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.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)