Hey Readers!
I know it's been a minute since I posted a review on here. This summer has been a combination of joyous events, not so joyous events, and a lot of trying to piece things all together again. So my attention span for reading has been pretty much shot. I would start a book, put it down, and not go back to it.
Until last night.
I don't know if it's the realization that school starts again in a week and my free time is about to be gone or what, but last night I decided to go on a digital library binge. (Did you know you can borrow E-Books from your local library? It's pretty awesome, and I suggest you check it out.) In the midst of said binge, I virtually borrowed my first David Sedaris book: Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk.
Why have I never read David Sedaris before?! I've heard of him, like on NPR and whatnot. But I never picked up one of his books before. Which is surprising, because his website has a short eared owl on the homepage. (I love owls. This makes me love Sedaris even more.)
I read Squirrel Seeks Chipmonk in one sitting. Basically, the book is a collection of short stories that use animals to deal with human problems. It's classified as satire (which means essentially it's a snarky look at life) and it was wonderful. While all of the stories were very well done, a few stuck with me more than the others. One was "The Crow and the Sheep", which is about a crow who is struggling to feed her family and has a discussion with a mother ewe about it. I'm not going to ruin any endings here (what's the fun in that?), but know that it turns dark like many of the stories in here.
Overall, I really enjoyed Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk. I think David Sedaris hits on a lot of different issues in our culture in a very well done way. It was a fairly light read, too, which I needed. The fact that it's made up of several stories makes it easy to get through when your attention span is shot. The only thing I would say was a little off putting is that most of the stories take dark turns at the end. But considering the state of our society and culture at the moment, I'm really not surprised.
I highly recommend Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk and I think anyone of the 18 + audience would enjoy it. I know I did.
~Meaghan
Sunday, August 9, 2015
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Contemporary YA Literature: Love Letters to the Dead and Group Discussion
Hello, my dear readers!
The up and coming wave of YA lit is upon us, with many authors having break out years and coming onto the scene for the first time. These contemporary novels are really exciting; it's fantastic to see the field expand into new territory! Contemporary YA lit has so much to offer and so many ways it can go that the possibilities are endless.
For Contemporary YA lit, I chose to read Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira. (You can check out her site here; on a side note, her layout online is really pretty.) This is Dellaira's first novel and she was mentored by Stephen Chbosky, the author of Perks of Being a Wallflower. The premise of Love Letters to the Dead is pretty straight forward. A girl named Laurel is starting high school after the death of her sister and is assigned to write a letter to a dead person for a school activity. She ends up writing a whole book of letters to a variety of dead people (Kurt Cobain and River Phoenix for example) and through the letters we learn of the events that lead up to her sister's death as well as the events going on now.
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I really like the concept of it. Letters are a powerful way to explore a variety of topics that Laurel experienced, like abuse. But on the other hand, I can tell this is Dellaira's first novel and that she's trying to find her writing voice. That's not a bad thing, by the way; I love that this is her first novel and I hope she continues to write and develop her voice. I just got distracted at times by the way her writing is at the moment.
In our group discussion, we talked about how Dellaira is finding her voice. We also talked about how great the format is; depending on the person Laurel is writing to sets the tone of what we learn in that letter. So for those who died by suicide (like Cobain), the letters tend to be angrier and deal with the gritty stuff whereas letters written to those who maybe didn't die like that (like Amelia Earhart) are more upbeat about things. It's a really great technique that we hope Dellaira continues to use.
Honestly, I think Love Letters to the Dead is a pretty good book. It takes a little bit to get used to the format, but it goes quick once you do. I recommend it for freshmen and up.
~Meaghan
The up and coming wave of YA lit is upon us, with many authors having break out years and coming onto the scene for the first time. These contemporary novels are really exciting; it's fantastic to see the field expand into new territory! Contemporary YA lit has so much to offer and so many ways it can go that the possibilities are endless.
For Contemporary YA lit, I chose to read Love Letters to the Dead by Ava Dellaira. (You can check out her site here; on a side note, her layout online is really pretty.) This is Dellaira's first novel and she was mentored by Stephen Chbosky, the author of Perks of Being a Wallflower. The premise of Love Letters to the Dead is pretty straight forward. A girl named Laurel is starting high school after the death of her sister and is assigned to write a letter to a dead person for a school activity. She ends up writing a whole book of letters to a variety of dead people (Kurt Cobain and River Phoenix for example) and through the letters we learn of the events that lead up to her sister's death as well as the events going on now.
I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I really like the concept of it. Letters are a powerful way to explore a variety of topics that Laurel experienced, like abuse. But on the other hand, I can tell this is Dellaira's first novel and that she's trying to find her writing voice. That's not a bad thing, by the way; I love that this is her first novel and I hope she continues to write and develop her voice. I just got distracted at times by the way her writing is at the moment.
In our group discussion, we talked about how Dellaira is finding her voice. We also talked about how great the format is; depending on the person Laurel is writing to sets the tone of what we learn in that letter. So for those who died by suicide (like Cobain), the letters tend to be angrier and deal with the gritty stuff whereas letters written to those who maybe didn't die like that (like Amelia Earhart) are more upbeat about things. It's a really great technique that we hope Dellaira continues to use.
Honestly, I think Love Letters to the Dead is a pretty good book. It takes a little bit to get used to the format, but it goes quick once you do. I recommend it for freshmen and up.
~Meaghan
Movie vs Book: Divergent and Group Discussion
Hi again, my dear readers!
One of the things that tends to happen (not only in YA literature) is that a book will become a best seller and then be made into a movie. Sometimes it happens the other way around - the book will be made into a movie, the movie becomes popular, and suddenly the book is a best seller. Either way, books and movies based upon them seem to go hand in hand. Sometimes the movie is better than the book; more often than not, the book is better than the movie. It depends on the reader, the viewer, and the overall experience.
For this class, I needed to read a book and then watch the movie. I chose Divergent by Veronica Roth. (The trailer for the film is here if you haven't seen or heard of it.) Divergent follows the pretty standard post apocalyptic YA novel format: everyone is split into factions in the society, a girl goes to get sorted and doesn't fit into just one category, she ends up becoming part of the warring faction, the girl is special, war breaks out, and there's romance.
(That sounds cynical, but go look at these dystopian books and you'll see what I mean.)
The movie is very similar, except that the actors and actresses are all incredibly good looking (which is a ploy to get people of the opposite gender to come see the film), the romance was toned down a bit, and the action was overplayed. Impactful lines and scenes got cut or altered as the director saw fit, all in an attempt to bring in box office revenue. And it worked.
In group discussion, we talked about how these dystopian films and books are so incredibly popular among teens. Film makers and authors seem to be piggybacking off each other and so more and more of YA lit and films are going the way of dystopian. We all agreed that it can't last forever. Eventually the market is going to be so saturated with things like Divergent that it won't be able to hold anymore and other genres are going to break through again.
We also talked about how the film ran compared to the book. The film is much faster paced, making it harder to absorb what is going on; the book, however, is slower and allows the reader to digest what's happening before moving on to the next scene or event. The film is good in that it allows visuals cues and images to be given, but it sacrifices some of the material from the book in order to do that. One idea was that if Divergent could be serialized like Game of Thrones is, that maybe it would work better.
As for me, I didn't really care for the book or the movie. I think I've had enough of the dystopian genre, though, so don't let that opinion stop you if you want to read Divergent or watch the film. If you decide to, though, I recommend you read the book first.
~Meaghan
One of the things that tends to happen (not only in YA literature) is that a book will become a best seller and then be made into a movie. Sometimes it happens the other way around - the book will be made into a movie, the movie becomes popular, and suddenly the book is a best seller. Either way, books and movies based upon them seem to go hand in hand. Sometimes the movie is better than the book; more often than not, the book is better than the movie. It depends on the reader, the viewer, and the overall experience.
For this class, I needed to read a book and then watch the movie. I chose Divergent by Veronica Roth. (The trailer for the film is here if you haven't seen or heard of it.) Divergent follows the pretty standard post apocalyptic YA novel format: everyone is split into factions in the society, a girl goes to get sorted and doesn't fit into just one category, she ends up becoming part of the warring faction, the girl is special, war breaks out, and there's romance.
(That sounds cynical, but go look at these dystopian books and you'll see what I mean.)
The movie is very similar, except that the actors and actresses are all incredibly good looking (which is a ploy to get people of the opposite gender to come see the film), the romance was toned down a bit, and the action was overplayed. Impactful lines and scenes got cut or altered as the director saw fit, all in an attempt to bring in box office revenue. And it worked.
In group discussion, we talked about how these dystopian films and books are so incredibly popular among teens. Film makers and authors seem to be piggybacking off each other and so more and more of YA lit and films are going the way of dystopian. We all agreed that it can't last forever. Eventually the market is going to be so saturated with things like Divergent that it won't be able to hold anymore and other genres are going to break through again.
We also talked about how the film ran compared to the book. The film is much faster paced, making it harder to absorb what is going on; the book, however, is slower and allows the reader to digest what's happening before moving on to the next scene or event. The film is good in that it allows visuals cues and images to be given, but it sacrifices some of the material from the book in order to do that. One idea was that if Divergent could be serialized like Game of Thrones is, that maybe it would work better.
As for me, I didn't really care for the book or the movie. I think I've had enough of the dystopian genre, though, so don't let that opinion stop you if you want to read Divergent or watch the film. If you decide to, though, I recommend you read the book first.
~Meaghan
The Graphic Novel: My Friend Dahmer and Group Discussion
Hello my dear readers!
One of the incredibly popular genres of YA literature is the graphic novel. Some people call these comic books, but in reality, they are so much more. The use of images and words to tell a story can give so much added depth for the reader - pictures can sometimes say more than words ever can, and the combination allows for multiple readings of the story while getting different meanings each time.
The novel I chose was My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf. Backderf went to high school with Jeffery Dahmer and chose to write and illustrate a graphic novel about it. I was drawn to it because 1. there's something fascinating to me about a serial killer and what made them snap and 2. the art is so interesting - like caricatures. (You can see what I mean by checking out Backderf's site; he posts weekly comic strips and stuff, which is always fun.)
The book was intense. The portrayal of Dahmer as this lonely kid who had a horrible home life and was just trying to fit in made me almost empathize with the guy. Backderf did a really good job at incorporating actual photographs of Dahmer throughout to ground the story and remind everyone that he was a real person; the cartoonish style makes it somewhat easy to forget that these things actually happened, and the photos break that up.
In our group, we talked about how the three of us who read the book immediately wanted to learn more about Dahmer when we were done. That someone could do something so horrible fascinated us. We wondered if things had been different (such as Dahmer's parents not being so wrapped up in their divorce or if Dahmer had been able to come out as gay without judgement) if he would have still done the crimes he did.
We also noticed that Backderf did a great job of changing the use of white space throughout the novel to show the downward descent Dahmer had - by the end of the book, there isn't any white space left in the panels, only darkness. The panels that had not words at all were also incredibly impactful. Seeing a young Dahmer walk through the woods at night by himself has a completely different feeling than if it was narrated in text.
Overall, My Friend Dahmer was a really interesting read. The style is great for people familiar with graphic novels and even if you aren't, the frames are done in a manner that makes it easy to figure out. I recommend it for mid to late high school students and above.
~Meaghan
One of the incredibly popular genres of YA literature is the graphic novel. Some people call these comic books, but in reality, they are so much more. The use of images and words to tell a story can give so much added depth for the reader - pictures can sometimes say more than words ever can, and the combination allows for multiple readings of the story while getting different meanings each time.
The novel I chose was My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf. Backderf went to high school with Jeffery Dahmer and chose to write and illustrate a graphic novel about it. I was drawn to it because 1. there's something fascinating to me about a serial killer and what made them snap and 2. the art is so interesting - like caricatures. (You can see what I mean by checking out Backderf's site; he posts weekly comic strips and stuff, which is always fun.)
The book was intense. The portrayal of Dahmer as this lonely kid who had a horrible home life and was just trying to fit in made me almost empathize with the guy. Backderf did a really good job at incorporating actual photographs of Dahmer throughout to ground the story and remind everyone that he was a real person; the cartoonish style makes it somewhat easy to forget that these things actually happened, and the photos break that up.
In our group, we talked about how the three of us who read the book immediately wanted to learn more about Dahmer when we were done. That someone could do something so horrible fascinated us. We wondered if things had been different (such as Dahmer's parents not being so wrapped up in their divorce or if Dahmer had been able to come out as gay without judgement) if he would have still done the crimes he did.
We also noticed that Backderf did a great job of changing the use of white space throughout the novel to show the downward descent Dahmer had - by the end of the book, there isn't any white space left in the panels, only darkness. The panels that had not words at all were also incredibly impactful. Seeing a young Dahmer walk through the woods at night by himself has a completely different feeling than if it was narrated in text.
Overall, My Friend Dahmer was a really interesting read. The style is great for people familiar with graphic novels and even if you aren't, the frames are done in a manner that makes it easy to figure out. I recommend it for mid to late high school students and above.
~Meaghan
Sunday, April 26, 2015
CTLC: Grasshopper Jungle and Group Discussion
Hi my dear readers!
The other author present at the Colorado Teen Literature Conference was Andrew Smith. Like with Wendelin Van Draanen, we were asked to read a book by Smith so that we would be prepared to meet at the conference. (Andrew Smith is nothing like I imagined. I expected a somewhat young and hip author; this video interview actually shows what he's really like. It's awesome.)
The book I picked for the Smith selection was Grasshopper Jungle. The premise is that the world is going to end due to giant preying mantises, but there's this high school love triangle that is taking place that is waaay more interesting than the mantises. Everything is over the top, from body odor to what girls think of guys. It was a fun read that I read in a single day.
In group, we got to talking about why this book made so many waves in the YA market. We decided it was because Grasshopper Jungle is so over the top and in your face about everything. One of the things that came up was wondering if Smith drew from his students for this book. Like, did he take all of the drama that they deal with and make it into this exaggerated narrative. It worked, if that was the case. All of us agreed that the book was humorous and a great read.
The only criticism we had for it was the ending. None of us liked how the story ended.
I would recommend Grasshopper Jungle for high school students and beyond. There is a little bit of crude and graphic stuff in it, but not enough to ruin the story. It will have you cracking up and I highly recommend it.
~Meaghan
The other author present at the Colorado Teen Literature Conference was Andrew Smith. Like with Wendelin Van Draanen, we were asked to read a book by Smith so that we would be prepared to meet at the conference. (Andrew Smith is nothing like I imagined. I expected a somewhat young and hip author; this video interview actually shows what he's really like. It's awesome.)
The book I picked for the Smith selection was Grasshopper Jungle. The premise is that the world is going to end due to giant preying mantises, but there's this high school love triangle that is taking place that is waaay more interesting than the mantises. Everything is over the top, from body odor to what girls think of guys. It was a fun read that I read in a single day.
In group, we got to talking about why this book made so many waves in the YA market. We decided it was because Grasshopper Jungle is so over the top and in your face about everything. One of the things that came up was wondering if Smith drew from his students for this book. Like, did he take all of the drama that they deal with and make it into this exaggerated narrative. It worked, if that was the case. All of us agreed that the book was humorous and a great read.
The only criticism we had for it was the ending. None of us liked how the story ended.
I would recommend Grasshopper Jungle for high school students and beyond. There is a little bit of crude and graphic stuff in it, but not enough to ruin the story. It will have you cracking up and I highly recommend it.
~Meaghan
CTLC Novel: Runaway and Group Discussion
Hello my dear readers!
You may remember my blog about the Colorado Teen Literature Conference (found here) and how as a volunteer I got to meet Andrew Smith and Wendelin Van Draanen. Well, before the conference, we were required to pick a text by each author to read and discuss so that we would understand why they have the impact on the YA literature market that they do.
The first one was Wendelin Van Draanen. Wendelin is awesome and a little over hyper, which makes her even more likable in my mind. (Here is a great interview video of her so you can see what I mean.) I chose to read Runaway for her selection.
Runaway is about a 6th grade girl named Holly who runs away from the foster care system and keeps a journal of her day to day life. It's the kind of book I would have gravitated to as a middle school student, it really is. I have always been writing, and while I didn't start keeping an actual journal until I was 15, I know how it feels to need to write about things.
I thought I was going to love it. I didn't even finish it. It just seemed to drag on and on for me.
When we talked about it in group, a lot of the members said they felt like Holly seemed too old for her age. Maybe that's part of why I struggled with it. We wondered if maybe it was because kids in that situation are forced to grow up faster than they should, so they come across as older. Another thing that was prevalent through the book was Van Draanen's idea of "Hope in the Mail". There was a lot of hope by the end of the book (I skipped to the ending and read it) and peppered throughout.
The writing style really does a good job of speaking for the character of Holly though. There are bits of poetry throughout, and you really get a sense of how angry Holly is until the end. I think maybe I just wasn't in the right place to read this book right now; Van Draanen is a very good writer and me not getting through is not a reflection of her.
Overall, this is a middle to early high school book. The consensus in our group is that everyone should give it a look.
~Meaghan
You may remember my blog about the Colorado Teen Literature Conference (found here) and how as a volunteer I got to meet Andrew Smith and Wendelin Van Draanen. Well, before the conference, we were required to pick a text by each author to read and discuss so that we would understand why they have the impact on the YA literature market that they do.
The first one was Wendelin Van Draanen. Wendelin is awesome and a little over hyper, which makes her even more likable in my mind. (Here is a great interview video of her so you can see what I mean.) I chose to read Runaway for her selection.
Runaway is about a 6th grade girl named Holly who runs away from the foster care system and keeps a journal of her day to day life. It's the kind of book I would have gravitated to as a middle school student, it really is. I have always been writing, and while I didn't start keeping an actual journal until I was 15, I know how it feels to need to write about things.
I thought I was going to love it. I didn't even finish it. It just seemed to drag on and on for me.
When we talked about it in group, a lot of the members said they felt like Holly seemed too old for her age. Maybe that's part of why I struggled with it. We wondered if maybe it was because kids in that situation are forced to grow up faster than they should, so they come across as older. Another thing that was prevalent through the book was Van Draanen's idea of "Hope in the Mail". There was a lot of hope by the end of the book (I skipped to the ending and read it) and peppered throughout.
The writing style really does a good job of speaking for the character of Holly though. There are bits of poetry throughout, and you really get a sense of how angry Holly is until the end. I think maybe I just wasn't in the right place to read this book right now; Van Draanen is a very good writer and me not getting through is not a reflection of her.
Overall, this is a middle to early high school book. The consensus in our group is that everyone should give it a look.
~Meaghan
The Verse Novel: Crank
Hey there, my readers!
One important genre of YA literature is the verse novel. These novels are written in poetic form. This allows the words to take multiple meanings and the lines to take various shapes, much like in poetry. The subject material can range from biographical to completely fictional.
I read Crank by Ellen Hopkins as my verse novel choice. Hopkins wrote the book in verse form after her daughter dealt with drug addiction. It explores the chaos meth can place on you and your family, as well as how sometimes you don't realize how much you're giving to the drug until you hit rock bottom. Hopkins has a great website that has a place for adults as well as a place for young adults. The adult site focuses on her new adult novels while the YA site has resources for students and teachers.
Crank was a difficult read for me, based on the subject material. Hopkins doesn't shy away from any of the nitty gritty details that go with drug addiction: loss of friends, rape, drug deals gone bad, family struggles, withdrawl. It's all there. Which I think is a good thing, because everyone (especially teens) need to see what comes with the high. The ending was hopeful, which is equally important because it is possible to get better and for things to heal.
The verse form was especially powerful in this book. There are places where you can read across the columns or you can read just one side or the other; both impact the meaning of the story and lend to the madness of the situation. It can be a fairly quick read or it can take longer, depending on how you process it. For me, I had to read sections twice to fully grasp the impact of them.
Crank is also part of a series. It's the first book. The other books in the series follow what happened after the events set in motion. It is considered a work of fiction even though it is loosely based on Hopkins' experiences with her daughter.
I recommend Crank for 11th and 12th grade, and beyond. Younger than that and I think it might be a little difficult. I do think that even with the hard material, everyone should read it. Don't shy away.
~Meaghan
One important genre of YA literature is the verse novel. These novels are written in poetic form. This allows the words to take multiple meanings and the lines to take various shapes, much like in poetry. The subject material can range from biographical to completely fictional.
I read Crank by Ellen Hopkins as my verse novel choice. Hopkins wrote the book in verse form after her daughter dealt with drug addiction. It explores the chaos meth can place on you and your family, as well as how sometimes you don't realize how much you're giving to the drug until you hit rock bottom. Hopkins has a great website that has a place for adults as well as a place for young adults. The adult site focuses on her new adult novels while the YA site has resources for students and teachers.
Crank was a difficult read for me, based on the subject material. Hopkins doesn't shy away from any of the nitty gritty details that go with drug addiction: loss of friends, rape, drug deals gone bad, family struggles, withdrawl. It's all there. Which I think is a good thing, because everyone (especially teens) need to see what comes with the high. The ending was hopeful, which is equally important because it is possible to get better and for things to heal.
The verse form was especially powerful in this book. There are places where you can read across the columns or you can read just one side or the other; both impact the meaning of the story and lend to the madness of the situation. It can be a fairly quick read or it can take longer, depending on how you process it. For me, I had to read sections twice to fully grasp the impact of them.
Crank is also part of a series. It's the first book. The other books in the series follow what happened after the events set in motion. It is considered a work of fiction even though it is loosely based on Hopkins' experiences with her daughter.
I recommend Crank for 11th and 12th grade, and beyond. Younger than that and I think it might be a little difficult. I do think that even with the hard material, everyone should read it. Don't shy away.
~Meaghan
Colorado Teen Literature Conference: Reflection
Hi again, my readers!
A few weeks ago I had the great fortune of volunteering for the Colorado Teen Literature Conference (CTLC), which is a statewide conference for teens and adults alike. There are local authors as well as headliners, classes on various subjects that you can attend all day, and places to buy items from local vendors and authors. (Their website is here and is awesome.)
I had never been before or even heard about it before, so volunteering for it was a great way to get introduced to what CTLC is all about. Most of what I was doing was directing visitors to the various places on my school's campus so they could find their seminars and classes easily. I also got to participate in classes if I felt inclined (I went to one on fairytales in YA literature and now have like 20 more books on my "To Read" list on GoodReads) and hear the guest speakers present.
This year, the guest speakers were Andrew Smith, author of Grasshopper Jungles, and Wendelin Van Draanen, author of Runaway. They were amazing. Hearing them speak about why they became writers was one of the most inspirational experiences of my life.
Wendelin started writing as a way to cope (she called it revenge writing) when her family's business was destroyed in an arson act. She used to teach computer programming and math at the high school level and wrote in her free time. When she decided to start sending things to publishers, she came up with the term "Hope in the Mail"; what it means is that as long as something is out there, there's hope.
Andrew is a high school English teacher and also writes in his free time. He mostly wrote things for himself and was convinced by a friend of his to send some of his stuff off to a publisher. He now has two contracts and writes two novels a year while teaching. One of his books required for him to figure out how many miles the earth moves in a period of time. The answer is 20 miles in five seconds. He tries to encourage all his students to stop thinking about what they're going to do with the rest of their lives; instead, he wants them to think of what they're going to from 20 miles to the next.
I was able to meet both the authors and get Andrew to sign my book. I also got this wickedly awesome picture with Andrew that Wendelin photo bombed. Of course I blinked.
It was fantastic. If you get the chance to go to CTLC, I highly recommend you take it.
~Meaghan
A few weeks ago I had the great fortune of volunteering for the Colorado Teen Literature Conference (CTLC), which is a statewide conference for teens and adults alike. There are local authors as well as headliners, classes on various subjects that you can attend all day, and places to buy items from local vendors and authors. (Their website is here and is awesome.)
I had never been before or even heard about it before, so volunteering for it was a great way to get introduced to what CTLC is all about. Most of what I was doing was directing visitors to the various places on my school's campus so they could find their seminars and classes easily. I also got to participate in classes if I felt inclined (I went to one on fairytales in YA literature and now have like 20 more books on my "To Read" list on GoodReads) and hear the guest speakers present.
This year, the guest speakers were Andrew Smith, author of Grasshopper Jungles, and Wendelin Van Draanen, author of Runaway. They were amazing. Hearing them speak about why they became writers was one of the most inspirational experiences of my life.
Wendelin started writing as a way to cope (she called it revenge writing) when her family's business was destroyed in an arson act. She used to teach computer programming and math at the high school level and wrote in her free time. When she decided to start sending things to publishers, she came up with the term "Hope in the Mail"; what it means is that as long as something is out there, there's hope.
Andrew is a high school English teacher and also writes in his free time. He mostly wrote things for himself and was convinced by a friend of his to send some of his stuff off to a publisher. He now has two contracts and writes two novels a year while teaching. One of his books required for him to figure out how many miles the earth moves in a period of time. The answer is 20 miles in five seconds. He tries to encourage all his students to stop thinking about what they're going to do with the rest of their lives; instead, he wants them to think of what they're going to from 20 miles to the next.
I was able to meet both the authors and get Andrew to sign my book. I also got this wickedly awesome picture with Andrew that Wendelin photo bombed. Of course I blinked.
It was fantastic. If you get the chance to go to CTLC, I highly recommend you take it.
~Meaghan
Book Talks: Luna
Hey there readers!
One of the assignments for our YA lit class was to give a "Book Talk" to our class about a young adult novel that we enjoy. A "Book Talk" is basically where you have three minutes to try to sell the class on why they should read your book. You need to be engaging, bring a copy of the book, and read a small section of the book aloud.
The book I gave my talk on was Luna by Julie Anne Peters. The story follows Regan, a high school girl who deals with the basic troubles of life: babysitting, getting good grades in her advanced classes, crushes on guys she's friends with, female friend trouble, and of course her relationship with her parents. But there's one part of Regan's life that doesn't fit the normal equation: her older sibling. By day, he's Liam: brother, son, and high school genius. At night, he becomes Luna: sister, prom queen wanna be, and make up expert. The story deals with gender roles, expectations, what it means to be transgender, and how being transgender can affect a family.
I read Luna when I was in high school and it has stuck with me every since. It's really well done and is absolutely heartbreaking in places. I remember being 16 or 17 and just bawling my eyes out by the end. Peters writes in a way that gets you emotionally involved with her characters and that tackles issues without being in your face about it. (I read a lot of her stuff as teen; I really loved Define Normal which follows two teens - one a prep and one a goth - as they become friends through a school counseling program.) She's also a local author (which you can read about on her website) who I had the fortune to meet through a writer's group I was in as a teen.
I highly recommend Luna, especially if you're looking for something in the LGBTQ genre for highschoolers.
~Meaghan
One of the assignments for our YA lit class was to give a "Book Talk" to our class about a young adult novel that we enjoy. A "Book Talk" is basically where you have three minutes to try to sell the class on why they should read your book. You need to be engaging, bring a copy of the book, and read a small section of the book aloud.
The book I gave my talk on was Luna by Julie Anne Peters. The story follows Regan, a high school girl who deals with the basic troubles of life: babysitting, getting good grades in her advanced classes, crushes on guys she's friends with, female friend trouble, and of course her relationship with her parents. But there's one part of Regan's life that doesn't fit the normal equation: her older sibling. By day, he's Liam: brother, son, and high school genius. At night, he becomes Luna: sister, prom queen wanna be, and make up expert. The story deals with gender roles, expectations, what it means to be transgender, and how being transgender can affect a family.
I read Luna when I was in high school and it has stuck with me every since. It's really well done and is absolutely heartbreaking in places. I remember being 16 or 17 and just bawling my eyes out by the end. Peters writes in a way that gets you emotionally involved with her characters and that tackles issues without being in your face about it. (I read a lot of her stuff as teen; I really loved Define Normal which follows two teens - one a prep and one a goth - as they become friends through a school counseling program.) She's also a local author (which you can read about on her website) who I had the fortune to meet through a writer's group I was in as a teen.
I highly recommend Luna, especially if you're looking for something in the LGBTQ genre for highschoolers.
~Meaghan
Supernatural Fiction: The Graveyard Book
Hello again dear readers!
So in my YA lit class, we read supernatural fiction. Supernatural fiction isn't anything new to the genre (remember Goosebumps from elementary school anyone?) and can be seen, in my opinion, as an introduction to the horror genre. That isn't to say they are all scary, though.
I read Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book as my selection for the supernatural. I'll be completely honest: I'm not a huge Gaiman fan. I tried to read Stardust but got bored with it a third of the way through. I also tried American Gods and had similar trouble. But The Graveyard Book was something altogether different.
The first time I read it was for Children's Literature last year, so this was my second reading. I enjoyed it completely both times. The Graveyard Book follows young Nobody Owens. Nobody's family is murdered when he is a baby and yet he somehow evades the killer (named Jack) by crawling to the graveyard up the hill. The hosts of the graveyard (ghosts) take him in and raise him as one of their own. His mentor is a vampire named Silas. As Bod (his nickname) grows older, his adventures become more and more wild. By the end of the story, he has to face the killer of his family as a young man.
The writing is well done and the story is great. It is a middle school level book, so it's less intense than some of Gaiman's other works (like the ones I mentioned above that I couldn't get through). The pages are set up in a manner so that there are some illustrations to help guide the story along. There are also places where the page layout lends to the feel of the story, such as a dark background around a chapter opening.
I highly recommend The Graveyard Book. Even if you are like me and struggle with Gaiman's work, I think this one is worth a try.
(Also, here is some fantastic fanart that fans of the book have done. Harper Collins publishes it on their Tumblr page. I am impressed.)
~Meaghan
So in my YA lit class, we read supernatural fiction. Supernatural fiction isn't anything new to the genre (remember Goosebumps from elementary school anyone?) and can be seen, in my opinion, as an introduction to the horror genre. That isn't to say they are all scary, though.
I read Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book as my selection for the supernatural. I'll be completely honest: I'm not a huge Gaiman fan. I tried to read Stardust but got bored with it a third of the way through. I also tried American Gods and had similar trouble. But The Graveyard Book was something altogether different.
The first time I read it was for Children's Literature last year, so this was my second reading. I enjoyed it completely both times. The Graveyard Book follows young Nobody Owens. Nobody's family is murdered when he is a baby and yet he somehow evades the killer (named Jack) by crawling to the graveyard up the hill. The hosts of the graveyard (ghosts) take him in and raise him as one of their own. His mentor is a vampire named Silas. As Bod (his nickname) grows older, his adventures become more and more wild. By the end of the story, he has to face the killer of his family as a young man.
The writing is well done and the story is great. It is a middle school level book, so it's less intense than some of Gaiman's other works (like the ones I mentioned above that I couldn't get through). The pages are set up in a manner so that there are some illustrations to help guide the story along. There are also places where the page layout lends to the feel of the story, such as a dark background around a chapter opening.
I highly recommend The Graveyard Book. Even if you are like me and struggle with Gaiman's work, I think this one is worth a try.
(Also, here is some fantastic fanart that fans of the book have done. Harper Collins publishes it on their Tumblr page. I am impressed.)
~Meaghan
Science Fiction Novel: Feed and Group Discussion
Hello dear readers!
For my YA lit class, one section of material we covered was science fiction. The selection I picked was Feed by M.T. Anderson, a novel in which everyone in a future society has tech systems embedded in their heads that are constantly marketing to each individual. When the main character meets a girl named Violet who wants to break the system and break free of the "feed", he thinks she's nuts initially. But as the story progresses, he begins to understand why she's doing what she does.
(M.T. Anderson is a really interesting writer. If you go to his website, it's very much "steampunk" which I think speaks for his writing. I recommend checking out his books.)
In our group, we had an interesting discussion about the role of technology in the lives of kids today. Many kids can't be seen without their smartphones in hands, checking Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr. The premise of Feed is that these streams would be pushed directly into the minds of everyone who had a "feed". The interesting thing is that Anderson wrote this novel in 2001, which was before the Facebook boom.
Another interesting thing about Feed is that the language is very dumbed down. The reason for this is to make a point that too much technology can reverse the learning process. We felt this was a very deliberate choice on Anderson's part; while it does make the novel hard to read in some places, it gets the feeling of this society all about consumption across well.
Overall, I enjoyed Feed. I think it could be a really good launch point for discussion with teens and adults alike.
~Meaghan
For my YA lit class, one section of material we covered was science fiction. The selection I picked was Feed by M.T. Anderson, a novel in which everyone in a future society has tech systems embedded in their heads that are constantly marketing to each individual. When the main character meets a girl named Violet who wants to break the system and break free of the "feed", he thinks she's nuts initially. But as the story progresses, he begins to understand why she's doing what she does.
(M.T. Anderson is a really interesting writer. If you go to his website, it's very much "steampunk" which I think speaks for his writing. I recommend checking out his books.)
In our group, we had an interesting discussion about the role of technology in the lives of kids today. Many kids can't be seen without their smartphones in hands, checking Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr. The premise of Feed is that these streams would be pushed directly into the minds of everyone who had a "feed". The interesting thing is that Anderson wrote this novel in 2001, which was before the Facebook boom.
Another interesting thing about Feed is that the language is very dumbed down. The reason for this is to make a point that too much technology can reverse the learning process. We felt this was a very deliberate choice on Anderson's part; while it does make the novel hard to read in some places, it gets the feeling of this society all about consumption across well.
Overall, I enjoyed Feed. I think it could be a really good launch point for discussion with teens and adults alike.
~Meaghan
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Young Adult Non Fiction: How They Croaked Plus Group Discussion
Hello again, my lovely readers!
A key component to education and to the reading curriculum of young adults is non fiction. Non fiction material can range from the funny and gross (which is what I read for this post) to the serious and grim. There are a few challenges in non fiction, especially for teens. It needs to be both engaging and factual, and somehow it has to hold the attention of someone who may or may not have the focus of a goldfish. The key with young adults is to get them reading what they are interested in, be it space, dinosaurs, fashion, etc. and use it as a launch point into other non fiction material.
(If you are looking for some ideas for non fiction for YA readers, Goodreads has a pretty great list here. A lot of these look really interesting, and can be a great way to get YA readers involved.)
For the non fiction selection, I chose to read How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg and Kevin O'Malley. The book is filled with bios of famous people ranging from Mozart to Washington with facts about the time periods, practices, and other random bits and pieces. The book also has a lot of really funny drawings throughout as well.
I loved it. This is exactly the kind of book I was reading when I was in like 5th grade - the weird, gross out fact book was my preference of choice. I love how How They Croaked was humorous throughout, especially with some of the more gory deaths. I think by keeping the tone light it kept it from getting too dark. The facts were really neat, too; I had no idea Mozart died from strep throat. Overall, I think anyone in upper elementary through middle school will probably enjoy it.
In our group, we came up with a list of things we learned from How They Croaked, and if this list doesn't entice you into reading it, I don't know what else will:
1. Doctors could be just as lethal as the illnesses they were treating.
2. Thank God for antibiotics.
3. Always let someone know that you've died.
4. One of the leading causes of death is science.
5. Always do what you love, even if it kills you.
Again, a really great book.
~Meaghan
A key component to education and to the reading curriculum of young adults is non fiction. Non fiction material can range from the funny and gross (which is what I read for this post) to the serious and grim. There are a few challenges in non fiction, especially for teens. It needs to be both engaging and factual, and somehow it has to hold the attention of someone who may or may not have the focus of a goldfish. The key with young adults is to get them reading what they are interested in, be it space, dinosaurs, fashion, etc. and use it as a launch point into other non fiction material.
(If you are looking for some ideas for non fiction for YA readers, Goodreads has a pretty great list here. A lot of these look really interesting, and can be a great way to get YA readers involved.)
For the non fiction selection, I chose to read How They Croaked: The Awful Ends of the Awfully Famous by Georgia Bragg and Kevin O'Malley. The book is filled with bios of famous people ranging from Mozart to Washington with facts about the time periods, practices, and other random bits and pieces. The book also has a lot of really funny drawings throughout as well.
I loved it. This is exactly the kind of book I was reading when I was in like 5th grade - the weird, gross out fact book was my preference of choice. I love how How They Croaked was humorous throughout, especially with some of the more gory deaths. I think by keeping the tone light it kept it from getting too dark. The facts were really neat, too; I had no idea Mozart died from strep throat. Overall, I think anyone in upper elementary through middle school will probably enjoy it.
In our group, we came up with a list of things we learned from How They Croaked, and if this list doesn't entice you into reading it, I don't know what else will:
1. Doctors could be just as lethal as the illnesses they were treating.
2. Thank God for antibiotics.
3. Always let someone know that you've died.
4. One of the leading causes of death is science.
5. Always do what you love, even if it kills you.
Again, a really great book.
~Meaghan
Monday, April 13, 2015
Historical Fiction Novel: Between Shades of Gray Plus Group Discussion
Hello my readers!
I hope you are all having a lovely April so far. So in our YA lit class, we had to read a historical fiction selection. Historical fiction is a really important genre. Typically, a historical fiction novel will try to inform the reader about some time period or event, with the intention of making a connection between the reader and the characters so that the reader has a reason to be involved or to care. A lot of the time, a piece of historical fiction will act as a launch point to spark an interest in the reader. Once that spark is lit, the reader can then go find more information on whatever topic the novel was on.
For my historical fiction novel, I chose Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. Between Shades of Gray is about a 15 year old girl named Lina who lives in Lithuania during WWII. The Soviets come in the middle of the night and take her, her parents, and her younger brother away to a work camp in Siberia. They face separation, hard labor, brutal winters, poor living and travel conditions, and starvation. There is a lot of death and a lot of pain. Lina is a talented artist and uses her drawing skills to make it through.
(Between Shades of Gray has a really great website as well. There are videos of the author talking about her book, group discussion guides, and reviews from critics. You can find it here.)
In class, our group talked about how we felt about the book. The general consensus was that it was a difficult read because there wasn't a lot of hope from the get go. As one of my classmates said, it was pretty much emotionally "shitty the whole way through", which made it difficult to stick with. But we also decided it was a really important read, as many of us had no idea about the Siberian work camps in WWII.
One activity we were asked to do was to come up with a list of everything important we took away from Between Shades of Gray. It was a really fun activity, so I'm going to post the list here for your enjoyment.
"Everything I Ever Needed to Know I Learned from Between Shades of Gray"
1. Blankets should never be taken for granted.
2. A parent's love is greater than you know.
3. Be kind to everyone, even your "enemies."
4. Not all people are bad, they just act bad under certain circumstances.
5. Time heals all.
6. Humans have the power to overcome anything.
7. Always find a hole to poop through.
I hope you will go read Between Shades of Gray. It really is an important piece of historical fiction.
~Meaghan
I hope you are all having a lovely April so far. So in our YA lit class, we had to read a historical fiction selection. Historical fiction is a really important genre. Typically, a historical fiction novel will try to inform the reader about some time period or event, with the intention of making a connection between the reader and the characters so that the reader has a reason to be involved or to care. A lot of the time, a piece of historical fiction will act as a launch point to spark an interest in the reader. Once that spark is lit, the reader can then go find more information on whatever topic the novel was on.
For my historical fiction novel, I chose Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. Between Shades of Gray is about a 15 year old girl named Lina who lives in Lithuania during WWII. The Soviets come in the middle of the night and take her, her parents, and her younger brother away to a work camp in Siberia. They face separation, hard labor, brutal winters, poor living and travel conditions, and starvation. There is a lot of death and a lot of pain. Lina is a talented artist and uses her drawing skills to make it through.
(Between Shades of Gray has a really great website as well. There are videos of the author talking about her book, group discussion guides, and reviews from critics. You can find it here.)
In class, our group talked about how we felt about the book. The general consensus was that it was a difficult read because there wasn't a lot of hope from the get go. As one of my classmates said, it was pretty much emotionally "shitty the whole way through", which made it difficult to stick with. But we also decided it was a really important read, as many of us had no idea about the Siberian work camps in WWII.
One activity we were asked to do was to come up with a list of everything important we took away from Between Shades of Gray. It was a really fun activity, so I'm going to post the list here for your enjoyment.
"Everything I Ever Needed to Know I Learned from Between Shades of Gray"
1. Blankets should never be taken for granted.
2. A parent's love is greater than you know.
3. Be kind to everyone, even your "enemies."
4. Not all people are bad, they just act bad under certain circumstances.
5. Time heals all.
6. Humans have the power to overcome anything.
7. Always find a hole to poop through.
I hope you will go read Between Shades of Gray. It really is an important piece of historical fiction.
~Meaghan
Thursday, April 9, 2015
Identity Novel: Esperanza Rising Plus Group Discussion
Hello readers!
The identity novel is a really important part of YA literature, as it explores growth and issues that many teens are dealing with in some form or another. For my selection, I chose Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. Her website is found here and is full of all kinds of interesting things, including resources and discussion guides for her books.
The basis of Esperanza Rising is starting over from the ground up. Esperanza starts the story as a wealthy girl in Mexico during the 1920s. Her father is killed and she and her mother make an escape to California, where they work as laborers in the fields. At first, Esperanza is upset. The life in California is different than anything she's ever known and she hates it. But as the story continues, she starts to grow and come into her own, proving that even if you lose everything, you can still find yourself.
In our group discussion, we all latched onto the themes found in the story. There is smoke and fire (from Esperanza's home being burned), crochet and family (her grandmother teaches her to crochet and it becomes a lifeline while Esperanza is in California), and the fact that you can always recreate yourself. The biggest key we found to the story is the idea of cycles and circles. The book is structured after the agricultural growing season, and by the end, it has come a full season, much like Esperanza's life.
Esperanza Rising is a great book for upper elementary and middle school students, although I think everyone can gain something from it. I highly recommend it.
~Meaghan
The identity novel is a really important part of YA literature, as it explores growth and issues that many teens are dealing with in some form or another. For my selection, I chose Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan. Her website is found here and is full of all kinds of interesting things, including resources and discussion guides for her books.
The basis of Esperanza Rising is starting over from the ground up. Esperanza starts the story as a wealthy girl in Mexico during the 1920s. Her father is killed and she and her mother make an escape to California, where they work as laborers in the fields. At first, Esperanza is upset. The life in California is different than anything she's ever known and she hates it. But as the story continues, she starts to grow and come into her own, proving that even if you lose everything, you can still find yourself.
In our group discussion, we all latched onto the themes found in the story. There is smoke and fire (from Esperanza's home being burned), crochet and family (her grandmother teaches her to crochet and it becomes a lifeline while Esperanza is in California), and the fact that you can always recreate yourself. The biggest key we found to the story is the idea of cycles and circles. The book is structured after the agricultural growing season, and by the end, it has come a full season, much like Esperanza's life.
Esperanza Rising is a great book for upper elementary and middle school students, although I think everyone can gain something from it. I highly recommend it.
~Meaghan
Non-Fiction Development: Writing Great Books for Young Adults Plus Group Discussion Notes
Hello readers!
For one section of our YA lit class, we needed to read a non-fiction book about development. The one I chose was Writing Great Books for Young Adults by Regina Brooks. It's a guide from an editor on what publishers are looking for and on ways to structure a young adult novel.
The book was pretty much how I expected it to be. There are sections that describe plot, characters, and climax. The key points of the book are that you need to gear the novel towards your audience and that you should really decide on a theme when you write.
There are some really good ideas in the book, and there are prompts to get you writing throughout, which is a feature I really liked. Brooks also brings up some good things to think about, such as remembering your audience and what it was like when you were a young adult.
When we talked about it in our group, most of us kind of laughed at the idea of coming up with a theme. For us, we write to just write. There isn't a goal in mind of a theme like harmony or friendship. I don't know if that will change when we get older, but for now that's how it is. We also discussed how the book reads like most other "how to write" books. Overall, there wasn't much in the book to differentiate it from others in the fields.
However, if you are interested in writing for a young adult market, I would still recommend you at least look at Writing Great Books for Young Adults, even if only for the writing prompts.
~Meaghan
P.S. - Here is a really neat article we read in class if you are interested in writing. It has some really cool ideas to get you started.
For one section of our YA lit class, we needed to read a non-fiction book about development. The one I chose was Writing Great Books for Young Adults by Regina Brooks. It's a guide from an editor on what publishers are looking for and on ways to structure a young adult novel.
The book was pretty much how I expected it to be. There are sections that describe plot, characters, and climax. The key points of the book are that you need to gear the novel towards your audience and that you should really decide on a theme when you write.
There are some really good ideas in the book, and there are prompts to get you writing throughout, which is a feature I really liked. Brooks also brings up some good things to think about, such as remembering your audience and what it was like when you were a young adult.
When we talked about it in our group, most of us kind of laughed at the idea of coming up with a theme. For us, we write to just write. There isn't a goal in mind of a theme like harmony or friendship. I don't know if that will change when we get older, but for now that's how it is. We also discussed how the book reads like most other "how to write" books. Overall, there wasn't much in the book to differentiate it from others in the fields.
However, if you are interested in writing for a young adult market, I would still recommend you at least look at Writing Great Books for Young Adults, even if only for the writing prompts.
~Meaghan
P.S. - Here is a really neat article we read in class if you are interested in writing. It has some really cool ideas to get you started.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Reflection: Socratic Seminars
Hello readers!
Throughout the semester, our class has been doing a number of discussions called Socratic seminars. I had never heard of them until this class and I think they are awesome, actually. You're probably asking, "What is that?"
A Socratic seminar is a way of holding a polite, thoughtful discussion of a topic. Our topics have ranged from whether or not YA literature is too dark to articles we read about the field of YA literature. The class is divided into two groups. Group 1 forms an inside circle around a few table, facing one another for discussion. Group 2 forms a circle around Group 1 and observes quietly while the inside group discusses the topic of choice. Every member of the inside circle gets a chance to speak, offering text references, questions, and counter points. Then, after the allotted period of time has passed, the outside group offers feedback on the discussion and switches places to become the inside group.
What I like about this form of discussion is that everyone's opinion is heard. There is no dominant speaker, but a multitude of speakers. The conversations stay polite and no one gets trampled. The other nice thing is that because you are only facing the people you're talking to (instead of facing the outside circle), it creates a safe space to voice ideas.
Each seminar so far has gotten better, I think. As a class, we're learning each other's thought processes as well as our own. I like this as a teaching tool for my own classroom because I think I can use it to build community and safe space in my classes.
If this sounds interesting to anyone reading this, I found a really helpful website that explains not only what the seminar is but how it functions and how to utilize it. You can find the site here. :)
~Meaghan
Throughout the semester, our class has been doing a number of discussions called Socratic seminars. I had never heard of them until this class and I think they are awesome, actually. You're probably asking, "What is that?"
A Socratic seminar is a way of holding a polite, thoughtful discussion of a topic. Our topics have ranged from whether or not YA literature is too dark to articles we read about the field of YA literature. The class is divided into two groups. Group 1 forms an inside circle around a few table, facing one another for discussion. Group 2 forms a circle around Group 1 and observes quietly while the inside group discusses the topic of choice. Every member of the inside circle gets a chance to speak, offering text references, questions, and counter points. Then, after the allotted period of time has passed, the outside group offers feedback on the discussion and switches places to become the inside group.
What I like about this form of discussion is that everyone's opinion is heard. There is no dominant speaker, but a multitude of speakers. The conversations stay polite and no one gets trampled. The other nice thing is that because you are only facing the people you're talking to (instead of facing the outside circle), it creates a safe space to voice ideas.
Each seminar so far has gotten better, I think. As a class, we're learning each other's thought processes as well as our own. I like this as a teaching tool for my own classroom because I think I can use it to build community and safe space in my classes.
If this sounds interesting to anyone reading this, I found a really helpful website that explains not only what the seminar is but how it functions and how to utilize it. You can find the site here. :)
~Meaghan
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Reflection: Young Adult Reading Survey
Hey readers!
One of the projects we did this semester was to create a survey for young adults about their reading habits. We had to decide on what we wanted to find from the young adults we were surveying. For me, I wanted to know how young adults find their reading materials.
So I created a survey consisting of ten multiple choice answered questions and five short sentence questions. These questions ranged from how frequently the youth visited a library or bookstore to whether or not their friends read. I then distributed it among a group of 10 young adults at my local youth group. These teens ranged from 7th grade all the way to 12th, and were pretty evenly a mixture of guys and girls.
I then compiled their responses and wrote a paper, exploring what I learned from their responses. Here are some of the most important things I took away from this experience:
~ Always be prepared for teens to give you answers that don't relate to the questions. I had quite a few answers that were off the wall from what I asked.
~ Teens like it when books are suggested to them in a very specific manner. This came up quite a few times as well. A lot of the youth told me that when I'm suggesting books, I should gear it towards the teen. So for example, one told me to tell them "You would like this book" instead of "I really liked this book".
~ Many teenagers use the internet to find books. Popular sites include Google, Amazon, and through friends on social media.
~That being said, not one of the teens I surveyed uses Goodreads. (You guys remember this site?) I found that surprising.
I plan on using the results from this survey to help in my future classroom. I want to get my students involved with Goodreads so they can see that I'm reading and to also help them find new books. I'm going to keep my bookshelves open to my students, and when I make recommendations, I will always gear them towards my students. I also think that in the future, I may word my survey differently so that I can get more detailed responses.
Overall, I found that this experience was great.
~Meaghan
One of the projects we did this semester was to create a survey for young adults about their reading habits. We had to decide on what we wanted to find from the young adults we were surveying. For me, I wanted to know how young adults find their reading materials.
So I created a survey consisting of ten multiple choice answered questions and five short sentence questions. These questions ranged from how frequently the youth visited a library or bookstore to whether or not their friends read. I then distributed it among a group of 10 young adults at my local youth group. These teens ranged from 7th grade all the way to 12th, and were pretty evenly a mixture of guys and girls.
I then compiled their responses and wrote a paper, exploring what I learned from their responses. Here are some of the most important things I took away from this experience:
~ Always be prepared for teens to give you answers that don't relate to the questions. I had quite a few answers that were off the wall from what I asked.
~ Teens like it when books are suggested to them in a very specific manner. This came up quite a few times as well. A lot of the youth told me that when I'm suggesting books, I should gear it towards the teen. So for example, one told me to tell them "You would like this book" instead of "I really liked this book".
~ Many teenagers use the internet to find books. Popular sites include Google, Amazon, and through friends on social media.
~That being said, not one of the teens I surveyed uses Goodreads. (You guys remember this site?) I found that surprising.
I plan on using the results from this survey to help in my future classroom. I want to get my students involved with Goodreads so they can see that I'm reading and to also help them find new books. I'm going to keep my bookshelves open to my students, and when I make recommendations, I will always gear them towards my students. I also think that in the future, I may word my survey differently so that I can get more detailed responses.
Overall, I found that this experience was great.
~Meaghan
Monday, March 30, 2015
Group Discussion: Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock
Hi there, readers!
This is a reflection of our group discussion regarding Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick. There will be spoilers, so you have been warned.
The first thing we talked about in group was how difficult this story was to read. We reside in Colorado and shootings are nothing new: every member in our group has been impacted directly by a shooting (Columbine High School, the Batman Theater Shooting, Arapahoe High School, etc). That tends to taint how you react to a book of this nature. Most of us were also bullied or depressed in high school, which also impacted how we read the text.
Once we got that out of the way, we were able to dive into the text. The biggest thing we found with the book was how Herr Silverman reacted. He saved Leonard's life and took the teen to his home for the night. But should he have really done that? Should Silverman have instead taken Leonard to the ER where he could be evaluated and held on a 72 hour hold?
The truth is, none of us were really sure where the line is drawn. As a teacher (most of us are education majors), what do you do in a situation like that? I don't think we ever fully established an answer to the question, either. The closest we got was that you do what needs to be done and deal with the aftermath later.
We also discussed whether or not this book helps or hinders young adults. The story has a lot of really good coping techniques that it shows the readers, such as when Herr Silverman has Leonard write letters to himself from himself in the future. And because the book deals with such a heavy topic, it can help others feel not so alone and show them there's more than what looks like the only way out.
The overall conclusion, however, was that it's a really important read that young adults should read, but they should read it with adults available. The idea of having adults available isn't necessarily realistic. Mostly, though, adults (parents, teachers, friends, etc.) need to be present to listen and help their teens sort through the information.
The concluding bit we came up with is that it's a very heavy but important book, but probably shouldn't be geared towards anyone below 12th grade unless the person recommending it is sure of the readers maturity level.
~Meaghan
This is a reflection of our group discussion regarding Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick. There will be spoilers, so you have been warned.
The first thing we talked about in group was how difficult this story was to read. We reside in Colorado and shootings are nothing new: every member in our group has been impacted directly by a shooting (Columbine High School, the Batman Theater Shooting, Arapahoe High School, etc). That tends to taint how you react to a book of this nature. Most of us were also bullied or depressed in high school, which also impacted how we read the text.
Once we got that out of the way, we were able to dive into the text. The biggest thing we found with the book was how Herr Silverman reacted. He saved Leonard's life and took the teen to his home for the night. But should he have really done that? Should Silverman have instead taken Leonard to the ER where he could be evaluated and held on a 72 hour hold?
The truth is, none of us were really sure where the line is drawn. As a teacher (most of us are education majors), what do you do in a situation like that? I don't think we ever fully established an answer to the question, either. The closest we got was that you do what needs to be done and deal with the aftermath later.
We also discussed whether or not this book helps or hinders young adults. The story has a lot of really good coping techniques that it shows the readers, such as when Herr Silverman has Leonard write letters to himself from himself in the future. And because the book deals with such a heavy topic, it can help others feel not so alone and show them there's more than what looks like the only way out.
The overall conclusion, however, was that it's a really important read that young adults should read, but they should read it with adults available. The idea of having adults available isn't necessarily realistic. Mostly, though, adults (parents, teachers, friends, etc.) need to be present to listen and help their teens sort through the information.
The concluding bit we came up with is that it's a very heavy but important book, but probably shouldn't be geared towards anyone below 12th grade unless the person recommending it is sure of the readers maturity level.
~Meaghan
The Problem Novel: Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock
Hi there readers!
Today's post is about the problem novel Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick. (Matthew Quick is the guy who wrote The Silver Linings Playbook, in case you were curious. His website can be found here.) There are minimal spoilers in this review, so consider yourself warned.
Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock is a pretty dark young adult novel. It follows the 24 hour day of Leonard, a high school student who is plotting to kill his tormentor and then himself later in the day. It's Leonard's birthday and no one remembers: his friends (his elderly neighbor, a kid at his school who plays violin, and a really religious girl who hands out pamphlets at the train station) don't remember, his mother (who is absent most of the time and even when she is present, isn't really there) isn't even in the same state as him, and his teacher Herr Silverman (who is trying desperately to understand and help Leonard) doesn't know.
The story is first person in real time, which I thought was a pretty cool approach. I didn't necessarily like the story, but it did keep me enthralled. And it was a very powerful read. The only real issue I had was that it started to drag a little in the middle. Other than that, it's very well written. I will warn you though: be prepared to have a lack of resolution at the end.
Overall, I think Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock is a really important read for 12th graders and above. You may not like it, but it will leave an impact on you.
~Meaghan
Today's post is about the problem novel Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock by Matthew Quick. (Matthew Quick is the guy who wrote The Silver Linings Playbook, in case you were curious. His website can be found here.) There are minimal spoilers in this review, so consider yourself warned.
Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock is a pretty dark young adult novel. It follows the 24 hour day of Leonard, a high school student who is plotting to kill his tormentor and then himself later in the day. It's Leonard's birthday and no one remembers: his friends (his elderly neighbor, a kid at his school who plays violin, and a really religious girl who hands out pamphlets at the train station) don't remember, his mother (who is absent most of the time and even when she is present, isn't really there) isn't even in the same state as him, and his teacher Herr Silverman (who is trying desperately to understand and help Leonard) doesn't know.
The story is first person in real time, which I thought was a pretty cool approach. I didn't necessarily like the story, but it did keep me enthralled. And it was a very powerful read. The only real issue I had was that it started to drag a little in the middle. Other than that, it's very well written. I will warn you though: be prepared to have a lack of resolution at the end.
Overall, I think Forgive Me, Leonard Peacock is a really important read for 12th graders and above. You may not like it, but it will leave an impact on you.
~Meaghan
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Group Discussion: Before I Fall
Hello dear readers!
Today's post is a reflection of my group's discussion of Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. If you need a refresher, the original review of the book can be found here. And as always, this will contain spoilers.
One of the biggest things we talked about in my group was whether or not Sam was actually reliving each day. One girl proposed that maybe Sam was comatose and the whole thing was happening in her head. I hadn't thought about it like that. The group was then pretty evenly split between those who thought that was the case and those who thought she was really reliving each day.
For me, the story loses something if she's in a comatose state. The changes in Sam's life aren't as impactful and it makes me wonder what the point was. So I believe, for the sake of my own reading sanity, that she really was reliving each day.
Another thing that came up was how impressed we all were at the fact that this is Lauren Oliver's first novel. It's incredibly complex and a bold move for a first book. Which is why we believe it got picked up and published; the concept is huge.
We also talked about the compassion aspect as well. The big thing all of us took away from the book is that it is never too late to change how you treat people, to be a kind human being. You never know how your actions will affect those around you, and it's so important to be kind and compassionate. It could save someone's life.
Finally, we discussed some things we wanted to ask Lauren at our upcoming Skype session. We decided we wanted to ask about whether or not Sam really was reliving each day and about her writing techniques and practices.
(Note: I was really sick the day of the Skype session. If I had been there, it would have it's own blog entery. What I gathered from those who were there is that Lauren was very positive that Sam did in fact relive every day in reality. She also gave some great advice about writing, specifically setting a word count goal. Her's is currently 1000 words a day, but she recommended that you start at 80 a day and work your way up. So disappointed I missed!)
Overall, all of our group members really enjoyed the book. We would recommend it for all high school students and adults alike.
~Meaghan
Today's post is a reflection of my group's discussion of Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. If you need a refresher, the original review of the book can be found here. And as always, this will contain spoilers.
One of the biggest things we talked about in my group was whether or not Sam was actually reliving each day. One girl proposed that maybe Sam was comatose and the whole thing was happening in her head. I hadn't thought about it like that. The group was then pretty evenly split between those who thought that was the case and those who thought she was really reliving each day.
For me, the story loses something if she's in a comatose state. The changes in Sam's life aren't as impactful and it makes me wonder what the point was. So I believe, for the sake of my own reading sanity, that she really was reliving each day.
Another thing that came up was how impressed we all were at the fact that this is Lauren Oliver's first novel. It's incredibly complex and a bold move for a first book. Which is why we believe it got picked up and published; the concept is huge.
We also talked about the compassion aspect as well. The big thing all of us took away from the book is that it is never too late to change how you treat people, to be a kind human being. You never know how your actions will affect those around you, and it's so important to be kind and compassionate. It could save someone's life.
Finally, we discussed some things we wanted to ask Lauren at our upcoming Skype session. We decided we wanted to ask about whether or not Sam really was reliving each day and about her writing techniques and practices.
(Note: I was really sick the day of the Skype session. If I had been there, it would have it's own blog entery. What I gathered from those who were there is that Lauren was very positive that Sam did in fact relive every day in reality. She also gave some great advice about writing, specifically setting a word count goal. Her's is currently 1000 words a day, but she recommended that you start at 80 a day and work your way up. So disappointed I missed!)
Overall, all of our group members really enjoyed the book. We would recommend it for all high school students and adults alike.
~Meaghan
Thursday, February 19, 2015
The Lauren Oliver Novel: Before I Fall
Hello dear readers!
Today I am reviewing the young adult novel Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. (Lauren Oliver is an up and coming young adult writer, and actually writes a wide variety of genres. I highly recommend you check out her website if you get the chance.)
Before I Fall is a novel that follow a high school girl named Samantha, or as she prefers, Sam. Sam is one of the popular girls and can get away with just about anything. Her clique that she hangs with can be mean (they bully one girl, Juliette, relentlessly) and snobbish. Think of that group of girls we have all known from high school - you know the ones.
Almost from the get go of the story, Sam ends up in a car crash and dies after we've seen a typical day for her. But she is given a second chance. And a third. And a fourth. In the end, Sam ends up reliving the day of her death a total of seven times. Each time is a chance for her to change things: to change how she lives, how she loves, and how she dies.
The novel is incredibly interesting. We see Sam go from a horrible, selfish girl to a compassionate one who changes the people around her for the better. In the end, Sam still dies. But her death is no longer a freak accident of a mean girl. Instead, it becomes a meaningful death in the place of someone else.
Before I Fall is one of those books I struggled with, but in a good way. At the start of it, I hated Sam with a passion. Memories of the girls who teased me in elementary school (before I was homeschooled) came back and I wanted to punch her in the face. But by the end of the book, her transformation was so amazing that I was bawling my eyes out when I finished. If that doesn't tell you it's worth a read, I don't know what else will.
I do recommend Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. I think adults and high school students alike should read it. It's Oliver's first novel as well, so now I'm incredibly interested in reading the rest of her writing to see how it grows and changes. I highly encourage you to check out Lauren Oliver and especially Before I Fall. It will be worth your time.
~Meaghan
Today I am reviewing the young adult novel Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. (Lauren Oliver is an up and coming young adult writer, and actually writes a wide variety of genres. I highly recommend you check out her website if you get the chance.)
Before I Fall is a novel that follow a high school girl named Samantha, or as she prefers, Sam. Sam is one of the popular girls and can get away with just about anything. Her clique that she hangs with can be mean (they bully one girl, Juliette, relentlessly) and snobbish. Think of that group of girls we have all known from high school - you know the ones.
Almost from the get go of the story, Sam ends up in a car crash and dies after we've seen a typical day for her. But she is given a second chance. And a third. And a fourth. In the end, Sam ends up reliving the day of her death a total of seven times. Each time is a chance for her to change things: to change how she lives, how she loves, and how she dies.
The novel is incredibly interesting. We see Sam go from a horrible, selfish girl to a compassionate one who changes the people around her for the better. In the end, Sam still dies. But her death is no longer a freak accident of a mean girl. Instead, it becomes a meaningful death in the place of someone else.
Before I Fall is one of those books I struggled with, but in a good way. At the start of it, I hated Sam with a passion. Memories of the girls who teased me in elementary school (before I was homeschooled) came back and I wanted to punch her in the face. But by the end of the book, her transformation was so amazing that I was bawling my eyes out when I finished. If that doesn't tell you it's worth a read, I don't know what else will.
I do recommend Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. I think adults and high school students alike should read it. It's Oliver's first novel as well, so now I'm incredibly interested in reading the rest of her writing to see how it grows and changes. I highly encourage you to check out Lauren Oliver and especially Before I Fall. It will be worth your time.
~Meaghan
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Group Discussion: The Book Thief
Hello my readers!
Today I'm posting a reflection of my group's discussion of Markus Zusak's novel The Book Thief. If you have not read the book, there will be spoilers in this post. You have been warned.
The Book Thief takes place in a German town during World War II. It's great in that it gives a different aspect of World War II from the typical view we as readers get in the world of fiction. Instead of focusing on the Nazis and on the death camps, The Book Thief instead focuses on what life was like for a family living in the thick of it. It shows things like how survival depended on being part of the Nazi party even if someone didn't agree or believe in it, and the risks involved with day to day life. It shows that there are two sides to every story and that to save yourself, sometimes impossible choices must be made.
One of the biggest things about The Book Thief is the use of narrator. Death is our narrator through the novel and acts as an omnipresent force remembering his time during the war. Zusak has Death repeat ideas and themes throughout the book, telling readers about things before they happen. When I read The Book Thief, I felt a little frustrated with this because for me, it didn't make things such as bombings and character deaths leave as much of an impact. But through group discussion, it came to light that by having Death foreshadow and repeat so much actually allows young adult readers to absorb the full impact of the situation more. They see it coming and they still have to experience it. Now that I understand that technique, I'm planning on re-reading the book.
Another interesting thing about The Book Thief is the title. Yes, the main character steals books. But Zusak is referring to more than just her. The story is full of people who steal books. Max, the Jew that Lisel's family takes in, has a stolen copy of Mein Kampf that he ends up writing a new story over. Lisel of course steals books. And even Hitler, through organized book burnings, stole books during the war. If you look at The Book Thief with those thoughts in mind, it opens a whole other dimension to the tale.
Through our discussion, my group ultimately decided that The Book Thief is like an onion. It has so many layers that you need to read it multiple times. Each time you read it, your experiences and knowledge causes it to add another dimension of meaning. It's a great book that makes World War II accessible to young adults in a way that is more meaningful and intimate than a documentary or textbook can do.
The Book Thief is a fantastic read that I would recommend to anyone in high school or beyond.
What do you think, dear readers?
~Meaghan
Today I'm posting a reflection of my group's discussion of Markus Zusak's novel The Book Thief. If you have not read the book, there will be spoilers in this post. You have been warned.
The Book Thief takes place in a German town during World War II. It's great in that it gives a different aspect of World War II from the typical view we as readers get in the world of fiction. Instead of focusing on the Nazis and on the death camps, The Book Thief instead focuses on what life was like for a family living in the thick of it. It shows things like how survival depended on being part of the Nazi party even if someone didn't agree or believe in it, and the risks involved with day to day life. It shows that there are two sides to every story and that to save yourself, sometimes impossible choices must be made.
One of the biggest things about The Book Thief is the use of narrator. Death is our narrator through the novel and acts as an omnipresent force remembering his time during the war. Zusak has Death repeat ideas and themes throughout the book, telling readers about things before they happen. When I read The Book Thief, I felt a little frustrated with this because for me, it didn't make things such as bombings and character deaths leave as much of an impact. But through group discussion, it came to light that by having Death foreshadow and repeat so much actually allows young adult readers to absorb the full impact of the situation more. They see it coming and they still have to experience it. Now that I understand that technique, I'm planning on re-reading the book.
Another interesting thing about The Book Thief is the title. Yes, the main character steals books. But Zusak is referring to more than just her. The story is full of people who steal books. Max, the Jew that Lisel's family takes in, has a stolen copy of Mein Kampf that he ends up writing a new story over. Lisel of course steals books. And even Hitler, through organized book burnings, stole books during the war. If you look at The Book Thief with those thoughts in mind, it opens a whole other dimension to the tale.
Through our discussion, my group ultimately decided that The Book Thief is like an onion. It has so many layers that you need to read it multiple times. Each time you read it, your experiences and knowledge causes it to add another dimension of meaning. It's a great book that makes World War II accessible to young adults in a way that is more meaningful and intimate than a documentary or textbook can do.
The Book Thief is a fantastic read that I would recommend to anyone in high school or beyond.
What do you think, dear readers?
~Meaghan
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Classic Novel 2: The Book Thief
Hello readers!
Today I'm going to be giving my review of Markus Zusak's novel The Book Thief.
The Book Thief has been around for a little while and was a book I was actually recommended for reading when I was in upper high school. I never got around to reading it. In hindsight, I'm not sure why I didn't. The story takes places during World War II in Nazi Germany, which is something I've always been interested in. The only thing I can figure the recommendation came during a period where I wasn't reading much.
I was incredibly pleased to read The Book Thief for this literature class, and the book did not disappoint me. As mentioned above, the story takes place in a Nazi Germany town. Most of the action occurs on Himmel Street, which translates into Heaven Street. The narrator is an omnipresent individual (I won't spoil for you who the narrator is in this post) and tells us (the readers) the story of Lisel, a young girl living with a foster family.
The town they reside in is very pro-Hitler. Lisel is forced to participate in the Hitler Youth program and the activities they put on. These contain, among other things, book burnings. Lisel doesn't know how to read in the beginning of the story, but she begins stealing books anyway. As the story progresses, her foster father begins to teach her to read in the basement of their home, until Lisel is reading on her own and able to devour all the books she's stolen.
Through events out of her control - including hiding a Jewish man in the basement, the bomb threats that begin constantly plaguing the street, and the increasing stress from Hitler - we experience Lisel's growth and struggles.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Book Thief. It brought a refreshing take on World War II by showing a different side that we rarely get to see. The book is funny, smart, and emotional. There were parts where I felt the narrator was over explaining their intentions, but I do understand why Zusak chose to write it that way. I highly recommend The Book Thief for high schoolers and adults alike.
What are your thoughts on The Book Thief?
~Meaghan
P.S. : If you want more information on this book or on Markus Zusak, his website can be found here.
Today I'm going to be giving my review of Markus Zusak's novel The Book Thief.
The Book Thief has been around for a little while and was a book I was actually recommended for reading when I was in upper high school. I never got around to reading it. In hindsight, I'm not sure why I didn't. The story takes places during World War II in Nazi Germany, which is something I've always been interested in. The only thing I can figure the recommendation came during a period where I wasn't reading much.
I was incredibly pleased to read The Book Thief for this literature class, and the book did not disappoint me. As mentioned above, the story takes place in a Nazi Germany town. Most of the action occurs on Himmel Street, which translates into Heaven Street. The narrator is an omnipresent individual (I won't spoil for you who the narrator is in this post) and tells us (the readers) the story of Lisel, a young girl living with a foster family.
The town they reside in is very pro-Hitler. Lisel is forced to participate in the Hitler Youth program and the activities they put on. These contain, among other things, book burnings. Lisel doesn't know how to read in the beginning of the story, but she begins stealing books anyway. As the story progresses, her foster father begins to teach her to read in the basement of their home, until Lisel is reading on her own and able to devour all the books she's stolen.
Through events out of her control - including hiding a Jewish man in the basement, the bomb threats that begin constantly plaguing the street, and the increasing stress from Hitler - we experience Lisel's growth and struggles.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Book Thief. It brought a refreshing take on World War II by showing a different side that we rarely get to see. The book is funny, smart, and emotional. There were parts where I felt the narrator was over explaining their intentions, but I do understand why Zusak chose to write it that way. I highly recommend The Book Thief for high schoolers and adults alike.
What are your thoughts on The Book Thief?
~Meaghan
P.S. : If you want more information on this book or on Markus Zusak, his website can be found here.
Monday, February 9, 2015
Group Discussion: Looking for Alaska
Hello my readers!
Last week, my class broke into small groups to discuss the first classic novel we read for Young Adult Literature. This post is a reflection of that discussion and will contain spoilers for Looking for Alaska by John Green and, to a lesser extent, spoilers for The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.
You have been warned.
The group I was in was comprised of five students, including myself. We had all read the John Green novel Looking for Alaska. (For a brief summary of the book, check out my post here.) Our discussion started with the ending. How did the ambiguity of the ending (never really finding out if Alaska died from just an accident or if it was a suicide) impact the book?
I feel like we all struggled a little with it. I know I did. What we ultimately came up with was that the ambiguous ending made the book more powerful. By not knowing for sure what really happened, Looking for Alaska has a duality when you read it. If you believe it's a suicide, you read it a little bit differently than if you believe it's an accident. This makes the book more relatable for the teens who read it: almost everyone knows of someone who has died of either suicide or an accident, and it lets both spectrums of youth feel less alone.
Another thing we noted in our discussion was how Alaska's death happens in the middle of the book. Most books have the death of a character near the end, so you never really get to see how their friends handle the grief. Because the accident happens in the middle of the book, we as readers get to see how Pudge and his friends deal with their grief. We get to watch them continue to grow; it makes for a refreshing take on a book like this.
What makes Looking for Alaska so great is that there is the whole countdown (the sections in the first half of the book are listed as "x days before") to the death which causes the reader to get dragged into the book. We really loved that in our group. Then you have the opposite ("x days after") after the accident. We decided that this technique of writing and labeling gives teens the incentive they need to stick with the book to the end.
Finally, we all agreed that Looking for Alaska has a very "Breakfast Club" kind of vibe. The kids are ultimately a group of misfits that band together so they survive this boarding school they reside at. It's something every generation can relate with and makes the book humorous as well as meaningful for everyone who reads it.
Overall, Looking for Alaska is a mature book that we would recommend to upper high schoolers. The ambiguity of how Alaska died is crucial in making it more relatable to youth and adults, and the countdown in labeling the sections is important in helping readers stay engaged throughout.
Looking for Alaska was not the only book option we had for our Classic Novel selection. The groups for each other book gave us a blurb about what to expect with the other three books in the Classic Novel 1 section. Here is what I took away from each:
The One and Only Ivan is a book about a gorilla living in a mall. When a baby elephant is brought in to be on display with him, he gets mad and decides that living in an enclosure is no life for her. The spokesperson form the group that read it said it's a great book geared for middle school. He told us not to judge text by size; even though the book is filled with larger print, the story is immensely complex. He explained that the book contains many levels of complexity and great one liners. Overall, he would recommend that you have young readers read it twice (once in middle school and once again in high school) so that they can gather all the levels in it.
American Born Chinese is a graphic novel about the lengths teens go to fit in. The group leader explained that it's comprised of three different stories that all wrap together with the use of mythology, the Bible, and modern day settings. He told us that it explores the use of stereotypes in America as well as cultural differences across the board. The book is recommended for high schoolers and is something that a lot of young people can relate to on some level.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a down to earth read for teens. It follows a teen who group up on a reservation and decides to go to a white school. The group leader for it explained to us that it really is about taking risks and finding yourself, which is something all teenagers are trying to do. The book is filled with humor and drawings. She also said that the writing comes off as extremely honest, which is something that teens need. Overall, the book is recommended for 9th and 10th grades.
So what did I learn from all of this?
It's so important to have books and stories that young adults can relate to. The view of the world can be similar, but far away enough that it's easier for the readers to deal with than if it's happening to the young adult in real life. This allows the teens to explore their own world in a safe environment and gives them ways to deal with what is going on in their own lives.
Also, the world of Young Adult Literature is a great bridge for the gap between young adults and adults. If you read the books, you know what your students are possibly dealing with; it also encourages the youth to trust you because you aren't shying away from them. Overall, young adults and adults can find a middle ground through reading.
What are your thoughts?
~Meaghan
Last week, my class broke into small groups to discuss the first classic novel we read for Young Adult Literature. This post is a reflection of that discussion and will contain spoilers for Looking for Alaska by John Green and, to a lesser extent, spoilers for The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.
You have been warned.
The group I was in was comprised of five students, including myself. We had all read the John Green novel Looking for Alaska. (For a brief summary of the book, check out my post here.) Our discussion started with the ending. How did the ambiguity of the ending (never really finding out if Alaska died from just an accident or if it was a suicide) impact the book?
I feel like we all struggled a little with it. I know I did. What we ultimately came up with was that the ambiguous ending made the book more powerful. By not knowing for sure what really happened, Looking for Alaska has a duality when you read it. If you believe it's a suicide, you read it a little bit differently than if you believe it's an accident. This makes the book more relatable for the teens who read it: almost everyone knows of someone who has died of either suicide or an accident, and it lets both spectrums of youth feel less alone.
Another thing we noted in our discussion was how Alaska's death happens in the middle of the book. Most books have the death of a character near the end, so you never really get to see how their friends handle the grief. Because the accident happens in the middle of the book, we as readers get to see how Pudge and his friends deal with their grief. We get to watch them continue to grow; it makes for a refreshing take on a book like this.
What makes Looking for Alaska so great is that there is the whole countdown (the sections in the first half of the book are listed as "x days before") to the death which causes the reader to get dragged into the book. We really loved that in our group. Then you have the opposite ("x days after") after the accident. We decided that this technique of writing and labeling gives teens the incentive they need to stick with the book to the end.
Finally, we all agreed that Looking for Alaska has a very "Breakfast Club" kind of vibe. The kids are ultimately a group of misfits that band together so they survive this boarding school they reside at. It's something every generation can relate with and makes the book humorous as well as meaningful for everyone who reads it.
Overall, Looking for Alaska is a mature book that we would recommend to upper high schoolers. The ambiguity of how Alaska died is crucial in making it more relatable to youth and adults, and the countdown in labeling the sections is important in helping readers stay engaged throughout.
Looking for Alaska was not the only book option we had for our Classic Novel selection. The groups for each other book gave us a blurb about what to expect with the other three books in the Classic Novel 1 section. Here is what I took away from each:
The One and Only Ivan is a book about a gorilla living in a mall. When a baby elephant is brought in to be on display with him, he gets mad and decides that living in an enclosure is no life for her. The spokesperson form the group that read it said it's a great book geared for middle school. He told us not to judge text by size; even though the book is filled with larger print, the story is immensely complex. He explained that the book contains many levels of complexity and great one liners. Overall, he would recommend that you have young readers read it twice (once in middle school and once again in high school) so that they can gather all the levels in it.
American Born Chinese is a graphic novel about the lengths teens go to fit in. The group leader explained that it's comprised of three different stories that all wrap together with the use of mythology, the Bible, and modern day settings. He told us that it explores the use of stereotypes in America as well as cultural differences across the board. The book is recommended for high schoolers and is something that a lot of young people can relate to on some level.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a down to earth read for teens. It follows a teen who group up on a reservation and decides to go to a white school. The group leader for it explained to us that it really is about taking risks and finding yourself, which is something all teenagers are trying to do. The book is filled with humor and drawings. She also said that the writing comes off as extremely honest, which is something that teens need. Overall, the book is recommended for 9th and 10th grades.
So what did I learn from all of this?
It's so important to have books and stories that young adults can relate to. The view of the world can be similar, but far away enough that it's easier for the readers to deal with than if it's happening to the young adult in real life. This allows the teens to explore their own world in a safe environment and gives them ways to deal with what is going on in their own lives.
Also, the world of Young Adult Literature is a great bridge for the gap between young adults and adults. If you read the books, you know what your students are possibly dealing with; it also encourages the youth to trust you because you aren't shying away from them. Overall, young adults and adults can find a middle ground through reading.
What are your thoughts?
~Meaghan
Saturday, January 31, 2015
Classic Novel 1: Looking for Alaska
Hello readers!
Today, I'm reviewing John Green's Looking for Alaska. If you haven't read it and don't want spoilers, I suggest you turn away now.
Up until this point, I had never read anything by John Green. I think it had to do with the hype. Last year, after all, was when The Fault in Our Stars blew up all over the big screen and social media. So I stayed away. Nothing personal to John Green, I just don't like things with hype - it can never be as awesome as everyone plays it up to be, and I always end disappointed.
Then Looking for Alaska appeared as an option on my reading list for this semester in Young Adult Literature, and something in me decided to take a risk. Maybe it was because the book was under three bucks on my Kindle, or maybe it was because I was finally curious enough about why teens and adults alike adore Green. Whatever it was, I bought the book and was on my merry way.
It. Was. Excellent.
The book is written through a first person narrator, a teen names Miles. Miles decides his life is boring in Florida and opts to go to a boarding school in Alabama. There he meets his roomate and future friend Chip (who goes by "The Colonel"), a boy named Takumi, and a girl named Alaska. The first half of the book is called "Before" and each section is listed with "x number of days before". In it, the kids go through what I would expect is pretty typical teen drama - relationships, classes, pulling pranks, smoking and drinking while trying not to get caught, and forming friendships.
And then.
It happens.
I'm not going to fully go into what happens, but the second half of the book is called "After" and each section is listed with "x number of days after". The kids suffer a trama that changes everything for them. The book goes from being typical to becoming a struggle of grief and survival.
I loved this book. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it kept me involved. I understand why teens and adults love John Green, and hype has nothing to do with it. The language is witty and real, the situations are important, and the characters are memorable. I'm hoping to read more of Green's works in the future.
Overall, I recommend Looking for Alaska. How about you guys? Have any of you read John Green? What did you think?
~Meaghan
P.S. - Come find me on Goodreads! You can connect with me here! I really recommend Goodreads. It's a great way to find new books.
Today, I'm reviewing John Green's Looking for Alaska. If you haven't read it and don't want spoilers, I suggest you turn away now.
Up until this point, I had never read anything by John Green. I think it had to do with the hype. Last year, after all, was when The Fault in Our Stars blew up all over the big screen and social media. So I stayed away. Nothing personal to John Green, I just don't like things with hype - it can never be as awesome as everyone plays it up to be, and I always end disappointed.
Then Looking for Alaska appeared as an option on my reading list for this semester in Young Adult Literature, and something in me decided to take a risk. Maybe it was because the book was under three bucks on my Kindle, or maybe it was because I was finally curious enough about why teens and adults alike adore Green. Whatever it was, I bought the book and was on my merry way.
It. Was. Excellent.
The book is written through a first person narrator, a teen names Miles. Miles decides his life is boring in Florida and opts to go to a boarding school in Alabama. There he meets his roomate and future friend Chip (who goes by "The Colonel"), a boy named Takumi, and a girl named Alaska. The first half of the book is called "Before" and each section is listed with "x number of days before". In it, the kids go through what I would expect is pretty typical teen drama - relationships, classes, pulling pranks, smoking and drinking while trying not to get caught, and forming friendships.
And then.
It happens.
I'm not going to fully go into what happens, but the second half of the book is called "After" and each section is listed with "x number of days after". The kids suffer a trama that changes everything for them. The book goes from being typical to becoming a struggle of grief and survival.
I loved this book. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it kept me involved. I understand why teens and adults love John Green, and hype has nothing to do with it. The language is witty and real, the situations are important, and the characters are memorable. I'm hoping to read more of Green's works in the future.
Overall, I recommend Looking for Alaska. How about you guys? Have any of you read John Green? What did you think?
~Meaghan
P.S. - Come find me on Goodreads! You can connect with me here! I really recommend Goodreads. It's a great way to find new books.
Wednesday, January 28, 2015
Review: The Giver
Hello dear readers!
Today's post is a review of the book The Giver by Lois Lowery. If you have not read the book, you might want to skip this post as there will be spoilers in the discussion.
The Giver follows twelve year old Jonas. Jonas lives in a community where everything is full of sameness - there is no color, no free will, no pain, no joy, no anything. Families are picked for each individual and you have to apply for spouses and children. Jobs are assigned to individuals when they turn twelve and are chosen by a committee of elders who observe the youth throughout their lives; these jobs range from birth mothers (the women who keep the population going) to nurturers (who care for the babies) to trash collectors.
At Jonas' ceremony, he is selected for a very different kind of a job: to be the next Receiver. The position of receiver is basically the keeper of the memories so that the members in the community do not have to carry them. Jonas begins training with a man called The Giver. Through the placement of The Giver's fingertips on Jonas' back, the memories of all human kind are transferred into Jonas. He learns colors, sounds, beauty, hatred, violence, and love - all of the things that the community has purged in their pursuit of sameness.
Once this training has begun, Jonas realizes he can't look at his life in the community the same. He realizes that he can't live in a world without love, without color, without flavor. The Giver and Jonas then come up with a plan that will restore the memories to the community and free Jonas from the confines he now can not stand. But when a catalyst is triggered, Jonas leaves earlier and the plan is jeopardized.
The book is very well written, with an ambiguous ending that forces the reader to think beyond the pages of the story. It has won many awards, including the Newberry Award. It is required reading for many middle schools, and has also been turned into a feature film with Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada, Into the Woods) and Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski, Iron Man) as The Giver.
I read this book once in 6th or 7th grade. While I enjoyed it, there was a lot I don't think I fully grasped or that I really took away from it. But upon re-reading it for this young adult literature class, I found The Giver had a lot more meaning for me.
One thing I found through this second reading is how the idea of sameness feels a lot more repulsive as an adult than as a middle schooler. I can't even imagine a world without love, color, or free will. The control of the government for the good of the community in the book was horrifying to me. I do not want that for my children.
Another thing I really took away this time was the suicide of the receiver before Jonas. Her name was Rosemary and while I think there were only like three sentences devoted to her, she stuck in my mind. She was The Giver's daughter and she killed herself because of the weight of memory. My heart ached and I can't shake her from my mind.
The Giver really is filled with a lot of emotional and mental complexities. It deals with government control, genocide, nothingness, suicide, lying, and so much more. One of the articles we read as a class to complement the story discussed how because of these complexities, maybe it's not a read suitable for middle schoolers.
On the one hand, I kind of agree. I know (as I mentioned before) that I really didn't fully comprehend the story when I read it in middle school. But I also know that it's good to expose students to this kind of book early. And since Jonas is twelve, it makes sense to me that middle schoolers read it. What do you think?
Overall, I really enjoy The Giver and re-reading it was great. I highly recommend it to everyone and I think it should be on every life book list.
~Meaghan
P.S. : Here is a link to watch the trailer for The Giver. I haven't seen the movie, but it does look like they've changed a few things from the book.
Today's post is a review of the book The Giver by Lois Lowery. If you have not read the book, you might want to skip this post as there will be spoilers in the discussion.
The Giver follows twelve year old Jonas. Jonas lives in a community where everything is full of sameness - there is no color, no free will, no pain, no joy, no anything. Families are picked for each individual and you have to apply for spouses and children. Jobs are assigned to individuals when they turn twelve and are chosen by a committee of elders who observe the youth throughout their lives; these jobs range from birth mothers (the women who keep the population going) to nurturers (who care for the babies) to trash collectors.
At Jonas' ceremony, he is selected for a very different kind of a job: to be the next Receiver. The position of receiver is basically the keeper of the memories so that the members in the community do not have to carry them. Jonas begins training with a man called The Giver. Through the placement of The Giver's fingertips on Jonas' back, the memories of all human kind are transferred into Jonas. He learns colors, sounds, beauty, hatred, violence, and love - all of the things that the community has purged in their pursuit of sameness.
Once this training has begun, Jonas realizes he can't look at his life in the community the same. He realizes that he can't live in a world without love, without color, without flavor. The Giver and Jonas then come up with a plan that will restore the memories to the community and free Jonas from the confines he now can not stand. But when a catalyst is triggered, Jonas leaves earlier and the plan is jeopardized.
The book is very well written, with an ambiguous ending that forces the reader to think beyond the pages of the story. It has won many awards, including the Newberry Award. It is required reading for many middle schools, and has also been turned into a feature film with Meryl Streep (The Devil Wears Prada, Into the Woods) and Jeff Bridges (The Big Lebowski, Iron Man) as The Giver.
I read this book once in 6th or 7th grade. While I enjoyed it, there was a lot I don't think I fully grasped or that I really took away from it. But upon re-reading it for this young adult literature class, I found The Giver had a lot more meaning for me.
One thing I found through this second reading is how the idea of sameness feels a lot more repulsive as an adult than as a middle schooler. I can't even imagine a world without love, color, or free will. The control of the government for the good of the community in the book was horrifying to me. I do not want that for my children.
Another thing I really took away this time was the suicide of the receiver before Jonas. Her name was Rosemary and while I think there were only like three sentences devoted to her, she stuck in my mind. She was The Giver's daughter and she killed herself because of the weight of memory. My heart ached and I can't shake her from my mind.
The Giver really is filled with a lot of emotional and mental complexities. It deals with government control, genocide, nothingness, suicide, lying, and so much more. One of the articles we read as a class to complement the story discussed how because of these complexities, maybe it's not a read suitable for middle schoolers.
On the one hand, I kind of agree. I know (as I mentioned before) that I really didn't fully comprehend the story when I read it in middle school. But I also know that it's good to expose students to this kind of book early. And since Jonas is twelve, it makes sense to me that middle schoolers read it. What do you think?
Overall, I really enjoy The Giver and re-reading it was great. I highly recommend it to everyone and I think it should be on every life book list.
~Meaghan
P.S. : Here is a link to watch the trailer for The Giver. I haven't seen the movie, but it does look like they've changed a few things from the book.
Monday, January 26, 2015
Reflection: On Why Young Adult Literature Matters
Last week in class we had a discussion about what makes Young Adult Literature and why it's important. These are just some highlights I took away from discussion that I want to share with you. :)
What is Young Adult Literature:
~ Young Adult Literature wasn't a genre until the 60's. Up until that point, youth were just reading whatever they could get their hands onto - their parents' books, newspapers, magazines, etc.
~ When the genre of Young Adult Literature started, it was used primarily as a means of teaching morals. Lots of the early YA lit consisted of how teens should behave.
~ This changed in the 70's and 80's when books for youth began to explore things that were previously considered taboo: sex, drugs, pregnancy, suicide and death, etc.
~ Now YA lit is a genre that seeks to reach out to youth and to let them know they aren't alone.
Why YA Lit is Important:
~ Young Adult Literature is a gateway for discussion. Teachers can use it as a launch point to discuss things going on with their students or issues that the students may have to face or are facing. This can be really beneficial.
~ Youth are exploring their world through whatever means they can, and YA Lit can act as a filter to help them figure out their place with their peers, themselves, and the greater world.
~ YA Lit may be the only thing that gets some youth to read. It offers them an outlet to explore the written word and eventually move beyond teen books and possibly into other genres of reading.
And I think this might be the most import of all:
~ Young Adult Literature is important because it lets teens know they aren't alone. No matter what they're going through, others are there too. The books help reinforce this sense of community.
What do you guys think? Is Young Adult Literature important? What makes something for young adults in your mind?
~Meaghan
What is Young Adult Literature:
~ Young Adult Literature wasn't a genre until the 60's. Up until that point, youth were just reading whatever they could get their hands onto - their parents' books, newspapers, magazines, etc.
~ When the genre of Young Adult Literature started, it was used primarily as a means of teaching morals. Lots of the early YA lit consisted of how teens should behave.
~ This changed in the 70's and 80's when books for youth began to explore things that were previously considered taboo: sex, drugs, pregnancy, suicide and death, etc.
~ Now YA lit is a genre that seeks to reach out to youth and to let them know they aren't alone.
Why YA Lit is Important:
~ Young Adult Literature is a gateway for discussion. Teachers can use it as a launch point to discuss things going on with their students or issues that the students may have to face or are facing. This can be really beneficial.
~ Youth are exploring their world through whatever means they can, and YA Lit can act as a filter to help them figure out their place with their peers, themselves, and the greater world.
~ YA Lit may be the only thing that gets some youth to read. It offers them an outlet to explore the written word and eventually move beyond teen books and possibly into other genres of reading.
And I think this might be the most import of all:
~ Young Adult Literature is important because it lets teens know they aren't alone. No matter what they're going through, others are there too. The books help reinforce this sense of community.
What do you guys think? Is Young Adult Literature important? What makes something for young adults in your mind?
~Meaghan
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Reflection: What I Read in High School
Hello, my readers!
This past week in class, we all had to write a paper on what influenced us as young adults. We then went around the room and shared a little bit of ourselves with the class so we could all get to know each other better. It sounds kind of weird, I know, but it was actually a really important exercise.
What was so great about it was remembering my own experiences and then learning about everyone else's. What was I reading from ages 12 to 18? Why was I reading that sort of thing? It was a lot of manga, a lot of fantasy, and a fair amount of romance. I was also starting to dabble into horror, devouring Stephen King and R.L. Stine like there was no tomorrow.
But the big one for me was Francesca Lia Block and the Weetzie Bat book series. I loved those books. I still love those books. Block's writing style is so beautiful. If you've never read her before, I highly recommend you do so at some point. She writes both young adult and adult fiction, and her prose is like poetry in motion.
So I wrote my paper on that. As I wrote my paper, I realized how big of an impact Block really had on me as a young teen. I was lonely and I felt lost, and when I discovered the character of Witch Baby in Weetzie Bat, I suddenly felt not so alone. That's why I read so much as a teen. I didn't want to feel alone.
Remembering this experience I had really helped get me in the mindset for this class. Why are teens reading what they are? How does reading help them relate to their feelings and their world? How can I understand and relate to my future students through this medium?
These are questions I want to consider and use as I go through this course.
Hearing everyone else's experiences with reading was great as well. We have a really eclectic class with a wide range of reading experience and preference: horror, sci-fi, fantasy, real world stuff, poetry, and crossover to name just a few. I believe this means that discussions are going to be incredibly interesting because everyone else will be looking at the read material differently and finding different things to discuss.
What do you think? What did you read as a young adult and how did that tie in with where you were as you grew?
Meaghan
This past week in class, we all had to write a paper on what influenced us as young adults. We then went around the room and shared a little bit of ourselves with the class so we could all get to know each other better. It sounds kind of weird, I know, but it was actually a really important exercise.
What was so great about it was remembering my own experiences and then learning about everyone else's. What was I reading from ages 12 to 18? Why was I reading that sort of thing? It was a lot of manga, a lot of fantasy, and a fair amount of romance. I was also starting to dabble into horror, devouring Stephen King and R.L. Stine like there was no tomorrow.
But the big one for me was Francesca Lia Block and the Weetzie Bat book series. I loved those books. I still love those books. Block's writing style is so beautiful. If you've never read her before, I highly recommend you do so at some point. She writes both young adult and adult fiction, and her prose is like poetry in motion.
So I wrote my paper on that. As I wrote my paper, I realized how big of an impact Block really had on me as a young teen. I was lonely and I felt lost, and when I discovered the character of Witch Baby in Weetzie Bat, I suddenly felt not so alone. That's why I read so much as a teen. I didn't want to feel alone.
Remembering this experience I had really helped get me in the mindset for this class. Why are teens reading what they are? How does reading help them relate to their feelings and their world? How can I understand and relate to my future students through this medium?
These are questions I want to consider and use as I go through this course.
Hearing everyone else's experiences with reading was great as well. We have a really eclectic class with a wide range of reading experience and preference: horror, sci-fi, fantasy, real world stuff, poetry, and crossover to name just a few. I believe this means that discussions are going to be incredibly interesting because everyone else will be looking at the read material differently and finding different things to discuss.
What do you think? What did you read as a young adult and how did that tie in with where you were as you grew?
Meaghan
An Introduction to This Blog
Hello, my dear readers!
I'm Meaghan, but I mostly go by Birdie online. (Hence, the title of this blog.) I'm a college student who's studying to become a high school English teacher. One of the classes I'm taking is a Young Adult Literature class, and it's the reason I'm actually starting this blog. I do intend to upkeep the blog even after the semester is over, though.
The things you will find on the blog as things progress will be related to what I'm reading and learning. I haven't read a whole lot up to this point, so it's refreshing to have a class that not only forces me to read again, but that is having me read what my potential students are reading. I'll be posting insights I take away from class discussions, reflections of papers and projects I'm writing for class, and reviews of books I'm reading. If there are book spoilers in my reviews, I'll let you know at the beginning of the post so you can scroll past without having things ruined for you.
I would love for this blog to become a place for discussions as well, so please feel free to comment or contribute to anything written here. :)
Welcome aboard!
Meaghan
I'm Meaghan, but I mostly go by Birdie online. (Hence, the title of this blog.) I'm a college student who's studying to become a high school English teacher. One of the classes I'm taking is a Young Adult Literature class, and it's the reason I'm actually starting this blog. I do intend to upkeep the blog even after the semester is over, though.
The things you will find on the blog as things progress will be related to what I'm reading and learning. I haven't read a whole lot up to this point, so it's refreshing to have a class that not only forces me to read again, but that is having me read what my potential students are reading. I'll be posting insights I take away from class discussions, reflections of papers and projects I'm writing for class, and reviews of books I'm reading. If there are book spoilers in my reviews, I'll let you know at the beginning of the post so you can scroll past without having things ruined for you.
I would love for this blog to become a place for discussions as well, so please feel free to comment or contribute to anything written here. :)
Welcome aboard!
Meaghan
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