Mod. 2 - Realism, Romance and Censorship - ALONG FOR THE RIDE by Sarah Dessen

Bibliographic data
Dessen, Sarah. Along for the Ride. New York: Viking, 2009. ISBN 9780670011940

Critical analysis
Characterization -

Auden has an interesting life full of wonderfully peculiar supporting characters. She is not spontaneous, an avid reader, and lacks social skills that most teenagers have. Sadly, she has not accomplished as much as most children and teenagers have thus far in their lifetime. It is easy for readers to relate to Auden.

Eli is a mysterious man that creates a sort of quest for Auden. Many things she has missed out on in life he sets up scenarios so that she can accomplish them.

The girls that work at Clementines are upon first glance from Auden, your typical shallow, pink-clothes-wearing, girly girls. Heidi is characterized perfectly as a tired, struggling, young new mother. The dynamic between Auden’s mother and father portrays a great story line. Auden feels like an outcast and doesn’t fit in with either one of her parents or her lackadaisical brother.


Plot –
For her whole life, Auden has concentrated on her studies. Her mother and father are both scholarly individuals, so academia has always come easily for her. She has concentrated so much on her education that she lacks social skills and she has even missed out on parts of her childhood. With high school being over, she decides to spend some time with her father and his wife and new baby. Auden realizes that her father is still selfish as he was while he was married to Auden’s mother. Her mother seems to have gone off the deep end, having relationships with new graduate students as they roll in every semester. Her brother is off gallivanting around different countries. Finally, Auden meets Eli, a mysterious character that sends her off on a mission, to conquer what she has missed out on as a child. While Eli helps Auden create some belated childhood memories, she helps him heal from the distraught he feels about the accident that took away his friend.

From the novel:

"I thought of my mother, sitting at her kitchen table, with Hollis off working at a bank, and me, for all she knew, riding in a car with boys while wearing a pink bikini. How different we had to be from what she had expected, or planned, all those days when, like Heidi, she rocked us and carried us and cared for us. It was so easy to disown what you couldn't recognize, to keep yourself apart from things that were foreign and unsettling. The only person you can be sure to control, always, is yourself. Which is a lot to be sure of, but at the same time, not enough" (318).

Setting –
The novel is set in a small intimate town of Colby on the boardwalk by the calming ocean in the summertime.

Theme –
People are not always like they appear and Auden finds this to be true in this novel. The girls in Heidi’s shop are not as shallow and dumb as she perceives them to be. One of them will be attending the same university, as she will be in the fall.

The theme of riding a bike is perfect because that is a very important skill that most children go through in life. If you haven’t learned to ride a bike, there’s probably a lot that you’ve missed out on.

Whether or not people can or cannot change seems to be another underlying theme in this novel. Her dad doesn’t seem to be able to change the way he is a selfish man, only thinking about himself and not his family, until finally towards the end of the novel. Her brother, the care-free spirit, oddly settles down for an intelligent and nice woman and he even gets a job at the bank. All while Auden, the not-so-carefree spirited person, spreads her wings and jumps out of her comfort zone. She beings her transformation and matures in a different way, not just academically.

The one thing that irritated me was not anything inside the novel. The outside cover bothered me. Auden never should be portrayed in a frilly pink polka-dot dress. I just didn’t think the cover complemented the actual portrayal of the characters.


Review excerpts
Publisher’s Weekly

Studious good girl Auden, named for the poet, makes a snap decision to spend her summer before college at her father's beach house rather than with her mother, a professor whose bad habits include male grad students. Auden's thoughtful observations make for enjoyable reading-this is solid if not "top shelf" Dessen: another summer of transformation in which the heroine learns that growing up means "propelling yourself forward, into whatever lies ahead, one turn of the wheel at a time."

VOYA

The subtheme of bike riding is a perfect ploy—especially because she never learned as a child—for Auden to grow. The juxtaposition of Auden's carefree older brother falling in love and settling down while Auden spreads her wings shows how people can change given the right circumstances. The dialogue is true to both adult and teenage language. The summer resort town setting is perfect. As with all Dessen's books, her latest is a must-have.

Kirkus

Dessen reworks well-traveled terrain and creates a remarkably original story with realistic teen dialogue, authentic girl friendships and a complex underlying question: Can people really change? Taut, witty first-person narration allows readers to both identify with Auden's insecurities and recognize her unfair, acerbic criticisms of people.


Connections
http://www.sarahdessen.com/along-for-the-ride
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFyPlKoac-M - Sarah Dessen reading an excerpt
http://www.youtube.com/user/sdessen#play/all/uploads-all/1/BwNIsrMBqzY - Dessen answers questions readers had about her book

http://www.fanpop.com/spots/sarah-dessen - fan site

Mod. 2 - Realism, Romance and Censorship - ZEN AND THE ART OF FAKING IT by Jordan Sonnenblick

Bibliographic data
Sonnenblick, Jordan. Zen and the Art of Faking It. New York: Scholastic Press, 2007. ISBN 97804398370701

Critical analysis
Characterization -San Lee’s character has encompassed many things in the past. He had been a skater in California, a Bible-thumper in Alabama, a rich preppie in Houston, and a jock in Germany. Woody is the mysterious girl that fascinates San. She plays her guitar for a bit of money during lunch at school.

Plot –
Teenager, San Lee is trying to “find himself” as most teenagers struggle similarly. An eighth-grader, San is trying to fit in at the new school. He and his mother move from Houston to leave a troubled life behind. San’s father is a con and constantly moved the family from state to state so that he could have a con artist lifestyle. San, always changing personalities at each school, continues this tradition once moved to Pennsylvania. At this school he decides to be a practicing Buddhist, even though both of his adopted parents are Anglo-Americans, after he answers a question correctly in class about Buddhism. From then on, he is known as Buddha Boy. San and his new persona take on twists and turns until finally the truth has to be told about his real identity. This is a serious but funny take on this type of subject, especially in dealing with his father's incarceration.

Setting –
The setting is in a Pennsylvania school and also in San Lee’s home with his mother. The school is an important setting because it holds all the different characters that one typically has in a school, which creates quite a dynamic to San’s character.

Theme –
A theme that is common in YA novels is the rite of passage theme, which is what San is trying to accomplish in this novel. He has trouble fitting in at each different school he attends. He never decides to be himself because he can’t find out who that is just yet.


Review excerpts
Kirkus Reviews
“Sonnenblick pens this story, so all that soul searching is side-splittingly funny as well. San, suddenly poor due to his swindling father's incarceration, becomes the only Asian child at Harrisonville Middle School. That, combined with the fact that he once did a project on Taoism and Zen Buddhism at another school, causes him to come up with a new persona: Buddha Boy.”

VOYA
“Despite the novel's essential seriousness, San's quick mind and self-deprecating humor make it a light read. As a Zen devotee, San is forced into some tight spots-forgoing a "huge, juicy charcoal-y" hamburger for "the soggy horror" of a veggie wrap to maintain his Buddhist vegetarian identity, for example. In the end, his efforts pay off. He wins the girl, becomes a school celeb, leads the B basketball team to a Zen-inspired victory, is exposed as a fake, repents, and is enlightened and forgiven, all of which require the reader's repeated suspension of disbelief.”


Connections
http://www.jordansonnenblick.com/

Author video-interview: http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/video.jsp?pID=1640183585&bcpid=1640183585&bclid=1683701963&bctid=1688353597

Discuss what it would be like to reinvent yourself at a new school. What kind of persona would you choose to be – and why?

Mod. 2 - Realism, Romance and Censorship - ANGUS, THONGS AND FULL-FRONTAL SNOGGING by Louise Rennison

Bibliographic data
Rennison, Louise. Angus, Thongs and Full-frontal Snogging. London: Piccadilly Press
Ltd, 2003. ISBN 9781404665668

Critical analysis
Characterization –
This book is in diary format from fourteen-year-old Georgia. She lives in England with her so-called “old-fashioned” parents and three year-old sister, Libby. She also has a rescued cat named Angus. Georgia is honest, sarcastic, and funny. What is refreshing about this novel and the characters is that there are no discussions about what the world typically thinks of along the same lines with teenagers. There are no drug or violence discussions. Georgia, along with the other teenagers in this novel, are typical teenagers anxious about the same issues and concerns real teenagers have today. Rennison truly captivated how teenagers act and talk. Here is a sampling of her humor:

5:30 p.m. I’ve just found I’ve got hairs growing out of my armpits. How did they get there?
They weren’t there yesterday.

5:40 p.m. I’ve got some on my legs as well. I’d better distract myself by getting rid of them
with Mum’s razor.

6:00 p.m.
Oh God! Oh God! I’m hemorrhaging. My legs are running with blood-I had to
stanch the flow with Mum’s dressing gown. […] (p. 157).

This is typical behavior of a teenager trying to learn to shave her legs on her own spontaneously. The characters in this novel are filled with this slapstick type of humor and conversation, which makes for an enjoyable read.


Plot –
Georgia is a typical teenager dealing with parents and an annoying little sister. Georgia dislikes her body, mostly her nose. She is satisfied with her life (as much as she can be, being a teenager), until her mother tells her that they are moving to another country. Jas is Georgia’s best friend. Jas likes Tom who works at the supermarket and Georgia likes his older brother, Robbie. The road to become a couple is not an easy one for these two. But in the end, Georgia finally snags Robbie.

Setting –
The setting is dated from August until July and is in a contemporary small town in England. The setting is usually at Georgia’s house or at school.

Theme –
As in most teenaged books, this novel has a rite-of-passage theme for Georgia, the main character. Regular teenage-type issues are apparent throughout the novel. How and when to snog is another important issue these teens discuss with each other. The British slang entices American readers with the absurd language choices for common actions, ideas, and other things that are discussed with each other.


Review excerpts
Booklist

“Although performer and comedy writer Rennison clearly owes a large debt to Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones's Diary (1998), her Georgia is a wonderful character whose misadventures are not only hysterically funny but universally recognizable. This "fabbity, fab, fab" novel will leave readers cheering, "Long live the teen!" and anxiously awaiting the promised sequel.”


Publishers Weekly

“British writer Rennison's subject matter may be the stuff of Bridget Jones's Diary, but the wit and bite of her delivery shares more in common with Monty Python. In a spectacular YA debut (Rennison is a comedy writer and columnist), the author creates a winning protagonist in the persona of 14-year-old Georgia Nicolson, whose wry observations and self-deprecating humor covers everything from prudish parents and bed-wetting three-year-old siblings to errant cat behavior and kissing (aka snogging) lessons. Teens will discover that nothing is sacred here (e.g., "Talking of breasts, I'm worried that I may end up like the rest of the women in my family, with just the one bust, like a sort of shelf affair"). Rennison exquisitely captures the fine art of the adolescent ability to turn chaos into stand-up comedy.”

Connections
There is a great British glossary at the end of this novel.
Watch the film version of the first two books in this series: Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging.

Have students create a booktrailer for the novelCompare this YA novel to the similar Bridget Jones’s Diary.

YA Printz Award Book - SPEAK by Laurie Halse Anderson

Bibliographic data
Anderson, Laurie Halse. Speak. New York: Penguin Group, 2006. ISBN 9781428737761

Critical analysis
Characterization -Melinda Sordino’s outlook on her life is sometimes comical, sarcastic, narcissistic, and sad. High school is a difficult time period for almost any adolescent, but for Melinda it’s more difficult. She was raped at a party this past summer. She called the police and they broke up the party. Her friends thought that she called the police to stop the party, when in fact she was reporting the boy that raped her. In doing this, her friends disowned her and made her social life unbearable when the school year started back up.


Plot –
The plot takes readers on a journey of an outcast teenager struggling to survive yet another year of school. This school can’t even decide on a mascot. They started out as the Trojans but administrators thought that didn’t push the abstinence thinking. Anderson witty text describes the other choices the school has for mascots.
a. The Bees – useful to agriculture, painful to cross
b. Icebergs – in honor of our festive winter weather
c. Hilltoppers – guaranteed to frighten opponents
d. Wombats – no one knows if they’re endangered
(p. 50)

Reading about all the typical issues in Melinda’s school that most teenagers deal with while in school is comforting, funny, and realistic. Readers get to follow Melinda through her summer, gearing up for the school year, the rape, and how it affected her during the school year. IT affects her socially as well as academically.


Setting –
The novel is set mostly in high school. There are a few times when readers are taken to Melinda’s home. Melinda makes her safe haven in the janitor’s closet at school. It is here that she feels the safest, displaying her artwork, a picture of Maya Angelou, and even brings her old blanket. She is safe from rude comments, long stares, and hopefully IT, the boy that raped her at the party.


Theme –
Speaking and lack thereof is a theme in this novel, hence the title of the book. There is also limited dialog. Instead most of the novel is a bit like stream of consciousness type of writing. Melinda spoke up and called the police at the end of summer party to report her rape. In doing so, she became socially outcasts because her friends thought she wanted the party to be busted. Melinda silenced herself and was never again outspoken, until IT met up with her inside her safe haven, the janitor’s closet. She finally found the nerves to yell for help. Melinda states, "It's easier not to say anything. Shut your trap, button your lip, can it. All that crap you hear on TV about communication and expressing feelings is a lie. Nobody really wants to hear what you have to say.”


Review excerpts
School Library Journal
Anderson expresses the emotions and the struggles of teenagers perfectly. Melinda's pain is palpable, and readers will totally empathize with her. This is a compelling book, with sharp, crisp writing that draws readers in, engulfing them in the story.

Booklist
Melinda's voice is distinct, unusual, and very real as she recounts her past and present experiences in bitterly ironic, occasionally even amusing vignettes. In her YA fiction debut, Anderson perfectly captures the harsh conformity of high-school cliques and one teen's struggle to find acceptance from her peers. Melinda's sarcastic wit, honesty, and courage make her a memorable character whose ultimate triumph will inspire and empower readers.

Connections
Debut novel
http://halseanderson.livejournal.com/
National Book Award for Young People's Literature
Winner of the Printz Award
Have teenagers create a booktalk
Break up students into groups and have them discuss how they would define “survival.” How does it compare with the dictionary definition?
Plan a charity activity, like a carwash, to make funds for a women/children shelter.

YA Recent Award Winners - THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman

Bibliographic data
Gaiman, Neil. The Graveyard Book. New York: HarperCollins, 2008. Illus. By Dave McKean ISBN 9780060530938

Critical analysis
Characterization –
This leading postmodern writer has once again created these amazing and diverse characters. These characters are what make this imaginary scenario seem real. The mysterious character of man Jack keeps readers on edge. Readers constantly worry and wonder why Jack killed Bod’s family and why he is still, after all these years out to finish Bod off. The ghostly characters of the novel are left ambiguous, their full story is never clear, for readers to use their imagination.

Plot –
The plot plays homage to Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book for obvious reasons of a boy being taken care of by people not ordinary in the role of the child’s caretakers. In this case, the guardians of Bod are deceased. Readers are swept away in this fantasy of the ability of a little boy that is alive and well that interact with ghosts.

Setting –
As Gaiman writes him characters to be well-rounded individuals that are more than just an imaginary aspect of the story, the setting itself. Dave McKean’s simple but intrinsicate illustrations help place readers inside the mind of Gaiman and along with Bod in his journey.

Theme –
Death and murder create a prominent theme throughout this book. This is how the book begins, with a gruesome family murder.
Belonging is also an important theme for this novel. Poor Bod neither fits in within the living world or the dead world. He feels more comfortable in the ghostly graveyard world, but he really doesn’t fit in there. He longs to have a real life outside of the graveyard but it’s more of a tumultuous time for him “out there.”
Jack finally tells of the reason why the boy was supposed to be murdered along with his family:
"We killed you for protection. Long time ago, one of our people . . . foresaw that one day there would be a child born who would walk the borderland between the living and the dead. That if this child grew to adulthood it would mean the end of our order and all we stand for” (271).
It was more important for the young toddler boy, Bod, to die than his family, but he escaped. The entire length of the novel is a gripping read because readers are there with Bod as he escapes as a toddler, grows up, and has to escape death again.


Review excerpts
School Library Journal

The child Bod's behavior is occasionally too precocious to be believed, and a series of puns on the name Jack render the villain a bit less frightening than he should be, though only momentarily. Aside from these small flaws, however, Gaiman has created a rich, surprising, and sometimes disturbing tale of dreams, ghouls, murderers, trickery, and family.”

Booklist

This is an utterly captivating tale that is cleverly told through an entertaining cast of ghostly characters. There is plenty of darkness, but the novel’s ultimate message is strong and life affirming. Although marketed to the younger YA set, this is a rich story with broad appeal and is highly recommended for teens of all ages.”


Connections
http://www.thegraveyardbook.com/
2009 Newbery Winner
Book Tour: http://www.neilgaiman.com/p/Cool%20Stuff/Video%20Clips/The%20Graveyard%20Book%20Tour
Write a Readers’ Response
Take a fieldtrip to a graveyard and research a person from the graveyard.

YA Classic - THE CHOCOLATE WAR by Robert Cromier

Bibliographic data
Cromier, Robert. THE CHOCOLATE WAR. New York: Random House, 2004.ISBN 9781439518755

Critical analysis
Characterization -Jerry Renault’s character is the protagonist in this novel. He is a very quiet young man that uses his actions instead of speaking out against conforming to sell the chocolates in school. Harassment, beatings, and other traumatizing events ensues the protagonist. Renault gains readers’ sympathy with his determination to make a statement, stoically. Renault stands up for what he believes is right, which is admirable with readers, especially other teenagers facing similar issues in their own school.

Plot –
This plot follows the self vs. society conflict. Renault goes against the norm and stands solid for what he believes in. The Vigils are used to making the rules up in school and students are to always follow these rules. Renault causes quite a stir with his refusal to do what The Vigils tell him to do. They are not prepared to handle what to do when Renault refuses to do as they say. Fear plays an important role in THE CHOCOLATE WAR. Everyone seems to be afraid of Archie. Archie frightened boys to do anything he asked them to do. Jerry Renault plays an important role when faced with bullies such as Archie. He is understandably frightened but he never lets it show. The chocolate roll call is always a heart-stopping moment for readers and is chock-full of tension. The roll call creates the “self vs. society” conflict. Everyone else is selling their chocolates but Renault. It creates him as being an outcast.

Setting –
This third-person narrative is set in an all boys school called Trinity for most of the novel. There is another setting at Jerry Renault’s home as well, but most of the novel is set at and around the school.

Theme –
The Self vs. Society conflict is a common theme within the Young Adult genre of literature. Teenagers do feel the need to make a stand against something, speak their minds, question authority, and find their own voice in the world. This sometimes creates a conflict situation that will have to be worked out in some way throughout the novel. Manipulation is also a very important theme throughout the novel, which is followed by corruption.


Review excerpts
School Library Journal

"The characterizations of all the boys are superb... This novel [is] unique in its uncompromising portrait of human cruelty and conformity."


New York Times Book Review

"The Chocolate War is masterfully structured and rich in theme; the action is well crafted, well timed, suspenseful; complex ideas develop and unfold with clarity."


Connections
An ALA Best Books for Young AdultsA School Library Journal Best Books of the YearA Kirkus Reviews ChoiceA New York Times Outstanding Books of the Year

Compare/Contrast the novel to the movie.
Compare public school community to the private catholic school community.
Discuss “Would I dare disturb the universe?” quotation.