Book Review - It’s perfectly normal
Harris, R. (2009). It’s perfectly normal. Boston, MA: Candlewick Press.
Summary:
This nonfiction book walks the reader through a number of topics including the male and female anatomy, sex, how babies are made and born, masturbation, sexual abuse, and many others. Guided through the topics by a curious bird, and a self-conscious bee, the writing is descriptive, yet simple to understand, and the goal is clear, to express to young people that all of these many changes and situations are “perfectly normal”. Paired with many drawings and comic strip style explanations, the author and illustrator took special care to represent a variety of ethnicities and groups in this book.
Analysis:
This book gives simple explanations and descriptions about the phases of the body, and things related to sex as well as what can occur when one becomes sexually active. The book is written in simple, easy to understand language that is straightforward and detailed. It covers a variety of topics, and could be used for educational purposes as a whole or in part. The characters that take the reader through the book partake in a funny banter that helps take the edge off of some serious and possibly uncomfortable topics. The pencil illustrations are detailed, and provide visual reference for things like the menstrual cycle and the reproductive process.
Connections:
This book provides an opportunity for parents who want to address puberty and sex with their child beyond the typical sex ed talk at school. This is important to parents who want more control over what and how information is passed along to their children, and this book might help guide a conversation that could be challenging.
Book Review - Lily and Dunkin
Gephart, D. (2016). Lily and Dunkin. New York: Delacorte.
Summary:
Lily is a transgender junior high student who is swiftly approaching puberty, and the many changes that will occur to her male body. While she faces many struggles with fitting in with her peers, she quickly befriends a new kid, Dunkin, who is facing challenges of his own. Dunkin is bipolar. While Lily fights to be accepted by her father for who she is, and hopes to be put on medicine that will block the changes to her body and help her eventually transition to a girl, Dunkin is trying to fit in at a new school and is struggling to accept the tragic loss of his father. Both manage to show support to each other in their journey as misfits.
Analysis:
Gephart presents young people with real struggles in the unforgiving society of junior high. She writes about sensitive subjects with compassion in a tone that will likely elicit empathy from readers regardless of prior experiences with the topics. The structure of the book, alternating first person encounters of the two characters in simple, short chapters, makes this book flow in a way that is easy to read. The characters are placed in a realistic setting of junior high, where everyone is doing whatever they feel they need to to fit in, even act cruelly towards those that they don’t understand. While these characters have significant characteristics that make them different from most of their peers, the relatability of self-exploration and struggles to find a sense of belonging should read most readers.
Connections:
This book provides talking points on a number of sensitive issues. Whether readers relate to specific struggles that the characters face, or simply gain a stronger understanding of those who may be different, the stories are relatable on a number of levels.
Book Review: Maybe someday
Hoover, C. (2014). Maybe someday. London: Simon & Schuster.
Summary:
Sydney is a college student with musical talent who seems to have an ordinary existence, until she discovers that her boyfriend is cheating on her with her roommate. In a whirlwind of drama that completely ruins her 22 birthday, Sydney finds herself homeless and suddenly relying on the kindness of an acquaintance in her apartment complex who shares her affinity for music. Sydney graciously accepts Ridge’s offer to move into the empty room of his apartment that he shares with his best friend and another girl. She is more than intrigued to discover that not only is Ridge a talented guitarist, but he is also blind. Together, they begin writing music for Ridge’s band and soon begin to fight off romantic feelings for each other, as Ridge has a serious long-term girlfriend Maggie. These two learn with much drama and heartache, and you can’t fight the feelings of true love.
Analysis:
Hoover presents a page turner full of romance, drama, and an intriguing story-line. Among the dialog and plot pieces in the book, she weaves poetic song lyrics that represent feelings of the protagonist. The books should appeal to young people in college, and on the verge of entering that phase of life, and Sydney is quite relatable as a typical student at this age trying to make ends meet, navigate relationships, and pursue the career of her choice. By writing Ridge as a young man with hearing impairment, Hoover opens the story to infuse another relatable thing for young people today, technology. Ridge communicates with the people who do know sign language through text messaging and instant messaging. This builds another layer into the story that many young people can relate to since they rely so heavily on these methods of communication.
Connections:
This a good book for young people who will soon transition to college.
Here is a book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdJkkid_r6w
Book Review: Monster
Myers, W. (1999). Monster. New York: HarperCollins.
Summary:
Steve Harmon is a 16 year old boy with a passion for filmmaking, a good relationship with family and teachers, and a jail cell as his current home. Steve is on trial for murder. The book is in the format of screenplay the Steve is writing about the trial and the events surrounding it. Steve is accused of being the lookout of a planned robbery on a local drugstore which lead to the owner being shot and killed. While the other boys involved in the robbery place Steve at the scene, no other eyewitnesses or evidence proves that he was involved, and he is eventually found “not guilty”.
Analysis:
This is a page turner for a number of reasons. The storyline itself is intriguing as readers vicariously experience pieces of what it might be like to be in jail. The court scenes are filled with drama and evidence that gives the reader the part of the jury, always looking closer to decide if Steve was involved. The format of the book lends itself well to students who may be reluctant readers. The majority of the book is written as a screenplay with a lot of spacing and short pieces of dialog. Interspersed throughout the screenplay are journal entry style notes that Steve makes after each day of his trial. These segments are printed in large font type that looks like handwriting. This format make the book a quick read full of interest.
Connections:
This book will provide an opportunity for readers to experience vicariously events that they will hopefully never actually experience. It is a good option for struggling readers due to the format of the book.
Book Review: The notorious Benedict Arnold
Sheinkin, S. (2010). The notorious Benedict Arnold. New York: Macmillan.
Summary:
This intriguing biography of Benedict Arnold takes the reader from his early life as a boy, to studying as an apprentice in an apothecary shop and into his experiences that seemed to be leading him to becoming an American war hero, but took a turn into the opposite. Detailed descriptions of his interactions with Washington, leading an invasion on Canada, forming a naval fleet, the Battle of Vancouver, and the Battle of Saratoga make up a colorful picture of Arnold’s adventures. Throughout the novel, are snapshots of Major Andre, as he experienced the war, which would lead to an eventual plot with Arnold that changed his fate from war hero to traitor as he helped turn the Colonies over to the British.
Analysis:
This is the perfect biography for young people who may not typically find a detailed encounter of history interesting, as it is written in the format of a flowing narrative. Sheinkin relies heavily on dialogue and first person encounters from the historical figures who were there. He throws in small details that might seem unnecessary, but actually work to paint a vivid picture of the times and experiences that were taking place. The reader becomes immersed in the story, and the style of writing lends itself to a quick read full of rich historical facts for a valuable learning experience.
Connections:
This would be the perfect reading assignment for a history class. It could also be studied in English class as a cross-curricular project as students are studying these events in history class.
Book Review: The knife of never letting go
Ness, P. (2008). The knife of never letting go. Cambridge, Mass: Candlewick Press.
Summary:
Todd is days away from turning 13, the age that a boy must reach to be considered a many in Prentisstown. As the last remaining “boy” in the town, Todd spends his days with his dog Manchee and with two men who his mother entrusted him to before she died. There are no longer women in Prentisstown; they all died of a terrible virus released by the Spakles during the war. The same virus created the Noise that each man carries. These thoughts can be heard by others at all times. Todd’s life as he knows it is turned upside down when he discovers a hole in the Noise one day as he crosses through the swamps on his way home. As the men of the town pick up on this discovery, Todd is swiftly sent away from his home into the woods to flee a building army out to get him for reasons he is unaware of. He discovers that the hole is not a Spakle as he first feared, but a girl, who lost her parents when their spaceship crashed on their way to settle the New World. This is to Todd’s great surprise, as she should not exist according to his understanding of the world. As Todd and Viola flee the building army, he begins to learn that his life is made up of mostly lies, but through the journey their relationship grows into something worth fighting for.
Analysis:
This page turner is packed with action, plot twists, and heart warming interactions. Todd and Viola cannot seem to catch a break as they are hunted and attacked time and time again. This hard fantasy novel puts the reader in a foreign land of aliens and talking animals, and one is constantly trying to figure out who the good guys and bad guys are. Todd a Viola are relatable characters in the moments when they are struggling to navigate the expectations and ways of the world as young people. They both experience extreme loss which tugs at the feelings of empathy in the reader. To emphasize just how naive Todd is to reality, his lack of education is highlighted through misspelled words and grammar errors in his dialogue. The author also slips in a variety of font types and sizes to give a visual tie to the chaos of the noise as well as the distance of the hunters. The book is the first in a series and leaves the reader on a cliffhanger that will lead to the immediate need for the second book.
Connections:
This would be a great novel to study and tie into creative writing assignments. There are many real issues mixed in with the more fantastical that will serve as great talking points with young people.
Book Review -Scowler
Kraus, D. (2013). Scowler.New York: Delacorte.
Summary:
Ry Burke is a 19 year old boy helping his mother and little sister run their family farm. Nine years earlier, Ry lived a nightmare. He had to escape his abusive father through the cold night, and eventually beat him with a baseball bat. Ry had discovered that his father had sewn his mother’s body to her bed, and freed her, against his father’s instructions. The long night of outrunning his father is made possible by three toys that Ry was able to save from the house: his teddy bear, Mr. Furrington, a statue of Jesus Christ, and Scowler, a handmade wooden and metal figure with a permanent scowl on his face. These toys come to life and guide Ry to safety. Now, with the approach of a meteor shower, and his father’s prison break, the nightmare begins again. Ry’s friends show back up to guide him again through a few dangerous days of trying to save himself and his family from his murdering father.
Analysis:
This seemingly realistic story takes a swift shift into light fantasy, as Ry’s toys take on human abilities to give him guidance. The story becomes a bit confusing at times, and would be best suited for older readers who can handle a plot that jumps around a bit, and weaves in and out of reality. Regardless of some of the complexities in the story, any reader will be mortified at the horrific actions of Ry’s father, and will experience feelings of empathy for the rest of the family.
Connections:
This book will be intriguing to readers who enjoy a little fantasy mixed in with realism for horrifying results. It does pose some talking points about abuse, and the psychological effects that is has on the recipients.
Book Review - My friend Dahmer: A graphic novel
Backderf, D. (2012). My friend Dahmer: a graphic novel.New York: Abrams.
Summary:
This graphic novel written and illustrated by Backderf, a classmate of Jeffery Dahmer’s, takes the reader through events as seen from the author’s point of view. Dahmer was socially odd, but was seemingly accepted by a group of friends who relished in his awkward moments. His internal disturbances were much more sever than his classmates seemed to realize. He had an obsession with roadkill, repressed homosexuality, and a very dysfunctional home life which led him to become a severe alcoholic. When his mother essentially abandons him after graduation, Dahmer is left to himself to act out brutal murders and become a serial killer.
Analysis:
This story is written from the unique perspective of someone who was present during many of the events of Dahmer’s life, but seemed to be somewhat oblivious to how seriously troubled the boy was. Much of the story from the perspective might even seem normal to young adult readers. Stereotypes and cliques are just part of the makeup of junior high and high school, so students will be able to relate to that odd student that people laugh at and put up with. Hopefully the book will teach a lesson, though, that we often don’t realize what is going on in a person’s life, and that we should proceed with caution in how we treat and support people. The author’s claim that he doesn’t feel that Dahmer had to turn out this way, and suggestions that intervention from the adults in his life could have changed his fate is a strong one that should leave young people and adults alike, contemplating how important it is that we treat people with respect and care. The graphic format of the novel makes it a simple read that is a bit chilling at times, and sends a serious message.
Connections:
This is a good recommendation for a reluctant reader because the format is simple to navigate, and it is a very interesting read.
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