The Last Activity (of June 29th 2013)

Contemporary Realistic Fiction: A Monster Calls

            I loved the multiple levels that which the lack of communication was integrated into the story. The continuum ranged from self-awareness to other awareness and beyond.

Historical Fiction:  The Arrival

            A picture is worth a thousand thoughts. Part of this was that none of the other books in this section stood up and asked to be liked.

Sci-Fi/Fantasy/ Dystopia: Ender’s Game

            I could not put this book down. Competitive rivalry seems to be an issue with me. Although I did not read any other books in this seriers.

Non-Fiction: Behind the Beautiful Forevers

            India has always made me curious. It is a very old country, both religiously, culturally, and historically. It is very complicated to me.

Adventure/Mystery: I am the Messenger

            Just liked the way the it was written. One of my favorites but not philosophically just a good read. I liked Ed

Diversity/Mutlicultural: The Absolutely true diary of a part time Indian.

            I thought this book really reflected the true feelings thoughts of a teenaged Indian that did not fit into his own culture. A bit of a square peg in a round hole.

Most vivid description of a setting: Behind the Beautiful Forevers.

            I could see, smell, and feel the slum and oppressive heat.

Best use of purposeful, meaningful dialogue: I am the messenger. The author can say more in seven words than 90% of authordom.

Best Unraveling of a plot: Ender’s Game. The book moves through the plot lines of Ender and his siblings very effectively. I can see why it is movie due out very soon. The screen play probably wrote itself.

Everest Book 1: The Contest

     By the title it is probably obvious that this book is similar to "the Peak". Both are about climbing and Everest but "Everest Book 1" is written at a level that makes it accessible to more readers. A lexile level of 690 while "The Peak" is at 760. However, this book does have complicated themes. Competition elevates how identity gets tied into what you do rather than who you are. I think this can be a difficult issue to understand for young adults because they often (and adults as well) judge or segment people by what they do not who they are. The line between the two can get pretty hazy for all of us. The book is a pretty intense mix of identity and competition. Competition that includes huge rewards and bigger disappointments. This brings out some characteristics that may need explaining or can be good discussion starters. There are rivalries, corporate interests, following dreams and following someone else's dream.This book does not require its readers to be climbers. It can used as a vehicle for any student who is involved in some type of competition. Although because the book is about climbing there are some safety aspects to deal with. The characters deal with some dangerous situations and hide information, to forward personal objectives, that creates a large potential for others getting hurt. This is another starter for students to learn that they do not exist in a vacuum and have to have regard/respect for the safety of others as well as their own.
      This book is part of series that will also enable a teacher to use it as a gateway to more reading or potentially non-fiction reading about Everest. Although "The Peak" is an even better book for this because it comments about the littering problem, the employment of Sherpas, and ownership. I did not put this book in my library but rest assured it will be added because it has value as an access point to future readers. Have a good one because that's a wrap.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian

Disclaimer: I think this book belongs in every library so you will not read much criticism of it here. If you have not read the book take the time to read it this summer. I saw the author on the Bill Moyer's show and he was enlightening as well as entertaining. He brought up some of the same issues that he addresses in the book and discussed how central they were to his development. The ability to navigate between cultures was and is part of his life. One of those cultures has very rich tradition while facing some bleak realities. The main character in the book is Arnold Spirit Jr. and he is aware of his foibles and abilities. His best friend is the antithesis of Arnold. Hope is hung like a shoddy string of Christmas lights through the book, alternately shining and broken. As he walks the wire between cultures he is bullied, faces tragedy as life gets in his way but he perseveres and stands up for himself. He learns that a big part of identity is self determined not limited to a reflection of culture or skin color.  Identity is a critical aspect for all of us but especially if you are in the throes of teenland. Culture, society and identity all intertwined allows for multiple on-ramps for YA readers. If you have already read this book you can pick up The Roundhouse by Louise Erdich. She writes about a 13 yr old Ojibwe in North Dakota whose mother is raped and how he deals with it among other things.

Curse of Booktrailers

I have been cursed! When I listen to music I think of how they would work as themes for trailers of YA books.     Kind of like getting the evil eye from the gargoyle on the corner... It haunts you from the periphery.

The Burn Journals

     The Burn Journals is a book that lays bare the feelings of a teenager that attempts suicide by lighting himself on fire and his long struggle climbing back into society. This is another book that addresses topics that are not discussed in the open. My eyes were opened when I read about about self image and the degree to how distorted a teenagers (or anyone else's) self image can be by their own mind. What Brent Runyon saw reflected in  mirror was outside the range of standard assumptions. As interesting and real was the way the book did not address the source of Runyon's problems right away. It took three quarters of the book before Runyon's depression and other psychological issues are focused upon. When he reflects on the burning even Runyon cannot recognize what or why drove him to act. This reflects life where sometimes response/emotion over rules logic and can remain incomprehensible to ourselves. Demonstrating the difficulty in comprehension for others. This is another reason this book is so important. All of us need to continue to broaden our horizons as well as  recognize the fact that we do not and will not know all there is to know but that cannot stop us from showing empathy. Even (especially) when we lack understanding.
     Runyon's growth throughout the book is outstanding to read about as he realizes cognitive growth. Runyon struggles throughout the book to know why he lit himself on fire. I think that the reasoning remains elusive to Runyon for multiple reasons. Number one is the idea of the cognitive development of a teenager. Development happens in stages and sometimes does not match expectations. Depression is another issue. Depression can manifest itself in many ways and it probably fairly easy to overlook symptoms and often do not reach a degree that would push an adult into action. Maybe reading this book could push teenagers into asking for help before they do something that is irreversible. That what they see, of themselves, reflected in the faces and actions of others is not permanent but just temporary and the how and why value is attached to things ("things" covers a lot of territory). I think Runyon wrote this book so teenagers that are in the same place as he was can see the fallacy of following his path and I see no reason to not help him achieve his goal. Up, up and away.

Willie Sutton is a Poor Role Model

William Sutton

    "Sutton" By J.R. Moehringer is a historical fiction novel about Willie Sutton the bank robber. Willie was most active during the 1920' and 30's. Sutton stole approximately 2 million dollars during his career and enhanced his daring reputation by taking part in a few jail breaks.

      Lets get to the nitty gritty. Historical fiction is a complex genre because there is so much subjectivity in determining the parameters that will be judged. "Sutton" probably meets the criteria  of most because Moehringer does a very good job of using setting to establish the feel of the early 1900's. Moehringer moves seamlessly from the current time period, where Sutton is relaying anecdotes to a reporter and photographer after his final release, into the past where the action takes place. The vehicles, streets, buildings, and banks all give the reader the sense of going back in time. You can imagine the gangsters, the prisons, just about everything. It is a nice juxtaposition moving between current to past time periods because some geography and buildings remain as touchstones or reference points. As historical fiction I appreciate the novel, as a subject I object to Sutton.

      Moehringer glamorizes Sutton the same way others have glamorized Jesse James or John Dillinger. Moehringer writes as if Sutton did not have a choice,  it was his environment that turned him into a predator. His Gatsbyesque pursuit of a women/love and his childhood left him no other path than to rob, cheat and lie. His spin of life's wheel of fortune never gave him a chance. Moehringer idealizes Sutton in a manner with which I could not agree. The glamorization of criminals/predators usually has a short leash in my opinion.  Moehringer also gives the reader a bit of red herring by using the murder of Arnold Schuster and Sutton's ties to the event as bait to continue reading. This death is used as the reason the cub reporter is even meeting with Sutton. Moehringer maintains a level of tension between Sutton and the reporter as each tries to manage  opposing agendas. 

      This is a book that sits right on the fence of inclusion into a YA library. It is well written and does a credible job with the setting that allows a reader to build and feel context of a different time period. However, idealizing a man who preyed upon others is not the best idea to deliver to YAs'. The book would allow conversation about the depression and how socioeconomic classes are affected by government and corporate decisions in various ways. Other discussions could include making career decisions based on external versus internal pressures. i.e. Willie Sutton giving way to the external pressures/expectations in determining his career path as a criminal, or how media/popular culture can glamorize certain traits while obscuring others as deemed fitting to their agenda. Exit stage left.

To Grill a Mockingbird

Library for the alternative reader.


To Grill A Mockingbird (It's in paperback now!)
Pita Pan
Gone with the Schwinn
The Black Scallion
The Old Man and the Brie
The State of the Onion
Bored of the Rings
We'll always have Parrots.
Bratfest at Tiffany's
Pies and prejudice
These Boots are made for Stalking
Attila the Pun
A Broom of One's Own
Grape Expectations
Comma Sense