LSSL 5385

Young Adult Literature

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Alexie, S. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time indian. New York: Little, Brown and Company. 

Arnold "Junior" Spirit is a Native-American teen living on a reservation. His reservation is very poor, most of the Indians, including his dad, try to forget their troubles with the help of alcohol and violence and drugs aren't unusual. One of his teachers suggests that he leave the rez to go to school so he can have a better life for himself. So, Junior decides to leave the reservation for a new school, a school of all whites, where he is the only Indian. Junior is then considered a trailor by his own people for leaving and wanting something better.

It had been a while since I read this book. Once again it made me laugh, cry and wish my husband cared about YA literature, so I could share it with him. THis realistic fiction novel, one that is at the top of the banned book list, would fall into being an upper middle or high school appropriate book. It may attract a younger audience with its comic drawings, but the subjects/topics including the language, alcohol, drug and sexual references make it a bit inappropriate for anyone younger. The book gives the reader a lot of insight into life on a reservation and the hardships of Native Americans.

Other Native American novels:
If I Ever Get Out of Here by Eric Gansworth
Rain Is Not My Indian Name by Leitich Smith
The Night Wanderer by Drew Hayden Taylor



Speak
Anderson, L. H. (1999). Speak. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux

Melinda begins her freshman year with a secret that she refuses to speak about. In fact, Melinda has stopped speaking ever since a summer party where she called the cops. This caused all of her friends and everyone at the party to socially reject her. She finds peace in her school art class, where she is working on a year-long project.

Speak is a difficult, yet realistic story covering a sensitive and mature topic. I think for older teenage girls it can make a huge impact. This is a good example of students experiencing something vicariously through Melinda and will hopefully give some students the courage to "speak" themselves.



Other books with a theme of rape or sexual abuse:
Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith
Asking For It by Louise O'Neill


Annie on My Mind

Garden, N. (1982). Annie on my mind. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux.

Annie on my Mind is told in flashbacks from the perspective of Liza, an upper class 17 year old who lives in Brooklyn Heights.  She meets Annie at a museum one day and the two develop a relationship.  Even though they are from quite different backgrounds, the girls quickly grow strong feelings for each other which are acknowledged when they share a kiss.  When Liza’s teachers go on vacation and leave Liza to house sit, the girls begin to experiment and are later exposed.  Once the girls go off to college, Liza struggles with what she wants and who she is but eventually Liza makes the effort to get in contact with Annie again.

I had a hard time reading this book because I felt like it dragged on. I wanted something to happen or for Liza to make up her mind. I guess I was impatient. This is a realistic fiction novel that deals with the mature topic of homosexuality and trying to define yourself. This book is appropriate for middle school or high school girls who have questions, feel lost or just want to read a romance novel. I think books like these must be available for those students so they can see they are not alone.  

Other suggested books: 

Good Moon Rising by Nancy Garden
Ask the Passengers by A.S. King

Lily and Dunkin

Gephart. D. (2016). Lily and dunkin. New York: Delacourt Press.

Lily also known as Tim, is a transgender boy in eighth grade and facing the changes of puberty. He has a very supportive mother and sister, but it is Lily’s father that needs convincing that Tim is really Lily.  Dunkin is a new kid who suffers from bi-polar disorder. While trying to fit into a new school and make the basketball team where he will be popular, he stops taking his meds.  Even though they are two different people who are facing different struggles, they click and get along immediately, but situations keep them from acknowledging their budding friendship.  

I enjoyed this novel. In the novel, I think Lily is probably stronger than most teens would be when dealing with transgender and coming out. Dunkin is a typical boy dealing with growing up and wondering if his hairy legs are normal or not. Sadly, teens do shun others if they feel like they don’t belong with the popular crowd. This novel deals with realistic situations and I hope this novel will help its readers develop some empathy of what others are going through.

Book Trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBDtalThIRE

It's Perfectly Normal

Harris, R. Emberley, M. (1994). It's Perfectly Normal. Somerville: Candlewick Press. 

It’s Perfectly Normal is a book about the birds and the bees- told by a bird and a bee who narrate the story. The books covers all the development stages from puberty, menstruation, sex intercourse, pregnancy and more  in very real, easy to understand terms with simple pictures to accompany the information.

This is a nonfiction book that really covers all areas of sexual heath and sex education. I am not sure how it could be used in an educational setting beside maybe health because it can be pretty graphic. I do think it is a great resource to share with kids who have questions and I think sometimes parents do not know how or want to address them.  A book like this is perfect for kids questioning what is going on in their minds and with their bodies.

Other books by Robie Harris

It’s So Amazing

What’s in There

Who Has What?

Monster

Myers, W.D. (1999). Monster. New York: HarperTempest.

Monster is written in a mix of diary entries and movie scripts making it a quick, easy read.  It tells the story of 16 year old, Steve Harmon, who is on trial for murder.  All he wants to do is make movies, so he decides to write about what he is going through as if it were a movie script.  He does not know if anyone believes him, even his lawyer, but as the story moves on, the reader begins to believe he is innocent more and more.  Even with his distant lawyer, eventually Steve is exonerated.

Students love Walter Dean Myers.  I think he is very relatable for the middle school, inner-city students, or even for those a bit older.  This is a realistic fiction book that will appeal more to guys with the male protagonist who is dealing with violence, drug abuse and crime, as many of our students do.  It is a good book for reluctant and struggling readers because it is a simple format it is written in. This book shows an example of adolescent development in that Steve is struggling with morals and values of what is right and wrong and consequences of his actions.

Other suggested books:
The Outsiders by S E Hinton 
Kissing The Rain by Kevin Brooks 
The First Part Last by Angela Johnson 
Tyrell by Coe Booth 
Dope Sick by Walter Dean Myers 
Hip-Hop High School by Alan Lawrence Sitomer

The Knife of Never Letting Go
Ness, P. (2008). The knife of never letting go. Somerville: Candlewick Press.

This is the story of Todd Hewitt, the last boy in Prentisstown.  Todd is 13 and is almost a man. He lives in a town populated entirely by men.  He’s not sure why, that’s just the way it is, just like everyone can hear everyone else’s thoughts in a constant stream of noise.  One day Todd is forced to leave Prentisstown with very little. Soon he meets and befriends the first girl he has ever seen and she joins in on the escape, as they are both being hunted by the men of Prentisstown.   

This was a heart-breaking novel to me. It seemed nothing ever worked out for Todd and Viola throughout their journey, and when Todd lost Manchee I was ready to stop reading, but I pushed on. This is a soft science fiction because it is set in another world similar to earth but with strange phenomena, such as the noise. It does have a bit of abstract thinking that is embedded into the story. I believe it is more appropriate for high school readers rather than middle school to be able to understand the plot twists and this concepts of this new world.

Other books in the Chaos Walking series:
The Ask and the Answer
Monsters of Men.

Gabi: A Girl in Pieces

Quintero, I. (2014). Gabi: A girl in pieces. El Paso: Cinco Puetos Press.

Gabi: A Girl in Pieces is about sixteen year old Gabi Hernandez, who is a senior in high school. She tells the story of her last year as she struggles and copes with some major teen issues such as her best friend's rape and pregnancy, her friend Sebastian's coming out, her father's meth addiction, her own cravings for food and cute boys. It is through her poetry class that helps her as she learns who she is and find out what she truly wants. 

This was a fun read. It has so many topics/issues that students could be facing that everyone could find something to relate to in this realistic fiction piece. It has many different themes that emerge easily into the storyline without slamming the reader or being too much. It even gives the reader a glimpse into Gabi's Hispanic culture, which may be different than their won.

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBshMlkLwqM

Persepolis

Satrapi, M. (2003). Persepolis. New York: Pantheon Books.

Persepolis is a graphic childhood memoir of Marjane who grew up in Iran during the Islamic revolution. This graphic novel tells of her life as a young child to a young adult during trying times. Her family was well-off communist believers. There were several protests, prison sentences, and executions of frienda and family over the years. Marjane goes througha range of emotions trying to make sense of what is happening, while also being a typical tween.

This autobiographical graphic novel has very little traditonal text but rather more captions. The reader must read the captions and draw their own conclusions abotu what is going on. It takes a bit of deeper thinking to understand about this revolution and exactly what Marjane's family's beliefs. This novel is definitley for high school or adults who can make the correct inferences about Marjane's feelings and changes throughout the novel. Persepolis has many themes including coming of age, family relationships, rebellion, identity and faith. 

Second book: Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return

Deadline
Crutcher, C. (2007). Deadline. New York: Harper Collins Publisher.

Ben Wolf decides he is going to live his senior year as if it's his last. After all, it will be. Ben is dying of a blood disorder. He decides to keep his impending death a secret as he wants to live as normal as possible. Even though Ben is small, he joins the football team for a great winning season. He falls in love with the girl of his dreams and befriends the town drunk, who has a secret of his own. After a few months, Ben realizes it's harder than he planned to keep his secret and begins to share it with those he loves so he can get his affairs in order and give everyone closure.

This was a fun, quick read for me. I normally don't care for realistic fiction books that are about sports, and Chris Crutcher is known for his sports-themed books, but I did enjoy this one. I was surprised at how well Ben kept his secret and how easily he made his decision not to fight the illness. There are many other themes and issues that seamlessly flow throughout the novel, such as sexual abuse, suicide, family dynamics, first loves, historial bias, mental illness, teen pregnancy, father-son relationships, and others. There is something for everyone here.

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8N_YuiyHMI

Ask the Passengers

King, A.S. (2012). Ask the passengers. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Astrid is the odd one out in her dysfunctional family. Her father is in his own pot-smoking world and her mother and sister have taken to having a girls' nights out quite often while exluding Astrid. She's coping with this while trying to keep her close friends' secrets and dealing with her own pushy girlfriend. She has no one to confide in, so she shares her secrets and sends her love to the passengers in the airplanes that fly over her while lying in her back yard, hoping they find the answers they are looking for.

Ask the Passengers is realistic with just a bit of fantasy thrown in.  It has some strong themes such as peer pressure, belonging, family, identity, and self-discovery. I think it would be more appropriate for high school in that it has some strong lanugage, there are few talks about sex and several sexual scenes, as well as adult issues among the passengers on the planes. I wasn't a fan of this book. I am not even sure why, I just know that it was hard to keep reading and nothing really grabbed my interest to want to keep reading until the end when Astrid finally blows up and admits she is gay.  I sure others may love this book and I am happy it is available to those who are facing some of the same struggles as Astrid. 

Book trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7VHx-GF3FY

The Marbury Lens

Smith, A. (2010). The marbury lens. New York: Feiwel and Friends.

Jack is a sixteen year old boy who was held captive by an abusive murderer and barely escapes. When he and his best friend, Conner, happen to see him, they try to get even, but accidentally kill the man. When in London on summer vacation to visit a school, Conner is handed a pair of glasses. When he puts them on it takes him to another world, one that is at war. Conner is afraid he is losing his mind and he's not sure if it is what has happened to him or from visiting this other addicting world so often.

I love fantasy/science fiction novels. I couldn't put this book down and read the whole thing in one day. I like the soft science fiction where there are other worlds that parallel ours. It does have some other side themes about violence, being abandoned and living with other family members, such as grandparents, that students can relate to, but the main part of the story is the devotion to the boys in the other world as well as his friendship with Conner.


Another book in the series: Passenger

Princess Labelmaker to the Rescue

Angleberger, T. (2014). Princess labelmaker to the rescue. New York: Amulet Books.

A group of students take up the rebellion to fight against FunTime, an educational test-prep program that is being forced on them. The story is told through case files that are written by the difference characters, with others comments along the way. One of them believes that Principal Rabbski will be their only hope in convincing the school board to bring back electives and be finished with FunTime once and for all.

I was kind of dreading reading this after just looking at the blurb on the back cover, but it was kind of entertaining. Plus the kids love it. This book is really popular in the elementary and intermediate schools, but I am sure that middle school students would enjoy it as well because testing and test prep are also hated there. It is a realistic chapter book, but the pictures throughout and in the margins almost make it seem like a graphic novel.

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8A2hzv1SK14

The Iron Trial

Clare, C. & Black, H. (2014). The iron trial. New York: Scholastic.

Callum Hunt wants to fail the Iron Trial. His father has shared the stories of the Magisterium with him and he tries his hardest to fail the test. But they see through what he is doing and choose Callum to train with the head master and learn magic. While there, he starts to question what he's been told and learns secrets about his past, all while trying to figure out who to believe and trust.

I loved this book!! I am a fan of fantasy and a fan of Holly Black. There are many parallels to Harry Potter in this book but it was still enjoyable. It is suitable for upper elementary to middle school, not to say that high school wouldn't enjoy it because I did.  There are several themes such as friendship, the need for acceptance, and self-discovery. This is a fun book to just read for the delight of magic and conflict, etc. There are three books in the Magisterium series. 

The other books: 

The Copper Gauntlet
The Bronze Key

Book trailer for The Iron Trial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXnY3-rv3AA

When You Reach Me

Stead, R. (2009). When you reach me. New York: Wendy Lamb Books. 

Miranda and Sal have always been best friends - until they weren't. Miranda is left in the dark as to why Sal no longer wants to be friends. This leads Miranda to venture out and find new friends, but something strange is going on in the midst of this. She starts receiving strange notes about things that will happen or things no one should know about. Miranda is trying to figure out this mystery while helping her mom get ready to appear on The $20,000 Pyramid. Everything comes to a head at the show and it all makes sense in the end.

This was a fun read. I kept try to figure out what was going on- who was leaving the notes? It has some definite twists, like time travel, that make it a fantasy novel rather than a historical or realistic fiction novel. A Newberry award winning book that is more appropriate for upper elementary and middle school than high school.  There is some abstract thinking that needs to take place toa ble to draw the conclusions and understand exactly what is happening. There are many univeral themes throughout this book as well such as friendship, identity, social class, family and forgivenness. 

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixnuOLPgKyI

The Fault in Our Stars

Green, J. (2012). The fault in our stars. New York: Dutton Books.

The Fault in Our Stars is about 17 year old Hazel, who has terminal cancer and finally agrees to attend a cancer support group. While there, she meets a new friend, Isaac, adn Augustus, who becomes her first love. As their story unfolds, they deal wiht friendship, wishes granted, loss, teen angst, all while holding on to their sarcastic humor in the face of pain and living on borrowed time. 

This book is funny, heartbreaking, serious, romantic, and everything you can pretty much think of in one. This is a realistic fiction book that many teens have fallen in love with. It has many themes that are serious, but universal. It think it is a good read for middle school and high school girls and boys. 

Other books about teens with cancer:
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Before I Die by Jenny Downham
The Probability of Miracles by Wendy Wunder
A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews

Sisters

Telgemeier, R. (2014). Sisters. New York: Graphix.

Raina has always wanted to be a sister. Once she becomes one she discovers it's not all it's cracked up to be. This is the story of the sisters and brother on a cross country road trip to see family with her mother and brother. Raina and her sister, Amara, don't get along. In fact, they clash in just about every way. When they realize that something is going on with their parents, they stick together because they are sisters, after all.

I enjoyed this fast, easy, graphic memoir that is told in a series of flashbacks. It tells the realistic life of having siblings- you don't always get along, parents do get divorced, and we have to learn to get along. Students from elementary to high school really like this graphic novel because I think most can relate to the situations and arguments that the sisters get in.   

Other graphic novels by Raina Telgemeier:

Drama

Smile

The Babysitter's Club

Love in the Time of Global Warming
Block, F. L. (2013).  Love in the time of global warming.New York: Henry Holt and Company.



This story revolves around Penelope (Pen) and her search for her missing mother and brother, Venice, after an earthquake and flood destroy her city. A mysterious man shows up to her house and tells her she can find them using a map. Along her journey, Pen blinds a Giant; is tempted by lotus flowers; becomes friends with Hex; escapes a witch, and finds additional friends who help on her quest, each of whom is gifted in some way.

I liked this unusual post-apocalyptic novel, but there was too much going on at once. There was the parallel references or allusions to The Odyssey, there was supernatural phenomenon such as Pen's visions, and  the giants; and then the author throws in teen issues like gender identity and homosexuality into the mix and it just becomes too much. I think maybe high school students may be able to get the abstract thinking that is this novel better than a middle schooler.

The second book in the series is:
The Island of Excess Love

Kiss of Deception

Pearson, M. E. (2014). Kiss of deception. New York: Henry Holt and Company.

In Kiss of Deception, Princess Lia is being forced to marry a prince from another city to form an alliance between the two kingdoms. On the day of her wedding, she and her maid run away to a distant village and take on new identities, but she is being pursued by two men. One is her fiancé, who is curious as to why she ran and the other is an assassin, who has been hired to kill her. They both befriend her and she actually falls in love with the prince. The assassin, unable to kill her, kidnaps her and takes her back to his city to use as leverage.

I loved this book and the second one, too. I have yet to read the third but can't wait to begin. I would think this book can be classified as historical fantasy with a small part of science fiction since it has some bits of the super-natural, like Lia's visions. This Best Fiction for Young Adult winner will attract middle school and/or high school girls who like fantasy with a bit of romance.

The other books in the Remnant Chronicales:
The Heart of Betrayal
The Beauty of Darkness

Book trailer for Kiss of Deception: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unbwFMQ1h6Y

Counting By 7's

Sloan, H. G. (2013). Counting by 7's. New York: Puffin Books.

Willow Chance is a genius who loves to grow things, the number 7, and has a tendency to diagnose medical conditions. She has a hard time making friends or fitting in, but hopes that things will be different once she starts middle school. When accused of cheating on a test, Willow is assigned a counselor that she must meet with. She is with him when she finds out that her adoptive parents have been killed and she is left with no one. By chance, with the help of her counselor and a set of siblings who convince their mother to take her in temporarily, she learns how to connect with people and finds a place where she can finally belong.

This story was heartbreaking to me. I was crushed when her parents died. I just kept thinking she has no one, and no one to understand her quirky ways.  It has many themes such as being different or an outsider, suffering loss, and finding the true meaning of family. This realistic fiction story is popular in middle school and even my upper elementary students have enjoyed it. 

Other books with similar themes:

Zebra Forest by Adina Rishe Gewirtz

Hold Fast by Blue Balliett

Beholding Bee by Kimberly Newton Fusco

Red Queen

Aveyard, V. (2015). Red queen. New York: Scholastic. 

The world is divided by blood: red and silver. The red are commoners, who are only good for working or fighting in the war. The silver bloods are an elite group with super-powers, who rule over the red. Mare is a poor red-blooded girl who finds herself working in the palace of the elite where she learns that she also has their powers. To keep everyone from finding out, the King forces her to become engaged to one of his own sons. As she acts out this role, she is also fighting with the red rebellion to bring down the silver-bloods.

I first read loved with some girls who were my book club buddies in middle school last year. I loved this science fiction/ dystopian world. It seems to follow most teen dystopian novels with a young protagonist, a cute boy, a government that is corrupt with power that  they want to change or expose. Mare is a quite the dynamic character who changes and matures personally, morally, and emotionally through her experiences throughout the novel. It has several central themes such as family, friendship, betrayal, and power. Even thought it is on the Quick Pick list for relunctant readings, I think this will attract many middle and high school girls who like the dystopian/romance subjects.

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UbsNfwkZwk

Other books in the series:

The Glass Sword

The King's Cage

The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall
Alender, K. (2015). The dead girls of hysteria hall. New York: Point. 

Delia moves into her aunt's estate. But it wasn't just any old house, it used to be a home for troubled "hysterical" girls. The house has secret- it's haunted by past patients. Most of the girls were not insane, just troubled and strong-willed, just like Delia. The ghosts won't let troubled girls leave, so Delia is trapped and led to commit suicide against her will. She must solve the mystery and discover the secrets of the ghosts so she can save her younger sister and her mother.

The Dead Girls of Hysteria Hall was such an easy, fun read. I wasn't sure I would enjoy it, but once I started I couldn't put it down. It is a book on the Quick Picks list, so it is perfect for reluctant readers. It is fantasy/science fiction novel involving the supernatural, which seems to be a popular genre for teens. All the plot elements are included, as well as a dynamic protagonist that learns something through the course of the novel.

Other Quick Pick books:
The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard
Code of Honor by Alan Gratz

Bone Gap

Ruby, L. (2015). Bone gap. New York: HarperCollins Publishers.


Bone Gap is the story of two brothers, Sean and Finn, who live together with a beautiful girl, Roza, in a strange small town, until one day, Roza disappears and the entire town believes she left because she wanted to. Only Finn knows the truth- Roza didn’t want to leave, she was abducted, taken by a man whose face Finn cannot remember. And nobody in Bone Gap believes him, not even his own brother, who is in love with Roza.

I liked this book but it was a bit out there. I had a hard classifying the genre- but I guess I would call it fantasy because of the supernatural aspects to this novel when there are flashes to the different places that Roza is help captive- it jumps from a neighbor house, to a castle with strange mystical creatures, to yet another msytical location. There is a bit of abstract thinking as well, when Finn has to travel through the gaps to get to another realm or parallel world where the man has taken Roza. Bone Gap is the 2016 winner of the Printz award. This novel may be appropriate for upper middle school and high school. 

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9xwdQUFT10

Sunny Side Up

Holm, M. & Holm, J. (2015). Sunny side up. New York: Graphix.

Sunny has always been close to her brother, but when he starts making bad choices, her parents ship her off to live with her grandfather in Florida for the summer. It's not Disney like she thought, but trips to the post office and a lot of elderly people. She meets a boy named Buzz and they spend their time reading comics, collecting golf balls, and searching for missing pets. It turns out that Florida isn't so bad after all.

Sunny Side Up was an entertaining, fun read. This historical, graphic novel is for a younger to middle school audience. Not to imply that high school students wouldn't enjoy the book, but the protagonist seems a bit young. It was like a trip down memory lane for me - taking me back to the seventies when simple things in life could be fun. Readers can experience that as well as they read about Sunny and the simple, uneventful vacation with her grandfather.

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_50kTfer720

This Savage Song

Schwab, V. (2016). This savage song. New York: Greenwillow Books.

This Savage Song is about Kate and August, two teens from opposites sides of a warring city. Kate is from the north, where people pay her gruel father for protection from monsters. August is from the south and is a monster. He is also one of three secret weapons to be used against the north if need be. When August is sent to school in the north to spy on Kate, they become unlikely allies who go on the run from both the north and the south.

I didn't want to put this one down, but finally had to since it was the wee hours of the morning. This is a high fantasy novel with creatures who feed on humans, others who feed on blood and live in the shadows, adn then there are those like August, who can pass as human but need to the souls of sinners to survive. This novel will definitely attact those who liek the fantasy, post-apocalyptic novels with a bit of supernatural.

Book trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14U5WwDA8WA

Textbook Reflections

Why do we share literature with children?

We share literature because it is fun. It lets us use our imagination and helps in children’s educational success. It helps with acquisition of language and development. The more children are read to the better they do in school and on testing. It helps develop their vocabulary early when we begin reading to them at an early age. Sharing literature helps develop empathy in children. They can live vicariously through the characters and develop experiences through books without having to experience it themselves. It also develops lifelong reader by developing an unconscious delight, where they discover their favorite author, genre or series of books. They read about autobiographical books about people similar to themselves. They get to experience things they would normally not be able to such as seeing other places, cultures, and deal with tough situations without having to suffer the consequences. They learn to question and form opinions about difficult or ethnical subjects through philosophical speculation. As they read they develop an appreciation for the written word through their aesthetic experiences.  It transmits culture and they learn about diversity. One last reason is that it develops their imagination, which is what we will need in the future generation.

I agree and will say that most of these are the reason I am a lifelong reader. The only one that I hated was the aesthetic experiences. I hated picking apart why the author used certain words to describe something. It ruined the experience for me- much like dissecting poetry. I normally just read for enjoyment and take it all in at once and appreciate it for what it is, but will try to pay attention to what/why they are phrasing something the way they do. Not promising though.

Divisions of Young People’s Literature

There are four major divisions of literature. Children’s literature which is for those who are 0-8 years old and consists of mainly picture books, easy readers, illustrated chapter books. Middle/tween is for those who are 8-12 years of age and deal with tougher issues. This is the age where you have to be careful which books you share because there is a lot of crossover of the ages. Middle/tween is not the same as middle grade books. YA books are for those 13-18, which can also fall in the middle school age group. You need to pay attention to the language and content of a book for the middle ages.  New adult books are for those 18-30. They are older than the YA books and deals with things such as college, first loves and making decisions with parent supervision.

I taught middle school for about 19 years. When I would read a YA novel, I always had to think- is this appropriate for middle school or is it more of a high school novel. I still do it when I’m reading even though I’m no longer in middle school. I think that sometimes the middle school is the forgotten age. I am glad to see more books that are geared for middle school.

Genres and Formats

Genres are divided into two major categories: fiction and nonfiction. All of the others are considered to be subgenres or formats of books. Each subgenre can then be broken down even further such as modern and traditional, historical and realistic, etc. Fantasy and science fiction can be broken down into low and high and hard and soft. I had never thought about the difference in low/high and soft/hard until watching the screencast. I now think about it as I’m reading a book and determine which one it is and why. I think many teachers get genres confused and teach everything as a genre. I did a lesson in the library recently and discussed about genres, subgenres and formats of books with kids. We discussed certain books they have read and which category it would fall under if not more than one: genre, subgenre and format.

What is YA literature?  

Young adult literature is told from the point of view of a young protagonist that shows the challenges and changes that adolescents go through such as growing up, learning responsibility for their actions and decisions as well as dealing with difficult situations or topics. I think I already pay attention to most of the characteristics of YA literature.  I think the only thing I have never paid attention to was the span of time. I never noticed that it was a short period of time. Now I keep thinking about books I’ve read and realize that most are a very brief amount of time, a few might span a year or so but most are just days or a few months.

How do adolescents develop?

There are three major development areas: physical, intellectual, and moral. There are many theorists who believe adolescences must move from one stage to the other and others who believe that there are multiple stages all happening simultaneously.  Everyone knows the physical aspects of development and the dreaded puberty. What stuck out for me was the intellectual idea of moving from concrete thinking to abstract thinking. There are many books that may be hard for even YA to understand, especially fantasy and/or science fiction. You can give them some help by scaffolding the thinking or trying to build some prior knowledge but it still may not be effective if they are still only thinking in concrete terms. I have found myself reading certain books and even asking myself- do I get this? And think to myself, there is no way the students will get this if I’m struggling with it too.

Literary Elements
Literary devices and elements are structures used by writers to help get their ideas and message to their readers. Literary elements are used to develop the story such as the plot, setting, characters, conflict, mood, theme, etc. Literary devices are words or phrases that make comparisons, give visual images, and help readers make connections so that they may enjoy, understand and analyze a literary work. 


I used to dread picking apart readings to pay attention to the devices that the authors used and why they used them. I knew I had to  do it to be prepared for my students. I think as one becomes an avid reader, it becomes natural to pick out all of the elements as you are reading and it becomes second nature.

Awards

There are so many awards and/or book lists for YA literature. There are awards that honor books that appeal to young readers; awards that exemplify literary excellence, awards that focuses on certain aspects such as disabilities, GLBT, or acknowledges roles and importance of relationships.  There are awards for different genres or formats such as nonfiction, audiobooks, graphic novels, and books written in other languages. Most of the awards are given annually and each has their own set policies and procedures for determining which books qualify and committees who make the decisions.

I never realized how many different awards there were. I recognize and know the most common ones, but it was interesting to read about some of the others and to read the guidelines on how to recommend a book for an award and even to being on a committee.  I think I will use the information mostly for adding to my collection. I want to keep adding award winning and honor books to our fiction collection. I may later start adding nonfiction, but fiction is our need right now.

Poetry

Poetry is the most neglected format of books. Many adults were taught in such a way that we dislike poetry. It brings back bad memories of having to memorize or break-apart the poems for meaning rather than just reading for enjoyment. Research says that the most sought after poems by kids are those that are narrative because they like the story aspect to them. Kids prefer poems that are funny, are about contemporary, familiar experiences, and those about animals. They like sound devices, such as poems that rhyme, or have repeated stanzas they can repeat. Poems need to be repeated so kids can become familiar and an interact with them; they can help read along such as the repeated stanzas, or in a reader’s theater. Poems need to create visual/sensory images for the students.  There are two major awards for poetry that are given out yearly as well as every few years. I am one of those who do not really like poetry for adults. I love children’s poems for the same reasons mentioned above. I would like to find a way to incorporate poems into my library program that is more than a lesson: maybe the poem a day. I could open each session with a short poem. Many of the teachers don’t bother with poetry to much because it is not tested. I would like to expose them to the types of poems they like so will be purchasing some of the books mentioned in the part 2 screencast, especially the NCTE newest edition.

Historical Fiction

Historical fiction can be confusing as to when a book is considered historical, but it normally is set in a time that has happened years ago. It can be before we were born and even during our lifetime. When evaluating historical fiction we need to look at the accuracy of the facts of the time period. Are they accurate? The story and the time period need to mesh to make a good story and has a believable plot. What were the social norms (clothing, speech, etc) and values of the time? Are they consistent and true to the events and time period? There should also be a universal theme that still relates to children today.  

I used to read historical fiction all the time. I read so many holocaust novels that I had to take breaks to clear my head from the horror of it. I should branch out and read about other time periods.  I paid attention to the story itself, and the social times, as the accuracy of fact to the 1930’s and 40’s.  There were times that I found inaccurate information and would go and check it myself. I probably wouldn’t do that with other historical fiction novels because I probably don’t know enough about the history to know any better. I find that many of the things I learn about history has been from reading historical fiction novels rather than nonfiction.

Realistic Fiction

 Realistic fiction novels are set during recent or current times. The stay true to the real world and the events, characters, setting could be real places in our current society.  When looking at criteria of realistic fiction, we need to look that it avoids stereotypes that the subject is relatable to our young readers. Many YA books touch on topics that used to be taboo. Years ago, Are you There God, its Me Margaret and Forever used to be considered taboo. Now YA novels cover many topics that young adults struggle with. It helps them to relate and see that they are not alone. Hopefully it will help them develop empathy for others and the struggles others are facing, as well.  I’ve always been a fan of realistic fiction because it is an escape from my own life and I can experience what others are going through.  I am happy to see many novels about topics that kids are experiencing so they have someone or something to relate to.

Nonfiction

Nonfiction are the only books defined by what it is not. It is an umbrella that has several different types of books that fall under the umbrella such as narrative, informational, biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs. There are several criteria to look at when evaluating nonfiction such as the qualifications of the author. You can check their websites and read their author bios, and to read their suggested resources to see how well they researched their topics. The facts need to be accurate, which is a hard one because most of us are not experts, even those who review the books. It helps to see who is sponsoring the book and determine if they are reliable.  The purpose and scope of the book can be narrow or board, depending on your needs. The organization of the book sometime depends on the role of the purpose and scope of the book. It helps to see if it includes a table of contents, an index and/or glossary to find the information you need. You can evaluate the visuals. Does it break up the text to make it more accessible? It may have real world photographs or paintings that help the reader.

I am not much of a nonfiction reader. I normally only just read for information so I use the table of contents or the glossary to find what I am looking for. I had never thought about the questions that are included. I like that they warrant critical thinking about the information. It will make you think about a book in a way that you wouldn’t normally. It will make me analyze all aspects of the book such as the illustrations, to think about the author as well, instead of just the facts and information in the book. I always have a tendency to play a movie in my head when I’m reading when it is fiction, but have never really thought about it with nonfiction, but will definitely try.

Fantasy/Science Fiction

Fantasy is a genre that includes magically or supernatural phenomena such as talking animals or magical powers.  There is low fantasy which is similar to our world but with some supernatural aspect, and there high fantasy which can include other worlds, interesting creatures, etc. The characters still must behave in a way that is believable and consistent with the story. Science fiction is a sub-genre of fantasy. It is a blend of futuristic technology with scientific information. There is hard science fiction where science is the basis of the story and there is soft science fiction where the character is the more important part of the story rather than the science aspect.  Science fiction can also be broken down in different types such as apocalyptic, dystopia, artificial intelligence, time travel, and sensory perception.

I have always been a fan of fantasy and even science fiction. I don’t really care for hard science fiction. I have read some novels that are really hard to understand without more prior knowledge in science or astronomy. Since the beginning of this course, I now notice that I think about whether a story or book is just fantasy or considered science fiction. I also think about whether I would classify it as high or low. I think about it when I’m sharing book with the kids although they wouldn’t care one way or the other right now, but I do try to match their interests.

Graphic Novels

Graphic novels are a format rather than a genre that are full length stories told in paneled, sequential, graphic format. They have all the elements of a traditional book, but can be historical, fantasy, realistic and even nonfiction. They can be analyzed for their colors, art of line, media, composition, spacing and for the text itself. More students are reading graphic novels than are teachers, but they can be a great resource in the classroom.  They are for all readers and not just for reluctant readers but can be helpful for those with special needs. The different format and pictures can help them visualize and understand the plot a bit better.

I haven’t always been a fan of graphic novels, but have enjoyed reading them in my classes. They are easy reads that can cover so many different topics. They are quite popular in our library, so we shelf them separately so they are easily accessible. I will continue to read them now that I’ve seen the interest of the students and will try to find a way to incorporate a lesson into the library about graphic novels.

Peck’s Questions

Peck’s questions take comprehension a step further. It involves much more analysis and critical thinking about what they have read. They involve thinking about the characters and setting in a different way. I like the question about making a movie and the tone it should take. I especially love which character would you leave out if you had to- children would have to really analyze each character and their importance to the storyline and how will it change the story if they are left out. Children can make personal connections to the book or story- both the characters and why they choose this book and what kept them reading.  I have at times picture a movie in my head as I’m visualizing the story, especially if I know it is coming out as a movie soon. I think most of agree, the book is always better and we tend to dissect the movie and how it was different and who they got to play certain characters.  It’s hard not to. Something I would love to do is have students rewrite a short story and rewrite with either changing the setting or the gender of the main character and discover what would have to change in the story to make it work.