Michael L. Printz Award

The book how i live now, by Meg Rosoff, is of the Realistic Fiction Genre.  The book was the 2005 Michael L. Printz Award Winner.

Being fifteen is hard enough, but when you throw a step-mother, a half-sibling, a new country, unknown relatives, incest and a war into the mix what you get is the book how i live now.  Elizabeth, aka Daisy, has never fully fit into her father’s new family and with a new sibling on the way she is even more shunned.  To appease the she-devil herself, her step-mother, her father sends her from New York to England to stay with her aunt and cousin's at their quaint county farm.  Upon her arrival, to a world unknown to her, a devastating war breaks out.  Stuck in the middle of a war torn society she finds love in the arms of her cousin Edmond.  Although they know their affair should not be taking place they continue living as though the tragic events around them do not exist.  That is until the day when the war lands upon their door step and turns the utopia they have come to cherish upside down.  Will Daisy and Edmond's love survive?  Will five children left on their own during a time when misery is abundant make it in the world they now face?  Only time will tell.  

This is a great book, a definite page turner.  The way Meg Rosoff wrote the character of Daisy was wonderful.  She really brings life to Daisy through her descriptive writing style.  There are so many elements that she intertwines such as: eating disorders, incest, war, ESP, family dysfunction and death.  The book would appeal to both boys and girls of any background.  To “hook the students I would read page 19 starting with “It was times like this when… and ending with …wished they were mine” on page 20.

Edgy

The book Kendra, by Coe Booth, is an edgy/controversial title (from the recommended edgy list for class).  The book was on the 2009 YALSA Best Books for Young Adults list.

How would you deal with the trials and tribulation of being a teenager when it is evident that you are not wanted by the only person who matters to you, your mother?  Kendra must face the feeling of this uncertainty daily.  She is being raised by a controlling over protective grandmother that always thinks the worst, and a mother who does not acknowledge she exits.  Kendra's best friend is her Aunt, but even that relationship gets rocky as events unfold.  Will she ever truly belong to those who should matter most?  Only time will tell in this compelling story of a girl coming into her own, looking for acceptance and love from anyone who is willing to give it to her.  She will do just about anything, even compromising her integrity and self-worth to feel like she matters in someone’s eyes. 

The book is considered to be edgy/controversial.  It does contain sexual encounters and strong language, but the overall storyline is riveting.  The book would appeal to girls from any walks of life.  Kendra is someone that the reader would either relate to or empathize with.  To "hook" the students I would ask them if they have ever felt unloved by anyone.  I would then tell them I have a story of a fourteen year old girl who has spent her life not knowing where she really belongs.  The next step would be to read the excerpt inside the cover.  This provides a brief glimpse at Kendra's background.

Manga

The book Animal Academy, by Moyamu Fujino, is from the Manga genre (from the YALSA Graphic Novel List).  The book was on the 2010 YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens Fiction list.

 
The book is about Neko Fukuta a fifteen year old that is starting her first year at Morimori High.  After the long journey to get to the school Neko is told her acceptance has been revoked.  She is then told she will need to retest for admittance to the academy.  She is confused and devastated, but does what is asked of her.  After retaking the test she is permitted to enter the school, as long as she never reveals that she is human.  With much confusion and trepidation Neko enters the academy to start the adventure of her life.  It turns out the academy is really a school for animals to learn to look and act like humans.  Not only does Neko need to deal with the differences of her peers but her roommate, who is a cat, thinks they are of the same species.  What will Neko do to keep her true identity a secret, when everyone changes forms on a whim?


The sections of the book are split into reports.  There are multiple volumes of the book for those that are interested in finding out what happens to Neko and her animal friends.  Reading this type of book was different, but interesting.  I can see how students that love comic books would be interested in the Manga style of writing.  The premise of the book is great.  Academies where animals are learning to be human make for a great storyline.

To "hook" the students I would use visual images of animals in school settings.  I would show the pictures on the smart board and then I would project images of the book.  I would ask them what they would do if they found out that the students they are in classes with are really animals pretending to be human.  I would then show them the book and read the first few pages.  I think it is important to demonstrate how to read a Manga book before the students decide to check them out of the library.

Literature for a Diverse Society

The book Tyrell, by Coe Booth, is of the Literature for a Diverse Society genre (from the list on pg. 158 of class text).  The book was on the 2007 ALA Best Books for Young Adults and Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers lists, earned the 2007 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for YA Fiction and was on the 2007 New York Public Library's Books for Teens.

Tyrell is about a young African-American teen trying to get by in the only world he has ever known, New York City's Bronx.  After losing their apartment and becoming homeless; Tryell, his mother and younger brother are forced to enter into the city’s housing system.  Everything in his life is full of uncertainty, and the responsibility of getting his family out of their situation has been thrust upon him by his mother.   As the reader you will follow Tyrell for a week as he tries to get his family out of the system without forgoing the only thing he really has left, his values.  He finds security when he is with his longtime friend/girl-friend Novisha and the new girl in his life Jasmine.  What will Tyrell do to change his current situation?  Which girl will he decide to make a future with?   The answers to these questions can be answered by entering Tyrell's world, so open the book and see how he survives.

The book illustrates the hardships that are causing too many teens to grow up way before their time.  Although it is listed as an edgy title that some would deem as controversial, the book puts into words the life that so many young adults are facing today.  There is explicit language, sexual interactions and a real look into the decisions that inner city youth are facing.  The book is recommended for ages 12 and up, but I would consider the maturity level of the students if they are under 15.  It is really powerful and has had me thinking since the end of the first chapter.  

To "hook" the students I would show the following book trailer that was created by Lindsay Marlow and found on YouTube.  The trailer would make anyone want to read the book.

Poetry

The book Blue Lipstick, by John Grandits, is a specialized poetry book (from the list on pg. 138 of class text) and has received the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Honor Award, National Parenting Publications Book Award and was voted as one of the School Library Journal Best Books of the Year.  It was also on ALA's Notable Book for Children and Quick Pick for Young Adults Lists.

The book is amazing and any student would love it.  A love of poetry is not needed to enjoy this poets work.  Just looking at how he creatively designed the layout of the poems is inspiring.  He writes the poems for teens about how they are thinking and feeling.  Each poem is shaped into a visual image of what the poem is about.  It is almost impossible to describe his work.  You have to really look at the book yourself to fully understand the complexity of his writing style.  The poet calls the style he uses Concrete Poems.  He uses a variety of fonts, shapes, textures, colors and range of motion that turns his poems into not only poetry, but art work as well.

The poems are about a teenage girl named Jessie and how she sees the people and events around her.  The mental image you get about Jessie after reading the poems is hysterical.  She has an I do not care what others think of me attitude.  The poetic world Grandits has developed for her lets this uniqueness shine. 


To "hook" the students I would show them the poem titled Bad Hair Day.  I would display the poem on the white or smart board and then read it aloud to the students.  I just loved the poem and think that any student would relate to Jessie.


I know this is not as much as I usually add about the books I have read, but it is really hard to put it into words.  You really need to check it out for yourselves.  I think that any teacher would love to use Grandits style with their students, and boy would they be engaged.