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.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

1. BIBLIOGRAPHIC DATA

Paulsen, Gary. Hatchet. New York: Bradbury Press, 1987.


2. PLOT SUMMARY

After his parent's divorce, thirteen year old Brian is flying on a bush plane to see his father when the pilot suddenly has a heart attack and dies. Brian survives the plane crash. With only a hatchet at his side, Brian must learn to survive in the wilderness.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Although it is regarded a classic, I do not sense that the text is dated. The book feels modern because the action takes place in the wilderness, where time does not change its dangers.  The universal concern of being alone and weak makes this book timeless, because you can sympathize at any historic period. A strength of the book is the length because it is a quick read. It is suitable for young ages who are ready for adventure chapter books. The vocabulary is very simple and stays at an elementary grade level. The audio book was a little under four hours long. The book itself is an amazing piece of literature.  It is equally enthralling for adults to read as it is for children. The length is a weakness for older readers because you do not wish the story to end.
The main character is relatable to both boys and girls. The only thing you need to love, to enjoy this book is action and adventure.
Brian struggles with his parents' divorce in many stages. He blames his parents for his situation because if "the secret" had not happened Brian would not have been stranded in the first place. The novel connects with students on a social level who may also be dealing with the separation of a family unit. The students can connect with Brian on an emotional level by his complete isolation from his parents and society. Brian has to learn to be self sufficient and I believe that readers of all ages can connect with need to take care of yourself.
This book has a wonderful place in young adult literature because it's naturalism in character and plot transports the reader to the wilderness with only a hatchet and a need to survive.


4. CREATIVE ACTIVITY

A fun activity to engage readers is to have a team building exercise that highlights creativity. This lesson can be done different ways depending on what kind of supplies you have. The goal is for students to work in teams to build a strong shelter with only a few materials. What is so hard about that? The best part is the students will need to stay completely silent. Brian did not have a chance to communicate when he was stranded and he built a protective structure. Can your student's do the same?
This can be done with a variety of supplies. A popular choice is pretzels and marshmallows because there is a possibility of snack time. I have seen this used successfully by also adding paper to the small structures, but make sure to be very clear about not eating paper. ; )  If food is not the best option for you, there is nothing better than the classic: newspaper. Give the students newspaper and tape and let them use their imagination on a much larger scale. The activity not only helps build relationships, but also builds an understanding for the plight of Brian.


5. RELATED RESOURCES

National Geographic has a lot of intriguing videos on their youtube.com page. This video is a survival story on a different terrain: ice. If the story urges to look for something factual, then this video is for you: Alone on the Ice: The Best Survival Story You've Never Heard

• Roberts, David . "Alone on the Ice: The Best Survival Story You've Never Heard | Nat Geo Live." YouTube. National Geographic, 08 Apr. 2013. Web. 05 June 2017. <https://youtu.be/7lkS5psgo6Q>.

Continue down the rabbit hole that is known as the internet search with this interesting find. The article details ten children who survived against all odd. Read it here: 10 Kids Who Survived in the Wilderness

• Mom.me, K. Thor Jensen for. "10 Kids Who Survived in the Wilderness." Mom.me. N.p., 12 Feb. 2014. Web. 05 June 2017. <https://mom.me/lifestyle/11106-10-kids-who-survived-wilderness-themselves/>.

6. PUBLISHED REVIEW

Kirkus Review over Hatchet. It was originally published on August 15, 1987. It was put online October 18, 2011. Find it here.

• "HATCHET by Gary Paulsen." Kirkus Reviews. Bradbury, 15 Aug. 1987. Web. 05 June 2017. <https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/gary-paulsen/hatchet/>.