Response/Journal Blog Selection 7/27/08

In reviewing your responses, how many exhibited the following (keep in mind that some responses may do more than one thing):
___5___ Were referred to during a discussion [D]

___1___ Summarized the articles you elected to read [SL]

___9___ Prompted a personal reaction [PR]

___8___ The entries that made a connection to something from your life or from another piece of writing, a film or TV [C]

___5___ Surprised you when you reread it [S]

___0___ None of the above [N]

Please answer the following questions based on your attached response:

I feel that my 7/9/08 Response to Twisted by Laura Halse Anderson is my favorite book that I have read during this class! Please read.

1. Which lesson in the course does it represent?
Session 3 ~ Realistic Fiction

2. Why did you select this particular response? What does it do for you as a reader and responder? What seems interesting, intriguing, surprising, or clever on/about it?

Twisted meets and exceeds the qualities of a good realistic/problem (teen drama). It follows the guidelines of a strong, interesting, and believable plot centering on modern day issues that adolescent,as well as parental & administrators readers can immediate engage it due to the nature of the topic. The story stimulated the reader to think about the various aspect of the story and a way with dealing with the problem so that the reader is left with insights into society and personal conflicts. It also clearly presents the thoughts of the main characters developing social and higher level maturing thinking.

3. What would you like me to know/notice about this response?
The final paragraph, I made text-to-self connections. Which is what I believe the ultimate connection all authors seek when they write, whether it is a novel, a newspaper article or campaigning (advertisement). Internalizing results in growth and learning and elevates literacy and intelligence.

4. What does this response demonstrate that is the same or different from responses you’ve written in the past?
As a middle school media specialist (librarian), I am constantly being requested to recommend books on demand to students, who are time crunched. I relish the opportunity when I can personally endorse a book that, is one of the few teen novels involving a teen male struggling emotionally and morally with both male and female relationships as well as school and community confrontations. I feel Twisted,belongs in all teen (adolescent)collections.

Adolescent Lit. Response 7/23/08 D, PR, C, S

Author Study: AVI
Avi. (1988). Something upstairs: a tale of ghosts. New York: Orchard Books.
Avi. (1991). Nothing but the truth: a documentary novel. New York: Orchard Books.
Two different novel topics and styles; yet, both are presented as true stories.

Something Upstairs could also be cataloged as a Historical Fiction. From the very start, Avi draws in the reader on page one with "Author's Explanation" and ends with two pages epilogue. There is no doubt in my mind that Avi gets fan mail with questions about Kenny, the main character in this extremely suspenseful mystery with social diversity issues. I also know that Avi loves to do "Reader's Theater" and this tale would make a fantastic radio broadcast. I could not find any audio recording of this book but, I'm sure since this a beloved book of his, that perhaps, he could be swayed to produce a "podcast"! There is nothing in this book that suggests that it is dated and it's been over twenty years since it's first publication. I think it works quite well as "double-dipper" (mystery/historical fiction) for middle school & high school students. It is also a quick-read for reluctant readers.

Nothing but the Truth, which received the 1992 Newbery Honor as well as, the ALA Notable Children's Books, 1992. and YALSA 100 Best Books (1950-2000).
The story is a bit disturbing and at times could be too much for a younger reader. The story deals with a freshmen in high school, who is coming-of-age. Breaking a school rule at this age is not that all uncommon; however, the one that Philip Malloy chooses is quite controversial. This novel is written in "Reader's Theater" style and also variegates with a sprinkling of notes, memos and telegrams. I think the book deals with higher level thinking and would challenging for a "younger" reader. As a n adult reader, and working in a school, I could easily see this the story lines taking place today even though Avi wrote it in the early 1990's. I think the ultimate purpose of the book is alert teachers and administrators of how they create policies that go against Constitutional Rights and also as wake-up call on the ridiculous policy of retaining teachers year-after-year, when they should be "put out to pasture". The book does a fine job of Beginning, Middle and End but, just didn't grab and hook me.

Adolescent Lit. Response 7/21/08 D, SL, PR

The Alan Review~ Winter 2006 vol.33 #2
Interpreting Latino Literature by Carmen L. Medine
Latino authors write to create imagery and to create awareness. They fill their books with symbols and traditions. Often, the subject is seeking identity and independence. Realities are not sugar coated and engage fully in struggle and survival journey. Dreaming of the future in a better place connects to religion and experiences.
This article also investigates Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan and how it is a great example of the past, the present (but actually the 1920's-30's) and the hope for the future. The American Dream is just not an anglo thing if that was your frame of mind due to the lack of exposure.
The conclusion of the article gave a current book selection suggestion list. It is intended for children, students and second generation Latinos. It also states if the author of the book is Mexican, Puerto Rican, Brazilian or Caribbean. Diversity is something that teachers must acknowledge and encourage it through literature. This is a very positive article and valuable for understanding literature and being World Class Citizans.

Adolescent Lit. Response 7/22/08 D, PR, C, S

Hesse, K. (1997). Out of the dust. New York: Scholastic Press.

Historical fiction and free verse too!Every word is choice and has deep insight to the horrendous emotion of living in Oklahoma during the Great Depression. Karen Hesse captures the coming-of-age of BillieJo a dust-bowl depressed economy and environment youth. The song is grim but ends on a note of light. It is a historical insight that spans over one year (1935) in a journalized manner that each entry is a reflection and discussion starter. Hesse includes all the elements necessary for adolescent literature; A young girl of fourteen reaching puberty, a pregnant mother,her best friend immigrating, a young male peer, tragedy and uncontrollable natural elements and a father that has lost his dignity . The pains and simple joys of BillieJo's life are her strength. She tries to run away at one point but realizes her father need her and she need him. BillieJo hangs in there, she has her music and over comes physical difficulties and mostly she is survivor in history. A text-to-text contention could be another emotion filled book written in letter style and entitled Letters to Rifka, also by Karen Hess. Both books are fine example of her extremely creative and captivating writing style which drawns in the adolescent and adult reader.

Adolescent Lit. Response 7/21/08 D, PR, C

Johnston, A., Horowitz, A., Damerum, K., Takasaki, Y., & Horowitz, A. (2006).
Stormbreaker: the graphic novel. New York: Philomel.

Hobbs, W. (2006). Crossing the wire. New York: HarperCollins.

This weekends assignment was to read a Graphic Novel & an Adventure Novel. I did both in the first assignment! But, I also picked up a new book by an old favorite adventure writer too! To begin with the Graphic Novel Review, I have tell you....
I'm a big fan of the Alex Rider series. When there was word of a movie, I was right on it and it was a good thing....I believe it was in the theaters for one week and then went directly to video. Anthony Horowitz has a fantastic website for over four years. Readers would and still do review his books and blog with the author, who appears to have just as much adventure as Alex does in his life. That's probably how Horowitz gets his ideas. Alex is like a young James Bond. His parents worked for M16, just like James Bond, unfortunately for Alex they died while on duty and Alex was kept in the dark about this until his uncled and guardian meets his demise and he was recruited.
The graphic novel version of Stormbreaker is interesting but, did not hold my interest for the entire time I "read" the book. I'm not sure if you would actually say, I read the novel. Graphic novels are more of an experience. They have the look of bound comic books and usually have characters that have Asian artistic feature since it is very common for the illustrators to be Japanese. At several points, I guess because I'm not totally sold on Graphic Novels, I wonder if something was lost in the translation; however, I'm sure that not the case because I assume this book was well edited. I have admit that the scenes were pretty much the way I imagined them and they were different than the movie version so, they should interest the reader. Another difficulty I had with book and most graphic novels is that even though I'm a dyslexic writer, I'm a pretty good reader and have a darn good level of comprehension of what I read. Even though I am a certified "visual" learner, this Graphic Novel did not reach out to me. But, I'm not going to narrow minded and not pick-up more Graphic Novels, I'm sure there are better choices and I'd hate to miss out on great literature so, I'll assign myself and get my hands on a copy of "How Graphic Novels Work and What They Mean" by Peter Schjeldahl.

Now, I'll switch back and review a regular old text-rich novel:
Crossing the Wire by Will Hobbs was a good teen adventure. Will Hobbs rarely let the reader down. He is great at featuring modern day adolescent behavior. Boys in particular are easily drawn in. Since I "peddle" "Guy Reads", Will Hobbs books are en easy sell! In the spring of 2008, I saw on the big screen, "Under the Same Moon" which was a short lived movie in the theaters about illegal immigration south of the boarder. It is a good movie to do a "text to movie" connection. Neither in my opinion paint a true story. I have also read a book, "Enrique's Journey" about a kid form Honduras who comes to the United Stated illegally. Enrique gets beat-up, robbed, raped and left for dead several times before he makes it to the US. Will Hobbs' main character Victor Flores gets a little roughed-up but basically makes it the US within a reasonable amount of time. White kids might buy into this book; however, I'm not so sure readers from Central America will. But, if you are looking for a quick read that hold the reader's attention about illegal immigration, I guess it's a fair version. Victor's journey does have danger but, he seems to make through with out spending a lot of money and the coyotes are not the worst villains that are out there, yeah right. It's sort like a Disney version of survival in my opinion.

Adolescent Lit. Response 7/15/08 D, PR, C, S

Cooney, C. B. (1994). Driver's Ed. New York: Delacorte Press
Cummings, P. (2004). Red kayak. New York: Dutton Children's Books.

Adolescent Mystery is the genre and I will be discussing a "text to self", followed by a "text to text" connection. First I will review Driver's ed. It's very realistic portrait of some teens and the way Drier's Education is taught. I honestly believe the theme could and probably has happened. In fact, I'm sure the "Myth Buster Guys" could probably research and find many cases in point. Teens have been know for their lack of thinking about the consequences. In Driver's ed, the high school students create a game of adventure to "steal" road signs, not as a "prank"but,just for their own enjoyment. At this time, I can add my own "text-to"self" connections, my husband has a stop sign in his possession from "somewhere". When I first met him at the age of nineteen, I saw it in the back of his bedroom closet, when he was packing for college. He claims he and his "cross country buddies" found it while out running. "yeah, sure, I believe that"....another connection is that, for the past ten years I had a speed limit sign on my parkway placed by the village, underneath the sign, I had a village approved sign that I paid for, and it was made by the village that said, "Slow down, we (heart)(love) our children. In May 2008, when I went out on "weed-patrol", I discovered that my sign was gone, but the bolts that had secured the sign were in the grass. I reported the missing sign to my neighbor and alderman, and he was disappointed because he lives across the street and has young children and appreciated the sign. He did some investigating and the village street crew did not have it nor did they have a requisition to remove it. So, from past experience, I know the local the high school Driver's Education class has an assignment that the students take pictures of unusual street signs and present them to their peer during class. Probably once a semester, I see cars pull-up and a teen jumps out and snaps a picture if the sign and drives off. I image this last time, the student loosen the bolts and "just took the sign". So, I can connect to the Caroline Cooney's book. Another feature in this book, is the lack of teaching and responsibility that the Driver's Ed teacher has in regards to his class. My own son, took Driver's Ed through a private driving school and it was quite "hap hazard". I was appalled how the program was supervised and structured. A young man in his early twenties taught the class and I when I say, "taught" I mean put on the films and took the students out for the required "drives". My son would report that it was not a very "serious" experience. I however, was proactive with my son and had him drive with me every day to school and even after he received his license, I supervise his driving in he same manner.
Next, I will make a "text to text" connection. The book, Red Kayak by Priscilla Cummings deals with "consequence" and also has the "mystery" element. In Driver's Ed, there is the unknown about bashed up mail boxes and of course the death of a driver. In Red Kayak, there is a child's death and property damage. Caroline Cooney does not get law enforcement totally involved in the "consequences" of the teens actions and lets the parent and survives express their disapproval and grief. In contrast, Priscilla Cummings, show a realist, full-blown, court case and "juve" outcome. I found both books, engaging and puzzling. Everyone that reads either or both books will find them hard to put

Adolescent Lit. 7/14/08 D, PR, C

It's been a "Power Read" weekend for me! I completed the follwoing books:
Flinn, A. (2001). Breathing underwater. New York: HarperCollins.

Haddix, M. P. (2005). Double identity. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for
Young Readers.
Johnson, A. (2003). The first part last. New York: Simon & Schuster Books
for Young Readers.
The first book I tackled was First part last a young adult novel by Angela Johnson, deals with the subject of teen pregnancy. The story is told from the father's perspective, which sets it apart from most books on teen pregnancy. Bobby and Nia, the child's parents, are urban upper-middle-class African-American teenagers. This book talks about Bobby being a father at the age of 16. Bobby raises his little girl, Feather, on his own and realizes how hard it truly is to be a parent. Bobby is just an impulsive teenage at the beginning but, by the end of this quick-read, he is in the process of making the right of passage and "coming-of-age". Becoming a parent at any age is terrifying and being sixteen the reality of it can be extremely life-shaking!

The second book was an exhilarating thriller by, Margaret Peterson Haddix, who crafts a sci-fi story so full of twists and turns, readers will be gripped until the startling conclusion. Cloning is the subject and what teenager would want to find out they are not the only one like them. This goes against everything they ever heard from the big purple dino on tv that, "they are special, they're the only one, the only one like you!" Bethany is approaching her thirteenth birthday and mom and dad are acting even weirder if that's possible. This was also a "quick-read", however; it took more than half the book to get to the cloning part but, over-all I thought it was great character/climax set-up.

And for the final book, I finished at 11:56 pm on Sunday night just making the weekend curfew, The story of 16-year-old Nicholas Andreas, a wealthy Miami teen who is sent to anger management because his girlfriend, Caitlin, takes out a restraining order against him. Ordered by the judge to write about his relationship, Nick tells of falling in love with her, and the eventual time when his anger took over. Breathing underwater by Alex Flinn is set in Miami and Key West, Florida and is well deserving of it's ALA pick as a Top-10 Best Book for Young Adults for 2001. I started it and found it hard to put down. Flinn an excellent job of describing a teenager and how he thinks. This book is worth the journey!

Adolescent Lit. Response 7/9/08 PR, C, S

Anderson, L. H. (2007). Twisted. New York: Viking.

I totally agree with the YALSA’s award of “Best Books for Young Adults-2008”. This book has everything a teen is looking for in the genre of Realist Fiction! Laurie Halse Anderson is fantastic in my opinion, at exploring the feeling and desires of adolescents. She taps into adolescent development and address the physical, mental, emotional and social stages with experience. While reading, insight to contemporary issues are engaging and allows for text-to-self connections. Twisted is right there and immediately grips the reader and motivates them to continue to identify with the main character, Tyler Miller who is bullied at his high school.

Moral development is a hot topic with teens and this book displays social conflicts and “doing the right thing”. It begins with Tyler paying this social responsibility for a huge mistake he made during the final weeks of his Junior year of high school. The first chapters set-up and begin us to the beginning of his Senior year and proceed through the semester. Interpersonal relationships, family problems and coming-of-age situations are cited on every page. Tyler struggles to find meaning in himself, his parents and the community. His first-person voice illustrates his emotional anguish as he deals with grades, sex, alcohol and family matters. At times, it seems that life is spiraling out of control and Tyler has to deal with being alienated at school and his parents too! I think everyone can feel the authentic drama being played out and can relate to the crisis points.

Life is complicated and it makes great reading! I’m placing this book on my “Must Read” List! This book most definitely lingers and yearns for discussion. It took me back to memories of my high school days and issues that I thought were extremely important and it also brought me up to speed on new spins on these issues for the teenagers of today. I enjoyed the comic undertones of Tyler and pained at his destructive thoughts. I can not deny that I have to say… been there and done that! I give this book four stars and feel I can stand behind my endorsement and recommendation.

Adolescent Lit. Response 7/3/08 PR, C, S

Temple, F. (1992). Taste of salt: a story of modern Haiti. New York:
Orchard Books.


Haiti and Dominican Republic in the 1980’s and 1990’s were very unsettling. Taste of Salt is based on real incidents and people. Djo, a seventeen year old Haitian, tells a powerful personal story of the poverty and oppression in his country. He does this while recovering in a make-shift hospital which is described more of an aid station. His narration gives insight to the political and social injustices. There are also factual references from the president at the time and his speeches. The novel begins with a map of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. A glossary is also provided at the end of the novel.

In contrast to Djo coming-of-age, there is an adolescent female who feels the political unrest, however, she is protected and sheltered by a mother that sends her to school to get educated at a convent. Her name is Jeremie and she dreams of continuing her education in France where she has been awarded a scholarship.

Both of their accounts are full of helplessness and rays of hopefulness. The grim realities of the military government and the contrast of the harshness and blatant disregard for the sacredness of human lives come to a full-boil as the instinct to thrive and survive independently as the innate spirit of the people of Haiti make way for resistance and revolts. Both Djo and Jeremie are trying to participate in a reformed democracy and also make sense of as they grow into maturity.

The impact on the reader of this book is burdening. There is a sense of urgency and helplessness that pushes the reader to complete the novel and wanting to reflect, discuss and further investigate the current situation globally. The authenticity is clearly genuine and not contrived. As a World-Wide Learners, literature is a natural venue to heighten sensitivity to the needs and problems across cultures. Developing a World-Wide Diversity reading habit results in analysis and commonality. It enhances one’s self-concept and respect for people everywhere.

Adolscent Lit. Response 7/1/08 PR, C

Block, F. L. (1989). Weetzie Bat. New York: Harper & Row.

Weetzie Bat is a “quick read” that describes common-law marriage, gay marriage, children out of wedlock, abortion and AIDS, all in a vivid and at times, humorously descriptive, sometimes Disney environment. Actually, the story takes place in Hollywood and even though I have never been to this part of Los Angeles, I think it is was well depicted. This book by all means, pushes itself to the limits and I think it would grab and hold the attention of a mature pre-teen and teenagers interested in the subject manner at hand.

As a middle school librarian, I would not feel comfortable having this particle book in my collection. I have been call to explain myself and my book selections one too many times. Personally, I feel adolescents have First Amendment Rights, however, many parents do not feel the same way I do! Weetzie Bat, has the themes middle school, high school and college students are attracted to, there are blended family issues, homosexuality issues, love issues, drug abuse issues, rape issues, AIDS issues and the I don’t want to grow-up, fairy tale issues. This book, in its own raunchy way is a “coming-of-age” book in its own right. I know students are interested in all the subject matters cover in Weetzie Bat. My school’s collection has several books that deal with the same issues, just maybe not as straight shooting as this book. I have come across sixth grade students, who when let loose in the middle school Library Media Center for the first time, seek out books independently and present books on the above mentioned themes at the check-out. Although, I do not censor the book collection, I tell the students sincerely, “if this book dos not match your family’s values, please stop reading it, return the book and make another selection.” Seventh graders and eight graders usually know better than to fill their parents in on the details of the books they have stashed in their backpacks. Boys and girls are equally interested in “coming-of-age” information founding literature.

What makes this book captivating is that the author, Francesca Lia Block, tells the story in a flowing, breezy voice, which is very attractive to teens. She has an artful wordplay and is hip to pop-culture. The main character, Weetzie is confusing at times but, isn’t that what growing-up is all about? The reader is constantly in critical thinking mode when reading this tale. Text to Self connections are expressed on practically every page. This book defiantly has the power to take the reader and stretch like Silly Puddy™ and expand their thinking and views on cultures that might not match their “white bread & butter” upbringing.