Module 10

SLIS 5420/ Module 10 Aug 9-13

Books read:
"The Plain Janes" by Cecil Castellucci
"Forever" by Judy Blume

"The Plain Janes"

Summary:Four girls name Jane form a secret club called P.L.A.I.N- People Loving Art in the Neighborhood. They hope that this help save them from high school and all the pain it has caused them.

My Impressions: I am not really a graphic novel reader, but I really liked this story. It was different than other graphic novels I read this week in the fact that it is all in black and white, which i thought was interesting. I liked the story and may go get the next book in the series now.

Reviews:
The Plain Janes is not a perfect book. Jane's mother evinces nothing beyond paranoia and irrational fear, and though it is understandable, a few extra pages could've added some balance and made her histrionics more relatable. Although her fear is believable, particularly given her circumstances, she never displays any traits beyond screeching paranoia and, consequently, never feels like more than a cipher. Fortunately, Jane's father provides a more balanced parental voice, particularly in the "grounding" scene. Similarly, Officer Sanchez's McCarthyist antagonism to the PLAIN attacks is too shallow, coming across as a caricature, a bullying authority figure whose only purpose is to repress.

Nevertheless, The Plain Janes overcomes its occasional surface shortcoming with a sound theme that speaks to today's readers, engaging storytelling by Rugg, and charming characters who engage the imagination. It's a promising opening salvo for the Minx line, and if the future projects follow the The Plain Janes' example, the entire line should find a comfortable niche in the Young Adult marketplace. by MattBrady
http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=103509

The Plain Janes
By Leroy Douresseaux
Jun 8, 2007 - 7:02:03 AM

The Lowdown: Upon first glance, the teen characters in The Plain Janes might seem like stereotypes, and while each one is of a well-worn teen fiction type, there is, of course, a method to writer Cecil Castellucci’s madness. Using such familiar characters allows the author a clear path to expressing ideas and themes. That the Janes and the other Buzz Aldrin students seem familiar helps the writer engage readers with the characters while she can use the overall story to delve deeper into such issues as acceptance, friendship, first love, fear, and self-determination.

Of course, the Janes and the student body come across as naïve. In spite of their personal fears and struggles, their optimism here is exceptionally refreshing in a world where even “family entertainment” is rife with innuendo and unimaginative cynicism. Of the many things, this book says, one is “the children, with their creativity and curiosity, are our future, so let’s mortgage that future by teaching them fear, ignorance, and blind obedience and then, insisting that they learn that in place of hope and potential.”

Rugg superbly captures all the nuances in mood and atmosphere in Castellucci’s story. From the naked fear of Jane’s mother and the bullying insistence of Officer Sanchez to “TheatreJane’s” pretentious flair and “SportyJane’s” tough, but smooth tomboyish persona, Rugg finds the unique accent within each of Castellucci’s seemingly typecast characters. Rugg also nicely balances the light and dark elements of the setting and story.

For readers of: Although geared towards female YA, anyone who likes “Freaks and Geeks” may very well like this. The Plain Janes is also a young cousin of Daniel Clowes’ essential graphic novel, Ghost World, so some fans of alt-comix could have love for this. Although occasionally rough around the edges, this is a treat that left me wanting more.

A-

http://www.comicbookbin.com/theplainjanes001.html

Uses: This is a great book to get any YAs started reading graphic novels. Graphic novels are becoming more and more popular but I think this one is actually appropriate to the age group intended.

Castellucci, Cecil. (2007). "The Plain Janes". New York, NY: D.C. Comics.

"Forever"

Summary: Katherine falls in love for the first time and are completely infatuated with each other. When Kath goes away that summer and meets someone else she and Michael will finally see if their relationship was really supposed to last..... FOREVER.

My impressions: I love this story because I can relate to it. I fell in love in high school and thought it was going to last forever and well it didn't. I can see why this book is censored because of all the language and sexual input but I think it still is a wonderful book.

Reviews:

A novel most likely found hidden deep in teenage girls' sock drawers, along with other coming-of-age secrets, Forever (1975;Bradbury) is the tale of an eighteen-year old heroine's first sexual experience. Written, like many of Blume's novels, in simple, colloquial, almost diary-like language, Forever begins in that most perilous of times: summer vacation after 11th grade. Virginal Katherine meets a more "experienced" Michael and they move slowly along the path towards premarital defilement. Throughout the story Katherine and Michael's sexual orientation is guided by like-minded friends and when they mutually agree to have sex, they are sure it will seal a love that is "forever."

The novel's frank treatment of adolescent sexuality broke many barriers in terms of mid-70s American mainstream literature. The female protagonist's independent approach to her sexual desire is highlighted when she visits the Planned Parenthood clinic and goes on the pill. Still a controversial subject at the time in American high schools this was deemed a "dangerous promotion of sexual promiscuity" in teenagers. A high school librarian in Schaumburg, Illinois said the book is "basically a sexual 'how-to-do' book for junior-high students" and promptly removed it from the school library.

Despite her efforts and notoriety, Blume's books are still being removed from library shelves across America. As recently as 2005 in Pasadena, Texas a parent's complaint concerning Forever resulted in the book being removed from the city's school libraries. In northern California, the same year, a 6-year-old student was charged with sexual harassment for bringing her copy of Forever to school to lend a friend. -Jordan Small
http://smallswordsmagazine.com/articles/text/judyblumeforever.html

Children's Literature

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.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Forever/Judy-Blume/e/9781416934004

Uses: This book is banned in some libraries but it is a great book to show censorship. It is obvious why this book is banned but with the way society is today and how young children are getting with knowing about sexuality maybe this book would be good for YAs to read so they could see what can happen and that its not always going to last FOREVER.

Blume, Judy. (1975). "Forever". New York, NY: Pocket Books.

Module 9

SLIS 5420/ Module 9 August 2- 8

Books Read:
"Dizzy in Your Eyes: Poems About Love" by Pat Mora
"A Bad Boy can be Good for a Girl" by Tanya Lee Stone

"Dizzy in Your Eyes"
Summary: The book is written in different points of view of teenagers who are in love or find a new place that they love and can be alone with their thoughts. The author also includes notes on the different types of poems that are included in the book.

My Impressions: I loved this book. I thought it was great that the author included different definitions of the types of poems and which poems have that type. The poems in this story are beautifully written and create beautiful images in my mind.

Reviews:

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up—A collection of poems written in various forms, each narrated in a different teen voice. According to the author's note, Mora envisioned the flow of the poems as that of a symphony with four movements—an opening focus on love's initial rush, followed by a few bumps in the road, healing after loss of love, and finally the joy of finding new love. This cohesion is indeed delivered. Peppered with Spanish, the selections define the emotion in countless ways. The quiet lyricism of some lines will prompt many readers to roll them over and over on their tongues; this is a world in which a simple smile can make a boy feel as if he's "swallowed the sun" or one's worst fear might be a kiss "dull like oatmeal." Where relevant, poetic form is indicated, defined, and discussed on the adjacent page. For all its beauty, this collection is also, in some ways, hard to pin down. The jacket copy and title might lead one to expect a focus on the intensity of teen romantic love. The love here is neither hot and heavy nor clichéd, however, but rather a glimpse into the last remaining innocence of the teen years. At times, the narration even slips a bit astray from an authentically teenage voice. Those expecting a more typical raw, edgy approach to love with poetry akin to the ramblings of a teenager's journal will be better off elsewhere. Teachers in need of a fresh new avenue for teaching poetic form, lovers of language, and teens in search of a broader definition of love will find it here.—Jill Heritage Maza, Greenwich High School, CT

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Dizzy-in-Your-Eyes/Pat-Mora/e/9780375896019/?itm=1&USRI=dizzy+in+your+eyes

"From family and school to dating and being dumped, the subjects in these 50 poems cover teens' experiences of love in many voices and situations. Several entries incorporate Spanish words and idioms, as in "Ode to Teachers," a moving tribute in English wish a Spanish translation... Mora writes free verse as well as a a wide variety of classic poetic forms- including haiku, clerihew, sonnet, cinquain, and blank verse- and for each form, there is an obtrusive explanatory note on the facing page. The tight structures intensify the strong feelings in the poems, which teens will enjoy reading on their own or hearing aloud in the classroom."-Booklist
http://www.patmora.com/book_pages/dizzy.htm

Uses: This is a great book to use for teen poetry lessons. It really can speak to people of this age range and help them have a better understanding of poetry.

Mora, Pat. (2010). "Dizzy in Your Eyes: Poems about Love." New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

"A Bad Boy can be Good for a Girl"
Summary: Three girls date the same guy, and write about what happens. They try to warn other girls that he is no good but sometimes some things just have to be learned the hard way.

My impressions: I thought this book was great. I loved the forms of verse and how it all fit well together even though it was from 3 different girls points of view. I totally could relate to this story and I think there are probably a lot of teenage girls out there who could relate to it too.

Reviews:

Kirkus Reviews

Three high-school girls take turns relating their separate experiences with the same bad boy, a senior jock who seems only interested in one thing: "nailing" them. There's enough in this verse novel to make a grown woman cringe-remembering what it was like back then and that the more things change they stay the same. These narrators, despite their varied backgrounds and ambitions, are interested in, well, the physical realm of boy/girl relations and are willing to kiss and tell: They speak poetry of pedestrian language, which, at its most varied, describes erotic outings and, in one instance, oral sex. High school girls with uncomplicated reading agendas might find this brain candy gratifying. But those with SATs on their minds will find this shallow, repetitive and empty. (Fiction. YA)

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Bad-Boy-Can-Be-Good-for-a-Girl/Tanya-Lee-Stone/e/9780307433053/?itm=1&USRI=a+bad+boy+can+be+good+for+a+girl

"Three girls succumb to the charms of one sexy high school senior and emerge wiser for the experience in this energetic novel in verse. . . The free verse gives the stories a breathless, natural flow and changes tone with each narrator. The language is realistic and frank, and, while not graphic, it is filled with descriptions of the teens and their sexuality. This is not a book that will sit quietly on any shelf; it will be passed from girl to girl to girl.”School Library Journal, Starred Review
http://www.powells.com/cgi-bin/biblio?inkey=1-9780553495096-0

Uses: This is a great book to introduce YA's to verse. I think a lot of girls can relate to this story and find it just as intriguing as Judy Blume's "Forver". It is definitely a good read for young adult girls.

Stone, Tanya Lee. ( 2006). "A Bad Boy can be Good for a Girl." New York, NY: Wendy Lamb Books.

Module 8

SLIS 5420/ Module 8 July 26-Aug 1

Books read this week
"A Wright and Wong Mystery: The Case of the Nana-Napper" by Laura Burns and Melinda Mertz, & "American Girl: Meet Molly" by Valerie Tripp

"The Case of the Nana Napper"
Summary:
This story is about two kids who like to solve mysteries. The girls grandma disappears and only leaves a short note so the children are afraid someone kidnapped her. The soon end up going after thieves who are stealing plates and end up solving more than one mystery.

My impressions: I thought this story was funny. I read it in one sitting because with mysteries I always want to find out what happens and with this book since it is relatively short, that's not hard to do. I liked it, it had an ended that I did not expect.

Reviews:

For those that haven't heard of this 4-book series before, it features two best friends in middle school, Orville Wright and Agatha Wong, who keep finding themselves in the middle of mysteries that need to be solved. They make the perfect team: Orville, who has Asperger Syndrome (AS), has an amazing eye for detail, but sometimes sees so many details he can't put the clues together into a whole picture. Meanwhile, Agatha comes from a very large and colorful family, so she is highly trained in the arts of understanding interpersonal relationships and seeing the overall story. Together, they always break the case! - Autism Society of North Carolina Bookstore
http://autismbooks.blogspot.com/2007/05/wright-wong-mystery-series-going-out-of.html

From the Publisher

B. Orville Wright has Asperger's Syndrome—and a genius-level IQ. He isn't popular, but he and his best friend, Agatha Wong, are great detectives. Together, they make one unstoppable crime-solving team!
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Case-of-The-Nana-Napper/Laura-J-Burns/e/9781595140159/?itm=4&USRI=the+wright+and+wong+mysteries.

Uses: This is a great story to introduce to kids who haven't read mystery. This is also great to teach kids about Asperger's Syndrome.

Burns, Laura, & Mertz, Melinda. (2005). "A Wright and Wong mystery: the Case of the Nana-Napper". New York, NY: Penguin Group.

Meet Molly
Summary: A young girl living during 1944 still has many dreams and learns the hardships of living during the war.

My Impressions: I love American Girl books and I think Molly is my favorite because she reminds me of myself when I was younger. This is a great story and it gives background information on the time period within the book too.

Reviews:

This represents a Realistic Fiction book. It is extremely true to life and allows children to connect with what the people in the book are experiencing. They can notice human interaction. The plot works together well and the people in the story are unique. Molly is a unique character. She is the protagonist and we know this because of the way the story is centered around her thoughts and actions. She is revealed through her interactions, thoughts, actions, and the narrator. The small amount of media used in this book is acrylics. This is most appropriate for the Intermediate level.

eward06 | Mar 11, 2009 |

http://www.librarything.com/work/166765

Shannon's Review, October 24, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Meet Molly, An American Girl

One character in this book was Molly McIntire. She does not like turnips. Her dad is in the war. She has two friends. She has no pets. Her dad was very funny. the most exciting part of this book was when Molly dumped her brother's underpants on his girlfriend. Because I did not know it was going to happen. It made me laugh. Molly and Ricky made up. They were happy.
http://www.amazon.com/Meet-Molly-American-Girls-Collection/dp/0937295078

Uses: This is a great book to use to study family life during the war and to have a peek into what a young girls life maybe like back then. Great for all ages.

Tripp, Valerie. (1986). Meet molly: An American Girl. Middleton, WI: Pleasant Company.