Smart, strong girls keep the world turning

Click here to read a great post about some awesome fiction from the past. Pre YA, when books were just books and teens had to shuffle through a lot of adult boring stuff to find the goods.

YA rut

There is a lot of great Young Adult fiction out there. Stories of heroism, caring, pathos, changed lives, epic fantasy, and simple characters are some of my favorite elements. But for now, as a library science student, I am reading the gritty, one voice books of the downtrodden, physically ill formed and financially bereft unheard teen male. A girl can only take so much! There is a reason why boys don't verbally communicate if these books are an accurate picture. Apparently teen boys, poor/rich, healthy/sick, smart/slow all think of about two things 90% of the time. And no one wants to hear about that! The books are well written and expose a voice that is often hard to hear; I give them their due. I just wonder why these are the books on the booklist for the YA course. There are some great ones on that list, too. My prof knows her stuff, no doubt. I just yearn for the day when I can read what I want instead of what I must. I am not gaining knowledge or empathy or even a happy get away from reality in these hours between the pages.

So, if you want to read about life from a boy's point of view, according to an author, feel free to check out:

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part Time Indian
Going Bovine
Tyrell
Stuck in Neutral
Monster

But be ready for frank talk, kids in adult situations, drug use, and a view of parts of society that many don't want to look too closely at.

THE CLOCKWORK SCARAB: A Stoker & Holmes Novel by Colleen Gleason -- Trailer

The Bone Season trailer - a novel by Samantha Shannon

NOT A DROP TO DRINK by Mindy McGinnis -- Book Trailer

Hereville

Graphic novel + Jewish girl + troll + witch+ meteorite = this book

I am reading ahead for my Young Adult (YA) lit class this semester. Graphic novels are  an important format in this area, so I have several  ahead of me. This one was a surprise.

Mirka is a Jewish girl with a stepmother. No, it's not like Cinderella at all. This is actually the second novel of this series. Mirka is plagued by a  meteorite that was changed into a doppelganger by a witch. It is fantasy in the modern time. While Mirka struggles with this new "her" that is taking over her life, she keeps it a secret from her stepmother and father. With help from her sisters and a friend, she is able to overcome a really hard situation. The story is peppered with Yiddish terms that are explained at the bottom of the page for those who don't know what they mean. The illustrations are very "Avatar the Last Air Bender" in style. Mirka's Judaism is central to her character and her actions. The importance of faith practices, family, and reverence is clearly illustrated in a respectful manner. It is a great point of view that is underrepresented in children's literature.

This quick read for an adult would be a nice little sit down read for any young reader. It is perfectly appropriate for readers of any age who understand the importance of honesty and being yourself. If I'm being stereotypical, girls will most likely gravitate to the emotion of being replaced. and boys will enjoy the fighting and sarcasm.

Overall, it's a fun story with memorable characters.

Just for the Grown Ups

I have read some grown up books, too. To squash an ugly rumor (started by me): I don't JUST read kid stuff. Here is what I've read in the last few weeks that is intended for the more mature reader.

This is my favorite of this set. Told from the dog's point of view, the reader gets a story of love, redemption, and some really good advice. Maybe it hit home because Enzo (the dog) is older with hip problems and my dog is as well. Maybe I just liked the idea that dogs, if they had the right mouth set up, could talk. Whatever the reason, this is a good read that had me cheering for the underdog!

The biography of a smart, funny woman. I don't have to agree with her to appreciate the interesting pieces of her life that she shares. Written in chapters that could stand alone, this is a quick read that had me laughing out loud while people walked by shaking their heads at me, the crazy woman with a Nook out in a waterpark. And yes, she is that funny.

Eh, this one was a waste of time for me. I kept reading because somewhere deep down I am an optimist who hoped it would get better. It was a sale item, so I don't feel cheated. Skip it unless you want to read a disjointed story with a  questionable timeline about a selfish girl-woman who refuses to look outside of herself.  Not many redeeming moments here. Oh, it's about grief, and getting fat because you feel guilty, and poorly run summer camps.

Pure fun in the style of Stephanie Plum and Janet E's other quirky characters. Mix a tough FBI agent with a handsome, charming con man. Add some completely unbelievable plot lines with witty conversation. It's a fun summer read. Perfect for poolside and after the kids go to bed.

Some books for middle readers and beyond

I am slowly wading through my TBR (To Be Read) pile and have hit a string of YA books. They are as different from each other as can be.

A Tale Dark & Grimm is a modern fairy tale in the old Grimm Brothers style, meaning it is harsh and gross and the princesses are not the stars. It is a telling of Hansel and Gretel with an interesting twist. This is a winner for readers who love some guts, gore, and blood. Lots of blood. The story is pretty good once you wade through the gross factor. The narrator is interactive with the reader, giving advice and his/her opinion along the way. Young readers will need some vocabulary support but middle grade readers will have no trouble.

This is another middle grade, reluctant boy reader book. There is mystery and doodles, family, friends, and lessons learned. My Life as a Book is the start of a series with engaging characters and strong family connections. Honestly, I skipped the middle chapters and picked it up at the end and don't feel like I missed much. I have, but haven't read the next book, My Life as a Skateboard. If anyone wants it, let me know!

I almost put this one down, and I'm glad I didn't. Precious Bones is a historical fiction set in post WW2 Florida. It is a murder mystery with a good twist. The beginning was slow for me. I literally got bogged down in the swamp of description and slow-no action. Just as I was about ready to chunk it into the "ain't nobody got time for that" pile, I decided to go one more chapter. I am glad I finished it, but think this is not a good young or middle reader book unless a reader finds it interesting. The deep themes of family and friendship, effects of war, poverty, and trust will fly right over anyone but a mature reader. While the main characters are preteens, it doesn't strike me as one most preteens would enjoy.

Finally, some time to read!

Summer started with a bang and I just now have had the time to read a few books from the "must read before these enter my classroom library stack." These are not adult focused books, but have been a great way to read for fun when I don't have a lot of time. They make me put on my teacher hat and think like a reading teacher.

This is a sweet, small easy reading chapter book about a little girl who is afraid of dogs. It's not the most well written novel, but would certainly appeal to an early chapter book reader. It could make a good read aloud to start discussion about fears, bravery, and neighbors.

 

Gary Paulsen is the master of high interest books for middle school boys who hate reading. This volume is no exception. This fast read is full of interesting plot turns and some great information about the world of business. If you have a reader who likes the idea of making a lot of money, and needs a little adventure to sweeten the deal, this book is for you.

Snow White + Appalachia+ post WWII = this book

In this thoughtful retelling of the Snow White fairy tale, Jane Yolen digs deep to tell an original story based on a popular tradition. I didn't love it, but it was interesting. The reassignment of place, time, and character details was well done. This is a good middle school read. The detail at times is  a little intense for elementary kids unless they are very mature readers.

 

I have a huge bag of books left to read for my classroom library, and I hope to get some grown up reading done, too. So many books, so little time!

This week's reading

So, um, whatcha' been reading?

Oh, nothing fun. Really. Just these whizbang exciting tomes of knowledge.

Really, I'm just working on the first one, Cataloging Correctly for Kids. I spent the weekend doing classwork so I can take a week off and go to youth camp.

What can I tell you about this book? It's an informational textbook about how to catalog books. Ever wondered how Dewey numbers are created? I can tell you. But I won't. Unless you ask. And you might think that there isn't anything else a librarian would need to know about cataloging, but you'd be wrong. MARC records, subject headings, Library of Congress system, CIP programs.... yawn!

I will say that I have learned a lot about the subject and the book fulfills its purpose. But unless you are a future librarian, like collecting random information, or have a serious insomnia problem, you can probably strike this from your "must read" list.

When twelve-year-old Frankie Joe's mother is sent to jail, he is uprooted from his home in Texas to live with the father he has never met, his father's wife, and his father's four "legitimate" sons in Illinois. Frankie Joe is miserable. Trying to adjust to his blended family proves too much to bear, so Frankie Joe hatches a plot to escape on his bike back home to Texas. For that he needs money, and so Frankie Joe's Freaky Fast Delivery Service is born. His deliveries win new friends, a place in the rural Illinois community, and a sense of achievement. But his planned escape is destroyed by a heartbreaking betrayal, and Frankie Joe needs all of his incredible resilience and the loving support of his new family to survive the devastating loss. from Amazon.com

I enjoyed reading this book, another from the Bluebonnet Master List for 2013-2014. It is a bit "old" for what I would normally share with the 3rd graders, but it would make a good read for a slightly more mature reader. As I read I consistently had the thought that this could make a great movie. The character interactions just beg to be played on the big screen with some talented young performers. Themes of family, respect, bullying, love, and change weave themselves in and out of a boy stuck in a situation he has no control over.

Waiting for the Magic

When William’s father leaves, his mother promptly goes out and adds four dogs and a cat to their lives. William’s sure that nothing can fill the hole left by his father, but the new additions to the family are determined to help. With his sister, Elinor, and his mother, William will learn that “family” can come in all shapes and sizes, because sometimes we find love through magic, and sometimes that magic is all around us. from Amazon.com

I liked it. It was sweet. This is on the Bluebonnet Master List for 2013-2014. It made me think about family and how we cope with the holes that form in our relationships.. what we fill them with and how we feel about others. I'm not sure how the 3rd graders would react to it, but that's ok. I don't have know that ahead of time. It might make for some good conversation when I get to know next year's kids.

Welcome!

My goal for this blog is to share information on books and chronicle my ideas about teaching, librarianship, the role of education, and anything else in that vein of thought. So begins a journey and I wonder if it will come to anything interesting.