Reflection

With the semester coming to a close, it's time to take some time to reflect on my YA Literature reading experience as well as everything that I have learned in class. While registering for classes this fall, I remember the reason that I took this class was that I was intrigued by YA Lit, even though I wasn't exactly sure what it was.

During the first week of class, I have to admit I was intimidated! I would consider myself a very talkative and friendly person, but as I began to meet my classmates while we went through introductions, I soon figured out that I was one of the few "non" English majors. This introduced a new challenge because it was clear that participation was going to be a significant portion of our grade.

Although speaking the opinions/feelings about the books we read as a class was challenging, I feel like it was completely worth it. I spent more time analyzing each book and looking deep into what the author was trying to accomplish by writing it than I would have if I did not have to speak up in front of a bunch of English majors. So that kind of "friendly" pressure effected me in a good way.

Also, I noticed that throughout the semester I started to feel "smarter." I know that some of this could have been mental, but there is no doubt in my mind that my reading speed increased. Also, I think it is fair to say that reading a book every week will help strengthen a person's vocabulary.

Lastly, I am just excited to be reading again. Minus maybe one or two books, I truly enjoyed every book that we read in class, as well as the ones that I picked for choice reading. As a child who used to read SO MUCH, but then lost interest in middle and high school, it's excited to revive my desire to read books. I will recommend the novels we chose in class to others, because in my opinion they are books that have appeal for all different types of people.

Finally, Although my blogging is finished for the semester, I plan to blog about my future reading conquests. I want to make sure that kids, teens, and adults all know to "Make Way for YA!"

Chris Crutcher a.k.a. "The Man!"

Despite all the fantastic books read throughout the year, I found it interesting that my favorite author was actually the one who wrote my very first "choice" book for the semester. I can't help but consider how lucky I truly was. During the first week of the semester, our class participated in a book pass. A book pass is an opportunity to see as many books as possible, taking about two or three minutes to scan each one. My very first book I received was called Whale Talk, by Chris Crutcher. Immediately I knew that I found something that was unique to me. After listening to some advice from a great teacher, I was able to find some direction in regards to YA novels and finding an appropriate audience to try to reach throughout the course.

Crutcher's novels are some of the best books that I have ever read. So I was fortunate enough to get to research and read books on things that I have been interested in my entire life. Chris Crutcher is an author who began writing in 1983, where he came out with the novel, Running Loose. Crutcher's stories usually involve athletics, as well as a general theme of fighting bullies and sticking up for the little guy. As a boy, Crutcher was a trouble maker in school, and did not receive the best grades. I think he uses his past to positively influence his work because his characters seem to "speak" to the reader in ways that other authors have difficulty achieving. It is easy for Crutcher's characters to think, act, and feel like teenage athletes because he experienced these feelings when he was younger. Since then he has came out with over ten books.

If only I would have discovered all of Chris Crutcher books earlier! Stotan!, a novel about swimming and commitment is now my favorite book of all time. I have confidence that these books would have inspired me in swimming as well as help me meet goals that I originally thought impossible. Also, throughout my high school years I did not read as much, because I was busy and had a hard time finding books that interested me. The best audience for Crutcher's books includes high school swimmers, triathletes, any varsity athlete, and lastly any high schooler who usually gets bored from reading or does not read much.

Super Duper!

Who's looking for a great read? A book that makes you feel good, and one that no matter how hard you try you just won't want to put down? My Most Excellent Year, by Steven Kluger will not disappoint.

One of my favorite parts of this book was how they added a bunch of old timer baseball statistics. TC and his father both love baseball, and even have nicknames that only they call each other. TC's dad calls him "Tony C. and TC calls his dad "Teddy Ballgame." I thought it was very creative having the last few generations of TC's family all named after former star baseball players. Also, I liked how Red Sox baseball was such a big part of their lives. I am a die hard Cubs fan, so from a traditional standpoint I easily relate!

Although this novel was full of light-hearted characters who enjoyed life, some of these character's haven't exactly had it easy. Finding out that Augie was gay immediately brought my attention back to my own life, where one of my best girl friends recently came out. She is one of the funniest and is one of the easiest people to be around. I enjoyed the way that Augie's homosexual preference did not change the way his friends thought of him. Hopefully we are closer to becoming a more tolerant society.

This book is without a doubt a "feel good, romantic comedy." It reminds me of the chick flick Fever Pitch because of the Red Sox similarities. Although the sparkling cover may not grab the attention of everyone, there is a good chance a person will feel happy and satisfied after reading My Most Excellent Year.

Rondell is my Homie

Man, things these days are tough for Miguel. After it happened. Matt De La Pena's novel, We Were Here, is a story about a kid who in the beginning has sort of given up on the world. Group homes seem like the hell on earth to Miguel. He doesn't want to make friends, talk, or really even know the names of the other kids in the Group home. All he wants is for things to have happened differently.

Miguel's first encounter with a boy from the Group home named Mong developed into a fist fight. Mong, a small, scrappy asian kid, beat Miguel up pretty good. He even spit in his face. But eventually Mong and Miguel would become friends, one might even call each other best friends. They figure out that they have something in common, and decide that it's worth it to see where their similarities might take them.

Rondell, Miguel's old juvi roommate, who is a huge black kid who Miguel had also fought with, also ends up at the same Group home as Miguel. Small world. Although Rondell may have lacked certain things, he doesn't lack heart and loyalty. And man, the dude had some sick game on the basketball court.

Three kids, a hard-ass mexican, an insane chinese guy, and gigantic black dude, learn about what it takes to survive. These three have gone through more than most can imagine, but they never stop trying to figure it all out, to make things right.

I Wish I Were Graced...

Kristin Cashore's novel Graceling is magical story about a girl who has extraordinary powers. Never before had I ever read about a girl with so much dominance, a girl who men feared so much that they could not even look her in the eyes. Kristin Cashore's decision to create a fantasy world helps readers experience intense emotions with the characters, as they are going through them. Katsa's powers enable her to become victorious in any type of hand to hand combat or fight. Physically she has no weaknesses, and can not be defeated. Mentally, however, she is in a constant battle and the reader is unsure of who will prevail until the very end.

Another Big theme in Graceling is redefining oneself. Almost every person I have ever known has some sort of regret in life. Something that they can not take back or change. Yet it is how a person learns from these experiences and grows from them that determines what type of person they are. Katsa is no exception. Her Uncle Randa made her do some horrible things to people, people who may have deserved some type of punishment, but not these awful things. Through this story Katsa learns from her experiences and from her closest friends about the power of free will, bravery, and love.

Fantasy books are so popular right now. It is hard to imagine anyone who does not at least have an idea about what the Harry Potter series is about. The Graceling is a perfect book for those who have trouble getting into books because there is action from the very first page on!

The Most Dominant Hound

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks has some elements that would interest almost any teenager. Some of these appealing things include a long lasting tradition of a secret society, funny school pranks, and even a love story. Although these topics are usually quite popular in young adult literature, E. Lockhart delivers them from a difference perspective.

Frankie, a sophomore girl at Alabaster, was a pretty average girl in the beginning of the novel. Her sister Zada was well-liked, and showed her the ropes her freshman year. Now that sophomore year started she had some nice, close friends, but none of the "popular" kids even know she exists. This all changes when she catches the eye of most popular boy in school, Matthew Livingston, and he makes her his girlfriend.

Frankie is constantly struggling with the fact that she loves her new life, yet doesn't want to be considered "Matthew's girlfriend." One event that occurs in the book is Matthew gives his favorite T-shirt to Frankie, something that most girls would just be happy about. Instead, Frankie can't help but to analyze it whether or not he is just trying to show "ownership" over her to the rest of the school since everyone knows it was his shirt.

Frankie's mind plays tricks on her throughout the story. She learns of her boyfriends existence in a secret society and it drives her mad he won't include her. She later comes up with some brilliant schemes, but eventually things get out of hand. This novel has suspense, and action, and is a easy read. Teenage girls across the nation should make sure to grab a copy and start reading it ASAP!

Prince Octavian

In The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party it is quickly clear to the reader that Prince Octavian is not your average prince. Last I checked not every Prince has his fecal matter weighed and recorded. Yet Octavian lives in a world where he gets to experience many of life's finer things. He is giving a Classical education and becomes an expert at playing the violin. Although certain things about Mr. Gitney and the Novanglian College of Lucidity do puzzle him, including the numerical system of representation, for the most part Octavian is living a worry free life.

When Octavian grows older, however, his "blindfold" is taking off and he discovers that both his mother and he are being held captive. He can finally see his world for the way that it truly is. They are African and the Novanglian College of Lucidity actually performing an experiment to discover whether or not, given the same opportunity, Africans can succeed the same way that Europeans can.

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party is a powerful story as well as an interesting and creative way to go about writing about the Revolutionary War time period.

Let the Hunger Games Begin!

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, is a piece of dystopian literature where the future has turned horribly wrong. Instead of everything being really advanced and new, life is how it used to be back before technological advances bettered our style of living. Life in District 12 is difficult. After Katniss lost her father to a mining accident, her mother was distraught by grief and Katniss was forced to step up and provide for the family. She learned how to hunt and trade for basic needs. Things take a drastic turn when Katniss volunteers to participate in "The Hunger Games" in order to spare her sister. The games consist of 24 children between the age of 12 and 18 fighting to the death while the rest of the population watches for entertainment. Katniss has learned how to hunt and kill for food, but now she knows she is depending on these skills now in order to survive.

This dystopian novel raises a lot of questions. First, could human beings mess up so horribly that the this world actually becomes a reality? These Hunger Games are comparable with all the reality TV shows out there these days. People tend to watch others go through some pretty awful experiences on these shows, including lies, backstabbing, and betrayal. Could a show where people fight to the death be that far off?

One theme that is evident in The Hunger Games is, "Should one go along with some thing just because it's "The Law?" Where is the point where people will start rebelling against governmental control? Katniss rebels in her own way, but most just go along with everything. There tends to be a lot of brainwashing in this story, with a majority of the population believing that the Hunger Games is a big spectacle, a big sporting event, even though it is clearly morally wrong to watch young children try to kill each other in any way possible.

The Hunger Games by Susan Collins will keep you reading with excitement and will leave begging for more!

YA Lit Circle - Robert Cormier

Robert Cormier is not afraid to test out what kids, or adults for that matter, can or can not handle in his novels. There are a lot of mature themes that occur in his books, yet many have argued that if you talk to a teenager like an adult, then they will act like one.

One theme that seemed to appear in The Chocolate War, I am the Cheese, and The Rag & the Bone Shop was, "What happens when good people stand by and do nothing?" In The Chocolate War, Cormier uses the character Goober to express this theme. Goober was Jerry's closest thing to a friend at school, yet when times got tough he was no where to be found. It's not that he didn't want to help, but instead that he couldn't risk becoming an outcast and having the cool kids against him too. Goober did not have the guts to stick up against the "corrupt" popular group.

Lastly, Cormier's characters seem to truly be alone in the novels. Jerry is not close with his father, and has difficulty communicating with him ever since his mother died from cancer. Jerry is left without a person to go to for advice. Cormier definitely does not sugar coat his endings, and directs his novels toward the common theme of "harsh reality."

Looking for Alaska

Looking for Alaska, by John Green raises questions about ways of dealing with suffering, as well

as the struggle for a teen to find a group of friends that he fits in with and appreciate him.

Miles Halter goes from being a loner to a cool guy. In only a couple of days! During his going away party that his parents set up, Miles didn't have many friends show up because, well, he didn't have any. After his first few days at Culver Creek, however, this all changes.

Miles goes from being completely obedient to having a certain disregard for the rules. He definitely is going through a stage where he experiments and acts impulsively. Yet, while dealing with the constant pressure of longing to fit in, he builds relationships with some of the other students at Culver Creek boarding school that will last a lifetime. Whether Miles and his friends are just hanging out having a cigarette, or planning their next big prank, there is never a dull moment in his new life.

Green uses effective foreshadowing to let the reader know that a character might die during the novel. Miles has always been interested in famous people's "last words." Although unique, his friends, especially Alaska, find this to be pretty cool. The coolest thing about it is that John Green is actually the one who finds last words fascinating. So he was able to put one of his own interests in the book as a trait of the main character.

The novel also has an interesting layout. In the first half of the book, or "Before," Miles and his friends get into all kinds of trouble. It isn't until tragedy hits, however, until Miles discovers what he has been looking for. The "After" part of the story shows how Miles and his friends deal with the harshness of life, and how each day must be appreciated because no one knows how much time they have.

This is a great book that all different types of teens with different interests can relate to in a similar way.

YA Lit in Context

The publishing industry plays such a huge role whether or not a book is considered “YA.” The good news for authors is, while back 15 years ago when having your book published as YA was embarrassing, nowadays it is simply the publishers trying to target the audience that is most fitting to the novel. There are many great awards for YA books these days, including the Michael L. Printz award for literary merit. Authors are more willing to dive into the field of YA Literature than they have ever been before.

YA Classic Novel

The Contender, by Robert Lipsyte, was one of the first books that broke the field of YA wide open! Although it is not a big book, (160 pages) it had a huge impact on the YA field and is considered a classic!

Alfred, a young black boy, is tired of getting made fun of and beat up just because he is trying to do the right thing. He begins training at an old boxing gym, with a man named Mr. Donatelli, and it changes his life. He trains harder than anyone else, and starts getting respect from those who once ridiculed him. Alfred went from being the kid who everyone could walk all over to being a contender. (In and out of the boxing ring)

Although there were many themes in this novel, the main one I distinguished was "resisting temptation," Alfred's best friend James gets caught in the world of crime and drugs, and Alfred has to make the decision to either follow him down the slippery slope, or to stay on the right path alone. To make things even harder for Alfred, his best friend James doesn't want anything to do with him anymore, and Alfred feels helpless. Probably the only thing that keeps Alfred straight is his boxing dream.

The Contender is a novel about a boy with a lot of heart who learns that hard work is always rewarded, even if not right away. Although he does not win all of his fights, he becomes and man and a true champion.

YA Choice

Whale Talk, by Chris Crutcher, is a fantastic novel about high school “outcasts” overcoming the odds. Crutcher is not afraid to dive into the "deep end" of YA Lit, mature issues including abuse, a physically challenged character, and murder.

If there is one thing that is most important to Cutter High School, it’s athletics. The “Jocks” get away with anything, while non-athletes are looked down upon. T.J., an extremely athletically gifted African Japanese boy, decides to start a swim team in order to help some of the “outcasts” earn a Varsity letter jacket. The Varsity letter jacket is the most coveted prize at Cutter High.

Chris Crutcher uses the varsity jacket as symbolism. The book expresses how the "materials" that make up the varsity letter jacket are far less valuable than the feeling of satisfaction the swim team earns. After the season, all but one of the swimmers were able to earn a jacket except T.J, and eventually he earns something even more special.

Hard work and determination pay off as T.J. and his friends accomplish things that once seemed unimaginable. The Cutter High swim team overcomes bad facilities, the school administration, and above all their pasts. Whale Talk is a great story about courage, love, and sticking up for the little guy.