Module 15: Censorship Issues

Forever... by Judy Blume

Blume, J. (1975). Forever.... New York: Simon Pulse.

Summary

When Katherine, a high school senior, meets Michael they are immediately drawn to each other. As they begin to date, their feelings quickly develop into love and they are soon inseparable. Although they have very strong feelings for each other and it is something neither has ever experienced, as the end of senior year approaches they must decide what the future of their relationship will be.

My Thoughts

Blume truly captures the essence of first love and being in a serious relationship for the first time. The intensity of the emotions and the desire to always be together is something that most high school students could relate to. Despite the fact that it has been over thirty years since its original publication, the experiences of Katherine and Michael are as easy to relate to today as they were back then. Their exploration into a sexual relationship as well as an emotional one is realistic and positive. They must deal with balancing friends, family and each other. This book could be used as an example of a more mature book that deals with important issues in a responsible way. Blume created a book that is a realistic representation of first love and I think many high school students could easily relate to the issues and experiences of the characters.

Review

Ages 15 to 18. More than thirty years ago, Judy Blume’s sensational teen romance debuted to much controversy. A candid account of young love that provides details about everything from a young couple’s first meeting through sexual curiosity, exploration, and activity, this book is as relevant for teens today as it was to teens in the seventies. From the moment Katherine and Michael meet at a friend’s party, the sparks fly. Although they attend different schools, the pair get together every chance they can, and their relationship deepens. Before long, things are getting serious: they are thinking about sex, talking about sex, and planning for sex. It feels like they will be together forever. Then, summer comes, and family plans pull them apart. They write each other often and plan to reunite as soon as they can, but life--and love--can be unexpected. While employed as a camp counselor, Katherine meets Theo. She is surprised by the attraction she feels for him. What do such feelings say about love? Commitment? Forever? Michael? Modern readers may giggle at the lack of cell phones and other modern accoutrements, but they are sure to be drawn into this time-tested tale of first love. Green, H.G. Children's Literature, 2007.

Module 14: Poetry and Story Collections

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

Hopkins, E. (2004). Crank. New York: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

Summary

Kristina Snow is a well behaved, smart, obedient seventeen year old until she goes to visit her absentee father in New Mexico. While trying to entertain herself in her father's rundown apartment she meets Adam, a handsome, magnetic guy who introduces her to the "monster": crystal meth. After being the perfect teenager for so long Kristina welcomes the change that overcomes her while under the influence of the "monster" and she becomes someone else, her alter-ego Bree. Bree is not afraid of consequences or how the monster may affect her life; she only wants to live in the moment and enjoy the new found high of Adam and meth. When she returns home to her mother and stepfather in Nevada, Kristina cannot escape the grips of the monster and soon becomes enslaved by it. Her life spirals out of control and she quickly realizes that she has little say in her addiction to the monster.

My Thoughts

This was one of the most powerful books I've read in a long time. The simplistic poetic format only serves to make the story of Kristina more intense. Each word has so much meaning and Kristina and her alter-ego Bree's fall into drug addiction is impossible to step away from. As Kristina makes more and more choices driven by the monster's influence, the reader can't help but say aloud, stop! However, as demonstrated by Kristina's downward spiral, meth is a force to be reckoned with and Kristina is powerless against it. Although it deals with very mature themes such as drug use, sex and abuse, I think that this is a good read for high school students and maybe some middle schoolers depending on their maturity, parents etc. In terms of library use, I would definitely use this book as part of either a young adult poetry program or perhaps for discussing drugs and their dangers in a way that teens would be more likely to pay attention to. The view of meth and its powers is so straight forward and raw, the reader cannot help but be somewhat horrified and scared of its ability to destroy someone.

Review

Gr. 8–12. Like the teenage crack user in the film Traffic, the young addict in this wrenching, cautionary debut lives in a comfortable, advantaged home with caring parents. Sixteen-year-old Kristina first tries crank, or crystal meth, while visiting her longestranged father, a crank junkie. Bree is Kristina’s imagined, bolder self, who flirts outrageously and gets high without remorse, nd when Kristina returns to her mother and family in Reno, it’s Bree who makes connections with edgy guys and other crank users that escalate into fullblown addiction and heartrending onsequences. Hopkins tells Kristina’s story in experimental verse. A few overreaching lines seem out of step with character voices: a boyfriend, for example, tells Kristina that he’d like to wait for sex until she is “free from dreams of yesterday.” But Hopkins uses the spare, fragmented style to powerful effect, heightening the emotional impact of dialogues, inner monologues, and devastating scenes, including a brutal date rape. Readers won’t soon forget smart, sardonic Kristina; her chilling descent into addiction; or the author’s note, which references her own daughter’s struggle with “the monster.” Engberg, G. Booklist, 2004.

Module 13: Graphic Novels and Series Books

The Baby-sitter's Club: Kristy's Great Idea by Raina Telgemeier and Ann M. Martin

Telgemeier, R. and Ann M. Martin. (2006). The baby-sitter's club: Kristy's great idea. New York: Graphix.

Summary

This graphic novel is the first in the babysitter's club series and introduces Kristy, the president of the club and how she came to found it with her three friends. Kristy and her friends are always getting asked to babysit and decide to start a club that will provide excellent child care services through one easy phone call to several girls. As Kristy takes on the responsibility of this new club she also learns a lot about what it means to be a good friend and also must come to terms with her mom's new boyfriend.

My Thoughts

The simplicity of the black and white illustrations are a great counterpart to the straightforward look at Kristy and her friends' lives. As Kristy makes new friends and starts this business she must learn a lot about herself. The graphic novel does a great job developing each of the four girls' personalities, especially Kristy's, through dialogue and simple text. The graphic novel format of the Babysitter's Club series is just as worthy as the original and does not lose any of its appeal. Since graphic novels can be such a great way to encourage reading, I think this book could be used to help struggling or reluctant elementary readers and get them interested in a fun series. I think elementary students, mainly girls, will be able to enjoy this series sooner than they could the original, lengthier version.

Review

Grades 4-7. Raina Telgemeier, who is adapting the Baby-Sitters Club stories into graphic novels, first earned a reputation by self-publishing her own comics. Those little books about her life and memories of her childhood already featured crisp inking and confident lines that made every panel hum. The vibrancy of her early work continues in the tales of Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey. The strengths of the original stories remain in their new graphic life. Each of the girls has her own insecurities and goofy quirks, but those never run to cliché. In fact, each girl's problems and strengths blend in a refreshing way. Stacey, for example, is the thin, pretty, mildly boy-crazy new girl at school, and her initial shyness and refusal to eat the other girls' sweet snacks make it possible to write her off at first as a stereotype of girly femininity. But as the second volume reveals, Stacey is doing her best to overcome an illness that she has been told she must keep secret. Furthermore, she has learned from harsh experience that her secret can cost her friends, and trusting these new friends will take time. As the series continues, all the characters deepen, and Telgemeier's style portrays their growth lovingly. Sanders, J.S. Teacher Librarian, 2008.

Module 12: Biography and Autobiography

Our Eleanor: A Scrapbook Look at Eleanor Roosevelt's Remarkable Life by Candace Fleming

Fleming, C. (2005). Our Eleanor: a scrapbook look at Eleanor Roosevelt's remarkable life. New York: Antheneum Books for Young Readers

Summary

Using pictures, letters, newspaper articles and more, Fleming has created a great biography of Eleanor Roosevelt. The author's approach of using visual elements presents a new perspective of Roosevelt's life. This biography provides a wealth of information about Eleanor's entire life and the many people she knew and causes that she was involved in. Fleming discusses many aspects of Eleanor Roosevelt's life such as her children, her relationship with her father, the many speculations about her sexuality, her dress sense and her political savvy. Although Fleming talks about the many things that make Eleanor Roosevelt such a popular figure in American history, she does not shy away from discussing the more negative parts of Eleanor's life. She includes the criticism that Eleanor faced for many of her actions and makes sure to give the reader a balanced perspective of who Eleanor truly was.

My Thoughts

Fleming does an excellent job bringing the reader into Eleanor Roosevelt's life and keeping them fascinated with her growth and achievements throughout life. The many pictures and letters contribute greatly to the in depth look at Roosevelt's life and gives the reader a personal understanding of who Eleanor Roosevelt was. I felt that Fleming covered the entirety of Eleanor's life and her doings in a thorough and honest way. Our Eleanor would be a good book to use in encouraging young adults to read biographies or showing them that biographies come in many different formats and can be very interesting. It could also be used in a program about strong female figures who have made contributions to our society because Eleanor Roosevelt was so active in causes like civil rights and humanitarian efforts. This would provide excellent material in both the areas of research or personal interest for middle or high school students.

Review

An intimate biography of an unhappy child who grew up to become an American icon. Chock-full of details and enhanced with news clips, quotations, photos, and more, this is an up-close-and-personal look at a private woman who was truly a citizen of the world. School Library Journal, 2006.

This scrapbook biography employs oral history transcripts, books, and photographs. Eleanor’s vital role in American history is chronicled in this biography that captures her vulnerability and her humanity. With chapters in loose chronological order, chapter titles indicate phases of Eleanor’s life. Some chapters focus on specific time periods, while others focus on themes in her life. Photos of Eleanor and her family, as well as a report card, letters, and diary entries provide insight and perspective into the person who was Eleanor Roosevelt. Her life was not an easy one and relationships with people closest to her were often strained and difficult. Quotes from her children express their discomfort and disappointment in her mothering. Eleanor’s quotes throughout reflect her broader view of the world. Her works continued beyond her First Lady status, and one gains renewed respect for this woman who did so much for so many. The extensive source notes aren’t easy to use and may frustrate student researchers. However, any reader interested in Eleanor Roosevelt will find the citations provide fascinating nuggets of information. Entertaining and enlightening reading, this book is for junior and senior high students, and adults who want to know more about this amazingly human individual. Bibliography. Index. Recommended. Hoff, V. Library Media Connection, 2006.

Module 11: Informational Books

Bury the Dead: Tombs, Corpses, Mummies, Skeletons, and Rituals by Christopher Sloan

Sloan, C. (2002). Bury the dead: tombs, corpses, mummies, skeletons, and rituals. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic.

Summary

This book discusses the burial rituals and customs of ancient cultures around the world. As the author examines different cultures and how they dealt with death and burial, he also explains how these traditions give us information about how they lived their lives. Sloan discusses important discoveries that have provided archeologists and scientists with crucial information about cultures that have existed around the world. He covers ancient Egyptian burial practices, Neandertal burials, Amazonian tombs and many more. The pictures, time-lines, maps and other graphic details make the book even more engaging. It is a colorful and visually stimulating approach to such an interesting topic. The different beliefs and faiths that govern the many types of burials that have existed all over the world are fascinating to consider.

My Thoughts

I found this book fascinating and eye-opening. The variations in beliefs surrounding death and the afterlife is such an interesting topic to learn about. The way cultures deal with death and provide burial throughout history and in different areas of the world are so unique and tell us so much about their cultures as a whole. The discoveries and excavations that have occurred are also amazing, such as the thousands of clay soldiers buried with the Chinese emperor Qin Shi Huang Di. The accompanying pictures and illustrations really help make the book so intriguing because you are able to see the kinds of archeological finds that have been discovered. Although it discusses death and some of the pictures of excavated bodies and skeletons are somewhat gross, I think that this book is age appropriate for its audience. The author explains rituals and traditions in fairly easy to understand ways and keeps his historical discussions simple and interesting. This book would work well in a discussion or program about different world cultures because it covers so many different ones, ancient and modern, and examines such an important tradition in these cultures.

Review

Gr. 5–9. Kids will find it hard to resist picking up a book with words like corpses and skeletons in the title. And this one doesn’t disappoint. Sloan, an editor at National Geographic magazine and the author of two previous books for children, does a terrific job of providing an intriguing, reader-friendly text that is not overshadowed by the fabulous color photographs from the National Geographic Society’s archives. These pictures do not shirk from their subject: a fullpage photo of a Peruvian mummy staring out from his burial cloth, his knees raised to his chest; a close-up of a “bog person” clearly showing, as the caption says, skin turned to leather by acidic conditions in the swamp. There are also many pictures of excavations, artifacts, and burial sites. Along with discussions of how and why people bury their dead are chapters on particular peoples and their traditions. There’s material on the Egyptians, of course, but also on the Chinese, the terra-cotta soldiers of the Qin dynasty, and the Russian tombs of the Amazon women who lived between 800 and 100 B.C.E. Sloan had access to experts to vet his book, and it shows. This has the ring of authority and the look of quality. Cooper, I. Booklist, 2002.

Module 10: Historical Fiction

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson

Anderson, L. H. (2000). Fever 1793. New York: Aladdin Paperbacks.

Summary

Set in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this book covers the yellow fever epidemic that ravaged the city the summer of 1793. Mattie Cook is a typical adolescent girl trying to show her mother that she is growing up and capable of taking on more responsibility in the running of their busy coffee shop. Her relationship with her mother has always been strained and she feels like she can never please her. When their serving girl dies suddenly from a fever and others begin to fall prey as well, it becomes clear that an epidemic is taking over the city. The coffee shop is closed and Mattie's family flees to the country. However, Mattie is separated from her mother and forced to go back to the shop and try to fend on her own in a city that has collapsed around itself . As Mattie does her best to survive in the chaos and remain alive she grows up quickly and learns about her own strength.

My Thoughts

The yellow fever epidemic of 1793 is a fascinating story because of its sheer power and effect on the city of Philadelphia. Mattie's story of growth and self-discovery in the face of great challenges and fear is a fantastic presentation of a summer that changed Philadelphia and its inhabitants. Readers cannot help but love Mattie for her strength and perseverance. She seeks to prove herself to her mother, but with the onset of the epidemic she ends up showing herself what she is capable of. I found this book interesting, engaging and moving. Anderson did a great job telling the story of a girl in a frightening and unknown situation. I loved her take on the epidemic and her ability to make it personal for the reader through Mattie. When I read this book, one of the first things I thought was that this would be an excellent read for a history/social studies class in school. Although it focuses on such a specific event in history, it is an interesting and accurate look at life in early America. Disease was a very real part of life. Also, I think the female character would still appeal to both genders because the plot itself is so interesting.

Review

Adventures unfold in this coming-of-age historical novel as 14-year-old Mattie finds herself in the middle of the epidemic that claimed a tenth of Philadelphia's population within a three-month period. Anderson's narrative skillfully evokes the sights, sounds, and smells of this 18th-century city. There is also mention of a few prominent figures and groups, including Dr. Benjamin Rush and the work of the Free African Society. Wooten, D. School Library Journal, 2004.

Module 9: Mystery

Double Helix by Nancy Werlin

Werlin, N. (2004). Double helix. New York: Dial Books.

Summary

Eli, a high school senior, takes a job working for a science research lab and in the process begins to uncover secrets that involve himself. Eli's mentor Dr. Wyatt is very interested in Eli and his future. Eli is at first flattered and appreciative because Dr. Wyatt fills Eli's need for an admirable father figure, since his relationship with his real father is strained. Against Eli's involvement with the lab and Dr. Wyatt from the beginning, Eli's father resents his growing relationship with Dr. Wyatt, but won't explain his reasoning. Eli soon discovers that there is more to the research at the lab than anyone knows and that Dr. Wyatt is hiding controversial genetic experimentation. In Eli's quest to discover what Dr. Wyatt is hiding he learns significant things about himself and his existence.

My Thoughts

Double Helix is a fascinating modern mystery about genetics and experimentation. From the beginning, the reader is drawn into the story because of the obvious air of secrecy that characterizes Eli's relationships with his parents. Werlin withholds important information and slowly gives the readers clues to why Eli cannot get along with his father and his father's opposition to Eli's contact with Dr. Wyatt. Although I was intrigued by the mystery and easily drawn in at the beginning, I felt that the story lost some of its strength towards the end. The mystery was still fascinating, but I rushed to finish it simply because I lost some interest. I think this book would fit in well as an example of a modern scientific novel. It covers a theme that I think many boys would be interested in because of the emphasis on genetic manipulation.

Review

Grades 9-12. In this contemporary thriller, 18-year old Eli Samuels is struggling with issues and relationships that most teens find themselves facing upon graduation. Despite Eli’s conflicts with his dad and girlfriend over their expectations, Eli is excited about landing his new job at Wyatt Transgenics, offered by renowned Dr. Quincy Wyatt. He wonders if there is more to this than just a response to his email request. His valedictorian girlfriend Viv believes his talents (he is salutatorian) earned him this job. His father, however, is adamant that Eli reconsider, and he confronts his son when he sees the scientist at Eli’s graduation. Confused about the connection between Dr. Wyatt and his parents, Eli attempts to learn what is too painful for his father to discuss. Eli’s mother is suffering from Huntington’s Disease, and Dr. Wyatt admitted knowing her when she was a Harvard professor. Readers will be riveted once again by Werlin’s fast-pace mystery. The emotional relationship between father and son keeps the story flowing, and readers will be drawn to the characters as the story climaxes to a mesmerizing finish. Werlin creates thought-provoking topics and addresses familial conflicts and relationships that are intense. Readers will discuss the topics of cloning and genetic transformation long after they have finished the book. Highly Recommended. Acosta, S. Library Media Connection, 2004.