Thursday, May 7, 2020

Good Moon Rising by Nancy Garden

Title: Good Moon Rising
Author: Nancy Garden
Publisher: Open Road Media Teen & Tween
Publication Date: September 5, 2017 (originally October 1996)

Format: eBook
Price: $8.69
Page Count: 241
ISBN-13: 9780374327460

Reading Level: Grades 8 and up (ages 13+)
Interest Level: Grades 8 and up (ages 13+)

Annotation: Two girls meet and fall in love while rehearsing a school play.

Plot and Content Summary: When new girl Kerry Ann Socrides joins Jan and her theater friends in their school's production of The Crucible, the two quickly bond during rehearsals. Even though Jan tried out for this part, she was assigned stage manager and assistant—something she finds unimportant. However, she agrees that Kerry would be the best fit, and even offers to help her practice. The two quickly become friends, and then something more.

Evaluation: I was expecting this to be outdated, but I was pleasantly surprised! This is a simple story about two girls falling in love and facing negative responses from opposing peers. Although the writing and story was not necessarily captivating, I love that Garden weaves in their relationship with their growing love of theatre. Reading this would probably be more powerful having read The Crucible, because I'm sure there are similar themes and such, but teens will still enjoy it nonetheless.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Girls who have unspoken feelings and are trying to figure out their sexual identities may find this book relatable. Jan and Kerry face mean comments and bullying because they love each other, and this can help some teen girls feel seen.

Issues Present: Explicit language, LGBTQ+

"Fag" is used multiple times in a derogatory manner by an angry peer and "n*gger" is used once—but not directed at anyone, and only to prove a point. Adults may have an issue just with this book centered around two girls who love each other. But like all other controversial titles, the library collects books that represent ALL voices.

Book Talk Ideas:
  • How did Jan's perception of being stage manager and assistant change, and why?
  • How do Jan and Kerry's classmates respond to their relationship? Is this reflective of real life?
  • Why do you think Kent was so hellbent on "exposing" Jan and Kerry?

Genre/Subgenres: LGBTQ+ fiction; Realistic fiction

Readalikes: Odd One Out by Nic Stone; Keeping You a Secret by Julie Anne Peters; Look Both Ways by Alison Cherry; The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli

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Wednesday, May 6, 2020

The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier

Title: The Chocolate War
Author: Robert Cormier
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: March 12, 1974

Format: Hardcover
Price: $16.95
Page Count: 264
ISBN-13: 9780394828053

Reading Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)
Interest Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)

Annotation: Jerry refuses to sell chocolates for his school's fundraiser, leading to trouble bigger than he could imagine.

Plot and Content Summary: At Jerry's all-boys Catholic school, a group called "the Vigils" are, not-so-secretly, in charge. Even the teachers know about them and use them to do their dirty work. Lead by Archie Costello, the Vigils create "assignments" (read: pranks) for chosen individual students, and saying "no" is not an option. Jerry is assigned to say "no" to selling chocolates for the school fundraiser—and he does, but things get bad when the jokes end and he continues to say "no." This fundraiser is a big deal to teacher Brother Leon, who threatens Archie to fix it.

Evaluation: The Chocolate War is a book created for discussion. There's a lot to talk about: how bullying is a cycle and no one, not even adults, are exempt; the reality that "bad guys" can win; etc. However, in terms of the storytelling, it was mediocre. We are introduced to a relationship between Jerry and his father, but nothing comes out of it except glances at each other when they both go to pick up the phone from prank callers late at night. We are introduced to Jerry's mother, who died of illness, and Jerry often brings her up, but all those feelings go unaddressed. Perhaps these things are to show us their absence and how this can affect teens' lives, but I personally would've appreciated being in Jerry's head about these things. Even though he's made out to be the main character, we really don't know a lot about him. But maybe that's not the point that Cormier is trying to make with The Chocolate War, and that's fine—it is just my preference. Also, the way teen girls were used as objects for these guys to look at and fantasize about was awful.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: This is actually a very hopeless book, revealing the sad realities of our society. Jerry "disturbs the universe" in hopes to break a cycle of bullying, and ends up all beat up. And sometimes, life is like that. Does it mean we go with the flow, even though it's harmful? Something to think about.

Issues Present: Bullying (from both peers and adults), violence, offensive language

The Chocolate War is controversial because, I suspect, that adults don't see a need for books that depict society in such a negative way. However, these things happen in real life. And teens should be aware early on. This can help with and prepare them for the challenges they face. We need to stop sheltering them, because all that does is make them ignorant.

Book Talk Ideas:
  • Why do you think Jerry agrees to the Vigils' assignment?
  • What makes Jerry different than someone like Goober?
  • How are Brother Leon and Archie similar?
  • Why do you think The Chocolate War ends with, what seems like, no resolution?

Genre/Subgenres: Classics; Realistic fiction

Readalikes: The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton; Every Exquisite Thing by Matthew Quick; A Troublesome Boy by Paul Vasey; Winger by Andrew Smith; Shattering Glass by Gail Giles

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Tuesday, May 5, 2020

People Kill People by Ellen Hopkins

Title: People Kill People
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: September 4, 2018

Format: Hardcover
Price: $19.99
Page Count: 448
ISBN-13: 9781481442930

Reading Level: Grades 10 and up (ages 15+)
Lexile: HL730L
Interest Level: Grades 10 and up (ages 15+)

Annotation: A gun, purchased anonymously for protection. In Tucson, Arizona, six teens are all under pressure. Someone will die.

Plot and Content Summary: Told in a mix of verse and prose, People Kill People follow the perspective of six different teens. A gun used accidentally in a domestic shooting is sold anonymously to one of these teens—we don't know who buys it, but we know every one of them is capable. Everyday, the voices in their heads—that is, violence personified—tempt them to take a life, or take their own. In exploring their stance on gun violence, "immigration[,] and racial superiority" (Kirkus), their true natures are unraveled slowly.

Evaluation: We know someone is going to shoot and we know someone is going to die, but it's difficult to pinpoint who those two people are. Hopkins does this intentionally, exploring the way that each of us just needs that one thing to set us into motion. We are all capable of violence.

"See, there's this thing inside / every one of you, / the collective human call / toward violence. / All it takes is one singular / moment to encourage / it into play / and the lamb / transforms / becomes / the lion." (p. 1)

This is a dark read, obviously because of the subject matter, but it was done really well. The multiple perspectives gave it many layers—we are able to see how each person views things differently and internalizes their issues in different ways. This is not about who's "right" and who's "wrong," but an exploration of how they externalized their thoughts and feelings. Hopkins shows us that anyone could be a killer, "A / gun / just / makes / it / easier" (p. 428).

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Everyone is capable of violence, and those who are feeling this way may find People Kill People relatable. Everyday, there are stresses in our lives that push us closer. How can we address it in a healthy way? This can offer clarity and understanding to those who are in this position and also those who aren't.

Issues Present: This book tackles the issue of gun violence very explicitly, and adults may fear teens are too young to read about it. However, as the media and news so painfully report constantly, high school shootings are becoming all too common. This is a serious issue that is happening to them, and People Kill People offers perspective and an opportunity for discussion.

Book Talk Ideas:
  • Discuss each teen's perspective and pinpoint how they could've been the killer. What of their thoughts lead you to believe they were capable and had the motive?
  • Why do you think Hopkins chose to use a combination of verse and prose?
  • After reading this book, why do you think Hopkins chose to title it "People Kill People?"

Genre/Subgenres: Multiple perspectives; Novels in verse; Realistic fiction

Readalikes: This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp; Give a Boy a Gun by Todd Strasser; Shooter by Walter Dean Myers; How it Went Down by Kekla Magoon

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