I will always carry with me a love for comic books. As a child I remember waiting for new editions to come out. Over the years I have read fewer and fewer comics, but I will always hold them in my heart. I do like the fact that comic have brought out a while new genre in writing. While growing up I had to hide the fact that I enjoyed comic books from my friends because it was something geeks did. This is no longer the case (well comic books this still might be the case). There is a new genre that stems from the comic book genre: graphic novels. Whereas comic books are usually about some sort of superhero of villain, graphic novels are simply that, novels told through one long, or many shorter comics. While this genre has been out for a while, until this week I had yet to read a graphic novel. Not because I had not wanted to, it was because I had not had the time. However, after reading Persepolis I realize why this is becoming such a popular genre among teens.
I would be very interested to sit down with Marjane Satrapi to discuss how she went about writing Persepolis. One of the parts that I loved so much about the text was the story itself. It is a story that I feel would also be a great novel, so I found myself wondering if she wrote this story before creating a graphic novel out of it. Satrapi does a great job weaving this wonderful story and mixing-in the beautiful graphic artwork. It is a story that I feel many students have not heard, and told through the eyes of a person that they can relate to. Being from America brings with it a great deal of benefits, but it does also have some downfalls. One area that I feel we need to do better is learning about other cultures. I fear that many young students know nothing about Iran other than the fact it is in the Middle East, and some students may not even know that. And for the students of this generation the words Middle East bring with it a wide array of emotions, and almost all of those negative. While Persepolis may not be a way to get students to fall in love with the Middle East or the governments that run countries like Iran, it does give students a great view of the way that many of the citizens feel living in the countries. It is a lot easier to dislike another culture when we know nothing about them, Satrapi changed that for me, and I feel she would for many students.
Through Satrapi’s (Marji) eyes I was able to see the beauty of the culture, both in the pictures and the words. One of the things that stuck out for me was the closeness of family and friends. Satrapi’s uncle Anoosh was a person that I was able to connect with immediately, even though he has such a small role in the story. It was cute to see how much Marji loved her uncle Anoosh even though she had never met him. It is the idea that he was a hero to her because of everything that he had to live though as a political prisoner. He was a person though that I feel told an important story himself about what it was like for people who spoke out against his government. Another person that I loved was Satrapi’s grandmother. She reminded me a great deal of my own grandmother. That lady who is always there for you, and always seems to show up when you need them the most and know exactly what to say.
Satrapi was another person I found myself caring deeply about. She had the ability to keep her sense of humor amidst the chaos that was happening around her. She was also the voice that I wanted her to be. She stood up for herself and fought for what she believed, even when at times it might have been smarter for herself if she had not. When she was stopped by the Guardians of the Revolution, she was able to show hard it was for people living there. In the briefest of instances a person can stop you and arrest you without even letting your parents know. I cannot imagine what it must have been like to live in fear everyday wondering if a person who did not like you would turn you in.
Overall, this was a book that I feel many students would really enjoy, especially women. It was a true coming of age story, in a place that many children in America could never imagine. Hopefully it would give them the opportunity to see what growing up in a place like that would be like. There was one minor issue that I had with the text, the fact that it was hard to keep track of who was who in terms of governments, and ‘bad’ people. It was confusing because it seemed that everybody in power was bad, which may be true, but because it was told through the eyes of a girl it is not always clear who is who. But with that said, that minor detail is not enough reason to put this book away. It is a book that I feel is important for all ages, races and genders. Like all good literature, even though this is a graphic novel it still tells an important story.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
I know that I went into reading graphic novels with a little bit of hesitancy. I did not know if they would live up to my expectations. Because I loved comics so much growing up, I was hoping that the graphic novel would be able to use this format to tell a story in a new and creative way. I was not let down. It included many of the parts that I love about both novels and comic and developed a story that was fun to read but did not lose the meaning in the process.
This graphic novel did take a little bit for me to get into. I thought it was funny; however, the multiple stories seemed random at first. It was not until about half way through the text that I realized that there was a connection between all of the stories. When I realized this I read frantically to get to the end so I could figure out what that connection was. It was not until I read the story of Wong Lai-Tsao that I realized the meaning of the story. When that happened I saw American Born Chinese in a whole new light. I actually went back and read through portions again so that the confusing parts that I glanced over would actually make sense this time.
I think the part that I enjoyed the most about this novel is the idea of trying to be something you are not. I think that in high school many students are put in the position where they feel they need to act like someone they are not simply to fit in with the crowd. I see it every day in my high school; kids who act one way with one group and another way with another group. That is why I like working with seniors so much. They are much like Jin at the end. They have lived their whole life trying to hide who they are so they can fit in. Finally, like Jin at the end when he realizes that it is more important to be who he is the seniors start to step out of their shell as they realize that high school is about to end. I do not begin to believe that it is same to be a white suburban student as a minority, but I truly believe that in adolescents there are some real similarities. I feel that it is hard for all students to find themselves when so much of our society says they need to be like everyone else. It is because of this that I feel this book would be great for everybody, not just male students or minority students.
Another part that I really enjoyed about the story, even more so after finishing the book, was the story of the monkey king. In the dedications at the beginning of the book, Gene Luen Yang thanks his mother for the monkey stories. I do not know whether or not this was one of the stories that his mother told him as a child, but I know that no matter what, it was a story that perfectly intertwined with the story of Jin. I felt that it was a beautiful way to tell the story of being who you are. At first I was cheering for the Monkey King when nobody gave him any respect. Then as he gained his knowledge, he became more arrogant and stubborn. This sounds like so many people in life, and in high schools.
As a graphic novel I feel that this was a great book. But I also feel that even as a novel it would have been a good book. I think that the themes that Yang talks about are universal themes that everyone can relate to. On top of that, the story itself is very entertaining. It is both funny and meaningful. Knowing that this is such a good story, made the fact that it is a graphic novel even better. The artwork was a story into itself. Like many great comic books, the pictures themselves tell the whole story. The colors and the graphics seem to fit perfectly with the story itself. One image that I will never be able to get out of my head will be the image of Jin’s hair when he decides he wants to try to fit in more, especially when the lightning shoots out of it. Another is the image of the soap on his armpits because he was afraid that he smelled. It was the use of the images that allowed the text to carry with it so much humor.
Overall, I think this is a great graphic novel, and one that many students would love to read. It has messages that I feel most students in today’s society can relate to no matter their background. As a graphic novel, I think that it will draw in readers that might not actually want to read. The idea that they are looking at pictures makes it seems more assessable to them, they don’t lose their coolness because they are enjoying reading a graphic novel. The ironic part is that if they find themselves reading American Born Chinese they will be reading a text about staying true to themselves and not worrying about what someone else is saying about them.
This graphic novel did take a little bit for me to get into. I thought it was funny; however, the multiple stories seemed random at first. It was not until about half way through the text that I realized that there was a connection between all of the stories. When I realized this I read frantically to get to the end so I could figure out what that connection was. It was not until I read the story of Wong Lai-Tsao that I realized the meaning of the story. When that happened I saw American Born Chinese in a whole new light. I actually went back and read through portions again so that the confusing parts that I glanced over would actually make sense this time.
I think the part that I enjoyed the most about this novel is the idea of trying to be something you are not. I think that in high school many students are put in the position where they feel they need to act like someone they are not simply to fit in with the crowd. I see it every day in my high school; kids who act one way with one group and another way with another group. That is why I like working with seniors so much. They are much like Jin at the end. They have lived their whole life trying to hide who they are so they can fit in. Finally, like Jin at the end when he realizes that it is more important to be who he is the seniors start to step out of their shell as they realize that high school is about to end. I do not begin to believe that it is same to be a white suburban student as a minority, but I truly believe that in adolescents there are some real similarities. I feel that it is hard for all students to find themselves when so much of our society says they need to be like everyone else. It is because of this that I feel this book would be great for everybody, not just male students or minority students.
Another part that I really enjoyed about the story, even more so after finishing the book, was the story of the monkey king. In the dedications at the beginning of the book, Gene Luen Yang thanks his mother for the monkey stories. I do not know whether or not this was one of the stories that his mother told him as a child, but I know that no matter what, it was a story that perfectly intertwined with the story of Jin. I felt that it was a beautiful way to tell the story of being who you are. At first I was cheering for the Monkey King when nobody gave him any respect. Then as he gained his knowledge, he became more arrogant and stubborn. This sounds like so many people in life, and in high schools.
As a graphic novel I feel that this was a great book. But I also feel that even as a novel it would have been a good book. I think that the themes that Yang talks about are universal themes that everyone can relate to. On top of that, the story itself is very entertaining. It is both funny and meaningful. Knowing that this is such a good story, made the fact that it is a graphic novel even better. The artwork was a story into itself. Like many great comic books, the pictures themselves tell the whole story. The colors and the graphics seem to fit perfectly with the story itself. One image that I will never be able to get out of my head will be the image of Jin’s hair when he decides he wants to try to fit in more, especially when the lightning shoots out of it. Another is the image of the soap on his armpits because he was afraid that he smelled. It was the use of the images that allowed the text to carry with it so much humor.
Overall, I think this is a great graphic novel, and one that many students would love to read. It has messages that I feel most students in today’s society can relate to no matter their background. As a graphic novel, I think that it will draw in readers that might not actually want to read. The idea that they are looking at pictures makes it seems more assessable to them, they don’t lose their coolness because they are enjoying reading a graphic novel. The ironic part is that if they find themselves reading American Born Chinese they will be reading a text about staying true to themselves and not worrying about what someone else is saying about them.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Luna by Julie Anne Peters
When I think of multicultural literature the first thing that comes to mind is books about minorities, or foreign cultures. After reading Luna I realize why multicultural literature extends beyond my preconceived notions. Luna also had to grow up in a reality that is different than one most people know. She has to grow up as an outsider both in her body and in her community.
We live in a society that I would like to think has come a long way in terms of sexual preference/identity, but I also realize that we still have a ways to go. I teach at a school where very few GLBT members come out of the closet. The GLBT club holds their meetings at odd hours and do not publicize the information so as draw attention to those that are part of the group. While I know that this is not true for all schools across the board, it is true for many suburban schools. I know that there are students at my school that come out to only a few because they are afraid of how everyone will react and treat them. They are afraid of the hate that so many in our society still have for GLBTer’s. I also have my share of gay friends, and I have heard stories crossing all spectrums. My best friend was afraid to come out to me because I was a Christian, and he thought I would hate him. He was lucky though, he has been accepted by most of his close friends and today lives a happy life out of the closet. That is not the happy ending for all of my friends though. I have friends that have been disowned by their parents, grandparents and community. They have had to start their life over again. Reading Luna gave me a better understanding of what they went through.
One thing that really stuck out to me while reading the story was the talk about gender expectations. In college I minored in Psychology and in Human Sexuality we talked at great length about how gender expectations shape children. Her whole life Luna was pressured by her father, and society, to be a ‘man’. Jack, the father, thought that he was helping Luna/Liam because he thought that if Luna/Liam acted ‘different’ then he would not fit in. He wanted Luna/Liam to be ‘normal’, without a thought as to how forcing her to be someone she was not made her whole life more difficult. Peters I feel did a good job making Luna a sympathetic character. It was easy to see the pain that Luna felt as Liam. I think it would be hard for anyone to read her character and not feel a want for her to find happiness. I cannot imagine what it would be like to have to live the life that Luna/Liam had to live; wanting so much to be the person you were born to be, but afraid of what society might have to say to about it. The only one that Luna/Liam had was Regan.
Regan was another character that I felt Peters did a good job developing. It is one thing to look at the affects of being a Transgender in today’s society, but rarely would we have the opportunity to look through the eyes of the sibling and how she/he is affected by it. First, she wants what is best for her brother. This means that she wants her to be happy, but she also wants her to be accepted. At times these things come into conflict, and much like I am sure it would be in the real world, Regan did not know how to handle the situation. Second, she wanted her own life to be normal, which she found exceedingly difficult with her brother transitioning right before her eyes. Every choice that Luna made also affected her own life, maybe not as much as she felt, but it did. She wanted to remain invisible, but with her brother coming out she was not able to because she was the only one that Luna could go to for help. In the end though, Luna going out in the light also made Regan go out into the ‘light’ and both of them were able to change for the better.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I think the Peters did a good job getting me the reader to feel what both Luna and Regan were having to deal with. The one thing that bothered me at times was the voice of Regan. I guess having to deal with teens on an everyday basis gives me enough teen dialogue without having to read it in novels as well. However, with that said, I think that it is a voice that many of the teens who will be reading this book will be able to connect with. They will see a girl just like themselves with all of the insecurities and wants and desires.
We live in a society that I would like to think has come a long way in terms of sexual preference/identity, but I also realize that we still have a ways to go. I teach at a school where very few GLBT members come out of the closet. The GLBT club holds their meetings at odd hours and do not publicize the information so as draw attention to those that are part of the group. While I know that this is not true for all schools across the board, it is true for many suburban schools. I know that there are students at my school that come out to only a few because they are afraid of how everyone will react and treat them. They are afraid of the hate that so many in our society still have for GLBTer’s. I also have my share of gay friends, and I have heard stories crossing all spectrums. My best friend was afraid to come out to me because I was a Christian, and he thought I would hate him. He was lucky though, he has been accepted by most of his close friends and today lives a happy life out of the closet. That is not the happy ending for all of my friends though. I have friends that have been disowned by their parents, grandparents and community. They have had to start their life over again. Reading Luna gave me a better understanding of what they went through.
One thing that really stuck out to me while reading the story was the talk about gender expectations. In college I minored in Psychology and in Human Sexuality we talked at great length about how gender expectations shape children. Her whole life Luna was pressured by her father, and society, to be a ‘man’. Jack, the father, thought that he was helping Luna/Liam because he thought that if Luna/Liam acted ‘different’ then he would not fit in. He wanted Luna/Liam to be ‘normal’, without a thought as to how forcing her to be someone she was not made her whole life more difficult. Peters I feel did a good job making Luna a sympathetic character. It was easy to see the pain that Luna felt as Liam. I think it would be hard for anyone to read her character and not feel a want for her to find happiness. I cannot imagine what it would be like to have to live the life that Luna/Liam had to live; wanting so much to be the person you were born to be, but afraid of what society might have to say to about it. The only one that Luna/Liam had was Regan.
Regan was another character that I felt Peters did a good job developing. It is one thing to look at the affects of being a Transgender in today’s society, but rarely would we have the opportunity to look through the eyes of the sibling and how she/he is affected by it. First, she wants what is best for her brother. This means that she wants her to be happy, but she also wants her to be accepted. At times these things come into conflict, and much like I am sure it would be in the real world, Regan did not know how to handle the situation. Second, she wanted her own life to be normal, which she found exceedingly difficult with her brother transitioning right before her eyes. Every choice that Luna made also affected her own life, maybe not as much as she felt, but it did. She wanted to remain invisible, but with her brother coming out she was not able to because she was the only one that Luna could go to for help. In the end though, Luna going out in the light also made Regan go out into the ‘light’ and both of them were able to change for the better.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. I think the Peters did a good job getting me the reader to feel what both Luna and Regan were having to deal with. The one thing that bothered me at times was the voice of Regan. I guess having to deal with teens on an everyday basis gives me enough teen dialogue without having to read it in novels as well. However, with that said, I think that it is a voice that many of the teens who will be reading this book will be able to connect with. They will see a girl just like themselves with all of the insecurities and wants and desires.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
The Circuit by Fancisco Jimenez
The more that I read the more I am finding books that I find well written and interesting books points that I do not enjoy. It is usually hard for me to find a reason behind it other than just personal preference. Maybe I am a product of the fast paced society that I grew up in? Maybe it is because I have found out that I have a limited amount of time on this earth and I do not want to spend that time reading books that do not captivate me? But there are times that very much like my own students, I have to read a book because it is an assignment. That was the case with The Circuit by Fancisco Jimenez. I do not want anybody to believe that I hated the book, it was just a book that I read because I had too. While reading the book I could see why it has won awards, but for me it just did not do much.
With that said, even though I did not enjoy it, I think that it could be right book for some students. Some students will see this book and be able to relate to Jimenez. They will be able to say “I know what that feels like”. Hopefully from it they will be able to say that everyone has the ability to rise from whatever circumstance and know that they can do amazing things in this world. Francisco did not have an easy life, and many students today have to go through same thing. I remember some of the kids on my soccer team that had to miss practice because they need to work for the family. Kids that freedom care only after making sure they could pay rent. These are issues that we still struggle with as teachers for the foreseeable future. How do we make sure that we are conscious of what students are going though? How do we let them feel that they have their future ahead of them? Hopefully this book can help students realize this.
As a teacher I did see some things that could be used in the classroom. For me, this is a book that I could have the kids read, but I am not sure how well they would like it. I see this book more for what it can add to another unit. There are two units that I feel that this text would work very well for. First, right now I am doing a Of Mice and Men unit. While it takes place during the dust bowl, Francisco and his family have to go through much of the same routine that Lenny and George have to go through. They all have to move from place to place looking for work wherever they can find it. I think that many students have a hard time placing Of Mice and Men in the context of “this is something that could ever happen outside of the great depression.” If the students could see that this type of situation is still a possibility and even a reality for people, I think that they may be able to make some deeper connections with the text.
Another unit I feel this memoir might be able to add to a larger unit is when I teach a Latino curriculum later in the year. The district that I teach at is not known for their diversity. To many of the students the people who cross the border are barely human. It is not uncommon to hear my students spout the rhetoric that I am sure their parents have taught them. I feel that Jimenez does a great job creating and humanizing the struggle that so many Latino’s faced and still face today. I find that it is more difficult for students to dehumanize people when they have a face to put with them.
Overall, Jimenez does a great job allowing the reader to put themselves in California, and the labor camps that they had to live through. I could see Papa’s face when he heard the rain during cotton season, as well as the smile on Fancisco’s knowing he was going to sleep in. I could also feel that pain that the parents felt when they could not give their children more than a bag of candy for Christmas. I think that it is hard for my students to understand what abject poverty can be like. Many of my students throw a fit when they do not get the newest Ipod of cell phone, but Jimenez’s memoir might actually show students what poverty really is.
While I am able to look at this book and name so many great qualities, it still is a book that I was not engaged by. My fear for this text is that many students might have the same experience. For some of them it might just be another text that they have to read. I feel that the text moves relatively slowly and will have a hard time keeping the students attention for a long period of time. That is why I feel that this is a text that would be great for a larger unit. Jimenez does such a great job breaking up the text into smaller stories that I could choose these smaller pieces interspersed throughout to give the students a glimpse of what Jimenez and his family (and so many others) had to go through.
With that said, even though I did not enjoy it, I think that it could be right book for some students. Some students will see this book and be able to relate to Jimenez. They will be able to say “I know what that feels like”. Hopefully from it they will be able to say that everyone has the ability to rise from whatever circumstance and know that they can do amazing things in this world. Francisco did not have an easy life, and many students today have to go through same thing. I remember some of the kids on my soccer team that had to miss practice because they need to work for the family. Kids that freedom care only after making sure they could pay rent. These are issues that we still struggle with as teachers for the foreseeable future. How do we make sure that we are conscious of what students are going though? How do we let them feel that they have their future ahead of them? Hopefully this book can help students realize this.
As a teacher I did see some things that could be used in the classroom. For me, this is a book that I could have the kids read, but I am not sure how well they would like it. I see this book more for what it can add to another unit. There are two units that I feel that this text would work very well for. First, right now I am doing a Of Mice and Men unit. While it takes place during the dust bowl, Francisco and his family have to go through much of the same routine that Lenny and George have to go through. They all have to move from place to place looking for work wherever they can find it. I think that many students have a hard time placing Of Mice and Men in the context of “this is something that could ever happen outside of the great depression.” If the students could see that this type of situation is still a possibility and even a reality for people, I think that they may be able to make some deeper connections with the text.
Another unit I feel this memoir might be able to add to a larger unit is when I teach a Latino curriculum later in the year. The district that I teach at is not known for their diversity. To many of the students the people who cross the border are barely human. It is not uncommon to hear my students spout the rhetoric that I am sure their parents have taught them. I feel that Jimenez does a great job creating and humanizing the struggle that so many Latino’s faced and still face today. I find that it is more difficult for students to dehumanize people when they have a face to put with them.
Overall, Jimenez does a great job allowing the reader to put themselves in California, and the labor camps that they had to live through. I could see Papa’s face when he heard the rain during cotton season, as well as the smile on Fancisco’s knowing he was going to sleep in. I could also feel that pain that the parents felt when they could not give their children more than a bag of candy for Christmas. I think that it is hard for my students to understand what abject poverty can be like. Many of my students throw a fit when they do not get the newest Ipod of cell phone, but Jimenez’s memoir might actually show students what poverty really is.
While I am able to look at this book and name so many great qualities, it still is a book that I was not engaged by. My fear for this text is that many students might have the same experience. For some of them it might just be another text that they have to read. I feel that the text moves relatively slowly and will have a hard time keeping the students attention for a long period of time. That is why I feel that this is a text that would be great for a larger unit. Jimenez does such a great job breaking up the text into smaller stories that I could choose these smaller pieces interspersed throughout to give the students a glimpse of what Jimenez and his family (and so many others) had to go through.
A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah
Memoirs have always been a genre that I have mixed feeling about. On the one hand those that are well written and interesting stories can be a pleasure to read. However, I have also been bitten in the butt by horrible memoirs. I went into A long Way Gone with high hopes but few expectations. However, I quickly found myself drawn into the book.
The story of Ishmael was a story that is not that different from others that I have read, but I still found it unique. With all of the turmoil that has happened in the recent African past, many young boys have found themselves in America after civil war. This book reminded me of They Poured Fire on us from the Sky, which is a memoir written about three Lost Boys from Sudan. The story followed three young men who found themselves homeless and parentless in a war torn country. They found themselves going from place to place, looking for safety. This is exactly what Ishmael had to go though at the start of his journey. I cannot begin to imagine what Ishmael and the Lost Boys went through at such a young age. I think the passage that stuck out the most for me was when Saidu said, “Every time people come at us with the intention of killing us, I close my eyes and wait for death. Even though I am still alive, I feel like each time I accept death, part of me die.” Ishmael had been running so long, and seen so much pain I just wanted him to find happiness. However, as soon as he found a small amount of safety behind the guns of the army he was again put into the heart of the war. What must it be like to find so much despair at such a young age?
What I found the most engaging with the book was not the journey; it was what Ishmael was asked to do. The difference between They Poured Fired on us from the Sky and A Long Way Gone was the fact that Ishmael was asked/forced to participate in the war itself, a choice no child should ever have to make. How could people ever ask children to kill other children? These children were not mature, and did not know how to handle the situation. They were told that they could get back at the people who had killed their parents. Yet what child would not want to get revenge for a murdered family. The army used their immaturity against them. In the end they were asked to carry a weight on their shoulders that they will never be able to take off. As Ishmael learned, he will never be able to forget the horrors that he not only went through, but also participated in.
One thing that I did find hard to read was the fact that every time it seemed like Ishmael had found a small fragment of happiness it was stolen away from him. When he heard that his parents were in the next village, he arrived there an hour too late to see them. When he got behind the Sierra Leone’s army lines, they were attacked again. When he found a new home in Freetown the government was taken over and he was again in the midst of war. Time after time Ishmael lost everything that he loved. I found myself losing hope for him. The only reason I kept reading was because I knew that he was able to get out of the situation simply because he had written the book. I think that many students might also be bogged down by the sorrow and the pain, but hopefully they will be able to draw the same hope out of it that I was in the end.
I think that this is a book that many young readers will find themselves reading even though at times they do not want to. It is a book that is so captivating that they will not be able to turn away from the book. A long Way Gone does a great job of explaining what it is that Ishmael actually went though. He does a great of explaining the moments in his life that affected him, and also allow the reader to know exactly what he was he was feeling at those times. It is hard to imagine a child at 13 thought he was a good soldier and enjoyed killing the enemy, but Ishmael does a great job explaining what he was feeling that I was praying that he might find his way out. The best and the worst part of this book is that ability to elicit emotion. In the end Ishmael finds a new family, he finds his place in the world, but he also tells us that he will carry the memories of that terrible time with him for the rest of his life. The reader is forced to carry the burden with Ishmael, and in so doing hopefully will learn the power of war and the power of hope.
The story of Ishmael was a story that is not that different from others that I have read, but I still found it unique. With all of the turmoil that has happened in the recent African past, many young boys have found themselves in America after civil war. This book reminded me of They Poured Fire on us from the Sky, which is a memoir written about three Lost Boys from Sudan. The story followed three young men who found themselves homeless and parentless in a war torn country. They found themselves going from place to place, looking for safety. This is exactly what Ishmael had to go though at the start of his journey. I cannot begin to imagine what Ishmael and the Lost Boys went through at such a young age. I think the passage that stuck out the most for me was when Saidu said, “Every time people come at us with the intention of killing us, I close my eyes and wait for death. Even though I am still alive, I feel like each time I accept death, part of me die.” Ishmael had been running so long, and seen so much pain I just wanted him to find happiness. However, as soon as he found a small amount of safety behind the guns of the army he was again put into the heart of the war. What must it be like to find so much despair at such a young age?
What I found the most engaging with the book was not the journey; it was what Ishmael was asked to do. The difference between They Poured Fired on us from the Sky and A Long Way Gone was the fact that Ishmael was asked/forced to participate in the war itself, a choice no child should ever have to make. How could people ever ask children to kill other children? These children were not mature, and did not know how to handle the situation. They were told that they could get back at the people who had killed their parents. Yet what child would not want to get revenge for a murdered family. The army used their immaturity against them. In the end they were asked to carry a weight on their shoulders that they will never be able to take off. As Ishmael learned, he will never be able to forget the horrors that he not only went through, but also participated in.
One thing that I did find hard to read was the fact that every time it seemed like Ishmael had found a small fragment of happiness it was stolen away from him. When he heard that his parents were in the next village, he arrived there an hour too late to see them. When he got behind the Sierra Leone’s army lines, they were attacked again. When he found a new home in Freetown the government was taken over and he was again in the midst of war. Time after time Ishmael lost everything that he loved. I found myself losing hope for him. The only reason I kept reading was because I knew that he was able to get out of the situation simply because he had written the book. I think that many students might also be bogged down by the sorrow and the pain, but hopefully they will be able to draw the same hope out of it that I was in the end.
I think that this is a book that many young readers will find themselves reading even though at times they do not want to. It is a book that is so captivating that they will not be able to turn away from the book. A long Way Gone does a great job of explaining what it is that Ishmael actually went though. He does a great of explaining the moments in his life that affected him, and also allow the reader to know exactly what he was he was feeling at those times. It is hard to imagine a child at 13 thought he was a good soldier and enjoyed killing the enemy, but Ishmael does a great job explaining what he was feeling that I was praying that he might find his way out. The best and the worst part of this book is that ability to elicit emotion. In the end Ishmael finds a new family, he finds his place in the world, but he also tells us that he will carry the memories of that terrible time with him for the rest of his life. The reader is forced to carry the burden with Ishmael, and in so doing hopefully will learn the power of war and the power of hope.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World by Jennifer Armstrong
I first read the story of Shackleton and his men in the book Dangerous Book for Boys. So, from the start I was excited to have a chance to read a more complete story of Shackleton then the page I read previously. For the sake of this book I was not left wanting.
From cover to cover I was riveted. What grabbed my attention from the start though were the images and drawings that accompanied the text. Part of what shocked me the most was the clarity of the images that Hurley took. Often when I have seen pictures from the early part of the 20th century they have been scratchy and faded at best. That was not the case with Hurley’s, for the most part they were all crisp and clear, it seemed like they were taken a few years ago. I am not sure if they went through a restoration process, but they were captivating. While Armstrong did a great job going into detail describing what was happening, Hurley’s pictures prove that pictures are worth 1,00 words. The pictures allowed me as a reader to actually place myself with them on their journey. I could look at the landscapes of the desolate and endless snowpack or the ice frozen on their beards and feel the cold and hopelessness that they dealt with on a daily basis. It was the picture on page 40 that will stick with me forever. It is the picture the Endurance surrounded by ice and covered from top to bottom in frost.
While the photographs were stunning, they would not have been complete without the amazing tale that Jennifer Armstrong wove in Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World. The text itself never left me feeling I was reading a book of facts. It was a story, granted a true story, that drew me in from the beginning. If I did not know before reading the book I could have easily mistaken the book for a novel. I think part of what made the book so engaging was the fact that Armstrong allowed us to make connections with some of the members of the crew. Because of the extensive research she put into the text she was able to show us the personality of Shackleton, and a few of the others. It was not just the crew that we are able to connect with, but Armstrong also allows us to see what daily life was like for the crew. I know that I take for granted all of the amenities that we have in today’s society. With Ipods we have music on the go, and on planes, trains and automobiles we have instant access to movies and television. In 1915 these items were not even the beginning of an idea. The crew of the Endurance had to create their own entertainment. One of the stories that I found humorous was the story of Orde-Lees who found a bicycle in the hold and decided to start riding around the snowpack. “He also took long rides in the darkness until the day he got lost and had to be rescued. Shackleton told Orde-Lees in no uncertain terms that his bike riding days were over” (26 Armstrong). I cannot begin to know the despair that the crew must have felt and the extremes to which they went in order to keep themselves occupied.
I was also impressed with Shackleton, and his leadership. I think that the quote at the start of the book by Apsley Cherry-Garrard sums up Shackleton the best. “For scientific discovery, give me Scott; for speed and efficiency of travel, give me Amundsen; but when disaster strikes and all hope is gone, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton.” Shackleton seemed to be in tune with his men, and seemed to always know the correct choice to make. Being stuck on the ice with 28 men and nowhere to go is a recipe for disaster, especially with the eclectic group of men that he assembled for the journey. However, Shackleton always found a way to boost the men’s moral even in the midst of immanent disaster. Whether it was understanding the appropriate time for a party, or knowing when the men would need extra rations or extra warm milk and tea, he always seemed to stay one step ahead of a moral or physical catastrophe.
Overall, this is text that I think students will fall in love with. The way that Armstrong is able to create such a vivid image with her words, and the pictures that accompany the text allow the reader to take the journey with Shackleton and his men. In essence this is an action adventure novel that also just happens to be a true story. Never once did I feel like I was reading a list of facts and research, but instead she was able to weave the facts and research into the story itself. I truly believe that students of both genders will find themselves engaged in the text, even if they come into the text with the preconceived notion that all non-fiction is boring. It has a little bit for everyone, a great story, great facts and amazing pictures.
From cover to cover I was riveted. What grabbed my attention from the start though were the images and drawings that accompanied the text. Part of what shocked me the most was the clarity of the images that Hurley took. Often when I have seen pictures from the early part of the 20th century they have been scratchy and faded at best. That was not the case with Hurley’s, for the most part they were all crisp and clear, it seemed like they were taken a few years ago. I am not sure if they went through a restoration process, but they were captivating. While Armstrong did a great job going into detail describing what was happening, Hurley’s pictures prove that pictures are worth 1,00 words. The pictures allowed me as a reader to actually place myself with them on their journey. I could look at the landscapes of the desolate and endless snowpack or the ice frozen on their beards and feel the cold and hopelessness that they dealt with on a daily basis. It was the picture on page 40 that will stick with me forever. It is the picture the Endurance surrounded by ice and covered from top to bottom in frost.
While the photographs were stunning, they would not have been complete without the amazing tale that Jennifer Armstrong wove in Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World. The text itself never left me feeling I was reading a book of facts. It was a story, granted a true story, that drew me in from the beginning. If I did not know before reading the book I could have easily mistaken the book for a novel. I think part of what made the book so engaging was the fact that Armstrong allowed us to make connections with some of the members of the crew. Because of the extensive research she put into the text she was able to show us the personality of Shackleton, and a few of the others. It was not just the crew that we are able to connect with, but Armstrong also allows us to see what daily life was like for the crew. I know that I take for granted all of the amenities that we have in today’s society. With Ipods we have music on the go, and on planes, trains and automobiles we have instant access to movies and television. In 1915 these items were not even the beginning of an idea. The crew of the Endurance had to create their own entertainment. One of the stories that I found humorous was the story of Orde-Lees who found a bicycle in the hold and decided to start riding around the snowpack. “He also took long rides in the darkness until the day he got lost and had to be rescued. Shackleton told Orde-Lees in no uncertain terms that his bike riding days were over” (26 Armstrong). I cannot begin to know the despair that the crew must have felt and the extremes to which they went in order to keep themselves occupied.
I was also impressed with Shackleton, and his leadership. I think that the quote at the start of the book by Apsley Cherry-Garrard sums up Shackleton the best. “For scientific discovery, give me Scott; for speed and efficiency of travel, give me Amundsen; but when disaster strikes and all hope is gone, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton.” Shackleton seemed to be in tune with his men, and seemed to always know the correct choice to make. Being stuck on the ice with 28 men and nowhere to go is a recipe for disaster, especially with the eclectic group of men that he assembled for the journey. However, Shackleton always found a way to boost the men’s moral even in the midst of immanent disaster. Whether it was understanding the appropriate time for a party, or knowing when the men would need extra rations or extra warm milk and tea, he always seemed to stay one step ahead of a moral or physical catastrophe.
Overall, this is text that I think students will fall in love with. The way that Armstrong is able to create such a vivid image with her words, and the pictures that accompany the text allow the reader to take the journey with Shackleton and his men. In essence this is an action adventure novel that also just happens to be a true story. Never once did I feel like I was reading a list of facts and research, but instead she was able to weave the facts and research into the story itself. I truly believe that students of both genders will find themselves engaged in the text, even if they come into the text with the preconceived notion that all non-fiction is boring. It has a little bit for everyone, a great story, great facts and amazing pictures.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
For a person who loves fantasy novels, most people would think that I would also enjoy science fiction. However, that is one genre that I have never truly enjoyed. To be fair though, it is also a genre that I have not given much of a chance. However, I am grateful that we had the opportunity to read The House of the Scorpion.
When I first started reading the book I was not getting into it, I attribute that to the fact that I did not want to read the book. It did not sound like something that I would enjoy on any level. As I continued to read my opinion of the novel changed. It got to the point where I could hardly put the book down. As the character of Matt developed so did my love of him. Farmer did a great job creating a character that I thought was real. Many authors when they create child protagonist create a character without many flaws. That was not the case with little Matt. Matt had many of the faults that children do at his age. At times he was selfish and at times he let his anger get out of control, but in the end he was always able to see his faults and learn from them.
I think that Matt is a character that many students will be able to make connections with. Matt had to experience a great deal of adversity. It started with the fact that he was born as a clone. For a long time Matt did not even know what that meant other than he was on the same level as the animals. Matt was looking for his place in a world that seemed to reject him at every doorstep. His only friends were Tam Lin and Maria, and the closest thing that he had to a parent was Celia. While many of the students in this day and age do not have it as bad as Matt, there are quite a few children and students out there who do feel that they are on their own. They feel different from everybody else. Maybe they are adopted, maybe their parents get a divorce, or maybe they moved towns, whatever the cause it is not easy to feel you have to ‘survive’ on your own.
I also enjoyed the character of Tam Lin and Celia. They were character that it was easy to cheer for. Tam Lin was the typical flawed hero. He is spending his life making up for one wrong that he committed earlier in his life. While it was a heinous crime, it was something that Tam Lin did not intend and was also not able to forgive himself for. With that said, he penance ended up being giving a new life to his charge little Matt. I think what I loved most about him was that was the voice of reason in the story. Even Maria his other friend still saw Matt as a clone and at times less than a human. Tam Lin did not do that. He saw matt as a person, and taught him everything that he could about survival because he knew that sometime in the future he would need that knowledge. Celia was another character that I really appreciated. She reminded me of my mother. She was always there for Matt no matter what happened. She was also willing to fight and risk her own life to keep Matt alive.
Science fiction is supposed to be placed in the realm of a scientific possibility. While some of the things that are taking place in the novel are possible, some of them seem very improbable. Amazingly enough it was not the science that made it seem unreal at times. I thought that the science added a great deal to the story itself. It was in a realistic world that does not seem that far fetched from where we could be in the future. With the ongoing debate of using stem cells and cloning to find cures, it is not unreal to think that there are people who are out there who would create a child simply to use as spare parts. Farmer also uses a chip in heads of people and animals to create beings that are efficient to a fault. They can only do things that they are told to do, and thus work solely to complete one task. While this is a little more far fetched, it was a very haunting idea. Because, when Matt finally escapes from Opium he finds himself in a situation that is not that far removed. Instead of putting chips in the children’s Matt see that they are being brainwashed and in the end being trained to be the same as the ‘zombies’ back in Opium.
While these scientific ideas are grounded in the truth that does not mean that I found everything believable. My impression of the book while reading it definitely did change, but the ending I felt was very much lacking. It is like in the book Huck Finn, Twain put the characters in a position that it was difficult to find a way out of so he made up a fantastical ended to help him (Twain) out of a jam. I saw this same thing with Matt and Opium at the end of book. He goes back to a place that was going to be full of people wanting him dead. It would have been a massive struggle, but it was if Farmer had made Matt struggle so much she could not put him through anything else. It turned a great book into a good book.
Other than the end though, I feel that this is a great book for students. It has characters that I feel they can relate to, and it is an interesting story that students will feel is a possibility. It was fun and exciting and full of action, things that especially boys will find hard to put down.
When I first started reading the book I was not getting into it, I attribute that to the fact that I did not want to read the book. It did not sound like something that I would enjoy on any level. As I continued to read my opinion of the novel changed. It got to the point where I could hardly put the book down. As the character of Matt developed so did my love of him. Farmer did a great job creating a character that I thought was real. Many authors when they create child protagonist create a character without many flaws. That was not the case with little Matt. Matt had many of the faults that children do at his age. At times he was selfish and at times he let his anger get out of control, but in the end he was always able to see his faults and learn from them.
I think that Matt is a character that many students will be able to make connections with. Matt had to experience a great deal of adversity. It started with the fact that he was born as a clone. For a long time Matt did not even know what that meant other than he was on the same level as the animals. Matt was looking for his place in a world that seemed to reject him at every doorstep. His only friends were Tam Lin and Maria, and the closest thing that he had to a parent was Celia. While many of the students in this day and age do not have it as bad as Matt, there are quite a few children and students out there who do feel that they are on their own. They feel different from everybody else. Maybe they are adopted, maybe their parents get a divorce, or maybe they moved towns, whatever the cause it is not easy to feel you have to ‘survive’ on your own.
I also enjoyed the character of Tam Lin and Celia. They were character that it was easy to cheer for. Tam Lin was the typical flawed hero. He is spending his life making up for one wrong that he committed earlier in his life. While it was a heinous crime, it was something that Tam Lin did not intend and was also not able to forgive himself for. With that said, he penance ended up being giving a new life to his charge little Matt. I think what I loved most about him was that was the voice of reason in the story. Even Maria his other friend still saw Matt as a clone and at times less than a human. Tam Lin did not do that. He saw matt as a person, and taught him everything that he could about survival because he knew that sometime in the future he would need that knowledge. Celia was another character that I really appreciated. She reminded me of my mother. She was always there for Matt no matter what happened. She was also willing to fight and risk her own life to keep Matt alive.
Science fiction is supposed to be placed in the realm of a scientific possibility. While some of the things that are taking place in the novel are possible, some of them seem very improbable. Amazingly enough it was not the science that made it seem unreal at times. I thought that the science added a great deal to the story itself. It was in a realistic world that does not seem that far fetched from where we could be in the future. With the ongoing debate of using stem cells and cloning to find cures, it is not unreal to think that there are people who are out there who would create a child simply to use as spare parts. Farmer also uses a chip in heads of people and animals to create beings that are efficient to a fault. They can only do things that they are told to do, and thus work solely to complete one task. While this is a little more far fetched, it was a very haunting idea. Because, when Matt finally escapes from Opium he finds himself in a situation that is not that far removed. Instead of putting chips in the children’s Matt see that they are being brainwashed and in the end being trained to be the same as the ‘zombies’ back in Opium.
While these scientific ideas are grounded in the truth that does not mean that I found everything believable. My impression of the book while reading it definitely did change, but the ending I felt was very much lacking. It is like in the book Huck Finn, Twain put the characters in a position that it was difficult to find a way out of so he made up a fantastical ended to help him (Twain) out of a jam. I saw this same thing with Matt and Opium at the end of book. He goes back to a place that was going to be full of people wanting him dead. It would have been a massive struggle, but it was if Farmer had made Matt struggle so much she could not put him through anything else. It turned a great book into a good book.
Other than the end though, I feel that this is a great book for students. It has characters that I feel they can relate to, and it is an interesting story that students will feel is a possibility. It was fun and exciting and full of action, things that especially boys will find hard to put down.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
It is hard to know where to start with a novel like The Giver. Students have the opportunity to read it at many different levels. There are Philosophy professors that have it as part of their curriculum or at least an option read for extra credit, and English Teacher’s also love teaching the book because it was one that students love, and teachers love to teach. The Giver is a book that it is hard not to fall in love with.
Everything about the novel was intriguing to me. At the beginning of the novel Lowry does a great job painting a picture of what the world is like. A perfect ‘Utopian’ society in which everybody does what they are best suited for, and nobody has to feel pain or sorrow because they do not know what it is. Jonas does not see a perfect Utopian society though, he has questions. He doesn’t understand everything, and by seeing the world through his eyes we the reader can see that the community is missing vital elements of what we as humans have come to love about being human. By living in a society where everything is the same, it has eliminated the ability for humans to make their own choices. As the story continues Jonas’ eyes are opened to the way life should was and should be again by the Giver
I think what really drew me in first was the character of the Giver. What I loved so much about him was the way that he was able to teach Jonas. The Giver was the wise old man that seems to have all of the answers that Jonas needs to hear. The Receiver of Memories has the weight of the past solely on his shoulders; he had to carry all of the pain and sorrow of the past. However, he also carried all of the beauty and wonder of the past. In order to teach Jonas he started by giving him the good memories, leaving him with less and less joy, making the weight of the sorrow more and more. The Giver knew that in order for Jonas to make it, he had to see the beautiful things from the past before he could deal with the pain. He seemed was so peaceful and kind and loved Jonas so much, it was hard not to love the man.
Jonas is a character that I feel many students are able to connect with. I believe that when people are put in a tough situation they hope that they will do the noble thing, whatever that may be. In the character of Jonas they are able to be that noble person. Jonas risks his own life so that everyone can have the memories of the past. He sees the world for what it is, a grey place with no beauty, no love, nothing that can bring true happiness. In order to show the citizens the memories of the past he also needs to carry the memories of pain. I think that it is easy to forget Jonas is only 12 years old the novel, because as a child he is able to see the world for what it is and make the conscious effort to change that. It is because he is so young that I feel that students will be able to make that connection with him.
I feel that the society was another character in and of itself. The way that Jonas sees the community and the way he interacts with it bring it alive. Lowry did such a great job describing the society that it actually gave me a visceral response. I hated the society. I wanted to scream at the book and tell all of the citizens that they were fools. They had given up all of the beauty simply so they could stop feeling pain. I think what made it so real for me was that it did not seem so far fetched. At times it is so easy to see all of the pain in our world and wish that things were easier. Sometimes we have those sections in our life where it seems bad things pile up. We think to ourselves, what would I give to have this pain stop? In this novel Lowry asks instead what would you give to have joy? I think what she is saying that with all of the bad things that are out there we can always find hope in the joy that exists.
Overall I think that this was great book. While it is a book that I never thought of as a science fiction book, I look back now and see that it is just that. The Giver takes place in the future, in a society that has changed the way they live their lives so as to create a community that everybody will be the same. This future society I think will draw students in and make them want to keep reading; I know that it did for me. The Giver may not be a rousing action story but it still has characters that the reader can relate to and cheer for, and a story that give the reader hope in the end. I hope that this novel continues to be taught in high schools because I think that it has a great deal to teach the students of the importance of going through life, both the good and the bad.
Everything about the novel was intriguing to me. At the beginning of the novel Lowry does a great job painting a picture of what the world is like. A perfect ‘Utopian’ society in which everybody does what they are best suited for, and nobody has to feel pain or sorrow because they do not know what it is. Jonas does not see a perfect Utopian society though, he has questions. He doesn’t understand everything, and by seeing the world through his eyes we the reader can see that the community is missing vital elements of what we as humans have come to love about being human. By living in a society where everything is the same, it has eliminated the ability for humans to make their own choices. As the story continues Jonas’ eyes are opened to the way life should was and should be again by the Giver
I think what really drew me in first was the character of the Giver. What I loved so much about him was the way that he was able to teach Jonas. The Giver was the wise old man that seems to have all of the answers that Jonas needs to hear. The Receiver of Memories has the weight of the past solely on his shoulders; he had to carry all of the pain and sorrow of the past. However, he also carried all of the beauty and wonder of the past. In order to teach Jonas he started by giving him the good memories, leaving him with less and less joy, making the weight of the sorrow more and more. The Giver knew that in order for Jonas to make it, he had to see the beautiful things from the past before he could deal with the pain. He seemed was so peaceful and kind and loved Jonas so much, it was hard not to love the man.
Jonas is a character that I feel many students are able to connect with. I believe that when people are put in a tough situation they hope that they will do the noble thing, whatever that may be. In the character of Jonas they are able to be that noble person. Jonas risks his own life so that everyone can have the memories of the past. He sees the world for what it is, a grey place with no beauty, no love, nothing that can bring true happiness. In order to show the citizens the memories of the past he also needs to carry the memories of pain. I think that it is easy to forget Jonas is only 12 years old the novel, because as a child he is able to see the world for what it is and make the conscious effort to change that. It is because he is so young that I feel that students will be able to make that connection with him.
I feel that the society was another character in and of itself. The way that Jonas sees the community and the way he interacts with it bring it alive. Lowry did such a great job describing the society that it actually gave me a visceral response. I hated the society. I wanted to scream at the book and tell all of the citizens that they were fools. They had given up all of the beauty simply so they could stop feeling pain. I think what made it so real for me was that it did not seem so far fetched. At times it is so easy to see all of the pain in our world and wish that things were easier. Sometimes we have those sections in our life where it seems bad things pile up. We think to ourselves, what would I give to have this pain stop? In this novel Lowry asks instead what would you give to have joy? I think what she is saying that with all of the bad things that are out there we can always find hope in the joy that exists.
Overall I think that this was great book. While it is a book that I never thought of as a science fiction book, I look back now and see that it is just that. The Giver takes place in the future, in a society that has changed the way they live their lives so as to create a community that everybody will be the same. This future society I think will draw students in and make them want to keep reading; I know that it did for me. The Giver may not be a rousing action story but it still has characters that the reader can relate to and cheer for, and a story that give the reader hope in the end. I hope that this novel continues to be taught in high schools because I think that it has a great deal to teach the students of the importance of going through life, both the good and the bad.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Skellig by David Almond
I have been a fantasy reader for as long as I can remember. I have been anxiously waiting this week, in which we had a chance to read some new and hopefully exciting fantasy novels. Part of what I love most about fantasy is it gives you a chance to suspend your disbelief. We live in a world that is so full of pain, sorrow and hurt that it becomes a weight we all need to bear. I find that fantasy is a way to get around that. Magical things can happen. I know that not all fantasy novels are happy or sad, but there is magic. Even when there is tragedy it usually lifts up the reader by the end.
Almond’s novel Skellig is one that I fell in love with from the get go. It was a story that was so soft and simple. What drew me in the most was the mood. Even with all of the issues with Michael’s baby sister, it felt so peaceful. I think part of that is because I am so used to fantasy novels with take place in other lands and have swords and wizards and everything else that is associated with the genre. Fantasy is a genre that I always think of action; the good side is always outnumbered with little hope of succeeding. In the end it is their goodness that propels them to victory. Skellig is far from this. It is more introspective. Almond presents a story that feels realistic. Other than the Skellig, everything that happens is something that could actually happen and something that many students would be able to relate to. It moves slower, but with a purpose I feel.
One of the things that I loved about it was the fact that from the get go the reader did not know if Skellig was good or bad. Almond does a great job developing the character of Skellig without really ever giving anything away until the end. At first he was angry, then he was annoyed and then he became grateful. In a genre where there is usually a good guy and an evil person or force, Almond creates a character that could be either. At first Skellig, is one of the people in life that one passes by that is just plain angry or detached. Yet, we the readers never learn what causes him to be that way. However, as the novel continues we see he starts to change. At first he will not give his name, just want he wants and needs. Than as Michael and Mina start to visit him and talk to him he starts to open up. He still is not what one could call a social creature, or even a friendly creature but, he starts to tell him some things. In the end we find to be a sort of angel. He is able to save the life of Michael’s sister, and in the end we find out that he was saved as well. Skellig was the way he was because he was forgotten and unloved. Mina and Michael show him love. They show him he has a reason to go on. His “Arthritis” takes him from where he can barely walk to where he can save the baby’s life. It brings hope to our world like most good fantasy novels do.
The conflict in all of this is that Michael’s baby sister is having serious medical concerns. As the reader learns more and more about Skellig, he/she starts to realize that Skellig is going to have something to do with whether or not she will survive. In essence, is Skellig the good of evil force in the novel? At first Almond lets the reader draw their own conclusion by deciding if there is a correlation with her illness and finding Skellig. Michael never has that doubt though; he believes that Skellig can help her, and even puts his faith in him at times. This is seen in the fact that Michael asks him to think about his sister when she was going to have surgery. I believe this is where we start to see the good in Skellig. Almond, does not flat out say that Skellig kept Michael’s little sister alive, but by having Michael ask him to think about her and have her survive it leads the reader to drawing that conclusion.
Overall, I think the Almond does a great job creating this wonderful text. For the most part it is a novel that I feel many students will be able to connect with. Whether it is the challenge of moving into a new house in a new neighborhood, or having stressful situations in the family Michael went through many emotions that teenagers are also dealing with; events that will shape his future. It was realistic but at the same time magical. Skellig ended up being exactly what Michael needed, while at the same time Mina and Michael were exactly what Skellig needed. He ending up being able to live up to the faith that Michael put in him. It is a happy ending that brought a smile to my face as I closed the back cover. With all that happens in the world, Skellig brought me hope. This was not overly fantastical, but it was just enough at the end that it can be considered fantasy, and just enough to let the reader know that miracles can happen.
Almond’s novel Skellig is one that I fell in love with from the get go. It was a story that was so soft and simple. What drew me in the most was the mood. Even with all of the issues with Michael’s baby sister, it felt so peaceful. I think part of that is because I am so used to fantasy novels with take place in other lands and have swords and wizards and everything else that is associated with the genre. Fantasy is a genre that I always think of action; the good side is always outnumbered with little hope of succeeding. In the end it is their goodness that propels them to victory. Skellig is far from this. It is more introspective. Almond presents a story that feels realistic. Other than the Skellig, everything that happens is something that could actually happen and something that many students would be able to relate to. It moves slower, but with a purpose I feel.
One of the things that I loved about it was the fact that from the get go the reader did not know if Skellig was good or bad. Almond does a great job developing the character of Skellig without really ever giving anything away until the end. At first he was angry, then he was annoyed and then he became grateful. In a genre where there is usually a good guy and an evil person or force, Almond creates a character that could be either. At first Skellig, is one of the people in life that one passes by that is just plain angry or detached. Yet, we the readers never learn what causes him to be that way. However, as the novel continues we see he starts to change. At first he will not give his name, just want he wants and needs. Than as Michael and Mina start to visit him and talk to him he starts to open up. He still is not what one could call a social creature, or even a friendly creature but, he starts to tell him some things. In the end we find to be a sort of angel. He is able to save the life of Michael’s sister, and in the end we find out that he was saved as well. Skellig was the way he was because he was forgotten and unloved. Mina and Michael show him love. They show him he has a reason to go on. His “Arthritis” takes him from where he can barely walk to where he can save the baby’s life. It brings hope to our world like most good fantasy novels do.
The conflict in all of this is that Michael’s baby sister is having serious medical concerns. As the reader learns more and more about Skellig, he/she starts to realize that Skellig is going to have something to do with whether or not she will survive. In essence, is Skellig the good of evil force in the novel? At first Almond lets the reader draw their own conclusion by deciding if there is a correlation with her illness and finding Skellig. Michael never has that doubt though; he believes that Skellig can help her, and even puts his faith in him at times. This is seen in the fact that Michael asks him to think about his sister when she was going to have surgery. I believe this is where we start to see the good in Skellig. Almond, does not flat out say that Skellig kept Michael’s little sister alive, but by having Michael ask him to think about her and have her survive it leads the reader to drawing that conclusion.
Overall, I think the Almond does a great job creating this wonderful text. For the most part it is a novel that I feel many students will be able to connect with. Whether it is the challenge of moving into a new house in a new neighborhood, or having stressful situations in the family Michael went through many emotions that teenagers are also dealing with; events that will shape his future. It was realistic but at the same time magical. Skellig ended up being exactly what Michael needed, while at the same time Mina and Michael were exactly what Skellig needed. He ending up being able to live up to the faith that Michael put in him. It is a happy ending that brought a smile to my face as I closed the back cover. With all that happens in the world, Skellig brought me hope. This was not overly fantastical, but it was just enough at the end that it can be considered fantasy, and just enough to let the reader know that miracles can happen.
Skellig by David Almond
I have been a fantasy reader for as long as I can remember. I have been anxiously waiting this week, in which we had a chance to read some new and hopefully exciting fantasy novels. Part of what I love most about fantasy is it gives you a chance to suspend your disbelief. We live in a world that is so full of pain, sorrow and hurt that it becomes a weight we all need to bear. I find that fantasy is a way to get around that. Magical things can happen. I know that not all fantasy novels are happy or sad, but there is magic. Even when there is tragedy it usually lifts up the reader by the end.
Almond’s novel Skellig is one that I fell in love with from the get go. It was a story that was so soft and simple. What drew me in the most was the mood. Even with all of the issues with Michael’s baby sister, it felt so peaceful. I think part of that is because I am so used to fantasy novels with take place in other lands and have swords and wizards and everything else that is associated with the genre. Fantasy is a genre that I always think of action; the good side is always outnumbered with little hope of succeeding. In the end it is their goodness that propels them to victory. Skellig is far from this. It is more introspective. Almond presents a story that feels realistic. Other than the Skellig, everything that happens is something that could actually happen and something that many students would be able to relate to. It moves slower, but with a purpose I feel.
One of the things that I loved about it was the fact that from the get go the reader did not know if Skellig was good or bad. Almond does a great job developing the character of Skellig without really ever giving anything away until the end. At first he was angry, then he was annoyed and then he became grateful. In a genre where there is usually a good guy and an evil person or force, Almond creates a character that could be either. At first Skellig, is one of the people in life that one passes by that is just plain angry or detached. Yet, we the readers never learn what causes him to be that way. However, as the novel continues we see he starts to change. At first he will not give his name, just want he wants and needs. Than as Michael and Mina start to visit him and talk to him he starts to open up. He still is not what one could call a social creature, or even a friendly creature but, he starts to tell him some things. In the end we find to be a sort of angel. He is able to save the life of Michael’s sister, and in the end we find out that he was saved as well. Skellig was the way he was because he was forgotten and unloved. Mina and Michael show him love. They show him he has a reason to go on. His “Arthritis” takes him from where he can barely walk to where he can save the baby’s life. It brings hope to our world like most good fantasy novels do.
The conflict in all of this is that Michael’s baby sister is having serious medical concerns. As the reader learns more and more about Skellig, he/she starts to realize that Skellig is going to have something to do with whether or not she will survive. In essence, is Skellig the good of evil force in the novel? At first Almond lets the reader draw their own conclusion by deciding if there is a correlation with her illness and finding Skellig. Michael never has that doubt though; he believes that Skellig can help her, and even puts his faith in him at times. This is seen in the fact that Michael asks him to think about his sister when she was going to have surgery. I believe this is where we start to see the good in Skellig. Almond, does not flat out say that Skellig kept Michael’s little sister alive, but by having Michael ask him to think about her and have her survive it leads the reader to drawing that conclusion.
Overall, I think the Almond does a great job creating this wonderful text. For the most part it is a novel that I feel many students will be able to connect with. Whether it is the challenge of moving into a new house in a new neighborhood, or having stressful situations in the family Michael went through many emotions that teenagers are also dealing with; events that will shape his future. It was realistic but at the same time magical. Skellig ended up being exactly what Michael needed, while at the same time Mina and Michael were exactly what Skellig needed. He ending up being able to live up to the faith that Michael put in him. It is a happy ending that brought a smile to my face as I closed the back cover. With all that happens in the world, Skellig brought me hope. This was not overly fantastical, but it was just enough at the end that it can be considered fantasy, and just enough to let the reader know that miracles can happen.
Almond’s novel Skellig is one that I fell in love with from the get go. It was a story that was so soft and simple. What drew me in the most was the mood. Even with all of the issues with Michael’s baby sister, it felt so peaceful. I think part of that is because I am so used to fantasy novels with take place in other lands and have swords and wizards and everything else that is associated with the genre. Fantasy is a genre that I always think of action; the good side is always outnumbered with little hope of succeeding. In the end it is their goodness that propels them to victory. Skellig is far from this. It is more introspective. Almond presents a story that feels realistic. Other than the Skellig, everything that happens is something that could actually happen and something that many students would be able to relate to. It moves slower, but with a purpose I feel.
One of the things that I loved about it was the fact that from the get go the reader did not know if Skellig was good or bad. Almond does a great job developing the character of Skellig without really ever giving anything away until the end. At first he was angry, then he was annoyed and then he became grateful. In a genre where there is usually a good guy and an evil person or force, Almond creates a character that could be either. At first Skellig, is one of the people in life that one passes by that is just plain angry or detached. Yet, we the readers never learn what causes him to be that way. However, as the novel continues we see he starts to change. At first he will not give his name, just want he wants and needs. Than as Michael and Mina start to visit him and talk to him he starts to open up. He still is not what one could call a social creature, or even a friendly creature but, he starts to tell him some things. In the end we find to be a sort of angel. He is able to save the life of Michael’s sister, and in the end we find out that he was saved as well. Skellig was the way he was because he was forgotten and unloved. Mina and Michael show him love. They show him he has a reason to go on. His “Arthritis” takes him from where he can barely walk to where he can save the baby’s life. It brings hope to our world like most good fantasy novels do.
The conflict in all of this is that Michael’s baby sister is having serious medical concerns. As the reader learns more and more about Skellig, he/she starts to realize that Skellig is going to have something to do with whether or not she will survive. In essence, is Skellig the good of evil force in the novel? At first Almond lets the reader draw their own conclusion by deciding if there is a correlation with her illness and finding Skellig. Michael never has that doubt though; he believes that Skellig can help her, and even puts his faith in him at times. This is seen in the fact that Michael asks him to think about his sister when she was going to have surgery. I believe this is where we start to see the good in Skellig. Almond, does not flat out say that Skellig kept Michael’s little sister alive, but by having Michael ask him to think about her and have her survive it leads the reader to drawing that conclusion.
Overall, I think the Almond does a great job creating this wonderful text. For the most part it is a novel that I feel many students will be able to connect with. Whether it is the challenge of moving into a new house in a new neighborhood, or having stressful situations in the family Michael went through many emotions that teenagers are also dealing with; events that will shape his future. It was realistic but at the same time magical. Skellig ended up being exactly what Michael needed, while at the same time Mina and Michael were exactly what Skellig needed. He ending up being able to live up to the faith that Michael put in him. It is a happy ending that brought a smile to my face as I closed the back cover. With all that happens in the world, Skellig brought me hope. This was not overly fantastical, but it was just enough at the end that it can be considered fantasy, and just enough to let the reader know that miracles can happen.
The Golden Compass By Philip Pullman
As a youth leader, and avid fantasy reader, The Golden Compass is a novel I have been meaning to read for years. I remember when the movie came out, I took the youth group to seen the movie. For me the main reason that I wanted to read it was because of the belief that Pullman wrote this series as a response to C.S. Lewis Chronicles of Narnia. In Essence Pullman wanted to show that religion is bad. Or at least that is what I had heard.
As I novel I very much enjoyed it. It has all of the characteristics of a good if not great fantasy novel. There was Lyra, a small girl facing immense odds trying to stop the large evil group: the Gobblers. There was magic, there was good vs. evil, there was deceit and there was hope. It was a novel that had me cheering for Lyra. I wanted her to succeed, I wanted her to find her friend Roger, and save her father. She was the epitome of the traditional heroine. She was a young virtuous girl who fought for what was good and right no matter what the cost. She had charisma to get the people she met to help her, and the fortitude to fight through any obstacle. Lyra also had a special ability. She could read the alethiometer (a magical device that told the reader the truth) instinctively which few people could read even the books explaining it. The fantasy characteristics do not end there though. There is also the knowledge that the novel takes place in a parallel universe that is connected though the Auroras, or Nothern Lights. This universe is similar to our world in many ways, many of the places in our world share a name and a look as the places in the other universe. On top of these there is also the idea that the spirits of the people on this universe take the form of an animal that follows them and talks to them. In the end the fantastical is neverending in the book.
I did not just read this because of the fantasy aspects though. I also did want to see what it said about faith and religion. In all honesty, I feel that Pullman did not do a very good job explaining what was what. It is as though he so much hate for the church that he could not create a coherent parallel between the book and religion. It is hard to tell who stands for what. I think part of the issue lies that he does not do a good job explaining what dust, is or what it is used for, and this was the crux of his argument. Throughout the novel, and especially at the end for the novel Pullman makes sure to point out that the Church and Priests are the powerful people that are financing the Gobblers. He then goes into a long dissertation of the fall of Adam and Eve, and how the dust is the result of that. He seems to base his sole argument on one aspect of Christianity that he does not explain that well, and one that is even argued even among Christian leaders today.
With that said though I thought it was a novel that had something for everyone. Fantasy seems to be a genre that can draw all different types of people, and all different types of readers. Fantastical things allow the reader to get out of the realm of reality and dream about new and exciting things. Pullman does this. He creates a fantasy world that students can relate to one that is already similar to the real world. He also creates characters that are easy to relate to. All of the evil people are adults, and all of the children are good and innocent people, which is actually the premise of the idea of cutting the daemons from the children.
This is a novel that has constantly been under the microscope from religious leaders. It is a text that many churches have on their list of books to not read to children. I feel that this is not a fair assessment of the book. While there are some ideas that Pullman is trying to prove with this novel, that try to contradict the church, there is still a great novel lying underneath the political context. As a teacher I know that many students in through early high school do not have the ability for deeper level reading without the help of a teacher or parent. And this novel is so much more than a political/religious text. It is a text that is full of fantastical situations that allows students and children to step out of the dullness of life and see life in a new way. In terms of it being a religious text, I ask, “what is blocking a text from a student going to do”? If anything the church could use it to show where they disagree with the message, and use it as a learning tool.
As I novel I very much enjoyed it. It has all of the characteristics of a good if not great fantasy novel. There was Lyra, a small girl facing immense odds trying to stop the large evil group: the Gobblers. There was magic, there was good vs. evil, there was deceit and there was hope. It was a novel that had me cheering for Lyra. I wanted her to succeed, I wanted her to find her friend Roger, and save her father. She was the epitome of the traditional heroine. She was a young virtuous girl who fought for what was good and right no matter what the cost. She had charisma to get the people she met to help her, and the fortitude to fight through any obstacle. Lyra also had a special ability. She could read the alethiometer (a magical device that told the reader the truth) instinctively which few people could read even the books explaining it. The fantasy characteristics do not end there though. There is also the knowledge that the novel takes place in a parallel universe that is connected though the Auroras, or Nothern Lights. This universe is similar to our world in many ways, many of the places in our world share a name and a look as the places in the other universe. On top of these there is also the idea that the spirits of the people on this universe take the form of an animal that follows them and talks to them. In the end the fantastical is neverending in the book.
I did not just read this because of the fantasy aspects though. I also did want to see what it said about faith and religion. In all honesty, I feel that Pullman did not do a very good job explaining what was what. It is as though he so much hate for the church that he could not create a coherent parallel between the book and religion. It is hard to tell who stands for what. I think part of the issue lies that he does not do a good job explaining what dust, is or what it is used for, and this was the crux of his argument. Throughout the novel, and especially at the end for the novel Pullman makes sure to point out that the Church and Priests are the powerful people that are financing the Gobblers. He then goes into a long dissertation of the fall of Adam and Eve, and how the dust is the result of that. He seems to base his sole argument on one aspect of Christianity that he does not explain that well, and one that is even argued even among Christian leaders today.
With that said though I thought it was a novel that had something for everyone. Fantasy seems to be a genre that can draw all different types of people, and all different types of readers. Fantastical things allow the reader to get out of the realm of reality and dream about new and exciting things. Pullman does this. He creates a fantasy world that students can relate to one that is already similar to the real world. He also creates characters that are easy to relate to. All of the evil people are adults, and all of the children are good and innocent people, which is actually the premise of the idea of cutting the daemons from the children.
This is a novel that has constantly been under the microscope from religious leaders. It is a text that many churches have on their list of books to not read to children. I feel that this is not a fair assessment of the book. While there are some ideas that Pullman is trying to prove with this novel, that try to contradict the church, there is still a great novel lying underneath the political context. As a teacher I know that many students in through early high school do not have the ability for deeper level reading without the help of a teacher or parent. And this novel is so much more than a political/religious text. It is a text that is full of fantastical situations that allows students and children to step out of the dullness of life and see life in a new way. In terms of it being a religious text, I ask, “what is blocking a text from a student going to do”? If anything the church could use it to show where they disagree with the message, and use it as a learning tool.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly
I pulled a classic blunder before reading this book. I let the summary on the back of the book give me a preconceived notion of what the book was going to be about. It is not that the back of the book was wrong in terms of what it was about, I just read the fact that it was set against the backdrop of the murder in 1906 and assumed that it was going to be more of a murder mystery. I guess I was thinking a mix of Devil in the White City, and Sherlock Holmes, not Little Women. It did not take me long to realize that I was mistaken. That is not to say that it was a terrible book, it was just not what I was expecting.
As a teacher the first lens that I always look through is that of a high school student. As a student I am not sure how I would rate it. First, I guess it would depend on the gender or the student. I feel that this book would speak more to a female student than a male one, and I do not say this simply because the main character is a female. I say it because I think on many levels male students would not be able to relate to the novel. In my opinion I found this as a coming of age story of a young woman. A girl (Mattie) who had to raise her sisters and run a farm because their mother died, struggled with thinking she was plain (classic case of poor self-esteem), told us about the highs and lows of her first relationship, and in the end learned to live for herself in the wake of the death of Grace (a lady murdered by the man who got her pregnant). It is for these reasons that I feel the character of Mattie will not relate to many of the young boys in high school. She is a character, however, that many young girls will be able to connect with. Even though it takes place over a hundred years ago, they are still issues that girls go through and fight with in today’s society.
Taking away the lens of the student it is a novel that I thought was very well written. Donnelly does a masterful job interweaving the history of the murder with the story of Mattie. As I mentioned before I started out thinking it was a murder mystery novel. After about 50 pages, when I found out it was not, I was able to stop and start to enjoy the book for what it was. I personally do not know much about the turn of the century, especially up around the Adirondacks. It was interesting to see how the life was so much different, and yet much the same. When Mattie finally got the job, she lived about 8 miles from home. She did not call it far, but it was far enough that she could not go home every night. For her it was a summer job away from home. It today’s society less than 10 percent of my friends live within 8 miles of my house. When I first started reading I read about a simpler time. However, the further I got in the novel I realized that it was not exactly simpler, it just had a different kind of hardships. While some of the things were different, there was a great deal that is the same. I think that Donnelly does a great job creating a character that transcends time. Her development did not depend on the time she lived, but rather on the very same things that make us all human.
I feel this was what made A Nothern Light such a good example of a Historical fiction. It was not a story about the early twentieth century; it was a story that just happened to take place in that time frame. The fact that it was in 1906 was an undercurrent to give the plot a context. For example it gives a context as to why women’s rights were non-existent. At that time women’s suffrage had not happened, so the Mattie’s role on the farm was set. School was a second priority for a girl who had to cook clean and raise children; going to college was uncommon, let alone for women. And then those women like Miss Wilcox/Baxter who are educated, still have to play second fiddle to the men, even if he is abusing his wife. It was never stated why the gender roles where the way they were, but knowing that it was in 1906 helps the reader understand what was happening and why.
Overall, I thought that the story was told very well. Donnelly did a great job writing a compelling novel that can speak to all people no matter what decade they grow up in. Mattie was a character that was easy to cheer for and easy to share in her hopes and dreams. Even if it is more girl friendly, I do not think that stops it from being a text that could be used in the classroom to give an idea of the early twentieth century.
As a teacher the first lens that I always look through is that of a high school student. As a student I am not sure how I would rate it. First, I guess it would depend on the gender or the student. I feel that this book would speak more to a female student than a male one, and I do not say this simply because the main character is a female. I say it because I think on many levels male students would not be able to relate to the novel. In my opinion I found this as a coming of age story of a young woman. A girl (Mattie) who had to raise her sisters and run a farm because their mother died, struggled with thinking she was plain (classic case of poor self-esteem), told us about the highs and lows of her first relationship, and in the end learned to live for herself in the wake of the death of Grace (a lady murdered by the man who got her pregnant). It is for these reasons that I feel the character of Mattie will not relate to many of the young boys in high school. She is a character, however, that many young girls will be able to connect with. Even though it takes place over a hundred years ago, they are still issues that girls go through and fight with in today’s society.
Taking away the lens of the student it is a novel that I thought was very well written. Donnelly does a masterful job interweaving the history of the murder with the story of Mattie. As I mentioned before I started out thinking it was a murder mystery novel. After about 50 pages, when I found out it was not, I was able to stop and start to enjoy the book for what it was. I personally do not know much about the turn of the century, especially up around the Adirondacks. It was interesting to see how the life was so much different, and yet much the same. When Mattie finally got the job, she lived about 8 miles from home. She did not call it far, but it was far enough that she could not go home every night. For her it was a summer job away from home. It today’s society less than 10 percent of my friends live within 8 miles of my house. When I first started reading I read about a simpler time. However, the further I got in the novel I realized that it was not exactly simpler, it just had a different kind of hardships. While some of the things were different, there was a great deal that is the same. I think that Donnelly does a great job creating a character that transcends time. Her development did not depend on the time she lived, but rather on the very same things that make us all human.
I feel this was what made A Nothern Light such a good example of a Historical fiction. It was not a story about the early twentieth century; it was a story that just happened to take place in that time frame. The fact that it was in 1906 was an undercurrent to give the plot a context. For example it gives a context as to why women’s rights were non-existent. At that time women’s suffrage had not happened, so the Mattie’s role on the farm was set. School was a second priority for a girl who had to cook clean and raise children; going to college was uncommon, let alone for women. And then those women like Miss Wilcox/Baxter who are educated, still have to play second fiddle to the men, even if he is abusing his wife. It was never stated why the gender roles where the way they were, but knowing that it was in 1906 helps the reader understand what was happening and why.
Overall, I thought that the story was told very well. Donnelly did a great job writing a compelling novel that can speak to all people no matter what decade they grow up in. Mattie was a character that was easy to cheer for and easy to share in her hopes and dreams. Even if it is more girl friendly, I do not think that stops it from being a text that could be used in the classroom to give an idea of the early twentieth century.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
I have been meaning to read The Book Thief for a while now. The first time it caught my eye was on display at Barnes and Nobel and it was being touted as one of the best new novels for teens. The title itself was one that, as a lover of literature, had me intrigued. I guess I am a homer, and the mere thought of a book about books made me want to read it. I mean, what English teacher does not love a good book, therefore a book about books is as good as it can get.
My second meeting with the novel came in the classroom. I was subbing for a teacher that teaches striving readers. I was looking around at the books in the classroom and saw that it was there. I asked her about the book and she gave it a glowing review. However, I noticed that it was not a short text, and knowing that she teaches striving readers I asked her if many of the students pick it up and read it. She said that five of her students had already read it, and they loved it. Five may not seem like many, but when she teaches only 25 students, five is 20 percent. She offered to lend me the book, but at the time I had other novels on my list that I needed to read first. Then low and behold it showed up on my book list for my Lit class. I knew that I had to read it, it was calling to me.
I wish I had not waited so long. The novel did not disappoint. It was everything I was hoping for and more. One of the things that drew me in from the onset was the narration. Who has Death narrate the story of a girl? However, it fit with the story. The holocaust was a time of death and sadness. It was a constant reminder of what was happening all around Liesel; it reminded the reader that Death is always close by. This is definitely reinforced by the fact that the book starts with the death of Liesel’s brother. I think the way that Zusak wrote Death was not only for a creative was to tell a story, but knowing that it was Death allowed the reader to put the story in perspective.
Like I said before, this is a text that is read in a striving reader’s classroom, and I can see why. In the class the teacher is constantly looking for texts that engage her students. This novel is one that does this in spades. I went into her classroom again this week just to get her feedback as to why her students like the story so much. One of the most common answers for her is because they fall in love with the Characters. Whether it is Liesel, Rudy, Max, Hans, Rosa, or the Mayor and his wife, Zusak does a great job developing well rounded characters that students are able to connect with. With Death narrating, the reader is constantly aware of what might be waiting around the corner and with that they find themselves turning the page and dreading something bad, but hoping for something good. The other aspect of the story that many of the students really enjoyed (and I did as well) was the perspective from which it was told. So much of the WWII literature out there that the students had experienced was either told from an American in the war, or a survivor of the concentration camps. This was a new way to see the war. I think that is does a good job giving students a glimpse as to what life was like in Germany, especially for those who did not agree with what Hitler was doing. Rudy’s father was sent away for refusing to send Rudy to the Nazi program, and Hans was drafted into a war that he despised. While they listed those two reasons, among others. I think that the main reason the students like the story is because it makes them feel. Zusak does a great job making the reader care about the characters, and hope that they can find happiness. At times it can bring the reader to tears, and at other can have them thankful for what they have in life.
Zusak is a masterful storyteller. He tells the story of a girl growing up in one of the saddest and most depressing times in the history of the world. The setting is important to the novel, but I feel that Zusak also does a good job explaining the larger human experience than just what happened during WWII. Like Death says, “you are going to die”, but that does not mean you have to let that affect the way that you live.
My second meeting with the novel came in the classroom. I was subbing for a teacher that teaches striving readers. I was looking around at the books in the classroom and saw that it was there. I asked her about the book and she gave it a glowing review. However, I noticed that it was not a short text, and knowing that she teaches striving readers I asked her if many of the students pick it up and read it. She said that five of her students had already read it, and they loved it. Five may not seem like many, but when she teaches only 25 students, five is 20 percent. She offered to lend me the book, but at the time I had other novels on my list that I needed to read first. Then low and behold it showed up on my book list for my Lit class. I knew that I had to read it, it was calling to me.
I wish I had not waited so long. The novel did not disappoint. It was everything I was hoping for and more. One of the things that drew me in from the onset was the narration. Who has Death narrate the story of a girl? However, it fit with the story. The holocaust was a time of death and sadness. It was a constant reminder of what was happening all around Liesel; it reminded the reader that Death is always close by. This is definitely reinforced by the fact that the book starts with the death of Liesel’s brother. I think the way that Zusak wrote Death was not only for a creative was to tell a story, but knowing that it was Death allowed the reader to put the story in perspective.
Like I said before, this is a text that is read in a striving reader’s classroom, and I can see why. In the class the teacher is constantly looking for texts that engage her students. This novel is one that does this in spades. I went into her classroom again this week just to get her feedback as to why her students like the story so much. One of the most common answers for her is because they fall in love with the Characters. Whether it is Liesel, Rudy, Max, Hans, Rosa, or the Mayor and his wife, Zusak does a great job developing well rounded characters that students are able to connect with. With Death narrating, the reader is constantly aware of what might be waiting around the corner and with that they find themselves turning the page and dreading something bad, but hoping for something good. The other aspect of the story that many of the students really enjoyed (and I did as well) was the perspective from which it was told. So much of the WWII literature out there that the students had experienced was either told from an American in the war, or a survivor of the concentration camps. This was a new way to see the war. I think that is does a good job giving students a glimpse as to what life was like in Germany, especially for those who did not agree with what Hitler was doing. Rudy’s father was sent away for refusing to send Rudy to the Nazi program, and Hans was drafted into a war that he despised. While they listed those two reasons, among others. I think that the main reason the students like the story is because it makes them feel. Zusak does a great job making the reader care about the characters, and hope that they can find happiness. At times it can bring the reader to tears, and at other can have them thankful for what they have in life.
Zusak is a masterful storyteller. He tells the story of a girl growing up in one of the saddest and most depressing times in the history of the world. The setting is important to the novel, but I feel that Zusak also does a good job explaining the larger human experience than just what happened during WWII. Like Death says, “you are going to die”, but that does not mean you have to let that affect the way that you live.
Monday, October 19, 2009
The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton
I was unfortunate and fortunate enough to order the wrong book online. Instead of the full book of folk tales I ordered the illustrated version of the folk tale titled The People Could Fly. I was unfortunate in the fact that the one that I did receive was so powerful I know that I missed some amazing stories. However, I was fortunate in the fact that the one I did get was not only beautifully written, the illustrations were stunning.
I want to start with the pictures because they are so well done that they could tell the story without any of the words. The Dillon’s allow the reader, or viewer in this sense to feel exactly what is happening in the story. I know that it is cliché to say that a picture is worth a thousand words, but the way that these pictures were drawn it is hard to say anything less. Whether it is the picture with the slaves crammed into a boat crying for freedom to the old man whispering in the wind the pictures draw the reader in and want to continue reading if for nothing other than to see the next illustration.
Now, while the pictures are powerful and awe-inspiring I do not want to take anything away from the story itself. I know that many of the folklores for African Americans are rooted in slavery and the subsequent escape of the slaves. Growing up a Christian and in the public schools I have not had what some would call an extensive education on African American folklore, but I do have a good introduction. I know that many of the “Negro” spirituals were actually instructions for slaves to escape to their freedom, or to find the Underground Railroad. They were also rooted in the beliefs of the slaves, both Christian and African beliefs. One thing that I did not know, which I have since learned from Hamilton, is that the accounts of the flying Africans was not uncommon for the African folklore. In the author’s note Virginia Hamilton state, “A plausible explanation might be the slaves running away from slavery, slipping away while in the fields or under cover of darkness. In code language murmured from one slave to another, ‘Come fly away!’ might have been the words used”(Hamilton, Author’s Note).
It is not just the fact that this is an African Folktale that makes this a powerful story, it is the story in and of itself. It is a story that includes many things that would draw students into the reading. One is the idea of magic. It is true that there might have not been real “magic” involved in the story, but there is magic in the way that the story is told; there is magic in the sense that it could bring slaves to their freedom. The idea that Africans could fly is not realistic, but it bring up a great discussion with the students by asking them what does it mean that they could fly? Is there more to flying then the physical aspect? Why are more and more slaves “flying” away?
Another part of the story that fascinated me was the character of Toby. Toby was always there for the slaves when they needed him, whether it was because they were being whipped, or because they collapsed from heat. He is their rock, and their savior. I say savior, because Toby was in my mind a Christ figure for the slaves. I know that it is a scary thing to imply in public schools, but knowing that many of the folktales are rooted in Christianity I feel this is who the slaves wanted to listening to believe was going to be there to help them “fly” away. He was both the instigator as well as the peacemaker. Toby saved the lives of many of the slaves by giving them a way to their freedom.
It is a story that would make a great companion to a slavery unit that is being taught in a Social Studies course. The story brings the students on a trip from Africa to America. It puts them through the emotions and pain that the slaves went through while in America. It gives them hope when Toby says the magic words to make them fly.
Overall, it is a great story with both the illustrations as well as the story itself. This one of the most powerful folk tales I have read. Even though slavery in America happened over a hundred years ago, the way that Hamilton tells the story makes it seem very real. It shows the horror, as well as the hope. But it does it in a way that all ages can comprehend. The illustrated copy while is directed towards children is far from just a children’s book. It is a story that can inspire all ages. I think this is what folk tales are supposed to do. They are there to instruct and inspire. Toby and the flying people are able to do that for the reader.
I want to start with the pictures because they are so well done that they could tell the story without any of the words. The Dillon’s allow the reader, or viewer in this sense to feel exactly what is happening in the story. I know that it is cliché to say that a picture is worth a thousand words, but the way that these pictures were drawn it is hard to say anything less. Whether it is the picture with the slaves crammed into a boat crying for freedom to the old man whispering in the wind the pictures draw the reader in and want to continue reading if for nothing other than to see the next illustration.
Now, while the pictures are powerful and awe-inspiring I do not want to take anything away from the story itself. I know that many of the folklores for African Americans are rooted in slavery and the subsequent escape of the slaves. Growing up a Christian and in the public schools I have not had what some would call an extensive education on African American folklore, but I do have a good introduction. I know that many of the “Negro” spirituals were actually instructions for slaves to escape to their freedom, or to find the Underground Railroad. They were also rooted in the beliefs of the slaves, both Christian and African beliefs. One thing that I did not know, which I have since learned from Hamilton, is that the accounts of the flying Africans was not uncommon for the African folklore. In the author’s note Virginia Hamilton state, “A plausible explanation might be the slaves running away from slavery, slipping away while in the fields or under cover of darkness. In code language murmured from one slave to another, ‘Come fly away!’ might have been the words used”(Hamilton, Author’s Note).
It is not just the fact that this is an African Folktale that makes this a powerful story, it is the story in and of itself. It is a story that includes many things that would draw students into the reading. One is the idea of magic. It is true that there might have not been real “magic” involved in the story, but there is magic in the way that the story is told; there is magic in the sense that it could bring slaves to their freedom. The idea that Africans could fly is not realistic, but it bring up a great discussion with the students by asking them what does it mean that they could fly? Is there more to flying then the physical aspect? Why are more and more slaves “flying” away?
Another part of the story that fascinated me was the character of Toby. Toby was always there for the slaves when they needed him, whether it was because they were being whipped, or because they collapsed from heat. He is their rock, and their savior. I say savior, because Toby was in my mind a Christ figure for the slaves. I know that it is a scary thing to imply in public schools, but knowing that many of the folktales are rooted in Christianity I feel this is who the slaves wanted to listening to believe was going to be there to help them “fly” away. He was both the instigator as well as the peacemaker. Toby saved the lives of many of the slaves by giving them a way to their freedom.
It is a story that would make a great companion to a slavery unit that is being taught in a Social Studies course. The story brings the students on a trip from Africa to America. It puts them through the emotions and pain that the slaves went through while in America. It gives them hope when Toby says the magic words to make them fly.
Overall, it is a great story with both the illustrations as well as the story itself. This one of the most powerful folk tales I have read. Even though slavery in America happened over a hundred years ago, the way that Hamilton tells the story makes it seem very real. It shows the horror, as well as the hope. But it does it in a way that all ages can comprehend. The illustrated copy while is directed towards children is far from just a children’s book. It is a story that can inspire all ages. I think this is what folk tales are supposed to do. They are there to instruct and inspire. Toby and the flying people are able to do that for the reader.
Briar Rose by Jane Yolen
Briar Rose by Jane Yolen is a novel that has made me rethink Sleeping Beauty and my own idea of a fairy tale. My preconceived notion, like many other Americans, is a Fairy tale starts with “Once upon a time” and ends with, “they all lived happily ever after”. It is an idea that she herself brings up in the many time throughout the novel. In Briar Rose Yolen plays with and pushes this idea to the limits. What does it mean to end, “happily ever after”? The novel has many happy endings, but it also had many unhappy endings.
Overall, I think that this is a story that youth will fall in love with. First, they will be intrigued with the idea that they get to read about Sleeping Beauty. However, soon they will learn that it is not like any story of Sleeping Beauty that they have ever read or seen. The book is really two stories in one. The first one, the story of Briar Rose is a very small story in the greater scheme or the book. However, it works as a catalyst to propel the story forward. Upon reading it you want to continue reading it because you know that it is different, and you want desperately to know how this one ends. The larger story though is Becca’s quest. In the end she looking for her Grail, she is looking for her history, her grandmother’s history. She needs to know the truth. There is a scene in the novel when Becca is trying to explain why she needs to go to Poland and she says, “’is that I alone can break the spell. It wasn’t so much as finding her as looking for her. And only she could do it.’”(Yolen 109). The quest is the important part. She needs to look for her, she needs to look for her own past. In so doing she can break the spell, she can wake up from journey, and her grandmother can fully wake up from her history as well.
I think that when most people hear the word fairy tale, they think of a made up story with a happy ending. In essence a fantasy that he/she wants to believe because it is uplifting. Throughout the novel Yolen is explaining how fairy tales can be more than just a fantasy. There is the old adage that every story/lie is based in the truth. This can also be true for fairy tales. One line that really stuck out to me was when Stan, the love interest of Becca states, “’We are made up of stories. And even the ones that seem the most like lies can be our deepest hidden truth.’”(Yolen 64). I think that this line explains fairy tales. Yes, fairy tales are stories, sometimes they are made up, but in the root of these stories lies the truth. Whether it is lore about the creation of the world, or a simple children’s tale, these stories are telling a hidden truth. They are in response to the larger world, explaining and telling how the world works in the language that is understandable. The writer, and telling in the early versions, is telling the emotional truth, the symbolic truth. Does it matter that we believe that the world was created in 7 days, no, but it matters that some powerful being created the earth. Does it matter that Sleeping Beauty was not a person, no, but can it be used to explain a larger meaning, yes.
For Yolen, she wanted to tell a history through the eyes of Briar Rose. For this she uses a context that many students will understand, as well as be intrigued with. Considering the stigma that Sleeping Beauty is a girls story, I think that Yolen does a good job making it assessable to boys as well. The idea that she was sleeping not from the prick on the finger, but a gas shower during the holocaust creates this new version that all genders can relate to. She was not awakened by a kiss, but instead brought back to life through a breath. The way Yolen plays with this story makes the reader want to keep reading, and also lets you forget for a minute it is a fairy tale. It is really easy for me to talk about what I loved about the book because it was excellent on so many levels. However, I think what will resonate with me the most is the story at the end of the book. The story of how Josef survived in the wilderness after the concentration camp. This is the story that I feel the students especially the male students will enjoy. It is full of action as well as meaning. Because, as Yolen says “We say to fibbing children: ‘Don’t tell fairy tales!’ Yet children’s fibs, like old wive’s tales, tend to be overgenerous with the truth rather than economical with it” (Yolen 223). Like this quote, the story itself is not the truth, but it full of the truth of the emotions and the feelings of those who survived the holocaust. It is a happy ending in the fact that the grandmother lived and Becca found her truth and they were both able to wake from their spell. However, the happy ending also is laced with the sorrow of what happened to so many young Jewish men and women.
Overall, I think that this is a story that youth will fall in love with. First, they will be intrigued with the idea that they get to read about Sleeping Beauty. However, soon they will learn that it is not like any story of Sleeping Beauty that they have ever read or seen. The book is really two stories in one. The first one, the story of Briar Rose is a very small story in the greater scheme or the book. However, it works as a catalyst to propel the story forward. Upon reading it you want to continue reading it because you know that it is different, and you want desperately to know how this one ends. The larger story though is Becca’s quest. In the end she looking for her Grail, she is looking for her history, her grandmother’s history. She needs to know the truth. There is a scene in the novel when Becca is trying to explain why she needs to go to Poland and she says, “’is that I alone can break the spell. It wasn’t so much as finding her as looking for her. And only she could do it.’”(Yolen 109). The quest is the important part. She needs to look for her, she needs to look for her own past. In so doing she can break the spell, she can wake up from journey, and her grandmother can fully wake up from her history as well.
I think that when most people hear the word fairy tale, they think of a made up story with a happy ending. In essence a fantasy that he/she wants to believe because it is uplifting. Throughout the novel Yolen is explaining how fairy tales can be more than just a fantasy. There is the old adage that every story/lie is based in the truth. This can also be true for fairy tales. One line that really stuck out to me was when Stan, the love interest of Becca states, “’We are made up of stories. And even the ones that seem the most like lies can be our deepest hidden truth.’”(Yolen 64). I think that this line explains fairy tales. Yes, fairy tales are stories, sometimes they are made up, but in the root of these stories lies the truth. Whether it is lore about the creation of the world, or a simple children’s tale, these stories are telling a hidden truth. They are in response to the larger world, explaining and telling how the world works in the language that is understandable. The writer, and telling in the early versions, is telling the emotional truth, the symbolic truth. Does it matter that we believe that the world was created in 7 days, no, but it matters that some powerful being created the earth. Does it matter that Sleeping Beauty was not a person, no, but can it be used to explain a larger meaning, yes.
For Yolen, she wanted to tell a history through the eyes of Briar Rose. For this she uses a context that many students will understand, as well as be intrigued with. Considering the stigma that Sleeping Beauty is a girls story, I think that Yolen does a good job making it assessable to boys as well. The idea that she was sleeping not from the prick on the finger, but a gas shower during the holocaust creates this new version that all genders can relate to. She was not awakened by a kiss, but instead brought back to life through a breath. The way Yolen plays with this story makes the reader want to keep reading, and also lets you forget for a minute it is a fairy tale. It is really easy for me to talk about what I loved about the book because it was excellent on so many levels. However, I think what will resonate with me the most is the story at the end of the book. The story of how Josef survived in the wilderness after the concentration camp. This is the story that I feel the students especially the male students will enjoy. It is full of action as well as meaning. Because, as Yolen says “We say to fibbing children: ‘Don’t tell fairy tales!’ Yet children’s fibs, like old wive’s tales, tend to be overgenerous with the truth rather than economical with it” (Yolen 223). Like this quote, the story itself is not the truth, but it full of the truth of the emotions and the feelings of those who survived the holocaust. It is a happy ending in the fact that the grandmother lived and Becca found her truth and they were both able to wake from their spell. However, the happy ending also is laced with the sorrow of what happened to so many young Jewish men and women.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Joyful Noise by Paul Fleischman
Poetry is something that I am passionate about. However, as a teacher I am fully aware of the fact that many high school students do not like Poetry. In my mind there are two main reasons that many students do not like poetry. First and foremost, it is poetry! At the slightest mention of the word students shutter. It is such a visceral reaction that many students do not even give it a chance. The second reason that many students do not enjoy poetry is that a great deal of it is actual work for them to understand. Who wants to read while at the same time trying to figure out metaphors?
So, the question for me was can I look past my own love for poetry and see Joyfull Noise through the eyes of a student. A couple of things jumped out at me right away. Things that I feel can even captivate the high school reader assuming they are willing to give it a shot. One thing that worked for the poems was the use of a dual voice. I actually cheated and used some of my students to do the reading, because the first time I read them through by myself they were not working for me. This ended up changing my view of the poems. They went from something that students would not want to read, mainly because it was about insects, to something that was new and exciting. It became an experience. This was seen in the fact that the students went from reading it with little to no inflection, to actually playing off of each other as they read. Having two voices read the poem, gave rhythm to the poem. They were able to work with each other and create in their own head the way the poem was supposed to be read. They were even able to pick up on the fact that the rhythm of the poem was supposed to reflect the rhythm of the insect. For instance, the grasshopper poem actually had the rhythm of a grasshopper in motion. Little jumps here, and larger jumps there. Another way the rhythm of two voices was used was in the poem “Fireflies”. In the fireflies and flickering going back and for I could picture the evening up in the boundary waters and looking out over the grassy area and seeing the flicking of the fireflies; going back and forth with their flickering just like Fleischman did in his poem.
Another reason I liked the dual voice was because Fleischman was able to use the dual voice multiple ways. It was not just to add rhythm to the poems, but it was also to give two different perspectives. One of the poems that I really enjoyed reading was t”Honeybees”. While the students read the poem I noticed how many more lines, in essence how much more work the worker bee had than the queen bee. The student actually stopped in the middle of the poem and asked why she had to read so many more lines then the other girl. When a student stops in the middle of reading it tells me that they are able to make a connection to the text. They may not have liked the poem (which they did not), but they were able to understand what the author was trying to do and could empathize with the plight of the worker bee. Another poem that Fleischman used two different perspectives was in the poem “Book Lice”. They were a couple that fell in love. The great part about this poem is that when they shared their individual loves they had an individual voice, but when it talked about what they both love, they shared their voice. In doing this Fleischman was able to give a feeling of loving relationship and even a marriage in the lice. The idea is that at one even though they are together they will always remain an individual.
Overall, I thought that the way that the poems were written allowed the reader (and listener) to become part of the poem. During the reading I was a grasshopper, bee, fly (fill in your favorite insect here). The rhythm of the poem gave the feeling of their motion, and the voice gave the reader enough of a story to keep even the students involved in their life. After finishing the book I asked the students what they thought as a whole, and they said that while it was still poetry and “not their favorite” they enjoyed the way that Fleischman made it “Fun”. In the end, even for the students it made created a beautiful noise with their words. Which is exactly what I think Fleischman was going for when he wrote these poems. The one criticism that I would have is that even for me, I am not sure how well students would be able to make a connection with the text without having two voices reading it for them or two them.
So, the question for me was can I look past my own love for poetry and see Joyfull Noise through the eyes of a student. A couple of things jumped out at me right away. Things that I feel can even captivate the high school reader assuming they are willing to give it a shot. One thing that worked for the poems was the use of a dual voice. I actually cheated and used some of my students to do the reading, because the first time I read them through by myself they were not working for me. This ended up changing my view of the poems. They went from something that students would not want to read, mainly because it was about insects, to something that was new and exciting. It became an experience. This was seen in the fact that the students went from reading it with little to no inflection, to actually playing off of each other as they read. Having two voices read the poem, gave rhythm to the poem. They were able to work with each other and create in their own head the way the poem was supposed to be read. They were even able to pick up on the fact that the rhythm of the poem was supposed to reflect the rhythm of the insect. For instance, the grasshopper poem actually had the rhythm of a grasshopper in motion. Little jumps here, and larger jumps there. Another way the rhythm of two voices was used was in the poem “Fireflies”. In the fireflies and flickering going back and for I could picture the evening up in the boundary waters and looking out over the grassy area and seeing the flicking of the fireflies; going back and forth with their flickering just like Fleischman did in his poem.
Another reason I liked the dual voice was because Fleischman was able to use the dual voice multiple ways. It was not just to add rhythm to the poems, but it was also to give two different perspectives. One of the poems that I really enjoyed reading was t”Honeybees”. While the students read the poem I noticed how many more lines, in essence how much more work the worker bee had than the queen bee. The student actually stopped in the middle of the poem and asked why she had to read so many more lines then the other girl. When a student stops in the middle of reading it tells me that they are able to make a connection to the text. They may not have liked the poem (which they did not), but they were able to understand what the author was trying to do and could empathize with the plight of the worker bee. Another poem that Fleischman used two different perspectives was in the poem “Book Lice”. They were a couple that fell in love. The great part about this poem is that when they shared their individual loves they had an individual voice, but when it talked about what they both love, they shared their voice. In doing this Fleischman was able to give a feeling of loving relationship and even a marriage in the lice. The idea is that at one even though they are together they will always remain an individual.
Overall, I thought that the way that the poems were written allowed the reader (and listener) to become part of the poem. During the reading I was a grasshopper, bee, fly (fill in your favorite insect here). The rhythm of the poem gave the feeling of their motion, and the voice gave the reader enough of a story to keep even the students involved in their life. After finishing the book I asked the students what they thought as a whole, and they said that while it was still poetry and “not their favorite” they enjoyed the way that Fleischman made it “Fun”. In the end, even for the students it made created a beautiful noise with their words. Which is exactly what I think Fleischman was going for when he wrote these poems. The one criticism that I would have is that even for me, I am not sure how well students would be able to make a connection with the text without having two voices reading it for them or two them.
19 Varieties of Gazelle by Naomi Shihab Nye
The poem that truly had me hooked was “Red Brocade”. In the first stanza Nye starts, “The Arabs used to say,/when a stranger appears at your door,/fee him before three days/before asking who he is,/where he’s come from,/ where he’s headed.” She goes on to say that it is either because they will have strength by then or that it no longer matters because they are now friends. This reminded me of the book Three Cups of Tea, in which the author learns that you need to have three cups of tea with someone because the third time is when you become friends. To me this is a novel idea. Think if we as a culture/world made it our business to take the time and become friends with everyone.
As a whole it was a group of poems that I very much enjoyed. Nye was able to tell a story with her poetry. It gave me a look at the life of a young girl and how she views a world and cultural that she loves, and wants other people to be able to see the beauty in it. In the introduction Nye writes a lovely letter explaining that for her the Arab culture was one that she loved because of the passion and love her father had for it. However, she goes on to say that 9/11 changed the way that many people saw the Arab world. They were known for their generosity, and in the eyes of many that was forgotten in the aftermath of the attacks. Nye reminds us that we must always remember the “innocent citizens in the Middle East”. So, I believe that this collection was a way that Nye was able to show the world that the Arab world is still a beautiful place with people not very different from everyone else.
In my mind the first part of the book is dedicated to trying to give that beautiful Arab world and people a voice. They are poems about her childhood and memories. They allow the reader to look through the lens of an Arab girl. Nye uses her words to show that while there are differences in the cultures, some things are very similar. Much of Nye’s memories come in the form of reminiscing about her family, and the time that she spent with them. Her father and grandmother are two people that she continually looks to for inspiration. It is not just in her poetry about her family, the similarities are seen in the desire for peace. One poem that really stuck out was “Those Whom We Do Not Know”. At the beginning of the second part she says that she supports everyone no matter what they look like or what they do. The last lines of that stanza go on to say, “If we have killed no one/ in the name of anything good or bad/may light feed our leafiest veins.” To Nye it is obvious that nothing matters but peace. This is an idea that people in every culture strive for and people in the Middle East are no different.
While there are endless positives for 19 Varieties of Gazelle, it all comes down to “how will this group of poems connect with students”? In terms of writing I feel that the students will find the text very accessible. The poetry does not read like poetry. They do not need to look for things like rhyme schemes and alliteration. It is more like a collection of short stories written in poetic form. They are small glimpses into the life and beliefs of a young Arab American. Nye does a great job using these stories to give a well rounded image that I believe many students would be able to connect with given the chance. They will see not an Arab girl, but a girl that loves her family and has hopes and ambitions. There are a few things that might lose some of the students such as the fact that while it is told like a group of short stories, in the end it is poetry. This fact itself will scare some away. Another issue that some students might struggle with is choosing how to read the book. While at times it reads like a story, there is not a real storyline. So students who are drawn to the voice of Nye, might get lost in trying to figure out what she is trying to say with such a wide collection of poetry. I think in teaching the text I would have the students focus a on themes and images. These are two things with a continuing throughout the text, and which I feel the students will be able to pick out. Without this focus I fear that many students would get lost in the book.
Overall, this is a great book of poems that I feel gives voice to culture that is often misunderstood. I feel that if students give 19 Varieties of Gazelle a chance they would be rewarded by a powerfully moving collection of poems that speak to the need for peace and the hope that we can forget our differences see each other as beautiful people.
As a whole it was a group of poems that I very much enjoyed. Nye was able to tell a story with her poetry. It gave me a look at the life of a young girl and how she views a world and cultural that she loves, and wants other people to be able to see the beauty in it. In the introduction Nye writes a lovely letter explaining that for her the Arab culture was one that she loved because of the passion and love her father had for it. However, she goes on to say that 9/11 changed the way that many people saw the Arab world. They were known for their generosity, and in the eyes of many that was forgotten in the aftermath of the attacks. Nye reminds us that we must always remember the “innocent citizens in the Middle East”. So, I believe that this collection was a way that Nye was able to show the world that the Arab world is still a beautiful place with people not very different from everyone else.
In my mind the first part of the book is dedicated to trying to give that beautiful Arab world and people a voice. They are poems about her childhood and memories. They allow the reader to look through the lens of an Arab girl. Nye uses her words to show that while there are differences in the cultures, some things are very similar. Much of Nye’s memories come in the form of reminiscing about her family, and the time that she spent with them. Her father and grandmother are two people that she continually looks to for inspiration. It is not just in her poetry about her family, the similarities are seen in the desire for peace. One poem that really stuck out was “Those Whom We Do Not Know”. At the beginning of the second part she says that she supports everyone no matter what they look like or what they do. The last lines of that stanza go on to say, “If we have killed no one/ in the name of anything good or bad/may light feed our leafiest veins.” To Nye it is obvious that nothing matters but peace. This is an idea that people in every culture strive for and people in the Middle East are no different.
While there are endless positives for 19 Varieties of Gazelle, it all comes down to “how will this group of poems connect with students”? In terms of writing I feel that the students will find the text very accessible. The poetry does not read like poetry. They do not need to look for things like rhyme schemes and alliteration. It is more like a collection of short stories written in poetic form. They are small glimpses into the life and beliefs of a young Arab American. Nye does a great job using these stories to give a well rounded image that I believe many students would be able to connect with given the chance. They will see not an Arab girl, but a girl that loves her family and has hopes and ambitions. There are a few things that might lose some of the students such as the fact that while it is told like a group of short stories, in the end it is poetry. This fact itself will scare some away. Another issue that some students might struggle with is choosing how to read the book. While at times it reads like a story, there is not a real storyline. So students who are drawn to the voice of Nye, might get lost in trying to figure out what she is trying to say with such a wide collection of poetry. I think in teaching the text I would have the students focus a on themes and images. These are two things with a continuing throughout the text, and which I feel the students will be able to pick out. Without this focus I fear that many students would get lost in the book.
Overall, this is a great book of poems that I feel gives voice to culture that is often misunderstood. I feel that if students give 19 Varieties of Gazelle a chance they would be rewarded by a powerfully moving collection of poems that speak to the need for peace and the hope that we can forget our differences see each other as beautiful people.
Monday, September 28, 2009
How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff
Personal Response:
I look back on what I read and even though I finished it moments ago I am not sure what to think of the book. I did not enjoy reading it, neither did I hate the book. There is no doubt that Rosoff knows how to weave a story, but the story itself was one I found less than captivating. I am truly struggling with why I did not find it interesting because it is obviously a minority opinion of the book. It could be my dislike for post apocalyptic literature (I know that I may be stretching when I say it was post apocalyptic, but many of the themes in the book are very similar to that genre) books as a whole, or it could be how I felt Rosoff handled certain situations.
The way that she seemed to handle stressful situations bothered me greatly. I find it hard to believe that Rosoff has ever been in a situation where she has witnessed death on the level that the children do. For example, when the girls watched the major die all they did was ride the rest of the way in silence. There is no process for dealing with the emotions, it is as though they do not have emotions even though they witness two men get shot to death. The only time they ever deal with loss is when it is on a more personal level, namely when they can’t find Jet, Edmond or Isaac. Rosoff even seemed to glance over the death of Aunt Penn. This lack of concern made it very hard for me to connect to the book. While I understand that there was quite bit going on in the book, I feel that dealing with heavy issues is vital for students and Rosoff could have been a great voice for adolescents.
Another area that I was struggling a great deal with was the love story. Even in my wildest dreams I cannot see the relationship between Edmond and Daisy as a healthy one. This is not only because they were first cousins, it has more to do with the way it happened. It was not as much love at first sight, as lust at first sight. I did not feel that Rosoff created a sense of love between the two of them. Sure they had an emotional and physical connection, but I could not feel it like I could all of the other emotions Rosoff was able to elicit throughout the novel.
Overall, I guess I just struggled with the novel because I truly feel that I was not able to connect with the novel on very many levels. Which as a reader makes it hard to want to pick up the book and continue to read it.
Critical Response:
I think the thing that worked best for Rosoff was the voice she used to tell the story. Daisy was a character that I believe many students can and will connect with. She was a good mix of intelligent, compassionate, witty, and had a dry sarcasm to go along with everything else. The way Rosoff told the story though Daisy’s eyes let the reader feel as though they were part of the story. The reason that I feel it was so effective was because Daisy was written in such a way that the reader will not only feel a part of the story, but they will be able to feel the emotions that Daisy went through. This is not an easy task for any author, but I believe that Rosoff did a wonderful job with that aspect of the novel.
Another thing that Rosoff did well was create a story that could captivate the audience. While I did not find the story interesting I can see it to be a story that many people would find interesting. I feel that the idea of an unnamed terror is something that many students feel about the world as a whole. We seem to be living in a world that is worried more and more about someone coming to get us. So I think that the way Rosoff uses such a open ended terror, make it possible for more students to be able to connect with it. She also seems to include many themes and ideas that students look for in a novel. A love story (even if I did not like it) as well as suspense, excitement, loss, and most importantly sex. The way that she was able to weave everything together I believe will reach out to many students on many levels.
One thing I am struggling with is the idea of How I Live Now being in the genre of realitic fiction. Maybe it is just me (and from the reviews I read I think it is) I do not see this happening anywhere in the near future. The reason I say this is not because I feel that this could not happen anywhere in the world, I just do not feel that this can happen in the western world. One might ask what the difference is, and I guess that I would say that if the book is written for and about an obvious western culture then it should be realistic to that society or culture. So in my eyes I would put it more in the realm of science fiction/fantasy that in the genre of realistic fiction.
I look back on what I read and even though I finished it moments ago I am not sure what to think of the book. I did not enjoy reading it, neither did I hate the book. There is no doubt that Rosoff knows how to weave a story, but the story itself was one I found less than captivating. I am truly struggling with why I did not find it interesting because it is obviously a minority opinion of the book. It could be my dislike for post apocalyptic literature (I know that I may be stretching when I say it was post apocalyptic, but many of the themes in the book are very similar to that genre) books as a whole, or it could be how I felt Rosoff handled certain situations.
The way that she seemed to handle stressful situations bothered me greatly. I find it hard to believe that Rosoff has ever been in a situation where she has witnessed death on the level that the children do. For example, when the girls watched the major die all they did was ride the rest of the way in silence. There is no process for dealing with the emotions, it is as though they do not have emotions even though they witness two men get shot to death. The only time they ever deal with loss is when it is on a more personal level, namely when they can’t find Jet, Edmond or Isaac. Rosoff even seemed to glance over the death of Aunt Penn. This lack of concern made it very hard for me to connect to the book. While I understand that there was quite bit going on in the book, I feel that dealing with heavy issues is vital for students and Rosoff could have been a great voice for adolescents.
Another area that I was struggling a great deal with was the love story. Even in my wildest dreams I cannot see the relationship between Edmond and Daisy as a healthy one. This is not only because they were first cousins, it has more to do with the way it happened. It was not as much love at first sight, as lust at first sight. I did not feel that Rosoff created a sense of love between the two of them. Sure they had an emotional and physical connection, but I could not feel it like I could all of the other emotions Rosoff was able to elicit throughout the novel.
Overall, I guess I just struggled with the novel because I truly feel that I was not able to connect with the novel on very many levels. Which as a reader makes it hard to want to pick up the book and continue to read it.
Critical Response:
I think the thing that worked best for Rosoff was the voice she used to tell the story. Daisy was a character that I believe many students can and will connect with. She was a good mix of intelligent, compassionate, witty, and had a dry sarcasm to go along with everything else. The way Rosoff told the story though Daisy’s eyes let the reader feel as though they were part of the story. The reason that I feel it was so effective was because Daisy was written in such a way that the reader will not only feel a part of the story, but they will be able to feel the emotions that Daisy went through. This is not an easy task for any author, but I believe that Rosoff did a wonderful job with that aspect of the novel.
Another thing that Rosoff did well was create a story that could captivate the audience. While I did not find the story interesting I can see it to be a story that many people would find interesting. I feel that the idea of an unnamed terror is something that many students feel about the world as a whole. We seem to be living in a world that is worried more and more about someone coming to get us. So I think that the way Rosoff uses such a open ended terror, make it possible for more students to be able to connect with it. She also seems to include many themes and ideas that students look for in a novel. A love story (even if I did not like it) as well as suspense, excitement, loss, and most importantly sex. The way that she was able to weave everything together I believe will reach out to many students on many levels.
One thing I am struggling with is the idea of How I Live Now being in the genre of realitic fiction. Maybe it is just me (and from the reviews I read I think it is) I do not see this happening anywhere in the near future. The reason I say this is not because I feel that this could not happen anywhere in the world, I just do not feel that this can happen in the western world. One might ask what the difference is, and I guess that I would say that if the book is written for and about an obvious western culture then it should be realistic to that society or culture. So in my eyes I would put it more in the realm of science fiction/fantasy that in the genre of realistic fiction.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
The First Part Last by Anglea Johnson
Personal Response:
Throughout the entire book I found myself fighting two conflicting opinions. First, when would this ever happen? Sure, there are times when a mother will lose her life while trying to give birth to a baby. Sure, there are teenage father’s out there. But the chances of a story happening exactly like this are slim to none: none being much closer to the truth. The second opinion dealt with truth. What is truth? A story does not need to be true in order for it to be true to the reader. A young parent does not need to be sixteen years old to relate to Bobby’s fear. A parent does not need to have the other parent in a coma to relate to feeling alone. In the end truth is all in the perspective. Yes the story is a work of fiction. Yet, it is also a work of truth; a truth for many young parents out there who are struggling to make it on their own.
I am not a father, nor am I a teenager. On an individual basis it is hard for me to relate to the story. However, as a teacher and a youth leader I have witnessed students, children the same age as Bobby struggle with the same issues. I appreciate the fact the Johnson has the teenage parent as a male instead of a female; it is a perspective we do not in literature or in the real world. Sadly, of all of the teenage parents I have known it has always been the mother that gets left on her own. I have known teens whom have had an abortion, given up their child for adoption as well as ones who have chosen to keep them. The process that Bobby and Nia go through is a process that more and more teenagers are going through in today’s society.
Bobby’s story kept reminding me of a youth of mine who become pregnant at the age of 16. She also chose to keep the child. For the next few months she had the same look that I could picture on Bobby’s face. The look of a girl completely worn out, and at the same time when she looked at her little girl there was a look of unconditional love. She would not give up her sleepless nights for the entire world. Her baby was her life. So, while I still find myself finding this story at times unrealistic, I can still see the truth in it. Because I have seen the truth lived out through my youth and my students.
Critical Response:
One of the most important qualities in a book is whether or not the intended audience can relate to the story. If the text was rated solely on that criterion then I believe that this text is a high quality text for Adolescents. We now live in a society in which more and more students are becoming pregnant. This means that there are more and more children having to make tough decisions about what to do when they get pregnant, or their girlfriend gets pregnant. They are not easy decisions, but I believe that Johnson does a good job showing the importance and weight of these decisions in her novel. These decisions are ones that many students can relate to.
While the students will be able to relate to the decisions and process Nia and Bobby went through, I think that one thing that the story lacks is realism. Very few teenagers who actually have a child will have the same privileges that Bobby had. While he may have been left on his own quite a bit, he had two sets of parents who were willing to help. They gave him a place to stay, and more importantly they gave him love and support. Many teenage parents to not have that help, they do not have a family that can or will help support them. Some are kicked out of their house or just flat out ignored. They are “forced” to go to a different school, and many find themselves not having a realistic option to graduate from high school.
I think that what will remain memorable about this text is the fact the way in which it was told. It is not a free flowing novel. It jumps the past to the present. Often time jumps months ahead from one sequence to the next. While it takes a few chapters to get used to the jump, I believe that it is a tool that will actually get the readers more interested in the story. It is essentially two stories in one. They can get engrossed in their past and his present. They want to find out what happened to Nia, but they also want to see how Bobby will react to new situations. I believe that doing the novel this way Johnson keeps it fresh for teenagers. It is something that they have not seen before and often times something different means something good.
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Personal Response:
This book was very different from what I have been reading as of late. Which, as it always does, ended up be a good thing. It is definitely not a book I would find myself picking up in the store and thinking, “Hey I think this is a book I would enjoy”. However, as is often the case with recommendations it gave me the opportunity to explore a genre and a story that I would often not give a second glance.
With that said, the book grabbed me from the onset. It was the way the author was able to speak about serious topics while still keeping his sense of humor. I think what struck me the most was the way that he was able to deal with the issue of poverty. At my church I am in charge of a community outreach program which deals with the rising rate of hunger in our church’s neighborhood. Once a month we give away free food (i.e. milk and fresh produce) to people who are not always able to afford those items throughout the month. While reading the text I found myself picturing the children that walk through the line at my church. Children that wake up on some mornings not knowing where they are going to get their next meal. Junior also talked about days not knowing if there was going to be food on the table, and going 36 hours without a meal. Junior was poor and was able to get free lunch at school, however, his pride was such that on the first day of school he still wanted to use his money to help pay for the lunch. There are many adults like Jr. that walk through our line at church. They know that the food is free for them, yet when they have money they are always giving us what they can. Pride plays a vital part in people’s self perception, and keeping it is a priority for many of them.
As a teacher I also liked the way that Alexie dealt with the role of the “loser” in the school. The fact that the main character, Junior, was that “loser” made the story all the more interesting. One thing that I have noticed in all of the schools that I have been in is that virtually all students find a niche. Whether it is a group of two or three or a group of twenty it seems that similar students find each other. I have taught freshman and I have seen the look in their eyes. That fear on the first day. “Who is going to be my friend?”, “Who am I going to eat lunch with?”. These are traumatic questions for young students. For a high school student it is all about who you know. We all need someone in our life, and that was the battle that Junior was fighting. He wanted a friend, and he even though he did not find many, he did find them. Even he dealt with a great deal of heartache and trauma, he friends and family were able to see him through.
With that said. I think the thing that kept me wanted to read is that even though he was dealing with this issues, he was able to keep the story light hearted. At times he had me wanting to reach out and give Junior a hug, but then a split second later he was able to make my laugh to myself. He was also able to do the opposite. He would give the reader and emotional high such as Junior getting his victory, then he would bring the reader back to reality by showing the rez team with their heads hung low and Junior feeling guilty. The way he was able to play with emotion and keep the reader on edge was a huge positive for me.
Critical Response:
I think that what makes this novel so memorable is the way that Alexie is able to relate to so many different readers with his story. While the main character is the school consummate “loser” I believe that he is also able to give a pretty accurate representation of different clichés in a school. Not only that, he does not make any group to be the “bad” group. At points Junior steps back and can see the good in everybody he encounters. Even though the reader sees the story unfold through the eyes of Junior they get a sense of what the other characters have to deal with.
Adolescent literature asks students to take on different perspectives for the students who are reading them. I believe that Alexie has written a novel that truly makes the reader do that. While it does this through the handling of the different clichés, more importantly it does it through the eyes of a Native American. I think that one lens that many students have never had the opportunity to see the world through is that of an Indian student. It puts a human face on a group of people many students have not knowingly come in contact with. It shows them the struggles that many Indian students face, and how while they are not the same struggles that they face they are still struggles that many students can relate to. They reason he is able to do all of this is because he can keep the reader interested in the story with his amazing sense of humor. The story is constantly engaging the reader with its emotional up and downs, and got even me to get drawn into the story and want to continue reading.
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