Blog II
Blog II contents:
- The 57 Bus by Daska Slater
- The First Part Last by Angela Johnson
- Graveyard Shift by Angela Roquet
- The Mango Opera by Tom Corcoran
- Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber
- Redeployment by Phil Klay
- When the World Didn't End: Poems by Caroline Kaufman
- The Wives by Tarryn Fisher
- Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri
The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater
Response: As I read the true accounts of Richard setting Sasha's skirt on fire in The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater, I could not wait to get to the end to see what his punishment was and how the court proceedings ended. (c) The book did an awesome job explaining the agender teenage struggles of Sasha. I enjoyed how the author clearly explained the definitions of the terms for gender and sexuality that those of us that are not familiar with could understand. My views of believing everyone should be able to love who they want and live a life they see fit for themselves were just strengthened with the book. I live a heterosexual life with my husband, but have always believed that everyone should have free choice in who they like or love as long as it does not hurt others around them. (d) As a teacher of teenagers, and a strong believer that these children need consequences for their actions, the book addressed this as Richard was arrested and had to go through the court system to receive his punishment. I am not a fan of the "restorative justice" approach when a teen makes a horrible mistake that hurts others. This process was done with Richard and Sasha's family, and I do believe it helps restore a positive outcome and empathy for all involved, but I was glad to read that he eventually had to face other consequences as well. (b) The true story and text agreed with what I believe is wrong. Yes, Richard was a teen that maybe got caught up in the moment and followed through with what his friends dared him to do, but I believe this still called for strong consequences. All humans have the right to wear what they want, be who they want, without the fear that they will be harmed. I love that there was a reunion of Sasha and the man that helped put out his fire. This was a heart-warming moment in the read.
Conclusion: This book is an amazing retelling of the true story of a boy that dressed in a skirt. I believe this book would be educational for those that may not believe in those that have a different view of their sexuality. The author does a great job explaining the feelings and inner thoughts and struggles of Sasha as well as the struggles of a single mother of Richard in a low-socio economic situation, just trying to get her son to graduate from high school and not become a statistic.
Citation: Slater, D. (2017). The 57 bus. Farrar Straus Giroux.
The First Part Last by Angela Johnson
Response: I loved reading The First Part Last by Angela Johnson. (g) I will definitely read other books by this author. She started the book with Bobby, present day, teen father with an eleven-day-old newborn of his own. No mention of the mother. The following chapters were titled THEN or NOW, alternating from present to past, holding the readers' attention for sure. I would love to read other books in this format, where your mind has to predict what happened at the first part of the story, attempting to put together details from what is now and what was then. (f) I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. It is one of those books that you cannot put down. The author had me wanting to see what happened in chapter after chapter, rushing to get to the end of the book where she told the first part of the present day story. I believe her writing is entertaining for sure. The format of the book was a great escape from the regular day. Isn't that why we all read? To "go" somewhere else and read about the characters' lives instead of worrying about our own? (a) My personal connection with the book includes a ***spoiler*** so if you do not want to know how the books ends, stop reading here! No, I was not a teen mother, but I did suffer from preeclampsia just as the teen mother suffered from during her pregnancy. We only have one son and will never have another due to the illness and the fear that it could have always been worse. At the end of the book, the teen father visits his baby's mother in a hospital where she is in a vegetative state due to the illness and traumatic birth experience. I feel so lucky that my son's birth story was more successful. The baby in the book is without a mother and the father in the book is struggling as a single dad because of preeclampsia.
Justification: As I searched for a Printz Award winning book, this title stuck out to me. It is also a Coretta Scott King Author Award Winner. I found it in the Teen Issues section of our middle school library. This book was right above the shelf of the Bluford Series books that are very popular with teens. I honestly just thought I would give it a try. It was a short read and if it was not what I was looking for, I could abandon it for a different book. The first chapter had me hooked.
Conclusion: The author does an amazing job jumping back and forth between the then and now of a teen boy's life that was turned upside down when he got his girlfriend pregnant. The book is great for teens that might be in the same situation or have friends in the situation. The book was a great read for a teacher that teaches students just like Bobby and his crew.
Citation: Johnson, A. (2003). The first part last. Simon & Schuster Books.
Graveyard Shift by Angela Roquet
Response: As I read Graveyard Shift by Angela Roquet, (f) I found the humor entertaining. The author uses the main character, a grim reaper, to take the ideas of death and religion and turns them on their heads. She takes all different religions and puts them all in one Heaven. (d) The idea of how she does this in Limbo City, mixing the minimum work effort to maximize the Gods' opinions of her reminds me of my family's spirituality around Christmas. My family is not religious at all, in my opinion, but come a holiday like Christmas or Easter, we were always in the front pew. Living in the "bible belt" it seems to be important to talk the talk every week, but only walk the walk during the holidays. (a) I always look at and read about and question religion, and not just Christianity, but all different religions. Personally, I feel like this book shares the idea that every religion is just mashed together in one place, past, present and future. This satirical way she writes about all religions and their borders in Limbo City moving due to the beliefs of what is popular at the time or place resonates with me and our society.
Justification: I am not a huge fan of the fantasy genre, but the blog assignment called for me to read one. My husband is a huge fan though. I went to him for a recommendation. He said it included humor. That was justification for me. The main character being female is a great hook for me when choosing a book. I found out this is the first book in a series by Angela Roquet. I also love to start books in series as I like to read familiar characters when choosing a new book.
Conclusion: Whether the book follows your beliefs or not, it is entertaining and will definitely make the reader think. It is the first of many in a series that will be lined up on anyone's list after this first read.
Citation: Roquet, A. (2009). Graveyard shift. Violent Siren Press.
The Mango Opera by Tom Corcoran
Response: As I fell into the setting of my dream life in Key West, the Tom Corcoran does a great job putting the reader "there." (g) Of course I would read other books by Corcoran. He does a great job mixing mystery, death, and murder in a place that everyone thinks is a dream life. I loved that the main character was a free-lance photographer. There is so much detail in the characters, the reader feels as if we really get to know them. We all, as readers, want to be in Key West, but the books make us second guess the idea of living in a tourist trap. (f) This artistic text was purely entertainment. It puts us in the Florida life and allows us to forget our boring lives we live. Many characters are introduced in the plot line throughout the beginning of the murder mystery, so it is not one of those reads that you can guess who the killer is right from the beginning. In this particular Corcoran story, the killer is not introduced in a huge way. There was no way the reader can predict and ruin the ending! (a) Personally, I have always dreamed about moving and living in Key West. The book still described a place that would be amazing, but I liked to read the description of the location from a local's point of view. Even in a paradise like Key West, life can still be a "shit show!" I am huge fan of Jimmy Buffett and I loved to read about all the places he sings about!
Justification: I had recently read Gumbo Limbo by the same author, so when I saw on our assignment that I needed to read another mystery, I knew just the book. When I choose books, if I can find a character I already "know" in a new adventure, I jump on the opportunity. I like familiar when I read. Sometimes characters and settings really just match a life we would love to live. I always say I want to be a photographer when I grow up! My husband and I have dreams of living in Key West...and with Jimmy Buffett's review and quote on the front cover, I knew I could not go wrong with this one.
Conclusion: This is a detailed murder mystery, where you get put into the community of the lives of those that lived and worked together. The details the author writes in will allow you to see the setting and feel as if you know the characters. It is a great read for those that want more than just who killed who and how did it happen, when we usually can predict the killer from the beginning.
Citation: Corcoran, T. (1998). The mango opera. St. Martin's Press.
Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber
Response: I loved reading Midnight at the Blackbird Cafe by Heather Webber. (a) I always remember my Nana when I see ladybugs. My mom mentions her dad when she sees pennies on the ground. Hummingbirds are a symbol of my mom's mother when we see them by the window. The rays from the sun through light clouds during a sunset tell me that my Grandma is there thinking of me. We all have these little symbols of loved ones in Heaven speaking to us through some sort of other life. The blackbirds that visit Anna Kate in the book as she struggles through the loss of her mother and grandmother really spoke to me and reminded me of my loved ones that have passed. This type of symbolism in life, magic as the book calls it, gives me hope that I will continue to believe in this. (f) The book was entertaining as the author tells the story through two different points of view. I love this type of writing. It is definitely a work of art. It holds the reader's' attention as the story unfolds through the different girls' stories and views as we have to piece together the snippets that connect the two characters. I love how it all comes together in the end. (g) My overall reaction of the book is that it is an easy read that flows through the importance of family, beginning of a young love relationship, and the messages we often received from loved ones that have passed. There is a little bit of mystery on conflicting stories of the way her father died. Characters that become part of her life are more important than she ever thought. I will definitely read books by this author in the future. She is a great story teller.
Justification: This fall, I struggle with depression. I have a close friend that drops off Sonic drinks, my favorite peanut mix, and calls about it being on the porch. This book happened to be with my treats that she thought would cheer me up. As I struggle with life and hope to find the happy, I read the quote on the front, "Sometimes it takes a little magic to find your way home..." (unknown). I flipped through the pages and noticed it was a novel alternating in points-of-view! Oh my friend knows me so well. A friend recommendation and a blog assignment looming ahead was my justification for reading this book.
Conclusion: I would consider this book realistic fiction, even though it does have the mystery of who is visiting her through the blackbirds. This is real for me and I know this type of hope is real for many others. The hopefulness of the characters would be great for anyone to read. The escape to the small town full of mystery, life and love will engage readers of all ages.
Citation: Webber, H. (2019). Midnight at Blackbird Cafe. Forge.
Redeployment by Phil Klay
Response: Redeployment by Phil Klay is a rough read, rough as in the subject topics. (g) I appreciated his raw, real retelling of the issues and struggles of the deployed men and women to Iraq. The language and gruesome details surprised me because I checked this out in a middle school library. The f-word is very prevalent in the book. I do not think this would be appropriate for a twelve-year-old to read. I cannot say that I would read other books written by this author, just because I am what I call a traditionalist with books read by students. Now, with that said, I do not believe that was his original targeted audience. I guess I would be interested in knowing who he wrote this for. (a) I found the stories, language, struggles, and mental hardships familiar as I lived on a Marine Corps base from December 1998 through November 2004. My ex-husband and I were stationed in Yuma, Arizona. We lived on the base the day of the attacks, September 11, 2001. I left my home that morning and did not get to go home for a few days. That day changed my life as well as the lives of the stories told in the book. (d) Just as many of the relationships in the book ended due to struggles brought on by the military life, my marriage to a Marine ended in divorce. The stories told by Phil Klay are real. People need to know these types of struggles exist in real life. They all seem as if it is just stuff that "happens in the movies." These soldiers are important to the lives of everyone in America. I do not believe it is brought to the forefront enough. Phil Klay has definitely done that here.
Justification: This book is a National Book Award winner. As I lived on a military base years ago, military stories are always an interest of mine. With me being a young adult, same age as many of the men and women that went to fight during the time of the war in Iraq, the personalities of the characters in the short stories Phil Klay tells in this book seem very familiar to me. I enjoy getting a first-hand look into the lives of the young men that were my age fighting for our freedom after September 11, 2001. And again, I like to read text that is based on a true story.
Conclusion: This book includes many different real-life short stories written by a former Marine. They are raw and real, so I will put in a warning for young readers here: explicit language and violence. The short story format is a show stopper. It allows the reader to move from story to story with a new mind and perspective of the men in the war. I believe everyone needs to hear these stories of these Marines that were on the front lines.
Citation: Klay, P. (2014). Redeployment. The Penguin Press.
When the World Didn't End: Poems by Caroline Kaufman
Response: Kaufman's poetry is real. It is connectable with readers of all ages starting in middle school. (f) The way her poems are presented as a chapter book, reading in order, is a work of art. I believe they can be read individually, in any sporadic order, or in the order they are presented. The start of a new poem is only evident with a title in italics, sometimes not on the start of a page. The subjects of her poems are personal to her, but can be read as they are written to be the inner thoughts of any young adult. (a) The subject matters of depression read close to home. I can connect with many of her poems in having the same questions of finding happiness in life. I connected with poems about regret, missing out, dreaming of those people and days that we wish we could have had. (g) I will definitely read other poetry by Caroline Kaufman. I have already found her on Instagram (@poeticpoison) to follow. I read on other reviews that her first book release of poetry was better than this one. Light Filters In: Poems is on my book wish list for Christmas this year. I love that she seemed to become famous on Instagram for her writing.
Justification: I chose this book because of the description I read on GoodReads. The blog assignment called for a book of poetry. It stated something about her being an Instagram star. I love that she was discovered on social media. Social media is quite something these days. I love the idea that we can all be authors in our own way there. The subjects listed there of self discovery, battling depression, and forgiveness caught my attention. This was perfect.
Conclusion: This book of poems is a great read in order or as you see fit. The subject matter covered is a wonderful read for those that are retrospective about their young adult lives or for those that are just in the midst of their teen years.
Citation: Kaufman, C. (2019). When the world didn't end: Poems. Harper Collins.
The Wives by Tarryn Fisher
Response: Thursday, as her husband called her, because he spends the night with her on Thursdays and his other two wives on other weekdays, caught my attention right away. (a) As a wife, we all have those insecurities and questions if we are beautiful enough, are we enough, can we be better for our husband? But as I started to read about Thursday and her accepting these other women because she just really wanted to be with her husband, I could not stray away from getting MAD at her as I read. As a reader, I always try to put myself in the shoes of the characters I connect with, so I had to keep reading to find out what happened to this poor girl that did not have the confidence to say she wanted to be the only one. (b) Then as I continued to read, I wondered why a good friend of mine recommended a book about a marriage with a polygamist. My views that one man is only meant to be married to one woman strengthened as I read Thursday attempting to stalk her husband's other wives at their workplace or find them on the website of their company and even on facebook and dating websites. Why would a woman put herself through this? My opinions were not challenged. I could feel her struggle through her actions. It was horrible. (f) The twist and turns in the characters, the visits, the other women, the horror found around the next corner was a great, entertaining, anxiety-creating read for me. I enjoyed the writing of Tarryn Fisher. The mind-blowing turns in what the reader is thinking for three-fourths of the book toward the end of the book are worth the read for sure! I still wonder if Fisher left the ending up for our interpretation. It is one of those books that you want to read again and make sure you didn't miss anything.
Justification: The only justification for me choosing this book is that a friend recommended it to me. She thought EVERYONE had to read it after she read it so she could talk about the ending with people! She thought it so important for me to read it that she drove it over to my house for a porch drop-off. That is all the justification I needed. When a good friend wants you to read a book because it was so good they need to discuss it with someone, you just read it! Always. Never a question. It was also on the New York Times Best Seller list.
Conclusion: This is a book that one first might think they have all figured out is not what they thought it was at all. This is a must read for anyone that likes an author that tricks them into one thing and then twists it up quick...so quick that you are in shock at the end of each chapter!
Citation: Fisher, T. (2019). The wives. Graydon House Books.
Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G. Neri
Response: G. Neri's graphic novel Yummy: the Last Days of a Southside Shorty really taught me something new. (c) I had no idea this was real life for young kids in Chicago. Of course we see it in the movies and on TV, but to read this story told by a fictional character named Roger that tells true accounts of the kid that killed the young girl for revenge or for their gang family, really brought it home to me. These things really do happen in real life. I feel as if we do not hear these stories because the news is afraid to put kids' names and pictures and stories in their news articles and shows. (d) Living in a quiet, semi-small town in the panhandle of Texas, I feel like I have forgotten there is life out there like that for young adults the same as as the ones that I teach at school. This book has been called popular by our local librarians. I honestly believe it is popular because the subject matter is just like all the movies the kids enjoy watching. Do they really understand this is real life for kids in big cities like Chicago? (g) My overall reaction to the book is that it is a great read. I love stories that surround and retell true events in the world. The graphic novel aspect of the book really allows those of us that are out of the big city life to "picture" these kids and settings in our mind. The black and white images call attention to all the details we need to "see" in our minds while reading this biography of Yummy.
Justification: Our blog assignment called for a biography. This was a recommendation by a colleague that is a high school librarian. As I looked further into the title, I saw that it was a Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor book as well as one of the Top Ten Graphic Novel books awarded by the American Library Association. "It is ALWAYS checked out" is the response I got from many teachers and librarians I work with as well. I just had to see what the popularity was about.
Conclusion: This is a rare biography of a real girl written in the format of a graphic novel. This will be popular with students of all ages. The black and white images add to the detail of the text, pulling readers into the intriguing story of the gang life being a huge part of young people in Chicago.
Citation: Neri, G. (2010). Yummy: The last days of a southside shorty. Lee and Low Books.