Thursday, April 30, 2020

Wicked Fox by Kat Cho

Title: Wicked Fox
Author: Kat Cho
Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: June 25, 2019

Format: eBook
Price: $10.99
Page Count: 448
ISBN-13: 9781984812353

Reading Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)
Lexile: 630
Interest Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)

Annotation: Set in modern-day Seoul, a nine-tailed fox named Miyoung must steal energy from men to survive.

Plot and Content Summary: Miyoung is a gumiho, a nine-tailed fox who must feed on the energy (or "gi") from men every full moon to survive. She has a tough relationship with her mother, who is strict and protective for good reason, and constantly ends up disappointing her. During one of Miyoung's hunts, she ends up having to protect a boy named Jihoon from a goblin. But she does so at a price—during this attack, she loses the very thing that contains her soul.

Evaluation: This was such a fun and entertaining read. Wicked Fox is based on Korean mythology, and reading it gave off the same atmospheric feel—as if I was experiencing a story written a long time ago. Even though Miyoung and Jihoon were somewhat forced to become friends, I love how their relationship blossomed so naturally. Both of them had absent parents in their lives, which gave them (and me as a reader) a deeper understanding of each other. I love that this was a big element, as this made Wicked Fox more relatable. Cho also did an excellent job with world building and integrating Korean culture so seamlessly.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Jihoon's mother left him as a young child and now his grandmother takes care of him. Miyoung's mother shows no love to her and sees her as a disobedient child. For those who do not have the ideal family setup at home, this shows them that they are not alone in how they feel. Miyoung is hesitant to accept any love because of her mother's experience, but we see that she is strong and comforted with it. Hopefully, those who are reading Wicked Fox will lean into the love they receive.

Issues Present: Perhaps Wicked Fox could be controversial due to the supernatural and paranormal elements. Many might see this to be related to witchcraft, which is looked at negatively since it is often associated with being evil or doing evil things. To that, I would say that this book is a fun escape from reality. Those elements are there for entertainment. But also, Wicked Fox serves as more than entertainment. The themes it presents to readers are thoughtful and thought-provoking. I think more people would finish this book and think more on the familial elements than attempt to become a gumiho or goblin.

Book Talk Ideas:
  • What does Miyoung's relationship with her mother look like? How does this change throughout the story? What are the reasons for this?
  • Both Miyoung and Jihoon have absent parents—how does this shared experience affect their relationship?
  • Discuss the challenges that Miyoung face being half-human, half-gumiho. Why does she feel like she is part of neither world? 

Genre/Subgenres: Paranormal romance

Readalikes: Seven Deadly Shadows by Courtney Alameda; A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas; The Bone Witch by Rin Chupeco; City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

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Wednesday, April 29, 2020

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Title: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Author: Sherman Alexie
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Publication Date: January 10, 2012

Format: eBook
Price: $9.99
Page Count: 272
ISBN-13: 9780316219303

Reading Level: Grades 7 and up (ages 12+)
Lexile: 600
Interest Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)

Annotation: Wanting to be something more, Junior leaves his school on the Spokane Indian Reservation to attend an all-white high school.

Plot and Content Summary: Arnold (known as "Junior") was born with birth defects and has always been bullied because of this. After he sees his mom's name in his 30-year-old school textbook, he is done staying in a place that is so poor. Junior decides then to leave his life on the Spokane Indian Reservation and go to an all-white high school. Of course, his issues still follow him.

Evaluation: The thing that stood out the most to me in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian was Junior's personality. Because the book was written in such a laid-back style, we were able to get a lot of his unfiltered thoughts—this was very entertaining and, sometimes, it even made me laugh out loud. Still, Junior faced a lot of challenges as an Indian and as someone who has brain damage. It was heartbreaking to watch him experience bullying, poverty, and loss of family and friends, but even more so to know that this could be any person in the real world. Alexie uses humor to tackle these tough issues, which I think makes readers enjoy this a lot. It is comforting to laugh in the midst of sorrow.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Alexie wrote The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian based on his life experiences, which I assume is relatable to many Indian teens. This book not only serves as something for them to see themselves in, but for others as well. It shines a light on how uncontrollable certain circumstances are, but Junior's positivity may bring some people hope.

Issues Present: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian was challenged for containing "shocking words of profanity, sexual innuendo and violence" (Gomez, 2018), but everything said in this book is nothing short of what is said in every high school. Teens are already exposed to these things and it does not encourage teens to participate. In terms of the violence, much of it relates to the bullying that Junior faces. This is something that happens to a lot of teens in school, and perhaps seeing it from this perspective will spark empathy.

Book Talk Ideas:
  • How does Junior feel about his birth defects and being Indian? Do these things that identify him affect the way he views life?
  • The cartoons in this book are important to Junior—how does this add to the novel?
  • Why does Junior leave the reservation? Do you think what happens to him at his new school is realistic?

Genre/Subgenres: Coming-of-age stories; Realistic fiction

Readalikes: The Counterfeit Family Tree of Vee Crawford-Wong by L. Tam Holland; Winger by Andrew Smith; Matthew Meets The Man by Travis Nichols; If I Ever Get Out of Here by Eric L. Gansworth

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Tuesday, April 28, 2020

This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

Title: This is Where it Ends
Author: Marieke Nijkamp
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication Date: January 5, 2016

Format: eBook
Price: $9.99
Page Count: 288
ISBN-13: 9781492622468

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

Annotation: The entire student body is about to leave the auditorium and start their new semester of school, but the boy with the gun has different plans—he's locked them in with him.

Plot and Content Summary: All of Opportunity High School's students are gathered in the auditorium at the beginning of the school year. After the principal gives her welcome message, they all get up to leave for their next class—but the doors are jammed, so they can't get out. Told in the span of 54 minutes, This is Where it Ends details the four perspectives of students—Autumn (Tyler's sister), Sylvia (Autumn's girlfriend), Tomas (Sylvia's brother), and Claire (Tyler's ex-girlfriend)—who come face-to-face with a boy, Tyler, who is willing to take and destroy as many lives as possible to be heard.

Evaluation: This book is told with just the right amount of urgency. It is scattered and all over the place, which helps with getting readers to feel like they are part of the story. While we are experiencing tragedy in the present, events that happened in the past are constantly brought up. I thought this was done well, as we learn more about Tyler's backstory and what drove him to this place of hatred. However, a lot of conflict points are brought up among the other students, but many go unaddressed and abandoned. It is important to have stories about gun violence, and I wish we were able to spend time in Tyler's mind. This would have been a valuable perspective.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: This is Where it Ends tackles the issue of school shootings and gun violence, which could be triggering to some readers. However, Alexander (2015) writes that it can give "readers a safe space for experiencing a terrifying reality. This book opens a door for questions and discussions that can help people better understand school violence and perhaps even lead us toward a solution." While I would not necessarily recommend This is Where it Ends for students who have experienced a school shooting, I agree that it would be helpful for adults as preparation.

Issues Present: If This is Where it Ends was challenged or banned, it would probably be for explicit violence. However, as we know from media and the news, school shootings happen all the time. It is something that is going on right now in America. We should not ignore this, but shine light on the issue. This book gives us a glimpse of what might be happening psychologically. Of course, it cannot be used to describe every situation, but is one perspective.

Book Talk Ideas:
  • Of the four characters we follow, how are they all connected with each other and to Tyler? Why did the author choose to write in their perspectives?
  • Discuss each character and their backgrounds—how does knowing this affect the current situation?

Genre/Subgenres: Multiple perspectives; Realistic fiction

Readalikes: Hate List by Jennifer Brown; Violent Ends edited by Shaun David Hutchinson; All We Can Do is Wait by Richard Lawson; The Light Fantastic by Sarah Combs; That's Not What Happened by Kody Keplinger

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Monday, April 27, 2020

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Eleanor & Park
Author: Rainbow Rowell
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: February 26, 2013

Format: eBook
Price: $9.99
Page Count: 336
ISBN-13: 9781250031211

Reading Level: Grades 8 and up (ages 13+)
Lexile: 580
Interest Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)

Annotation: Bonding over comic books and music, Eleanor and Park fall for each other.

Plot and Content Summary: Taking place in the late 1980s, unlikely pair Eleanor, a girl with big red hair, and Park, a (half) Korean kid, end up sitting together on the school bus. Through this encounter, they build a friendship—and then something more. As they learn more about each other, there are many obstacles that stand in the way. Ultimately, this is story following two different people falling in young love.

Evaluation: I love that this was a story about two misfits who had a lot going on at home and at school. Often times, it feels like protagonists in contemporary YA novels are well loved and popular, so this was refreshing to read. It is comforting to know that one does not need to be "special" to have a special story. While Eleanor & Park was beautifully told, my complaint is with the Asian American representation. I am thrilled that such a character exists, but it only perpetuated stereotypes. At the time of reading, I knew I was uncomfortable with the way Park was portrayed—but I could not explain why. Cheung (2018) writes how I feel well: "Throughout the book, there is constant focus on Park's otherness. His mixed-race identity is often reduced down to a plot device for the white protagonist to fetishize and project upon ... The problem with American media like Eleanor & Park perpetuating such stereotypes, even the "positive" ones, is that is reinforces a very narrow definition for how Asian people should look and act."

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Eleanor has a very unstable home life, living in poverty with an abusive, alcoholic stepfather. In addition to going through the stresses of school, teenagers have a lot to deal with outside of that, too. With Eleanor's situation, seeing her go through all of that, it can alert teens that this type of behavior is not normal and should be addressed. Of course, it is a scary thing to confront. My hope is that Eleanor & Park will be the strength needed to get out of that situation.

Issues Present: Eleanor & Park has been challenged for containing offensive language. However, it is rarely used by the two protagonists. In an interview with Ortberg (2013), Rowell commented on this, saying that "Eleanor and Park themselves almost never swear ... I use profanity in the book to show how vulgar and sometimes violent the characters' worlds are." Even Eleanor complains about how often her stepfather curses.

Book Talk Ideas: How do both Eleanor's parents and Park's parents impact their view on relationships? Discuss their relationships to their parents and how it influences how Eleanor and Park see each other. If you were to write the rest of the ending, how would it go?

Genre/Subgenres: Multiple perspectives; Realistic fiction

Readalikes: Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi; Crossing the Line by Simone Elkeles; The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky; The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner

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Sunday, April 26, 2020

Two Boys Kissing by David Levithan

Title: Two Boys Kissing
Author: David Levithan
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: August 27, 2013

Format: eBook
Price: $9.99
Page Count: 208
ISBN-13: 9780307975645

Reading Level: Grades 7 and up (ages 12+)
Lexile: 780
Interest Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)

Annotation: Harry and Craig try to break the Guinness World Record for longest kiss and, while it is happening, figure out their feelings for each other.

Plot and Content Summary: Based on a true story, Two Boys Kissing follows Harry and Craig, two boys who are no longer together, hoping to break the Guinness World Record for longest kiss. While this is happening, we get a peek into the life of other boys—one who is coming out to his family, one who is figuring out his identity, and one who is trying to find satisfaction through gay hookup apps. It is narrated by a Greek chorus of gay men who died due to AIDS.

Evaluation: Two Boys Kissing was very lyrical and poetic. Although I personally did not feel connected to the stories, I know this is a necessary book for many. It follows multiple perspectives, allowing readers to get a peek into the lives of a few gay boys. Each one encounters and deals with something different, but all of their experiences are authentic. We see the way they struggle with how they are treated by family members and strangers, emphasizing how far we, as a society, still have to go to be kind to people.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: The identities and sexualities that show up in Two Boys Kissing are ones that tend to be marginalized in America. Those who pick up this book and identify similarly can feel represented, knowing that someone out there understands how they feel and what they are going through.

"If you see that book in your library ... you know that there is part of you that belongs there, and is accepted ... I know there's worry about kids who might be ashamed of being seen with an 'out' book with an 'out' cover—but that is far outweighed by the kids who take pride in it, or find some sort of meaning through it" — David Levithan (Pekoll, 2017)

Issues Present: Two Boys Kissing, as the title already implies, is themed around the controversial topic of sexuality. The cover shows exactly what is happening throughout the book, and adults may not like how explicit it is. It reflects viewpoints that some people do not want to support—but this is exactly the reason why we need it: "A balanced collection attempts to represent all sides of controversial issues ... The race, religion, nationality, or political views of an author or creator; offensive language; depictions or descriptions of violence or sexually explicit activity; controversial content of an item; or endorsement or disapproval by an individual or group in the community does not cause an item automatically to be included or excluded from the library's collection" (American Library Association, 2018).

Book Talk Ideas: I think it would be valuable to go through each boy's storyline and discuss what they are going through. One feels lost, one is new to his relationship, etc.—how do their friends and family impact their lives?

Genre/Subgenres: Contemporary romances; LGBTQ+ fiction; Realistic fiction

Readalikes: I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson; Like a Love Story by Abdi Nazemian; Ask the Passengers by A. S. King; Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

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Saturday, April 25, 2020

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Title: Looking for Alaska
Author: John Green
Publisher: Penguin Books
Publication Date: August 14, 2008

Format: eBook
Price: $2.99
Page Count: 256
ISBN-13: 9781101434208

Reading Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)
Lexile: 850
Interest Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)

Annotation: At his new boarding school, Miles Halter quickly makes friends with his roommate, "The Colonel," and his friends Alaska—a beautiful girl that Miles automatically has his eyes set on—and Takumi. Every day is filled with pranks and fun—until something terrible happens to one of them.

Plot and Content Summary: Looking for Alaska is told from the perspective of teenager Miles Halter. It follows him as he is transitioning away from his high school, where he does not have many friends, to attend boarding school in Alabama. When he arrives, he ends up becoming good friends with his roommate (called "The Colonel") and his friends, Alaska and Takumi, and they end up being a big influence on how Miles chooses to live and view life. They do all sorts of crazy pranks and get into trouble together, but things take a turn when something awful and unexpected happens.

Evaluation: This book tackles grief so well, confronting all the difficult aspects that no one wants to talk about or see. In the years of youth, life feels so limitless—chances are meant to be taken, risks are nothing, and there is no way anything bad can happen. But Looking for Alaska reveals the reality of it all: life is short and the next day is not promised to us. Although I found the story to be uninteresting overall, I respect the way Green tackles these tough issues—grief, death, depression, etc. He poses many existential thoughts, causing us to think about our own lives and really examine who we are. There are so many grand themes in Looking for Alaska, but the characters did not match up.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: "Looking for Alaska could be the exact place to begin the healing that is needed ... It could spark conversations that would help students grieve and work their way through tragedy" (Veatch, n. d.). This is a sad book in which many situations happen that teens could experience or already be experiencing. With whatever troubles they are facing, this can offer them a sense of comfort—that what is going on in their lives is not only something that happens to one person. Others may feel similarly, and this can be a relief.

Issues Present: There may be concerns about the inappropriate and sexual content, profanity, underage drinking, and smoking. This is, however explicitly stated in the book, a reflection of what the real world looks like. It is not if teens will be exposed to these things, it is WHEN. Looking for Alaska gives teens a way to view the consequences and such from an outside perspective, and could possibly be used as an opportunity to start conversations with parents and adult figures. Teens are mature enough to handle and talk about these subjects.

Book Talk Ideas: Looking for Alaska is a thought-provoking story, with heavy emphasis on friendship, grief, and loss. The metaphor of life as a labyrinth and wanting to escape can be an excellent discussion piece—albeit a tough one. Pretending you are in the mind of each character, how do you view life? Are there any past experiences that impact this?

Genre/Subgenres: Realistic fiction

Readalikes: Lucky Fools by Coert Voorhees; Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard; Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher; Winger by Andrew Smith

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Friday, April 24, 2020

George by Alex Gino

Title: George
Author: Alex Gino
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: August 25, 2015

Format: eBook
Price: $3.99
Page Count: 213 pages
ISBN-13: 9780545812542

Reading Level: Grades 5 and up (ages 10+)
Lexile: 790
Interest Level: Grades 5 and up (ages 10+)

Annotation: George is a girl with a big secret: the world sees her as a boy.

Plot and Content Summary: George was born a boy, but she knows she's really a girl. When her teacher decides to put on a class play for Charlotte's Web, she decides to audition for the role of Charlotte—but Ms. Udell does not even let George try out. George's best friend, Kelly, ends up getting the part, so George comes up with a plan that may let her be Charlotte and show the whole world who she really is.

Evaluation: Although this is a middle-grade novel, George proves to be a valuable read for teens. The story itself is very engaging, being in George's mind as she narrates her everyday life and thoughts. It may feel a little childish since she is 10 years old, but I think that helps with understanding what being transgender is like. George is not struggling with her identity—she already knows she is a girl. Watching her go from keeping it a secret with her "girly" magazines, to confiding in Kelly and talking about it with her mom and brother, felt very "slice-of-life" and realistic.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: George was made fun of and bullied for being different. She was denied an audition for a role that did not fit her sex at birth. But George was also supported by Kelly and his principal. For teens who may be going through the same thing and feeling hopeless, George is a book that shows the challenges of being transgender but also ends with a small light of hope. There are still people in George's life that have to come to terms with who she is, but she was able to open up and share some of her secrets with those closest to her.

Issues Present: For the same reason this could be useful for teens, the theme of gender identity could be a controversial topic that adults would want to challenge. Since this is written for a younger audience, adults may think it inappropriate to discuss. At this age, children are still growing and learning. They may feel it should not be introduced until they get older because it is a "complicated" issue. However, it is because they are growing and learning that there should be a book like George in their lives. In creating their identity, this could be something they can relate to.

Book Talk Ideas:
  • George wants to bring up how she feels to her mom, but she doesn't really know how to. What is their relationship like?
  • Why is playing the role of Charlotte so important to George?
  • What does Principal Maldonado mean when she says, "Well, you can't control who your children are, but you can certainly support them, am I right?" (p. 160)

Genre/Subgenres: LGBTQ+ fiction; Realistic fiction

Readalikes: The Year of the Book by Andrea Cheng; Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky; Drama by Raina Telgemeier; Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan

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Thursday, April 23, 2020

The Truth About Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

Title: The Truth About Alice
Author: Jennifer Mathieu
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Publication Date: June 3, 2014

 Format: eBook
Price: $8.51
Page Count: 208 pages
ISBN-13: 9781596439108

 Reading Level: Grades 7 and up (ages 12+)
Lexile: 900L
Interest Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)

 Annotation: Alice Franklin is a slut, at least that is how her classmates describe her. But what is the truth? What really happened at the party that night?

 Plot and Content Summary: Alice Franklin slept with two boys in one night. At least, that is what everyone is saying. She is soon labeled the school's slut, but says nothing to defend herself. Why should she? Told in multiple perspectives, we learn about Alice from four different people: Brandon (the jock), Kurt (the nerd), Elaine (the queen bee), and Kelsie (the ex-best friend). But who is Alice really?

 Evaluation: The strength of this book is the different perspectives of Alice from her classmates. We hear what others say about Alice and develop our opinions based on that, which reveals how easily we are influenced by other people's words and thoughts. Seeing the rumors spread from person to person shows how we must be careful with the things we choose to say. I appreciated the way Mathieu took these stereotypical high school characters and zoomed in on their public lives vs. their private lives. This gave each person an extra layer, allowing us to see why they may have been acting a certain way. Overall, a solid take on the insecurities that teenagers face and how quickly rumors spiral.

 Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Teens are bound to be caught up in rumors—being the subject of them, spreading them, or hearing them. Reading The Truth About Alice and seeing things from multiple perspectives may bring a sense of awareness to these types of situations. By recognizing the impact of spreading false statements, teens may be more urgent to stop them. For those who have had bad things said about them, hopefully this can be a comfort.

 Issues Present: Adults may label this a controversial book for teens due to the explicit comments from the teen characters. It may feel exaggerated, as if this type of talk does not happen in high schools, but it does happen. Much of what happens amongst teenagers do not reach the ears of adults, and many would be surprised to know how vicious and damaging it can get in real life. Keeping The Truth About Alice around means that teens get an outside perspective on how out of control rumors can get.

 Book Talk Ideas: Discuss who Alice is from each of the four perspectives. What are the similarities and differences? How do their public and private lives impact what they say out loud about her? Of what they say about Alice to their classmates, how much of it reflects what they actually think about her? Finally, how does Alice describe herself?

Genre/Subgenres: First person narratives; Multiple perspectives; Realistic fiction

 Readalikes: A Girl Like That by Tanaz Bhathena; Just Listen by Sarah Dessen; The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart; Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers

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Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Title: Thirteen Reasons Why
Author: Jay Asher
Publisher: Razorbill (Penguin Random House)
Publication Date: June 14, 2011 (originally October 18, 2007)

Format: eBook
Price: $9.99
Page Count: 336 pages
ISBN-13: 9781101539927

Reading Level: Grades 7 and up (ages 12+)
Lexile: HL550L
Interest Level: Grades 9 and up (ages 14+)

Annotation: Hannah Baker is dead. Before she committed suicide, she sent out a package filled with cassette tapes detailing thirteen reasons why she did it. But how is Clay Jensen involved?

Plot and Content Summary: Clay Jensen finds a box addressed to him in front of his house, filled with cassette tapes. The person who sent and recorded them? Hannah Baker, his former classmate and crush who committed suicide. In these verbal letters, she details thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is instructed to listen to every single tape to find out how he is involved, then pass it on. As painful as it is, he does, and what he hears is everything he wishes he could have saved her from.

 Evaluation: With such a difficult topic at hand, it is hard to review this without letting my feelings get in the way. In terms of the writing style, it is very straight and to the point. Asher is sharing a series of events, so there is not much on top of the general "he said, she said" monologue from Hannah Baker. Since we are hearing her story from Clay's perspective, it feels very vengeful. It is easy to interpret this story as Hannah choosing to commit suicide as a form of revenge, thus becoming a dangerous read for those who might not be in a good place, mentally. However, looking at things as a whole, we are prompted to think about our actions and consider how they affect others. It is a caution and a warning. The mystery of how Clay Jensen is involved in it all was intriguing enough to keep me reading, but Thirteen Reasons Why failed in meeting any type of emotional depth and nuance.

Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Those who are dealing with suicidal thoughts or tendencies should stay far away from this book. But it may be useful for teens who have friends going through the same experience as Hannah Baker. It can help them see things from a different perspective and encourage them to seek help.

Issues Present: The biggest issue that makes Thirteen Reasons Why controversial is the obvious theme of suicide. Although some say it "glamorizes suicide," this story can be used as an opportunity to bring awareness to these unfortunate feelings and circumstances. We see from Clay that he wishes he could have done something, and this can be a push for us to reach out. Because I do not feel like Thirteen Reasons Why discusses suicide in an appropriate way, I would not recommend it—but I strongly agree that books like this needs to exist in teen collections, as a comfort and encouragement.

Book Talk Ideas: I think discussing the "could haves" may increase urgency in bringing up these sensitive topics. Clay brings up many times that he wanted to save Hannah, but he did not really know what was going on. If teens talked about this together, it may help them be more aware of the things around them and how people feel.

Genre/Subgenres: First person narratives; Multiple perspectives; Realistic fiction

Readalikes: The Good Sister by Jamie Kain; Death, Dickinson, and the Demented Life of Frenchie Garcia by Jenny Torres Sanchez; 34 Pieces of You by Carmen Rodrigues; Beautiful Broken Girls by Kim Savage; Playlist for the Dead by Michelle Falkoff

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Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Title: Crank
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: June 20, 2008 (originally 2004)

Format: eBook
Price: $10.99
Page Count: 544 pages
ISBN-13: 9781439106518

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

Annotation: When Kristina visits her estranged father over the summer, she is introduced to drugs by her father's neighbor, a boy who happens to catch her attention and return her affection.

Plot and Content Summary: Kristina Snow is struggling to figure out who she is and who she wants to be. When she decides to spend part of her summer visiting her dad, she gets caught up with a boy, Adam, who is no good for her. Slowly, her life changes as she gets addicted to crystal meth (also known as "crank") and spends all her time with Adam, someone she thinks she loves. Crank changes the way she lives and now, all she thinks about is when she'll get her next hit.

Evaluation: Although the writing was nothing spectacular, aside from the poetic elements, the way Hopkins tackles the painful struggles of drug addiction is powerful. We get into Kristina's head and learn exactly what she is feeling when she is high and when she is not. With the words she chooses to use, we clearly see her fighting with herself in her mind when she is desperate for more. She knows it is bad, but she cannot help it. Anyone who reads Crank will gain some level of empathy for Kristina and drug addicts in general. It is a common misconception that those who use drugs lack moral principles, lack willpower, and can stop just by choosing to, and we see here how difficult is.

 Bibliotherapeutic Usefulness: Even though Crank is a fictional story, Hopkins wrote it loosely based on her own daughter's story. In the author's note, Hopkins wrote that "the monster," which Kristina refers to methamphetamine as, DID touch her life and her family's life too. Nothing in this story is impossible, because a lot of it reflected what her own daughter went through. With that said, this could be the case for many other families as well. This book could be used by both parents and teens—parents can see things from the perspective of their teens who may be struggling and gain courage to open up a conversation, and teens who find themselves addicted to drugs can find comfort in the fact that they are not alone.

 Issues Present: Due to the topic of drug and substance abuse/addiction, it is very likely that this book brings about controversy. Many adults and parents do not want to expose teens to these topics, thinking that it will give them ideas to experiment. However, we have to stop treating teens like children. Most likely, they are already surrounded by drugs—whether it is through their friends, the media, etc. These stories can help prepare them for the challenges that they are currently facing or will inevitably face in the future. Teens can learn lessons from people like Kristina, by stepping into the life of someone else. This could help them to make decisions or build an awareness to the consequences.

Book Talk Ideas: What stood out to me in Crank were Kristina's poetic descriptions of being high. She uses the metaphors of riding a roller coaster (around p. 103) and flying (around p. 172), which adds another layer to her story. It would be interesting to look at these and dig into why she feels this way and what she means by it. Another thing is her alter ego, Bree. When she says things like, "Kristina is who they made me, Bree is who I choose to be" (around p. 172), what does she mean?

 Genre/Subgenres: First person narratives; Novels in verse; Realistic fiction

Readalikes: Smack by Melvin Burgess, Dancing with Molly by Lena Horowitz, Beneath a Meth Moon by Jacqueline Woodson, Heroine by Mindy McGinnis

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