with the death of a friend, and how to move on from that tragic situation without forgetting that person.

Fables: Legends in Exile

Title: Fables: Legends in Exile
Author: Bill Willingham
Illustrator: Lan Medina
Publisher: Vertigo


Media Format: Graphic Novel
Genre: Graphic Novel, Mystery
Selection Source: The Lair
Reading Audience: 16+
Reading Recommendation: 3 ***
Curriculum Connection: none


Summary
Fables is a series of graphic novels that takes classic fairy tales and twists them. The first volume in that series is Legends in Exile. It introduces us to characters such as Snow White, the Big Bad Wolf (Bigby), Bluebeard, Jack (of beanstalk fame) and Prince Charming. Snow White's sister, Rose Red has been murdered, and Bigby is on the case.


The first volume in this series spends a lot of time introducing us to many of the characters, and explaining how they came to live in modern day Manhattan. Their lives have turned from a fairy tale into a soap opera. As Bigby goes from suspect to suspect, we find out these characters have had a lot of opportunities to make a lot of mistakes and enemies in the last couple of hundred years. Half the fun of the book is to recognize the allusions to various stories, some subtle and some obvious. It also does well as a mystery even poking fun at the genre as Bigby does his parlor scene where he outs the suspects and explains everything to the willing audience.


Evaluation
This is definitely a book for older teens. There's violence and sexual situations. It's a good book to introduce them to the adult comic. The plot is relatively straightforward and they will enjoy seeing Goody two shoes fairy tale characters in precarious positions. It's a good way to lift the veil of childhood illusions of innocence about the world.

Immersed in Verse: Allan Wolf

Title: Immersed in Verse

Author: Allan Wolf

Publisher: Lark Books

Media Format: Book

Genre: Poetry

Selection Source: Text Book p. 156

Reading Audience: Junior High+

Reading Recommendation: 3 ***

Curriculum Connection: Poetry

Summary

Immersed in Verse is an instruction manual. It attempts to take poetry out of a classroom setting and into the real world by showing teens that poetry is all around them waiting to be written. Mostly, the author is trying to show how poetry can be fun.

The book teaches how to read and write poetry. It gives the reader tips on how to understand poetry by defining some poetic techniques they can look out for like metaphors, similes, personification, alliteration, and onomatopoeia. He breaks down a number of poems so the young readers can see those poetic terms in action.

In addition to helping young adults read poems, Wolf also teaches them how to get into writing them. He suggests they write a little every day, and he gives them a lot of training suggestions to help them hone their poetic instincts. Finally, he teaches them how to craft their poem from the pre-poem idea, to the writing, to the revising, to the presentation.

Evaluation

This would be a great book to use in any junior high or high school poetry class, especially one that is going to spend at least a couple of weeks on poetry. It brings poetry to life in a way that most high school literature text books do not. It does a really good job of showing poetry as a lifestyle rather than just something students need to learn to pass a test. I think the primary use of this book would be a classroom environment, but advanced students who are interested in poetry might use it outside of the classroom setting.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian: Sherman Alexie

Title: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian Author: Sherman Alexie
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers


Media Format: Book
Genre: Ethnic experience in fiction
Selection Source: Linda Alexander
Reading Audience: Junior High +
Reading Recommendation: 4 ****
Curriculum Connection: Any class that deals with Native American Experience


Summary
Arnold (Junior) Spirit is a teenage American Indian who lives on a reservation in Washington state. He's frail of body (although he's a good basketball player), but he's bright of mind. This of course doesn't not prevent him from getting his ass kicked on a regular basis by the other Indians on the rez. Fighting is one of the biggest hobbies for the Indians on the rez, and unfortunately, Arnold's not too good at it. One of Arnold's teachers recognizes that Arnold is too smart to live on the rez. He'll never be able to fulfill his potential. Despite strong objections from his best friend, who feels like it's a personal betrayal, he decides to attend a school twenty miles away where he will be the only Indian (besides the mascot). After a rough beginning, Arnold actually gets on quite well at the new school. His new best friend is the smartest kid in the school, his new girlfriend is the prettiest, and he makes the varsity basketball team as a freshman. That does not stop the perpetual alcohol induced tragedies from affecting the rez and his family. He has to struggle with his new success, and the lack of progress of his friends and family.


Evaluation
This is an extremely enjoyable, readable book. The protagonist is likable and self-aware in an always self-deprecating fashion. I would recommend this book for anyone twelve and up. There is some feisty language, and multiple references to masturbation, but it's pretty PG-13. Despite multiple tragic moments, the book is humorous and optimistic.

Grave of the Fireflies

Title: Grave of the Fireflies Director: Isao Takahata
Publisher: Shinchosa Company


Media Format: DVD
Genre: Anime, Historical
Selection Source: The Librarian's Guide to Anime and Manga
Audience: Junior High +
Recommendation: 5 *****
Curriculum Connections: Any class dealing with WWII


Summary
Roger Ebert says, "It belongs on any list of the greatest war films ever made." Grave of the Fireflies is about an orphaned boy of about 12 years and his toddler sister trying to survive on their own in WWII Japan. At first they were staying with an aunt of theirs, and while the aunt wasn't abusive, she wasn't exactly supportive either, and the kids felt they were being taken advantage of, so they took what little money and supplies they had and headed for an abandoned bomb shelter. At first they enjoyed their freedom, but their health was quickly deteriorating, and the brother was having a difficult time bartering for food, so he turned to theft, which worked for a while... Ultimately, the elements and the lack of support from their countrymen was too much for them to overcome.


Evaluation
Many people consider this the saddest movie they've ever seen. Watching the ridiculously adorable toddler waste away is tragic like a train wreck. You see it coming, and there's nothing you can do about it. It would be a great way to introduce an alternative perspective on WWII. It's probably best for students who are at least 13. There's not much objectionable material. Most of the violence is periphery, but younger students may not be able to get as much out of it.

The Handmaid's Tale: Margaret Atwood

Title: The Handmaid's Tale
Author: Margaret Atwood
Publisher: Random House

Media Format: Book
Genre: Speculative Fiction, Banned Book, Dystopian
Selection Source: ALA 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books: 1990-1999
Reading Audience: High School +
Reading Recommendation: 3 ***
Curriculum Connections: Social Sciences

Summary
The Handmaid's Tale was the 37th most challenged book of the 90s. Mostly it was challenged for being required/suggested reading in high school classrooms Common allegations against it are that it contains multiple sexual situations that are described in some detail. Various references to suicide being a legitimate alternative to life, and that it is a thinly veiled attack on the Christian Faith.

It's setting is America in the not too distant future. America is a country on lock down, and women have become second class citizens. For some unexplained reason, less children are being born, and some that are being born are deformed or stillborn. The upper class in this society have a harem of concubines that undergo physical evaluations to determine when they are most fertile, so they can lay with the man of the house in a bizarre ceremony that includes the husband, the wife, and the concubine. Women are no longer allowed to read, and are forced to dress in form concealing habits, complete with horse-like blinders to keep their eyes from wandering. This is a story about one woman who has the fading memory of her family life before, and is quickly understanding that there is more than meets the eye to her current oppressive society.

Evaluation
This 320 page book could be read in conjunction with any class that deals with women's studies, or utopian/dystopian societies. There are a lot of mature themes, and has been challenged as a result of that. Although I never condone censorship, I would only recommend this book for mature readers. This is a good story with some beautiful prose, but it didn't speak to me in the way Orwell's dystopian classics did. I think if I lived in Saudi Arabia it would probably have a bigger impact on me, but I tend to disagree with the author's major point that Christianity taken to extremes would lead to this society. Don't get me wrong, there is a Christian Dystopia novel that could be written to scare me, but it's not this one. Although, female readers are oftentimes more touched by the story.

The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation: Jacobson & Colon

Title: The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation

Authors: Ernie Colon & Sid Jacobson

Publisher: Hill and Wang (2006)

Media Format: Graphic Novel

Genre: Non-Fiction, Graphic Novel

Selection Source: YALSA: 2007 Best Books for Young Adults

Recommended Audience: High School

Reading Recommendation: 3 ***

Curriculum Connections: Social Studies, Political Science, History

Summary
This book is a graphic adaptation of the 9/11 Commission Report. It is a condensed version of the report, but it keeps the most important elements, and turns it into a comic book that is digestible for young readers. The 9/11 report uses hindsight to shed light on the pre-9/11 environment, as well as the response to 9/11. It deals with the Clinton administration's response to the first WTC bombing and the rough transition between the Clinton and Bush administrations. It also reveals the steps taken by the suicide bombers that got them into those planes. It deals with how the major players in the Bush administration responded to the attacks. It offers a clear eyed, non-partisan review of the events surrounding the tragic defining moment of the young millenium.

Evaluation
I think this book is best used as part of a class, rather than for student leisure reading. It could be very useful in engaging reluctant readers to take on a serious subject. The most impressive part of the book to me is its capitalization on the graphic novel medium. It excels in the early parts of the book using fold out, graphic timelines of the morning of 9/11. It puts the events in perspective in a way print never could. I would highly recommend this book for any class that deals with the 9/11 events, American History, or American foreign policy.

Th1rteen R3asons Why: Jay Asher

Title: Th1rteen R3asons Why Author: Jay Asher
Publisher: Razorbill


Media Format: Book
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Selection Source: Cindy Stafford--Librarian at South Miami High School
Recommended Audience: All teens
Reading Recommendation: 5 *****
Curriculum Connections: Sociology


Review
When I told Cindy Stafford, Librarian at South Miami High School, that I was looking for some good YA books to read for a young adults materials class, she took me directly to Th1rteen R3asons Why. She gave it a glowing recommendation, and said that it got teens talking in their book discussion group like no book before or since. I couldn't pass up a recommendation like that, so I checked it out to find out why it did such a good job of stimulating discussion amongst teens.


Clay Jensen received a box of cassette tapes, and after listening to the contents within them, he'll never be the same. He had a crush on a girl named Hannah, and he had reasons to believe that she shared those feelings, until her sudden suicide a couple of weeks before. Within those tapes are the thirteen reasons why Hannah killed herself, and by possessing those tapes, Clay knows he is one of those reasons. He is afraid to hear how he may have contributed to the death of a girl he could have loved, but he's compelled to listen. He finds out how seemingly inconsequential and unrelated events add up to an unbearable burden for Hannah.


Evaluation
Th1rteen R3asons Why does something that is very important for YA books. It grabs readers' attention immediately, and stimulates their curiosity. Also it does a great job of synchronizing readers' minds with that of the protagonist. Even though this book fits the realistic fiction genre, early on it introduces an element of mystery that prods readers to move insatiably forward. Readers cannot help but share Clay's obsession with the contents of those tapes. As the relationship between Clay and Hannah becomes clearer, it only increases the mystery of the role Clay could have played in the girl's death. Along with the mystery, there are lessons to be learned in this book about unintended consequences, and the power we have to affect others through our interpersonal relations.

The Graveyard Book: Neil Gaiman

Title: The Graveyard Book
Author: Neil Gaiman
Illustrator: Dave McKean
Publisher: Harper Collins


Media Format: Book
Genre: Supernatural, Coming of Age
Selection Source: Newbery Award 2009 Best Books for Young Adults
Recommended Audience: Tweens +
Reading Recommendation: 5


Review
It will be hard to follow Neil's own beautifully illustrated introduction to his own book, but I'll give it a go. The (beautifully, hauntingly illustrated) Graveyard Book won the Newbery Medal which is given to the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children, but at 300 pages and dealing with a brutal society of killers, The Graveyard Book is only suitable for the most mature of children, and is interesting enough for most YAs (and adults).


The novel begins when a killer dressed in black murders three fourths of a family, and is on his way to kill the most important and seemingly vulnerable member of that family. After finding the child's crib empty, the killer tracks the child to a Graveyard, where he meets the one figure in London scarier than he is, who then convinces him the child could not be found in the graveyard. After much debate, the deceased members of the graveyard decide to adopt the child, and name him Nobody Owens (Owens for the last name of the couple who fought the hardest to keep him).


Besides growing up in a graveyard, nobody leads a relatively linear life. He makes friends and loses them. He goes to school and has to deal with bullies. Although he does use some tricks taught to him buy his dead friends. He rebels against his caretakers, and goes on an adventure. He reunites with a long lost friend. Finally, he uses the skills he has accumulated to overcome a major obstacle, proving to his caretaker that he is capable of moving out of the graveyard and surviving on his own.


Evaluation
This book has the potential for very broad appeal. Neil Gaiman is the rare author who can right a book that a 10 year old can enjoy, as well as a 40 year old. It's primary appeal is that it has an edgy dangerousness that can pull readers in immediately, meanwhile offering lessons (or reminders) in growing up.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Author: J. K. Rowling
Director: Alfonso Cuaròn
Publisher: Warner Home Video


Media Format: Movie
Genre: Fantasy
Selection Source: It's Harry Potter!
Recommended Audience: All YAs
Recommendation: 4 ****


Summary
I arrived at the Harry Potter universe quite late. Most people had read the last book before I had read the first one. I finally read the first two, and enjoyed them. Like most people, I didn't want to set them down. Unfortunately (not really) I have so many things to read that I cannot justify spending a month (probably more) reading nothing but Harry Potter, so I thought I would cheat a little bit, and watch HPATPOA rather than read it.


This movie is often cited as the best of the Harry Potter movies, and I can see why. As most people who are readers know, recreating a novel on the big screen is a serious challenge. It's so often a poor facsimile of the novel. This is not the case with HPATPOA.


In this movie, Harry runs away from home after a fight with the Dursley's and he's picked up by a magical bus for stranded witches and wizards. He soon finds out that an escaped convict is on the loose, and that convict is in all likelihood trying to find and kill Harry. After learning some new spells from Hogwarts' new Defense of the Dark Arts teacher, Harry along with his two friends figure out that the convict isn't the person people think he is, and he can shed some light on the death of Harry's parents.


Evaluation
The best thing this movie does is create a great atmosphere. It's often said that movies cannot compete with the imagination, but I'll be the first to say that the Hogwarts of this movie kicks my imagination's ass. It also works as a workable replacement to the novel. I feel confident moving onto the fourth novel without reading the third (some other time we can debate whether or not that is a good thing). I think the most important thing about the Harry Potter books is that they make being an elite student a cool thing. It's not going to inspire everyone who watches it to dedicate themselves to scholarship, but there is something to be said about a movie that can make knowledge look powerful, and Harry Potter does indeed do that.

Flush: Carl Hiaasen

Title: Flush

Author: Carl Hiaasen

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Media Format: Book

Genre: Coming of Age, Mystery

Selection Source: YALSA 2006 Best Books for Young Adults

Recommended Audience: Young YAs

Reading Recommendation: 3 ***

Curriculum Connections: Ecology

Summary

Flush is Hiaasen's second young adult novel. It's a readable eco-mystery, adventure story, which is typical of Hiaasen's adult works as well. Someone as young as ten could probably read it, but it's suitable reading for older YAs as well.

Noah Underwood is 14 years old, and his father is in prison. Not only is his father in prison, but he's proud of the actions that got him there. His father, Paine, sunk a casino ship, because he believed the owner was dumping sewage into the ocean. Noah looks up to his father and believes him, so he wants to do a little detective work to prove his father right (if not innocent). With the help of his sister, a barmaid, and a mysterious pirate, who always shows up at the right time, Noah searches for the truth. He has to fight bullies and escape from people capable of murder in order to uncover the truth.

Evaulation

At it's heart, this is a novel about family. It's about how a family can love each other, but still do things to alienate each other. I think that's why it's best for young YAs, the lessons put forth are transparent and easy to follow. The good guys are good, and the bad guys are bad. It doesn't wade into complex arguments about environmentalism. This isn't about cap and trade versus carbon tax, people of all political stripes can agree (you would hope) that dumping sewage into the ocean is an abominable offense that should be punished. It does challenge the reader to question ethics versus legality. What Paine did was illegal, but was it unethical? It brings to their attention the possibility of civic disobedience as a form of protest. But, the reader has to read between the lines to find those arguments. All readers will be able to discern the message of the importance of family, and sticking together to do the right thing.

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing

Book Title: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the nation, Volume I

Author: M. T. Anderson

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Media Format: Book

Genre: Historical Fiction

Selection Source: National Book Award: 2006

Recommended Audience: High School and above, because of complex themes and sophisticated use of language.

Reading Recommendation: 4

Curriculum Connections: History

Kindness, humility, piety, respect for other human creatures--these are the great desiderata of all who pursue virtuous action and it matters not whether those who preach them heed their own advice (p.12)

-----Octavian Nothing

Summary

Octavian is an African prince turned slave, turned sociological experiment. Octavian has always been aware of his royal blood, but has been emersed in an experimental bubble to hide his slave status from him. The members of the Novanglian College of Lucidity, who have created this condition are interested in discovering the negroes' abilities to achieve a classical education. The unbiased observer who witnesses Octavian's mastery of languages, the classic Greek works, and his virtuosity on the violin would, at the very least be forced to admit that some negroes are indeed capable of achieving an elite level of scholastic achievement, but as the College of Lucidity's funds dry up, and their new benefactor has motives in the experiment that are less pure than science, Octavian's position becomes all too apparent to him. As he says after witnessing the death of his mother, "I cannot fight--nor can I refrain--without imputations of savagery."

Evaluation

This is the second book I've read by M. T. Anderson, who is known for writing uncompromisingly intellectual works for YAs. While The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing(winner of the National Book Award for Young People) lacks the profanity and sexual situations of some of his other works, it is certainly a work intended for a mature YA audience. It's probably ideal for a classroom setting that forces students to confront and examine the complex social issues and political/philosophical quandaries presented.

Some of the questions that confront the reader while reading this book include, What makes a slave different from a prince? How should one respond, when one's fate seems so predetermined? How could people fight for the idea of liberty, while enslaving others? Like all great authors, Anderson does not provide us with the answers to these questions. He puts the questions in our heads like an irritating gadfly, with the hope that it will provoke us to ponder the hypocrisies and wonders of the human condition.

Feed: M.T. Anderson

Book Title: Feed
Author: M.T. Anderson
Publisher: Candlewick Press


Media Format: Book
Genre: Sci-Fi, Dystopian, Satire, Shocker
Selection Source: ALA Best Books for Young Adults; 2003 (among many others)
Recommended audience age: Mature Young Adults; strong language, sexual situations, complex themes
Reading Recommendation : 5
Curriculum Connections: Sociology, leisure reading

The only thing worse than the thought that it may all come crumbling down is the thought that we may go on like this forever.----Violet

Summary

Feed captures the experience of a teenager named Titus and his relationship with a girl named Violet in a futuristic world where the internet has morphed into a chip inserted into our brain giving us access to the feednet. The feednet is not drastically different from the internet we are used to. People can use it to look up information, chat with their friends, watch videos, and shop. Furthermore, corporations can use it to track consumer behavior in order to target adds to people based on their shopping patterns and thoughts.

Titus is a relatively typical American teenager. He's had the feed implanted for as long as he can remember, and he's relatively content (in a perpetually discontented consumeristic fashion) with his and his friend's lifestyle. Violet on the other hand, had a much more experimental upbringing. She did not have her feed implanted until she was well into childhood, and she was home schooled by her eccentric father rather than attend school ™. She is thus conflicted by her desire to have a normal life with her ability to look at the current state of affairs with the critical eye of an outsider. Titus's feelings for his new girlfriend see-saw between superiority and inferiority as he

is impressed by the breadth of her archaic knowledge, but finds her inability to fit in with his friends to be her own fault, because she's always showing off.

The real story in Feed, is how information technology is shaping the characters. While people have access to infinite quantities of information, their vocabulary has devolved in a manner reminiscent of the movie Idiocracy, where parental figures and even the president regularly make use of the words "ass" and "dude." Also, the speed at which trends change the girls changing their hairstyles multiple times in the same night, and sometimes trends from earlier eras catch up to the current era confusing the feed and freezing it. Most importantly, the feed keeps everyone looking for the next best thing, so they are unable to see how the world is collapsing around them.

Evaluation

I once heard Cory Doctorow say something like science fiction should be read to understand the technology of the era in which it was written, not to understand the technology of the future. I think that's what is so compelling about Feed. It's not warning us about some future that might happen, it's about letting us know what is happening right now. It's about the difficulty of living an authentic existence in an environment in which we are constantly being told that we are unwhole or unhappy, and if we buy this product we will be just a little bit closer to becoming that complete person.

Feed should only be recommended to the mature YA reader. It uses a lot of strong language, and just as importantly, it offers complex social criticisms that not all young adults will be able to make sense of and integrate into their own world view, but for the young adult who is ready, YA fiction doesn't get much better or relevant than this.