It's Perfectly Normal

Harris, R.  (2009). It’s perfectly normal.  Boston, MA:  Candlewick Press. 

Summary: This is a very informative book for children ages ten and up entering into adolescence, and can be used by parents trying to give their children truthful answers to the all-important questions about human sexuality.  The book is scientific in its technical terminology and vivid descriptions of female and male body parts, menstruation, masturbation, intercourse, reproduction, sexually transmitted diseases, and birth control.  But it also presents the facts in a child-friendly manner with its colorful illustrations and use of a curious bird's and embarrassed bee's comments throughout the book.  It clearly explains the physical changes during puberty and both male and female sexual desires, all while being educational and not judgmental.  There are also chapters discussing staying healthy, sex abuse, and safe use of the internet.

Commentary: This is a non-fiction, scientific book presented in language appropriate for children and teens. Not only does the book explain the facts about the natural changes to your body during puberty, but with the help of the insightful illustrations by Michael Emberley, show that it is normal to be different. While some parents will object to the graphic content, particularly dealing with gender identity and homosexuality, pre-marital sexual activity, and birth control (including abortions), I believe the book can be used as a very helpful guide furthering discussions about these difficult subjects.

Connections:  It's So Amazing by Robie H. Harris and It's Not the Stork by Robie H. Harris

Monster

Myers, W. D. (1999).  Monster.  NY: Harper. 
Summary: Steve Harman is a black sixteen year old from Harlem who has been arrested.  The story begins while he is in jail awaiting his trial, scared and confused.  He decides to help make sense of his life he should keep notes as if he were making a film for his high school class. The trial is described as in a Screenplay, with the main characters being Steve and the other defendant, James King.  Other actors include the prosecuting attorney, two defense attorneys, the judge and witnesses.  We learn the details of the crime whereby a drugstore owner was shot with his own gun during a robbery. One witness saw two black men arguing with the owner before she left the store, but there was no other direct evidence. Testimony of two jail mates led to the arrest of the suspects due to the sale of cigarettes stolen in the robbery, and two other suspects took reduced sentences in return for their testimony accusing James of being the shooter and Steve as the lookout before the robbery.  From most accounts, it appears James was in the store, and he is found guilty and given a sentence of 25 years to life.  Steve has proclaimed his innocence, but through a series of flashbacks, admits to talking to James about the robbery, and possibly even being in the store looking for mints, but certainly did not know of the shooting until he heard women from the neighborhood discussing it and saw it on the news.  Eventually he is deemed innocent by the jury, but cannot forget how his own attorney turned away after the verdict - what did she see? Could he really be the monster as the prosecution proclaimed?
Commentary: The style of the book is interesting in that it uses first person narration, a screenplay, and flashbacks. This book is relevant for today as well as past generations, as accused black men are often deemed to be guilty unless they can prove their innocence.  In this story, we feel for Steve, as we know he is a good teenager from a loving family who just associated with some tough guys from his neighborhood.  It was somewhat unavoidable as they played in the same ballpark, but we are led to believe he never had intentions of hurting anyone.  But at the same time, his involvement is questionable, even by his own attorney and father, and maybe even himself.  We must face the questions of whether justice was served when Steve received no punishment, but again, how would society have benefitted by putting a good boy in jail with hardened criminals.  This is a great story for teenagers as it makes you think of the lifetime consequences of one wrong act as well as examine racial injustices.

Connections: A Wreath for Emmett Till by Marilyn Nelson and Making Up Megaboy by Virginia Walters

Persepolis 1: The Story of a Childhood

Sartrapi, M. (2004).  Persepolis.  NY: Pantheon. 

Summary: This is a nonfictional account of Marjane Satrapi's life up to the age of fourteen while living in Iran.  She is the only child of educated parents in an upper-class family who oppose opposed to the Shah's rule, and rejoice when he is overthrown.  However it is a very unstable time in the country during the Islamic Revolution and during the Iran-Iraq war. Her beloved Uncle Anoosh is taken as a political prisoner and eventually executed, causing Marjane to question her belief in God.  Marjane has strong political views and joins demonstrations, but her parents object in fear of her safety. In 1980, strict rules are imposed under the new regime, particularly for women and girls as they are forced to where veils in public. Marjane often gets into trouble in school as she voices her strong opinions and continues her rebellious nature.  After a scud missile hits the neighbor's house and Marjane is expelled from school for hitting her teacher, her parents decide to send her off to a boarding school in Vienna, Austria at the age of fourteen.

Commentary: The book is very unique as it is told in a black and white graphical comic strip style.  The autobiography may at first appear childlike, but deals with very serious subjects of wars, religion and gender inequalities in a humorous and sarcastic way. The combination of words and pictures convey a very vivid historical account of this period in Marjane's life.  It is a very good book for middle school children and older in that it can be a history lesson but told in a way to hold their attention.

Connections: Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return by Marjane Satrapi and Persepolis (Animated Film Distributed by Sony Pictures)

The Fault in Our Stars

Green, J. (2014). The fault in our stars. Penguin Books.  

Summary: Hazel Grace Lancaster is a sixteen year old girl who has been battling thyroid cancer for the past three years, and is struggling to come to terms with her impending death and the grief of her parents in the loss of their only child.  While at a support group meeting, she meets Augustus (Gus) Waters who is seventeen years old, a cancer survivor after the amputation of one leg.  They soon fall into a first-love relationship, but with a mature understanding of the necessity of making the most of every moment.  Hazel's favorite book is An Imperial Affliction written by Peter Van Houten after losing his young daughter to leukemia.  After reading the book, Gus is frustrated with the unconventional ending and contacts the author to arrange a meeting.  They both travel to Amsterdam for a disappointing meeting with the bitter, alcoholic Van Houten, but still are able to make the most of the trip with a romantic dinner, memorable trip to the Anne Frank House, and finally their first sexual encounter.  Upon their return home, Hazel discovers that Gus' cancer has returned, and he soon succumbs to the disease. A few weeks after the funeral, Hazel receives a letter Gus had sent to Van Houten professing his ever-lasting love for her.

Commentary: This book is written in first person narrative by Hazel as she looks back to when she first met Gus and their brief but powerful time together.  Even though the novel is sad, it also is uplifting to know two teenagers who were condemned to an early death find eternal love. The main characters, both Hazel and Augustus, have very strong, spiritual personalities and are dearly loved by their families and the readers. We learn their hopes and their fears, and look past their disabilities as they are falling in love.  It is also easy to empathize with their parents who are devastated by the loss of their beloved children, but know life will go on.  While this book may be written for a teenage audience, it has mass appeal to people of all ages in its message of undying love and making an impact on the lives of those around us.  The book reminds me of the beautiful quote by Alfred Tennyson "'Tis better to have loved and lost / Than never to have loved at all".

Connection:  This Star Won't Go Out by Esther Earl, Lori Earl, Wayne Earl and John Green

The Knife of Never Letting Go

Ness, P.  (2008).  The knife of never letting go.  Boston, MA:  Candlewick Press. 

Summary: Todd Hewitt lives in Prentisstown, a small town in the New World consisting of 146 men and 1 boy: Todd.  It is thirty days before his 13^th birthday when he will become a man, even though he does not know the true meaning of this.  He has be raised by adopted parents Ben and Cillian, and has been taught that ten years before his birth, the settlement was established, but then aliens called Spacks attacked and released the Noise Germ which killed all women and half the men. They are surrounded by noise: voices, moaning, singing, crying, thoughts and pictures by not only the people, but even the animals and plants. In the swamp, Todd discovers quiet, and sensing danger, Ben and Cillian send him away to search for safety with a map, his mother's diary and a knife. He meets a girl named Viola who was the quiet he heard and we discover she was from a crashed scouting expedition sent by a large spaceship bringing thousands more settlers.  As Todd and Viola continue their adventure to find other settlements, the preacher from town, Aaron, follows as he is determined his death at the hands of Todd will raise him to sainthood. After several threatening encounters, Viola stabs and kills Aaron and the knife disappears off a ledge, which saves Todd from the murderous fate of the other men. Viola is then shot and gravely wounded.  As Todd carries her into the city of Haven to find help, he sees it has been taken over by the evil Mayor Prentiss, who has now proclaimed himself to be the President of the New World.

Commentary: This is a fast paced science fiction novel written in first personal narrative by Todd.  It holds your interest from the first page to the last with vivid descriptions of the characters and the New World settings. While it is often violent with many of the beloved characters being killed, including Todd's loyal dog Manchee, it is also endearing to know the innocence of Todd and Viola and their developing love as they search for a better life. The language used in the book is engaging. Since all books in Prentisstown were burned years before, most of the people are illiterate, so many of the words are spelled phonetically.  The description of the ever intruding Noise is very original as it is portrayed in larger letters, often overlapping and jumbled. There is also a wonderful use of symbolism, as with Todd's knife representing power, which is lost at the death of Aaron.  At the end of the book, Todd relinquishes all this power to President Prentiss in his desire to save Viola.  The ending is somewhat disappointing, but is obviously a lead into the next book of the trilogy.  This story is appropriate for middle school to adults, and one can't help but envision an upcoming movie series.

Connections: The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness and Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Alexie, S. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. NY: Little Brown. 

Summary: Junior is a poor Indian boy who has grown up on the Indian Reservation, or Rez, as somewhat of an outcast. He is not the typical aggressive, outlandish, carefree Indian boy, instead is concerned with his academics, keeps to himself (and best friend Rowdy), and enjoys drawing comics that portray the events in his life. Junior quickly realizes at a young age that the Rez is not a place for him to become successful, for him to accomplish this, he must go to the white dominate school, Rearden, twenty miles away. When he gets there, he receives backlash from people back home as well as skepticism from the students at Rearden. He immediately questions his decision. After many losses and some triumphs throughout the book, Junior finally realizes his place should be at Rearden. He overcomes much heartache with family, friends, and himself but finally realizes the potential and life he is capable of even if he has to overcome more obstacles in the future.

Commentary: Junior continually faces conflict throughout the book. In the beginning when he was on the Rez, he was picked on and bullied for be different than the other Indians. He is drawn to more conflict from his Indian peers when he decides that Rearden is a better fit academically for him. Once attending Rearden, conflict follows him daily as he is thought of as the outsider and struggles to become accepted. In many books, the main character is put into conflicting situations without any effort. This seems to be Junior’s problem in this novel. He is not only conflicting with himself and identity, but with society and where he fits in. I really like the illustrations and drawings in this novel that help the reader visualize how Junior copes with different situations. He draws his expressions through art and lets the reader see the comical side of all his experiences.

Connection: Here is a great book trailer for this book made by 11^th graders who read this book in school. It helps make the story relatable to all students in all types of scenarios and sparks an interest into reading this novel. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXCSwsBlWZo

Annotated Bibliography Lists

Here are great books to use for themed family reading nights or as flyers to pass out to parents on examples of great reads for their children. Click the themed links below view each bibliography book lists.

Family

Laughing Out Loud

Friendship

Animal Tales

Overcoming Obstacles