All the Bright Places

 A. Bibliographic Data

Niven, Jennifer. 2015. All the Bright Places. Knopf Publishing Group.

ISBN: 038575588002

B. Summary

Theodore Finch is fascinated by death. Every day he thinks of ways he might kill himself, but every day he also searches for—and manages to find—something to keep him here, alive, and awake.

Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation when she can escape her small Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.
 
When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school—six stories above the ground— it’s unclear who saves whom. Soon it’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink. . ..

C. Critical Analysis

In this book, I felt a lot of different emotions especially as we are seeing/hearing more about mental health and suicide issues. The story is one that many will enjoy and relate to. The story is one that many will see themselves in. I think most teens have similar experiences while growing up even though at the time we feel alone. This book will help young adults see that they are not alone and that they can find happiness. I do wish the book had more about the characters because to me it was as if they were only depressed people. I wish they had more to them, yet I have been in depressed situations where that is all there is to you for a little while (feels like). I  just think for young adults it might have been good to have a little more depth to the characters. I found the book to be moving and written well overall and recommend this book to all.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

D.  Book Reviews

The New York Times bestselling love story is about two teens who find each other while standing on the edge.

“A do-not-miss for fans of Eleanor & Park and The Fault in Our Stars, and anyone who can breathe.” —Justine Magazine
 
“At the heart—a big one—of All the Bright Places lies a charming love story about this unlikely and endearing pair of broken teenagers.” —The New York Times Book Review

“A heart-rending, stylish love story.” —The Wall Street Journal

“A complex love story that will bring all the feels.” —Seventeen Magazine

“Impressively layered, lived-in, and real.” —Buzzfeed

E. Connections

- This book has been turned into a film on Netflix and would be a good way to compare both the book to film.

- Educator Guide provided by the Penguin.

- Great book to use for a vocabulary lesson with words.

- Write a poem to summarize the plot.

- Create a playlist with what you think a character would have based on their traits.

- Write a short phrase that reflects an important message or theme in the book to create a bumper sticker.

- Create your movie cast. Pick 5 characters and who do you think should play them and why?

 

 

There's Someone Inside Your House

 A. Bibliographic Data

Perkins, Stephanie. 2017. There’s Someone Inside Your House. Dutton Books for Young Readers.  ISBN: 9788424662646

B. Summary

It’s been almost a year since Makani Young came to live with her grandmother and she’s still adjusting to her new life in rural Nebraska. Then, one by one, students at her high school begin to die in a series of gruesome murders, each with increasing and grotesque flair.

As the body count rises and the terror grows closer, can Makani survive the killer’s twisted plan?

C. Critical Analysis

In a small town, a series of gruesome murders start to happen ending with dead students with smiley faces carved into them. Makani and her friends begin to work on figuring out the pattern and who the killer could be. She is also enjoying her blooming relationship with loner Ollie. One day, she and Ollie are attacked, and they can identify the killer. The town is now trying to catch the killer and the whole town is fearful of being next.

I enjoyed how each character is unique and the depth. The book is full of suspense and action which makes this book one you don’t want to put down. This book has a lot of deep topics from alienation, trauma, loss, grief, hazing, gossip, inner changing, and much more.  I read this book in one sitting. The plot of the story is carried out throughout the entire book, which allows you to stay engaged. I recommend this book to all; especially those who love good horror/suspense reads.

D.  Book Reviews

“A heart-pounding page-turner with an outstanding cast of characters, a deliciously creepy setting, and a merciless body count.” –Courtney Summers, New York Times bestselling author of Sadie and The Project

A New York Times bestseller

E. Connections

I think you would have to think about your students first before teaching this book as a whole class. It would be great for independent reading and/or literature groups for students who love horror.

- Depending on the level of students they can work on the beginning, middle, end, and problem/solution of the book. You can modify this lesson by going more into the rising action and climax of the plot.

- Create your cast. Pick 5 characters who you think should play them and why. See if your theory matches the Netflix film or discuss do you agree with the movie's choices of actors.

- Make a list of clues/foreshadowing you noticed while reading.

- What types of groups do you observe at our school? Are they similar to Makani’s school or different? (Great discussion)

- Discussion: How does Perkins create suspense in her novel? How can you add something similar to your own writing?

The Hate U Give

 

A. Bibliographic Data

Thomas, Angie. 2017. The Hate U Give. Balzer + Bray. ISBN: 1406377287

B. Summary

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.

C. Critical Analysis

I enjoyed this book especially since the last few years we have had a lot of similar occurrences happen throughout the world. I can’t image what it would be like for Starr to be going to a prep school, yet living in a poor neighborhood and above all feeling like you need to fit into both worlds. To fit in with your race and culture even.

The Hat You Give was eye-opening for me as it helped me see racism from other perspectives. I think Thomas did an amazing job with her characters- a lot of stereotypical ideas of different races, people, ideas of people from different lives, etc. Starr is portrayed as a true adolescent, and she struggles to find what her truth should be and where she belongs. Other characters such as her father is also characterized well, you can see the struggles of being a black man, struggles of living in a poor neighborhood, yet being a father who wants better for his child. There are many aspects of this book I think young adults can relate to also pieces of the book that they can learn from. I highly recommend this book to young adults and adults, especially with the occurrences we are having in our world. I feel for some it would be a life-altering or “how you think” life-changing mentality.

D.  Book Reviews

Goodreads Choice Awards Best of the Best · William C. Morris Award Winner · National Book Award Longlist · Printz Honor Book · Coretta Scott King Honor Book · #1 New York Times Bestseller!

"Riveting!" —Jason Reynolds

"Stunning." —John Green

"This story is necessary. This story is important." —Kirkus (starred review)

"Heartbreakingly topical." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A marvel of verisimilitude." —Booklist (starred review)

"A powerful, in-your-face novel." —Horn Book (starred review)

“A chilling, fast-paced, horror-inducing story that will have you quickly flipping through the pages to find out what happens.” –BuzzFeed 

E. Connections

·         Use this book to segway into other themed books or using it to compare how racism is explained in a variety of books. Does it seem like most people think of racism in the same way? Compare/contrast

·         Discussion Questions:

o    1. How does the main character, Starr, navigate between the two worlds of her predominantly black neighborhood and her mostly white prep school?

o    2. How does the shooting of Khalil, a unarmed black teenager, affect Starr and her community?

o    3. How does the relationship between Starr and her parents evolve throughout the novel?

o    4. How does the concept of “the hate U give” relate to the themes of the novel?

o    5. How do the actions of the police and the justice system play a role in the novel?

o    6. How do the various characters’ identities, such as race, class, and gender, shape their experiences and perspectives in the novel?

o    7. What is the significance of the Black Lives Matter movement in the novel?

o    8. How does the novel explore themes of family, friendship, and loyalty?

o    9. How does the novel address the issues of police brutality and racial inequality?

o    10. How does the ending of the novel leave the reader feeling, and what impact do you think it will have on future discussions of these issues?

Great idea for a Theme Collage

News articles that could be used to discuss along with the book

Don't Call Me Crazy

 

A. Bibliographic Data

Jensen, Kelly. 2018. (DON’T) CALL ME CRAZY. Algonquin Young Readers. ISBN: 9781616207816

B. Summary

In (Don’t) Call Me Crazy, thirty-three actors, athletes, writers, and artists offer essays, lists, comics, and illustrations that explore a wide range of topics:

·       their personal experiences with mental illness,

·               how we do and don’t talk about mental health,

·       help for a better understanding of how every person’s brain is wired differently,
and what, exactly, might make someone crazy.

C. Critical Analysis

 I find this book enlightening as many experience types of mental illness, and it makes us think are we crazy? I mean I can call myself crazy, but I don’t want others to call me crazy. I found the chapters to be named well such as:

·         What’s Crazy?

·         Where “Crazy” Meets Culture

·         The Mind-Body Connection

·         Beyond Stress and Sadness

·         To Be Okay

This book is a great conversation starter but also a way to lighten your heart on how you feel about yourself. I found the way the book was laid out is done well by including a wide range of mental illnesses. Often only depression and anxiety are discussed but there are so many more. I found some of the sections about those who pull their hair and eyebrows out very enlightening as I have taught students who have done this but wasn’t sure what to do to help them. Each person shares their experiences with “Crazy” and I like how the title of each person's writing is also defined. This is helpful for young adults who may not be sure about some of the words. I find the shares of what they experienced as YA themselves would be comforting to other YA who are reading this book. I liked how Ashley Holstrom’s writing shared resources out there that you can look up yourself to help you learn more about different mental health issues. I feel this book is put together very well with sporadic photos, including a variety of mental health issues, having people of all ages, races, and genders share their experiences. This book would be a great read for anyone (not just YA) who is going through mental illnesses, or you are around those with a variety of health issues. It helps you understand better what you are going through and/or what your family/friend/student is going through.

D.  Book Reviews

A Washington Post Best Children’s Book of 2018

“Jensen has brought together sharp and vivid perspectives concerning mental-health challenges. Featuring writers such as Shaun David Hutchinson, Libba Bray, Adam Silvera and Esmé Weijun Wang, this book asks questions and provides real-life experiences and hope for the future.”
—Washington Post, “Best Children’s Books of 2018”

“This (crucially!) diverse essay collection spans race, gender, sexual orientation, career, and age to hopefully reduce the stigma around mental illness.”
—Bustle

“Empowering . . . deeply resonant . . . With this diverse array of contributors offering a stunning wealth of perspectives on mental health, teens looking for solidarity, comfort, or information will certainly be able to find something that speaks to them. Resources and further reading make this inviting, much-needed resource even richer.”
—Booklist

“Lively, compelling . . . the raw, informal approach to the subject matter will highly appeal to young people who crave understanding and validation . . . This highly readable and vital collection demonstrates the multiplicity of ways that mental health impacts individuals.”
—Kirkus Reviews

E. Connections

-       I would use this book to relate to other books the students have read.

-       You could use this book to open the discussion of what mental health is, how we should be acting towards others who are struggling, how we should treat ourselves, and so much more.

-       I think you could even read just a few of these at a time to get a discussion going or to get your students thinking about themselves. It could lead to great journaling or discussions. 

STOP PRETENDING

 

A. Bibliographic Data

Sones, Sonya. 2016.  Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy. HarperTeen. ISBN: 9780064462181

B. Summary

A groundbreaking and profoundly moving story told in verse, about a beloved sister who is hospitalized after a sudden mental breakdown. A young girl is left behind to cope with a family torn by grief, friends who shun her, and her fear that she too might lose her mind one day. A true story by the award-winning author Sonya Sone whose own story explores the world of mental illness, and what it's like for everyone involved.

C. Critical Analysis

  Stop Pretending is written in a hybrid mixture of poetry and narrative. I loved the truth that this book shares and I feel it's relatable to anyone who has a mental illness or knows someone who does. Sonya Sones wrote this book more for herself in the beginning and because of this, you get to see the raw words of her experience. When she was finally published you find that she asked her sister first and her sister was happy about it because she wants to help others who are going through the same issues. I connected with this book because I have experienced both sides of mental illness. To see others who have been through worrying are going to go crazy yourself one day or being torn when someone you know experiences a profound mental episode that affects your entire family. You often wonder if people out there in the world truly understand what it's like and how it feels for you to experience these struggles along with a large percentage of people who are supposed to be friends or even extended family that don’t understand what is going on. Often outsiders don’t understand it at all and often think “mental illness” is a joke. I found reading her narrative helped fill in some of own holes in my heart. It makes you feel like hey you aren’t alone. I feel for young adults this book would help them overcome some of their own emotions and struggles as well as how to understand those around you who are experiencing these things in life that you haven’t yet. I recommend this book to all as it is an eye-opener and is very prevalent in this day and age.

D.  Book Revie

“The poems have a cumulative emotional power.” — ALA Booklist (starred review)

“Heartfelt.” — KLIATT (starred review)

“The poems take on life and movement, the individual frames of a movie that in the unspooling become animated, telling a compelling tale.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Unpretentious. Accessible. Deeply felt.” — School Library Journal

“Sensitively written.” — The Horn Book

“This debut novel shows the capacity of poetry to record the personal and translate it into the universal.” — Chicago Tribune

“Stop Pretending is a tour de force debut. It celebrates truth-telling and has a purity and passion that speaks to the heart.” — Boston Globe

E. Connections

·        This book could be used in a variety of discussion settings, and even part of therapy sessions.

·        This is a great way to help students understand the different types of poetry out there and they can experience writing in this format as well.

·        I would have my students check out the author’s website because it’s interesting to read about why she wrote the book, and how her sister is now.

There are numerous resources for teachers, mental health websites, and reading guides. * I linked each word to the author's linked pages. 

Surfside Girls

 

A. Bibliographic Data

Dwinell, Kim. 2017. Surfside Girls Book One: The Secret of Danger Point. Top Shelf Productions.  ISBN: 1603094113

B. Summary

Things are getting weird in Surfside. Lately, Samantha's best friend Jade explodes into fits of giggles whenever she sees a boy, and it's throwing a wrench into the kick-back summer of surfing and hanging out that Sam had planned. But after swimming through a secret underwater cave, Sam starts to… see things. Like ghosts. And pirates. And maybe something even scarier! Can she and Jade get to the bottom of this mystery in time to save their town?

C. Critical Analysis

 I was very impressed with this graphic novel. Graphic novels are not my regular type of books to read but after seeing numerous recommendations from reading blogs that I follow. Surfside Girls is a book full of artwork that highlights the Californian beaches and gives you those beach vibes. This is a great book for all ages and genders, but I like that it is a graphic novel geared towards girls. It is a quick story about two surfer girls: Jade and Samantha. One day the girls come across a cave at Danger Point. Danger Point is filled with a ghost who needs help. The girls are very relatable from what they are wearing on the beach, to what they are talking about and how they are boy-crazed. I enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to others, especially those looking for a great summer read and a book about friendship.

D.  Book Reviews

2018 Pubwest Design Awards - Silver Winner for Graphic Album, New Material

"I loved this book! Surfside Girls is exactly what I wish all my summer vacations had been like. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to the beach!" — Janet Lee, Eisner-Award-winning artist of Return of the Dapper Men

"Kim Dwinell’s Surfside Girls has a timeless quality. With its likable characters, sunny colors, and supernatural mystery, it’s a perfect summer read." — Brigid Alverson, School Library Journal's Good Comics for Kids

"The cheery, doodle-like depictions... are perfectly in keeping with the breezy, warm-hearted tone. Sam and Jade’s friendship, which is changing as they approach tweendom, adds a nice dose of realism." — Sarah Hunter, Booklist

"Perfect for an endless summer vacation, with supernatural mystery-solving thrown into the mix. I highly recommend The Secret of Danger Point for all ages." — Leroy Douresseaux, Comic Book Bin

"Kim Dwinell supplies a great-looking world of infinite potential... Anyone fondly remembering the tenacious and good-hearted Nancy Drew adventures from their youth can locate a spiritual successor for their own children in Surfside Girls." — Slings & Arrows

E. Connections

- Now on Apple Original TV- compare book to show. Discuss the characters and events in both media and see if they match what you would have come up with.

-You could read the series and find connections with yourself, the world, and other books you have read.

The Hunger Games

 

Disappointed Read: EVERYTHING SAID IS UNTRUE

 A. Bibliographic Data

          Nayeri, Daniel. 2020. EVERYTHING SAD IS UNTRUE. Levine Querido Publishing.

B. Summary

 A tale of what life is like for an Iranian refugee living in Oklahoma and explains his family and history to a class of people who find his tales to appear exaggerated. You learn of his life before becoming a refugee, living in a refugee camp, and life in America.

C. Critical Analysis

 After reading this book I was very shocked to find that this book received so many awards because even though parts of it were entertaining, I simply found the writing and flow of the story to be like the online summary states a patchwork story. I believe the summary provided by the publishers meant more of a patchwork of his life, but I feel it is more of a patchwork of writing form. It doesn’t seem to flow well and at times it is very hard to continue reading. I think the story could be amazing if written differently. I am a person who starts a book and must finish it, but I can honestly say this is the first book that was a true struggle for me to finish. After analyzing the cover of the book I feel that it's a great image to use as this story was a chaotic tornado of words that had no real plot. I think the author was trying very hard to write as a 10-year-old and in the process, it became a rambled, and incohesive story. It was not my cup of tea, and I wouldn’t recommend this book to others.

D.  Book Reviews

“A journey as intimate as it is epic. A remarkable work that raises the literary bar in children’s lit.”- BOOKLIST (starred review)

“At once beautiful and painful, this timely story is highly recommended for middle-grade readers.”- SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (starred review)

“A modern masterpiece – as epic as the “Iliad” and “Shahnameh,” and as heartwarming as “Charlotte’s Web.” It’s for the kids at the lunch table; the heroes of tomorrow, just looking to survive the battle of adolescence.” – NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW

E. Connections

-          My 10^th grade nephew read this book with me, and he had a similar evaluation of the story. He felt that the book was hard to follow, and had some funny parts but that overall, it just didn’t flow that well. (His words)

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

 

A. Bibliographic Data

     Anderson, Laurie Halse. 2010. SPEAK. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux.

    ISBN: 0-374-37152-0

B. Summary

Speak is a story of Melinda struggling to find her voice. She experienced something so horrible and hasn’t been able to tell anyone because they all are mad at her for calling the cops at an end-of-summer party. Throughout the story, you see what she has been going through with what happened at that party, losing her friends, no one understanding her, and no one trying to find out why she won’t talk anymore. It isn’t until she starts her art class and gets a chance to work on her art project that she begins to interpret the world around her, and her emotions, and in the end, she can finally SPEAK.

C. Critical Analysis

Every aspect of this story was relatable from start to finish, and the flow of the story and the description of the school and what it's like to be a teenager are all spot on to reality. Anderson’s writing takes you back to high school, the emotions you feel about finding your cliché (your place), and how people change at the start of high school. Besides the traditional conflicts you face in high school that are depicted very well in this book you also follow the added struggle that Melinda is going through. As someone who has experienced abuse, I feel Anderson was able to show how someone may be processing what happened. I find that her story also has powerful meaning in the fact that the adults around her were missing the point that something was very wrong. Her art teacher sensed something after she began to practice her tree art. Yet, her parents and other school administrations should have seen that something was off and never did. This is a great book for even parents to read because you don’t need to assume they your child is just being a “teenager”.

 The title in my opinion is very symbolic because of a variety of reasons:

-          Melinda can’t talk (speak) about what happened to her at the party.

-          She can’t talk (speak) to her friends anymore because they are mad at her but also, they changed throughout the summer finding their spot in the world of high school.

-          If she (speaks) will anyone even listen to her?

-          Art is how she communicates (speaks) the darkness she feels.

-          She stops talking (speaking) since she is in such a dark space in her mind and reality.

-          She finds that she can (speak) in other ways such as using art, writing on the wall of the restroom, and using body language.

-          Her parents don’t know how to communicate with one another or with her, and so she doesn’t even try to (speak).

The biggest lessons this book teaches us are that you need to express your emotions, find your voice, and the importance of communication.

D.  Book Reviews

From Booklist

Having broken up an end-of-summer party by calling the police, high-school freshman Melinda Sordino begins the school year as a social outcast. She's the only person who knows the real reason behind her call: she was raped at the party by Andy Evans, a popular senior at her school. Slowly, with the help of an eccentric and understanding art teacher, she begins to recover from the trauma, only to find Andy threatening her again. 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. Debbie Carton

From Kirkus Reviews

A frightening and sobering look at the cruelty and viciousness that pervade much of contemporary high school life, as real as today's headlines. At the end of the summer, before she enters high school, Melinda attends a party at which two bad things happen to her. She gets drunk, and she is raped. Shocked and scared, she calls the police, who break up the party and send everyone home. She tells no one of her rape, and the other students, even her best friends, turn against her for ruining their good time. By the time school starts, she is completely alone and utterly desolate. She withdraws more and more into herself, rarely talking, cutting classes, ignoring assignments, and becoming more estranged daily from the world around her. Few people penetrate her shell; one of them is Mr. Freeman, her art teacher, who works with her to help her express what she has so deeply repressed. When the unthinkable happens the same upperclassman who raped her at the party attacks her again something within the new Melinda says no, and in repelling her attacker, she becomes whole again. The plot is gripping, and the characters are powerfully drawn, but it is its raw and unvarnished look at the dynamics of the high school experience that makes this a novel that will be hard for readers to forget. (Fiction. 12+) -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

E. Connections

Some great connection ideas would be:

1.     As a class, notice and discuss the figurative language that is throughout this book. Can the students identify the different types? Can they interpret its meaning? Are they relatable?

2.    You could either read or have the students read, I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS by Maya Angelou. Why is this important in the relationship of this book, SPEAK?

3.   I would have the students write down their book thoughts about the main characters (character traits), and draw what they think the settings look like, what parts of the book do you feel were key. Then watch the Speak by the Lifetime channel, and after watching the movie they can answer the same question from before and notice if you agree with how the film depicted the characters, settings, and scenes in the movie.