Saturday, February 29, 2020

Someone Like You by Sarah Dessen

Title: Someone Like You
Author: Sarah Dessen
Publisher: Speak (originally Viking Books for Young Readers)
Publication Date: May 11, 2004 (originally May 1, 1998)

Format: Trade Paperback
Price: $10.99
Page Count: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 9780142401774

Reading Level: Grades 7 and up (ages 12+)
Lexile: 820L
Interest Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)

Annotation: After Scarlett's boyfriend dies in a motorcycle accident, Scarlett finds out she is pregnant with his baby. With her best friend Hallie by her side, they learn what true friendship looks like.

Plot and Content Summary: Someone Like You follows two best friends: Scarlett, the popular and well-liked girl at school, and Halley, the quiet one. Both have been friends for a long time and call each other sister as they do everything together. Not only do they work together at their town's grocery store, but they are also neighbors. When Halley meets bad boy Macon at school and falls in love with him, it feels like Halley and Scarlett's lives are reversed. Finally, someone notices her. At the same time, Scarlett discovers she is pregnant with her dead boyfriend's baby, and Scarlett and Halley learn to hold tight to each other.

Evaluation: Sarah Dessen's novel is one that will appeal to many teens, as it discusses many experiences that teens may encounter in high school. Love, loss, friendship, new relationships, a bit of bullying—these are all topics that show up in Someone Like You. Although being pregnant in high school is a rare (although not impossible) occurrence, Dessen writes it to be very relatable. We are reading from the perspective of Halley—who is close to someone pregnant but is not herself—and her honesty in the way she tells Scarlett's story will connect with teens. Through her narration, we get the frustrations of living under parents who do not understand the teenage struggle and emotions that come out when experiencing puppy love. It does not feel forced, and reveals how we can be blind when it comes to thinking we know what love is. Dessen's novel is valuable for teens because it shows the beauty of true friendship—how it goes beyond so much. When you love someone or something so much, you would do anything for them. (This is reflected in both Halley and Scarlett's relationship, as well as Halley and Macon's relationship.) It is up to teens to make the distinction, whether or not this is a good or bad thing. What makes Dessen's novel powerful is that she does not tell readers what to believe. She just writes an honest story and leaves the rest up to us.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: One of the issues Scarlett goes through is deciding whether or not she wants to keep her baby. Initially, she believes there is no way she can take care of him/her, so she feels like she has to get an abortion. Her mom agrees, insisting that this is the best and only solution. However, when the time comes for her appointment, she does not go through with it. Instead, she wants to go through with the pregnancy and put him/her up for adoption. This is not what her mom wants her to do, so Scarlett and her mom are at opposite ends. Teens who are going through this situation, or have friends who are facing this, may feel forced to obey their parents. However, seeing Scarlett make this difficult decision against her mom can give pregnant teens strength and courage to choose for themselves. It is not about what the decision is—Dessen is not insisting that abortion is bad—but that it is Scarlett's decision to make, not her mom's.

Similarly, with Halley's situation, her mom believes that Macon is a bad person and is influencing Halley in a negative way. She has never met him, but thinks she knows him. Because of this, Halley and her mom's relationship continues to drift apart. Teens may be able to see themselves in Halley, not wanting to tell their parents anything because it feels like they would not understand. Someone Like You can help them not feel alone, and maybe also see things from a parent's perspective. It is clear that Halley's mom wants the best for Halley, but perhaps she does not show it in the best way. Halley does not share much with her mom, which is why her mom makes a lot of assumptions, so maybe this can also show teens how important communication is.

Issues Present: One apparent issue for why Someone Like You could be challenged is teen pregnancy. Since teens are impressionable, adults probably believe that this would give the idea that "pregnancy at a young age is not a problem." Since nothing bad happens to Scarlett while she is pregnant or after she gives birth, adults want to censor this "happy ending" so they can continue their agenda to protect teens from "dangerous" topics. Even if they remove all books that contain teen pregnancy, teens will continue to have sex and get pregnant. Banning these topics does not mean it will stop teens from doing these things. Teens need books that talk about it, and perhaps this can guide them to make informed decisions. Reading about these difficult topics can help prepare teens for future challenges they run into. Let us contribute by helping teens prepare, instead of delaying the inevitable.

Book Talk Ideas: Scarlett and Halley's relationship, Halley's relationship with her mom (p. 237-238), similarities between Halley's mother and Scarlett's mother, Halley and Macon's relationship (p. 67-70, 223-231, 232-236)

  • How does Scarlett and Halley's friendship change when Halley's relationship with Macon develops and Scarlett finds out she is pregnant?
  • Why do you think Halley keeps so much about Macon from her parents?
  • How does Halley's mom feel about the way Halley lives her life?
  • How does Scarlett's mom respond to Scarlett's pregnancy? Why do you think she reacts this way?

Genre/Subgenres: Realistic fiction; Contemporary romance

Readalikes: Goodbye, Perfect by Sara Barnard, Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero, Tilt by Ellen Hopkins

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Friday, February 28, 2020

Shattering Glass by Gail Giles

Title: Shattering Glass
Author: Gail Giles
Publisher: Square Fish
Publication Date: January 6, 2015 (originally 2002)

Format: Trade Paperback
Price: $10.99
Page Count: 240 pages
ISBN-13: 9781250060006

Reading Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)
Lexile: 590L
Interest Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)

Annotation: When Rob decides to turn nerdy Simon into a popular kid, he knows everyone will follow his perfect plans. That is, until him and his friends end up killing Simon.

Plot and Content Summary: Simon, known as a big loser, is constantly picked on and made fun of at school. But one day, a transfer student who quickly became a leader in the senior class decides to try and turn Simon into someone cool. Along with three of his "friends" (or rather, followers), they set out to change the way Simon dresses and acts. However, they did not expect Simon to manipulate the entire situation. With Simon gaining new confidence, Rob's plans quickly go down in flames.

Evaluation: Shattering Glass takes the classic "makeover" story and turns it on its head with the added layers of mystery and intrigue. Typically, Simon's character would be receptive and willing to adjust under the guide of Rob and his friends. He should be thankful they want to make him cool, right? But Simon is his own person, and Rob and his friends play right into his hand. Simon is the one bullied in the beginning of the story, but that changes when he gets into Rob's inner circle. It was very twisted the way Giles used each friend to get back at Rob—slowly at first, until it became so big that Rob could not control it. Unfortunately, the ending was disappointing. We know Simon's fate, which is given to us in the first paragraph, so the mystery is in finding out why it happened. While there was intensity in the build-up, the reason for Simon's death was unfortunate but lackluster and unconvincing.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Manipulation is a theme that is constantly running through Shattering Glass, and this is a form of bullying that can be harder to recognize. Rob is using the situation with Simon for his own personal gain, and his friends are only pawns in the game he is playing. Simon appears to be kind to Coop, Young, and Bob (i.e., taking the ACT test for Coop so he could receive a higher score), but his actions are actually revealed to be selfish. For teens who are trapped in these situations, perhaps Shattering Glass can open their eyes so they can see what true friendship is.

Issues Present: Shattering Glass is a book about bullying, abuse, and manipulation. This book could potentially be challenged or banned because of these reasons, assuming that adults would not want teens to repeat these scenes in real life. But bullying happens too often in high schools, with students like Simon, who are quiet and passive, as victims. Shattering Glass shows the impact of bullying and what it could potentially lead to. All five characters—Simon, Rob, Coop, Young, and Bob—were affected in negative ways. By allowing access to this book, teens can be aware of the consequences.

Book Talk Ideas: "Simon Glass was easy to hate. I never knew exactly why, there was too much to pick from. I guess, really, we each hated him for a different reason, but we didn't realize it until the day we killed him." (p. 1)

  • Was the portrayal of bullying realistic? Why or why not? (p. 1-5)
  • Simon is the one bullied in the beginning of the story, but how does that change as we progress?
  • Why do you think it was so important for Rob to make Simon the prom king?
  • Why was Simon willing to let Rob and his friends change him?

Genre/Subgenres: Realistic fiction; Thriller/suspense

Readalikes: You by Charles Benoit, Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard, I, Claudia by Mary McCoy

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Thursday, February 27, 2020

Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher

Title: Whale Talk
Author: Chris Crutcher
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: September 22, 2009 (originally April 10, 2001)

Format: eBook
Price: $9.99
Page Count: 352
ISBN-13: 9780061968532

Reading Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)
Lexile: 1000L
Interest Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)

Annotation: A bunch of misfits come together and form a swim team to annoy and trouble their school's stuck-up athletics program.

Plot and Content Summary: Although The Tao Jones (known as TJ for short) is physically built to be an athlete, he refuses to join any school teams. Since his school is prided on athletic achievements, all the coaches are frustrated with his refusal to participate. However, his English teacher convinces (read: somewhat bribes) TJ to start a swim team and be the leader. TJ ends up agreeing to it, recruiting six students and forming a strange combination of misfits. One member includes Chris Coughlin, a disabled student who wears his brother's letterman jacket in remembrance after losing him in an accident. He is bullied by Mike Barbour, one of the school's star athletes, for doing this, so TJ makes it his goal to have his team meet all the letterman requirements to shut everyone up.

Evaluation: Whale Talk felt like a hodgepodge of stories all over the place, with Crutcher undecided on what exactly he wanted to say. Although the writing style was nothing to write home about, the plot was admittedly interesting. As we follow TJ in his search to form of a swim team, there are a few side stories involving TJ's father's past and a biracial child, Heidi, that TJ's therapist sees and eventually asks him to help with. Actually, Heidi's story leads toward the end, with racism being a large focus. Even though I would not recommend this book to anyone, I still acknowledge the value of the themes presented in Whale Talk. It is admirable that Crutcher would tackle controversial issues, such as bullying and racism, but the story itself, stripped from these things, does not stand out in any way.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Whale Talk discusses many issues, one being racial discrimination. One character, Rich Marshall, was trying to brainwash his wife's half-black child and teach her that being black was not a good thing. He renamed her "Heidi" and told her she should work on scrubbing her skin so the color would lighten. Luckily, Heidi had people in her life to rid that wrong. Although being proud no matter her skin color was not a strong point in this book, teens will hopefully see the harm of telling someone they are not worthy anything if their skin color is not white. Heidi was loved by people outside her family that did not share her same skin color, and hopefully that speaks to everyone who picks up Whale Talk and wishes they were born differently.

Issues Present: Bullying, racial discrimination, high use of profanity

Whale Talk was challenged for racism and offensive language in 2005. These are two things that still happen today, in the year 2020, and it should not be hidden from teen's eyes. For teens who do not have first-hand exposure to this in real life due to whatever circumstances, this is a reality check. There are, unfortunately, people out there who say hurtful things. Secondly, for teens who talk and think like Rich Marshall, this will hopefully reveal to them the impact of their words. Explicitly seeing and exposing this true hate can open teens' eyes to recognize why it is dangerous. Adults should not think teens are not smart enough to recognize hate for what it is.

Book Talk Ideas: ""Over and over I tell you, racism is—" "Ignorance," I say back. The sound of running water brings our attention to Heidi in the kitchen, squeezing dish soap into the filling basin. She pulls herself up onto the lip, stretching to snag a bristle brush, then begins scrubbing her arms. Georgia sighs, closes her eyes, whispers, "She thinks if she can wash it off, her daddy will love her."" (p. 94-95)

  • Who is Rich Marshall, and what type of person is he meant to portray? How does his tone of speech and choice of words show you who he is?
  • TJ's father tells him that "whale talk is the truth" (p. 179). What does that mean?

Genre/Subgenres: Realistic fiction; First person narratives

Readalikes: Winger by Andrew Smith, Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie by David Lubar, Crackback by John Coy

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Wednesday, February 26, 2020

You Know Me Well by Nina LaCour and David Levithan

Title: You Know Me Well
Authors: Nina LaCour and David Levithan
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: June 7, 2016

 Format: eBook
Price: $7.09
Page Count: 256 pages 
ISBN-13: 9781250098665

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

 Annotation: One night in the city during Pride Week causes Mark to confess his true feelings for his best friend, Ryan, and Kate to run toward the girl she has been falling in love with from a distance.

 Plot and Content Summary: Told in dual perspectives, You Know Me Well follows Mark and Kate, two people who attend the same high school and end up running into each other at a gay bar during a night out in the city. Although they have not talked to each other much in the past, they end up becoming friends very quick, relying and confiding in each other about their romantic pursuits. Mark is in love with his best friend, Ryan, who is gay but not out. They have fooled around together in the past, but they are not in a committed relationship and Mark wants to change that. However, Ryan ends up meeting someone else at the same bar they are at. With Kate, she is about to come face-to-face with Violet, the girl she has heard so many great things about. Violet is single and seems to reciprocate Kate’s feelings, but Kate is so nervous about not meeting her expectations that she ends up not showing up to meet Violet. Kate and Mark have decided they are both going to be cornerstones for each other—making sure the other follows through with their plans and supporting each other no matter what.

 Evaluation: You Know Me Well was well-written: a peek at two queer teenagers who do not always get it right and make a lot of mistakes. Their lives are far from perfect, but following them on their journey to facing their fears and pursuing what their hearts desire will only make readers want to cheer them on. It was very much a study on these two characters—not too much happens in terms of plot, but we see the progression of both Mark and Kate’s lives change because of their relationships with each other, as well as their relationships with the two people they are confronting.

 You Know Me Well is an “own voices” book, meaning that the main characters are part of the same marginalized group(s) as the authors. Although it is not stated how much their own lives influence their characters’ lives, much can be gained from reading this novel.  Outside of discussing any controversial issues, I think teens will relate greatly to Kate’s imposter syndrome. Much of her story reflects her passion in creating art, and at the same time, the way she views herself as an artist. Compared to others, she believes she is no good—no matter how many people praise her for what she has created already. Especially for those who feel like they need to be perfect because of the way others react. You Know Me Well also explored the topic of friendship in various ways. Some friendships are not meant to last, and some friendships change as we get older.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: LaCour and Levithan captured many feelings that queer teens may encounter, such as dealing with wanting to commit to someone who is not out yet. It can be a difficult circumstance to work through, and while the situation between Mark and Ryan is unique, it could provide some different perspectives.

Quite often, young adult novels will feature only one queer character in a story, whether they are the main focus or a side character—but LaCour and Levithan brought together a group of them. This can be representative of queer teens in real life, how they surround themselves with people alike because they are relatable.

 Issues Present: You Know Me Well would probably be challenged just for being a book that contains LGBTQ+ content/characters. Adults may feel like it causes sexual exploration and confusion—however, this does not need to be a concern. During this stage in life, teens are figuring out their identities, and You Know Me Well may be a story that encourages them to come to terms with who they are.

 Book Talk Ideas: "You're never going to be ready ... Don't you see that? You have to forget about ready. If you don't, you're always going to run away." (p. 37)

  • The development/change in Mark and Ryan's relationship (p. 39, 59, 213)
  • The development/change in Violet and Kate's relationship (p. 90, 105, 108)
  • The development/change in Kate and Lehna's relationship (p. 37, 71-73, 107, 180, 223, 247)
  • Kate's struggle with art (Chapter 8, p. 226)

Genre/Subgenres: Realistic fiction; LGBTQ+ fiction

 Readalikes: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli, The Porcupine of Truth by Bill Konigsberg, Beau, Lee, The Bomb, & Me by Mary McKinley, Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

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Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Price of Duty by Todd Strasser

Title: Price of Duty
Author: Todd Strasser
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: July 17, 2018

 Format: Hardcover
Price: $17.99
Page Count: 192 pages
ISBN-13: 9781481497091

 Reading Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)
Lexile: HL 690L
Interest Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)

 Annotation: Jake Liddell is a hero, but he does not feel like one. After he fought in the war and experienced all that bloodshed, how can he stand in front of his family and friends and pretend to be okay?

 Plot and Content Summary: War hero Jake Liddell is home in America for one week, taking a short rest before he starts rehab and gets back to fighting in the war. He physically survived, but so much happened in the battlefield that haunts him day and night. Due to his service, he is awarded a Silver Star—but he questions whether it is something he deserves or not. When confronted about the realities of military service by a high school student filming a documentary, does Jake open up about how he is truthfully feeling?

 Evaluation: Throughout the story, we get flashbacks of what happened while Jake was fighting. Jake explicitly illustrates what happened to the people in his unit—his friends—and we get his perspective on how awful war is. The way Strasser describes what Jake is internally going through, all the thoughts and post-traumatic stress going on in his mind, and it allows us to experience just a fraction of what he had to go through.

Strasser does a good job at covering all people that have suffered from war in different ways—Brad committing suicide because the weight of it all crushed him, Jake experiencing survivor’s guilt, Morpiss losing body parts, and Skitballs dying due to being awfully wounded in battle. Additionally, we see Jake’s grandfather, “The General,” seeing all these things himself but still encouraging Jake to keep at it.

Although Strasser’s main point is that war is something that no one should want to be a part of, it does not feel forced. Whether Strasser was a military soldier or not, nobody has to look very far to find that these fictional stories are non-fiction for some.

Jake is always stuck between the truth (what he does not and will not say) and what people want to hear. We follow him as he contemplates speaking up, and see how the people in his life affect his decisions, both positively and negatively.

 Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Price of Duty offers an honest depiction of what can happen in the war. Because we are far from the battlefield, it is difficult to imagine what is actually going on there. With this glimpse into that world, it could encourage teens to realistically think about whether or not they want to sign up and be a part of the military. It offers a look into the side we do not normally see in the news and in advertisements.

 Issues Present: Death, suicide, PTSD, drug/alcohol/substance abuse

The theme in Price of Duty is all about the military and fighting in the war, and that is a controversial topic in and of itself. For adults who want to challenge this book, it may be because there is a strong pushback against enrolling for the military. America prides itself on fighting for freedom, so they may believe this book will influence teens in a negative way. Additionally, parents may want to shield their children from these explicit scenes. However, it does not do teens any good to hide this truth from them. They may have the option to join the military after high school, and Price of Duty can put things into perspective for them. We must be trusting and know that they are old enough to make informed decisions on their own.

 Book Talk Ideas: “I am tired and sick of war ... It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation. War is hell.” — William Tecumseh Sherman

Todd Strasser left this in the postscript, and it offers much to think about. After reading Price of Duty and learning all about what Jake felt and thought, what does this quote mean?

Genre/Subgenres: Realistic fiction; Mental illness

 Readalikes: A Land of Permanent Goodbyes by Atia Abawi, MWD by Brian David Johnson, Somebody Please Tell Me Who I Am by Harry Mazer

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Monday, February 24, 2020

Forever ... by Judy Blume

Title: Forever ...
Author: Judy Blume
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (originally Bradbury Press)
Publication Date: July 10, 2012 (originally 1975)

 Format: eBook
Price: $8.99
Page Count: 208 pages
ISBN-13: 9781442467804

Reading Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)
Lexile: HL 590L
Interest Level: Grades 11 and up (ages 16+)

Annotation: Katherine has never been in love, at least not until she meets Michael. They believe their relationship will last forever, but how long does "forever" last?

Plot and Content Summary: Forever ... follows Katherine, a senior in high school, as she falls in love for the first time. After meeting Michael at a New Year’s Eve party, the two spend their weekends together getting to know each other. The more they learn, the more Katherine must think about whether she is physically, mentally, and emotionally ready to fall in love and have sex. It is a big thing in high school, and a topic that is often brought up. Her friend, Erica, wants to just “get it over with,” but in comparison, Katherine wants to make sure her first time is with someone she really loves and cares for.

Evaluation: For something meant to speak toward an older age group, Blume writes as if they are lacking in vocabulary. It is really written in such a boring way, no creativity whatsoever. There are no layers to this story, and it is written in a straight-forward manner. We do not get a lot of details about Michael, so it was difficult to care and root for the two of them.

However, Forever ... depicts a very realistic relationship between high school students. Michael pressures Katherine to have sex often, but respects her denial because she is not ready. We understand that it is something she wants to experience, but it is not something she is willing to give away just like that. They jump into holding hands and kissing so quickly, eager to experience physical contact and be fully encapsulated by someone who reciprocates the same feelings.

Similarly, Katherine’s parents were also very true to reality. Of course, they do not want her to be invested in a guy at such a young age. They want to protect her, both physically and emotionally. It does not seem like they are forbidding her to have sex, but they never explicitly talk about being intimate. It seems like that is the way it goes in most families, where parents may be embarrassed to talk about this subject. In that case, Forever ... would be a good book for them to read, if only to open up an opportunity to discuss this with their teens.

Forever ... may not be satisfying as a story, but Blume gets her point across. Just because you have sex with someone and fall out of love with them does not mean something bad will happen.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: At the end of Forever ..., Katherine ends up falling for another guy, Theo, from her summer camp. She is still with Michael, but is unable to come to terms with the way she is feeling. She knows she loves Michael, but she thinks she likes Theo, too. Teens may experience this same situation, and this could be a time of learning from Katherine’s perspective. It can also show them that they are not alone in thinking this way, that it does not necessarily make them a bad person. Of course, Katherine could have approached the situation in a different way. There is no scenario where cheating is okay.

Issues Present: Sexual content, talk of sex, attempted suicide, cheating

Teens may read this and be validated in thinking sex is okay outside of marriage, or outside of loving someone. Adults want to protect teenagers and keep them from doing things they view as “immoral.” But the fact is, some are going to have sex no matter how much others’ opinions are pushed onto them. I think Forever ... can help bring up conversations in families that teens may fear to have. Reading this can normalize feelings (i.e., teenage girls should not feel strange about having feelings like Katherine did!) and give teens a space to share their thoughts.\

Book Talk Ideas: This book talk would focus on Katherine and her internal monologues/thoughts. Discussions could be able how she describes what love means, how she feels about sex (in comparison to Erica, before and after experiencing it, etc.). Additionally, teens can also talk about how her feelings toward Michael developed and changed.

“… we look at sex differently … I see it as a physical thing and you see it as a way of expressing love.” (p. 30-31)

“How can you love one person and still be attracted to another?” (p. 190)

Genre/Subgenre: Realistic fiction; Contemporary romance

Readalikes: Summer Boys by Hailey Abbott, Seventeenth Summer by Maureen Daly, The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

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