BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Anderson, Laurie Halse. 1999. SPEAK. New York: Farrar Strauss Giroux. ISBN 9780374371524
SUMMARY:
The book starts out at the beginning of Melinda's freshman year in high school. Something happened during the summer that makes it difficult for her to go back to school because the girls who were her friends will no longer talk to her. She feels like an outcast because of the way the others at school treat her. It is not until about half way into the book that the author reveals exactly what happened to make others treat Melinda as they do. This is where we find out that there was a drinking party and Melinda called the police. Others are angry with her for calling, but what they don't know is that Melinda was a victim of rape at the party. Melinda does not talk about it until she finds someone; Mr. Freeman, the art teacher, in whom she can begin to tell her secret. Eventually, the truth about that night surfaces as she is able to "speak" about it. The reason she is finally able to speak comes from the Andy, the senior boy who raped her at the party, attempting to rape her again.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
SPEAK has a powerful lesson that teenagers could learn. Readers will be sympathetic to Melinda because most readers have probably been through a situation of feeling like an outcast in their own school. Date rape or party rape might even be topics that teenagers have heard about. The characters are believable in the realistic fiction story. Melinda is likeable and the situations certainly will hit home with many. Students, parents and teachers should read this to get a sense of what some teenagers go through. A good picture of what adolescent life can be like with hurt, isolation and ultimately moving out of the hurt.
AWARDS/REVIEW EXCERPTS:
BOOKLIST EDIOR'S CHOICE: BOOKS FOR YOUTH, 1999 - ALA; United States
YALSA BEST BOOKS FOR YOUNG ADULTS, 2000 - ALA; United States
BOOKLIST - "In her YA fiction debut, Anderson perfectly captures the harsh conformity of high-school cliques and one teen's struggle to find acceptance from her peers."
VOYA - This extremely well-written book has current slang, an accurate portrayal of high school life, and engaging characters."
CONNECTIONS:
ART - Have students pick objects out of a bowl just as Melinda's art class did in the novel.
RESEARCH - Groups can do research on different topics. Examples: Date rape, Womens' rights, Sexual assualt.
GUEST SPEAKER - Invite speaker from Rape Crisis Center to give information and local agencies who are available.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
RULES by Cynthia Lord
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Lord, Cynthia. 2006. RULES. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780439443822
SUMMARY:
Twelve year old Catherine is growing up with the challenges of being an adolescent, but she also must learn to deal with her younger brother David who is autistic. Catherine loves her brother but also experiences feelings of impatience, frustration, embarrassment and protectiveness towards him. As she tries to deal with David's behaviors she creates rules to help manage his behavior. Catherine also meets another person who is handicapped at the clinic where David goes for therapy. Jason, is in a wheelchair and talks using cards that he points to for communication. As she becomes friends with Jason, Catherine struggles with her own thoughts about what friends and others will think of her having a handicapped friend.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
The characters in RULES are ones that every young child can relate to or learn from. Catherine is presented with challenges that most kids experience at sometime in their lives. David is a character that some will relate to and some will not. David's autism is a condition that seems to be more and more in the news these days. Jason, a wheelchair bound character, might be a character that others identify with or sympathize with. The setting is in modern day America and could be any place in America. The setting seems to be timeless so it makes this story a good one that will withstand time. The theme is mostly about compassion and understanding people with disabilities. Also, important is the concept of accepting those with disabilities.
While listening to the audio version of the book, I found it enjoyable to hear the voices of the characters and especially the voice of Ms. Almasy and Catherine. I got totally absorbed in the story as I listened and found that I did not want to quit. I read some of the book and listened to parts of it and thought that I preferrd listening to reading.
AWARDS/REVIEW EXERPTS:
JOHN NEWBERRY MEDAL, 2007 - Honor Book United States
NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOKS, 2007 - ALSC American Library Association, United States
BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S BOOKS - "Readers with sympathize with Catherine's struggle to explain the world to David throug his beloved rules and her frustration at his demanding, embarrassing behaviors and his garnering the majority of parental attention."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - "Lord has candidly captured the delicate dynamics in a family that revolves around a child's disability,"
KIRKUS REVIEWS: "Middle-grade readers will recognize [Catherine's] longing for acceptance and be intrigued by this exploration of dealing with differences."
CONNECTIONS:
Research Autism and living with autism. Websites:
http://www.autism-resources.com
Guest Speaker-Invite a doctor or specialist to talk to students about autism.
Lord, Cynthia. 2006. RULES. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780439443822
SUMMARY:
Twelve year old Catherine is growing up with the challenges of being an adolescent, but she also must learn to deal with her younger brother David who is autistic. Catherine loves her brother but also experiences feelings of impatience, frustration, embarrassment and protectiveness towards him. As she tries to deal with David's behaviors she creates rules to help manage his behavior. Catherine also meets another person who is handicapped at the clinic where David goes for therapy. Jason, is in a wheelchair and talks using cards that he points to for communication. As she becomes friends with Jason, Catherine struggles with her own thoughts about what friends and others will think of her having a handicapped friend.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
The characters in RULES are ones that every young child can relate to or learn from. Catherine is presented with challenges that most kids experience at sometime in their lives. David is a character that some will relate to and some will not. David's autism is a condition that seems to be more and more in the news these days. Jason, a wheelchair bound character, might be a character that others identify with or sympathize with. The setting is in modern day America and could be any place in America. The setting seems to be timeless so it makes this story a good one that will withstand time. The theme is mostly about compassion and understanding people with disabilities. Also, important is the concept of accepting those with disabilities.
While listening to the audio version of the book, I found it enjoyable to hear the voices of the characters and especially the voice of Ms. Almasy and Catherine. I got totally absorbed in the story as I listened and found that I did not want to quit. I read some of the book and listened to parts of it and thought that I preferrd listening to reading.
AWARDS/REVIEW EXERPTS:
JOHN NEWBERRY MEDAL, 2007 - Honor Book United States
NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOKS, 2007 - ALSC American Library Association, United States
BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S BOOKS - "Readers with sympathize with Catherine's struggle to explain the world to David throug his beloved rules and her frustration at his demanding, embarrassing behaviors and his garnering the majority of parental attention."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - "Lord has candidly captured the delicate dynamics in a family that revolves around a child's disability,"
KIRKUS REVIEWS: "Middle-grade readers will recognize [Catherine's] longing for acceptance and be intrigued by this exploration of dealing with differences."
CONNECTIONS:
Research Autism and living with autism. Websites:
http://www.autism-resources.com
Guest Speaker-Invite a doctor or specialist to talk to students about autism.
CALAMITY JACK by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illustrations by Nathan Hale
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Hale, Shannon and Hale, Dean. 2010. CALAMITY JACK. New York: Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781599900766
SUMMARY:
CALAMITY JACK is a follow up to RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE. In this graphic novel,Shannon and Dean Hale tell their own version of the fairy tale, Jack and the Beanstalk. The first part is telling the original story in which Jack is a schemer who tries to help make his mother's life better. Jack makes a plan to go to Blunderboar's house because he, the giant, damanged Jack's mothers store and refused to pay for the damages. Jack schemes to steal the giant's goose. Here is where Jack buys the magic beans and is able to climb the beanstalk to get to Blunderboar's house. In the events that happen, Jack kills one of the giant's henchmen while cutting down the beanstalk. This makes the giant angry and he vows to get back at Jack.
Jack flees the city and meets up with Rapunzel. In this part of the book, Jack and Rapunzel go back where they find out that Blundergoar has taken over the city, kidnapped his mother, and is terrorizing the people. With action packed adventure, Jack teams up with Rapunzel to set things right in his own town.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
This graphic novel is well illustrated and beautifully told. It was everything a graphic novel for children should be and more. It used the old fairy tale retelling but had a completely new spin that wasn't worn out. Students will enjoy reading it and following the adventure as Jack pursues the giant. It also will keep students' attention with Jack's mischevious nature. A great graphic novel that will be fun for both students and adults.
AWARDS/ REVIEW EXCERPTS:
BOOKLIST GREAT GRAPHIC NOVELS FOR TEENS, 2011 - American Library Association, United States
YALSA - A 2001 Great Graphic Novel
KIRKUS - "Rapunzel's fans should not fear: This volume, though told from a male perspective, has all the pluck and verve of its predeccessor. Readers will relish their gleeful mix of fairy tale, adventure and romance."
VOYA - "Fans of the previous book will be happy to see this new installment, which should handily graner new fans as will."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - "This Western/steampunk/fairy tale combo is paced full of adventure, is loads of fun, and has broad appeal for all readers."
CONNECTIONS:
Compare and Contrast this tale to other fairy tales.
Research steampunk and draw some personal creations.
Hale, Shannon and Hale, Dean. 2010. CALAMITY JACK. New York: Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781599900766
SUMMARY:
CALAMITY JACK is a follow up to RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE. In this graphic novel,Shannon and Dean Hale tell their own version of the fairy tale, Jack and the Beanstalk. The first part is telling the original story in which Jack is a schemer who tries to help make his mother's life better. Jack makes a plan to go to Blunderboar's house because he, the giant, damanged Jack's mothers store and refused to pay for the damages. Jack schemes to steal the giant's goose. Here is where Jack buys the magic beans and is able to climb the beanstalk to get to Blunderboar's house. In the events that happen, Jack kills one of the giant's henchmen while cutting down the beanstalk. This makes the giant angry and he vows to get back at Jack.
Jack flees the city and meets up with Rapunzel. In this part of the book, Jack and Rapunzel go back where they find out that Blundergoar has taken over the city, kidnapped his mother, and is terrorizing the people. With action packed adventure, Jack teams up with Rapunzel to set things right in his own town.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS:
This graphic novel is well illustrated and beautifully told. It was everything a graphic novel for children should be and more. It used the old fairy tale retelling but had a completely new spin that wasn't worn out. Students will enjoy reading it and following the adventure as Jack pursues the giant. It also will keep students' attention with Jack's mischevious nature. A great graphic novel that will be fun for both students and adults.
AWARDS/ REVIEW EXCERPTS:
BOOKLIST GREAT GRAPHIC NOVELS FOR TEENS, 2011 - American Library Association, United States
YALSA - A 2001 Great Graphic Novel
KIRKUS - "Rapunzel's fans should not fear: This volume, though told from a male perspective, has all the pluck and verve of its predeccessor. Readers will relish their gleeful mix of fairy tale, adventure and romance."
VOYA - "Fans of the previous book will be happy to see this new installment, which should handily graner new fans as will."
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL - "This Western/steampunk/fairy tale combo is paced full of adventure, is loads of fun, and has broad appeal for all readers."
CONNECTIONS:
Compare and Contrast this tale to other fairy tales.
Research steampunk and draw some personal creations.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)