Alex Award Winner

Kyle, Aryn. 2007. The god of animals: A novel. New York: Scribner

Summary: Alice, a twelve year old girl lives on a horse farm in Colorado with her father and depressed mother. Her older sister Nona has left home to marry a cowboy at the age of seventeen. Alice’s father struggles to make a living by boarding horses and giving riding lessons to rich people who see it as a hobby. Alice’s mother never leaves her room, and her father is absorbed in his work with the horses, and ignores her. Alice is left to fend for herself emotionally. When a girl from Alice’s school, Polly Cain, is found drowned, Alice begins a journey of introspection about the girl’s life. Her thoughts lead her to a male teacher, Mr. Delmar, who was close to Polly. She begins sharing her thoughts and feelings regularly with him in long, private phone calls. Meanwhile, she notices that her father is flattered by the attention given to him by one of his rich clients and begins to suspect that he is having an affair with her. Her sister Nona and her husband Jerry return to live on the farm which creates a new source of tension. Alice has always felt that Nona was her father’s favorite. Emotionally abandoned by her family, Alice finds herself more and more emotionally dependent on her teacher. Things start to unravel when her teacher suddenly leaves town, and there is a terrible accident on the farm. Alice has to grow up quickly as she faces the truth about herself and the people she cares about.

Analysis/Impressions: This Alex Award winning book is a coming of age novel and realistic problem fiction novel all rolled into one. Alice is a twelve year old girl who is coming of age both sexually and emotionally. To complicate things, she is dealing with a host of other issues involving her family, and others outside her family.

The setting of the story, a horse farm in Colorado, is significant in that horses are what draw the characters together. All his life, Alice’s father has struggled to eke out a living, always thinking that the horses will be his salvation. His poor financial management skills have kept the family at near poverty level and this is what causes them to have to board horses for rich people. Horses also drew her sister together with her cowboy husband, and caused her to run off with him. Later, as we find out, horses were what drew her mother and father together, and eventually pulled them apart. Horses were also the cause of a major turning point in the story. Even so, the story is about so much more than horses. As we see in the beginning, Alice is a girl with deep thoughts and feelings, but she has no one to share them with.

The plot of the story contains mostly emotional conflict. There are events in the story that create turning points, such as the accident when Patty Jo’s face is smashed, or when Mr. Delmar is fired from his teaching job. Yet, the real conflict is what is going on emotionally within Alice, a person against self conflict. Person against person conflict, is also important in this story, as Alice struggles in her relationship with her father and older sister.

The characters in this story are well-portrayed. The author helps us get to know Alice quickly. We learn that she feels unimportant in her family, that she is overshadowed by and constantly compared to her older sister and that the horses (and the money made from them) are more important to her father than she is. The family would probably qualify as dysfunctional and each member is unique in his/her dysfunction. There is so much Alice doesn’t understand, such as why her mother has always been depressed and stays in her room. Why her father sleeps in the guest room.

Alice is a complex character and her thoughts go far beyond the daily routine at the horse farm. She really thinks about many things, about death, love, suffering. She imagines a relationship with Polly Cain, and tries to find out more about her. When she seeks out Mr. Delmar, who had been close to Polly, we see how her need to connect with Polly is transferred to Mr. Delmar. While this is an emotionally inappropriate relationship, we see that Polly is seeking to find love and acceptance in the only way she knows how.

At her young age, Alice is beginning to face ugly truths about herself, her family and about people in general. The rich people who come to the farm are a source of bread and butter for the family, but they are in a separate world. Like any normal preteen girl, Alice is envious of what they have. Later, she realizes how shallow most of them really are. She also realizes that her father has weaknesses too. A young woman doesn’t always understand the complexities of adult relationships. Adults can understand why an adult man married to a depressed woman who will not leave her bedroom, might be flattered by the attentions of an attractive woman. Part of Alice’s coming of age is having to confront the issue of her father and Patty Jo, as well her own growing need for acceptance and love. When her sister Nona returns to the farm, Alice notices that there is a problem with her marriage as well.

When Mr. Delmar is fired from his job, Alice is thrown into emotional turmoil. She had become so dependent on him psychologically and no one else can meet that need. In a parallel situation, her father faces his own turning point when Patty Jo is hurt in an accident on the farm and never returns to ride there again. She had been his emotional crutch. Also, Jerry eventually leaves Nona, which really isn’t a surprise but causes more emotional conflict for the family. If there is any overriding theme in this story, it would have to be about unmet emotional needs.

The story is told from the point of view of Alice but,the writer makes it easy to understand how some of the other characters are feeling. Conversations between Alice and her depressed mother show how the mother is thinking and feeling, particularly about her husband.

The book is written in an easy to read style. For the most part, Alice is narrating the story but enough conversation is included to make us feel that we are really a part of the story. There seems to be more actual conversation when she is talking to Mr. Delmar in their long telephone talks. This seems to be significant because when she is with her father, she is thinking more than she is talking. She observes her father but she doesn’t seem to communicate as much with him, at least in the beginning of the story.

Toward the end of the story, we see that Alice’s father does love her in his own way, but like many imperfect parents, he is unable to show it. Alice, in her efforts to feel loved, made a few inappropriate choices, but seems to have learned some lessons along the way. While the ending of this book is less than satisfying emotionally, it was profound and really leaves an impression on the reader.

One part of the story that left me hanging was the connection between Mr. Delmar and Polly Cain. There seems to be something mysterious about their relationship and I half expected it to be the reason why he lost his job. I thought perhaps he might have molested or murdered her, but then that problem would have overwhelmed the plot with so many other things going on. It might have made a good sequel though.

Overall, this is one of the best young adult fiction books I’ve read lately. It is very deep psychologically and a little dark and depressing. For this reason, I would probably recommend it for mature 14 year olds and up.

Review Excerpts:

“For anyone who has built their dreams on hard ground, felt the unrelenting hold of family, flirted with danger or seen what money can and cannot take, The God of Animals will be a wildly moving experience. For those who have known the fault lines of the human heart and the healing power of animals, it will be devastatingly redemptive.” (Publisher’s Weekly, Feb. 2007, Vol. 254, no. 9)

"Kyle tells a powerful story of coming of age amid isolation and hardship." (Booklist, Jan. 2008, Vol. 104, no. 9/10)

Autobiography

Gantos, Jack. 2002. Hole in my life. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Summary: This fascinating autobiography by author Jack Gantos, tells the story of his youthful mistakes that earned him time in a federal prison. This memoir candidly explores his reckless youth, his drug habit and finally how he wound up being arrested for drug smuggling. Spending almost 1 ½ years in prison brought about a turning point. The experiences he had there, some very frightening and violent were enough to make him want to turn his life around. During his time there he kept a journal of his experiences. He realized that the consequences of his behavior, which tested him mightily, were a good way to learn about what was really important in life. When he came out, he was rehabilitated and never returned to drugs or crime again. Instead he went to college and became a well known writer. And as he says at the end of the book, he is “out in the open doing what I have always wanted to do. Write.” (Gantos 2002, 200)

Analysis/Impressions: While I found this autobiography difficult to read, I also found it hopeful. The book is an honest, but sometimes brutally painful look at the life of a young person who has wasted his youth. It is also about redemption of a life.

Telling ones own story gives it a certain credibility that even the most well researched biographies can’t have. Jack Gantos lived his story and no one knows it better than he did. The book chronicles events in his life, but does so with a great amount of introspection and reflection on the events.

Gantos writes about the events in his life that lead up to going to prison, the restlessness and aimless he felt, the drugs and the poor companions. Eventually those companions led him down the wrong path, and he found himself on a boat smuggling hashish into New York. Sentenced to a federal prison, he faces a level of violence he has never seen before and actually fears for his life. Fortunately he finds a job working as an x-ray technician in the prison hospital which provides a level of protection.

His descriptions of prison life are very graphic and at times disturbing. Some of the sexual violence in the prison may not be appropriate for younger readers.

If Gantos were simply telling a story of his prison experiences, I would not be interested in reading his book. Yes, it is riveting and well written, but I feel the value of the book is in the lessons learned from his experiences. The book can be invaluable as a way of helping young people to avoid the mistakes he has made. I don’t think he is in any way glorifying the life he lived or making excuses for his mistakes. He takes full ownership for what he did. He also provides hope for those who may have been caught in the same trap and want a way out. He used hope and determination to keep him going and he received another chance.

Gantos is someone who has always had a sense of what he wanted to do. Somehow he was able to keep this dream alive during the darkest times. He wrote “In prison I got a second chance to realize I did have something to write about. I found plenty of serious subjects. I had plenty of time to write about them and I couldn’t get up and run away, or drink, or smoke dope.” (2002, 186) While I’m sure prison wouldn’t have been his school of choice, it did provide the learning experience he needed to make positive changes in his life.

The book covers only a few years of Gantos life, but perhaps these were the most significant years of his life. He chose writing and writing was in a sense, his salvation. He admits, that when he was out of prison and struggling financially, he was once tempted to sell drugs to make extra money. His strength of character allowed him to walk away and continue on the right path.

The title of this book is very appropriate. Jack realized early on that his life was missing something. All of us have an empty hole in our souls that we will try to fill. Some of us will use food, sex, cars, drugs or even work to fill it up. It is only when we find something that brings us true fulfillment, that the hole is filled. For Gantos, that fulfillment came from writing. It took him a few hard knocks to learn that and this book is the record of that.

I would recommend this book for older teens. Younger teens may find it hard to handle.

Review Excerpts:
“Much of the action in this memoir--some of it quite raw and harsh--will be riveting to teen readers. However, the book's real strength lies in the window it gives into the mind of an adolescent without strong family support and living in the easy drug culture of the 1970s” (School Library Journal, May 2002, vol. 48, no. 5)

“Readers will be relieved and glad that he found his way back, and high-schoolers who devoured the Jack books in their middle-grade youth will savor the acerbic exploration of their author's formative time.” (Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, May 2002, vol. 55, no. 9)

Mystery/Supernatural

De la Cruz, Melissa. 2007. Masquerade: A blue bloods novel. New York: Hyperion.

Summary: In this second book of the Blue Bloods series, Schuyler, a vampire who lives in New York City, makes a trip to Italy to find her grandfather. She has recently discovered that she is half vampire (a Blue Blood) and half human. She thinks that the Silver Bloods, which are the enemies of the Blue Bloods are killing people that she knows. She wants her grandfather to help, but he doesn’t, so she comes back to New York. Meanwhile the vampires are preparing to attend the Four Hundred Ball which is an annual event for bigwig vampires. Mimi, a teen vampire with an attitude is jealous of Schuyler because she thinks Jack, her vampire love interest, is attracted to her. In the midst of this, Schuyler is starting to feel the need to feed on human blood for the first time. Her grandfather arrives unexpectedly and pushes her to feed on her assistant Oliver because she is growing weaker. In the process of feeding she discovers that Oliver has feelings for her. She regains her strength and helps to save the life of another vampire by risking her own.

Analysis/Impressions: This book is a great combination of mystery and supernatural elements. While stories about vampires are not normally my cup of tea, this one held my interest. It is probably because the vampires weren’t typical vampires; they seemed more like real people. Oh yes, they liked to drink blood and they came back in other lives, but other than that they were pretty human, along with normal human personalities and failings.

The setting is the New York City fashion world (for most of the story) and some of the major characters are involved in the fashion industry. The book has the normal elements of mystery, which generally includes someone being killed. There is a question of “whodunit” and how did they do it. The element of suspense is very strong in this story, and just when you think you have it figured out, you realize you don’t. Frankly, if this story didn’t have the mystery element, it wouldn’t quite be the same. Otherwise it would just be a story about a bunch of rich, spoiled vampires.

This was my first experience with one of the more modern vampire stories. What surprised me was that all of the vampires weren’t evil. Some of them, especially the main protagonist Schuyler were decent people. While I didn’t read the first book of this series, I did learn some of the history of the Blue Bloods, and that they were originally fallen angels. Other stereotypes I had of vampires were blown away with this story, when I learned that this particular group feeds off of humans that they love and the humans don’t die or become vampires. The story is intriguing.

The characters weren’t as well developed as in some other books, but they were interesting and sometimes humorous. Many of the vampires in this story are living in the world, just like normal people. They hold important jobs and run businesses. Schuyler is a bit different in that she is only a half blood and doesn’t quite fit in with the vampire elite. The character of Mimi and some of the other elite vampires is so human like it’s laughable. She is a rich, pampered teen who acts like a spoiled brat. She’s the complete opposite of Schuyler. There is a natural rivalry between the girls and this especially comes into play where Jack is concerned.

Schuyler is a strong character, even though she isn’t very well rounded. She is almost too good. Her strength of character comes out near the end when she risks her life to save Mimi.

I have to admit that some of the scenes in this book were a little gross. The teen party after the ball where the vampires were sucking the blood of their human dates was rather disgusting to think about, but I suppose this is the way vampires “neck.”

The story has a lot of action and the plot is interesting. The relationship between Schuyler and her human conduit (assistant) Oliver adds a bit of romance to the story. It’s hard to imagine that Oliver could know that she was a vampire, and still want to hang around with her, or especially to let her feed on him. While I know this is fiction, and I know I must suspend my disbelief, even this was a stretch for me.

Another part of the story that was hard to accept was that Jack and Mimi were twins and yet somehow they were supposed to be romantically involved too. Of course, all this has to do with previous and/or future lives (or cycles) and how the world is supposed to see them. It gets a little confusing at that point, and maybe I would understand it better if I had read the first book in the series.

While this was my first time to read a modern vampire novel, I don’t have anything to compare it with except for the Count Dracula stories I read as a child. This one is certainly more well developed and gives a lot more background on the lives of the vampire characters. It is an easy read and I probably will make an attempt to read the first one in the series.

I would recommend this for age 14 and up.

Review Excerpts:
“Fantasy, suspense, romance, fashion, and an interesting twist on vampire lore add up to a read that's difficult to put down.” (School Library Journal, Aug 2007, vol. 53, no. 8)

“Thankfully, added historical mysteries and power intrigues move the story forward in ways much more interesting than the romance plots, and a cliffhanger ending turns on an unexpected and intriguing twist.” (Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, June 2007, vol. 60, no. 10)

Non-fiction

Murphy, Jim. 2000. Blizzard! The storm that changed America. New York: Scholastic Press.

Summary: The east coast of the United States was hit with one of the worst blizzards of all time in March of 1888. For three days that part of the country was paralyzed by nonstop strong winds and snow. Because they were unprepared many people were trapped away from their homes. Trains were tossed off of track and boats were blown around on the water or capsized. In this nonfiction book, Jim Murphy draws from historical resources and actual accounts to create a well written chronicle of what happened in those three days. The book tells real stories about real people and how they survived this event. It shows how unprepared our nation was at that time for such a weather related calamity because our weather reporting systems were not nearly as developed as they are today. Also, it shows nature took its toll on people’s ability to communicate, travel and provide basic needs for their families. It also tells the stories of brave souls who endured the cold and wind to report to work because they were afraid they’d lose their jobs and of poor immigrants who worked hard shoveling snow to earn a few extra dollars. It is estimated that about 400 lives were lost during the storm, but lessons were also learned. After many electrical wires snapped during the storm, creating communication problems and safety issues, cities began to bury wires underground. New city ordinances were created and an underground subway was built in New York in the years following the blizzard. Cities also began to plan for events such as blizzards so they would not be caught off guard in the future. This interesting account is filled with stories of individuals whose lives were affected by this act of nature, some tragic, some humorous, but all true.

Analysis/Impressions: Award winning author Jim Murphy has created another excellent nonfiction work for young adults in this book. His research skills and superior writing skills have given him the authority and the reputation he has in this genre. In his source notes at the end of the book he acknowledges where he gained much of his information for this book. He examined letters of reminiscence about the blizzard from the New York Historical Society. He cites books and other sources that were helpful in his research. These cited sources also provide more information for those who would like to do more research on this subject. He also acknowledges the services of several east coast historical societies who helped him locate information and provided photographs.

The book seems to be organized in a narrative fashion. Each chapter title looks like the title of a story. The writing is clear but not oversimplified and is appropriate for young adult audiences, but might also appeal to adults who are interested in the subject. The tone is mostly neutral but at times humorous. One particularly humorous account of the story involves a young man who is wandering around in the snowstorm trying to find a store to purchase a corset needle for his aunt. According to the boy’s account, when he stopped a stranger to ask if knew where he could find one, he “learned a few new and attractive profane expressions to add to my already fair vocabulary of cuss words . . .” (Murphy 2000, 40)

In addition to the table of contents and the author’s notes on sources, a helpful alphabetical index is provided as a reference aid. Students will be easily able to locate topics within the book. Even so, this book could be read for entertainment as easily as for information.

The book is illustrated with black and white photographs and drawings from the time of the blizzard. Credits for the photographs and drawings are provided on the same page along with informational captions. Some of the photographs are from the author’s own collection. One illustration is full page spread of the front page of a newspaper which put out a "Blizzard Extra”. It contains small sketches of scenes from the blizzard. While some of the drawings do seem a bit sensational, they are probably close to the truth. The photographs tell the real story of the storm. One picture shows two men walking in the hurricane force winds across Wall Street which is filled with downed electrical wires. The front and back covers are illustrated with an intriguing black and white drawing by Leonid Gore which shows the storm in its full glory.

While it would be easy to write a book just giving the facts and statistics about this blizzard, Jim Murphy incorporates stories from real people who lived through it. These people came from all walks of life: rich and poor, immigrants, business owners and average workers. This makes it more personal and easier for readers to relate to. People like to read about real people, about their struggles and also about the humorous things that happened to them. Murphy has a gift for narrative retelling of history which is evidenced in this book and in other books he has written. This book is recommended for ages 9-12.

Review Excerpts:

“This is a masterful depiction of the blizzard that struck the eastern United States in March 1888. In addition to explaining the meteorological conditions that led to its creation and sustained intensity, Murphy includes numerous accounts of those who survived and others who died.” (School Library Journal, August 2006, vol. 52, no. 8)

“In a masterful piece of storytelling, Murphy regales readers with tales of the fortitude and foolhardiness of citizens who matched wills with the blizzard. . . . This title goes well beyond gripping narrative, however, to demonstrate how the storm exposed the weakest seams in the nineteenth-century urban fabric--utility companies that ignored ordinances for buried cable; corrupt city politics that stalled efforts to introduce underground rail service; inadequate housing for masses of immigrants; a laissez-faire attitude toward snow removal and sanitation." (Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, January 2001, vol. 54, no. 5)

Non-fiction

Murphy, Jim. 2003. An American plague: The true and terrifying story of the yellow fever epidemic of 1793. New York: Clarion Books.

Summary: This book chronicles the true story of the dreaded yellow fever epidemic that invaded Philadelphia in 1793. This terrible epidemic, whose cause was unknown at the time, took the lives of thousands of people in a few weeks. Vivid accounts of the disease and how it affected its victims are provided, taken from actual accounts from doctors and newspaper reports. The well researched book shows what life was like during that time, both socially and politically. It also gives us interesting accounts of medical practices during that time and how doctors sometimes did more harm than good for their patients. This epidemic which occurred during the time of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson affected many lives and quite possibly changed history. It also brought about some positive changes to the city such as cleaning up waste and changing the way that water was supplied to the city. We now know that these improvements did little to alleviate yellow fever, but even so, they were improvements. The book also has a chapter on more recent outbreaks of yellow fever and what has been learned about the disease. While there is still no cure for the disease, determining that it is carried by mosquitoes was a major breakthrough that has allowed us to help prevent it in many cases. Also, modern medicines which were not available in the early days of our nation now help fight the symptoms. Even so, this dreaded disease still has the potential to kill many even today. The book provides a warning that we need to be aware and take steps to prepare for another epidemic.

Analysis/Impressions: This book provides superior coverage on the topic of yellow fever without overwhelming young readers. The focus of the book is clear and the facts are presented in a way that keeps it in the forefront. Enough detail is provided to help readers gain a true understanding of the epidemic.

The author knows his subject well and is able to present it with clarity in his writing style. While the book is factual, it is written in an interesting, easy to read style. By telling the stories of what happened to the victims, and the words they wrote, or what was reported that they said, the author lends a human, personal touch to the writing. Also, the language used is appropriate for the intended audience.

The book is organized in chapters that move chronologically through the events of those weeks. Nearly every chapter is headed with a quote from that time period. A complete list of sources at the end of the book provides plenty of material for students who wish to do more in depth research. A helpful alphabetical index is provided as a reference aid. While this book could be used for student research, it could also provide pleasure reading for some who enjoy reading historical accounts.

The author has qualified himself for writing this book by his extensive research. He gives facts, but is also quick to point out when he is unable to do so. He supports his facts with real accounts taken from primary resources and leaves the rest to our imagination. Some of the descriptions of vomiting, diarrhea and bloodletting might make some young people squeamish, but they are taken from actual descriptions of symptoms and are factual, not merely sensational.

The book is illustrated with black and white archival prints. They are well placed and don’t overwhelm the text. While the front cover design is not that outstanding, the back cover contains an interesting archival print of bloodletting which was practiced on yellow fever patients in the 1700’s. Prints of newspaper articles from that time begin most of the chapters. Use of these documents and prints reinforces the credibility of the author’s writing.

While the book tells about the yellow fever epidemic it also does a good job of talking about the social and political climate of the time. It also brings out some little known facts about some of our founding fathers such George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. It was interesting to read that the tradition of presidents having a summer White House started when George Washington removed himself to a safe location to avoid the yellow fever. Dolley Madison, wife of one of our American presidents, lost her first husband to the fever, and suffered from it herself. Also, we learn about the brave black Americans who were among the few willing to nurse the sick. A chapter on recent developments and discoveries brings us up to date on yellow fever and what is being done to prevent it.

This book is an excellent example of nonfiction that can be useful for teaching and enjoyment. It has won a Newbery Honor, the Robert Sibert Medal and was a National Book Award Finalist.

Review Excerpts:

“With his customary care, Murphy culls from a number of historical records the story of the yellow fever epidemic that swept Philadelphia in 1793, skillfully drawing out from these sources the fear and drama of the time and making them immediate to modern readers.” (Horn Book Magazine, July/August 2003, vol. 79, no. 4)

“ Some of the details are amusing, such as Murphy's description of how men, women, and even children walked around with cigars in their mouth, in the belief that the smell of tobacco would ward off the disease.” (School Library Journal, Sept 2004, vol. 50, no. 9)

Endgame

Garden, Nancy. 2006. Endgame. Orlando: Harcourt, Inc.

Summary: Gray and his family have moved to a new community. He’s hoping for a new beginning but realizes that he is going to have some of the same problems he had before. He is harassed by bullies, called names, and beaten up. Teachers ignore his problem and to make matters worse, he is totally misunderstood by his parents. His overly domineering father refuses to accept his son the way he is and takes away the one thing that Gray loves, his music. His emotionally weak mother passively submits to his father. He finds one friend, but his pressure continues to grow. With no one to talk to, he reaches a breaking point and the unthinkable happens. This is a heart wrenching, yet thought provoking story about a young man who seems totally abandoned by society.

Analysis/Impressions: This story was not an easy read, mainly because problems are brought up but never resolved. Gray is a young man who is very complicated emotionally. He has never really had a chance to be accepted. His family, teachers and community have let him down.

The story starts out with Gray in a juvenile detention center. His lawyer comes to visit and asks to him talk about the events which led up to his arrest. While we don’t know exactly what Gray has done, the suspense builds toward the climax when we discover his tragic story.

While Nancy Garden has written books which emphasize GLTQ themes, we do not get the strong impression that Gray is gay. In fact, he is interested in dating a girl. Even so, he is teased and called a “fag”, probably because he is small for his age and he likes music. He also has a difficult relationship with his father, who doesn’t accept Gray for who he is and is constantly trying to force him into a mold that he prefers. An example of this is when his Dad forces him to go hunting; Gray hates hunting and shooting animals, but his Dad somehow thinks it will make a man out of him. He further injures his son emotionally by taking away Gray’s opportunities to practice on his drums, the one thing in his life that really matters to him.

While Gray doesn’t appear to be gay, his experience may be similar to what young people who identify themselves as gay struggle against. Even so, a young adult doesn’t have to be gay to identify with some of Gray’s problems: not being unconditionally loved and accepted, feeling different, and being bullied. This book touched on several different themes and while it is probably extreme, it can open up a lot of good discussions.

This book also has a lot to say to adults, both parents and educators. Gray’s case was extreme; most young people going through teenage angst aren’t going to shoot their classmates. Even so we know from recent history, that there have been cases of emotionally disturbed young adults who have done this. If anything, this book should point out the importance of targeting young people with emotional needs and intervening before it reaches a tragic end.

It speaks to parents about the need for love and unconditional acceptance. While we cannot condone what Gray did, the reader sees that Gray was put in a horrible situation. He was totally ignored by the people who could have helped him. His dysfunctional family only made things worse, by living in denial. Instead of encouraging the things that would have built up Gray’s self esteem, such as his music, his Dad took it away. A young person’s emotional stability is fragile and if pushed too hard, he/she can reach a breaking point, which is exactly what happened to Gray.

The issue is bullying is an important one in this book. The author really makes her point about the importance of adults in stopping this. In Gray’s case, no one cared enough to put a stop to it and he was left to take matters into his own hands, which meant shooting several of his classmates.

This book was well written, but very disturbing. Nothing is really solved and there is no satisfying ending. Gray is sentenced to life without parole at the age of 15 and we ask ourselves, how this could have happened, because we saw his inner struggle, and how he never had any help. Yet, perhaps this is what the author intends: to make us think about these issues, and promise ourselves, that we won’t ever again let this happen to another young person. Also, a young person who might be in a similar situation might be encouraged to seek help before his life reaches the same tragic point that Gray’s did. If they can experience vicariously what Gray did, maybe they’ll keep trying to get help.

The violence in the book may be too rough for very young teens. AIso, a scene where the bullies try to force Gray and his friend to have oral sex in the locker room is hard to read and may not be age appropriate for younger teens.

Review Excerpts:
“Garden sets up her situations and secondary characters in such a way that she normalizes Gray's responses as simple (and simplistic) cause and effect; absent any opposing voices, readers will likely agree with Gray that his shooting spree was a completely legitimate and reasonable course of action--the bully got what he deserved, the collateral damage was nothing more than regrettable, and the real tragedies were that he didn't take his father out as well and that he received a life sentence for his justifiable actions.” (Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, June 2006, 59, no. 10)

“This is a hard-hitting and eloquent look at the impact of bullying, and the resulting destruction of lives touched by the violence.” (School Library Journal, May 2006, 52, no. 5)

Urban Lit

Sitomer, Alan Lawrence. 2006. Hip-hop high school. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.

Summary: Theresa is a young African American girl who wants to succeed, but also wants to fit in to her urban high school. Sometime, those two things don’t seem to go together very well. In her high school, being smart can get you into trouble. It’s better socially to try and follow the crowd, but doing that can get a girl in trouble too. When a boy she likes takes her to a wild party where drugs and alcohol are part of the entertainment, she loses the trust of her parents. Then her best friend becomes pregnant. Fortunately for Theresa, she has enough people to keep her on track: her parents, her older brother (by setting a good example) and a good friend Devon. Devon helps Teresa to make good choices, encourages her to study and prepare for college and pursue her talents. A tragedy almost puts an end to some of their hopes and dreams. Teresa rises to the occasion and helps both of them achieve their goals.

Analysis/Impressions: When I first started this book, I really didn’t think I would be able to finish it. The hip-hop language really put me off. I soldiered on, and was pleasantly surprised. I also realized that cultural markers, such as the language, make the book more authentic within the African American community.

The book starts off in a very shallow way, with Theresa (aka Tee-Ay) walking into her school on the first day and thinking about how cool all the hip-hoppers looked. She questions why she has to be in an honors class when she was “always thinking about sex.” (2006, 1). Later on, we see that she is really struggling with wanting to be successful, in part to please her family, but also for herself.

Like many teen girls, peer pressure is hard for her. On several occasions she succumbs to it and makes a few mistakes. Fortunately, she doesn’t get in over her head.

As the book progresses, we see that Teresa is starting to mature. She starts to see that there are consequences to certain behavior. Through the mistakes of her friends, she learns that following the crowd can get a person in trouble. When her best friend becomes pregnant she sees how this limits her life. Theresa figures out on her own that making certain choices will also take away her options.

The book will immediately capture the attention of young people who enjoy the hip hop lifestyle. The hip-hop language and dialogue is typical of urban high schools today. This technique makes the book more authentic to teens. This is important, because the author is going to be making a point and he needs a captive audience. By creating a character like Theresa, who is one of them, someone they can relate to, he will have a platform for getting across his point. By then, he is able to do it and he isn’t coming across in a preachy, dogmatic way.

Some of the characters are a little overdone. Even so, I liked the fact, that while we do see some negative points about certain African American communities, the main characters in this book are not stereotyped. Theresa’s family is a positive example of an African American family. Theresa and her friend Devon are portrayed as two young people who are really trying to be successful and I think they can be a positive role model for other African American young people. If they had been painted as perfect, without problems, they wouldn’t have been believable. Instead they are written realistically, with real struggles, but with the inner strength to overcome those struggles.

While it took awhile for me to really get into this book, I can see its value for young people. It emphasizes to young people, who might be short on hope, that working hard has benefits. If you set goals, you can achieve them. You don’t have to make the same mistakes as your peers. You can be different.

The language in this book is coarse, there are some scenes depicting drug use, and sex is a frequent topic. Yet the book wasn’t overly offensive, if you are aware of the intended audience. For some of these young people, this is normal everyday language. The author has to reach them where they are if he intends to make any kind of impact.

The book ends on a hopeful note. In the beginning, I really believed that Theresa would turn out like some of her friends, pregnant, and or on drugs. I was so relieved to see that she is shown as a strong, capable character who is able to think for herself, at least when it really counts. Overall, she is a delightful character.

I liked the way the author worked the importance of education into the book. One of the really important things in Theresa’s life is passing the SAT. In almost every chapter, she is learning new words and their meanings. Each one, as she says throughout the book, is a “good word to know for the SAT.” By making it important to Teresa, maybe it will become important to the young people reading it.

The book also has a lot to say about peer pressure, how strong it is, and how important it is to not let it rule your life. It also speaks to the importance of a strong supportive family and good friends who help bring out the best in people.

This realistic urban novel is humorous, encouraging and thought provoking. It is recommended for ages 12 and up.

Review Excerpts:
“Although Sitomer explores the realities and challenges of urban African American adolescence, he strikes a fair balance between serious issues and more lighthearted fare, writing in a smart, conversational voice loaded with wit, rhythm, and energy” (Booklist, 5/01/2006, via Book Index Database)

"This sobering novel is both inspiring and poignant. While Sitomer refrains from becoming didactic, his passionate message concerning the value of education will be clear to his readers." (VOYA, N.d. via Barnes and Noble, http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Hip-Hop-High-School/Alan-Lawrence-Sitomer/e/9781423106449/?itm=1 )

Realism

Curtis, Christopher Paul. 2004. Bucking the sarge. New York: Wendy Lamb Books.

Summary: Luther lives with his mother (called “the Sarge) in Flint, Michigan. The Sarge is a slum lord and the owner of the Happy Neighborhood Group Home for Men. Luther is only fifteen but he has been working for his mother running the home since he was thirteen. His mother is an unethical person who tries to cheat the system any way she can. Luther considers himself a philosopher and is looking forward to the day when he can break free and attend university, but for now he is just part of Sarge’s machine. The one thing that keeps him going is the thought that Sarge is putting money away for his college education. At least that’s what he thinks. When he realizes that she has no intention of giving him any money for college, as she has promised, he decides to get even. He begins to work on a plan that will get him free of his bondage to the Sarge and give him the life he wants.

Analysis/Impressions: This humorous realistic novel, is set in Flint, Michigan. Flint is significant because it has a reputation of being a place where people tend to have a poverty mentality. Luther and his mother don’t fit this stereotype because they are both hard workers. The main difference between them is that the Sarge is working for herself and doesn’t really care about anyone else. Luther’s friend Sparky blames Flint for all of his problems, but according to Luther “Flint ain’t nothing but a place or a state of mind, and I think a place or a state of mind is all about what you make it to be.” (Curtis 2004, 9)

The story is told from the perspective of Luther in the first person point of view. This helps us to see the heart and soul of a young man who has a dream. It also helps us to see what he is up against emotionally. Sarge, his own mother is the antagonist and is the major obstacle in his life. Even so, he is willing to work for her if it will help him achieve his goals.

We see some the major real teen challenges that Luther faces. He is growing through the process of learning to accept his body and its physical changes. Like most teen boys he worries about acne but as he says “if that Clearasil really works it won’t be too much longer before I’ll be handsome in a more normal sense of the word.” (Curtis 2004, 8) Luther is starting to develop a sexual identity. He has a secret crush on Shayla Patrick, but doesn’t let her know it because she is his rival in the science fair. Like a lot of teen boys he would like to be sexually active and carries an old condom around in his wallet. It’s been in his wallet so long that he’s given it a name: Chauncy.

Luther is also thinking about his future career plans. He says he has found a “home in science and a haven in philosophy” (2004, 19) and wants to attend university. It will be his escape from his money grubbing, unethical mother. He has already started to form his own ideology and ethical standards and they aren’t the same as the Sarges’. Early in the book, we see that Luther is beginning to achieve his emotional independence from his mother. At the end of the book this reaches full bloom as he is finally able to break free from her control.

This book is an exemplary example of a coming of age novel because of Luther’s emotional growth and development. While it would have been easy for him to get sucked up into the same kind of mentality as the Sarge, he chooses another way. He forms his own identity. He is a courageous young man who will take a stand against wrong, even if that wrong is being committed by his own mother. His compassion for the men in the group home shows that he has high standards.

The characters in the book may be humorous at times, and the situation may be slightly unrealistic, but certainly within the realm of possibility. While, this book has mostly African American characters, Luther is one of those characters who can be a role model for young adults living in any community.

This book is an easy read and has enough action and humor to keep the reader interested. The ending is satisfying and gives us a sense of justice. It is recommended for ages 9-12.

Review Excerpts:
"Luther is a vintage Curtis hero, with a keen eye for human inconsistencies, a self-deprecating sense of humor, and a genuine inner sweetness that never slips into self-righteousness. Luther triumphs perhaps too easily and thoroughly over the Sarge . . .” (The Horn Book, Sept/Oct 2004, vol. 80, no. 5)

“Curtis tells the teen's story with his usual combination of goofy humor, tongue-in-cheek corniness, and honest emotion. Accordingly, Luther narrates the absurd, embarrassing details of his life with both adult sensitivity and teen crassness.” (School Library Journal, Sept 2004, vol. 50, no. 9)

Realistic Fiction/Humor

Korman, Gordon. 2002. Son of the mob. New York: Hyperion.

Summary: Vince Luca is a young man who seems very ordinary except for one thing: his father is a mob boss. His organization is well known for criminal activity which makes him the target of the FBI. Vince has all the normal struggles of a young man his own age, trying to fit in and impress girls. He doesn’t really feel comfortable with his family’s “business” but sometimes he gets sucked into it without even trying. His dad is pressuring him to get motivated but Vince doesn’t like the choices he has. His life gets even more complicated when he meets a girl named Kendra. He really likes Kendra but is afraid she will find out what his Dad does for a living. Things take another crazy turn when he finds out that Kendra’s Dad is an FBI agent who has his Dad under surveillance. Kendra doesn’t know this and he struggles to keep his father’s identity a secret, but eventually Kendra finds out. How will she react? This fast-paced, action packed and sometimes humorous novel shows how two young people from totally separate worlds manage to find common ground.

Analysis/Impressions: This young adult fiction novel presents realism in a humorous fashion. While Vince’s life is filled with a lot more challenges than most ordinary teens (because of family crime connections), the story tries to put a funny spin on the challenges. The author makes us laugh at some of the predicaments Vince finds himself in, even though some of them could be very serious and dangerous at times.

Written from the perspective of Vince, we get the first hand how he feels and thinks. This will appeal to young adults, who tend to prefer books that focus more on the perspective of one character. Other characters, while less developed still add a great deal to the story. Some of the crime “family” characters are quite humorous as we see them though the eyes of Vince, with their tough façade removed and their more human failings exposed.

The characters in the book are well developed and interesting. The main protagonist, Vince is well rounded. We see him as a complex individual with both good and bad traits. He doesn’t always make the right choices, but we see his character fully. We see through his thoughts, dialogue and actions how he relates to others and how others react to him. We see how his character changes during the course of the story, and we watch him grow stronger. In the beginning his father saw him as unmotivated. In the end he has to admit “I always thought the advantages you had made you a flake-in-training—no drive, no motivation, just take, take, take. I was wrong about you Vince. I don’t like what you did, but I’ve got to hand it to you, you’re motivated.” (Korman 2002, 253)

Vince faces the challenges that most teenagers face: trying to develop socially and become independent. While some teens are embarrassed of their families, Vince has a harder burden because he can’t even admit what his family is really about. He lives in two different worlds.

This book helps to balance out some of the more serious books in this genre. The author does a good job of helping the readers relate to the male protagonist Vince. Young adults are going through a time of self discovery and they can see themselves in Vince, even if they don’t have a mob boss dad. One of the main issues we see in Vince’s life is his struggle to develop his own ethical standards and his own life philosophy. We see time and again how he struggles internally with issues of right and wrong. He knows his family’s crime activities are wrong, but after all “blood is thicker than water” and he does feel a sense of loyalty.

We also see another important issue cropping up in Vince’s story. He must decide what to do with his life. His Dad is putting pressure on him to decide. As he grows and matures, his own sense of right and wrong are telling him that he doesn’t want any part in the family business. While the book doesn’t tell us the next step in Vince’s life, we get the picture that he is going to make some independent choices. One of his the biggest choices he will have to make is what larger community he wants to belong to. In his case, the choice will have major consequences.

The style of the book isn’t preachy or moralistic, but there is a message. Young people can see that sometimes making right choices is hard. While some of the situations seem humorous we know that living in a crime family can be risky business.

The book is a quick read and will be enjoyed by young adults who like realism and lots of laughs. It is a change from some of the more serious, dark books written for young adults. I would recommend it for ages 12 and up.

Review Excerpts:

“Readers who perceive the frightening meaning of organized-crime activity will best appreciate the tension and edgy humor that permeate this book, and will cheer when Vince finally stands up to his father.” (School Library Journal, Nov 2002, Vol. 48 Issue 11)

“The fast-paced, tightly focused story addresses the problems of being an honest kid in a family of outlaws—and loving them anyway.” (Horn Book Magazine, Jan/Feb 2003, v. 79 no. 1)

Classic Fiction

Zindel, Paul. 1968. The pigman. New York: HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

Summary: John and Lorraine are two emotionally alienated teenagers who become friends. Their personalities are different but they share the common trait of insecurity. John gets into a lot of trouble, and Lorraine wants to avoid trouble but somehow they stick together. Both of them have issues with their parents and John acts out by smoking, drinking and setting off firecracker bombs at school. He is always thinking up ways to break the rules while Lorraine tries to convince him to change. During one of John’s crazy schemes the teens meet an older gentleman, Mr. Pignati, who is a widower and very lonely. They take advantage of Mr. Pignati because he is willing to let them do so. As the story progresses they become more involved with this eccentric man whom they have nicknamed Pigman after his collection of fake pigs. When Mr. Pignati goes into the hospital the teens visit him, but decide to hold a party in his home without permission. The house is trashed and Mr. Pignati returns home from the hospital unexpectedly during the party. Later, they try to make amends with the older gentleman by taking him to the zoo to visit his favorite baboon Bobo. When he discovers that Bobo has died, he dies suddenly right in front of John and Lorraine. How the teens deal with their guilt over the Pigman’s death makes for a complicated but interesting tale.

Analysis/Impressions: This classic young adult fiction book was a bit of a groundbreaker at the time when it was written. It shows teens with very real problems as they are trying to survive emotionally. While the book was written in 1968 it does not seem dated in the way it is written and can still appeal to young adults today.

The story is narrated by John and Lorraine, alternately, in chapters. In this way, we are able to understand both points of view. It is written as a type of journal or written record of their experiences with the Pigman.

We begin to understand early in the book that both of these young people feel unappreciated at home. Their parent’s are self absorbed and have little to offer their children. Lorraine’s father is dead and this makes her feel another sort of abandonment. It is easy to understand why they would seek to find significance in other ways. In John’s case, his penchant for trouble seems to be one way of acting out to get attention. While Lorraine doesn’t like trouble, she is drawn to John and seeks to help him figure out why he is always in trouble.

The Pigman becomes a sort of father figure to the two young people. Even though the teens take advantage of him financially, they become attached to him and feel a real sense of guilt when he dies. The teens also fill a need for the lonely older man.

The characters of John and Lorraine are well developed. While John could be classified as a juvenile delinquent, we also see that on the inside he struggles with the same need for significance as most other young people. His parents are wrapped up in their own world and don’t notice John unless he gets in trouble. Lorraine is an intelligent but terribly insecure young woman, who lives with her overworked single mother who doesn’t have the time or energy to nurture her.

The main topics of this book seem to revolve around the emotional, mental and behavioral challenges of the two protagonists. This well written story honestly portrays the struggles the two teens are having at home, and shows us the reasons why they are making the choices they do. This emotional realism can speak to young people, even those who may not have the exact same problems as John and Lorraine.

Death is also an important theme in this book. Lorraine tells John that smoking will kill him. He doesn’t seem to care. Toward the end of the book as John is telling his part of the story, he writes “Maybe I would rather be dead than to turn into the kind of grown-up people I knew. What was so hot about living anyway if people think you’re a disturbing influence just because you still think about God and Death and the Universe and Love." (Zindel 1968, 163)

Although romance isn’t the main issue in this story we do see that there is some attraction between John and Lorraine. While initially, it seems that they are opposites who are attracted because of their differences, we begin to see that they are both needy and each needs what the other has to offer. We see the potential for this to develop into something more, especially in the scene where they were dressing up in costumes at the Pigman’s house. We see the sexual tension even though nothing happens between them.

One thing we look for in realistic young adult novels is the universal challenge of developing maturity and social skills. For John and Lorraine the challenge was a bit more daunting. Even so, they begin to mature, at least emotionally, when they begin to take ownership for some of the wrong things they have done. As John states at the end of the book, “We had trespassed too—been where we didn’t belong, and we were being punished for it. Mr. Pignati had paid with his life. But when he died something in us had died as well.” (Zindel 1968, 166) Later he says “Our life would be what we made of it—nothing more, nothing less." (1968, 166)

This thought provoking novel is recommended for ages 12 and up.

Review Excerpts:

"Headline news…remarkable…Zindel has written a story that will not be denied." -- Publishers Weekly via Amazon

"This is a shocker of a book. Startling and truthful and vivid." -- Young Readers’ Review, via Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Pigman-Paul-Zindel/dp/0060757353/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1226776678&sr=8-1