Speak, the movie based on the book

Title: Speak
Based on the book: Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson
Year: 2004
Director : Jessica Sharzer
Screenplay: Annie Young Frisbie & Jessica Sharzer
Distributed by: Showtime Networks, Inc.
Running time: 92 min.

Main characters:
Melinda Sordino--played by Kristin Stewart
Joyce, Melinda's mother--played by Elizabeth Perkins
Jack, Melinda's father--played by D.B. Sweeney
Mr. Freeman, art teacher--played by Steve Zahn

It seems like ages since I read the book, Speak, nearly 6 weeks ago because I've read so many books in between, but seeing the movie reinforced my appreciation of the book (click here for my book review.) I thought that the movie stayed pretty true to the book for the most part, leaving out some subplots and other details. However, the major difference between the book and the movie, for me, was the change in the "scene of the crime." In the book, it happened on a walk in the trees nearby where the party was taking place, but in the movie, it happened in a car. It is my understanding that this change was due to the actress' allergy to grass, but I felt like the change of location was detrimental for a couple reasons. First, the walk in the woods scene gave more credibility to Melinda's innocent role than a trip to the car. Secondly, the woods offered a symbolic connection with Melinda's art focus for the year--trees. All in all, I felt like the filmmakers did a wonderful job portraying Melinda's sense of isolation and blended narration, flashbacks, and sequential action. The book contains, of course, significantly more narration, which gives a better picture of what is going on in Melinda's head, and I do think that the film could have used a little more of this narration.

Regarding the acting, I did think that Kristin Stewart was perfect for the role; she plays the quiet, thoughtful, observant, angst-ridden teen very well. I loved Steve Zahn's character, the art teacher, whose role in the book was not quite as colorful but equally significant in terms of Melinda's transformation. I appreciated some of the emphasis on visual elements that were possible in this medium, such as the repetitive imagery of Andy's hand over the Melinda's mouth, to keep her quiet, and again with Melinda's "former" friend Rachel. I felt that the turningpoint for Melinda was more clear in the movie, with emphasis on the art teacher's advice, "If something's eating at you, you gotta find a way to use it." He was talking about artistic expression and more. I felt like the influence art had on Melinda was a little more emphasized in the movie, but I loved this. In the book, she also found confidence when she found she was good at tennis, but this was not emphasized in the movie. I thought the movie did a good job portraying moments where you think Melinda is on the verge of saying something, speaking out, but most of the adults were either oblivious or simply not receptive. Melinda's introspective jaunts to the hospital for rest or to the closet or feeling the wind on her face underscore her artistic nature, preferring the sensory approach to the world rather than the verbal one and help us understand why she chose not to speak out. If I had to say which was better, of course the book would win, hands down, but I must also say that adding the movie to the experience of reading the book has enriched it, added color and life and art to the medium of text.

Fifth Class Session

Last night's class began with booktalks, which surprised me because I expected that we would begin by addressing and highlighting our guest speaker, Mr. Bart Bare, author of Girl: a Novel. Instead, he became an interested spectator in our class, and I suspect he took in his own observations of us as we discussed books, authors, book covers, and interpretations of the books we had read. The booktalks were very interesting and I took a few notes about the books I want to go out and read (sometime after I'm recovered from this course) as well as the techniques people used in their booktalk presentations that I felt were helpful in making their presentations appealing.
So here are some booktalk strategies I noted:

• address the audience
• choices, questions
• leave the ending open--why read? . . . if you want to find out ____?
  
• Meet _____, use characters' names
• involve the audience (have audience read, participate)
• bookmark--designate books in booktalk in diff. color or on different side of bookmark

We also discussed Playing with Matches, by Brian Katcher, which I've wanted to do since I finished that book. It feels so satisfying to discuss a book that you've enjoyed and appreciated. It feels so good to get other opinions, other points of view about the characters, their motivations, the author's strengths or shortcomings. Mostly, I enjoy talking about the things I've enjoyed about a book rather than criticisms. When a book moves me or when I notice something subtle or particularly symbolic in a book, I want to share the experience of a book with someone else who has read that same book and felt some of the same things. Book discussions, for me, are so gratifying. Really good books, the books that move me to tears or cause me to think, are meant to be shared, discussed, explored, and relished.

We did, finally, get to hear the Contemporary Realistic chapter presentation tonight. It was originally scheduled for last week and those group members had to haul all their books to class a second time, but their presentation was really good--packed with information, funny, and of course, it poked fun at Tammy's love for fantasy literature. They presented short bits about several interesting contemporary realistic novels, which made me want to go out and read some of them. I loved how Tammy, who was banned from promoting her beloved Fantasy literature in this class, was able to champion her love for all things Harry Potter while her group presented valuable information about Fantasy's polar opposite genre--Brilliant!

Perhaps the most interesting component of tonight's class was our interaction with author, Bart Bare. He answered questions that we had submitted regarding his writing habits, his inspiration, and he offered specific details about his book that we all read for this class. I enjoyed hearing his experiences, thoughts, and opinions about writing as well as the importance of cover artwork. He was warm and friendly and he helped us all to understand a little more of a writer's perspective. He said that all books start with a writer's inspiration: "what if . . . .?" He discussed how he had modeled Loren in Girl after a true young girl he had known who "coped with life by virtue of her character" and his wife had suggested, "There's a story there . . ." I was intrigued by the comments that he made about her virtue and then I understood his motivations for making Loren so admirable. He explained how his novel had impacted a reader when the reader said that she loved the book because Loren "wouldn't let them make her a victim." Despite my own criticisms of the book, I do appreciate that he chose to make young Loren a character with virtue, honor, and integrity who affects those around her in a positive way. In a world where these characteristics seem lost, it is refreshing to see them feature so prominently in a novel. As the class was ending, Mr. Bare offered a brief story and some advice for us. He said that he owed his intellectual life to a librarian, Ethyl Sheffield, who encouraged him to read and supported his interests. Then he offered a quote, telling us to write it down:
"I have kissed the hem of eternity; I have been a teacher." Thank you, Mr. Bare, for encouraging us, for reminding us why we want to be librarians, and just how much impact we can have.

The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak

Title: The Book Thief

Author: Markus Zusak

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

Year: 2005

# Pages: 552

Category: Historical Fiction Presentation

Genre: Historical Fiction

My Summary & Critique:

“It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Narrated by Death, Markus Zusak's groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a young foster girl living outside of Munich in Nazi Germany. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she discovers something she can't resist- books. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor's wife's library, wherever they are to be found.
With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, Liesel learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids, as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement.”—goodreads.com

This is the script from my booktalk, in which I introduce myself, as Death, the narrator of The Book Thief. Then, the booktalk is given from my/Death's point of view, with some direct quotations and paraphrased lines from The Book Thief:

Let me introduce myself using a few excerpts from the first book I will be discussing today:

***HERE IS A SMALL FACT ***

You are going to die.

I am in all truthfulness attempting to be cheerful about this whole topic, though most people find that hard to believe. Please, trust me. I most definitely can be cheerful. Just don't ask me to be nice. Nice has nothing to do with me.

You are going do to die.

Does this worry you?

I urge you--don't be afraid.

I'm nothing if not fair.

--Of course, an introduction.

A beginning.

Where are my manners?

I could introduce myself properly, but it's not really necessary. You will know me well enough in time. It suffices to say that at some point in time, I will be standing over you, as genially as possible. Your soul will be in my arms. A color will be perched on my shoulder. I will carry you gently away."

So Who am I??

Yes, I was told that you are a very bright group of humans.

I know I may not appear like you expect. What did you expect me to look like?

"A Small Piece of Truth:

I do not carry a sickle or scythe.

I only wear a hooded black robe when it’s cold.

And I don’t have those skull-like features you seem to enjoy pinning on me from a distance. You want to know what I truly look like? I’ll help you out. Find yourself a mirror while I continue."

I want you to know that I don’t usually appear to so many of you humans at once, unless your lives were, indeed in peril, but I assure you that I have made a special visit to your group on my day off to share with you some very interesting books. Books that will intrigue you, delight you, entertain you, make you think, teach you something, and help you look at Death, me, in a whole new way. For in these books, I am prominent in the story, I may even be the star.

Let’s begin with one of my most prominent roles, The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak.

I have the honor and privilege of narrating this story—a story about a little German girl, Liesel Meminger, who was left with foster parents just before the outbreak of World War II. On the way to her new home with her younger brother, I meet Liesel for the first time as I have come to take her brother away. She intrigues me, so I watch her. At her brother’s funeral, she stole her first book—the Grave Digger’s handbook—that had been dropped in the snow. It would be the book from which she learned to read and it would not be the last book she stole. As she settles in with her harsh but caring foster mother, Rosa, and kind, gentle foster father, Hans, she gets to know the people of her poor neighborhood and learns to read. Her obsession with books grows as the war closes in, rationing is put in place, air raids sound, and Hans takes in a Jewish man named Max to hide in the basement. And through it all, I travel the Earth, taking in more and more souls every day and you’ll wonder who I will come for next. Read The Book Thief to find out what happened to Liesel, what became of the Jewish man in the cellar whom she came to adore, and find out how I could know her entire story when I only met the book thief three times. As you read this story, you will learn how the power of words transformed a little girl, a family, a war-torn community, a nation, and me.

How I Found the Strong, by Margaret McMullan

Title: How I Found the Strong

Author: Margaret McMullan

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Year: 2004

# Pages: 136

Category: History choice, Historical Fiction Presentation

Genre: Historical Fiction

My Summary & Critique:

How I Found the Strong is a novel about the effects of the Civil War on a young boy and his family in rural Mississippi. It is told from the perspective of ten-year-old Frank Russell, who wishes he could have gone off to war with his father and brother, Henry, who is fourteen and “old enough to be a soldier.” Frank is the baby of the family, nicknamed “Shanks” because of his skinny legs, and rarely given any serious attention or respect. As the war takes its toll on the South, his family suffers extreme poverty, death, abandonment, and near-starvation. All that’s left at home are Shanks, his mother, the new baby, and their slave, Buck, who is not much older than Shanks. With each passing season, Shanks witnesses more of the hardships and atrocities of war and comes to his own conclusions about slavery, cowardice, and ultimately, his own strength.

Margaret McMullan’s novel about the Civil War is unlike any other novel I have read regarding this period in history. Learning about the war through the eyes of a ten year old boy has been particularly interesting, but also seeing the war from the viewpoint of someone slightly outside of it, in the suburbs of the war, so to speak, has been an intriguing and enlightening experience. McMullan touches on all the expected issues related to the war like Southern attitudes toward the North, toward slavery, their confidence that the war wouldn’t last, and of course the vivid atrocities of war as Shanks sees these with his own eyes in a makeshift hospital for wounded soldiers. The author also handles other issues such as desertion, lynching, the relationship between a slave and his master’s family, the humility of poverty, the nature of freedom, and the cruelty that walks hand-in-hand with racism. McMullan achieves a wonderful coming-of-age story amidst the depressing climate of war and poverty that would be excellent for young adults to read and discuss in classes as a supplement to the historical facts they learn about the Civil War period.

Fourth class session

For tonight's class, we opened with a discussion of Born to Run. The class seemed to be split pretty evenly between those who loved it and those who absolutely didn't. I have to agree that it is the type of book that could take a little time for the reader to accept, and I believe it has more to do with expectations than the actual merits of the book. Some people really were inspired to get out and run barefoot while others were content to read and absorb this great story. Still others, uninspired and uninterested, were turned off by the book.

Next, the fantasy group presented the information from their chapter, which I thought was very informative and thorough. Many of the books mentioned are books I have read or want to read. I love the variety of story possibilities available in the fantasy genre.

After a break, we listened to part of an audiobook in which the characters were from the antebellum South and reflected the kind of anti-Yankee sentiment that pervaded the South during the time period in which our book, The Unspeakable Crime, was set. Listening to this section of the audiobook really did set the stage for the kind of feelings that were prominent in Atlanta in 1913, setting us up for our courtroom reinactment.

Then, we proceeded to have a casual "mock trial" of Leo Frank using information from the book. This activity was fun and an interesting way to review the events of the book, but we all agreed in the end that it would have been more productive if the witnesses were able to prepare ahead of time for their interrogations rather than attempt to remember sometimes minute details from the book.

For our next class session, we will be having guest speaker, Bart Bare, author of Girl: a Novel. It should be interesting to speak with him and get his insight. Also, the Friends & Society group presentation that was assigned for tonight was rescheduled for next week.

An Unspeakable Crime: the Prosecution and Persecution of Leo Frank, by Elaine Marie Alphin

Title: An Unspeakable Crime: the Prosecution and Persecution of Leo Frank

Author: Elaine Marie Alphin

Publisher: Carolrhoda Books

Year: 2010

# Pages: 152

Category: Required

Genre: Non-fiction

My Summary & Critique:

An Unspeakable Crime chronicles the search for justice in the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan in Atlanta, Georgia in 1913. Her body was found in the basement of the pencil factory in which she worked on the day of a parade in honor of Confederate Memorial Day. The story received widespread press coverage as officers sought to lay blame for this heinous act, and Leo Frank, a “Yankee Jew” who was the factory superintendent, became the target of suspicion. He was arrested, indicted, convicted, and his case went all the way to the Supreme Court, but his sentence was eventually commuted by the governor of Georgia, believing him to be innocent, and he was to serve life in prison instead of death by hanging. Details about the case indicate that there was mishandling of evidence, failure of due process, witness credibility issues, and enormous sway of public opinion and bias affecting the outcome of the case. In the end, a group of prominent, respectable men carried out a carefully organized plan to honor the court’s original sentence of death by hanging, and Leo Frank was taken from his prison cell and lynched. A lifetime later, in 1986, witnesses came forward who supported Frank’s innocence and he was pardoned posthumously by the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles.

This book made me angry. Angry at the judicial system for failing to live up to its proposed ideals; Angry at the witnesses, journalists, and investigators who were involved in researching, reporting, and trying this case; Angry at the 1913 public, so swayed by self-interest, popular opinion, and historical self-righteousness that they could not or would not be swayed by reason. I believe my anger is exactly what the author intended me to get out of this book. It is a story told with obvious bias, intended to inflame the reader with stories of injustice, racism, and anti-Semitism. Yet it is founded in fact and supported by documentation, so it is wholly believable. The details are punctuated by black and white photographs and supporting evidence, including court scenes, press headlines and articles, and gruesome souvenir photographs of the lynching. Annotated listings of the major figures in the case as well as source notes and bibliography are also included to help the reader. This book is powerful and gripping, sure to inspire heated discussion among readers. It would be an excellent choice for schools to consider adding to their curriculum content because it would provide a suitable companion to other classic works such as Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, in which a similar “witch hunt” is held. It could also provide valuable material for discussion on civic duties and the legal system, journalism ethics, or the dangers of repeating history. Students could draw similarities from the events and reactions of the public in this book to the public reactions to prominent trials of recent years. It is a remarkable text with powerful content for young adult and adult readers alike.

Marcelo in the Real World, by Francisco X. Stork

Title: Marcelo in the Real World
Author: Francisco X. Stork

Publisher: Scholastic
Year: 2009
# Pages: 312

Category: Friends & Society Choice
Genre: Contemporary Realistic

My Summary & Critique:
Marcelo Sandoval is a seventeen-year-old young man diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome, a condition on the higher-functioning end of the autism spectrum. He has spent all his school years at Paterson, a special school, which has sheltered him and has provided him with the lessons in social etiquette that help him adjust to interacting with others, which takes considerable thought and effort on his part. The story begins at the beginning of the summer before his senior year and his father, Arturo, who wants his son to be as normal as possible, wants Marcelo to come and work in his law firm’s mailroom for the summer to get a dose of “the real world.” If he is able to successfully navigate the real world rules of the law office, Marcelo will be able to choose whether he wants to spend his senior year in the safe zone of Paterson, which he prefers, or enroll in the local public high school, which would be his father’s choice. His father is loving but seems somewhat embarrassed by his son’s condition and wants Marcelo to live as normal a life as possible, able to hold his own in the sometimes unforgiving “real world.”

Some of the aspects of Marcelo’s personality that keep him from fitting in are his absence of demonstrating characteristic emotional responses, his “special interest” in religion with a tendency to quote scripture on a regular basis, difficulty interpreting the feelings and motivations of others, and his tendency to hear a kind of internal music. He also has a tendency to view and speak of himself in the third person and repeat words and phrases that are unfamiliar to him. His mother, Aurora, and Rabbi Heschel understand him best of all and help him discuss his problems and navigate the intricacies of his interactions with people and the choices he must make. Working at the law firm puts him in the position of dealing with people who are sometimes inconsiderate and callous toward him as well as people who wish to manipulate him, using his weaknesses to their advantage. He also develops a close friendship with Jasmine, a fellow mailroom worker, introducing him to the possibility of love. Marcelo stumbles upon a photograph of a girl involved in a lawsuit at his father’s law firm and is compelled to help her, but there are many ethical implications he must consider. He makes difficult choices and he finds a way to thrive outside of his comfort zone, making plans for his own future.When I turned the final page of this book, I gave it a hug, thankful to have read it. Because one of my children also shows symptoms on the autism spectrum, similar to Marcelo’s, I had personal reasons for reading this book. I feel like the author has used Marcelo’s voice to provide a good picture of some of the struggles faced by those who are affected by Asperger’s or autism—not just the person, but also his family, his teachers, his friends, coworkers. There are plenty of excellent examples of people who seem to understand Marcelo and know exactly just what to say to him, giving him space when needed, and just the right words to help him interpret his surroundings and make the choices he needs to make. They also value him for his contributions, recognizing that his intelligence as well as what he can offer extend beyond the limitations of his condition. There are also people who clearly misunderstand him and mistreat him, teaching him that trust must be earned.

Written in mostly first person narrative, Marcelo’s character is believable, with an authentic voice, giving the reader a glimpse into the thoughts, motivations, and struggles faced by those who are deemed “different” by society. Although there are some instances of sexual talk (and an emphasis on “the f word”) and occasional crude language by an offensive character, most of these instances further the plot and characterization of the story. In fact, there is a frank discussion between Marcelo and the female Rabbi Heschel regarding sex from which many young adults might benefit. I loved the author’s treatment of Marcelo’s “special interest”—religion—because it was incorporated into the story so harmoniously that it became part of the story without feeling intrusive. References to Adam & Eve’s eating of the fruit from the Garden of Eden, giving them knowledge of good and evil, parallel Marcelo’s introduction into the “real world” and give the reader much to ponder. Ultimately, the message of this book is about how we understand and treat people, how we know the difference between right and wrong, and how we all can come to listen to our own inner music.

I Can't Keep My Own Secrets: Six-word Memoirs by Teens Famous & Obscure

Title: I Can’t Keep My Own Secrets

Edited by: Rachel Fershleiser and Larry Smith

From: Smith Magazine

Publisher: HarperTeen

Year: 2009

# Pages: 182

Category: Non-Fiction Choice

Genre: Non-Fiction

My Summary & Critique:

I Can’t Keep My Own Secrets is a collection of almost 800 six-word memoirs written by a few famous but mostly obscure teens, ages 13 to 18. It is the second volume of six word memoirs collected by Smith magazine, who challenged teens to encapsulate their lives into a few brief words. What results represents a variety of emotions— funny, sad, frightening, rebellious, regretful, disappointed, hopeful, bold, despairing. Typical teen issues such as age, growing up, drugs, death, dreams, parents, pregnancy, love, religion, and music are prevalent. Their stories, brief yet revealing, are poignant and deep.

Some of my favorites:

· I fulfilled my awkwardness quota today.

· Hair’s pink to piss you off.

· Lost myself for popular kids’ approval.

· I lost more than my innocence.

· If not through whispers, through texts.

· Eccentricity is not an exact science.

· I’m deaf, but she can’t hear.

· I needed Daddy. He needed meth.

· I’ve already turned into my mother.

· Family falls apart after mom dies.

· Love, not enough, all there is.

· Always listening, but never really heard.

I was fascinated by the depth that was achieved by these teens in only 6 words and I could see the appeal that this book would have for teens. Each memoir, each message is short and in its brevity, there is power. I was also excited by the prospect that this format could have for teachers, seeking to get their students to hone in on the power and impact of their own words.

Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen, by Christopher McDougall

Title: Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen

Author: Christopher McDougall

Publisher: Vintage Books

Year: 2009

# Pages: 282

Category: Required

Genre: Non-fiction, Sports Adventure

My Summary & Critique:

Born to Run is part action adventure, mystery, research study, and sports drama all rolled into one intriguing book. It begins with the author’s search for a mysterious phantom who inhabits the Sierra Madre of Mexico and is known as Caballo Blanco, the white horse. The mystery behind the man underlies the author’s quest to unveil the secrets of the Tarahumara, the Running People, who live deep in the mountains of Mexico and possess an unparalleled skill in running long distances “without rest or injury.” He begins this quest for personal reasons, searching for relief from painful foot injuries he has received from running. Refusing to believe his doctors’ suggestions that running, itself, was to blame for his injuries, McDougall went on a quest to find out just how the world’s most expert runners were able to run such long distances, in unbelievably treacherous terrain, without injury. His efforts lead him to discover startling research into the evolution, the mechanics, and motivations behind running and plunge him into the world of ultrarunning, considered an extreme sport in which participants run for extremely long distances over challenging terrain. Along the way, McDougall finds the mysterious Caballo Blanco, an American living in the land of the Tarahumara, seeking to learn and live their ways, and discovers his interest in setting up an ultra-race between the secretive Tarahumara runners and competitors from the United States.

What he finds is a terrific and colorful cast of characters willing to join together in this “greatest race the world has never seen” out of their love of running and the spirit of competition. They join together, an unlikely conglomeration of crazy people who share a passion for running and an undeniable connection as they compete in a race that will not bring anyone worldwide fame or glory. In the end, the Caballo Blanco shared his story, ending the mystery and opening up about his life to this group with whom he shared this grand, unbelievable adventure.

I must admit that I definitely would not have chosen to read this book on my own—a book about running. However, as is often the case with books, they seldom can be adequately summed up with the description, “a book about _________.” This book is so much more than a book about running and it is more than a book that attempts to persuade the reader to take up running and ditch their high-tech shoes, although it certainly fits both of these descriptions. What I found most compelling was the story of the search, the mystery, the adventure, and the camaraderie that the characters developed through this journey that ended in a phenomenal race. I didn’t mind the occasional soapbox rant supported by mounds of testimony and evidence because I felt like it furthered the author’s cause and was necessary in giving credibility to the passion, especially of Barefoot Ted as well as the author. This book intertwines history, geography, anthropology, physical education, anatomy, and philosophy all inside a great story that kept me turning the page, wanting to figure out what these crazy characters would encounter next. My favorite part was Caballo’s speech before the race, the pep talk, the summation of his view of the racers, and it was quite unexpected. I didn’t think a book about running would be able to solicit tears from me, but it did. Twice. Readers should just forget their expectations about this book and just jump into it with both (bare) feet.

Third Class Session

Tonight's class was packed. We had lots to discuss and did some discussing in small groups and some as a whole class. We discussed Delirium, which was universally well-liked and The Space Between Trees, which was mostly disappointing. While there were elements of the story and characterization that were intriguing and had potential, most people felt that this mystery stopped just short of fulfilling its promise. I think our class enjoys discussing as a whole class because we can all hear what everyone else has to say about the books. Our cohort has become pretty close and there are distinct personalities in our group. It is nice to hear the varying opinions about what we read because it enriches the reading experience of everyone. We also had a great presentation by the Fantasy group, who emphasized the blurred lines between fantasy, horror, and the supernatural. We did a triple-Venn activity in which we categorized certain elements as fantasy, horror, or supernatural and discovered that it really is difficult to distinguish sometimes between these three groupings because they share many common characteristics. I felt like this activity was particularly helpful because I have had a difficult time distinguishing between fantasy and supernatural for my book selections.

My favorite part of the night was our poetry slam. We each read someone else's original poem about their own adolescence; then we guessed who the poem was about. Sometimes, it was so obvious and other times, it was a mystery, but we learned something new about everyone. I think I won't be able to look at Barbara ever again without thinking about the Supergirl incident. I loved the part in her poem where she said that he got in trouble and she got a cool nickname. We also read some interesting poetry written by others. Most of the poems were pretty funny, but others were strong and opinionated, told a story, or were popular "teacher picks" for reading in the classroom. I have always loved reading poetry, so this exercise just increased my desire to read more and I would love to see more of an emphasis on poetry in schools.

will grayson, will grayson, by john green & david livithan

Title: will grayson, will grayson

Authors: John Green & David Levithan

Publisher: Speak

Year: 2011

# Pages: 310

Category: Required

Genre: Contemporary Realistic

My Summary & Critique:

Will Grayson is a name shared by two teenagers in this novel who seem a little lost but when they cross paths and discover each other, in the process, they begin to discover themselves. Authors, John Green and David Levithan, use alternating voices and chapters to tell the story of these two teenagers who share the same name. The first Will seems like a pretty typical teenager but his personality is completely overshadowed by his best friend, flamboyant Tiny Cooper. The second Will suffers from severe depression and is plagued by thoughts of suicide and isolation, more comfortable communicating with the world of online instant messaging for companionship and interaction rather than real people. To aid the reader in distinguishing the two Wills, his story is told without capitalization, forgoing conventional speech for the informal writing style found in texting. In the beginning, the reader learns about each Will through their thoughts and interactions with family and friends. Will Grayson tries to travel the outskirts of his social life by following two personal rules, intended to keep him from getting too involved: shut up and don’t care. His best friend is a completely overpowering personality, Tiny Cooper, who Will describes as “the world’s largest person who is really, really gay, and also the world’s gayest person who is really, really large.” Will is also struggling to make sense of his relationship with Jane, with whom he shares similar interests and exchanges of wit, but he rejects any attempts at a romantic connection until he is pushed by Tiny.

The second will grayson leads a very dark, solitary, and oppressed life, with only one friend, Maura, who is apparently attracted to him but will doesn’t return her affection. Instead, he becomes totally entranced in an online relationship with someone known only as Isaac, with whom he has communicated online for about a year. When he and Isaac arrange to meet in the city, will arrives at the appointed location, a sleazy porn shop, only to find that Isaac hasn’t shown up. At the porn shop, he is surprised to meet the other Will Grayson, and is introduced to Tiny Cooper. At that moment, he learns that Maura has been posing as Isaac online and all the positive feelings he has had for Isaac turn to negative feelings toward Maura and he plunges into an even deeper depression. Tiny is able to comfort will and this chance meeting turns into a romantic relationship for the two of them. Tiny, the effervescent optimist and will, the chronically depressed pessimist seem an unlikely pair, but they find comfort and strength in each other. For both Wills, crossing paths seems to trigger their own search to solidify their own identities and each one begins to become more at ease with himself, opening himself up to vulnerability by letting others in. Will admits he has romantic feelings for Jane and will embraces his “gayness” with Tiny, coming out to his mom, and allowing a friendship to bloom with another gay boy at school. Throughout the novel, a central character, and I do mean character, is Tiny Cooper, best friend to Will, love interest of will. Stringing the plot together are Tiny’s efforts to write, direct, and produce a school musical about his life and love. The performance of this musical at the end of the book serves as a culminating, cathartic moment for the characters and punctuates the underlying theme of acceptance.

At the beginning of the story, I was intrigued by the authors’ use of alternating chapters and voices to portray each of the Will Graysons. However, it took me a while to really get into the story because I did not personally like either of the characters in the beginning. Of course, Tiny Cooper is likeable from the start, but both Wills were harder to love. Will seemed self-absorbed and resistant to friendship, even annoyed with Tiny. will’s doom and gloom made his character hard to love as well. Also, I was uncomfortable with the sheer volume of rude language that populated the opening pages of this book. Once I came to know the characters better and empathize with them, I came to enjoy this book better. The foul language slacked off as the story unfolded, revealing their vulnerabilities, their aspirations, their frustrations. The way the authors capture the cynical, sarcastic voice of the teen is frighteningly realistic and I believe young adults will see some of themselves and people they know in these characters. I did enjoy reading this story and especially appreciated the nuggets of wisdom & humorously phrased segments scattered throughout the book. I have included some here:

• “You like someone who can’t like you back because unrequited love can be survived in a way that once-requited love cannot.”
  
• “I realize that properly speaking guys should only think about sex and the acquisition of It, and that they should run crotch-first toward every girl who likes them and etc. But: The part I enjoy most is not the doing, but the noticing.”
• “ . . . i can’t help thinking that “getting a life” is something only a complete idiot could believe. like you can just drive to the store and get a life. . . . your life isn’t out there waiting, so don’t think all you have to do is find it and get it. no, your life is right here.”
• “he is both the source of my happiness and the one I want to share it with.”
• “all the words we use are stripped bare, so that no one ever knows what anyone else is saying, so that all kindness is cruelty, all care callous.”
• “I don’t want to be the costar of anyone’s life.”
• “I’m tired of going where I’m pushed.”
• “my point is that there are times when you just have to let it all out. all of the anger, all of the pain.”
• “this is why we call people exes, I guess—because the paths that cross in the middle end up separating at the end . . . the X is a diagram of two paths.”
• “The pure and simple truth is rarely pure and never simple.”
• “ . . . life is falling. falling and landing and falling and landing.”
• “ . . . we all have something to sing.”

I appreciate the many messages of this book—that everyone deserves acceptance, that opening up to people and exposing vulnerability is risky but worth it, that standing up for your friends is honorable, that life and love are a series of ups and downs, and that ultimately everyone wants to be appreciated. Sometimes we fall, but we can get back up, and if we are willing to live our lives doing good for others, we can float.

Thirteen Days to Midnight, by Patrick Carman

Title: Thirteen Days to Midnight

Author: Patrick Carman

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Year: 2010

# Pages: 296

Category: Supernatural choice

Genre: Supernatural

My Summary & Critique:

In the seconds before a car crash that would end his life, Mr. Fielding turns to his foster son, Jacob, and utters three words: “You are indestructible.” Jacob later discovers, quite by accident, that he is, indeed, indestructible and that he can transfer this power to others. He and his best friend, Milo, and beautiful new student, Ophelia or “Oh” become intrigued with this power and decide to test it and use it to help others. What they don’t realize is that it is much more than they can handle. By the end of the story, they come to an understanding of the ultimate power of death.

The novel opens with a scene occurring at the end of the book, involving a death, with internal conflict about whether or not it was “the right thing to do.” (That, my friends, is called a hook.) Then, flashing to the real story, the narrator addresses the reader with a question: If you could have only one superpower, what would it be? (That is called, reeling them in.) From the very beginning of this story, I was hooked and drawn further into this story, packed with action, intrigue, a little supernatural, and a bit of romance. Jacob Fielding is the narrator, telling the story of the conflicts he had with this power of indestructibility and the relationships he has with his best friend and new love interest. It is a story of personal struggle, good vs. evil, life vs. death, choice vs. accountability, man vs. god, love vs. reason—all kinds of good stuff. And it is all crammed into this action packed, fast paced story that literally takes place over a period of about 13 days. I simply could not put it down. It is absolutely the kind of quick read that will appeal to both male and female readers and will certainly inspire discussion of the moral dilemmas faced by the characters. With only a smattering of foul language and no sexual references, this book could be safely recommended to a wide and conservative readership, although there should be fair warning about a lot of death later in the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I think young adults will be drawn to this story.

However, I do have a few criticisms that keep me from being entirely satisfied. There were some details that weren’t fully explained in the book—such as how Jacob got to become so close with a foster parent after only 16 months and how he has his foster parent’s last name, and how Mr. Fielding came to take him in the first place since we learn that his life had been pretty humble, solitary, and mysterious before Jacob. Also, I thought that Ophelia (great Shakespeare reference, by the way) was a suspicious character from the start and squeezed into Milo and Jacob’s relationship a little too easily and asserted herself too strongly. Jacob and Oh fell for each other a bit quick (since the book takes place over only 13 days) to be this dramatic life or death love story. I guess the author really might have a thing for Shakespeare because I felt the same way about old Romeo and Juliet, but their story has stood the test of time. And I never really understood the thirteen day countdown (unless it might also be a nod to the bard's Twelfth Night), although it did propel the story forward and help push the reader along in the story to find out what was going to happen next. Overall, these criticisms can be overlooked, because this was a really fun and interesting page-turner of a story and I was thoroughly intrigued as well as entertained. There will surely be a movie. No doubt.

Playing with Matches, by Brian Katcher

Title: Playing with Matches

Author: Brian Katcher

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Year: 2008

# Pages: 294

Category: Required

Genre: Contemporary Realistic

My Summary & Critique:

Leon Sanders is a 17-year-old geeky boy with girls on the brain, especially the beautiful and popular Amy Green, who Leon has had a crush on since 4^th grade. While he fantasizes about hooking up with Amy, he dreams of meeting the perfect girl who will love him for who he is, nerd and all. Leon’s new locker neighbor is Melody Hennon, a girl who has been “universally shunned” because of a disfiguring accident she had as a child, which left her with horrifying scars on her face. Attempting to lift her mood one day at their locker, Leon cracked the ice with a joke, a simple introduction that opened the door to their friendship. When Leon and Melody become partners for a project in Social Studies class, they begin to realize that they have similar interests and become friends. Melody laughed at Leon’s corny jokes and they liked the same geeky shows on tv. Soon, and to Leon’s surprise, they become more than friends. Even though Leon second-guesses his feelings for Melody and is concerned about what other people will think of them dating, he is grateful to have found someone who appreciates him. Likewise, Melody is enjoying the feeling of being treated like she is special. Then Leon’s dream girl, Amy, enters the picture. She pursues him, asking him out, and putting him in a situation where he must choose whether to stay with the girl who has stolen his heart or finally get the girl of his dreams.

When I first saw this book, it did not look appealing to me; I was definitely judging the book by its cover and I was not looking forward to finding out what was inside. When I finished the book, I held it in my hands for a moment and actually said, “Thank you” out loud, to Brian Katcher for writing this story. How fitting.

Playing with Matches is a moving story of the search for love and acceptance told through remarkably believable characters, complete with insecurities and fallibilities, as they struggle to find each other. There were times I wanted to hug Leon and times I wanted to slug him, but he was believable and honest, and the story was credible, start to finish. The story didn’t have the “happily ever after” kind of ending, but it seemed real and still hopeful. Both Leon and Melody showed growth through the experience of their relationship, and other characters provided just the right amount of backdrop to support and provide the necessary comic relief to the main story. Most of all, I think I loved this story for going somewhere few have gone. The author tackled the insecurities that all of us have with regards to those who are different and the hang-ups we tend to have with appearances. Not only are appearances deceiving, they are too powerful an influence over human judgment. Stories like this help us to confront those judgmental tendencies and provide a way to look past the superficial. Stories like this help us to understand those, like Melody, who have “been through fire” and come out on the other end, and we appreciate their courage more because of it. We should remember that judging a book by its cover is often completely off-mark. More stories like this need to be written and read.

The Brimstone Journals, by Ron Koertge

Title: The Brimstone Journals

Author: Ron Koertge

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Year: 2001

# Pages: 113

Category: YA Issues

Genre: Poetry

My Summary & Critique:

I was intrigued by this book because its format is that of a series of poems written by 15 members of the graduating class of 2001 from Branston High, a.k.a. Brimstone. They appear to be journal-like free-verse poems written by these students from various backgrounds, ethnicities, and genders, but they are actually written by one author, so they are meant to be read together as a whole.

As I started to read, I noticed the inter-connected nature of the story line as the characters revealed feelings, impressions, and interactions with other characters. What unfolds is a sort of novel, written in poignant pieces of the puzzle, centering around a small group of students who create a “list” of people (“everybody who ever blew me off, flipped me off, or pissed me off”) and then plan to enact their own kind of violent justice. The poems reflect their intended author’s feelings and touch on a variety of teen issues including eating disorders, body image, racism, sexual identity, narcissism, conformity, environmental consciousness, promiscuity, parents’ relationships, religion, bullying, loneliness, jealousy, possessiveness, and violence. As a whole, I thought this book was interesting and would make a good starter for discussion of these teen topics. Teens would surely be able to see themselves in some of the characters. However, I do feel like some of the situations and characters are a bit too simple and one-dimensional to feel real so I have to say that I was a little disappointed. Regardless, I feel like this book could be a good tool for teens to recognize that they are not alone in some of the experiences and feelings they have and it could be useful in providing initial material for productive discussion about the real issues that teens face on an everyday basis.