LSSL 5385 Young Adult Book Blogs 17-25
Young Adult Book #17: Sisters
When Raina was younger, all she wanted was a little sister so she can have someone to play and just be with instead of feeling so lonely. She got her wish and her family was blessed with another little girl; however, it turns out that this new life with a sister isn't quite the fantasy Raina had hoped for. Amara is fascinated by animals, short-tempered, and always seems to get on Raina's nerves. It doesn't help that their mom takes them and their little brother on a super long road trip, for it's only a matter of time before they drive each other nuts. Although, this may actually be a time for the girls to finally bond and realize that despite all their differences, they are still sisters no matter what.
I've read Smile, the companion book to Sisters, before and I absolutely loved it. Just like how I super like this graphic novel as well. The comic book illustrations are vibrant and extremely appealing to the eye, which made me even more engaged to the author's story. There was an available plot, but Telgemeier included flashbacks so readers can see how the sisters felt about each other in the present was reflected off from some of their experiences in the past. Because of this, I noticed that these flashbacks were colored in with tints to help differentiate the different time periods. I believe this graphic novel is an excellent read for those with younger siblings who drive them crazy, for it shares both humorous and sincere moments. I know I surely had a few laughs because Amara definitely reminded me of my little sister!
Check out this quick author interview video with Raina Telgemeier and find out why she wrote Sisters:
Young Adult Book #18: Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World
*2019 Best Fiction for Young Adults*
A tornado destroys Ivy Aberdeen's home, leaving her and her family members homeless and with no belongings. Even though Ivy feels like she has lost everything, she is happy that she was able to save her notebook that was filled with personal drawings. That is until she realizes that she misplaced the notebook somewhere at her school when people were using it for shelter. She doesn't know where it is, and she gets even more scared when she receives a single page from her notebook every day in her locker along with notes about how she should really talk to someone about her feelings and her drawings' messages. Ivy wonders if this all the work of June, a unique girl who she befriends after the tornado. As she gets closer to June, she develops a crush. She goes on a true journey with finding and accepting herself and continue telling her story through her art.
I really enjoyed this novel. As I was reading, I was thinking about whether or not the plot was going to be an overload, meaning too much going on to where things seemed like they didn't really go together. I was wrong though. Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World represents change and acceptance. When her family lost their home in the tornado, their minds were all over the place. Ivy being twelve years and the middle child, she felt like she didn't have a place within her family and was just "in the way". She realizes that this wasn't the case, for her family was just trying to figure things out all while trying to stay positive and on top of things. Then Ivy was dealing with her crush, which was over another girl. It was her first crush, which is new, but she also worried about if it was wrong for her to feel the way she did. She was lost and confused, but luckily she had some awesome friends to be there for her and accept her for who she truly is.
Check out this book trailer for Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World and the beautiful visuals within it!
Young Adult Book #19: Girl Made of Stars
*2019 Best Fiction for Young Adults*
Mara and Owen are twins, and they are super close. One night they went to a party, and when Mara saw her ex-girlfriend there with a new girl, she decides to leave. Owen's best friend, Alex, offered to take her home, and they both wanted to tell Owen they were leaving, but it never happened. All they knew was that Owen was completely wasted and was last seen with his girlfriend, Hannah. The weekend passed and when they get back to school, it is found out that Owen raped Hannah while at the party. Mara does not believe it because there is no way her own twin brother could do such a thing. However, Hannah is one of her best friends, and Mara knows this isn't something she would lie about. She is torn about who to believe, but during this time, painful flashbacks of her own sexual assault that happened years before continues to haunt her.
This novel did not have a happy ending, which represents how most sexual assault situations turn out. Some victims don't speak up while others do. Even when they do speak up, the victim is often shamed while the person who assaulted them gets to walk away freely. There were no charges pressed against Owen, and in his mind and what he told others, he truly didn't do anything wrong. It was never noted if he was aware he was lying or if he was just completely oblivious to the whole situation. Mara struggled with choosing a side at first, but she knows from experience how these things go, and even though she truly loves her brother, this is something that she will never forgive him about. I read the author's note at the end of the book and one part of it really stuck out to me: "There is life after abuse. A good life. It's not an easy one. It's the same one we had before. But it is still ours. And nothing and no one will take it from us". In the end Hannah was still hurt, but with her two best friends on her side, she was able to continue on with beautiful strength.
Check out The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith, which is about how a young female suffered from sexual assault and how she continues her life with other obstacles:
Young Adult Book #20: Tyler Johnson Was Here
*2019 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers*
Marvin and Tyler are twins and are usually in on things together, but things have been seeming a little different. Tyler doesn't really hang around Marvin that much anymore, for he's been spending a lot more time with Johntae, a well-known drug dealer at their high school. One day, Marvin and his friends go to one of Johntae's parties to help keep an eye on Tyler. However, Tyler gets out of sight and a shooting occurs at the party. Marvin and his friends escape, but they still don't know where Tyler is at. He ends up really be missing, and everybody prays that he is safe. It turns out that Tyler was murdered by a police officer, which was all recorded through video. Devastated, Marvin and his mother have trouble with understanding why Tyler got shot in the first place, for he was a normal teenager with hopes and dreams. Marvin is tired of the police brutality and racism that happens in his environment, so he decides that it's time to take action and seek justice for his twin brother rather than just sit there.
This novel is honest, meaning it truly represents the many occurrences of police brutality in today's society. I think that since the story was written in Marvin's point of view, readers are able to feel his emotion and realize the aftermath of these tragedies. Many families are left empty and confused, for so many innocent lives are being taken away without any reason. People of color are afraid to simply just go for a walk outside because a cop may quickly assume that they are up to no good and must be immediately stopped. This is many people's reality, and everybody needs to be aware it. I believe this book would be an excellent tool to encourage readers to find their voice and fight for justice. We live in a crazy world, and instead of just talking about it, we need to do something about it.
Check out this book trailer for Tyler Johnson Was Here:
Young Adult Book #21: I, Claudia
*2019 Michael L. Printz Honor Book*
Claudia McCarthy has always felt she is unusual and not pretty. She has low self-esteem and keeps to herself. That is until she begins school at Imperial Day Academy her freshman year. At this school, it's all about power. Students are able to be elected for the Honor Council and be on the Senate. When she first started the school, she got involved and feels she only survived because she had her older sister, Maisie with her. Things change though, and eventually Claudia is dragged into these higher positions. She wants to work hard and make change, but various obstacles and other corrupted leaders make it quite difficult for her. In the end, she is viewed as a whole different person than how she was seen in the beginning of her high school year. She then tells her story to convince others that she really hasn't changed and is still the same.
Claudia immediately introduces herself as a historian, which makes sense she often added historical references within her life events. As a teacher, I believe that if this book was used as a class novel, it would make since to give students mini-lessons and background knowledge over some of these events Claudia noted (i.e. Watergate). Also, I liked how the author made the desire for political power so visible within the story's plot. This helped us readers see how Claudia worked and moved from the bottom to the top and how she grew from all of it. Now, this is where it gets interesting. For some reason, I didn't quite get the reason behind the plot at first. I guess I wasn't very observant, but it wasn't until a couple of chapters in that I actually noticed that the chapter numbers were written in Roman numerals and that some of the characters' names sounded familiar. Then it clicked to me (a little longer than it should have) that I, Claudia is a reference to the Roman Empire. This novel is actually based loosely on I, Claudius by Robert Graves. I even looked up Claudius because I'm not too knowledgable about this topic. Turns out that he, just like the book's protagonist's Claudia, had a limp and had a lack of experience of serving a position, but eventually proved himself to be capable. The book's characters names were also reflected from history (i.e. Augustus being a ruler for so long and having his lover, Livia on the side). The author also broke up each of her high school years according to the different reigns of the previous rulers before her (Augustus, Tiberius, and the Mad Caligula). The way everything was detailed was amazing to me, and it is wise for educators to also brush up on this information and share with students before reading the novel in order for them to realize this too.
Check out Robert Graves' I Claudius for more background information:
Young Adult Book #22: To Kill a Mockingbird
*2019 Great Graphic Novel for Teens*
Adapted from the classic story first written in 1960, the graphic novel of To Kill a Mockingbird is told through the view of young Jean Louise, also known as "Scout". Her and her brother are growing up in the South and spend most of the time playing outside. Their father, Atticus Finch, is a lawyer who teaches and encourages his children to read. He is also the lawyer of Tom Robinson, a black man who is accused of raping and assaulting a white woman in the town. Scout and her brother notice the racism and injustice in this case as they learn the truth about what happened and stick by their father through it all.
I read To Kill a Mockingbird during my freshman year of high school, and it was amazing how this graphic novel helped bring the story to life and make me feel the same way about the storyline just like how I felt back then. I love the plot, and I love the illustrations. Fred Fordham gives readers that southern feel with his colors. The illustrations also allow readers to see the characters' emotions firsthand and feel for them. An example of this is on page 246, where Tom's wife breaks down when she hears the news of Tom's death and her vision of Tom dead and so close to the prison's fence. The original story was written in 1960 and was about how a young black man was falsely accused just because of the color of his skin. This was a long long time ago, yet, this type of thing still happens today! There are people like Atticus Finch who continue to fight for these people's freedom and justice, but there are still many opposers who are still practicing racism, which leads a lot of people of color in either prison or to their death (murder). I believe this graphic novel is perfect for young readers because they have the opportunity to cherish this story like we did back then but in their own visual way.
If readers have not read the classic novel, I suggest they do and then compare it to the illustrations represented in the graphic novel. Also, check out this quick video of Fred Fordham explaining his inspiration and process for creating this piece of art:
Young Adult Book #23: Home After Dark
Small, D. (2018). Home after dark. NY: Liveright Publishing Corporation.
*2019 Great Graphic Novel for Teens*
After his mother left them, Russell and his father move to California to attempt to start a new life. The goal was to move in with Russell's aunt, but they ended up moving in with a Chinese couple until his father could find a job and can afford a place of their own. Eventually they do move out, but many changes start to happen within Russell's life. His father becomes an extreme alcoholic and eventually just disappears, leaving Russell to fend for himself for a while. At the same time, Russell is going through puberty and his adolescence years. He befriends two boys in his town, who constantly make fun of him for being weird. He also becomes cool with another boy named Warren, but he decides to back away when he realizes that Warren likes boys and once put him in an uncomfortable position. Even though Russell stopped talking to him, he still felt bad for him, which he also got made fun for. One day, one of his jerk friends decides to frame Warren for a crime he didn't commit and even beat him up, leaving him feeling hopeless and with the rest of the community hating him. Warren then commits suicide, and Russell feels horrible. He then takes off with stolen money and attempts to find Warren's grandma in another town, in hopes he can apologize to her and give her his condolences.
When I first looked at this graphic novel's cover, I thought this story was going to be horror. Even the black and white sketches made me make this assumption, but I was wrong. The story did discuss one scary thing though: growing up. Russell has many forms of adversity going on in his life. He wants to be accepted and not be lonely, especially since he doesn't necessarily have the best home life. I believe that the author/illustrator didn't include color to the pictures because he wanted to demonstrate how Russell felt trapped in his world. The end of the graphic novel ends with him just sitting there in the dark with a hint of light flashing on him, which could indicate that he didn't get a happy ending and there were still many struggles to occur within his teenaged years. It was different and not what I expected, but it was hauntingly good, in my opinion.
Check out the graphic memoir Stitches also by David Small:
Young Adult Book #24: The Wendy Project
Osborne, M.J. (2017). The Wendy project. Ill. by V. Fish. NY: Super Genius.
*2018 Great Graphic Novel for Teens*
Wendy was driving a car with her brothers one rainy night. She loses control and crashes into a lake. She then wakes up in a hospital confused with everything, for everybody is saying that her little brother, Michael, died from the accident. However she strongly believes this isn't true, for when they were in the lake, Wendy saw Michael fly away with an unknown boy. Nobody believes her though because they think she is in denial and just driving herself crazy. She begins to see a therapist, who encourages her to use a notebook to help her cope. Things get harder for Wendy as time goes by, and she is determined to find this mysterious boy and the other members of Neverland and hopes to find her little brother well and alive.
Wow, this was definitely not what I was expecting when I first checked out this graphic novel. I like how the story appeared to be more modern and was written in a way readers can visually connect and relate to it. There are several aspects displayed within The Wendy Project. The first example is the grieving process and mourning the loss of a loved one. Wendy still had hope and optimism when it came to Michael. What she "saw" during the accident was her letting herself know that Michael was going to another place, somewhere better. She felt guilt since she was the one driving the car, which made her deny that he was really gone even more. Then when she is "taken"to Neverland, I believe it was suppose to represent heaven, which was Michael's new home. He was happy where he was and felt free, which confused Wendy. She didn't realize that Michael had really moved on, which then makes her finally understand that there was nothing she could do to bring him back to life. In the end, Michael's body finally washes up from the lake, and I was devastated. The illustration of the poor little boy really did bring tears to my eyes, which I think was the illustrator's goal. Speaking of the illustrations, let me just say that they were absolutely amazing. They appear as watercolors and colored pencils, and I think they're suppose to represent Wendy's sketches within her therapy notebook. The book itself is in the form of a personal notebook, making the story's events feel more authentic and helps readers understand Wendy's way of managing herself through this whole tragedy.
Check out this intense book trailer for The Wendy Project:
Young Adult Book #25: I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter
Sanchez, E.L. (2017). I am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter. NY: Knopf Books for Young Readers.
*NYT Bestseller*
Julia's older sister, Olga, tragically died in an accident, and her family is not taking it well. Olga was completely different from Julia, meaning she was seen as the "perfect" Mexican daughter. She followed the rules and even lived at home, even though she was already old enough to live on her own. This didn't make sense to Julia because she didn't believe in practicing any of these things. Julia saw herself as "not perfect" and wanted to break the cultural stereotype, meaning she had dreams to move away at some point and build a life for herself. Since her sister's death though, lots of grieving happens, and Julia actually finds out more information about Olga and who she truly was than what she appeared to be.
I am very happy that I had the chance to read this book. In fact, I feel this way when I come across a lot of books that reflect the Mexican culture. There were so many ways I was able to connect to it, and I hope other readers are able to feel the same way. The title itself contains "NOT", which I feel was very powerful. Ever since I was little, I felt that since my Spanish isn't fluent and because I had dreams other people (family, friends, etc.) that I grew up with didn't quite have or believe in, I wasn't perfect. However, that's just it. I'm not perfect, but everybody's life is different and it is up to me to lead it and do what is best. Even though I feel this way, I always remember where I'm from: hardworking Mexican-American parents who made sure I had everything I needed to be on the road to success. Julia at first didn't agree to all of their Mexican culture beliefs and was feeling torn apart slowly from her immediate family after Olga's death, but she soon realizes that she can still be who she wants and still feel connected to them. The whole story just seemed authentic and I just want to keep sharing it with others as much as I can.
Check out this book trailer for the novel:
Julia's older sister, Olga, tragically died in an accident, and her family is not taking it well. Olga was completely different from Julia, meaning she was seen as the "perfect" Mexican daughter. She followed the rules and even lived at home, even though she was already old enough to live on her own. This didn't make sense to Julia because she didn't believe in practicing any of these things. Julia saw herself as "not perfect" and wanted to break the cultural stereotype, meaning she had dreams to move away at some point and build a life for herself. Since her sister's death though, lots of grieving happens, and Julia actually finds out more information about Olga and who she truly was than what she appeared to be.
I am very happy that I had the chance to read this book. In fact, I feel this way when I come across a lot of books that reflect the Mexican culture. There were so many ways I was able to connect to it, and I hope other readers are able to feel the same way. The title itself contains "NOT", which I feel was very powerful. Ever since I was little, I felt that since my Spanish isn't fluent and because I had dreams other people (family, friends, etc.) that I grew up with didn't quite have or believe in, I wasn't perfect. However, that's just it. I'm not perfect, but everybody's life is different and it is up to me to lead it and do what is best. Even though I feel this way, I always remember where I'm from: hardworking Mexican-American parents who made sure I had everything I needed to be on the road to success. Julia at first didn't agree to all of their Mexican culture beliefs and was feeling torn apart slowly from her immediate family after Olga's death, but she soon realizes that she can still be who she wants and still feel connected to them. The whole story just seemed authentic and I just want to keep sharing it with others as much as I can.
Check out this book trailer for the novel:
Comments
Post a Comment