American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

1. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

Yang, Gene Luen., and Lark Pien. American born Chinese. New York: Square Fish, 2010. Print.


2. PLOT SUMMARY

This multi-narrative graphic novel tells the story of Jin Want, a young American Chinese boy struggling to find and reconcile his identity as both someone of Chinese descent, and as an American.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The graphic novel is illustrated in neat and well designed panels. The art is very light with bright colors and simple drawn figures. The novel is not too long, but perfect for a quick read. Many young adults will be drawn to the book for its unique voice in diversity. The three stories in the book are very easy to follow. The author takes three completely different characters and stories and connects them seamlessly by the end of the book. You do not need to be a minority to appreciate the message that your true identity is important. We do not need to change ourselves for others. This message is needed for teens, because it reminds them that it is okay to be themselves. Many minorities are not represented in books, especially graphic novels. This book is a must to complete any school or classroom library.
There is no inappropriate language or situations in the book. At times, there are offensive and aggressive stereotyping of Chinese people with the descent in the book. These moments are not taken lightly, but connect the message of the entire story. Although some situations ring false, it has to be there to expose the stereotypes are not true and sometimes hurtful.


4. CREATIVE ACTIVITY

Megan Lawrence wrote an extensive five week lesson using the graphic novel. It can be adapted to many grade levels. Check it out here.


5. RELATED RESOURCES

This video acts as a "DVD extra" for the book. The author speaks about the book to a crowd of high school students. It was posted on YouTube by Bishop O'Dowd High School.

• "Gene Yang - American Born Chinese - Monkey King Extras." YouTube. N.p., 01 May 2015. Web. 01 Aug. 2017. <https://youtu.be/mbbztB3WStA>.

Joshua Barajas, with KeraTV, interviews the author about the book and about racial issues. Read it here.

• Barajas, Joshua. "This Chinese-American cartoonist forces us to face racist stereotypes." PBS. Public Broadcasting Service, 30 Sept. 2016. Web. 01 Aug. 2017. <http://www.pbs.org/newshour/art/this-chinese-american-cartoonist-forces-us-to-face-racist-stereotypes/>.

6. PUBLISHED REVIEW

This is a Publisher's Weekly Review over American Born Chinese. Find it here.

• "Fiction Book Review: American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, Author . First Second $12.95 (233p) ISBN 978-1-59643-152-2." PublishersWeekly.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Aug. 2017. <https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-59643-152-2>.

Popular: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek by Maya Van Wagenen

1. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

Wagenen, Maya Van. Popular a Memoir: Vintage Wisdom for a Modern Geek. New York: Dutton Juvenile, 2014. Print.


2. PLOT SUMMARY

Maya is about to start her eighth grade year at the bottom of the social ladder. After receiving a book written by 1950's model Betty Cornell, Maya decides to follow the archaic advice for popularity to see if it applies in today's world.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The memoir is so well written that I would forget that the words were written by someone in their youth. Young adults and middle school children will relate the comedic voice of the author. Maya Van Wagenen is a talented writer that carefully tracked her experiment in popularity. Maya bravely decided to test the limits of middle school by seeing if advice from 60 years ago can make her popular today. There were times that I had to remind myself that Maya is real. She is so kind and fearless in her adventures.  She walks into with weird hair and strange outfits. I could not have been so brave when I was in middle school. I believe that many readers will be able to understand the need to become popular. Although much of the advice in the book did not make her popular, the change she made within herself did change our others viewed her. Maya concentrated on a different chapter a month and tracked if her popularity was any different.
The book is unique because it is a book for middle schoolers written by a middle schooler. The book contains real feelings and real situations. The book connects best with middle schoolers, but I believe that anyone of any age can enjoy this book. You will remember the terror of middle school and the need to fit in. As an adult, I found myself wanting to try many of the techniques that Maya tried. I also dusted off my own pearl necklace and found that it does go well with every outfit. Thank you Betty Cornell!


4. CREATIVE ACTIVITY

Jefferson County Public School system released a lesson plan for middle school teachers called Teaching Students To Read & Write A Memoir. This unit combines a group of lessons designed to teach students the skills and strategies involved in writing a memoir and reading a variety of literary works. The unit was designed for middle school students, but lessons can easily be adapted for use with younger or older students. Check it out!


5. RELATED RESOURCES

This video shares the author's experiences with her experiment. Maya Van Wagenen is on a news station talking about her novel.

• "Maya Van Wagenen: Living like a girl in the 50's." YouTube. N.p., 15 May 2014. Web. 22 July 2017. <https://youtu.be/A17Cl86e79s>.

Teenager Maya Van Wagenen has landed a film deal with Steven Spielberg after he bought the rights to her diary.

• "Steven Spielberg signs teen 'geek' for diary film." YouTube. N.p., 17 May 2014. Web. 22 July 2017. <https://youtu.be/JxeMTvU7ltU>.

Check out the book poster that I created for this book. Find it here.

6. PUBLISHED REVIEW

This is a Kirkus Review over Popular. Find it here.

• Wagenen, Maya Van. "POPULAR by Maya Van Wagenen." Kirkus Reviews. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 July 2017. <https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/maya-van-wagenen/popular-vanwagenen/>.

The Martian by Andy Weir

1. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

Weir, Andy. The Martian: a Novel. New York: Broadway , 2016. Print.


2. PLOT SUMMARY

Mark Watney has been abandoned on Mars and must learn to survive to be rescued.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Mark Watney is an engineer and botanist on a mission on Mars. The character has a sense of humor, despite being in constant danger of dying from everything. Watney has many things to worry about. Does he proper pressure? Does he have air to breathe? Is he breathing too much CO2? Does he have enough water? How long will his food last? Unlike other disaster books, there is not a chance of being saved any time soon. It would take a minimum of four years for him to be rescued. Come on, it's Mars, people! Despite all of this, Watney will keep you laughing with each page turning.
You do not need to be a science expert to enjoy the book. The book is so well written that I think I am significantly more intelligent now than I was before I started reading. Andy Weir explains everything very clearly. Young adults will have no issues understanding the book and its concepts. There is not one negative thing to say about this book. It was so engrossing that I did not put it down once I started. I read the entire book in one glorious day. I had seen the movie first, but like always - The book is always better! ; )
There is a bit of language in the book, but it is used in a respectable amount. The words are used to explain the circumstances, like "I'm going to science the **** out of this."
This book is a must read for anyone who likes disaster stories. This quickly became one of my favorite books.


4. CREATIVE ACTIVITY

The National Educational Association gives detailed lesson plans for teachers of any age group. I love websites that are very clear and well organized. The ages for each of the lesson plans are in bold next to each lesson so you know which is more appropriate for you. Find it here.

•  Nast, Phil. "The Martian." NEA. National Educational Association, n.d. Web. 11 July 2017. <http://www.nea.org/tools/lessons/63667.htm>.

5. RELATED RESOURCES

I am a huge fan of  Neil DeGrasse Tyson. Anyone else in love with Cosmos??? This is a live interview with Andy Weir on the show Star Talk. They really talk about the science of the book. This is an audio podcast that has been uploaded to youtube.com. Don't miss this great interview!

• "Startalk Radio - Surviving on Mars, with Andy Weir - Neil deGrasse Tyson talk." YouTube. YouTube, 05 Dec. 2016. Web. 11 July 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydJPlKpxMgA>.

If you have been living under a rock, then you might not know that this award winning book has been made into an award winning movie!

• "The Martian | Official Trailer [HD] | 20th Century FOX." YouTube. N.p., 19 Aug. 2015. Web. 11 July 2017. <https://youtu.be/ej3ioOneTy8>.

The author, Andy Weir, explains his next book.

• "Andy Weir (THE MARTIAN) talks about his new book ARTEMIS." YouTube. N.p., 08 May 2017. Web. 11 July 2017. <https://youtu.be/Jf0-zPMhDA4>.

6. PUBLISHED REVIEW

This is a Kirkus Review over The Martian. Find it here.

• "THE MARTIAN by Andy Weir." Kirkus Reviews. N.p., 8 Dec. 2013. Web. 10 July 2017. <https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/andy-weir/the-martian/>.

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

1. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

Niven, Jennifer. All the Bright Places. New York, NY: Random House Childrens, 2016. Print.


2. PLOT SUMMARY

Niven's website describes the book as: An exhilarating and heart-wrenching love story about a girl who learns to live from a boy who intends to die.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The book has two main characters that narrate the story, Violet and Finch. The view point switches between the two characters. The book begins grimly with both characters connecting over sharing similar suicidal thoughts. Violet is struggling over the loss of her older sister, Eleana, in a car accident. Finch struggles with depression and has behavior issues in school. The unlikely pair become partners in a class project and grow closer as the school year progresses. Finch's joy in living present each day is infectious for Violet as well as the reader. I envisioned myself wandering around Texas with someone and experiencing all that the state has to offer. Everyone has experienced moments of darkness and depression, especially as a teenager. Young adults will sympathize with the struggles of the characters as they battle depression and learn to live through love. The novel gives equal attention to the happy times as well as the bad. Jennifer novel is very honest about the struggles that teens go through. I felt like the subject was too dark for me, but this book is going to speak to many young adults for years to come.


4. CREATIVE ACTIVITY

Penguin Random House gives a great PDF file with a lesson plan for All the Bright Places. Wandering, the act of traveling without forethought,  is a very important part of the book. Violet and Finch have to visit many of the unique places in their home state and write a project about it. I really like the pre-reading discussions about what the student's would do if they were given the same assignment. This file is filled with many great activities, check it out!

• "All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven." PenguinRandomhouse.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 July 2017. <http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/237456/all-the-bright-places-by-jennifer-niven/9780385755917/>.

5. RELATED RESOURCES

The book is being made into a movie with Elle Fanning. The video contains spoilers for the story, so do not watch it if you have not read the book yet, unless you don't mind knowing before you read the book.

• "All The Bright Places Trailer #1 2017 Elle Fanning Movie HD [SPOILER]." YouTube. YouTube, 03 Aug. 2016. Web. 10 July 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6VXNwe5LXs>. CONTAINS SPOILERS!

This interview talks about how Jennifer Niven created the story and what inspired. Don't miss this in-depth interview with the author.

• TheABSCBNNews. "All the Bright Places: Author recalls inspiration for writing story." YouTube. YouTube, 26 May 2016. Web. 10 July 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GUDTnHzjjk>.

6. PUBLISHED REVIEW

This is a Kirkus Review over All the Bright Places. Find it here.

• "ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES by Jennifer Niven." Kirkus Reviews. N.p., 1 Oct. 2015. Web. 10 July 2017. <https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jennifer-niven/all-the-bright-places/>.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

1. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

Ng, Celeste. Everything I Never Told You. Leicester: Thorpe, 2014. Print.


2. PLOT SUMMARY

Lydia, a mixed race Chinese American teenager in 1977, is dead. The story weaves around the past and the present to uncover the secrets of her death.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The first line of text sets the tone for the entire book, "Lydia is dead." The question of the reader is - Why? The journey to the secret of sixteen year old Lydia's drowning is captivating. The morning after I read the book, I told my mother to only read the first paragraph. I received a call THAT NIGHT from my mother to talk about the book because she had finished. Once you begin, you will not be able to put the book down until you uncover the mystery.
The story acts as a window into the sad past where racism is an acting force in the decisions of the characters. Despite her death, Lydia is a constant image in the book. Her voice carries through the pages. Young adults will sympathize with the Lydia's struggles to maintain the expectations of her parents. The racial tones of the book mirror societal issues of today. Ng created characters that breathe life within the story. The people were so real that I questioned if any of the book was connected to struggles that the author may have faced in her youth. Lydia's father, James, struggles to lose all of his Chinese heritage to fit in with. Young adults will connect with James in the desire to conform while also connecting with Nathan and Lydia in the need to be independent.
Athough the thriller is mature in some of the sections of the parents, there are no explicit scenes that would be inappropriate for a high school student.


4. CREATIVE ACTIVITY

The historical setting of the book highlights the racial issues that were prevalent, even within a family. The Institute of Humane Education offers activities that explore prejudice and discrimination. Some of the activities described include Dare to Be Different, Judge Not, Lest Ye Be Judged, More Than a Label, Racism Alphabet, and Where are People Like Me.

• "6 Activities Exploring Prejudice and Discrimination." Institute for Humane Education. N.p., 08 June 2017. Web. 03 July 2017. <https://humaneeducation.org/blog/2014/6-activities-exploring-prejudice-discrimination/>.

5. RELATED RESOURCES

There is a video with the author, Celeste Ng, that youtube.com describes as "Celeste Ng speaks at the First-Year Experience® 2016 Conference in Orlando, FL. She reflects on how her own childhood experiences inspired the major themes featured in her book." Do not miss this video about reflecting on cultural identity, racism, and family.

• Ng, Celeste. "Reflecting on Cultural Identity, Race, and Family | Author Celeste Ng." YouTube. YouTube, 16 May 2016. Web. 03 July 2017. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVuEL_0YGkE>.

This interview talks about how she created the story. Don't miss this in-depth interview with the author.

• Eikenburg, Jocelyn. ""Write What Terrifies You": An Interview with Celeste Ng." Hippo Reads. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 July 2017.

6. PUBLISHED REVIEW

This is a Kirkus Review over Everything I Never Told You. It was originally published on June 24, 2014. It was put online May 21, 2014. Find it here.

• "EVERYTHING I NEVER TOLD YOU by Celeste Ng." Kirkus Reviews. N.p., 21 May 2014. Web. 30 June 2017. <https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/celeste-ng/everything-i-never-told-you/>.

Looking for Alaska by John Greene

1. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

Green, John. Looking for Alaska. Farmington Hills, Mich: Large Print Press, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning, 2016. Print.


2. PLOT SUMMARY

Miles "Pudge" Halter, a teenage boy, enrolls in a boarding school to find the something more than he had found in his home state of Florida. At his new school, Miles meets an adventurous prankster named Alaska who changes his life forever.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Miles Halter is young teen that had not experienced much of the world. He had no ties to friends or school. Miles decides to follow in his father's footsteps and moves to Culiver Creek in the muggy heat of Alabama. Inspired by his high school experiences, John Green's first novel is an honest portrayal of the teenage experience. This book does not promote the typical tech obsessed teen. Miles is an intelligent student and values his education. His passion for learning famous last words lends Miles to reading a lot of biographies. Quickly into his journey into a new school, Miles meets Alaska. Eccentric, beautiful, moody, and fierce Alaska. She brings him into a new group of friends that are not afraid to break the rules. He is able to juggle this new world of studying while exploring smoking, drinking, pornography, and pranking. His desire to be near Alaska as more than a friend keeps him close to a girl can never have. Young adults will find much of themselves in the experiences of Miles, like first relationships, making new friends, schoolwork, and wanting someone you cannot have.
The book has a mood that is foreboding due to the countdown. The book is broken into two parts: the before and the after. Each chapter of the book is counting down to a life changing event. The audience is left to wonder if the wonderful times will continue or will it come to an end?
There are some mature scenes in the book that are described in detail. I feel like despite the mature content, the book is important for teens because it speaks to making mistakes with the consequences and how to the search for forgiveness.


4. CREATIVE ACTIVITY

The book is separated into two sections: the before and the after. The activity I believe should be split up the same way.

Before:
The first part of the book concentrates on adventure and learning new things. One of the things that is new to Miles is pranking people. The students will plan and design a prank toward someone. The rules of the prank will be strict: no violence, no destruction, and there need to be only smiles when it ends. The students can present their prank to the class in a visual representation of their ideas. The assignment can also be done in groups to collaborate and make the harmless prank even better.

After:
Miles has a love for anyone's last words said in this life. The second portion of the book is not fun and full of adventure as the first part. With this sorrowed mood in mind, what would the student's want their last words to be and why? What can they say that would sum up the bulk of their lives to those who live?
I enjoy posting my student's work in my class or in the hallway. I would give the student's time to design a small poster of their last words to share with all of my classes.


5. RELATED RESOURCES

Looking for Alaska has had controversy over the books material and relevant to young adults. This is a great article that fights for Free Speech. The article features the author, John Green, speaking about his book and about censorship. Find it here.

• Flood, Alison. "US battle over banning Looking for Alaska continues in Kentucky." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 28 Apr. 2016. Web. 26 June 2017. <https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/apr/28/battle-keep-looking-for-alaska-kentucky-school-curriculum-john-green-ya>.

This article explains why a county in Tennessee banned Looking for Alaska. John Green also has a video posted in the article with the powerful message, "I am not a pornographer." Find it here.

• Nazaryan, Alexander. "Tennessee county bans YA novel "Looking for Alaska" because of oral sex scene: This is not Steinbeck, school officials say." NY Daily News. N.p., 09 May 2012. Web. 26 June 2017. <http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/pageviews/tennessee-county-bans-ya-alaska-oral-sex-scene-not-steinbeck-school-officials-blog-entry-1.1638256>.

6. PUBLISHED REVIEW

This is a Kirkus Review over Looking for Alaska. It was originally published on March 5, 2005. It was put online June 24, 2010. Find it here.

• "LOOKING FOR ALASKA by John Green." Kirkus Reviews. N.p., 24 June 2010. Web. 26 June 2017. <https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/john-green/looking-for-alaska-2/>.

The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst

1. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

Durst, Sarah Beth. The Queen of Blood. New York, NY: Harper Voyager, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2017. Print.


2. PLOT SUMMARY

Daliena is born with a magical ability to control spirits. In a world where spirits have the desire to kill humans, the talent sets her apart from her family and village. She sets off for training at an academy for those gifted with affinity to spirits and does not know the adventure that is in store.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The main character, Daliena, is a strong female role model. She does not let any stones in her path to slow her down. She does not doubt her self worth. A young girl often struggles with their image and with their feeling of self worth. Daliena knows that she is not as talented as other students in the academy. Many people tell her that she might as well quit the program. Daliena's hard work and dedication never falter and shows the audience that hard  work pays off. The book connects to young adults when Daliena is thrust into a world she was not prepared for. The readers can sympathize with having a sudden responsibility that you are not ready or prepared for. Daniela has to make decisions that not only affect her family, but her entire country. Young adults are also making decisions that can affect their lives, like choosing a right college or trade school. The character ages through the book from a young child to an adult and can connect with readers of many ages.
Some of the troubles I had with the book was the time it took to introduce the new world. There are many rules in this fantasy universe and it takes the entire book to lay a foundation for the series to come.  The book on its own does not tell a complete story. This introduction has to be immediately followed by the sequel to find out what happens to Daniela. I am excited to keep reading, but do not start the book if you are not willing to continue with more books.
There are some adult situations mentioned briefly in the book. Durst does not describe the romantic moments, but does no hide that they happen either. Be aware of the maturity level of the reader before suggesting this novel to a teenager. The book was written as an adult novel, but the themes connect to young adult readers.


4. CREATIVE ACTIVITY

Maker Monday's are very popular with our public library. Many of the events are themed toward a piece of literature. The book is based on more adult themes and would fit best with high school students. The book concentrates on the spirits that control nature. Without the spirits, the water would not flow. The fire would not burn. The birds would not fly. Nature is a dynamic force in the book.
On a Maker event, we could highlight nature by making an art piece. The library is currently taking old electronics and turning them into art sculptures. We can take parts of nature to create the art for the teens. Using dirt, twigs, fire (if you're brave enough), and other elements of nature can be used to create natural colors on a piece of paper or canvas. You are only limited to your imagination on the possibilities of how to bring nature into art. Maybe even giving the teens a chance to collect their own materials would be exciting.



5. RELATED RESOURCES

Barnes and Noble interviewed Sarah Beth Durst about the creation of the final cover art for the novel. You generally do not think about what it takes to decide on a visual representation of your work. Despite what the saying says, we do judge books by the covers. Find it here.

• "Making of a Cover: The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst." The B&N Sci-Fi and Fantasy Blog. N.p., 29 Apr. 2016. Web. 17 June 2017.

The School Library Journal has a great section on their site called Adult Books 4 Teens. Since The Queen of Blood is an adult fantasy that connects with teens, the list finds other great books to suggest after you have finished the two books released in the Queens of Renthis series currently.

• "Adult Books for Teens." School Library Journal. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 June 2017.

6. PUBLISHED REVIEW

This is a Kirkus Review over The Queen of Blood. It was originally published on September 20, 2016. It was put online August 17, 2016. Find it here.

• "THE QUEEN OF BLOOD by Sarah Beth Durst." Kirkus Reviews. N.p., 17 Aug. 2016. Web. 17 June 2017.