Banned books response

Censored Books

The information here has been pulled from the ALA website and the Children's Literature Database

Whale Talk

Who censored?
Limestone County Alabama School District

Why was it censored?
Profanity- “We can’t allow students to go down our halls and say those words, and we shouldn’t let them read it,” said board member James Shannon. “That book’s got a lot of bad, bad words.”

Was there just a complaint or more formal censorship?
The District Superintendent recommended to the School Board that the book be removed from the high school libraries. The School Board rejected the recommendation on the basis that the message of racial tolerance is more important than the issue of bad language.

Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Crutcher's (Running Loose; Ironman) gripping tale of small-town prejudice delivers a frank, powerful message about social issues and ills. Representing one-third of his community's minority population ("I'm black. And Japanese. And white"), narrator T.J. Jones voices a darkly ironic appraisal of the high school sports arena. Despite his natural athletic ability (at 13, he qualified for the Junior Olympics in two swimming events), T.J. has steered away from organized sports until his senior year, when Mr. Simet, a favorite English teacher, implores him to help form a swim team for the school (and thereby help the teacher save his job). T.J. sees an opportunity to get revenge on the establishment and invites outcasts to participate on the team; he ends up with "a representative from each extreme of the educational spectrum, a muscle man, a giant, a chameleon, and a psychopath." As might be expected, he accomplishes his mission: his motley crew of swimmers is despised by more conventional athletes (and coaches). The swimmers face many obstacles, but their dedication to their sport and each other grows stronger with every meet. The gradual unfolding of characters' personal conflicts proves to be as gripping as the evolution of the team's efforts. Through T.J.'s narration, Crutcher offers an unusual yet resonant mixture of black comedy and tragedy that lays bare the superficiality of the high school scene. The book's shocking climax will force readers to re-examine their own values and may cause them to alter their perception of individuals pegged as "losers." Ages 12-up.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 8 Up-T. J. Jones, the mixed-race, larger-than-life, heroic, first-person narrator of this novel, lays out the events of his senior year, with many digressions along the way. The central plot involves T. J.'s efforts to put together a swim team of misfits, as he tries to upset the balance of power at his central Washington high school, where jocks and the narrow-minded rule. However, a number of subplots deal with racism, child abuse, and the efforts of the protagonist's adopted father to come to grips with a terrible mistake in his past. Crutcher uses a broad brush in an undeniably robust and energetic story that is also somewhat messy and over the top in places. T. J. himself is witty, self-assured, fearless, intelligent, and wise beyond his years. In fact, he has all of these qualities in such abundance that he's not an entirely plausible character. The novel's ending sweeps to a crescendo of emotions, as T. J.'s mentally tortured father saves a life and atones for past sins by diving in front of a bullet and dying in his son's arms. Young adults with a taste for melodrama will undeniably enjoy this effort. More discerning readers will have to look harder for the lovely passages and truths that aren't delivered with a hammer.
Todd Morning, Schaumburg Township Public Library, IL
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 8-12. Crutcher's fans will recognize the author's signature style and subject matter in his new novel, his first in six years. Adopted, biracial high-school senior The Tao Jones (his birth mother seems to "have been a little too 'spiritual'") is well-adjusted on the surface. A smart, likable kid with a great sense of humor and athletic ability, he glides through academia with everything an adolescent boy needs--decent grades and female companionship. What T. J. doesn't need is competitive sports, which Cutter High School jocks and coaches see as a personal snub. T. J.'s resolve weakens, however, when English teacher-coach Mr. Simet makes an unconventional offer: Be the anchor of the swim team and pick your fellow fish. Perfect, especially since racist football bully Mike Barbour has taken up letter jackets as a cause. It seems developmentally disabled Chris Coughlin has been wearing his dead brother's jacket, and Mike is annoyed. If Chris, naturally comfortable in the water, is on the swim team, T. J. reasons, Chris will earn a jacket of his own, and Mike will be put in his place. The veteran author once again uses well-constructed characters and quick pacing to examine how the sometimes cruel and abusive circumstances of life affect every link in the human chain, and a heartwrenching series of plot twists leads to an end in which goodness at least partially prevails. Through it all, as expected, shines Crutcher's sympathy for teens and their problems. For more about the book, see the Story-behind-the Story on the opposite page. Kelly Halls
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Awards
Best Books:
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2002 ; Bank Street College of Education; United States
Capitol Choices, 2001 ; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Children's Book Sense 76 Picks, Spring/Summer 2001 ; Book Sense 76; United States
Los Angeles' 100 Best Books, 2001 ; IRA Children's Literature and Reading SIG and the Los Angeles Unified School District; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Ninth Edition, 2005 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog, Supplement to the Eighth Edition, 2002 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
Parent's Guide to Children's Media, 2001 ; Parent’s Guide to Children’s Media, Inc.; United States
Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books, 2001 ; Cahners; United States
Publishers Weekly Book Review Stars, March 2001 ; Cahners; United States
Senior High School Library Catalog, Sixteenth Edition, 2002 ; H.W. Wilson; United States
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2002 ; American Library Association; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
ABC Children's Booksellers Choices Award, 2002 Winner Young Adult Readers United States
Heartland Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature, 2003 Finalist United States
Pacific Northwest Book Award, 2002 Winner United States

State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, 2002-2003 ; Nominee; High School; Maryland
California Young Reader Medal, 2004 ; Nominee; Young Adult; California
Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award, 2002 ; Nominee; Colorado
Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award , 2003-2004 ; Nominee; Indiana
Iowa High School Book Award, 2003-2004 ; Nominee; High School; Iowa
Nevada Young Readers' Award, 2004 ; Nominee; Nevada
Rhode Island Teen Book Award, 2002 ; Nominee; High School Students; Rhode Island
Soaring Eagle Book Award, 2002-2003 ; Nominee; Grades 7-12; Wyoming
South Carolina Young Adult Book Awards, 2003-2004 ; Nominee; South Carolina
Tayshas High School Reading List, 2002 ; Texas
Virginia Young Readers Program, 2003-2004 ; Nominee; High (Grades 10-12); Virginia
Volunteer State Book Award, 2004 ; Nominee; Young Adult, Grades 7-12; Tennessee
Young Adult Reading Program, 2002 ; Grades 7-12; South Dakota
Young Reader's Choice Award, 2004 ; Nominee; Senior (Grades 10-12); Pacific Northwest

My conclusion
Whale Talk deals with a lot of very serious issues- racism, abuse, rape. It is important that these issues be presented to readers in a very true light. By including bad (but authentic) language, it helps to make the story all the more believable. I would whole heartedly endorse keeping this book in a school or public library. This book however should be marketed towards high school readers. Middle schoolers may not be able to appreciate all of the issues that the book deals with.



The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Who censored?
Stockton, Missouri School Board

Why was it censored?
The book was censored for content
Was there just a complaint or more formal censorship?
A parent complained and the School Board held an open forum to discuss returning the book to the library with restrictions. Despite letters and protests, the School Board upheld the decision to remove the book from classrooms and school libraries.

Reviews

From School Library Journal
Starred Review. Grade 7–10—Exploring Indian identity, both self and tribal, Alexie's first young adult novel is a semiautobiographical chronicle of Arnold Spirit, aka Junior, a Spokane Indian from Wellpinit, WA. The bright 14-year-old was born with water on the brain, is regularly the target of bullies, and loves to draw. He says, "I think the world is a series of broken dams and floods, and my cartoons are tiny little lifeboats." He expects disaster when he transfers from the reservation school to the rich, white school in Reardan, but soon finds himself making friends with both geeky and popular students and starting on the basketball team. Meeting his old classmates on the court, Junior grapples with questions about what constitutes one's community, identity, and tribe. The daily struggles of reservation life and the tragic deaths of the protagonist's grandmother, dog, and older sister would be all but unbearable without the humor and resilience of spirit with which Junior faces the world. The many characters, on and off the rez, with whom he has dealings are portrayed with compassion and verve, particularly the adults in his extended family. Forney's simple pencil cartoons fit perfectly within the story and reflect the burgeoning artist within Junior. Reluctant readers can even skim the pictures and construct their own story based exclusively on Forney's illustrations. The teen's determination to both improve himself and overcome poverty, despite the handicaps of birth, circumstances, and race, delivers a positive message in a low-key manner. Alexie's tale of self-discovery is a first purchase for all libraries.—Chris Shoemaker, New York Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist
Arnold Spirit, a goofy-looking dork with a decent jumpshot, spends his time lamenting life on the "poor-ass" Spokane Indian reservation, drawing cartoons (which accompany, and often provide more insight than, the narrative), and, along with his aptly named pal Rowdy, laughing those laughs over anything and nothing that affix best friends so intricately together. When a teacher pleads with Arnold to want more, to escape the hopelessness of the rez, Arnold switches to a rich white school and immediately becomes as much an outcast in his own community as he is a curiosity in his new one. He weathers the typical teenage indignations and triumphs like a champ but soon faces far more trying ordeals as his home life begins to crumble and decay amidst the suffocating mire of alcoholism on the reservation. Alexie's humor and prose are easygoing and well suited to his young audience, and he doesn't pull many punches as he levels his eye at stereotypes both warranted and inapt. A few of the plotlines fade to gray by the end, but this ultimately affirms the incredible power of best friends to hurt and heal in equal measure. Younger teens looking for the strength to lift themselves out of rough situations would do well to start here. Chipman, Ian --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Awards
Best Books:
Amazon Editors' Picks: Top 10 Books, 2007 ; United States
Best Children's Books of the Year, 2008 ; Bank Street College of Education; Outstanding Merit; United States
Bulletin Blue Ribbons, 2007 ; The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books; United States
Capitol Choices, 2008 ; The Capitol Choices Committee; United States
Choices, 2008 ; Cooperative Children's Book Center; United States
Horn Book Fanfare, 2007 ; Horn Book; United States
Kirkus Best Young Adult Books, 2007 ; Kirkus; United States
Kirkus Book Review Stars, July 15, 2007 ; United States
Middle and Junior High Schoool Library Catalog, Ninth Edition Supplement 2008, 2008 ; H.W. Wilson Company; United States
Notable Books for a Global Society, 2008 ; Children's Literature and Reading Special Interest Group IRA; United States
Notable Children's Books, 2007 ; New York Times; United States
Publishers Weekly Best Children's Books, 2007 ; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal Best Books, 2007 ; Cahners; United States
School Library Journal Book Review Stars, September 2007 ; Cahners; United States
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2008 ; American Library Association; Top Ten; United States
Awards, Honors, Prizes:
American Indian Youth Literature Award, 2008 Winner Young Adult United States
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, 2008 Winner Fiction and Poetry United States
California Young Reader Medal, 2010 Winner Young Adult California
Cuffies: Children's Booksellers Choose Their Favorite (and not-so-favorite) Books of the Year, 2007 Honorable Mention Favorite Book to Handsell United States
Cuffies: Children's Booksellers Choose Their Favorite (and not-so-favorite) Books of the Year, 2007 Honorable Mention Hottest Selling Book to Go Out of Stock United States
Cuffies: Children's Booksellers Choose Their Favorite (and not-so-favorite) Books of the Year, 2007 Winner Favorite Young Adult Novel United States
Cybil Award, 2007 Finalist Young Adult Fiction United States
Delaware Diamonds, 2009 Winner High School Delaware
Los Angeles Times Book Prize, 2007 Finalist Young Adult United States
Mind the Gap Award, 2008 Best book overlooked by the United States
National Book Awards, 2007 Winner Young People's Literature United States
National Parenting Publications Award, 2007 Gold Book Ages 12 & Up United States
Odyssey Award, 2009 Winner United States
Pacific Northwest Book Award, 2008 Winner United States
Thumbs Up! Award, 2008 Honor Book Michigan United States
State and Provincial Reading Lists:
Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award, 2011 ; Nominee; Illinois
California Young Reader Medal, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; Young Adult; California
Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award, 2009 ; Nominee; Colorado
Delaware Diamonds, 2008-2009 ; Nominee; High School; Delaware
Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; Indiana
Florida Teens Read, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; Florida
Grand Canyon Reader Award, 2010 ; Nominee; Teen; Arizona
Green Mountain Book Award, 2009-2010 ; Master List; Grades 9-12; Vermont
Iowa Teen Award, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; Iowa
Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2009 ; Nominee; Grades 9-12; Kentucky
Pennsylvania Young Readers' Choice Award, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; Young Adult; Pennsylvania
Rhode Island Teen Book Award, 2009 ; Nominee; High School; Rhode Island
Sequoyah Book Award, 2010 ; Masterlist; High School; Oklahoma
Soaring Eagle Book Award, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; Grades 7-12; Wyoming
South Carolina Young Adult Book Award, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; South Carolina
Tayshas High School Reading List, 2008-2009 ; Texas
Volunteer State Book Award, 2009-2010 ; Nominee; Grades 7-12; Tennessee
West Australian Young Readers' Book Award (WAYRBA), 2009 ; Reading List; Older Reader; Australia
Wisconsin Battle of the Books, 2008-2009 ; Senior; Wisconsin
Young Reader's Choice Award, 2010 ; Nominee; Senior; United States

My conclusion
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is a great book. Yes, it does have a masturbation scene in it. Yes, there is racism. However, it has been given numerous awards and honors. It clearly has literary merit. While I can see why some parents might not like the book, it has a definite place in both the school and public library. It should be placed in a YA section. It would be more appropriate for high schoolers than for middle schoolers but acceptable reading for both.

Twilight

Title: Twilight
Author: Stephanie Meyer
Publisher: New York : Little, Brown, and Company (2005)
ISBN: 0316160172 9780316160179 1417755911 9781417755912 9781424243723 1424243726
Pages: 498
Characters: Isabella Swan, Edward Cullen, Jacob Black, Jacob Cullen, Alice Cullen, Jasper Hale, Carslile Cullen, Esme Cullen, Rosalie Hale, Charlie Swan

3 1/2 bookmarks

Isabella (Bella) Swan moves to Forks to live with her father. Forks is really different from her previous life in Arizona where she lived with her mother. She quickly makes several friends, including Edward Cullen. As the story progresses, she falls in love with Edward and discovers that he is a vampire. Through her relationship with Edward she is put into danger. Will she make it out okay?

I know that this book is really popular with young adults right now. I really tried hard to like it, but found it to be a little flat. At times, it was downright boring. Bella was a little annoying, constantly complaining about the weather and about wanting to be with Edward. The book does have a lot of potential and definite appeal to young adult readers with the romance that it included.

Looks

Title: Looks
Author: Madeleine George
Publisher: New York : Viking (2008)
ISBN: 9780670061679 0670061670
Pages: 240
Characters: Cara, Aimee, Meghan, J-Bar

3 bookmarks

Think back to high school. Were you popular, nerdy, a jock, or nobody- invisible. That is exactly what Meghan is. Described as almost tank like and constantly tormented by the jocks, she has no real friends. Aimee, the classic anorexic, is new to the school. She thinks she has found a friend in Cara. When Cara violates her trust, Aimee decides to get back at her. Along with Meghan, Aimee finds the perfect way to get back Cara. Only it doesn't work out quite how either of the girls expected and they must live with the consequences.

I really wanted to like this book. It had such potential. After all, the main characters are such physical opposites yet form an unlikely friendship. There is a great subplot of a fight between athletics and academics (which comes to a head but no real resolution). Worst of all, there is no real resolution at the end between Cara, Aimee, and Meghan. None of them seems to grow at all.

Target

Title: Target
Author: Kathleen Jeffrie Johnson
Publisher: Brookfield, Conn : Roaring Brook Press (2003)
ISBN: 0761319328 9780761319320 0761327908 9780761327905
Pages: 175
Characters: Grady, Jess, Pearl

5 bookmarks

Rape is something that just happens to women, right? Wrong. Rape can happen to anyone. Part way through last school year, Grady, is raped. After the rape, he withdraws from his school and friends and essentially stops eating. The next school year, he moves to a different school where no one knows him. He does try to fit in, he just tries to get by. That is until he is befriended by Jess and Pearl who manage to learn the truth about his past.

I knew that YA lit has been tackling some serious issues. Couldn't believe it when I found a YA book that actually dared to tackle the taboo subject of a young man being raped. This book absolutely blew me away, not only due to the subject matter but to Johnson's sensitivity. This book could very easily have been a huge flop or sob story. Instead, you really root for Grady to pull through. While you don't know fully by the end that he will fully get closure, you do know that he has made some progress.

Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian

Title: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Author: Sherman Alexie; illustrated by Ellen Forney
Publisher: New York : Little, Brown Books (2007)
ISBN: 0316013684 9780316013680 142876450X 9781428764507
Pages: 230
Characters: Arnold "Junior" Spirit,

4 bookmarks

Arnold, known on the reservation as Junior, was once happy on the Spokane reservation with his family. He yearns for a brighter future though and decides to move off the rez and go to the wealthy public school nearby. His family struggles to be able to afford to get him there and feed him lunch, but gladly makes the sacrifice. After starting at the public school, Junior becomes almost exhiled from the tribe. During the school year, his father's best friend, his grandmother, and his sister all die tragically. Junior joins the basketball team and twice has to face his former teammates from the reservation. Following his sister's and grandmother's deaths, Junior is once again accepted as part of the tribe.

During my undergraduate studies, I took a course in Native American religion. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian made me think back to this class and how Native Americans are perceived by whites and what Native Americans think about it. Alexie captured both sides of this perception quite well. This is a great book for young people to read. It briefly introduces them to a culture that they most likely will not experience otherwise. It also helps to show how important it is to feel like an accepted part of the community.

Whale Talk

Title: Whale Talk
Author: Christ Crutcher
Publisher: New York : Greenwillow Books (2001)
ISBN: 0688180191 9780688180195 0060293691 9780060293697
Pages: 220
Characters: T.J. ,

5 bookmarks

T.J. isn't your typical student. He's incredibly smart, bi-racial (Japanese-American and black), and adopted by white parents. He doesn't exactly fit in at his white school in suburban Washington state. After seeing a student with disabilities, Chris Coughlin, get picked on for wearing his dead brother's letter jacket and for being picked on and snubbed for not participating in sports, T.J. decides, with the help of teacher Mr. Simet, to start a swim team. For the swim team, T.J. gathers together the most unlikely group of boys, all social rejects with in the school. The boys and their coach quickly bond, and surprising everyone actually manage to swim well. While swimming, T.J. must deal with former football player Rich Marshall and current football player Mike Barbour harassing him at school. Which T.J's life at home collides with Rich Marshall's personal life, only trouble can ensue. What will happen when Marshall and T.J. finally have a confrontation?

I absolutely loved this book. The cast of characters on the swim team is great, ranging from one legged Mott, to former bodybuilder Tay-Roy, and mentally handicapped Coughlin. It's amazing to see how well the boys bond and stick together. It shows what the good side of high school sports can be- camaraderie, trust, and providing a support system. The ending did come as a bit of a surprise, but made a lot of sense within the context of T.J.'s home life and dealings with Marshall. Perfect book to show that not everyone is what they seem to be and that who you are in the community doesn't determine how you will act.

The Plain Janes

Title: The Plain Janes
Author: Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg
Publisher: New York, New York : Minx (2007)
ISBN: 9781401211158 1401211151
Pages: unpaged

5 bookmarks

After being the victim of a bombing, Jane and her family move to the suburbs from Metro City. Jane longs for the culture of the city until the day that she sits at the reject table and finds a group of girls who she fits in with. Ironically, all the girls are name Jane. Together, the four Janes form a group- PLAIN (People Loving Arts in Neighborhoods) and put on random art attacks. Unfortunately, not all the people in the suburbs like the art attacks and a curfew is imposed on the teens of the town. Through the random art attacks, the Janes are able to inspire people to bring their town to life. Our Jane is also able to finally get some closure about the bombing when she learns that "John Doe", another victim of the attack has been released from the hospital, fully recovered, and she makes plans to meet him.

I absolutely loved this book! It is a shining example of how we can overcome our personal tragedies and come out stronger for them. It also shows what can happen when people with a vision join together. A single vision can work change on an entire community for the better.

Delirium

Title: Delirium
Author: Lauren Oliver
Publisher: New York : Harper (2011)
ISBN: 9780061726828 0061726826
Pages: 441
Characters: Lena
5 bookmarks

Imagine a world where love is viewed as a disease that can be cured. That is the future that Lena lives in. She cannot wait until her 18th birthday when she will be able to have the treatment. A few months before she is scheduled to be cured, Lena does the unthinkable- meets a boy and falls in love with a boy who has sneaked in from the outlands. Lena discovers that her secret is found out when she is placed under house arrest and makes a desperate plan to escape.

This book is cruel in that the rest of the series is not out yet. I cannot hardly wait until the 2nd book in the series comes out next year. This book completely sucked me in and I was hardly able to put it down. Instead of going to be around 10 the night I finished it, I went to bed at 1....and didn't regret it in the least only that the book was over.

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

Title: Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood
Author: Marjane Satrapi
Publisher: New York : Pantheon Books (2003)
ISBN: 0375422307 9780375422300 037571457X 9780375714573
Pages: 153

4 bookmarks

Perseoplis is the story of Marjane, is actually the memoir of the author's childhood in Iran. Satrapi is the great-granddaughter of Iran's last emperor and the daughter of Marxist parents. Persepolis tells the story of Satrapi as she grows up in Tehran following the overthrow of the Shah, during the Islamic Revolution, and into the war with Iraq. While growing up, she ponders why everything is going on and worries about the safety of her parents as they demonstrate and people around her are arrested.

I really like Persepolis and can understand why it has been compared to Art Speigelman's Maus. I am not quite as impressed with Persepolis as I was Maus however. I did like that the book was about an area that most of us Americans do not know much about- Iran. It is fascinating to get that different perspective on things. This book would be great to use in the classroom at the high school level. It would be great to use in a history classroom to help students learn about the history of Iran.

Dangerously Alice

Title: Dangerously Alice
Author: Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Publisher: New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers (2007)
ISBN: 9780689870941 0689870949
Pages: 294

4 bookmarks

I was first introduced to the Alice series of books when researching puberty in children's literature for a class last year. The series was mentioned repeatedly in the literature I read so I thought, what better series to read a book from than the Alice series, which has received a lot of acclaim for being realistic.

I have to admit that I was not disappointed. High school is a rough time for a lot of teens. You struggle between living up to the expectations of your teachers, parents, and peers. Most of the time during high school, it is the expectations of peers that we actually wind up living up to. This is exactly the case with Alice. It seems that through most of high school so far, Alice has pretty much followed the rules- made good grades, worked for the school paper, didn't really go out drinking and partying. When she is labeled MGT, she decides that she needs to show that she really isn't a "Miss Goody Two-shoes". When interviewed for the paper she says she wants to be a bubble dancer, dates Tony (who is notorious for being "fast"), and writes a story for the paper after pretending to be a teenage runaway. She also fights with her stepmother about the new family pet and having a car. Alice realizes that she is in over her head when she goes to a party without her parents permission and tragedy almost strikes. It's then that Alice realizes that she can't keep being the bad girl and that every action has possible consequences.

If the rest of the Alice series is as good as Dangerously Alice was, then the entire series is pretty good. While not at all one of my favorite books, Dangerously Alice was enjoyable. Phyllis Reynolds Naylor did accurately depict what it is like to be a teenager. She didn't shy away from some touchy issues that parents might not necessarily like their teens to read including fighting with parents, teenage drinking, and masturbation. This would be a great book to read to facilitate a discussion about actions having consequences if it could be approved for a reading list. We need to have books that deal with real life in our English classes.

Space Between Trees

Title: The Space Between Trees
Author: Katie Williams
Publisher: San Francisco : Chronicle Books (2010)
ISBN: 9780811871754 0811871754 9780811877299 0811877299
Pages: 274

1 bookmark

16 year old Evie feels that she has no real friends. She stretches the truth about her relationships. In order to fit in with "The Whisperers", she fabricates a relationship with Jonah, who does pest removal in Hokepe Woods where she delivers papers. When he finds her classmate Elizabeth (Zabet) murdered one day, Evie finds herself fabricating another relationship, this time to be accepted by Zabet's father. Evie quickly becomes friends with Hadley, Zabet's best friend in order to cover up her lie. Together, the two hatch a plan to find Zabet's killer. Unfortunately, someone else who is innocent gets caught in the crossfire of their plan and Evie must live with the consequences.

They say don't judge a book by its cover. This book is definitely a case where you should follow that advice. The cover of the book is fabulous- a black tree shape is cut out of the center and placed over purple end papers. The visual effect is striking, specially with barely being able to make out the girl in the background. Sadly, the rest of the book does not live up to the cover. I was seriously disappointed by this book. The premise had so much potential. Instead, the book moved slowly and Evie changed from just being annoying and whiny to being annoying, whiny, and easily manipulated. The fact that she blindly followed Hadley and at the end covered for her made Evie's character really unbelievable. I was also completely shocked at her lack of feeling in cleaning up and re-arranging Zabet's room. It was not something that I see most people doing. Real people would understand that the room didn't need to be disturbed, that Zabet's dad would take care of it in time. I also kept wanting to see some major change in Evie, maybe that she would let someone know that Hadley was crazy and living dangerously. Never happened. The whole book could have been redeemed if the surprise of the murderer had been any good. Seriously, a vagrant. I kept wanting it to be Hadley so that I could have a reason to dislike her other than her being more annoying that Evie.

Life as We Knew It

Title: Life as We Knew It
Author: Susan Beth Pfeffer
Publisher: Orlando : Harcourt (2006)
ISBN: 0152058265 9780152058265
Pages: 337

5 bookmarks

The moon - not something that we think about very often. We all know that it controls the tides, but what would happen if something happened to the moon? That is exactly what happens in Life as We Knew It. Astronomers forecast that a large meteor is going to hit the moon. The residents of her small Pennsylvania town decide that they will celebrate the occasion by going outside to watch. Only something goes horribly wrong.

The moon suddenly becomes much larger and brighter, evidently pushed closer to the Earth by the impact. As can be expected, mass chaos ensues as coastlines around the world experience flooding and tsunamis. Weather patterns quickly change as the stronger gravitational pull makes volcanoes world wide erupt, even volcanoes that have previously been extinct. Along with the volcanoes come earthquakes. The world as we know it, is thrust into a deep winter. People everywhere are freezing and starving. Miranda's family has prepared some. Early on, they stockpile food, ration their remaining gas and oil, and re-arrange their house to attempt to survive the coming changes. As the problems in the world grow, so does the conflict within the house as everyone experiences some cabin fever. Will the family be able to survive the disaster?

Sometimes a book comes along that absolutely sucks you in and makes it hard to determine where the book ends and where reality starts. This has been one of those books for me. (Granted it doesn't help that the past few weeks have had some unusual weather). Susan Pfeffer expertly uses the voice of a teenage girl, Miranda, to capture what we all would be feeling if life as we knew it were instantly changed and all the things we take for granted (easy travel, fast food, television, even electricity) were suddenly to disappear without warning. The use of journal entries is especially effective.

Hunger Games

Title: The Hunger Games
Author: Suzanne Collins
Publisher: New York : Scholastic Press (2008)
ISBN: 9780439023481 0439023483 9780545310581 054531058X
Pages: 374
Bookmarks: 5

Awards: North Carolina Young Adult Book Award (2008), British Fantasy Award for Top Ten (2009), Georgia Peach Book Award (2009), A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year (2008), Cybils Award for Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2008),
Amelia Bloomer List (2009), An ALA Notable Children's Book for Older Readers (2009), Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (2008), West Australian Young Readers' Book Award (WAYRBA) for Older Readers (2010), Rebecca Caudill Young Reader's Book Award Nominee (2011), Red House Children's Book Award for Older Readers & Overall (2010), New York Times Notable Children's Book of (2008), Publishers Weekly's Best Books of The Year, South Carolina Book Award for Junior and Young Adult Book Awards (2011), Rhode Island Teen Book Award (2010), Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award (2010), ALA Teens' Top Ten (2009), Milwaukee County Teen Book Award Nominee (2010), Sakura Medal for Middle School Book (2010), Silver Inky Award (2009), Michigan Library Association Thumbs Up! Award (2009), Florida Teens Read (2009), Iowa High School Book Award Nominee (2011), ALA's Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults (2009)Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People (2009)

If book awards mean anything to you at all, clearly The Hunger Games is a great choice. Even if book awards mean nothing to you, The Hunger Games is a great choice. It is very rare that I wholeheartedly recommend a book to just about anyone. This book is one of the few instances that I can honestly say is a must read.

Panem, located in the future North America, is divided into 12 districts. The Capital rules these districts. Each year, The Capital requires that 2 tributes, one male and one female, are sent each year to participate in The Hunger Games as punishment for an uprising. The Hunger Games are an annual televised death match in which 12-18 year-olds from each district battle each other to the death in an arena designed by The Gamemakers. When Katniss's younger sister, Prim is selected, Katniss takes her place, despite participating in the Games is most likely a death sentence. Along with Peeta, the other tribute from District 12, Katniss goes to The Capital to participate in the Games. After somewhat limited preparation, Katniss, Peeta, and the other tributes are thrust into The Arena and The Hunger Games begin. Katniss quicky decides that she is in it to win, whatever the cost. However, while playing, she is confronted by the decision- is survival worth the loss of friendship, love, and their humanity.

The Hunger Games was one of those books that it is almost impossible to put down. You get sucked into the world that Collins creates and quickly become attached to the characters. It is a little disturbing to think of a world in which often brutal murders are committed by teenagers for the entertainment of others and that some of these teens are specially groomed for this role. Suzanne Collins definitely makes you think with this highly entertaining (and addictive) book.

I actually think that this book would provide a lot of good discussion in a high school English class, especially if read in conjunction with Lord of the Flies as there are some similarities in the brutality that can be found within people. Comparisons could also be drawn by history teachers with the brutality found in the Roman Empire and in Medieval Europe (although both can be argued are somewhat less disturbing than the mandatory, televised Hunger Games).