The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Alexie, Sherman. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers: 2007. ISBN: 0316013684

Plot

Arnold Spirit, Jr. or "Junior", lives on a Spokane Indian Reservation. After an incident with a teacher Junior realizes that the reservation does not value education as much as they should. His father is an alcoholic, while his mother is constantly working for the family. Junior discovers that his sister was also a really good student but she now does nothing with her life. Junior does not want to end up like her so he decides to transfer to Reardan High, a white school that is more than twenty miles away. When he decides to transfer his friend, Rowdy, and others are upset that he is leaving the reservation. Junior turns out to be the only Indian at Rearden high. Rowdy is upset with Junior for leaving and vows never to speak to him again. While at Reardan, Junior feels like an outcast as well but does mind since he is actually being intellectually challenged at school. Junior wants to prove his social standing to those on the reservation and those at Reardan and decides to join the basketball team, and he is actually a good player. When faced with playing against the reservations team he begins to get nervous since he has to play against his ex-best friend. Throughout this high school woes, Junior faces many other challenges along the way, include the death of loved ones.

Critical Evaluation

This novel leaves the reader feeling sorrow but yet hopeful for Junior but Sherman uses underlying humor to deal with serious issues. Many of the scenes and drawing were funny but at the same the situations were not humorous. Sherman uses humor to deal with serious issues which is how the young character dealt with things. The reader feels the same emotions as Junior told through Sherman's use of language.

Reader's Annotation

Arnold Spirit, Jr. is a Spokane Indian teenager who leaves the reservation school system to join the "whites." Arnold has to prove to those on the reservation that he is not a "sell-out" but is it really worth it?

Information about the Author

This is Sherman Alexie's first book for young adults is based on the author’s own experiences and chronicles.

Genre

Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties

English

Booktalking Ideas

1) Talk about life on a reservation

2) Read excerpt when Junior wins the basketball game but feel guilty

Reading Level/Interest Age

Young Adult

Challenge Issues and Defense

Some of the issues that are discussed in the novel include, masturbation, eating disorders, physical abuse, and racism which are controversial and maybe more suitable in high school rather than middle school.

The book does not glorify any of these topics. The novel has also won the National Book Award in 2007.

Why included in selection?

I was one of the books that we had to read and it became my favorite.

The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis

Ellis, Deborah. The Breadwinner. Groundwood Books: 2001. ISBN: 0888994168

Plot

A year and a half after the Taliban overtakes Afghanistan, eleven year old Parvana and her family are living in a one room apartment. Parvana lives in a world where women and girls are not allowed to leave their homes without a male escort, they can not attend school, or hold a job. After Parvana’s father is arrested for having a foreign education, the family is left in a dangerous situation. Since her mother and older sister are not allowed to work and her younger siblings are too small, the family decides to transform Parvana into a boy so she can earn money to feed the family. Parvana uses the clothes of her dead brother and cuts her hair to pass as a boy. Parvana at first is afraid but realizes that no one questions whether she is a boy or girl but still lives with a little fear. Parvana discovers that another girl, who was her classmate, is also doing the same thing as she. They must dress like boys to support their families and will do whatever it take to not let their family down or starve.

Critical Evaluation

This story captures the reality of war through a child, and shows the reader how life is for those who are not or even know about the situations that other children face. Ellis exposes a younger audience to a world that is not known much about. A world in which people live in fear of being killed or starving ever day because of tyranny. A place where being cultured or intelligent is looked as a threat and leads to arrest. Ellis words are very will written for a young audience to understand Parvana and her families struggle.

Reader's Annotation

Parvana, is an eleven-year-old girl, when the Taliban gains control over Afghanistan where she is forbidden to attend school and risks beating by soldiers whenever she ventures outside of her home. When her father is arrested, Parvan wears her dead brothers clothing and becomes a boy in the outside world to save her family from starvation.

Information about the Author

The idea of The Breadwinner came out of Ellis's visits in 1999 to Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan, where she was inerviewing women for an adult nonfiction titles Women of the Afghan War. During one of these conversations, she met a women whose daughter was masquerading as a boy to earn a living for her family.

Genre

Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties

History

Booktalking Ideas

1) Discuss the Taliban takeover in Afghan

2) Quote from book when Parvana enters the outside world dressed as a boy

Reading Level/Interest Age

Gr 5 - 8

Challenge Issues and Defense

Has some violent scenes.

Ellis believes depicting the violence is sometimes necessary to illuminate the lives of children in other parts of the world.

Why included in selection?

The librarian that I volunteer for recommended this title for me.

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard. HarperCollins: 2008. ISBN: 0060530928.

Plot

Nobody "Bod "Owens, is a young boy whose parents were murdered when he was a baby and was raised by inhabitants of a graveyard. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Owens who are ghost that raise him to be the brave boy he grows up to be. Silas, his guardian, keeps Bod safe from those that want to kill him. Bod is able to go from the dead to the living; as he grows up he discovers powers that he never knew he had. Bod is constantly surrounded by death but he craves to live outside of the gates, he wants to discover the world and create friendships. Bod wants to break loose from the cemetery and experience life with others that are alive.

Critical Evaluation

Bod has both human qualities and those beyond the grave but his emotions are those of your average teen. Though Bod is in situations that real life people will never experience his emotions remain the same. He still feels the same way a boy feels when he gets close to a girl or when he feels that people do not like him at school. He feels the loneliness and sadness of not having friends. Using both fantasy with human qualities Neil creates a character than many can relate to.

Reader's Annotation

Bod, is a boy, whose parents were murdered when he was a baby and was raised in a cemetery by all types of ghoulish things. Bod is able to be in between the dead and living but would rather be with the living but will he live to experience it?

Information about the Author

The Graveyard Book is Neil Gaiman's first full-length novel for middle-grade readers. Gaiman first had the idea for the story in 1985 after seeing his then two year-old son Mike pedaling his tricycle around a graveyard their family lived across from. Recalling how at home his son looked there, Gaiman thought he could write something a lot like The Jungle Book and set it in a graveyard.

Genre

Fantasy

Curriculum Ties

English

Booktalking Ideas

1) Read excerpt from book when Bod is in the crypt with Scarlett when he is five

2) Discuss Bod's situation: parents murdered, ghost parents, Silas, etc

Reading Level/Interest Age

9 - 12

Challenge Issues and Defense

Might be to scary for some children since it does deal with the issue of death.

Defense: Won 2009 Hugo and Newbery Award

Why included in selection?

Mandatory reading that I enjoyed.

Every Soul A Star by Wendy Mass

Mass, Wendy. Every Soul A Star. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers: 2009. ISBN: 0316002577.

Plot

Ally, Bree and Jack are young teens living in different parts of the country who have nothing in common but meet at the Moon Shadow campground to witness a solar eclipse. Ally is a "nerd" for astronomy and is excited about the occurance of the solar eclipse. Bree is your average teenage girl, beautiful and popular who wants to be a model, but feels that she is adopted since everyone in her family are nerds and she is not. Jack is a chubby teenage boy who does not have a lot of friend and is into science fiction. Ally’s parents own Moon Shadow, but Bree’s have signed a lease to become its caretakers for the next three years. Bree is devestated that her parents are forcing her to move to a town far away from the city and her friends. Ally is upset that her parents sold the campground without telling her and now has to move to a city she remembers nothing of. Jack goes to the Moon Shadow because his science teacher offers him a deal, if he helps him out with a science project he won’t have to do summer school for science. Ally, Bree, and Jack come together to view a solar eclipse but what occurs is something more important than and eclipse.

Critical Evaluation

The novel is at first confusing since each character gets their own chapter and describing their point of view rather than one straight through story. It is told differently but it creates a memorable novel since all of its main characters are developed. The reader is able to identify with all of its characters. Bree at first seems to be a very annoying characters but as the story continues it turns out that she really has human qualities. Jacks character is lovable from the beginning since he is very quite and nerdish. Allys character is also well liked. All three characters grow up before the event happens and discovers things about themselves and each other they did not know about. It is a coming of age story that occurs though an unexpected meeting of unlikely characters.

Reader's Annotation

A solar eclipse is beautiful and majestic but for Ally, Jack, and Bree it is something that they will never or want to forget. Ally, Jack, and Bree have nothing in common but this event creates an unbreakable bond.

Information about the Author

Wendy was inspired to write Every Soul a Star after walking through a book store one day, and noticed a magazine with a picture of a recent solar eclipse on the cover. By the time she finished reading one or two of the articles, she had her idea.

Genre

Fiction/Astronomy

Curriculum Ties

Science/Astronomy

Booktalking Ideas

1) Discussion on

Reading Level/Interest Age

Gr. 5 -8

Why included in selection?

The librarian I volunteer with told me that the 7th graders enjoyed reading this book.

Artichoke Hearts by Suzanne Supplee

Supplee, Suzanne. Artichoke Hearts. Speak: 2009. ISBN: 0142414271

Plot

Rosemary is in high school and is having problems dealing with her weight, a boy crush, and on top of that she just found out that her mother has cancer. Rosemary has always been overweight and has been dealing with people talking to her about it all the time. Her mother and aunt are constantly giving her tips, giving her diet fads, and other types of advise to losing weight. Rosemary has never had a boyfriend and feels that she never will unless she loses weight. Rosemary has a crush on a football player, Kyle, and when they begin dating Rosemary life seems easier but she still has personal issues to dealt with. These issues are the least of her worries since her mother has been recently diagnosed with cancer.

Critical Evaluation

Rosemary is the insecure girl that hide or is inside of us. Her weight has always been a problem but she never does anything to change with it. Rosemary discovers that there is more to life than thinking about her weight all the time and with the help of her friend Becca she is able to overcome of her fear and begins to lose weight. With the impact of the media many girls feel that there bodies are inadequate compared to those seen in magazines and in movies. Cancer is also an issue, especially when a closed loved one is affected. This book would allow tween to identify with the main character. The main age group would be 12-14 since a self body image becomes more apparent at this age

Reader's Annotation

Rosemary is the fat girl at school but when her mother is diagnosed her cancer she begins to lose weight. When Rosemary begins to lose weight are her problems solved or do they become more difficult?

Information about the Author

While Supplee was writing Artichoke Hearts, her mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and died months later. Working on this novel helped her in several ways. She identified with her character Rosemary very well. She had no father and had a sick mother like Rosemary. The novel was a very therapeutic experience for her.

Genre

Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties

English

Booktalking Ideas

1) Quote from book when Rosemary is weighing herself and is proud that she lost weight but then ask her mom how she is dealing with the chemo

2) Discuss how Rosemary is feeling when the book begins

3) Does the media affect the way people look at themselves?
a) What can we do to prevent it?
Reading Level/Interest Age

Gr. 8 - 10

Why included in selection?

On a list of tween books.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Hinton, S.E. The Outsiders. Speak, 2003. ISBN 0-14-038572-X

Plot

Ponyboy Curtis and his brothers, Sodapop and Darry are part of a gang of greasers. There parents died in a car accident and Darry has to take care of his younger brothers. They often get in fight with the Socs, a group of wealthy, privileged boys who beat them up for fun. Ponyboy is the youngest brother who is shy, quiet, and smart. Soda, the middle brother, is very handsome and likable. Darry, is the adult, he is very serious, works most of the time, and is pushes Ponyboy to do well in school. Pony does not feel that they are a real family because they are constantly arguing with one another. Ponyboy and Johnny end up getting into trouble that could possibly end there lives so they run away. While away they both reevaluate there lives and decide to change it but tragedy strikes that might hinder it. Ponyboy wants something more than just being a greaser but is it to late for them to change?

Critical evaluation

Hinton explores the differed side of a notorious generation. They were not all brutes that wanted to fight all the time. Hinton reveals the Soc to be the problem in this novel. They have the money and social statues that the greasers do not so they do not get reprimanded for there actions. At first the greasers seem to be the victims but as the story progresses they grow as individuals as well as a family. They teach the Soc once and for all not to mess with them anymore. After the large fight at the park that should understand that. Hinton captures teenage greaser life very well in her various novels.

Readers Annotation
Ponyboy and Johnny are part of a gang of greasers though they do not seem the part since they are both shy and do not like to cause any trouble. They get themselves in trouble that would change there lives as well as those around them.

Information About the Author
S.E. Hinton began to write this novel when she was 15 years old

Genre

Realistic fiction

Curriculum Ties

English

Booktalking Ideas
1) greasers and modern gangs

2) ponyboy first person narrative

Reading Level/Interest Age

Gr 9-12

Controversial Subject Matter and Defense of Ideas

Violence, underage drinking, smoking

New York Herald Tribune Best Teenage Books List, 1967
Chicago Tribune Book World Spring Book Festival Honor Book, 1967
Media and Methods Maxi Award, 1975
ALA Best Young Adult Books, 1975
Massachusetts Children’s Book Award, 1979

Why Book Included

It is a popular novel that I have always wanted to read that I never got around to doing.

Hackers by Iain Softley

Softley, Iain. Hackers. MGM, 1998. PG 13. DVD. 107 minutes. ASIN: 6305047456

Plot Summary

Dave “Zero Cool” Murphy as a 13 year old boy crashed 1,507 systems, causing large drops on the stock market. He was forbidden to use a phone or computer until he turned 18…he now is. Dave moves to New York with his mother where he begins as a Senior in a new high school. On his 18th birthday Dave quickly returns to his hacking ways. Kate “Acid Burn” Libby, Joey, “Freak,” and Emanuel “Cereal Killer” Goldstein introduce Dave into the NY underground hacking world. While hacking Joey discovers a file that he thought was worthless but ends up getting him into a lot of trouble. Before he gets arrested he copies a file onto a floppy and hides it. Joey tells his friends where it is hidden and they discover that the disk holds information that can bring Eugene “Plague,” a security officer against hackers who words for the Ellington Mineral Corporation. Eugene has set up a virus that will cause a major ecological disaster in oceans. It is up to the backers to take down Eugene and prevent the disaster. The close knit of hacker friends reach out to the hacker community to help bring down Eugene. It becomes more of a challenge when Richard Gills, a hacker enemy FBI agent, is monitoring all there moves.

Critical evaluation

Hackers were really popular and cool in the 90’s because the internet was more accessible to people. This movie captured that power that most teens wanted to have but were to afraid to do it. This is a fun movie that shows a world that many people did not existed. Though it does not seem realistic at times it is still a fun movie to watch. The actors do not look like teenagers at all but they still do a very good job in portraying the adolescent qualities that teens have. Teenagers and rebellion in the 21st century is portrayed perfectly in this film.

Readers Annotations

Dave and his fellow hacker friends must work together to save the planet and bring down “The Plague.”

Information About the Author

Softley Hackers deals with the mysterious and dangerous side of the computer world. This film has become a cult classic.

Genre

Action/Crime/Drama/Thriller

Curriculum Ties

Information Processing

Booktalking Ideas

1) Discuss how 21st century are able to defy government through internet
2) are the 90’s really different from now? How?

Reading Level/Interest Age

13+

Why Book Included

One of my favorite movies of the 90s