Girl: a Novel, by Bart Bare

Title: Girl: a Novel

Author: Bart Bare

Publisher: Canterbury House

Year: 2010

# Pages: 180

Category: Required

Genre: Contemporary "realistic"

My Summary & Critique:

At the outset of this novel, Loren Creek is a fourteen-year-old girl facing a judge who will decide her fate as her mother’s sickness threatens to leave Loren without a parent. With two failed foster home placements in her past and a history of taking care of herself, Loren isn’t anxious to fall into foster care again. After exhausting her efforts to take care of herself and remain in the home she loved, she escapes the foster care system of Tennessee and moves to the mountains of North Carolina. There, she evades detection by the authorities by altering her appearance and identity, posing as a boy, known as Lorne Land. With help from a few friends, including a new-found grandfather figure, Loren finds a home, enrolls in school, and lives her life with a new identity, on her own terms. Although she is able to blend in well and make friends, she finds that living as a boy is not as easy as she had hoped.

I have learned a lot about myself by reading this book. Namely, I have realized how important it is for me as a reader to connect with the characters and believe in them. I struggled to read this book because time after time, I found myself in utter disbelief. I wanted to like this book because it takes place in the mountains of North Carolina, my neck of the woods. I wanted to like it because its author, Bart Bare seems like such a nice, grandfatherly man, from his bio. I wanted to like it, but the truth is that I just couldn’t bring myself to BELIEVE in the story or the characters. There were too many clichés, too many virtues and skills of the main character, Loren. She was only fourteen, yet she could take care of herself, her farm, her animals, she could stand up to authority figures, fix a car, dance like a gymnast, excel at athletics and academics, be the role model of the century. . . She was just too good to be true; she needed more flaws. Her one flaw, according to the author, was her stubborn will to be independent. It was not only Loren’s character that was unbelievable, the events of the story were also completely unrealistic. Many elements of the plot were just not true to life. My first clue to this was the professional dance studio in the barn, which might have been excused if there weren’t so many other unbelievable aspects of the story:

• The judge discussing the specifics of Loren’s case with her daughters (illegal!!!)
  
• the judge’s offer for Loren to stay with her family
• the judge’s overly enthusiastic daughters becoming the ringleaders in Loren’s escape and her BFF’s
• Loren’s magical ability to make everyone love her and pledge their devotion—boys, girls, old, young, dogs
• The old man who knows her secrets and has a stash of quality, antique furniture in his attic
• her immediate rise to football hero
• names like Field, Council, Lorne Land, Gent
• survivor of rape attempt that pities and helps to save her attacker, turning his life around
• the dog that survives a knife attack
• the grandpa figure who reunites with and marries his lost love
• Mr. Herms startling turnaround, going from stalker to savior
• The enigmatic father showing up at the end and marrying the judge
  

There are good bones to this story; the premise is good and I believe that many teen readers could relate to Loren’s situation. However, there are just too many factors that undermine this story’s credibility for me to give this book a good review. I believe young readers in North Carolina will appreciate the local references and teens who have been through the foster care system could enjoy reading about a character who rises above the system and survives successfully on her own terms. Unfortunately, I don’t believe I would recommend this book to anyone else.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie

Title: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Author: Sherman Alexie

Publisher: Little, Brown and Co.

Year: 2009

# Pages: 230

Category: YA Issues

Genre: Contemporary Realistic

My Summary & Critique:

I knew from the start of this course that I wanted to read this award-winning book because I heard it was funny, controversial, and fresh. While I have already satisfied my course requirements to read award winners and challenged books, both of which apply to this book, I decided to approach this review based its treatment of controversial subject matter—poverty and alcoholism.

The narrator, Arthur Spirit, known to his family as “Junior,” is a 14-year-old Spokane Indian, living on the reservation (“the rez”). He came into this world with a series of health problems that have made it nearly impossible for him to be considered “normal.” So he is picked on, beaten up, and harassed on a regular basis but he finds refuge in his cartoon drawings and in the unusual relationship he has with Rowdy, his best friend. Junior’s world changes when he takes the advice of his teacher to leave the reservation if he wants to have hope for a better life. So Junior gets his parents’ blessing to go to Reardon, a school outside of the reservation, where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Although his parents support his decision, many of the other residents of the reservation treat him like a traitor, especially his best friend, Rowdy, who has become his enemy. Going to school at Reardon proves to be much more difficult than he originally imagines as he also endures the hardships of fitting in, faces discrimination, and finds himself the butt of jokes. He is determined to make it, sometimes even having to hitchhike or walk to and from school when his father doesn’t have the gas money to pick him up. He eventually learns to find friendship and is able to find a happy medium between the rez and his school and is able to fit in better in both places.

This book is more than just funny. It is told with candor, honesty, and wit that will draw you in and make you love Arthur, cheer for him, weep with him, and hope for him. He tells his story with no apologies, just his observations and opinions, and he deals with some touchy subjects in a way that doesn't sugar-coat the issues. At the same time, he discusses very serious matters with a matter-of-fact style and casual humor that helps the reader through the controversy without feeling that it is contrived or out of place. Near the beginning of the book, we get a glimpse into the effects of poverty on his life as he describes "the worst thing about being poor." His best friend, Oscar--who happens to be his dog--is clearly not well, but his family doesn't have the money to take him to the vet. Arthur feels helpless in this situation because he wants to help his dog, but he knew there was "nothing he could do to save Oscar" so he comforted Oscar as best as he could and watched in horror as his parents made the decision (without him) to put Oscar out of his misery. Arthur wanted to blame his parents, but he knew they were also victims of a society where their dreams were squelched.

"They dreamed about being something other than poor, but they never got the chance to be anything because nobody paid attention to their dreams . . . It sucks to be poor and it sucks to feel that you somehow deserve to be poor. You start believing that you're poor because you're stupid and ugly. And then you start believing that you're stupid and ugly because you're Indian. And because you're Indian, you start believing you're destined to be poor. It's an ugly circle and there's nothing you can do about it. Poverty doesn't give you strength or teach you lessons about perseverance. No, poverty only teaches you how to be poor."

Arthur describes more about the effects of his family's poverty on other aspects of his life, his clothing, the old textbooks at his school, even his transportation. When he makes the choice to attend Reardon, 20 minutes away from home, his parents support his decision, but they often do not have the gas money to take him and pick him up from school, so he hitchhikes or walks home. Not having money even affects his social life as he is starting to make friends at his new school. His poverty is also compounded by his father's tendency to take any money the family might have and spend it on his next drink. Readers come to sympathize with Arthur and begin to understand the power and influence that money, or the lack of it, can have on a person, a family, and a community.

Alcoholism doesn't just appear in Arthur's life in spurts and starts; it pervades his whole family, his community. There are the obvious negative effects that are the result of Arthur's father's alcoholism, but his beloved grandmother, who had never drunk a drop of alcohol in her life, was killed by a drunk Indian driver. Arthur shares two bits of advice in this section of the novel. First, he tells how his grandmother's final words were, "Forgive him," referring to forgiving the drunk driver. Arthur's story helps the reader understand how poverty and discrimination could contribute to the hopelessness and desperation that would lead people to drink. Secondly, Arthur's grandmother also gave him some advice about drinking which is good for teen readers as well:

"Drinking would shut down my seeing and my hearing and my feeling," she used to say. "Why would I want to be in the world if I couldn't touch the world with all of my senses intact?"

Alcohol also played a role in the death of his sister and his father's best friend, Eugene. It is no wonder that Arthur's mother begged him never to take a drink. There is much that teen readers can learn about the effects of drinking alcohol in Arthur's life by reading his story, yet it is not preachy, just painfully honest and open.

This story seems, at first, like the kind of story you'd want to hand to your middle schooler because many of the reviews focus on the hilarity and humor. However some of the issues, sexual references and language are more fitting for older students who are more equipped to handle the balance between the laughs and the lessons they will find in this novel. I absolutely think this book should be read and discussed; it would seem like a crime not to do so.

Delirium, by Lauren Oliver

Title: Delirium

Author: Lauren Oliver

Publisher: Harper

Year: 2011

# Pages: 441

Category: Required

Genre: Sci-fiction/dystopia

My Summary & Critique:

This novel was actually the first novel I read for my Young Adult literature course. I had ordered copies of the required readings so I could begin reading before the course even began, and this one seemed the most interesting to me. I definitely was not disappointed. Lauren Oliver “had me at hello,” so to speak, because the first paragraph laid out the story’s premise and I was hooked. In the first paragraph, I learned that love was a disease, a procedure could be performed that would cure people from this malady, and the main character was set to have this procedure on her birthday, just 95 days away. Her name is Lena Haloway, and she is looking forward to having the procedure on her 18^th birthday because she has seen the effects of amor deliria nervosa, or love, on members of her own family. She is reminded of its deadly symptoms by the memory of her sister’s delirium before she was “cured” and by the haunting memory of her mother, who, after three failed attempts at a cure, committed suicide. Her mother’s words stick in her brain, “I love you. Remember. They cannot take it.” As she approaches the date of the procedure, she must participate in an “evaluation’ which will help determine the course of her life, her schooling, her job, her spouse. After the cure, she will lead a life of safety and reason, a happy life, free from the unpleasant and dreaded symptoms of love. At her evaluation, she is surprised that some of her rehearsed answers come out all wrong and begins to lose faith in the path that lies ahead of her. Her friend, Hana, exhibits a rebellious attitude toward the cure and the rules of the society, leading Lena to attend parties and listen to forbidden music. She also meets Alex, a boy who is cured, who intrigues Lena, and she soon finds herself making excuses and breaking the rules to be with him. She soon sees her world in a different light and wants to escape her fate.

This story was phenomenal. I could not put it down. From the first page to the last, I was hooked into the story, intrigued by the problems that the characters faced, and I was enthralled by the thoughtful care with which the author portrayed this world. The change in attitude that Lena faced from the beginning of the novel to the end was satisfying to witness. As a reader, I knew right away about my feelings for this society but I loved being along for the ride as Lena expressed her acceptance, her questioning, and her rebellion along the way. This novel is an eye-opening picture of what life could be like if we were to seek such control over our emotions in the search for freedom from pain. Teen readers will be engrossed in Lena’s struggle to reconcile her emotional nature that seems to be at odds with her society and they will identify with the conflicts she faces as she questions authority. I am glad that the ending leaves an opening for more of this story.

The Space Between Trees, by Katie Williams

Title: The Space Between Trees

Author: Katie Williams

Publisher: Chronicle Books, LLC

Year: 2010

# Pages: 274

Category: Required

Genre: Mystery

My Summary & Critique:

The Space Between Trees is told from the point of view of Evie, a 16 year old girl with a vivid imagination and no real friends. She lives with her mother, who has an unrealistically hopeful view of Evie’s social life. While she is delivering newspapers on her route in upscale Hokepe Woods, she feebly attempts to socialize with Jonah Luks, a high school dropout and the object of Evie’s affection, whose job it is to clear the neighborhood woods of any dead animals. One morning, as Evie is delivering her papers in that area, Jonah discovers a dead body In the woods. It turns out to be a girl from Evie’s high school, Elizabeth (Zabet), with whom Evie had been friends as a child. Evie’s wandering imagination and a few lies about her relationship with Zabet plunge her into a relationship with Zabet’s best friend, Hadley. Together, they decide to find out who killed Zabet, putting the two of them into risky situations and assuring that someone would get hurt.

Overall, I thought this book was simply mediocre. The premise of a murder of a classmate/former friend was a good beginning and the descriptive writing style was very good, even excellent in parts. There was mystery and intrigue that kept me reading, but I was annoyed with the character of Evie. I felt like she was portrayed as too immature to be the sixteen year old she was because of the intrusion of her imagination into her everyday thoughts. This did help to add to the credibility of her character as a loner, a girl with no friends, and I did like the author’s comparison of her to the title of the book:

“At school that Monday after, there were rumors that Hadley had tried to burn down the woods, rumors that she had killed a man, killed herself, killed Zabet. But somehow my name was never whispered, as if I were a ghost, an escapee, the space between the trees, the page on which a story is written.”

That was really the best part of the book, for me. I feel like some teens can relate to this isolated feeling that Evie portrayed through the voice of her character. It is as if she swayed through life, largely invisible, immaterial, and she barely made an impression on people. I feel like a lot of teens could feel this way, clinging to others who have stronger, more vivid personalities, like Hadley, and led to do things that they normally wouldn’t have considered, as Evie is led by Hadley in this story. I was disappointed in the ending of the story, not because the bad guys didn’t receive their just reward or because there was no happily ever after, but because I hoped there would be a point, a bit of growth by Evie or even by Hadley. Instead, I felt that the ending still seemed unfinished, hanging in the air, like I just hadn’t had enough to feel good about reading this book. I don’t have to be happy with the events of a book in order to be satisfied with it, but this book just left an unsatisfied feeling in my gut. When you read a story, you want to see the main character grow, learn, or change a little from the events, especially traumatic ones, but the author did not create that sense of growth in Evie, so it is disappointing. Still, I believe this book has value for teens and would be a good book for a discussion. It would certainly provide good material for taking sides.

Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins

Title: Catching Fire

Author: Suzanne Collins

Publisher: Scholastic

Year: 2009

# Pages: 391

Category: Fantasy choice

Genre: Fantasy: Sci-fi/dystopia

My Summary & Critique:

Catching Fire, the second installment in The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, picks up right where The Hunger Games leaves off. Katniss and Peeta have survived the games, through an act that could be interpreted as an act of defiance or an act of love. Their lives now are different because they live in the Victor’s Village of District 12 and no longer have to scrounge for basic necessities such as food. They must participate in a Victory Tour, visiting the districts of the other Hunger Games contestants, in anticipation and preparation for the next installment of the games. To protect their families, Katniss and Peeta must convince everyone of their devotion to each other, because their small act of defiance at the end of the games has ignited the fires of rebellion in the colonies and set in motion a series of events that put them great personal danger. Peeta’s love for Katniss is genuine, but Katniss is torn between her feelings for Peeta and those she has for her long-time friend, Gale, but she accepts Peeta’s staged proposal and the two prepare to be married.

When it is announced that in honor of the 75^th anniversary, the Quarter Quell will be a special version of the games. Participants will be chosen from the previous winners of the games, which puts Peeta and Katniss in the ring to particpate in the games again, much to their horror and surprise. Katniss and Haymitch plot to do what they can to ensure the Peeta will emerge as the victor of the Hunger Games. The games are interrupted through an elaborate plot by forces of the rebellion and Katniss finds that she has become an unwitting participant in this plot and a symbol of the growing rebellion.

This book ends with the biggest cliffhanger EVER!!!!!!! It is a fitting continuation of the story of The Hunger Games. Although it doesn’t open with action, the first part of the book helps to set up the emotions and motivations that help propel the story forward. Young adults will be captivated by this story. Collins keeps the reader guessing during the games, guessing what will happen next, who will be allies, who will fall, and the end comes as a surprise. It leaves the reader begging for more. Like the first novel, violent content makes this novel more appropriate for mature readers.

Second class session

Last night, in class, we were able to discuss the finer points of many books that class members had read. I found this discussion to be very helpful because it gave me more books to add to my list of what to read. I also had the chance to defend my own opinions about some of the books I've been reading. It was interesting to compare the opinions of people who had read the same books. Everyone definitely has their own preferences, opinions, and prejudices when it comes to reading material.

Often, what happens in cases where books are challenged is that they are judged and challenged on the basis of a few words or scenes in the book that are read out of the context of the whole work. Readers who are ignorant of the full content of the work are not qualified to attack nor defend it. Some people even attempt to replace the experience of reading the book with watching the movie version. Seldom does the movie even come close to the impact that reading the actual book can have and viewers should be aware that artistic license by the filmmaker can have a big impact on the content of the film. It was a productive class, but we also learned that the books we are reading will be due faster than we expected. So, now I have two weeks, 14 days to read 10 books. It is mind boggling and I have no idea how this will be humanly possible for me with my kids home from school this summer. I must read like a maniac from this point on.

The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini

Title: The Kite Runner
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Publisher: Riverhead Books
Year: 2003
# Pages: 371

Category: Banned/Challenged 2008
Genre: Historical fiction, Bildungsroman

Awards & Honors:
ALA Notable Book
Alex Award 2004 (YALSA "books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults.")

Summary:

This story fits the genre of Bildungsroman very well. The main character, Amir, tells the story as an adult, looking back on the events of his life.

“A Bildungsroman tells about the growing up or coming of age of a sensitive person who is looking for answers and experience. The genre evolved from folklore tales of a dunce or youngest son going out in the world to seek his fortune. Usually in the beginning of the story there is an emotional loss which makes the protagonist leave on his journey. In a Bildungsroman, the goal is maturity, and the protagonist achieves it gradually and with difficulty. The genre often features a main conflict between the main character and society. Typically, the values of society are gradually accepted by the protagonist and he is ultimately accepted into society – the protagonist's mistakes and disappointments are over. In some works, the protagonist is able to reach out and help others after having achieved maturity.” (from Wikipedia)

This story follows Amir, the son of a wealthy businessman living in Kabul, Afghanistan in the 1970s. Amir spends much of his time playing with the son of his father's servant and they are inseparable, an unbeatable team in the yearly Kite flying competitions. Amir and Hassan have a friendship that reflects the tension of their backgrounds because they are not really allowed to be friends. Yet, Hassan has a loyalty and love for Amir that Amir recognizes and values but doesn't fully return. When Hassan's loyalty is tested and he endures terrible abuse at the hands of a bully, Amir must learn to live with the choice he made not to intervene and to keep this terrible secret. It is a secret he carries with him, burdening him, throughout his life. This story chronicles Amir's growth, through the pain of that choice, his relationship with his father, the effects of Russian invasion of his country, his escape to the United States, and his eventual redemption.

My Thoughts:

Before I say any more, I have to explain why I chose this novel to read. In 2008, in my home county--Burke County, North Carolina--there was an uproar concerning this novel. In response to a complaint by a concerned parent, a school board member led a challenge to this book, citing language and sexual content that was objectionable. The response was overwhelming from the community and there was argument for both sides of the issue. Below is an excerpt from a letter written to the school board:

February 26, 2008

Dear Mr. B_________ and Members of the Board of Education:

We write to oppose efforts to remove the book, The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, from Burke County Schools. We understand that a community member has submitted a formal complaint objecting to the book, and one school board member wants to circumvent the normal procedure for challenging books to have The Kite Runner removed because of its vivid descriptions of sexual violence and graphic language. In the meantime, in direct violation of district policy, the Superintendent has told all schools in the district to suspend use of the book pending a review by a Media Advisory Committee.

We also understand that the same board member who objects to The Kite Runner has proposed an amendment to current media policy to ban audio and visual materials “containing sexually inappropriate content, profanity, and vulgar and obscene language or the insinuation thereof.” Books should be evaluated using educational criteria, and “objectionable” content must be viewed in the context of the work as a whole. The proposed amendment, however, which would apply to all materials including books, demands that educators evaluate literature based on inherently subjective criteria and places an overwhelming burden on schools, teachers, and librarians. Even deciding who will judge whether a book’s content is “inappropriate” raises problems. There is no way to ensure that different individuals will view the material the same way. We strongly oppose both the removal of the book and the proposed amendment and urge you to reinstate the book pending review and to adhere to standing district policies in your review of The Kite Runner.

Interesting articles related to the challenge in Burke County:

• http://www2.morganton.com/news/2009/apr/21/kite-runner-among-most-challenged-books-ar-64503/
• http://65.49.16.213/literature/20080226~NC-Morganton~Free_Speech_Groups_Oppose_Challenges_To_The_Kite_Runner.cfm
• http://1stroughdraft.blogspot.com/2008/02/book-too-raw-for-school.html

As a result of this challenge, the book was initially removed from the accepted curriculum during the investigation, but there was an outpouring of support for the book from students, parents, and teachers. Eventually, the school board enacted a policy requiring all texts to be used by teachers in the county to be listed at the beginning of each course. Parents would then have the opportunity to reject any particular text that they felt would be too offensive so that their child could "opt out" of that particular text and be given an alternate text assignment to read.

There were other challenged books that I was interested in reading, but I was compelled to read this one because it was challenged in my hometown. As I began reading, I was drawn into the story, the characters, the emotions and there were times that, honestly, I couldn't contain my sadness, my sorrow for what the characters were enduring and it was difficult for me to continue. Faced with a looming deadline, I debated reading an easier, less emotionally taxing novel, but that, to me, was just not acceptable. This was a novel that had to be read. I knew it would be important for me to finish because it is the type of story that reaches deep into your heart, stays there, and never leaves. This is not the type of story that I could just skim, just get the basic plot line and move on. I buried myself into this story, and when it was done, when it was over, I had to take some time to recover from its emotional burden. I am not convinced I'll ever be free of that burden. I hate the thought of having to assign my unworthy words to this masterpiece. People shouldn't read about this novel; they should read it for themselves.

Now, pertaining to the book challenge, I agree that there are language and scenes described in the text that are objectionable in their content, and every parent has the right and responsibility to monitor the types of material to which their children are exposed in school. However, I do believe that this book is extremely well-written; it teaches about culture and injustices in a way that no history textbook can; the language of the scenes in question is not overly graphic--it is artfully subtle in details but the power and horror of the actions remain. Do I think most high school students should read this book? No. It is the type of book that is meant for adults, for people who have lived long enough to have regrets, to be familiar with guilt, to have appreciation for the role of government in society, to have a personal testimony of the impact that one decision can have on a life. No, most high school students are not ready, are not worthy yet of this book, but some are. And they should not be denied.