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

Arnold Spirit Junior was born with “water on his brain” resulting in him having physical problems. He had to wear glasses, he was skinny, had a big head and big feet. He also suffered from seizures, has a lisp, and stutters when he talks.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is about Arnold wanting to go off the rez (Spokane Indian Reservation) to attend school at an all-white school so he doesn’t get killed on the rez. Arnold is criticized, and deemed a traitor to the Indians. The novel goes through Arnold’s life and the difficulties he must face with being an Indian, attending an all all-white school and not really belonging to either place.

I would use The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian to analyze characters. Arnold changes throughout the story finding his identity. I would have the students compare and contrast how Arnold felt about himself in the comic he drew of himself at the beginning to how he feels about himself at the end of the story.

I would have a lesson on stereotypes for this book as well. There are a lot of stereotypical statements in this book about poor people, rich people, Indians, and in chapter one retards because of how he looks. I would teach the students labels, biases, and unfair judgments.

The students could also research the Spokane Indians before reading to better understand the way of life for this tribe so that they could better understand the novel.

There was a great quote in The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, “Life is a constant struggle between being an individual and being a member of the community.” I would have the students analyze this quote and compare it to their own life struggles with being an individual and doing what society expects of them.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

A breathtaking, tearjerker is the only way I can describe The Fault in Our Stars.

http://wallvan.com/the-fault-in-our-stars-book-wallpaper.html

Hazel has been living with cancer since for a few years now, and has come to terms that she is dying.  She attends a support group for adolescents that have cancer. During one session of the support group she meets a young man named Augustus Waters.  Augustus, another teen who has cancer, will change Hazel’s life forever taking her on adventures she never knew, including falling in love. The Fault in Our Stars takes you on a journey through adolescents having cancer, and how they find love and live their lives.

I read The Fault in Our Stars last May, and fell in love with the story. I cried my eyes out the first time I read it, and I cried my eyes out when I reread it today.

http://hdwallpapersmart.com/the-fault-in-our-stars-hd-wallpapers/

The Fault in Our Stars did remind me the support that cancer patients have. The support groups like Hazel visits. Also how they have a cancer team in the story where they meet to see how the fight against cancer is going, or suggestions in treatment plans.

The Fault in Our Stars was made into a movie, which I have not seen. In a book this great, I do not need a movie putting it to life because it was already alive in my mind. You could have the students compare and contrast the movie and the book though.

The Fault in Our Stars has amazing vocabulary. There were words that I did not know the meaning to, and I would have to look up the definitions. You could teach vocabulary and context clues.

The characters in the story I felt were well-developed characters, and they each had their own unique personality. You could have the students interview a character. They could create questions, and then answer based on how the students felt that the characters would answer. This would show how the students interpreted the characters.

The students could also write a eulogy for Augustus and Hazel based on their characters in the book. This would show how they interpreted the characters as they read the book.

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

http://www.amazon.com/When-You-Reach-Yearling-Newbery

When You Reach Me is about a girl named Miranda, who begins to receive notes from an unknown person leaving her clues about what she needs to do, and things she needs to record. The whole story I was confused. You do not know who is sending the notes. The person knows things that nobody should know. Miranda is confused, and trying to figure out how to prevent this bad thing the notes are talking about from happening. I thought the worst when these notes started coming, but man is there a twist. I did not see this coming until I was in the last few chapters of the book.

When You Reach Me could be used in 5^th grade and above.

The book starts in the middle of the events coming to play at the end. It then goes back to the beginning, and tells the story all the way through. Students could make a timeline of the events that happened. Then they can analyze the events in the book, and determine if it would influence the way the book is told if the events happened in order. Also they could discuss why the book works with the events not in order.

When You Reach Me mentions the book A Wrinkle in Time throughout the entire book. Students could compare and contrast the two books after reading them both. 

The book is about time travel. Students can research Stephen Hawking’s theory on time travel, as well as what Albert Einstein had to say about time travel. They could compare Stephen Hawking’s theories to When You Leave Me, and what Marcus, Julia, and Miranda talk about. Then they can write about whether they agree or disagree with whether time travel is possible, and their thoughts on the two scientists theories on time travel.

NOVA Online has a good website discussing time travel here is the link: NOVA Online Time Travel 

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Walter-Dean-Myers

Sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is in jail on trial for the robbery and murder of a drugstore owner in Harlem, a part of New York that has a high crime rate. The prosecutor deems Steve as a “Monster” because of the events that took place on December 22 at the drug store. The prosecutor has built a case that she feels that she can win. Steve feels that his attorney does not believe him that he is just another case for her. Steve knows and believes in his innocence.

The reader can relate to Steve all throughout the trial. His fears of being in jail, his belief in his innocence, and the worry about if he will be spending the next 25 years to life in jail for something he knows that he did not do.

Walter Dean Myers did not write Monster in a typical novel fashion. He wrote this story like a screenplay being told my Steve Harmon. It was an interesting way to read the story. Monster was a not a bad book, but there were parts that were hard to get through just because it was kind of dry.

A social studies lesson could be taught with the novel Monster. Most of the book takes place in the courtroom for Steve’s trial. The students could determine if Steve was given a fair trial. You could even have a mock trial about Steve’s innocence.

For a writing aspect, you could have the students write closing arguments for one of the lawyers based on how the students interpreted the story.

Students could analyze the characters in Monster to determine who the true monsters in the story are.

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Three stories that become one.

http://www.amazon.com/American-Born-Chinese-Gene-Luen

Jin Wang wants more than anything to fit in with his all-American classmates. When his family moves, and he has to attend a new school, Jin Wang discovers that he is the only Chinese-American student at his new school.  The teacher didn’t introduce him correctly to the class, his classmates made fun of him. Jin Wang befriends another Asian-American boy, Wei Chen. Together they struggle with being two of three Asian-American students attending this predominately all-American school. Jin Wang then falls for an All-American girl, and wants nothing more to just like everyone else.

The monkeys of the world flocked to the great Monkey King of Flower-Fruit Mountain. He was a good leader of the monkeys, until he no longer wanted to be a monkey because of one fateful incident. The Monkey King made some bad choices because no longer wanting to be a monkey that he was buried under a mountain of rocks. He finally learned his lesson about being true to your character from a disciple of Tze-Yo-Tzuh, and helped the disciple with his journey.

Danny wants more than anything to just be a popular kid who plays basketball, but that all changes for Danny when Chin-Kee shows up. Chin-Kee comes and acts like a normal Chinese boy and Danny feels that he is ruining his life. Danny finally confronts Chin-Kee when Danny finds him dancing on a table in the library.

After the confrontation between Danny and Chin-Kee all three stories become one. The characters learn how to be true to their character, and value where they come from. 

I cannot say that I loved this book; actually I cannot say that I even really liked this book. It was a struggle to get through. I just wanted the book to be over so I could move on and not pick it up again. Thankfully the author chose to write it as a graphic novel, otherwise it would have been turned it back into the library without being fully read. Graphic novels are a fun alternative to reading a book for me. I do not read a lot of them, but I have students who love them. It is important to offer a different style of writing to the students in your classroom.

Even though it was not my favorite book, I would use American Born Chinese in a high school classroom (9^th grade and above).

There were a lot of good examples how sometimes we judge people based on where they come from, and it does not give us a fair picture of who they really are. I would have the students find stereotypes in current events that were happening in our society, and relate them back to the graphic novel, making a text-to-world connection. I would also have the students make a text–to-self connection when someone judged them based on their looks, culture, or any other thing.

American Born Chinese has a theme of accepting who you are, as well as accepting others. I would do a project with the students about finding out were their ancestors came to America from. This would show the students that they all have different backgrounds, and it is important to appreciate where you come from.

I would teach students about different myths/legends. I would have the students’ research different myths and legends about stereotypes and accepting oneself, that way it stayed with the theme of American Born Chinese.

I would also use the graphic novel to teach about different writing styles, and have the students create their own graphic novel about stereotypes, and accepting yourself. This would add in some art to your lesson. 

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

Please Ignore Vera Dietz is heartbreaking, sad, and left me wanting to cry at times. It is a story that could happen with students today unfortunately, and I kept thinking about how real this could be for some young adults.

http://www.amazon.com/Please-Ignore-Dietz-

Vera Dietz and Charlie Kahn have been best friends since they were little. They are secretly in love with on another, but both are affected by the actions of their parents. Their parents’ actions make them not want to openly love one another because they are trying to avoid their destiny. Vera not wanting to turn out like her ex-stripper mother who got pregnant at seventeen or her alcoholic father. Charlie does not want to become his abusive father.

Vera and Charlie’s relationship begins to change once they enter high school. Charlie changes their friendship entirely when he becomes friends with the “Detentionheads”, a group of kids who drink and do drugs. A series of events leads to one fateful night were a lot of different things come to play, but only Vera knows the truth of that night.

Nine months after that tragic night that took Charlie’s life, Vera is trying to live her life. She is struggling with not to allowing her destiny of becoming like her parents come true. Vera is struggling with the death of Charlie, and having a hard time moving on because Charlie is showing up everywhere to her. Vera is also struggling with taking the secrets to the police in order to clear Charlie’s name, and allow to finally allow the truth of that night come out.

The story goes back and forth between present time, and the past that led up to Charlie’s death. Mainly Vera narrates the story, but there are chapters where Charlie after he dies, Vera’s dad, and the Pagoda (a landmark in the book where the kids hang out) also tell the story from their point of view. The different characters telling parts of the book helps you understand the different characters. It helps you understand the hatred Vera feels for Charlie, but also why she loves him. Charlie’s point of view really helps you understand his character, and how is parents’ behaviors affect how he acts with Vera.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz discusses death, teen pregnancy, underage drinking, drugs, pedophiles, sex, and has bad language.

I enjoyed reading Please Ignore Vera Dietz; it was very insightful to me as an adult.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz would be excellent to teach students about loss, and coping. Vera lost her mother (because she left) and her best friend.  n high schools’ today children unfortunately lose their lives leaving behind their friends.

The novel would also be used to help students understand the issues that come with drinking. I would have them research how alcohol is dangerous. How much of an addiction alcohol can become, and affect their bodies and lives.

There are different points of view in this story from the different characters. The students would look at the different points of view in the book, and compare and contrast how each character is seeing the same events in different ways. 

The students would also look at how the book is centered on not becoming their parents. The students would find events in the book that have Charlie and Vera acting like their parents.

Hate List by Jennifer Brown

 

Valerie’s life is changed forever on May 2, 2008. Valerie’s boyfriend, Nick, went on a killing spree in their high school cafeteria targeting people who were on a hate list that Valerie and Nick created. Valerie tried to stop Nick, but was shot in the process and saved a follow classmate before Nick turned the gun on himself.   

After a long, secluded summer break Valerie has to start back at Garvin High School as a senior, feeling alone and guilty. Valerie has to figure out her feelings she has towards Nick, the boyfriend who she never thought would shoot fellow classmates. She has feelings of guilt and love towards Nick because she can remember the amazing times that they shared together. She is also feeling guilty because of the hate list affecting so many of her classmates in a devastating way. Valerie must also learn how to forgive. With the help of Dr. Hieler, and her newfound friend, whom was on the dreaded Hate List, Jessica, Valerie learns to forgive not only her, but also how to say good-bye to Nick, and come to terms with all of the victims of that fateful morning.

A story of hate, terror, evil, and the ability to forgive. Hate List was a book that left me angry, sad, happy, and in tears. The author, Jennifer Brown, wrote this story in such a way that I could relate to the characters in the story, I could see them in my life. I could feel the pain that Valerie felt, I have been called names, and made to feel like I was not wanted around. The hate and dislike that one feels towards another person during times of your life is also something that I could relate to. Even though we try to like everyone, there are just some people who we do not like. The love that was felt between Nick and Valerie, how they felt like they only had each other to rely on at times. I could also relate with the forgiving natures of some of the characters in the book, you cannot hold onto something ugly or it will tear you down.

            I love this quote in the book from Valerie, “We all get to be winners sometimes. But what he didn’t understand was that we all had to be losers, too. Because you can’t have one without the other.” This is so amazing because everyone is a loser at times no matter who they are. Losing helps you learn to be a better person.

No words can express just how much I LOVED this book. I had never heard of this book until I read the title on the reading list for Advanced Adolescent Literature. This book left me with wanting to know more about Valerie once the author ended the story. Did she travel and find herself? Did she fall in love again? Where is she now? I want these questions answered!

I loved this book, though I would not use this book in my classroom. I teach third graders and this would just not be an appropriate book to read with them, way to young.

Hate List had a powerful message about forgiving yourself, and moving on after tragedy. In our society we are unfortunately plagued with school shootings in all grade levels. In a high school setting (11^th or 12^th grade) this book could be powerful to teach students that hate is a strong word. Valerie did sum up hate perfectly with the quote, “People hate. That's our reality.” This is a powerful quote because hate will never go away, and all people need to understand that, but it’s the actions that hurt the most. Hate List could be used to teach students that actions matter, actions affect more than just one person sometimes. Hate List could also be used to help teach students about the reality of school shootings. I would use the book to familiarize students with real school shootings, and the impact that they have had in our society.

I loved this book, and I would recommend this book to mature audiences. I have found a new author in Jennifer Brown, and will be reading some of her other books.

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

The Maze Runner begins with Thomas being in a box showing up to an unknown place called the Glade, with a bunch of other boys. Thomas cannot remember anything about his former life except for his name. He has no idea what is taking place in the place he woke up in, and is trying to get answers from the other boys.  The Glade is surrounded by a maze, with deadly creatures that the boys have to outrun.

Things begin to change in the Glade, and the unexpected happens, a girl shows up in the box. They have never had a girl in the Glade before.  Events unfold into a fight or die scenario for the boys, and they have to find a way out of the Glade and the Maze once and for all.

The Maze Runner did not sound like a book that I thought I would enjoy. It was a choice for me because I had it available to me because of my stepson. I read it, and I did enjoy the characters in the story. Of course I want to know what happens, but I would be all right with my stepson, who has read the rest of the series, just telling me. It was not a series that I was sucked into; I do not have the urge to read the rest of the series.

James Dashner created quite a character with Thomas that boys and girls could relate to, and admire. I really liked Thomas; he was a teenager that had compassion. The choices he made were choices that were selfless. He chose to try and save Alby and Minho, knowing that he would be left out in the maze all night long with a chance that he too would die. He was also a leader, which I enjoyed because although the boys who were in the maze before him felt that they were leaders, but they were living a complacent life just trying to survive day to day. Thomas came and stirred things up, wanting to survive and get back “home” wherever that was.

The novel has a strong male character, which can teach the reader to never give up, and fight for what you want. Thomas is also brave, and has a compassion for the other boys that is definitely a strong character trait for students today.

I would not use this novel with my third grade class, but I could see the novel being used in 7^h grade and above. I would teach this novel either whole group or small group depending on my students for that year. The Maze Runner could be used to teach character traits to students. I feel that there is a lot of depth to some of the characters, and a lot of conflict. The students could analyze internal and external conflicts as well.  I would also use the novel to set discussions with the students, there are a lot of different parts of the story that the students could discussion, and have small debates on.

The Maze Runner is a good book, and if I taught 7^th grade or above, I would recommend it students to read, but it was not my favorite book nor did I love it.