Bibliography
Myers, Walter Dean. 2000. MONSTER. Recorded Books. New York, New York. ISBN 0788752197
Plot Summary
This is a story about a teenage boy, Steve Harmon, and his part in a crime that ended in murder. This book is written from his point of view and contains information about his life before the crime, in jail, and during the trial.. There are many flashbacks as this story is told like a script for a movie.
Critical Analysis
I found the plot of this story intriguing. I wasn’t sure throughout the entire book whether Steve Harmon was really guilty or if he was just trying to convince himself that he was innocent. Myers makes him seem like a good kid with his many references to his brother and parents and how they must feel about him in jail. The weakness of this audio book is that because of the playwright style I had a hard time following the action in the first half. The lawyers names to me even sounded similar which made it hard for me to distinguish who was asking the questions. I had to relisten to several different parts to be sure I really understood the action. I did enjoy the audiobook and felt that the narrator was an excellent choice as I felt he provoked emotion and could sound like a young African American kid who is in trouble frequently.
Review Excerpt(s)
From School Library Journal “Many elements of this story are familiar, but Myers keeps it fresh and alive by telling it from an unusual perspective. Steve, an amateur filmmaker, recounts his experiences in the form of a movie screenplay. His striking scene-by-scene narrative of how his life has dramatically changed is riveting. Interspersed within the script are diary entries in which the teen vividly describes the nightmarish conditions of his confinement. Myers expertly presents the many facets of his protagonist's character and readers will find themselves feeling both sympathy and repugnance for him.”From Kirkus Reviews
“Myers leaves it up to readers to decide for themselves on his protagonist's guilt or innocence. The format of this taut and moving drama forcefully regulates the pacing; breathless, edge-of-the-seat courtroom scenes written entirely in dialogue alternate with thoughtful, introspective journal entries that offer a sense of Steve's terror and confusion, and that deftly demonstrate Myers's point: the road from innocence to trouble is comprised of small, almost invisible steps, each involving an experience in which a ``positive moral decision'' was not made.”
From AudioFile
“The youth and innocence of Jeron Alston's voice, as Steve, summons the listener into his limited reality and serves as a counterpoint to the authenticity of the courtroom drama, presented through the voices of the prosecutor, the D.A., the defendants, and the witnesses. Flashbacks deliver the backstory and raise essential doubts in the mind of the listener. A superb recording of an intriguing work.”
Connections
*This book could be used to help teens that are struggling with obeying the law the vivid description of the jail cell caused me to hope I never have to see the inside of a jail cell.
*This book could be used for a study in politic and the way the judicial system works.
*This book would be great to assess what it would be like to be on a jury and before the verdict is read let the students talk like a jury and create their own verdict.
DeGezelle, Terri. SERVING ON A JURY. ISBN 0736836861
Hjelmeland, Andy. PRISONS: INSIDE THE BIG HOUSE. ISBN 0822526077
Stewart, Gail B. TEENS IN PRISON. ISBN 1560063386
Friday, November 2, 2007
Fiction, Fantasy, and YA - CRISS CROSS
Bibliography
Perkins, Lynne Ray. 2005. CRISS CROSS. Greenwillow Books. New York, New York. ISBN 0060092734
Plot Summary
This is the story of a small town girl as she grows up. She wants something to happen to her as all girls do as the age from just a girl to a teenager. She is interested in boys and independence. Throughout the book the reader sees her begin to become a young lady. She helps out an older woman and even manages to save her life. She has her first love and he moves back to his family. This story is a tale not only of her but several of her friends at this age and their paths cross many times as they grow and mature.
Critical Analysis
CRISS CROSS is a book full of descriptions and emotion. Most readers will be able to identify with at least one of the characters that Perkins creates. This book is geared at middle to high school students and is a bit too mature for most elementary students. The book contains some profanity and teenage situations. Older children will enjoy this easy read because they can easily identify with characters in the book and the situations they encounter.
Review Excerpt(s)
From School Library Journal”Starred Review. The author of the popular All Alone in the Universe (HarperCollins, 1999) returns with another character study involving those moments that occur in everyone's life–moments when a decision is made that sends a person along one path instead of another.” From Booklist
“*Starred Review* Best of all are the understated moments, often private and piercing in their authenticity, that capture intelligent, likable teens searching for signs of who they are, and who they'll become.”
Connections
*This book could be used to help teems that are struggling with self-esteem and the ever changing teenage years.
*This book could be used for a character study. Students could just study Debbie or they could compare the various characters.
Danzinger, Paula. EARTH TO MATTHEW. ISBN 0385304536
Byars, Betsy. BINGO BROWN AND THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE. ISBN 0670827916
Perkins, Lynne Ray. 2005. CRISS CROSS. Greenwillow Books. New York, New York. ISBN 0060092734
Plot Summary
This is the story of a small town girl as she grows up. She wants something to happen to her as all girls do as the age from just a girl to a teenager. She is interested in boys and independence. Throughout the book the reader sees her begin to become a young lady. She helps out an older woman and even manages to save her life. She has her first love and he moves back to his family. This story is a tale not only of her but several of her friends at this age and their paths cross many times as they grow and mature.
Critical Analysis
CRISS CROSS is a book full of descriptions and emotion. Most readers will be able to identify with at least one of the characters that Perkins creates. This book is geared at middle to high school students and is a bit too mature for most elementary students. The book contains some profanity and teenage situations. Older children will enjoy this easy read because they can easily identify with characters in the book and the situations they encounter.
Review Excerpt(s)
From School Library Journal”Starred Review. The author of the popular All Alone in the Universe (HarperCollins, 1999) returns with another character study involving those moments that occur in everyone's life–moments when a decision is made that sends a person along one path instead of another.” From Booklist
“*Starred Review* Best of all are the understated moments, often private and piercing in their authenticity, that capture intelligent, likable teens searching for signs of who they are, and who they'll become.”
Connections
*This book could be used to help teems that are struggling with self-esteem and the ever changing teenage years.
*This book could be used for a character study. Students could just study Debbie or they could compare the various characters.
Danzinger, Paula. EARTH TO MATTHEW. ISBN 0385304536
Byars, Betsy. BINGO BROWN AND THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE. ISBN 0670827916
Fiction, Fantasy, and YA - THE GIVER
Bibliography
Lowry, Lois. 1993. THE GIVER. Houghton Mifflin. New York, New York. ISBN 0395645662
Plot Summary
THE GIVER is the story of a community that wants sameness among the people. Children are all given certain privileges by the age they are. Occupations, spouses, and even children are assigned to people. Finally, after Jonas is selected to be “The Giver” or the memory for the people he begins to doubt that the decision for sameness is what is best. He also learns of babies and elderly who are being killed because they are not the same. He decides to fight the injustice by leaving the community and even taking a baby that will soon be killed with him. His leaving will cause the people to have feelings and emotions again.
Critical Analysis
This is my favorite book from this whole semester of reading. The ideas posted by Lowry through the community will sound good to readers at first but the more the community is exposed the more the reader sees the injustices. As a Christian I was amazed at some of the things Jonas said after meeting the Giver. I have always told my children at church that God loves us enough to let us choose Him. In this community they don’t give the people the opportunity to do right or wrong. When Jonas starts talking about a baby named Gabriel he says, “what if we could hold up things that were bright red, or bright yellow and he could choose? Instead of the Sameness?” The Giver responds, “He might make wrong choices.” Then Jonas responds “Oh I see what you mean it doesn’t matter for a newchild’s toy. But later it does matter, doesn’t it? We don’t dare let people make choices of their own.” The quote captivated me because we are given the right to choose and He (God) could control that and yet He chooses not to.
Review Excerpt(s)
From School Library Journal “The tension leading up to the Ceremony, in which children are promoted not to another grade but to another stage in their life, and the drama and responsibility of the sessions with The Giver are gripping. The final flight for survival is as riveting as it is inevitable. The author makes real abstract concepts, such as the meaning of a life in which there are virtually no choices to be made and no experiences with deep feelings. This tightly plotted story and its believable characters will stay with readers for a long time.”From Kirkus Reviews
“Jonas may be a Christ figure, but the contrasts here with Christian symbols are also intriguing. Wrought with admirable skill--the emptiness and menace underlying this Utopia emerge step by inexorable step: a richly provocative novel.”
From Publishers Weekly
“With a storyline that hints at Christian allegory and an eerie futuristic setting, this intriguing novel calls to mind John Christopher's Tripods trilogy and Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Match Girl. Lowry is once again in top form--raising many questions while answering few, and unwinding a tale fit for the most adventurous readers.”
Connections
*Have students create their own “perfect” world using idea from THE GIVER.
*Have students write what they think should come next.
*Have students think about what job the “Elders” might choose for them and what the pros and cons of that job would be.
Lowry, Lois. GATHERING BLUE. ISBN 0385732562
Lowry, Lois. MESSENGER. ISBN 0385732538
Lowry, Lois. 1993. THE GIVER. Houghton Mifflin. New York, New York. ISBN 0395645662
Plot Summary
THE GIVER is the story of a community that wants sameness among the people. Children are all given certain privileges by the age they are. Occupations, spouses, and even children are assigned to people. Finally, after Jonas is selected to be “The Giver” or the memory for the people he begins to doubt that the decision for sameness is what is best. He also learns of babies and elderly who are being killed because they are not the same. He decides to fight the injustice by leaving the community and even taking a baby that will soon be killed with him. His leaving will cause the people to have feelings and emotions again.
Critical Analysis
This is my favorite book from this whole semester of reading. The ideas posted by Lowry through the community will sound good to readers at first but the more the community is exposed the more the reader sees the injustices. As a Christian I was amazed at some of the things Jonas said after meeting the Giver. I have always told my children at church that God loves us enough to let us choose Him. In this community they don’t give the people the opportunity to do right or wrong. When Jonas starts talking about a baby named Gabriel he says, “what if we could hold up things that were bright red, or bright yellow and he could choose? Instead of the Sameness?” The Giver responds, “He might make wrong choices.” Then Jonas responds “Oh I see what you mean it doesn’t matter for a newchild’s toy. But later it does matter, doesn’t it? We don’t dare let people make choices of their own.” The quote captivated me because we are given the right to choose and He (God) could control that and yet He chooses not to.
Review Excerpt(s)
From School Library Journal “The tension leading up to the Ceremony, in which children are promoted not to another grade but to another stage in their life, and the drama and responsibility of the sessions with The Giver are gripping. The final flight for survival is as riveting as it is inevitable. The author makes real abstract concepts, such as the meaning of a life in which there are virtually no choices to be made and no experiences with deep feelings. This tightly plotted story and its believable characters will stay with readers for a long time.”From Kirkus Reviews
“Jonas may be a Christ figure, but the contrasts here with Christian symbols are also intriguing. Wrought with admirable skill--the emptiness and menace underlying this Utopia emerge step by inexorable step: a richly provocative novel.”
From Publishers Weekly
“With a storyline that hints at Christian allegory and an eerie futuristic setting, this intriguing novel calls to mind John Christopher's Tripods trilogy and Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Match Girl. Lowry is once again in top form--raising many questions while answering few, and unwinding a tale fit for the most adventurous readers.”
Connections
*Have students create their own “perfect” world using idea from THE GIVER.
*Have students write what they think should come next.
*Have students think about what job the “Elders” might choose for them and what the pros and cons of that job would be.
Lowry, Lois. GATHERING BLUE. ISBN 0385732562
Lowry, Lois. MESSENGER. ISBN 0385732538
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