Module 3: Contemporary Realistic Fiction

 The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Bibliography

Thomas, A. (2022). The Hate U Give. HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 978-0062498540.

Summary

One of the main characters, 16-year-old Starr, lives between two worlds. She and her family live in a poor neighborhood predominately black and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. After one night, her world is suddenly shattered by witnessing the murder of her best friend during a traffic stop by police officers who thought he was armed. Starr was torn between keeping silent in fear of the local drug lord or testifying. Despite the violent attempts to keep her silent, Starr ends up testifying in front of a grand jury in hopes that they will indict One-Fifteen. With the verdict not in favor of Starr, she begins speaking to a crowd of protestors which quickly escalates with tear gas being thrown into the crowd. In the end, Starr continues to voice her concerns and pushes for justice and change. 

Critical Analysis

The novel is told from the perspective of Starr who is a teenager that leads a double life by living in a poor predominately black community and attending school at a prodigious private school with predominately white students. The issue is not that she can’t fit in at this school, but soon becomes aware that she is constantly modifying her behavior in order to fit in with the others students. There are important and powerful moments throughout the book such as teaching young African-Americans how to behave in front of police officers in fear of being shot. With the sudden tragedy, you soon see how balancing life for a teen becomes more and more difficult as they seek justice while maintaining their own safety. During the book, it does not at any point bash police officers. It does discuss some of the problems in the world and how things happen, but it does not attack or set them out to be monsters. Most police officers are not like this and they are humans who make mistakes just like us. Overall, this was an amazing read on a topic that exists today and will open minds and spark discussions. Angie Thomas did a wonderful job writing about the descriptions of what Starr sees and feels that make the reader feel like they have walked in the character’s shoes. 

Strengths/Weaknesses

-first-person viewpoint

-foreshadowing 

-main character is the protagonist 

-societal issues that are still relevant today

-lessons throughout the book are relevant and emotional

Connections

Movie: 

Theme: Black Lives Matter, family, community, belonging, loyalty, poverty, power of language 

The Hate U Give Book vs. Movie Activities 

Ted Talk: How to raise a black son in America by Clint Smith 

This talk is perfect to pair with the text because it is all about the talk parents and guardians have with their black sons about what to do or avoid in order to stay safe. The advice covered in this talk is similar to the advice Starr remembers her own parents telling her. 

Ted Talk: 3 ways to speak English by Jamila Lyiscott 

This talk describes how Lyiscott uses different variations of English depending on who is with and where she is at. This relates to how Starr feels as though there is a Williamson Starr and a normal Starr. 

Ted Talk: How to overcome our biases? Walk boldly toward them by Verna Myers

This talk, just like the text, leaves the audience on the positive note that things can change for the better. Verna Myers explains how we all can own our biases and work to change them. 

Movie Trailer: https://youtu.be/3MM8OkVT0hw 

Personal Review

This book gave me insight into the perspectives of the challenges many African Americans face every day. It is jarring to know that the existence of racism is still part of our everyday lives. This is a powerful book that is inspired by the Black Lives Matter Movement. The book is aimed at teens, but adults can see this novel as thought-provoking and absorbing. The book made me angry and sad to know these issues still exist today and that young adults are having to grow up witnessing the racism among people. 

Teen Review

At the beginning of the year, I vowed to read more in 2018. After looking through seemingly endless lists of the best books of 2017, one book stood out. That book was The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. From the very beginning, the writing style gripped me and brought me into Starr Carter’s world. The story was just so raw and real. And then the book only got better. The story focused on Starr’s personal life and the big social issues she faced as a black girl in modern America. It addresses things like the smaller acts of racism from her peers. It also covers bigger things like police brutality.

The characters in The Hate U Give felt like real people telling me a story. They have depth. They are relatable and interesting, unlike other books I’ve read that tackle big issues like racism, sexism, and homophobia. This, along with the well-crafted storytelling, made this book easily one of my all-time favorites. It’s a rarity: a book for teens that deals with civil rights in the modern world, a time when we shouldn’t have to—but do have to—worry about people being targeted for race. Also important, the issues in The Hate U Give are handled well and correctly, not misrepresented or drawn one-dimensionally. The Hate U Give is a very good book. I would recommend it to anyone interested in a book that discusses important social and cultural conflicts in a raw and gripping manner.

Mina Jones is an eighth-grader at Haas Hall Academy in Fayetteville, AR. 

Review Excerpt

Horn Book Magazine (March/April, 2017)Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter lives a life many African American teenagers can relate to: a life of double consciousness. Caught between her rough, predominantly black neighborhood and the “proper,” predominantly white prep school she attends, Starr has learned how to “speak with two different voices and only say certain things around certain people.” This precarious balance is broken when Starr witnesses the shooting of her (unarmed) childhood friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. What follows is a gut-wrenching chain of events that alters all Starr holds dear. New relationships are forged, old ones are severed, and adversaries arise as Starr’s family, friends, school, and neighborhood react to Khalil’s death, including questioning who Khalil was, and whether his death was justified. Between her neighborhood’s “no-snitching” code and inaccurate media portrayals, Starr must decide whether or not to speak out—and her decision could endanger her life. With a title taken from rapper Tupac Shakur’s acronym THUG LIFE (“The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everybody”), the novel introduces numerous components of the urban experience, “thug life” included. From drug addicts to police officers, most characters are multifaceted, proving that Starr’s world is not all black or white (or black vs. white, for that matter). The story, with so many issues addressed, can feel overwhelming at times, but then again, so can the life of an African American teen. Debut author Thomas is adept at capturing the voices of multiple characters, and she ultimately succeeds in restoring Starr’s true voice. Thomas has penned a powerful, in-your-face novel that will similarly galvanize fans of Kekla Magoon’s How It Went Down (rev. 11/14) and Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely’s All American Boys (rev. 11/15). eboni njoku

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Bibliography

Forman, G. (2010). If I Stay. Penguin Group. ISBN 978-0142415436.

Summary

Mia’s family is driving through Oregon on a snowy day when their car is in a collision with a truck. Mia’s mother and father are killed instantly, her brother is left with a serious injury, and Mia is in between life and death. Mia is rushed into intensive care while her family, her best friend Kim, and her boyfriend Adam gather at the hospital to await the outcome. From the moment of the impact, Mia starts to experience an out-of-body state. She hears one of the nurses say that a patient in a coma has to make a choice, and Mia eventually understands that she has to answer the question for herself. 

Critical Analysis

In this novel, Gayle Forman writes “If I Stay” in flashbacks and anecdotes from Mia’s perspective. As she writes from the narration of Mia, the novel does not feel juvenile at all. The author writes in a simple, but effective way which makes the story believable. Every character in the novel has a story to share and the reader can easily connect with each character. The book takes a look at the decisions a person might have to make or even if they get that choice. Through the flashbacks, we read about Mia’s thoughts and memories that she uses to decide this balance between staying or going. 

Strengths/Weaknesses

-narration of past and present 

-narrated from Mia’s point of view

-sexual material and language 

-Mild violence 

-mild drug/alcohol use 

-suspenseful

-quick read 

Connections

Theme: life, loss, family, love

Skills: figurative language, symbols, setting, characters, conflict, plot, theme

Sequel: Where She Went

Movie Trailer: https://youtu.be/m9hZ40TJ0zs

Personal Review

This book was quick, easy, and will definitely capture the reader. Gayle Forman dives into a point of view that is truly unique and heart wrenching. As humans, we don’t realize that we are strong enough to overcome any challenge no matter the cost just like the character Mia. I easily emphathized with Mia’s struggle in making a very difficult decision in the face of so much tragedy. The characters in the novel were well-developed and caught myself being invested in them and hoping for a positive outcome for Mia. 

Teen Review 

Mia has a beautiful future--a music-academy scholarship, an emo-core FAMOUS punk star boyfriend, and the perfect family that everyone wants. But then her life changes terribly. A car accident leaves her beloved parents die, and Mia herself is severely injured and in medical need. Then a strange thing happens--Mia finds herself looking at her ruptured body being carried to the hospital, watching herself being repaired, fixed...She starts thinking about her past life-her beautiful relationship with Adam the punk rocker, her rebel BFF Kim, and her cellist dreams..everything drifts through her mind, bringing pain and happiness to her fragile heart. As Mia nears death, Adam grabs her hand--and FLASH! Mia is back in her own body, feeling more alive and staring back at Adam. This is the book that makes you wanna cry, smile, and throw the book against a wall at the same time! It is so touching you will want to read it again, again and again. Fans of THE FAULT IN OUR STARS by John Green will love this and all the other books by SPEAK publishers!

Teacher Review

If I were still teaching English, If I Stay would make a great book for class or reading group discussions. The ultimate question of whether Mia should stay or go is universal, the answer complex and varied from person to person. With some talk of angels and church, religion is a small component of the story, but Forman’s eloquent prose focuses mainly on Mia’s life and her decision to fight or let go. The characters’ religious faith ranges from Jewish to Christian to Atheism, and religious references remain generic. I like this because readers of different faiths (or no faith) will be able to appreciate Mia’s dilemma without getting caught up in the question of what does or does not happen if she chooses death.

Librarian Review

As a middle school librarian, I read language and sexual content with a critical eye. There are plenty of times that I recommend books to my students, even though there is a lot of mature content. I have lots of books on my middle school library shelves that I’m certain would raise plenty of eyebrows. But a good story is a good story, and sometimes that good story needs to include mature content. I myself read lots of mature content in middle school and handled it just fine, and so can most of my middle schoolers. If adults don’t make a huge deal out of mature content, then neither will the kids.

That said, I also sometimes question the inclusion of mature content. Language and sexuality definitely have their places in YA books, but I do not like to see either thrown in randomly, with no apparent purpose. It reminds me of sex and language included in a PG-13 movie simply to obtain an R rating. From a librarian’s perspective, it limits the book’s audience because I am less likely to recommend a book with a high level of mature content to a sixth-grader than I am to an eighth-grader.

My point in all this is, that while the one make-out scene in the book goes with the story and helps develop two major characters, I believe much of the mature language in If I Stay is unnecessary, almost as though it is tossed in there to make it YA instead of MG. There is not a ton of mature language, but what is in there seems to come out of nowhere. I wish I could recommend If I Stay to my sixth graders in general; I know it would be a popular choice. I have lots of sixth-grade girls asking me for books about teens facing serious issues, and Mia’s choice between life and death has universal appeal. If the language were a little milder or occurred less often, I would enjoy booktalking If I Stay with my sixth-grade classes. Will I recommend it to lots of students? Absolutely; I really enjoyed the book. Can add it to my Lone Star Plus reading list or recommend it to everyone I would like to? I wish.

Review Excerpt

School Library Journal (May 1, 2009)

Starred Review. Gr 9 Up-Forman creates a cast of captivating characters and pulls readers into a compelling story that will cause them to laugh, cry, and question the boundaries of family and love. While out on a drive with her family, 17-year-old Mia is suddenly separated from her body and forced to watch the aftermath of the accident that kills her parents and gravely injures her and her younger brother. Far from the supernatural, this shift in perspective will be readily accepted by readers as Mia reminisces about significant events and people in her life while her body lies in a coma. Alternating between the past and the present, she reveals the details and complexities of her relationships with family and friends, including the unlikely romance with her punk-rock boyfriend, Adam. An accomplished musician herself, Mia is torn between pursuing her love for music at Julliard and a future with Adam in Oregon. However, she must first choose between fighting to survive and giving in to the resulting sadness and despair over all she has lost. Readers will find themselves engrossed in Mia's struggles and will race to the satisfying yet realistic conclusion. Teens will identify with Mia's honest discussion of her own insecurities and doubts. Both brutal and beautiful, this thought-provoking story will stay with readers long after the last page is turned.-Lynn Rashid, Marriotts Ridge High School, Marriottsville, MD Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information

 

That’s Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger

Bibliography

Keplinger, K. (2020). That's Not What Happened. Scholastic, Incorporated. ISBN
978-1338186536.

Summary

This novel centers around the character Lee who lost her friends in a school shooting at the Virgil County High School. The horroifc tradgey didn’t just affect Lee, but it affected other survivors who witnessesd death firsthand. Lee struggles throughout the novel to move on without her friends and she has never had the courage to speak the truth about what really happened on the horrifc day. The story picks up three years after the deaths of the students, but to the survivors if still feels like yesterday. 

Critical Analysis

The novel centers around a school shooting which is very current to the gun violence towards schools today. The author focuses on the aftermath and tragedy of the fictional high school massacre. In her introduction, she states her novel was based on the Columbine and other mass shootings in the United States. Kody Keplinger tells the story through present day and flashback from the perspective or the main character, Lee who recounts the events as they unfold the day of the shooting in the small town school. Kody incorporates letters from survivors about the victims as well as the unofficial obituaries of those lost in teh school shooting. The characters deal with tough issues which help the reader gain a better understanding and tolerance of others. 

Strengths/Weaknesses

-features a school shooting, blood, panic attacks, trauma, and alcoholism 

-highly emotional 

-thought provoking 

-diverse story 

-use of present day and flashbacks

-perspective from the survivors and victims

Connections

Theme: school shoortings, media, trauma, loss, recovery, faith, courage

Book Preview: https://youtu.be/1JRk27CQgKw

Story Map Multi-Leveled Lesson

Cultural Representation Reflection

Personal Review

I personally enjoyed the idea of the truth and how the power it can have and what someone’s truth might be. The novel wasn’t as gruesome as you may think with a school shooting, but it graphically describes the shock a community goes through when a small town massacre happens. I like how the author addresses the trauma the characters went through and how they dealt with the trauma differently. The book is relevant to the events currently happening in the United States where mass shootings are becoming tragically more common. 

Reviewer Reviews

Kat D.

This book sounded amazing but unfortunately fell a bit flat. This was an important story to tell, and hard-hitting at times as it was about the aftermath of a school shooting. It was about six teenagers and their thoughts and feelings. Although it did center more on Leanne who lost her best friend in the shooting. She was an annoying character as she kept going on at the other five to share their story. However, I felt bad for her as she got called names and when she told the truth to Sarah's parents about what happened they didn’t take it well. My favorite characters were Miles who is classed as a trouble maker but you start to see different in him as the story progresses. and Denny who's blind and comes out with some funny stuff even though he’s had a tough time. I just wanted to hug them. Overall I liked parts of it, but how pushy Leanne was and the fact that the big reveal was disappointing was the reason it got a 3. I liked the writing so I’m looking forward to trying more from Kody. Thanks goes to the author, publisher, and net galley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Anne K. 

This was an engaging read that reminds you just how easy it is for the truth to get manipulated, especially in today’s media-heavy society. I particularly like that the shooter is not named and isn’t given any space, because it’s not their story.  It focuses on the story of the survivors, at the time of the shooting and in the years following. The importance of truth and just how nasty people can get when the truth doesn’t match the version they have in their heads.

Sophie D.

As someone who has a strange interest in books about school shootings, this immediately interested me. It's a very different perspective of a school shooting as it revolves mostly around the aftermath and how the survivors deal with what happened to them. I found it particularly interesting that the main story focused less on the shooting itself, but instead on the situation surrounding Sarah. This story was inspired by a true story from the Columbine shooting, yet it was still such a unique take on the topic and a very interesting read. This book is not action-packed and full of drama, but it is incredibly important. It focuses very much on the survivors and the victims, and the importance of remembering them rather than the perpetrators. It is explicitly stated that the shooter's name will not be mentioned in the book, and the idea of fans that support shooters in these situations explored, which is a very real concept. This book does a great job of highlighting the genuine issues surrounding press coverage and the way society discusses these situations in a way that makes the reader think about their own actions in similar real-life situations. Overall, the characters in this book were nothing particularly special, in fact, I can't really remember them all that much, and the plot was not the most thrilling or exciting you will ever read. However, it is an incredibly important story highlighting some of the very real issues in today's society and how this kind of tragedy can impact the lives of those involved.

 

Review Excerpt

School Library Journal (July 1, 2018)

Gr 8 Up-Three years ago, the students of Virgil County High School experienced the unthinkable: a mass school shooting. Now, the survivors are writing letters about their experiences that day, how they affected them afterward, and their relationships with the victims. One of the victims, Sarah McHale, is known around the world as the Girl with the Cross Necklace, who died defending her faith. As her family prepares to write a book about her and her last proclamation, Lee-the protagonist and Sarah's best friend feels that she needs to speak up and reveal the truth about Sarah. In a time where mass shootings have been all too common, this story gives a voice to the victims and survivors, all while avoiding mention of the shooter's name. Keplinger is known for her relatable characters and realistic teen voices and this work is no exception. The book includes a blind character, a wheelchair user, and an asexual character. This title adeptly explores how the truth can be different for people who suffered the same tragedy. VERDICT A timely, thought-provoking read that would be a worthy addition to all high school libraries; for fans of Violent Ends by Shaun David Hutchinson.-Morgan O'Reilly, Riverdale Country School, NY © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Module 2: Book Access through Quick Reads and Audiobooks

 This One Summer by Mariko and Jilian Tamaki 

Bibliography

Tamaki, M. (2014). This One Summer. First Second. ISBN 978-1596437746.

Summary

Rose is a teenage girl who goes on yearly road trips to Awago Breach with her family during summer break. This trip was much different than her previous trips due to an interest in a boy that caused friction between her and her best friend, Windy. Throughout the novel, the teenage girls are exposed to many adult things as they hang around the store where the older kids like to hang out. Rose has her only family issues and soon learns why her mom has a negative attitude towards the lake. 

Critical Analysis

This is a young adult graphic novel that has many small lessons attached to certain sections in the book. Tamaki uses problems that can be seen in the daily life of teenagers such as pregnancy and parenthood. Some of these themes may be difficult for tweens to grasp which can present an opportunity to open up communication about difficult social issues. The illustrations are printed in Pantone print, showing the characters’ emotions and the reader can get the gist of the dialogue without reading the accompanying text. One of the important things that this graphic novel touches on is the bond of friendship between Rose and Windy. Their friendship is built on love, trust, and communication. They are able to have meaningful conversations and discuss real-life things that many teens can relate to.

Strengths/Weaknesses

-convey feeling within a few lines of dialogue 

-inappropriate language/topics 

-graphic novel 

-real-life situations 

-mature content 

-illustrations in Pantone color

Connections

Theme: friendship, depression, group pressure, responsibilities of sexuality

Skills: making inferences, plot, character development, modes of storytelling, visual literacy, language usage 

Meet the Author Recording with Mariko Tamaki 

Interview with Jillian Tamaki

TeachingBooks Guest Blogger Mariko Tamaki “Writing with Voice in Comic Strips”

Paired Reading Suggestions: 

I Kill Giants by Joe Kelly and JM Ken Niimura 

Chiggers by Hope Larson 

Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret by Judy Blume 

Chinese Born American by Gene Luen Yang

Before You Go by James Preller 

The Color of Earth Trilogy by Kim Dong Hwa

Personal Review

The front cover can be misleading to many. The young teens in the book encounter a lot of adult issues and arguments going on around them. Many librarians need to know that this graphic novel has frequent profanity and mature themes that include pregnancy, marriage, depression, and suicide which I would not recommend for any elementary school.

Review Excerpt

Booklist starred (April 15, 2014 (Vol. 110, No. 16))

Grades 8-11. Mariko and Jillian Tamaki earned critical acclaim for Skim (2008), and they return here with another coming-of-age tale about the awkward transition from carefree childhood to jaded, self-conscious young adulthood. Rose and her parents spend every summer at their lakeside cabin in Awago, right down the path from Rose’s best friend, Windy, and her family. They spend lazy days collecting rocks on the beach, riding bikes, swimming, and having barbecues. But this summer, Rose’s parents are constantly fighting, and her mother seems resentful and sad. In that unspoken way kids pick up on their parents’ hardships, Rose starts lashing out at Windy and grasping at what she thinks of as adulthood—turning up her nose at silliness (at which Windy excels), watching gory horror movies, reading fashion magazines, and joining in the bullying of a local teenage girl who finds herself in a tough spot. Jillian Tamaki’s tender illustrations, all rendered in a deep purpley blue, depict roiling water, midnight skies, Windy’s frenetic sugar highs, and Rose’s mostly aloof but often poignantly distressed facial expressions with equal aplomb. With a light touch, the Tamakis capture the struggle of growing up in a patchwork of summer moments that lead to a conclusion notably absent of lessons. Wistful, touching, and perfectly bittersweet.

The Rose that Grew from Concrete by Tupac Shakur

Bibliography

Shakur, T. (2008). The Rose That Grew from Concrete. MTV Books. ISBN
978-0671028459.

Summary

In the book, “The Rose That Grew from Concrete”, Tupac wrote seventy-two poems that capture his spirit and energy. 

Critical Analysis

Tupac is a Rapper, Poet, Activist, and Celebrity. Out of his collection, I chose the poem “The Rose That Grew from Concrete” to analyze since this is what his book is named after. In the poem, he asks if you ever heard about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete defying natural law. The natural law is commonly known as a rose which is a flower that grows in soil. 

He says “funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams, it learned to breathe fresh.” In this stanza, he gives the flower human qualities like the ability to dream and learn. In the last stanza, he says “when no one else cared.” This also alludes to more significance than just being a rose. 

This poem is about self-determination, especially in regards to black people and other minorities. Concrete alludes to the environment, the main environment where one would find large amounts of concrete. In modern society, urban, and city environments have become synonymous with minorities, specifically black people. 

Tupac takes the imagery of a rose, which is considered to be one of the most beautiful and revered flowers, and asks how something so beautiful could grow in a hardened, ugly place, defying natural law?  He then goes and gives the rose human qualities, like the ability to learn and dream, mainly the dream to grow and breathe fresh air, which is self-determination. Tupac in this poem wanted to show that in an environment where “no one else cared”, something beautiful could grow and blossom and defy negativity and common thought. 

Strengths/Weaknesses

-personifies both bravery and loneliness 

-symbolizes a person who defies all expectations 

-uses symbols and other literary devices to convey his message

-no rhyme scheme 

Connections

Theme: courage, hope, strength, bravery, loneliness 

Skills: figurative language, personal connections

Writing Activity: Reflect and write about a significant obstacle in your life.

Personal Review

I really liked how the book contained his actual handwritten poems and then typed up on the following page which adds a personal touch to the book. Tupac was poetic with his words and was a deep thinker which can be seen throughout this book. The reader can easily connect with his feelings and gets you to really think and come away with a deeper meaning. This book shows the true Tupac as a person, not a rapper, or any other negativity that surrounds his name. 

Living Beyond Borders by Margarita Longoria

Bibliography

Longoria, M. (2021). Living Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America (M.
Longoria, Ed.). Penguin Young Readers Group. ISBN 978-0593204979.

Summary

Anthology of different genres including short stories, narrative nonfiction, poetry, and comics about the Mexican American experience and culture.

Critical Analysis

“Living Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America” is an anthology of short stories, comics, and poems that explores the Mexican American experience. Each author share the borders they have crossed and the struggles they had to push through. The anthology conveys what it’s like living and growing up in the United States being from Mexican descent which highlights how culture and racism play in the day-to-day lives of these authors. 

Strengths/Weaknesses

-wide range of authors 

-each story and poem represent the Mexican culture 

-reflects the diverse perspectives and experiences 

-informative 

Connections

Theme: culture, self-identity, perceptions, bias

Author Interview with Maragrita Longoria 

Book Talk

Writing Activity: Students explore the issues that surround crossing the borders that divide our society and their lives by writing a narrative poem. Think about what prevents us from being ourselves, how barriers affect how we want to live our lives, and the limits we have set for ourselves. 

Personal Review

This is a great book that shows the lives of Mexican Americans and how we can have similar feelings and experiences as others. The poems and short stories will have your emotions going causing some discomforting ones that can make you angry, hopeful, sad, and in awe. It allows you to expand your knowledge of other cultures. I suggest this book for upper-middle or high school students to discuss topics about self-identity, culture, perceptions, and bias. 

Review Excerpt

From School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up-Twenty Mexican American authors share what it is like to be a part of two worlds and not be accepted by either. Entries range from realistic fiction to fantasy and include poetry, personal narratives, and art-all of them reminding teens of the complexity of the Mexican American experience. Voices reach out from the pages of this anthology, tugging at readers and pushing them to see the difficulties and beauty of what it means to live as a Mexican American in the United States. These selections explore how it feels to be seen as "other," even while having been a part of this land for generations. The stories encourage Mexican American readers to listen to their inner voice and not let it be silenced. Each selection offers something distinct in this multifaceted work that doesn't prioritize the white gaze. It will make a lasting impression on all readers. VERDICT Highly recommended for school and public library collections.-Selenia Paz, Harris County P.L., Houstonα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Module 1: Introduction to YA and Their Literature

Dragon Hoops by Gene Luen Yang





Bibliography

Yang, G. L. (2020). Dragon Hoops. First Second. ISBN 978-1626720794.

Summary

Dragon Hoops is a nonfiction graphic novel that portrays a California high school basketball team’s championship season. As a kid, Gene is referred to as “Stick” by his friends and in every basketball game plays, he endears some type of pain. As “Stick” gets older he loses interest in basketball. He is now a high school teacher at the same high school he attended as a student. Gene is the talk of the campus and soon gets to know the young all-stars who each have their own thrilling story.

Critical Analysis

Dragon Hoops is an autobiographical story about Yang’s journey to write a graphic novel about the high school basketball team. This graphic novel is more than just about basketball, but the history that unfolds through the pages. The reader becomes immersed in the struggle of immigrants and marginalized people who face racism on a daily basis. Yang’s writing weaves through flashbacks as he jumps through the periods in basketball’s history and his characters’ pasts. The themes of race and gender inequality, social justice, immigration, and perseverance surface throughout the story. The sub-stories are filled with witty sarcasm and humor which make the reader laugh. Yang’s style is informal, but poignant which makes it easy to understand while keeping it relevant to some social issues we face today.

Strengths/Weaknesses

-insight on race and ethnicity
-graphic novel
-illustrations bring the game of basketball to life
-memoir
-explores the effects of legacy
-narrative
-autobiography
-strong language is rare: one or two uses of curse words

Connections

Theme: race and gender inequality, social justice, immigration, perseverance

Skills: character traits, theme, dialogue, internal vs. external conflict, context clues

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/QQWEccmcC1U

Comics Belong in the Classroom: https://youtu.be/xjvTIP7pV20

Other Books Written by Gene Luen Yang:
American Born Chinese
Superman Smashes the Klan
Shang-Chi

Personal Review

I am not a huge fan of graphic novels and sports, but chose to read this novel since my students love graphic novels and are wanting something new to read. Even though it is a graphic novel, it feels more like a documentary. Even though the focus is on basketball, the author gives valuable insights into all the main characters. I do like how you learn about the history of basketball and how it relates to high school sports. Those that are not fond of graphic novels, will find this one approachable and interesting.

Review Excerpt

From School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up—A year after publishing his well-received Boxers and Saints, graphic novelist and math teacher Yang was beset by writer's block. But his curiosity was piqued by the Dragons, his school's men's varsity basketball team. Over the years, they had come close to winning a state championship, and 2015, the rumor mill whispered, was their year. Though a self-proclaimed nerd, Yang overcame his aversion to sports and decided to follow alumnus Coach Lou and a diverse squad of young men on their quest for the ultimate accolade. As the author juggled raising a family, teaching, and writing, the Dragons struggled to take home the championship—an effort generations in the making. The frenetic action of basketball provides ideal fodder for graphic storytelling, and Yang's visual trademarks—blade-sharp linework and squeaky-clean paneling—are in full force. His discourse on transforming human beings into cartoons that aren't caricatures is especially delightful. The narrative combines the blood-sweat-and-tears drama of a sports story with elements of gonzo journalism, narrative nonfiction, and action comics, juxtaposing play-by-play accounts of games with explorations of players' lives and the broader history of the sport. As Yang taps into subjects as varied as assimilation and discrimination in America, internecine violence in India, and China's century-long quest for athletic recognition, readers learn how this low-cost, indoor game leveled racial, gender, and international boundaries to attain global prominence. VERDICT Another standout showing from Yang, this title will have even sports haters on their feet cheering.—Steven Thompson, Bound Brook Memorial Public Library, NJ







Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson






Bibliography

Anderson, L. H. (2011). Speak (Reprint edition (May 10, 2011) ed.). Square Fish.
ISBN 978-1-54909-225-1.

Summary

The story starts with the main character Melinda Sordino on the first day of high school. She struggles to find true companions and can’t seem to fit in with the norms of high school life due to an event. Towards the end of summertime, Melinda attends a party with her friends and ends up having too much alcohol. She is assaulted by a senior, Andy Evans, at the party. She does the right thing about calling the police, but soon becomes panicky and does not tell the police what really happens. Everyone soon begins to hate Melinda for breaking up the party and does not know the true reasons for her calling the police. Their blame and anger make her feel that she was in the wrong to call for help. Melinda’s demeanor changes quickly from being a happy girl to depressed and withdrawn which begins to interfere with her grades. She cannot understand what occurred that midnight and scarcely even talks. She is afraid to tell her story and the only character that recognizes she has a story to tell is her Art teacher. At the end of the story, Melinda is faced with her aggressor for the second time, but she has the braveness to scream and make her position known about what he did that night at the party.

Critical Analysis

Speak is written in first-person narrative and portrays someone who is always sad and deep in thought. Melinda Sordino is the main character in the story and tells it through a teenager’s eyes. Many will empathize with the horrific tragedy Melinda witnessed it firsthand. Throughout the story, Anderson uses the imagery of being silenced by fear to describe Melinda’s character. The imagery isn’t vivid enough throughout the book, but the reader gets the general idea of what is going on in each scene which allows the reader to create their own images throughout the novel. Through the literary elements, Anderson uses symbolism and conflict to reveal the character’s emotional growth throughout the novel. The use of these elements helps the reader to sympathize with Melinda.

Strengths/Weaknesses

-holds the reader’s empathy
-portrays the contemporary high school life
-a reflection of the effects of trauma and depression in teens
-the main character is the protagonist
-perspective from a young abused victim
-readers can relate to the language used in the main character’s eyes
-some parts of the plot aren’t explained well

Connections

Theme: overcoming adversity, bullying, internal struggle, lack of identity, standing up for yourself, self-expression

Skills: character analysis, figurative language, plot

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/HaWD7Nm9a1c

Interview on Speak: https://youtu.be/MJU7b3C8QMk

Other Books Written by Laurie Halse Anderson
Fever 1793
Wintergirls
Catalyst

Personal Review

Speak was a quick and easy read. With libraries getting hit hard with groups critiquing the current selection a school has, I am not sure if this is a book that I would purchase. The existence of sexual assault does take place in the story which may not be deemed appropriate to be readily available in school settings.

The topics of teen rape and peer pressure throughout the book allow the readers to learn about issues that don’t make them feel judged or threatened. Overall, I enjoyed the book and feel the message in this book is great for teens. You don’t find out exactly what happens until over halfway into the book, but the events that occur leading up to let you know something really tragic happened to Melinda. The author did an excellent job portraying high school life and what so many teens go through.

Review Excerpt

From Kirkus Reviews

A frightening and sobering look at the cruelty and viciousness that pervade much of contemporary high school life, as real as today's headlines. At the end of the summer, before she enters high school, Melinda attends a party at which two bad things happen to her. She gets drunk, and she is raped. Shocked and scared, she calls the police, who break up the party and send everyone home. She tells no one of her rape, and the other students, even her best friends, turn against her for ruining their good time. By the time school starts, she is completely alone and utterly desolate. She withdraws more and more into herself, rarely talking, cutting classes, ignoring assignments, and becoming more estranged daily from the world around her. Few people penetrate her shell; one of them is Mr. Freeman, her art teacher, who works with her to help her express what she has so deeply repressed. When the unthinkable happens the same upperclassman who raped her at the party attacks her again something within the new Melinda says no, and in repelling her attacker, she becomes whole again. The plot is gripping and the characters are powerfully drawn, but its raw and unvarnished look at the dynamics of the high school experience makes this a novel that will be hard for readers to forget. (Fiction. 12+) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.





At the End of Everything by Marieke Nijkamp




Bibliography

Nijkamp, M. (2022). At the End of Everything. Sourcebooks, Incorporated. ISBN 978-
1492673156.

Summary

This novel takes place at a juvenile correctional facility in Arkansas. The teens are abandoned by the employees at the center as a mysterious pandemic sweeps the nation. The story follows a group of teenagers as they find the strength and resilience to face their grim circumstances. The teenagers must band together and leave their life at the treatment center behind in order to survive.

Critical Analysis

The novel is told from multiple perspectives so we get a solid sense of the three main speakers: Emerson, Grace, and Logan which each of these characters has their own version of their sad story. The novel deals with the pandemic, LGBTQIA+, prison systems, socio-economic inequalities, and the main focus of growing up. Throughout the story, we don’t learn everything about every character, but each loss and setback these characters face makes you sympathize with them. Nijkamp portrays the characters as strong individuals who recognize their weaknesses and still continue to push forward even though the adults in their lives have given up on them. At the end of the book, the author shares her motivation behind the writing of this novel and spotlights many teens whose family uses religion to justify not supporting their children in their quest to find comfort in their own body.

Strengths/Weaknesses

-a story about humanity, resilience, and hope
-fast-paced thriller
-first-person narratives
-explores the human side of situations
-readers can relate the events to the COVID 19 Pandemic

Connections

Theme: survival, perseverance

Other Books Written by Marieke Nijkamp:
Even If We Break
Before I Let Go
This Is Where It Ends

Personal Review

This was the first book I have read by this author and it was truly heartbreaking. From the characters’ stories and the reminders of pandemic life, every piece made you consider the situations. The events in the novel escalate rather quickly and anyone who has lost someone due to the pandemic will have an emotional connection to the characters. I liked how I got to see the perspective of the teens during a pandemic and even though through uncertainty we need to ensure we are doing better for those that need our help.

Review Excerpt

From School Library Journal

Gr 9 Up-The guards and staff of the ironically named Hope Juvenile Treatment Center near Sam's Throne, AR, start acting strangely. Then one night they're gone, leaving the teens, who already felt forgotten and left behind, alone. After an initial escape, the group runs into a literal roadblock and are told about a virus. They head back to Hope to make another plan. Everyone is under lockdown orders; through some research, the teens learn that there has been an outbreak of pneumonic plague, which is extremely contagious with a high fatality rate. Some of the teens attempt another escape, while the rest choose to stay behind to try to create a sustainable living environment. Then the coughing begins. While this is not supposed to be a COVID tale, Nijkamp has crafted a story that is more realistic commentary on our current situation and less a thriller set in a post-apocalyptic future. There's lots of representation among the cast of characters, and while none really receives the deepest dive, readers are given the opportunity to see the situation through the cast's alternating perspectives. This story is unsettling and haunting but also filled with hope showing what happens when a group comes together to establish a community, a sense of belonging, and a certainty that didn't exist before. VERDICT A not-so-subtle nod to our current landscape that might be too soon for some teen readers.-Alicia Kalanα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.