The Importance of Relating

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/517kDrmThVL.jpg

Teens want book that they can relate to, but what is the importance of relating to a book? First, we need a definition of 'relate' before we can discuss the importance of it. The problem is, everyone definition of relating is different, therefore the importance is relating is going to be different for every person.

Matt De La Peña's "We Were Here" is a great book to model the importance of relating to a story. The main character, Miguel, in the book is a young boy in a group home because of a terrible act that he committed. Is this a story that teens can relate to? Honestly, the story does not necessarily require the read to be able to relate to it. When reading "We Were Here" the reading has the opportunity to see into a life that other wise the reader would never experience. Although most readers have never experienced anything like Miguel, this story can still speak to any reader.

Challenge your definition of relating by reading Matt De La Peña's "We Were Here."

Graceling or Curseling

If you had one superpower, or grace, what would it be? In "Graceling" By Kristin Cashore the main character Katsa has a grace but unfortunately for Katsa, she didn't get to choose her grace. If Katsa had the ability to choose her grace she probably would not have chosen a killing grace.

Katsa has the "grace" to kill anyone with little to no effort. Once Katsa fully realizes what exactly her grace is about, she does not like having the grace. She has the ability to easily kill anyone and yet when her Uncle recruits her for his purposes. she does not kill. Katsa's grace seems likes more of a curse then a grace. Through out the story Katsa struggles with her grace because it is quite a responsibility have the ability to kill with ease. While struggling with her grace, she meets a boy which adds in another part of her life to struggle with. A girl with a grace that most people would see as lucky does not see herself as quite as lucky.

To see how Katsa deals with her grace and her relationship read "Graceling" by Kristin Cashore.

Typical?

http://drupal02.nypl.org/blogs/2009/08/24/disreputable-history-frankie-landau-banks-review

From geek to chic, social minimal to possible criminal, Frankie Landau-Banks seems to be the typical 16 year old girl, infatuated by her crush Matthew Livingston and desperate for his attention. Frankie hopes that this is finally her year to get Matthew's attention due to her transformation over the summer from caterpillar to butterfly. Frankie finally gets Matthew's attention and she feels like she is on top of the world, however, feeling on top of the world causes Frankie to be blinded by Matthew's control and put downs. Frankie puts up with a lot of teenage boy power struggle by Matthew either intentionally or unintentionally displays to Frankie. It is possible that this power is instilled by society which causes Frankie, as well as other girls her age, to become feminists and fight for their equality. Through out the course of the book, Frankie participates in many different activities, good or bad. She wants to try to get in with Matthew's senior friends. Does she just want to be liked or does she just want to be infamous?

Frankie seems like the typical teenage girl finding her first love. She puts up with Matthew's ridiculous behavior for the sake of her first love. Those on the outside see her relationship with Matthew as a joke and she needs to "dump the asshole" (Paige) however when you are the one in the relationship, it is not that easy.

Does Frankie ever find her place in life? Does she ever break up with Matthew? How do her activities effect her life? Is Frankie liked or infamous? To find out, read "The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks" by E. Lockhart

Ignorance is the key to Perfection

http://www.wtps.org/wths/imc/Reading/graphics/historical%20fic/octavian.jpg

Most of the time ignorance is seen as a bed thing. If we really think about, it is our ignorance that allows for a perfect world. As humans, we draw on our knowledge, to make conclusions. In the book "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing" the main character Octavian does this exact same thing about his own world. Although he is in slavery and quite restricted, he does not know otherwise(ignorance) and therefore believes that he lives a wonderful life.

Eventually, Octavian realizes that his life is not "normal." Although he attempts to leave behind his life of imprisonment, ignorance still gets in the way. When living in own way for your entire life and one day finding out that it is not the way that lives should be lived, leaving that imprisonment can be very overwhelming. Octavian ventured on this tough journey but honestly was still effected by his ignorance.

A very interesting questions comes up after reading a book like this; should ignorance be educated or are we better off in our own perfect worlds? Challenging your ignorances is a real obstacle and while educating ourselves is not a bad thing, is it actually a bad thing to venture outside or ignorances and face the facts? I do not have the right answer to either question but the only conclusion I have drawn is ignorance is the key to perfection.

Challenge your ignorances and read "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing" by M.T. Anderson

It isn't all about the classics

When thinking back to what you have read on high school, I am sure that most titles are what would be considered "Classics." While that classics are amazing and should remain in schools, there is more to YA then the classics.

At the high school I attended, all that was allowed to be on the curriculum was classics or heavy, dry book about real life situations. When I asked the head of the English department about this observation he told me that it was the way the high school had always been because it makes the parents happy. My response to his statement was very simple, do parents want to the classics taught because they are good books, or is it because that is all parents know of out there?

I believe that there is not enough public information out there about the YA field. The YA field is saturated with amazing books. Many of these books are disregarded due to content, however, a book is not simple what is on the page. A book is about a reader's response, feeling and connections with the book as well as the story. A story can take the reader on an amazing journey into worlds that we never thought we could possibly visit such as the after life, as described in the book "Elsewhere" by Gabrielle Zevin.

If there was more public, easily accessible information out there, then I believe that YA would venture further into schools and young adult reader would get to read not only what they have to read but also what they want to read. Administration and parents, as well as the students, ned to be educated on selecting books and reading past the words on the page. Education isthe key to the break through of YA!

The Value of Life and the Value of Power

http://bookreviewsandmore.ca/2008/10/hunger-games-by-suzanne-collins.html

What is the value of life? This is a question that is never really asked. It is frightening to think about the value of life, we just live day by day never questioning our importance, our existence, our value. Suzanne Collins, the author of "The Hunger Games," gives us a grim look into the value of life after the fall of North America.

After North America fell, power became a major factor, even more then it already is now, in society. Power becomes more important then life. The higher social classes have more power then the lower classes, thus allowing them to have more food, freedom, and luxuries. Life is more of a right in the higher classes and more of an inconvenience in the lower classes. Katniss, who lives in district 12 (one of the poorest) does not live in freedom and luxury. She hunts to keep herself and her family alive, never having the ability to live like a normal 16 year old.

But the worst part of life is The Hunger Games. The Hunger Games is the Capital's way of enforcing their power and devaluing life. Twenty-four young kids are forced into a literal live or die situation. The Capital uses the massacre of young kids as entertainment, again devaluing life.

This book is quite disturbing and definitely horrifying. The one thing that human fear the most is the unknown and this book takes a hypothetical look into the unknown. No one knows where they are going, we only know where we have been and judging by where we have been, The Hunger Games may not be far off.

To prepare yourself for your place in the Hunger Games, read Suzanne Collins "The Hunger Games."

Three Cheers for Cormier!

Powerful, unpredictable, and page-turner, are all ways that I would describe Robert Cormier's "The Rag and Bone Shop." In this novel, a 12 year old boy, Jason, is accused of the brutal murder of 7 year old Alicia. When the police have to leads or suspects in this case, they turn to Jason, the last person to see her alive. Jason goes through a very intense interrogation with one of the best interrogators in the area, who always gets a confession. Will Jason confess? Was he capable of committing such a horrible crime? The ending to this novel is a shocker, very unpredictable and will leave you wanting to read more.
I enjoyed this novel because the story kept me turning the pages, I wanted to know if Jason murdered Alicia, I wanted to know if he would confess, I wanted to see what would happen to a 12 year old murder(if he did it). By the time I got the end of the book, I was shocked and in disbelief. How could Cormier end the novel that way?!?!? I wanted to keep reading more and more.
I highly recommend this book for YA readers. It is a quick read, and a really good read.
Find out what happens to Jason.........

You Must Find Alaska!

John Green's "Looking for Alaska" is a compelling, well written, well developed novel about friendships, decision making, responsibility, and journey. The main characters in this novel, Miles aka Pudge, Chip aka The Colonel, and Alaska, are beautifully developed and allows for the reader to dive into their stories.
Pudge, the main character, is an upper middle class young man fascinated by last words. He was always kind of a loner and upon moving to Culver Creek, he develops friendships that he will never forget. Pudge has many first experiences through out the novel, his first time smoking, drinking, first relationship, and his first sexual experience and readers have the ability to see into these first experiences right along with him.
The Colonel, is the trouble maker of the boys. He is attending Culver Creek on a scholarship and lives in a trainer park back home. He really enjoys attending Culver Creek and does not want to loose his scholarship, although he comes dangerously close at times. The Colonel is the mastermind behind pranks played on the Weekend Warriors (the wealthier crowd). His laid back personality really helps Pudge is loosen up and become more adventurous.
The young, sexy Alaska Young catches Pudge's eye right away. She is quite a feminist and can certainly stand on her own two feet. Alaska is The Colonel's partner in crime, always wanting to help out with pranks. She is also quite promiscuous and loves to walk the thin line of explosion at Culver Creek. There is never a dull moment around Alaska and little did she know, she would unite her group of friends in a way that she never thought possible.
Definitely a must read YA novel. The book is filled with humor and friendship, however, also filled with sorrow, and iffy behavior.

Are You Afraid of the Weetzie Bat??

(http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Weetzie-Bat/Francesca-Lia-Block/e/9780060736255)

Francesca Lia Block published "Weetzie Bat," the story of a adolescent girl "duck hunting" to find her "Secret Agent Lover Man" in 1989. This is a very magical book with writing and a unique story that will easily win you over. The story begins with Weetzie's best friend, Dirk, telling Weetzie that he is homosexual. Weetzie thinks it is great because now they can go "duck hunting" (my guess is that is a code for boy hunting) together. Dirks grandmother becomes very close to Weetzie and Dirk and one day gives Weetzie an old dusty something. Weetzie takes it home and begins to clean it off when a genie appears and grants her three wishes. Her wishes here a duck for Dirk, her Secret Agent Lover Man, and a cottage for them all to live in. Weetzie then gets the news that Dirks grandmother has passed away and left Dirk and Weetzie her cottage, wish 1. Shortly after that, Dirk meets a duck, named Duck and they fall fastly in love, wish 2. Then shortly after that, Weetzie meets her duck, named Secret Agent Lover Man and they fall in love, wish 3. All three of Weetzie's wishes come true and she is satisfied for a little while until she decides she wants a baby. My Secret Agent Lover Man tells Weetzie that he does not want a baby, however Dirk and Duck do. After sleeping with My Secret Agent Lover Man, Weetzie then sleeps with Dirk and Duck. She has a baby, named Cherokee nine months later with three possible fathers. My Secret Agent Lover man gets very upset and leaves for a while. He finally comes back and one day a witch shows up demanding to speak to Max (My Secret Agent Lover Man). The witch and him slept together and she was now having his baby. Nine months later the baby is left on the cottage door step. Weetzie takes the baby into her home, wanting to name her Lily, however they end up calling her Witch Baby.
This story is written in almost a dream form. The story moves very quickly and has the fantasy storyline to it that it seems like a weird dream. This is an easy read that I recommend to anyone with a hour or so on their hands and would like to spend that hour reading this very entertaining story.

"Skim" by Mariko Tamaki

(http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/awards/canadian_lit_prize_snubs_graphic_novels_graphic_artist_100518.asp)

"Skim" is a great YA graphic novel. This book targets some of the main issues that young teens have to deal with. The main character, Skim, is a 16 year old high school student dealing with love, bullying, and peer death. Mariko Tamaki takes quite a risk with this novel, however. Skim begins to fall in love with a female teacher who appears to feel the same toward Skim at first, but then quickly resists. Skim is left heartbroken and quickly becomes depressed. While all of this is going on, a classmate commits suicide which get the entire school chattering about suicide and due to Skim's depressive state, rumors are started that Skin too, may be considering suicide. When Skin is invited to a classmates Halloween party she never expected to be the butt of a bullying joke that her classmates played on her and another "outcast" at school. This furthers Skim into depression.
I very much wish that this book had a happier story to tell, but then again, not all teens have a fairy tale, positive, happy-go-lucky story to tell. The graphs in this novel add great mystery to the story and also helps the reader to put names with faces. Graphic novels, however, can be very challenging too. I challenge future reader of this book to look not only at the message behind the text, but also at the underlying messages in the graphics. Graphic novels give the reader to to read beyond the text and maybe even get an entire different meaning out of a line of text with a graphic then a text without a graphic.