The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is the National Book Award Winner and was required to read for this assignment.
Junior is a Spokane Indian living on the Spokane reservation and he is proud of his culture. He is going through a life changing identity crises and doesn't know who is is or where he belongs. The only thing that keeps him sane is drawing. Junior finally decides that he must get of the rez, or reservation in order to have a better education. Junior has to travel far for his classes and when he gets to school, he does not fit in well. Junior doesn't give up he decides hes going be himself, make friends and work hard in his classes. Junior goes through life changing identity crises that makes him wonder where he belongs.
I love the relationship that Junior and Rowdy have. It hurt my heart when Rowdy and Junior got in a fight because Junior went to another school. It makes me think of how my relationships were with my friends at that age of life.
I can see how this book is frequently on the banned/challenged list because it touch on some adult topics and has a lot of foul language. I can also see how this book is the winner of the National Book Award, has positive reviews, and is developmentally appropriate for middle school readers.
Here is the link to The Absolutely true Diary of a part-time Indian book trailer: Click here for Book Trailer
Interview with the Alexie Sherman Click here for the Interview
Just a few Other Titles By Alexie Sherman :
Speak was a National Book Award Finalist and was a requirement to read for this course.
Melinda is a Freshman at Merryweather High School her friends are not talking to her because she called the police and ended a High School Party they were attending. Her ex-best friend Rachel is ignoring her but Melinda wants to scream inside and tell her why she called the police. Melinda finally decides to Speak up and tell her friends what happened to her at the party.
I remember reading this book as a teenager. This realistic fiction book was a great read and I could not put it down. It was the National Book Award finalist and on the list of banned books. It talks about rape and other experiences that teenagers may go through in life. I even remember watching the movie it brought the book more to life for me after I watched it. Middle school and high school students will hear or experience some of these issues at some point in their life.
Laurie Anderson talking about her book Speak.
Speak Book Trailer.
Speak the movie.
Some other Titles by Laurie Anderson:
Lucky Broken girl won the Pura Belpre award and was a requirement to read for this course.
Ruth is a young girl who just moved to Queens from Cuba. Her dad's dream was to own a car. So, that dream came true and he purchased a blue oldsmobile. They went to go visit old friends from Cuba and on their way back they were in an accident. Ruth struggles to return to normal life, but she will not let this obstacle keep her down.
I loved how this story is based on the real life of the author, Ruth Behar. Lucky Broken Girl is a great book for fourth through sixth grade readers. The title is what drove me to want to read this book. Once, I started reading this book I couldn't put it down and I feel the students will have the same response.
Here is the link to Ruth Behar's Bio: ruthbehar.com
Ruth Behar's Lucky Broken Girl Book Trailer: Book Trailer
Some Other Titles by Ruth Behar:
Annie on my mind was a requirement to read for this course and has been a challenged/ banned book.
Liza is a 17 year old girl attending Foster Academy. She has a dream to attend MIT and become an architect. Liza enjoys going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for inspiration. It is here where she sees Annie. She is instantly drawn to her and they instantly become friends. Even though the two come from different backgrounds they end up falling in love with one another. What will happen when people find out about their relationship?
This story was a great read and to know that the author is also part of the LGBT community just made me love it more. This would be a great read for YA readers who have questions about their sexuality or readers going through the same experience.
Here is a link to Nancy Garden's Bio: website
Nancy Garden's Annie on My Mind: Book trailer
Some other Titles by Nancy Garden:
Lily and Dunkin has been a challenged/banned book. It has won awards such as the best book of the year NPR, and southern book fiction prize for juvenile literature. This book was a requirement to read for this course.
Timmy McGrother attends Gator Lake Middle school and is dealing with issues about his identity. His issue is Tim was born a boy, but feels like a girl named Lily Jo. His family is aware of how he feels about being a girl, but refuses to let him dress as a girl out in public. They are afraid that he will be bullied. Dunkin has recently moved from New Jersey and doesn't have any friends. He is also suffering from bipolar disorder and just wants to fit in with other kids and be normal.The two kids form a friendship that will help them get through tough times and make them stronger than ever.
I found this book interesting to read and feel that the age group it applies to fits perfectly. During middle school kids start to wonder about their identity and question who they are. I remember middle school being one of the toughest grades to be in, because kids can be so cruel and your body is going through many different changes. I find that having books that discuss these issues is good to have, because students who are going through these situations don't have to feel alone.
Donna Gephart web page
Donna Gephart talking about her book Lily and Dunkin
Donna Gephart's Lily and Dunkin book trailer
Some other Titles by Donna Gephart:
This book is considered highly controversial and is on the American Library Association's most challenged books. This book also won many awards such as: "notable book of the year", and the "century's best children's books."This book was requirement to read for this course.
It's perfectly Normal is an informative book about sex, sexual health and changing bodies. This books does not sugar coat any of the information that it talks about.The text is knowledgeable, to the point and accurate. The book provides pictures and diagrams and are provided for the reader to truly grasp the concepts. It's perfectly normal is separated into sections such as: What is sex?, Out bodies, puberty, families and babies, decisions and staying healthy.
This book handles sexual health and sexual issues while respecting the young readers that will use this book. This book provides up-to-date answers and explanations on contraceptives, STDs and puberty. I think this book does a great job of providing information and health facts that will truly benefit young people without treating them like children.
Robie H. Harris webpage
Robie H. Harris talking about her books.
Dad upset about the book It's Perfectly Normal
Some other Titles by Robie Harris:
Monster has won the Coretta Scott King Honor Book, The Michael L. Printz award, the National book award finalist,and the heartland award for excellence in YA literature finalist. This book was a requirement to read for this course.
Sixteen-year-old Steve Harmon faces trial for the pre-meditated murder of a drug store owner during a robbery. He is accused of being the lookout during the robbery and is looking at a possibility of spending 25 years to life in prison. As the trial begins both sides present evidence for their cases and it is hard to tell which way things will go. The defense does a good job creating reasonable doubt as we hear the testimony of the witness Steve. Steve is ultimately acquitted , but the questions about justice will remain.
While I was reading this book I could tell there were many themes present in this novel such as: racism, judicial equality, death, and justice.Even though this book was published in 1999 these are all very relevant topics right now, and therefore fit easily into the YA category.
Walter Dean Myers webpage
Monster book trailer
Walter Dean Myers talking about the book Monster
Some other Titles by Walter Dean Myers:
Ness,P. (2008). The knife of never letting go. Boston, MA:Candlewick Press
This book was a requirement to read for this course.
Todd lives on a colony in the New World called Perentisstown with his adopted parents Ben and Cillian. The community has no females. Todd is told that they all died from the germ that was spread to them from the alien race call the Speckle. The side effect from the germ is the Noise which is the constant thoughts heard aloud from all men and animals in this community. Todd discovers a hole or silence in the Noise. When this happens, he is forced to runaway while the entire town is chasing him. He soon finds out the silence is caused by a girl Viola and together they continue to run away while Todd discovers that everything he knew about his life and his world is a lie.
This is the first story in the Dystopian book series called Chaos Walking. The book is characterized as Dystopian for its controlling society and has other science fiction thoughts. At first I thought I was not going to like this book, but after reading it I was amazingly surprised and look forward to reading more books by Patrick Ness.
Patrick Ness webpage
The Knife of Never Letting Go book trailer
In Conversation with Patrick Ness
Some other Titles by Patrick Ness:
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