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/>.

Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Tan, Shaun. Tales from Outer Suburbia. New York: Scholastic Press, 2008.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

From Shaun Tan's website: "Tales from Outer Suburbia is an anthology of fifteen very short illustrated stories. Each one is about a strange situation or event that occurs in an otherwise familiar suburban world; a visit from a nut-sized foreign exchange student, a sea creature on someone’s front lawn, a new room discovered in a family home, a sinister machine installed in a park, a wise buffalo that lives in a vacant lot. The real subject of each story is how ordinary people react to these incidents, and how their significance is discovered, ignored or simply misunderstood."


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

There is not one central character in the book. Each story has a unique and distinct character. The illustrations are dark. The creepy and strange artwork supports the text in aiding with the imagination of this surreal world. The pictures are humorous and otherworldly. The graphic novel is not what I expected. My impression of a graphic novel is an extremely long comic book. This book is more like a grown up picture book than a comic book. The text passages are not short paragraphs, but complete fantasy short stories that can span a few pages with pictures there to aid in the storytelling.


4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

 Ditmar Award for Best Artwork 2009

Matt Berman from Common Sense Media: "And now for something completely different -- again. With his previous book, The Arrival, author/illustrator created something new: a wordless graphic novel dense with visual metaphor."

David Fickling from The Guardian: "It's an extraordinary image, surprising yet inevitable, resonant with all sorts of metaphorical possibilities. And yet it's beautifully grounded in the rivalry of sibling hood, in which winning or losing an argument with your brother counts for more than discovering that the world really is flat after all. That kind of moment is what Shaun Tan excels at, and that's what makes this collection so charming, and so memorable."


5. CONNECTIONS

Other Books by Shaun Tan:
The Playground    ISBN 9783037644546
The Lost Thing     ISBN 978171632354
The Red Tree     ISBN 9780734401724
The Arrival     ISBN 9780439895293

Lesson Plans:The publisher, Scholastic Inc., has a great resource lesson plans. All of the plans located on this site are for 6th grade students and up. Find it here: Scholastic Plan

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stiefvater, Maggie. The Scorpio Races. New York: Scholastic Press, 2011.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

From Scholastic Press: "It happens every November — the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live; many die. At nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He’s a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen."


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book is a magical and bloody ride. The two main characters begin to circle each others stories like water flowing down the drain. The island described is small, with the only strangers described are the tourists. Despite the size, Puck and Sean have not ever met or heard of each other. Both are enduring a dangerous training that is guaranteed to end in blood. As the days draws closer to the race, the pair also draw closer to each other. Each character is a mirror image of the other. Both Sean and Puck are smart and strong willed. The characters have a great love for the animals in their care. The text expertly describes the experience of riding a horse and the experience of training a horse for a race. The texts switch from Puck and Sean's point of view. I enjoyed that the romance aspects of the book were barely a side note in the greater adventure of the race. The book holds a strong stance of women's empowerment in male dominated sports, like equestrians. The book is set just before women's suffrage movement in America. The island of Thisby is close to "the main land" of England. There is an American character that comes to visit the island for the races that shows the financial differences between the tourists and the island locals.
The Scorpio Races was an exciting read that was difficult to put down. Once the book ended, I immediately looked for the next book. Sadly, Stiefvater has no current plans to write a sequel... but we can always hope. :)

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

New York Times Notable Children's Book 2011

Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year 2011

School Library Journal Best Books of the Year 2011

A Horn Book Fanfare Book 2011

A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book 2011

ALA Notable Children's Books 2011

Michael L. Printz Honor Book 2012

Jennifer Hubert Swan from The New York Times: "Stiefvater not only steps out of the young adult fantasy box with The Scorpio Races but crushes it with pounding hooves... If The Scorpio Races sounds like nothing you've ever read, that's because it is."

From Publisher's Weekly: "A study of courage and loyalty tested... utterly compelling."

From Horn Book: "Stiefvater's novel, inspired by Manx, Irish, and Scottish legends of beautiful but deadly fairy horses that emerge from the sea each autumn, begins rivetingly and gets better and better... all the way, in fact, to best."

From Kirkus Reviews: "Masterful... like nothing else out there now."

From Booklist: "A book with cross-appeal to lovers of fantasy, horse stories, romance, and action-adventure, this seems to have a shot at being a YA blockbuster."

From School Library Journal: "Upon the sea-battered and wind-swept isle of Thisby, fall brings the famed and feared capaill uisce, or water horses, and with them, death... The author takes great liberties with the Celtic myth, but the result is marvelous."

Darienne Stewart from Common Sense Media: "Maggie Stiefvater serves up a terrific mix of action, magic, and romance that defies neat categorization into any one genre."


5. CONNECTIONS

Other Books by Maggie Stiefvater:
Shiver      ISBN 9781741697551
Linger     ISBN 9788184776188

Forever      ISBN 9788817058780

Sinner     ISBN 9781407145754

Lesson Plans:
The above link is also a great lesson plan from the publisher's. See it again here: Discussion Guide

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2008.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

Nobody Owens is a normal boy, except that he has been raised by ghosts in a graveyard after his family is brutally murdered.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Neil Gaiman first caught my eye with his Sandman comic books.  It was not until researching this book that I realized that I was already a secret fan of his work. I have seen may of the movie adaptions of his work. I have always been attracted to the strange and creepy, but I do not like to be scared. The Graveyard Book is very humorous and smart. Although there are moments of suspense and adventure, it is not a horror novel. The fantasy leads the reader from the boy being found as a toddler to growing up to adulthood in a graveyard. The book is full of vibrant and lively characters... for the dead. The values and humor of the ghosts span across generations and centuries. As Edinger stated in her New York Times article in 2009, Gaiman writes with a sophistication without talking down to children. The ghosts all have a unique sense of humor and emanate history with every interaction with Nobody Owens. The morbid contents of the books are not depressing, but instead intriguing. I believe that both young audiences and old will feel a fascination for the inside down world of the graveyard within the world of the dead. I chose to listen to the book as it was orally read by the author, Neil Gaiman. I believe the mixture of a well written story told by a charismatic author made the story come to life even more. I know that the base of the story is a complete fabrication, but the dead seemed so alive to me. The troubles of this new kind of family kept me listening for more. Gaiman was able to bring the characters to life with different voices and accents.


4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

Cybils Awards for Fantasy and Science Fiction 2008

John Newbery Medal 2009

Hugo Award for Best Novel 2009

Locus Award for Best Young-Adult Book 2009

Carnegie Medal 2010

SFX Award for Best Novel 2010

Matt Berman from Common Sense Media: "It may seem odd to say it, but this is a lovely book. Suspenseful, yes, and a bit creepy, but lovely nonetheless."

Monica Edinger from The New York Times: "The story’s language and humor are sophisticated, but Gaiman respects his readers and trusts them to understand."


5. CONNECTIONS

Other Books by Neil Gaiman:
The Sandman     ISBN  9781840231649
Neverwhere     ISBN 9783641038649
American Gods     ISBN 9780061122910

Stardust     ISBN 9789756902509

Coraline     ISBN 9780439576888

Good Omens     ISBN 9781473214712
The Ocean at the End of the Lane     ISBN 9782846268035

Lesson Plans:

Novel Ties offers an in depth lesson plan for the novel. I love anything that gives me worksheets that are ready to print! Work smart, not harder! Find it here: Lesson Plan

Harper Collins, the publisher, has a YouTube.com page called "Harper Kids." They have all eight chapters of the book read by Neil Gaiman, the author. Gaiman has an amazing talent in oral story telling. A separate link can be found Harper Kids

The Game of Silence by Louise Erdrich

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY

Erdrich, Louise. The Game of Silence. New York: Harper Collins Publishers, 2005.

2. PLOT SUMMARY

The book is the second book to a planned nine-book series that highlights one year in the life of Omakayas, a young native girl. There are only four book released as of April 2017.


3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Omayakas is a nine year old girl in the Ojibwe tribe. The book takes place one year in the life of the girl. The story follows the big and small events that happens as the seasons change. The area around Lake Superior in the mid 19th century is explained as the tribe moves to different homes depending on the season. As Omayakas explains, their language is not written down and it is hard to define exactly what year it is. They describe time through memories and weather. For example, Omayakas is nine winters old. The white man or non-Indians, called chimookoman, have been around for three generations. There are over one hundred Ojibwe words throughout the book that are explained in a glossary, though most can be inferred from context. Many members of her family and tribe are described in length. A small problem is introduced in Summer that is not pressing to the characters, but is dooming for the readers who know Native American history. By the end of Spring, the tribe is being pushed out of their lands. There is a sense of foreboding while reading the novel knowing the tragedies that will eventually the Native Americans in our history.


4. REVIEW EXCERPTS

2006 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction

Matt Berman from Common Sense Media: "Louise Erdrich writes in a flowing, seamless style, and liberally salts her story with Ojibwe words. An Ojibwe herself, she writes with the confidence and authority of an insider."

From Kirkus Review: "Eager readers beguiled by her sturdy and engaging person will scarcely notice that they have absorbed great draughts of Ojibwe culture, habits and language."


5. CONNECTIONS

Other Books by Jim Murphy:
The Birchbark House     ISBN: 9781504759229
Grandmother's Pigeon     ISBN: 9780786821372
The Range Eternal     ISBN: 9780786802203
The Porcupine Year    ISBN: 9780006393917
Chickadee     ISBN: 9780060577902
Makoons     ISBN: 9780060577933

Lesson Plans:
Chelsea Brolsma, Stephanie Kuzyk, Stephanie Lueck, and Brent Stinson created a lesson plan together. It is meant for middle school grades. Lesson Plan

The publisher offers a great Teacher's Guide for all of the books available in the series. Harper Collins Study Unit