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librarybonanza
Age: 9th grade-12th grade
This book opens right after Jamie's high school has passed a newly refurbished sexual education curriculum that includes giving out condoms on Fridays and discussing the normalcy of homosexuality. As the school's newspaper editior-in-chief, Jamie writes an editorial in support of the sex ed curriculum. What she doesn't realize is that this editorial will tie her into an upheaval of constitutional right for religious morality. When a conservative theocrat enters as the newly elected school board member, she drives a force of opposition that suspends the newspaper advisor, strangleholds the newspaper opinion and news pieces, supports animosity against homosexuals, and postpones the health classes. In retaliation, Jamie and the newspaper group form the Renegade, a subversive newspaper seeking to bring forth the real issues to the high school students. The whole time this is going on, Jamie is fearfully questioning her homosexuality and is attracted to a girl who she doesn't know is straight or not.
The syntax of the novel is somewhat confusing and I had to re-read over several sentences throughout. Although Jamie's sexuality is confronted with hostility by some classmates, her childhood best friend, and her brother, she is also embrassed by her mother and father, her new good friend, and several of her classmates. While the subject matter is great--lesbian protagonist, gay subcharacters, censorship, free speech, animosity from radical religious people--the writing itself lacks in character development and syntax.
This book opens right after Jamie's high school has passed a newly refurbished sexual education curriculum that includes giving out condoms on Fridays and discussing the normalcy of homosexuality. As the school's newspaper editior-in-chief, Jamie writes an editorial in support of the sex ed curriculum. What she doesn't realize is that this editorial will tie her into an upheaval of constitutional right for religious morality. When a conservative theocrat enters as the newly elected school board member, she drives a force of opposition that suspends the newspaper advisor, strangleholds the newspaper opinion and news pieces, supports animosity against homosexuals, and postpones the health classes. In retaliation, Jamie and the newspaper group form the Renegade, a subversive newspaper seeking to bring forth the real issues to the high school students. The whole time this is going on, Jamie is fearfully questioning her homosexuality and is attracted to a girl who she doesn't know is straight or not.
The syntax of the novel is somewhat confusing and I had to re-read over several sentences throughout. Although Jamie's sexuality is confronted with hostility by some classmates, her childhood best friend, and her brother, she is also embrassed by her mother and father, her new good friend, and several of her classmates. While the subject matter is great--lesbian protagonist, gay subcharacters, censorship, free speech, animosity from radical religious people--the writing itself lacks in character development and syntax.
Also a picture book
Age: 5-8 years
Media: Watercolor and quill and ink
An excellent summation of Sojourner's life from "the ugly way of slavery," to the Quaker couple who freed her, to her "Ain't I a woman?" speech at a women's rights conference. Provides a good background of her strong, determined self that helps explain her willingness to speak out in front of adversity. This book also highlights Sojourner's particular contribution to civil rights (as a women's rights activist).
Because it follows the narrative of fiction, the details are slim and the language is colorful. This makes it an excellent introductory book to abolitionism and black women's rights. The civil war is not mentioned at all so this book should not be used for that subject. Also, the jacket sleeve summary is misleading because Abraham Lincoln's encounter with Sojourner is not discussed in the narrative but he is in the appendix at the back of the book.
Age: 5-8 years
Media: Watercolor and quill and ink
An excellent summation of Sojourner's life from "the ugly way of slavery," to the Quaker couple who freed her, to her "Ain't I a woman?" speech at a women's rights conference. Provides a good background of her strong, determined self that helps explain her willingness to speak out in front of adversity. This book also highlights Sojourner's particular contribution to civil rights (as a women's rights activist).
Because it follows the narrative of fiction, the details are slim and the language is colorful. This makes it an excellent introductory book to abolitionism and black women's rights. The civil war is not mentioned at all so this book should not be used for that subject. Also, the jacket sleeve summary is misleading because Abraham Lincoln's encounter with Sojourner is not discussed in the narrative but he is in the appendix at the back of the book.
ALSO a picture book
Age: 6-10 years
Media: Black & White computer images
The letters will initially catch a child's eye but the scientific names and brief characteristics provide a beginning for understanding biology and the threats to diversity. The end of the book provides vignettes of the endangered animals. This is a good starting ground for research on endangered animals.
Age: 6-10 years
Media: Black & White computer images
The letters will initially catch a child's eye but the scientific names and brief characteristics provide a beginning for understanding biology and the threats to diversity. The end of the book provides vignettes of the endangered animals. This is a good starting ground for research on endangered animals.
Age: 10th-12th grade
This novel opens to Jordan (first-person narrative) listening to the sounds of sex in the alley outside where he's sleeping. At first annoyed, he realizes that the woman is being raped and scares the guys off. This 17-year-old girl pops through Jordan's window, seemingly undeterred by the previous event, and falls asleep draped over Jordan. The reader soon finds out that both teens are runaways, living in an abandoned room. Both escaping something from their past, they strive to live together. We begin to understand Chloe. She appears to be simple-minded and flighty but glimpses into her past reveal her ability to block out negative events as they happen to her. She slightly mentions to Jordan that she was raped often living in her previous state home but she mentions nothing more because she cares for Jordan. After Jordan accidentally kills a man in defense of Chloe, Jordan decides to show Chloe the beautiful things in the world by traveling across the U.S. At the beginning of their journey the reader discovers that Jordan was beaten up almost to death when his father discovered Jordan was gay. Along the way they each discover how beautiful the world can be, yet they also discover its treachery.
It's not necessarily the content matter that classifies my suggested age group, but the unique writing style. It starts out rather slow and Chloe is not described with much precision--a conscious act on the author. Although Jordan's character is not as detailed as Chloe's, we do understand that his homosexuality--which has been punished by the people closest to him--causes confusion and inner hatred. His positive experiences with caring people affect him as much as they affect Chloe.
This novel opens to Jordan (first-person narrative) listening to the sounds of sex in the alley outside where he's sleeping. At first annoyed, he realizes that the woman is being raped and scares the guys off. This 17-year-old girl pops through Jordan's window, seemingly undeterred by the previous event, and falls asleep draped over Jordan. The reader soon finds out that both teens are runaways, living in an abandoned room. Both escaping something from their past, they strive to live together. We begin to understand Chloe. She appears to be simple-minded and flighty but glimpses into her past reveal her ability to block out negative events as they happen to her. She slightly mentions to Jordan that she was raped often living in her previous state home but she mentions nothing more because she cares for Jordan. After Jordan accidentally kills a man in defense of Chloe, Jordan decides to show Chloe the beautiful things in the world by traveling across the U.S. At the beginning of their journey the reader discovers that Jordan was beaten up almost to death when his father discovered Jordan was gay. Along the way they each discover how beautiful the world can be, yet they also discover its treachery.
It's not necessarily the content matter that classifies my suggested age group, but the unique writing style. It starts out rather slow and Chloe is not described with much precision--a conscious act on the author. Although Jordan's character is not as detailed as Chloe's, we do understand that his homosexuality--which has been punished by the people closest to him--causes confusion and inner hatred. His positive experiences with caring people affect him as much as they affect Chloe.
Wonderful pictures but the text is truly horrific and incredibly hard to read by oneself or aloud. There doesn't seem to be much informational organization within each section.
Age: 7th-10th grade
Plot:
While the protagonist is 14-years-old, I feel like this was a much more advanced reading level than, say Harry Potter. I honestly think the book was poorly written in terms of jumping/ignoring vast time periods (oftentimes within a chapter which may cause confusion for a younger reader), confusion of what grade level the protagonist is in, over-saturation of computer/mathematics terminology, and lack of describing a character's motivation behind his actions. I read about 100 pages of this book and could not get into it (it's total is around 600 pages).
Plot:
While the protagonist is 14-years-old, I feel like this was a much more advanced reading level than, say Harry Potter. I honestly think the book was poorly written in terms of jumping/ignoring vast time periods (oftentimes within a chapter which may cause confusion for a younger reader), confusion of what grade level the protagonist is in, over-saturation of computer/mathematics terminology, and lack of describing a character's motivation behind his actions. I read about 100 pages of this book and could not get into it (it's total is around 600 pages).
Age 9th-12th grade
Taking place some 100 years from now after The War to End All Wars and the Greater Depression, Duncan is truly a typical high school student until he finally decides to take action for his beliefs. After the election of the first Jewish homosexual president in the U.S. (helped by the Jesus Freaks seeking love and respect; countered by the Decents afraid of change) is challenged, Duncan, his boyfriend, and his classmates, and neighbors go the state of Kansas where the governor seeks to refute a 1,000 vote win for the newly elect president.
There are so many wonderful things about this book. The inspiration. The complexity. The humor. The reflection of each plot (election and Duncan's relationship) upon the other.
Taking place some 100 years from now after The War to End All Wars and the Greater Depression, Duncan is truly a typical high school student until he finally decides to take action for his beliefs. After the election of the first Jewish homosexual president in the U.S. (helped by the Jesus Freaks seeking love and respect; countered by the Decents afraid of change) is challenged, Duncan, his boyfriend, and his classmates, and neighbors go the state of Kansas where the governor seeks to refute a 1,000 vote win for the newly elect president.
There are so many wonderful things about this book. The inspiration. The complexity. The humor. The reflection of each plot (election and Duncan's relationship) upon the other.
Age: 8th-10th grade
Favorite stories:
"We might as well all be strangers" by M.C. Kerr
"Slipping Away" by Jaqueline Woodson
"The Honorary Shepherds" by Gregory Maguire
"Parent's Night" by Nancy Garden"
"In the Tunnels" by William Sleator
Suggestion from book: Read *Sister Light, Sister Dark*
Favorite stories:
"We might as well all be strangers" by M.C. Kerr
"Slipping Away" by Jaqueline Woodson
"The Honorary Shepherds" by Gregory Maguire
"Parent's Night" by Nancy Garden"
"In the Tunnels" by William Sleator
Suggestion from book: Read *Sister Light, Sister Dark*
Age: 2nd-4th grade, but good for reading aloud
Annabelle is restless. She has always been stuck in her house with her family and she yearns to explore the outside place she constantly stares upon. But with The Captain cat guard and the fear of being immobile for 24 hours or for eternity. Her adventures would go against the Doll Code of Honor and put her whole family at risk. Annabelle's parents have successfully kept her in place, until Annabel finds her Auntie's diary who disappeared 55-years-ago. When a new doll family moves in, Annabelle finds a friend, Tiffany, and they set out to find Annabelle's aunt.
The drawings by Brian Selznick are a great way to entice readers into the story, especially boys who've read Hugo Cabret. The story seems to drag on by providing pointless plot description. Perhaps its purpose was to give the reader a solid understanding of the time gone by, which may or may not be beneficial to the intended audience.
Annabelle is restless. She has always been stuck in her house with her family and she yearns to explore the outside place she constantly stares upon. But with The Captain cat guard and the fear of being immobile for 24 hours or for eternity. Her adventures would go against the Doll Code of Honor and put her whole family at risk. Annabelle's parents have successfully kept her in place, until Annabel finds her Auntie's diary who disappeared 55-years-ago. When a new doll family moves in, Annabelle finds a friend, Tiffany, and they set out to find Annabelle's aunt.
The drawings by Brian Selznick are a great way to entice readers into the story, especially boys who've read Hugo Cabret. The story seems to drag on by providing pointless plot description. Perhaps its purpose was to give the reader a solid understanding of the time gone by, which may or may not be beneficial to the intended audience.