Tuesday, December 3, 2013

FICTION, FANTASY & YOUNG ADULTS

 
 
 
 
 



SPEAK by Anderson, Laurie Halse

Summary

Speak is a fantastic book for young adults written by Laurie Halse Anderson that tells the story about a young girl named Melinda Sordino who is raped at a party. Overcoming these feelings of hate, sadness and confusion the story unfolds as if it were reaching out to the reader. Melinda becomes an outcast at school as everyone blames her for calling the police the night she was raped and apparently ends the party. The story takes you for a ride as you walk with young Melinda as she goes through pain and depression while in high school. As her grades begin to suffer greatly and she goes from been an honor student to flunking most of her classes, one can’t help to think if anybody in the story really cares about her. Author Anderson does a great job explaining how a young girl isolates herself from everyone after this attack but somehow finds a way to survive.

Analysis

SPEAK tells the story of Melinda Sordino a young girl who is raped at a party and then socially outcast by her peers. Melinda who is the main character, finds herself fighting not only those around her but the very feelings she must deal with. A depressed girl, Melinda deals with humiliations from her classmates, friends and rapist, but somehow fights on and shines towards the end of the book. Important characters like Mr. Freeman, a persistent Art Teacher, who never gives up on Melinda, becomes involved and helps her move forward. Then there is David, Melinda’s lab partner who is a brilliant young man, which Melinda finds comfort with. Along with other people who run in and out of Melinda’s life, the young girl’s character is strong and determined.  

Young adults can relate to the story and what Melinda is going through at this stage in their lives. One can look back to their high school days and make a connection to what Melinda is going through to some of the real life incidents. The author gives plenty of examples about emotions and realistic situations that many high school students go through. For instance, throughout the book Melinda recounts different sentiments; shyness, isolation, depression as well as embarrassment. For example on the first day of school, the author gives us a great passage on an incident many can probably remember.

 “Thwap! A lump of potatoes and gravy hits me square in the center of my chest. All conversations stop as the entire lunchroom gawks, my face burning into their retinas. I will be forever known as “that girl who got nailed by potatoes the first day.” The Basketball Plot apologizes and says something else, but four hundred people explode in laughter and I can’t read lips. I ditch my tray and bolt for the door.”

Nevertheless, the book carries a solid message that any young adult can relate to; survive.

The main character of the story grows very slowly from beginning to end, yet at the end of the story readers can acknowledge a different girl. At first Melinda is portrayed as a victim, but as the story progresses, we see a young girl who not only is a victim, but most important a fighter. Melinda introduces herself to the world not by what she experienced or the humiliation she endured but how she was able to cope with it.

The book SPEAK has many advantages the reader can take with them such humor and emotions. The dialogue between the characters gives a realistic feeling taking the readers imagination to real events. Within each chapter the author offers related subjects to what she is talking about, letting the reader know what the next theme is going to be about. The story is not only filled with sadness though, like any other tale about young innocent girls, it too makes you laugh and remember the crazy days of high school.  

At the end of the book, author Anderson, in an interview setting talks about the book. This narrative adds to the importance of the issue with young girls who might have faced such a dramatic event.

Reviews

PW said of this stunning first novel narrated by a rape survivor, "Anderson infuses the narrative with a wit that sustains the heroine through her pain and holds readers' empathy." -- Publishers Weekly. April 9, 2001

An uncannily funny book even as it plumbs the darkness, Speak will hold readers from first word to last. -- Horn Book Magazine. September/October 1999

Connections

Activities-

Information about the importance of high self-esteem can be discussed with young people.

The danger and importance of rape can also be discussed with young men and women.  

Related Book-

So Much to Tell You by John Marsden

Bibliography

Adams, Lauren. 1999. “Speak.” Horn Book Magazine 75, no. 5: 605. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed November 25, 2013).

Anderson, Laurie Halse. 2006. SPEAK. New York, NY: Penguin Group. ISBN 0142407321

Zaleski, Jeff. 2001. “SPEAK (Book Review).” Publishers Weekly 248, no. 15: 77. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed November 25, 2013).











 
TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA by Shaun Tan

Summary

The graphic novel TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA written by Shaun Tan consists of fifteen different short tales filled with magic, mystery, humor and adventure. Many of the stories are amusing, while others are just plain strange; nevertheless the book is very entertaining. From a huge water buffalo that lives in a vacant lot to a pack of 100 dogs that sought revenge, this book was written to amaze.

Analysis

There are fifteen short tales throughout the book and each contains one, two or several characters. Some of the characters are human; others are animals and some, the reader will just have to guess, like Eric whom is a mixture of part leaf and insect. Once into one of the short accounts, the reader can begin to relate to one of the characters in the fable. However, some stories don’t really reveal the main character until almost the end. Either way, the book is hard to put down as you begin to switch the pages and asking yourself why.

Each account stands individually on its own and is not related with one another. Many of the short tales however tell a story with a message for the reader to learn and comprehend. The title of “undertow” is a good example as well as “stick figures.” Both stories are very strange, but reading them between the lines allows the reader to really appreciate the moral of the tale. It seems a lesson is to be learned in all of these sagas, but the reader has to really sit down and think what the author is trying to convey.

Author Shaun Tan does an excellent job with each one of his stories by allowing the reader to imagine the world of Outer Suburbia. Many of the characters in the TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA never say a word, like the water buffalo or the big whale, also known as a dugong, which mysteriously appears in a family’s front lawn. Nevertheless, the reader is able to connect with these characters because of the vivid description and touching account author Tan gives. Each story is written with passion, feeling and brilliance all bundled together allowing the reader to jump forward into the novel itself. Many of the passages are also filled with humor, mystery and scary scenes and characters, yet the reader will be able to identify with these characters and the setting as well. Once the reader reads the first story, it is almost impossible to put the book down.

The graphic novel’s pictures are breathtaking and they add to the depth of each and every tale. Some of the artwork is in color while other images are black and white. The reader can easily distinguish those images that were created by pencil and those that were actually painted. The detail of each picture compliments the story being told and adds to the beauty of it. The pictures in the tale “Stick Figures” are a good example of pictures created in relation to the fable. In one of the pictures found on page 68, the stick figure stands at the end of an alley as if it were a mysterious creature waiting to scare somebody passing by. In “Grandpa’s Story” the images are even more frighten as Tan uses dark and scary like monsters. These characters relate well with the story and allow the reader to really enjoy themselves.

Reviews

These 15 unique short stories in graphic novel format will send the reader in search of additional titles by the author. -- Library Media Connection, May 2009

Intriguing, wacky, or downright surreal, these dynamic illustrated vignettes by a master artist show unequivocally that there is no such thing as an "ordinary" suburban community. -- School Library Journal, April 2009

Connections

Activities-

Children can be gathered around and given the opportunity to tell stories, even as weird as some found in Tales from Outer Suburbia.

Readers can write a reflection of one of the stories that they read.

Related Book-

The Arrival by Shaun Tan

Bibliography

2009. "Tales from Outer Suburbia." Library Media Connection 27, no. 6: 76. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed November 27, 2013).

2009. "Tales from Outer Suburbia." School Library Journal 55, 40. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed November 27, 2013).

Tan, Shaun. Tales From Outer Suburbia. 2008. New York, NY : Arthur A. Levine Books. ISBN 9780545055873.














When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

Summary

“WHEN YOU REACH ME” by Rebecca Stead is an outstanding book about a 12-year old girl named Miranda. The story takes place in New York City during the 1970’s where Miranda faces many challenges and adventures. Her mom is preparing to compete on a game show, she loses her best friend and there is a strange homeless man who keeps appearing throughout the book. The story takes a turn when out of a sudden she begins to receive some weird notes and realizes many of them point to a death. This is a great story that will have you reading and wondering “what’s going to happen next?” Author Rebecca Stead adds fantasy in a realistic world of a sixth grader and brings a great story to life.

Analysis

The main character of the story is a young girl named Miranda, who is full of life and energy. The book is written by a first person account and takes you on an adventure about friendship, love, growing pains and even into fantasy. The characters throughout the book play an important role in Miranda’s life. Her mom, a single parent, who is about to enter a game show, her step father, Miranda’s best friend Sal, the sandwich store owner, Marcus the bully and others all add to the excitement of the tale.

The setting takes place in 1979 on the Upper West Side of New York City. Author Stead does an excellent job describing the culture and way of life back in the late 70’s. The reader can really get a sense of the time period while reading the book. The author also uses descriptions of the scenery throughout the book, allowing the reader to really imagine themselves, standing where the character is standing.   

The theme of the book is filled with mixed emotions of love, companionship and acceptance. Not to mention that the story is also part fantasy, mystery and science fiction. One of the main themes that are discussed frequently is time travel, which keeps the reader wondering how it “fits” into the story, but reveals itself towards the end.    

The book is arranged in short written chapters filled with exciting information, dialogue and a pretext of what is going to happen next. Therefore, a reader must continue onto the next chapter to understand what happened in the previous one. Author stead does an excellent job with the dialogue of each character as well. The reader will also enjoy the slang language that was used back in the 1970’s. The story is filled with mysterious characters and unreal situations that make the reader actually think that these people and circumstances “do exist.” The writing is not difficult to understand and a young person can easily get through the story without any problems.  WHEN YOU REACH ME is a great story and young readers will enjoy every page from it.

 

Reviews

Rebecca Stead brilliantly weaves details of setting from memories of her own teen years on the Upper West Side, including a strange individual and her mom’s appearance with Dick Clark on The $20,000 Pyramid. -- Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy, March 2011

In the way of all great literature, it lifts a corner of the veil for its readers, allowing them a glimpse of the world as it really is, in all its beauty, sadness, and love. -- Horn Book Magazine, January/February 2011

Connections

Activities-

Children can learn about time travel and other science related topics.

Children can look up New York City on a map and learn more about the area: culture, history, etc.

Related Book-

Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead

Bibliography

Blasingame, James. 2011. "When You Reach Me." Journal Of Adolescent & Adult Literacy 54, no. 6: 461-464. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed November 25, 2013).

M. V., P. 2011. "When You Reach Me." Horn Book Magazine 87, no. 1: 35. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed November 25, 2013).

Stead, Rebecca. 2010. WHEN YOU REACH ME. Publishing Place: Yearling. ISBN

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