Review #6

Citation:Sebold, Alice. The Lovely Bones. Little Brown and  Company: USA 2002

Genre: Horror; Coming of age; Supernatural

Annotation: Haunting and unforgettable, the story of a 14 year old girl's rape and murder told from Heaven.

Justification for nomination: "My name is Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973." (page 5) Susie Salmon was raped and murdered by her next door neighbor, George Harvey. What follows is a narration from heaven of her family's reaction and slow disintegration. Her family is unable to deal with their loss and the mystery surrounding Susie's death. Susie, finds herself in a Heaven of her own making with Franny her guide to help her along. Her heaven resembles a high school playground where she gets everything she wants except for the return to earth with the people she loves. Susie is unable to do anything but watch as her family falls apart. She is able to briefly show herself to her father and brother, but nothing in those first months can stop the inevitable stages of grief that the family must go through to come out the other end.

As the weeks and months go by, Susie follows the life of her family and friends, while keeping an eye on Harvey. She meets Harvey's others victims in heaven and comes to understand that his traumatic childhood has made him unsuccessful in his attempt to stop killing.

Susie will never be able to experience growing up herself, so she has to be content in following Ruth, her former classmate's daily routine of adolescences. One reason Susie can't let go of Earth, is her unfilled desires. She longs to experience the joy of first love. "at fourteen my sister sailed away from me into a place I'd never been. In the walls of my sex there was horror and blood, in the walls of hers there were windows." (page 125) It is only when Susie is allowed to come back to earth to make love with Ray Singh the boy with whom she was just starting to have a relationship when she was murdered, and ensure that George Harvey can never kill again is Susie able to move on into "adult Heaven". The book ends with Susie and her family all being given the gift of letting go and moving on. Susie finishes with a wish for the reader to have a "long and happy life."

Though a seemingly unbearable tragedy, the book is an imaginative and moving exploration of loss with a plot that features suspense, romance, mystery and hope. It leaves the reader not sad but thoughtful.

Review #5

Citation: Pena, Matt de la. Mexican White Boy. Delacorte Press; New York 2008

Genre: Coming of age, Multicultural, Realistic/Edgy

Annotation: "And Danny's brown. Half-Mexican brown"(2) This is the thought that goes through Danny's mind in a book about a biracial teens emotional journey of self discovery to find out who he is inside. 

Justification for nomination: Full of authentic dialogue with Spanish mixed in, Mexican White Boy tells the story of Danny a 16 year old biracial teen from a wealthy area of San Diego.  He doesn't feel like he fits in at his mainly white school, "a shade darker than all the white kids at his private school."(2) When Danny's Mexican father leaves the family, Danny shuts down; he won't speak unless he has to and he starts to dig his fingers into his arm until he cuts himself. Even though he is a great pitcher, he can't pitch unless he is alone.  Danny decides to spend his summer in National City with his fathers family so he can learn more about his father. Danny still doesn't feel like he fits in, "he feels pale. A full shade lighter. Albino almost. Less than."(2) He can't speak Spanish which further isolates him. Danny meets Uno another biracial teen, who is half Black and half Mexican.Their first encounter is not good, it is filled with blood and stitches. When Uno chances upon Danny pitching on his own, he joins him as catcher and their friendship begin. With the support of his cousin Sofia and Uno, Danny begins to deal with all the issues in his life. After a violent scene involving his fathers younger brother, Danny learns the truth about his father and has to rethink everything he has believed until then.

This is a moving book that will resonate with many teens. In particular, readers who come from mixed backgrounds, have identity issues, and use cutting to make themselves feel real will all gain further insight. 

Review #4

Voices from the Streets: Young Former Gang Members Tell Their Stories

Citation: Atkin Beth S. Voices from the Streets: Young Former Gang Members Tell Their Stories. Canada: Little, Brown & Company (Canada) Limited 1996

Genre: Nonfiction, Multicultural, Realistic/Edgy, Memoir

Annotation

A powerful book which is written in first person narrative gives voice to former gang members. The reader will see the inside life of gangs and how some are able to leave.

Justification for nomination

In this first person narrative, Beth Atkin takes us with her on a two year journey documenting why young people join gangs and how they leave them to reenter society. The youth who are interviewed are male and female, different ethnicity's and from different regions. The black and white pictures let the reader see each person clearly, making their stories more real. Each chapter is dedication to one person, and Atkin does not change the voice of the one who is speaking.  Poems and journal entries are included in each chapter to further help the reader see each person.  Each chapter gives a different perspective on why someone would join a gang: cultural identity; racial attacks; escape physical abuse; anger about broken homes. 

Gangs are a fact of life for children growing up in tough neighborhoods in America,"I've known gangs since I was little because I never lived in a good neighborhood (Elena Rojas pg 34). One thing that should not be forgotten is every one of these former gang members started their journey into gang life when they were children.  All of them looked to gang life to fulfil something that was missing in their life for example, everyone depicted in this book lacked a father figure, and sometimes mother. The underlying theme that runs through each of these stories is that the gang is like a family who protects you, in other words, makes you feel accepted for who you are. The book concludes with a chapter on two men, a father, a former gang member who was able to leave the gang life with help from mentors from his church, and his son who grew up watching his father help others. These two men have dedicated their life to helping kids of many ages and ethnicities leave gangs.

There is a great tone to this book because it is a collection of stories of hope and courage amidst tough backgrounds. The style is easy for the reader to follow, and the language good for all YA readers. The theme is especially important because it shows the reader real people who live tough lives, but were still able to turn it all around, and sometimes go on to helping others.

The Earth, My Butt, & Other Big Round Things  Review   3

Citation: Mackler, Carolyn The Earth, My Butt & Other Big Round Things. Massachusetts: Candlewick Press 2003

Genre: Coming of age                                                                      

Annotation

..."All I can say is, if I were that fat girl I'd kill myself." (26) Virginia Shreves is that fat girl, and although her issues include self-mutilation and poor body image, by the end of the book she discovers that self-esteem comes from the inside out.

Justification for nomination

Written in a first person narrative with journal entry's and emails, The Earth, My Butt, & Other Big Round Things follows the life of 15 year old Virginia as she tries to fit in with her perfect family. "And along came me, blemishing the image of a picture-perfect family"(18). Her parents are critical and unaware of Virginia's pain.  Her mother is a skinny, successful adolescent physiologist who only has time for Virginia when obsessing over her weight; her father, a successful businessman expresses is admiration for ultra slim women but not Virginia; her older sister is slim, smart and beautiful and has escaped the family by joining the Peace Corp; her brother Bryon is the "star" on the Columbia University campus.  Virginia starts a clandestine relationship with Froggy one of her classmates, but doesn't believe it can go anywhere due to the "fat girl" code of conduct she has written "Any sexual activity is a secret. No public displays of affection..."(14). Virginia is filled with self-loathing and seems to hate her body so much she hurts herself.  The only person she has to talk to is her best friend Shannon who has moved away, so email is their only form of communication.  Virginia has to navigate the sometimes harassing and uncomfortable school lunches alone. She is helped through these hard times by Mrs Crowley, a teacher at her school, who is also overweight but seems to feel good about herself.  The book comes to a head when Virginia's brother Bryon is accused of date rape. Her parents still don't "see" Virginia's pain, but rather work harder to gloss over Bryon's crime. After a teacher has a heart attack during school, Virgina realizes that she needs to empower herself.  She begins to speak out to her parents who actually listen; she starts taking kickboxing which she likes; she realizes Froggy does like her and doesn't care if they are seen in public; she makes a few new friends at school; she starts a web zine where students can talk about whatever they want.

In The Earth, My Butt, & Other Big Round Things we watch the metamorphosis of Virginia as she goes from a self hating girl to someone who has a place in this world.  Although this book is geared toward females, it delves into many subjects such as self-mutilation that are relevant for all teens. Virginia's transformation provides a learning experience and a hopeful ending for those who might be going through similar situations.