The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Alexie, S. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. New York: Little, Brown.
This story is a modern realistic fiction about Junior, a 14
year old Native American boy growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. The story
depicts Junior’s life as anything except easy. From birth, Junior’s life
is a set of obstacles. As an infant he defeats death, and proceeds to facing
constant forms of adversity. Physically, Junior looks different, and is
constantly bullied by kids his age and even adults alike. His home life is not
ideal either; his father is a loving drunk, his mother is a recovering
alcoholic, and his older sister is a hermit who spends most of her time in the
basement. His grandmother is a positive influence in his life and
symbolizes wisdom. Rowdy, the strongest most violent boy in the
reservation is also Junior’s best friend. Junior never quite feels he
belongs in the reservation. Finally, after throwing the algebra book at
Mr. P and getting suspended. Mr. P. gives him some advice that would turn
his life upside down. Junior decides to enroll at and all white school,
Rearden High School, 22 miles away from the reservation. Junior’s life
does not get easier by a long shot. He viewed as traitor by the reservation
kids, his best friend is now his enemy, and he feels like an
outsider at his new school, but he is determined to show everyone he isn’t
going anywhere. The death of people close to him doesn’t make anything
easier. He copes with the pain, sorrow, and loneliness by drawing his
cartoons. Little by little, Arnold opens up and finds his place among a
group of kids.
In the end, his bravery and courage pay off. He is liked for who he is “a
part-time Native American boy”. The social issues the protagonist faces
in the reservation are things that other students might be going through as
well. The book written with humor and colorful language serves as
a mirrors to some of the tough situations Arnold overcomes.
Connections:
Book Trailer
Educators Guide
More to Read:
Cross Your Heart, Connie Pickles by
Sabine Durrant, This is all: the pillow
book of Cordelia Kenn by Aidan Chambers
Other Books by Sherman Alexie: You
Don’t Have to Say You Love Me: A Memoir, Thunder Boy Jr., Blasphemy, Blasphemy:
New and Selected Stories, War Dances
Feed by M.T. Anderson
Anderson, M. (2002). Feed. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.
"Feed" is set in
a dystopian future society where corporations have direct access to people’s
minds through a “feed” a computer chip that is implanted into people’s brains
at an early age. This feed seems to
control everything; it knows what they like, what they need, and desire. In this society, the written word and
individual thinking has no value. Titus
and his group of friends depict a loss of humanity which is foiled by Violet a
girl who is skilled in the art of words and reading, and who did not get a
“feed” until she was 7 years old. At one
point, Violet tries to fight against it. During a trip to the moon, Titus, his
friends, and Violet’s feeds are hacked and they end up disconnected and in a
hospital. For a moment, Titus seems to change and gain some of his humanity
back by spending time with Violet. Soon after, Titus and his friends recover,
but Violet’s rebellious actions against the feed, and lack of money make her
unworthy of repair. Titus’s lack of
humanity, empathy and individual intellect, lead him to break-up with her.
This is a great book to
read because students can relate to the issues being raised. Anderson is criticizing the society we are
living in by raising issues about individual thinking, consumerism, and the
overuse of technology.
Connections:
Slide ShareMeet the Author
Lesson Plan
More to Read: Hex by Rhiannon Lassiter,
The Cracked Mirror by Keaney Brian,
Other Books
by M. T. Anderson: The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor
to the Nation: Volume I, The Pox Party
My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf
Backderf, D. (2012). My friend Dahmer: A
graphic novel. New York: Abrams.
The author, Derf Backderf
went to school with Jeffrey Dahmer and writes a collection of memories about
the student turned serial killer.
Backderf describes Dahmer as a quiet and shy kid who had a rough home
life. His mother was apparently sick and
his father was gone most of the time.
During his high school years, Dahmer’s behavior turned erratic. He faked disabilities, and seizures- a
twisted way to cope with his mother’s illness, his parent’s constant fighting and divorce, and his
own inner impulses. In addition, he began to torture and kill animals and drink
heavily to subdue his homosexual desires.
After graduating in 1978, Dahmer murdered a hitchhiker and went on to murdering
16 more victims. He was caught in 1991.
This nonfiction graphic
novel is a biography about one of the most notorious serial killer in the world. The intended audience are teens- 14 years of age and up. This true story was an easy read especially because of its
comic book format. I can see how reluctant readers can gravitate towards the mystery of how this young student ended up in the path evil. The illustrations found in the book are lacking in color which somehow add to the dark mood of the book. Connections:
More to Read: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by
Robert Louis Stevenson, Green River Killer by Jeff Jensen, Juvenile
in Justice by Robert
Other Books by Derf Backderf: True Stories, Punk Rock and Trailer Parks, and Trashed
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Anderson, L. (1999). Speak. New York:
Farrar Staus Giroux.
Speak is a realistic fiction about Melinda, a typical high
school girl whose whole world is turned upside down when she attends an end of
the summer party. The tragic event that
unfolds at the party causes Melinda to call the police, having changed her mind
about divulging the tragic happenings of the night, she leaves the party before
the police even get there. However, the
party is ruined thanks to her, and all her friends stop talking to her. Melinda starts the new school year trying to
cope with the after effects of that party.
She hardly talks; her anxiety and state of mind cause her to incessantly
chew at her lips; she is lonely, doing badly in school, and doesn’t know if she
should tell her once best friend she is dating a rapist. Andy Evans or as Melinda calls him ‘It”, is a
popular, good looking senior and the cause of all her pain and suffering. Melinda realizes she must speak out in order
to move forward and save others from Andy’s criminal self.
Anderson’s novel serves as a testimony to rape victims. Melinda’s decision to stay quiet and not say anything was hurting her. She was isolating herself more and more to the point that she would spend her time in a janitor’s closet to avoid being around others. It as if she was punishing herself for what Andy had done to her. Anderson wants readers to know they should Speak UP! The novel gives victims of rape a voice.
Connections:
More to Read: Are You in the
House Alone? by Richard Peck, Thirteen
Reasons Why by Jay Asher, The Perks
of Bing a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky,
Other
books by L.H.Anderson: Chains,
Wintergirls, Fever 1793, The Impossible Knife of Memory, Twisted
The
Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black
Black, H. (2013). The Coldest girl on Coldtown. New York: Little, Brown Books for
Young Readers.
This novel embodies the
characteristics of a science fiction, vampire romance, and thriller all at the
same time. Tana lives in a world where vampires
and quarantined Coldtowns exist. Vampires can infect or turn humans Cold if
they decide not to drain them dead. Tana is seventeen and has had some
experience dealing with the Cold and fighting off the infection. When she was
younger, her mother was bitten after she’d gone out to a work party. Her father
tried to keep her from drinking human blood for 88 days by locking her up in
the basement. In the midst of the
screaming and begging, Tana caves in to her dear mother, unlocks the door to
the basement and is attacked. The near death experience makes Tana a more
determined, stronger, and wiser protagonist. The story begins with Tana waking
up in a bathtub after a long night of booze and partying with friends she’d
known since she was a little girl. Only
this time she felt something was obviously wrong. It was too quiet and no one had gone up to
harass her about her behavior from the night before. She discovers that all her
friends, with the exception Aidan, her ex-boyfriend have been slaughtered by
vampires. Tana manages to escape the vampires that were still in the house through
a window and rescues Aidan and an intriguing vampire named Gavriel who was
shackled up in chains next to the bed where Aidan had been tied to. The three
of them decide to head to Coldtown and on the way there pick up a set of twins
who call themselves Midnight and Winter.
For Tana Coldtown seems like the safest place to fight the possibility
of infection, but it is also here where she learns how strong and level headed
she could be despite the dangers she encounters. Tana stays loyal to Aidan and the new friends
she meets, saves her sister, and helps Gavriel accomplish what he had set out
to do from the beginning. In the end, we learn that Tana is resolute on staying
human and that she won’t be alone while she suffers through the 88 days.
The intended
audience for this book is 14 years old and up.
I loved how Holly developed the characters and made them relatable to
typical young adults in high school.
This characteristic plus the technology factor mentioned throughout the
story will definitely appeal to this audience. Starting every chapter with a
quote about death was a nice touch. It
added to the eerie and dark mood of the whole book.
Teaching
Resources:
More to
Read: Twilight by Stephanie Meyer, The
Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid, With Malice
by Eileen Cook, To Catch a Killer by:
Sheryl Scarborough, Fated: The Soul
Seekers by: Alyson Noel, and Contaminated
by Em Garner
Other
Books by Holly Black: The Bronze Key, The
Darkest Part of the Forest, The Copper Gauntlet, The Iron Trial, Doll Bones,
The Spiderwick Chronicles Book 2: The Seeing Stone, Welcome to Bordertown
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
Bardugo, L. ( 2015). Six of Crows. New York: Henry Holt and Company.
Six of
Crows is a fantasy is a story set in the city of Ketterdam, a city
filled with gambling palaces, brothels, gangs, crime lords, and magic. The
story centers around six main characters who have been hired by Van Eck,a city
council man to pull off an almost impossible job. They have been promised an
insane amount of money to break into the Ice Court, an impenetrable prison to free Bo Yul-Bayur, the creator of an illicit
magical drug called jurda parem that magnifies the supernatural powers of the
Grisha, elemental magicians. Kaz also
known as Dirty Hands is the seventeen year old leader of the Dregs, a notorious
gang. Despite his young age, he is
ruthless, savvy and unshakable. He is charged with putting together a team that
can successfully accomplish the heist. Inez is a strong, quiet girl who was
enslaved in a brothel until Kaz rescued her. She is extremely agile and can
become invisible which makes her a great spy. Jesper is the gang’s
sharpshooter; he is a light-hearted character who loves to gamble and ends up
being Grisha. Nina is a Grisha who can
manipulate people’s moods and emotions.
She operates from a good place expecting Kaz to do what is right. Matthias is a former high ranking soldier in
the Fjerdan army. He was imprisoned by
Nina who accused him of being a slaver to save his life. His experience with
the Fjerdan prisons was needed and so he was recruited to be part of the
heist. Wylan is the son of Van Eck; he
is a demolitions expert and also collateral for Kaz. The six share traumatic backgrounds and learn
from each other while trying to survive battle after battle. In the end, Van
Eck betrays the Dregs and takes the money and Inez prisoner. Kaz vows to go after Van and rescue Inez.
This high fantasy fictional novel has it all- fantasy,
action adventure, romance, and danger.
It’s edgy, but not too much. The intended audience would be 9-12
grades. I love the way Bardugo manages
to put together a complex story line and make it an easy read. Over all, the
novel is a window to a different world that encompasses magical beings, danger,
and whole lot more. It is perfect for
students seeking adventure and a thrill.
Teaching
Resources:
Author’s Interview
Author’s Webpage
More to
Read: Lies, Knives and girls in Red Dresses by Ron Koertge, Riverman by Aaron Starmer, Deep Blue-Waterfire by Jennifer
Donnelly, Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan, The Girl at Midnight by Melissa Grey
Other
Books by Leigh Bardugo: Crooked
Kingdom: A Sequel to Six of Crows, Ruin and Rising, Siege and Storm: Grisha
Trilogy, Shadow and Bone,
Annie on
My Mind by Nancy Garden
Garden, N. (1982). Annie on my mind. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
This
realistic fiction story is about two girls trying to be true to themselves. The narrator, Liza spends her first year in
college remembering what happened to her during senior year in high school and
trying to make up her mind about writing back to someone dear to her. Her
flashbacks tell an endearing story about love and separation. Liza Winthrop, is a 17 year old senior that
attends an elite private school; she has a supportive family and is student
council president. Her life seems pretty
perfect, until one day, while at the Metropolitan Art Museum, she hears Annie
Kenyon, also 17, singing. The girls start
talking and quickly become friends, but that friendship quickly grows into
something more. Although Annie seems to be more confident about her sexuality,
the two girls are confused and struggle with how they feel about being gay, especially
Liza. While they both house sit for some
teachers, Liza and Annie get to be carefree about their love and be a couple. However, it is also here where they are
discovered by Mrs. Baxter, the administrator’s assistant who is known for being
judgmental and hypocritical. The problems that arise from this embarrassing
situation cause the separation of the two girls. Liza is forced to a disciplinary hearing one
that should have never happened because she was not breaking any school rules. Liza
is exonerated from it all, but the two teachers are fired. However, she later learns that the principal
was going to be replaced as well. The two girls part ways; they each attend
different colleges. After much soul
searching, Liza decides that she is who she is and loves Annie. She decides to call Annie and continue where
they left off.
It’s hard to believe that this
book was written in 1982. I was not a
surprise to find out that it was on ALA’s most commonly challenged books list. I’m
sure it paved the way for other authors who wanted to write about homosexuality. Garden was able to write a tender story that
helps readers be empathetic and accepting of the love the girls felt despite
their relationship not being a heterosexual one. You can’t help love- who you love! It is a revolutionary book that can be used
to teach themes of acceptance, conventions, and moral values. It can serve as a
mirror to many young kids out there who are confused about their sexuality.
Connections:
More to
Read: Alma Mater by Rita Mae
Brown, Chasing Lightning by Rachel
York, Missed Her: Stories by Ivan
Coyote, Honey Girl by Lisa Feeman
Other
Books by Nancy Garden: Hear Us Out!,
The Year They Burned the Books, Good Moon Rising, Dove and Sword, Meeting
Melanie, Nora and Liz, Endgame, and Holly’s Secret,
Lily and
Dunkin by
Gephart, D. (2016). Lily and Dunkin. New York: Delacorte.
This realistic fiction set in modern California is an
endearing dual narrative about Lily McGrother, born Timothy Mcgrother and
Dunkin Dormman, birth name Norbert Dorfman.
Timothy is a brave transgender boy/girl born with the wrong body parts.
She is constantly bullied at school for being different and now she is going
through puberty and wants to take pills to stop her body from changing. Her
family is super supportive with the exception of her father who in the end comes
around. Dunkin is from New Jersey and just moved a couple of blocks away from
Lily; he hates the heat. He is scared of
not fitting in and befriends the mean, popular kids who bully Lily. He is a boy
who is struggling with bipolor illness and at the same time is coping with his
father’s suicide. One summer morning the
two eight graders meet; Lily is wearing her mother’s dress and Dunkin is
wearing his corduroy hot pants. The smile and wave; they officially meet as
Timothy and Norbert when Norbert happens to walk past Timothy’s special
tree. Norbert is dubbed Dunkin that day
by Timothy who understand what it feels like to not like your name. He feels it is an appropriate nickname
because of Norbert’s obsession with Dunkin Donut’s coffee and donuts. The conflict starts when Dunkin is taken in
by the Lilly’s bullies. Lilly is
heartbroken but feels that Dunkin is not like the others. They each open up to each other in the end and
show what true friends should be like.
This is a great
story that shows readers how to be empathetic and understanding for
others. It is great way to educate
readers about transgender and mental disorders and how it can affect not only
the individuals but their families as well.
It also addresses social problems young children experience such as
bullying and fitting in. I loved the way
Gphart put two main characters and gave us two different stories in one. The chapters were differintiated with cursive
headers for Lily and block capitals for Dunkin.
Connections:
Resources—LGBTQ
and Mental Health Resources:
More to Read: The friendship
experiment by
Erin Teagan, Unfriended by Vail
Rachel, Maxi’s Secrets: (or what you can learn
from a dog) by Lynn Plourde, Sticks
and Stones by Abby Cooper, and Always,
Abigail by Nancy Cavanaugh.
Other
Books by Donna Gephart: Olivia Bean, Trivia
Queen and How to Survive Middle School
