The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
Alexie, S. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. NY: Little Brown.
Junior is a Native American from the Spokane Tribe, who lives with his family on a reservation in Washington. Junior, who is a bright young man, is encouraged by a teacher to consider leaving the reservation and its school, to attend a school that would better meet Junior's educational needs.
Despite the cost, Junior decides to leave the reservation school and attend a different high school in a predominantly white area. The people in his tribe and on the reservation are not as open to Junior's choice, and see his choice as him being a traitor. While attending his new school, Junior makes new friends, joins the basketball team, and has to face hardships and loss in his life.
Alexie is able to share with his reader the inner and outer struggles that many Native Americans are facing. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, is well written, but would be better suited for more mature young adult readers, due to language and situational content. Alexie shows an understanding of the thoughts and actions of a young adult. He is able to show how Junior is developing in his intellect, his physical development, and in his moral development. Alexie shows this through Junior's family and social relationships. I do appreciate the window that Alexie has chosen to share with his readers on the struggles and hardships he has seen in his people. Older readers will be able to glean much more understanding on the abstract concepts shared through Junior's commentary on his life.
Want to learn more about Sherman Alexie? Follow this link http://fallsapart.com/
Despite the cost, Junior decides to leave the reservation school and attend a different high school in a predominantly white area. The people in his tribe and on the reservation are not as open to Junior's choice, and see his choice as him being a traitor. While attending his new school, Junior makes new friends, joins the basketball team, and has to face hardships and loss in his life.
Alexie is able to share with his reader the inner and outer struggles that many Native Americans are facing. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, is well written, but would be better suited for more mature young adult readers, due to language and situational content. Alexie shows an understanding of the thoughts and actions of a young adult. He is able to show how Junior is developing in his intellect, his physical development, and in his moral development. Alexie shows this through Junior's family and social relationships. I do appreciate the window that Alexie has chosen to share with his readers on the struggles and hardships he has seen in his people. Older readers will be able to glean much more understanding on the abstract concepts shared through Junior's commentary on his life.
Want to learn more about Sherman Alexie? Follow this link http://fallsapart.com/
Gabi: A Girl in Pieces
Quintero, I. (2014).Gabi: a girl in pieces. TX: Cinco Puntos
Gabi is a Mexican American girl in her senior year of high school. Gabi keeps a diary that captures the feelings and many hardships that confront her during this time of her life. Some of these hardships include family members whose morals don't align with Gabi's, her father's struggle with drug addiction, and helping to support her friends through their hardships.
Gabi also is learning to accept herself for who she truly is, even though she weighs more than she would like. She is a strong character that bravely faces many hardships and adversity. Gabi is much stronger than she knows.
Quintero shares with her readers the struggles that so many teenagers face in their social and academic lives. It is refreshing that the main character struggles with her love of food. This is one of the ways that Quintero makes Gabi seem real. Another way that she creates such real characters is through the situations that she puts her characters in. These situations are real and relevant to many young adult readers. While I am not a fan of Gabi's crude language, it is this language that in part makes her seem even more real to her readers.
Gabi also is learning to accept herself for who she truly is, even though she weighs more than she would like. She is a strong character that bravely faces many hardships and adversity. Gabi is much stronger than she knows.
Quintero shares with her readers the struggles that so many teenagers face in their social and academic lives. It is refreshing that the main character struggles with her love of food. This is one of the ways that Quintero makes Gabi seem real. Another way that she creates such real characters is through the situations that she puts her characters in. These situations are real and relevant to many young adult readers. While I am not a fan of Gabi's crude language, it is this language that in part makes her seem even more real to her readers.
Learn more about this author at https://laisabelquintero.com/
Lucky Broken Girl
Behar, R. (2017). Lucky broken girl. NY: Delacorte.
Ruthie and her Jewish and Cuban family flee Cuba to begin a new life in New York City. Their family faces challenges in their new home while starting their new life in America. Ruthie is full of hope when she and her friend are told by their teacher that they will be moving to a new class.
There is hope within her family when Ruthie's father buys a car for his family. But all this hope changes when they find themselves in a fatal multiple car crash. The aftermaths of the car crash find Ruthie trapped in a body cast and her family trying to bravely face this new obstacle.
Lucky Broken Girl, is a beautiful tale of the author's story of living as an immigrant in a new country. Readers are sure to be moved by this powerful true story, and will have a better understanding of what life is like for many immigrant families. Behar shows Havighurst's theory of the development of adolescence through Ruthie's changing relationship with her mom, her relationship with her peers, and learning to adapt to the changes that are happening to Ruthie's body.
Check out Behar's website at http://www.ruthbehar.com/
There is hope within her family when Ruthie's father buys a car for his family. But all this hope changes when they find themselves in a fatal multiple car crash. The aftermaths of the car crash find Ruthie trapped in a body cast and her family trying to bravely face this new obstacle.
Lucky Broken Girl, is a beautiful tale of the author's story of living as an immigrant in a new country. Readers are sure to be moved by this powerful true story, and will have a better understanding of what life is like for many immigrant families. Behar shows Havighurst's theory of the development of adolescence through Ruthie's changing relationship with her mom, her relationship with her peers, and learning to adapt to the changes that are happening to Ruthie's body.
Check out Behar's website at http://www.ruthbehar.com/
Lily and Dunkin
Gephart, D. (2016). Lily and Dunkin. NY: Delacorte.
Timothy McGrother, is an eighth grader who identifies with the pronouns she/her/hers, and whose chosen name is Lily Jo McGrother. Norbert Dorfman, who is given his nickname of Dunkin, by Lily Jo. These two friends both face the challenges of trying to find their place in their social relationships. With both teens hiding secrets that they must face.
Lily must face the harsh and cruel treatment dealt out to her by some of her peers. Lily also must help her father to accept the choice that Lily is wanting to take in suppressing her hormones. Lily must learn to have the courage to be the person she longs to be.
Dunkin is a bipolar eighth grader who finds himself moving away from his home in New Jersey, to live with his grandmother. Dunkin not wanting to confront his truth and fully accept himself, finds that he is being welcomed to his new school by boys on the basketball team. He tries to conceal his bipolar disorder from all his new friends. Dunkin feels that his medicine are slowing him down and keeps him from performing the way he feels he needs to. So he stops taking them in the proper dosage, this decision proofs to be his undoing, and forces him to face some of the truths he has been avoiding.
Lily and Dunkin, gives its readers a glimpse into the struggles that young adults can face in school. Sharing with its readers the pain and humiliation of having to deal with and face bullies. This book also helps readers to see the perspective of these two young adults and have a better understanding of what others, may be having to face.
Check out other books by Gephart at, http://www.donnagephart.com/
Lily must face the harsh and cruel treatment dealt out to her by some of her peers. Lily also must help her father to accept the choice that Lily is wanting to take in suppressing her hormones. Lily must learn to have the courage to be the person she longs to be.
Dunkin is a bipolar eighth grader who finds himself moving away from his home in New Jersey, to live with his grandmother. Dunkin not wanting to confront his truth and fully accept himself, finds that he is being welcomed to his new school by boys on the basketball team. He tries to conceal his bipolar disorder from all his new friends. Dunkin feels that his medicine are slowing him down and keeps him from performing the way he feels he needs to. So he stops taking them in the proper dosage, this decision proofs to be his undoing, and forces him to face some of the truths he has been avoiding.
Lily and Dunkin, gives its readers a glimpse into the struggles that young adults can face in school. Sharing with its readers the pain and humiliation of having to deal with and face bullies. This book also helps readers to see the perspective of these two young adults and have a better understanding of what others, may be having to face.
Check out other books by Gephart at, http://www.donnagephart.com/
In the Path of Falling Objects
Smith, A. (2009). In the path of falling objects. NY: Feiwel & Friends.
Jonah and Simon, two brothers, set out in a haphazard search for their brother and father, leaving behind their home in New Mexico. Their older brother, Matthew is in Vietnam and has written them that he will plan on going to his buddies house in Arizona when he is able to come home. Jonah and Simon find themselves alone while their father is in prison, soon to be released. Before this pair is able to complete their search, they find themselves in mortal danger when they accept a ride from two strangers.
The brothers learn much too late that one of the strangers is a psychopath and intends to kill them. Will these two brothers be able to escape? Will Jonah and Simon make to see their father and brother?
Readers who enjoy suspense are sure to find this book a chilling, but enjoyable read. I would recommend this book to mature young adult readers, due to language, violence, and situational content. Andrew Smith captures the portion in adolescent development where they are forming their moral development, through these characters. He is also able to show the real struggle that siblings face in learning to accept one another.
If you enjoyed this tale, see more books by Andrew Smith here http://www.authorandrewsmith.com/Author_Andrew_Smith/Home.html
Spill Zone
Spill Zone, tells the story of two sisters, Addison and Lexa, who are learning to live their lives after a catastrophic event, forever changes their community. Their town is referred to as the Spill Zone and is quarantined to all citizens. Making it even more of a mystery and a curiosity for many people. Some of these curious people include art collectors that offer high profits for pictures that capture the phenomenons that are occurring in the Spill Zone.
To take care of her little sister, Addison sneaks into the Spill Zone to capture images to sell to these art collectors. When an offer comes that Addison can not refuse, she finds herself breaking the rules of trying to survive in the Spill Zone. Will these broken rules lead to her being consumed by radiation and altering effects of the Spill Zone?
Westerfeld creates a mysterious, supernatural, and intriguing tale that will capture its readers attention through this graphic novel, and find them wanting to read more about what has caused this disaster. Havighurst, suggests that during adolescents they begin to work for pay, which is what Addison does as a way to provide for her and her sister. The reader also gets to see the development of Addison's values as she is doing what she feels she must to provide for them both.
Want more from this series? Check this book out.
To take care of her little sister, Addison sneaks into the Spill Zone to capture images to sell to these art collectors. When an offer comes that Addison can not refuse, she finds herself breaking the rules of trying to survive in the Spill Zone. Will these broken rules lead to her being consumed by radiation and altering effects of the Spill Zone?
Westerfeld creates a mysterious, supernatural, and intriguing tale that will capture its readers attention through this graphic novel, and find them wanting to read more about what has caused this disaster. Havighurst, suggests that during adolescents they begin to work for pay, which is what Addison does as a way to provide for her and her sister. The reader also gets to see the development of Addison's values as she is doing what she feels she must to provide for them both.
Want more from this series? Check this book out.
Spill Zone the Broken Vow
Learn more about Scott Westerfeld at https://scottwesterfeld.com/
Please Ignore Vera Dietz
Vera is a teenager being raised by her father, and whose mother has left them both. Vera's best friend Charlie dies unexpectedly, and is falsely accused of an act of arson, while Vera chooses to not clear his name and tell what she knows.
Charlie and Vera were neighbors who had grown up being best friends and sharing time together in their shared tree fort. As they grew into teenagers changes develop in their friendship, and find Charlie spending time with others. These new relationships cause division between Vera and Charlie and lead Charlie to revealing one of Vera's family secrets to their classmates.
Will Vera be able to break her new habit of trying to cope with Charlie's death and be brave enough to tell the truth that will clear her friends name? Or will she choose to do what her parents told her to always do, and ignore this injustice and move on?
Charlie and Vera were neighbors who had grown up being best friends and sharing time together in their shared tree fort. As they grew into teenagers changes develop in their friendship, and find Charlie spending time with others. These new relationships cause division between Vera and Charlie and lead Charlie to revealing one of Vera's family secrets to their classmates.
Will Vera be able to break her new habit of trying to cope with Charlie's death and be brave enough to tell the truth that will clear her friends name? Or will she choose to do what her parents told her to always do, and ignore this injustice and move on?
King is able to show what Havighurst shares in the development of adolescents with how Vera gets along with her peers, the easy relationships, Vera has with boys, Vera's changing relationship with her father, Vera's delivering pizza as a way to safe money for college, and the development of Vera's morals and values. King does an excellent job of addressing these through the relationships she creates in her characters, and seems to capture a portrait of the adolescence experience
Fan of this book? See and learn more about its author at https://www.as-king.com/books
Speak
Anderson, L. H. (1999). Speak. Harrisonburg, VA: R. R. Donnelley & Sons.
Speak, tells the story of Melinda, a high school freshman with an unspoken secret. She stops speaking to her classmates, teachers, and even her parents, after a tragic summer party. While trying to work through and deal with her secret, she finds that her schoolmates despise her for being the one who ended the party by calling the police.
Melinda finds it very hard to face her school mates and attend school. She spends her time hiding away and trying to be unnoticed by everyone. When one of her former best friends begins dating the boy who is the source of her greatest pain, she decides she must tries to save her from a similar fate.
The more Melinda speaks through her unspoken written words, the more she begins to have the courage to speak her truth in spoken words. Will her words save her and others?
Speak, is a powerful story that helps its reader to have a window into the world of victims. Anderson does an excellent job in creating the character of Melinda and using her thoughts and actions to help the readers to see what victims go through. The characters in Speak, seem real, and seem to have the thoughts and behaviors that characterize adolescence.
Want to learn more about Anderson and read other books by her? Follow this link http://madwomanintheforest.com/
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