Monday, March 9, 2020

A Heart in a Body in the World by Deb Caletti

Title: A Heart in a Body in the World
Author: Deb Caletti
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: September 18, 2018

Format: Hardcover
Price: $18.99
Page Count: 368 pages
ISBN-13: 9781481415200

Reading Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)
Lexile: HL 680L
Interest Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)

Annotation: Annabelle decides to runs from Seattle to Washington, D. C. to escape her grief and trauma, but unknowingly becomes a beacon of hope.

Plot and Content Summary: After Annabelle goes through a tragedy she feels guilty for causing, she makes an impulsive decision to run across the country—from her hometown in Seattle to Washington, D. C. While her grandpa follows her in his RV, Annabelle gains lots of encouragement from her friends and family, who set up an online support page for her. Slowly, everyone around the United States start to notice her, and they all cheer her on. But Annabelle feels broken inside, still unsure what she's to do in D. C. when she arrives. As we follow her on her run, we are given puzzle pieces of what really happened to Annabelle—and it all comes together as a life-changing story in the end.

Evaluation: A Heart in a Body in the World is one of the most heartbreaking and hard-hitting stories I have ever read. Caletti did an incredible job putting it all together—the way everything slowly came into place was perfect. Underneath the plot that is Annabelle running, A Heart in a Body in the World is also a story about toxic masculinity and how dangerous it can be—by itself, but also when a gun is involved. Annabelle becomes acquaintances with a new kid at school, and it slowly progresses into something that she could not control. Not because she did not want to, but because her voice was constantly taken away from her. To get into the details of it all would be spoiling the story, which I do not want to do because this book should be required reading. What a powerful piece of literature.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Facing toxic masculinity—that is, "designating manhood as defined by violence, sex, status and aggression ... the cultural ideal of manliness, where strength is everything while emotions are a weakness" (Clemens, 2017)—is something that has gone unaddressed for too long. Teenage boys are taught that they should act a certain way—and if they do not, they are not "real men." This negatively affects teenage girls, in many more ways that we know, and seeing it for what it is through A Heart in a Body in the World can allow them to speak out about it. Teens might be able to sense when things are wrong, but be unable to explain it. Hopefully, this will shine a light on the issue and bring awareness.

Issues Present: Gun violence, mental illness, sexual harrassment, PTSD, murder

All the themes present in A Heart in a Body in the World are controversial and can cause it to be challenged and banned, but this is such an important book for teens. There are stories in the news where teenage boys are threatening girls with guns because they do not know how to control their emotions when things do not go their way. This is a scary thing, but something that parents and adults should not shy away from discussing. Teens will not be any safer if these issues are ignored—if anything, more harm will be done.

Book Talk Ideas: "This is a large part of Annabelle Agnelli—the weight of what she owes everyone." (p. 4)

  • What causes Annabelle to start running? How does your understand of this shift from when you started reading to when you finished the book? Does Annabelle's reason for running change throughout the story?
  • At the beginning of each chapter, Annabelle writes down facts about hearts. Why is this significant?
  • Do you think Annabelle should feel guilty about the things that happened in her past?
  • What type of emotions does Annabelle go through in A Heart in a Body in the World? Does Annabelle have a right to be angry?

"She understands that when push comes to shove, literally or otherwise, that she must rely on other people being good and doing the right them. And this, as she knows—as she knows very, very well—is a terrifying thing to rely on. It's fine most of the time, but at others, it is a thin thread. The thinnest.”  (p. 10)

"It seems that she's become a person with a message, but she's unclear what the message is. Maybe because the message is still fighting its way through the grief and guilt to get to her.” (p. 209)

Genre/Subgenres: Realistic fiction

Readalikes: Just Listen by Sarah Dessen, Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E. K. Johnston, Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman, Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

References
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