Module 6

My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I think this book was good. It had some controversial issues because one of the characters is gay. It did not bother any of his close friends or his family but it was kind of funny that the character didn't even know he was gay yet. Later on in the story he falls for a boy and figure out his is gay. His family is very understanding seeing as they knew he was gay all along. They had figure it out from what he loved to do, and just from certain mannerisms. I think this book has come a long way in compared to older books about teens who are gay or lesbian. This one shows more people being open to him being gay and being okay with it. Many people are still very judgmental about gays or lesbians but I think love is love no matter what form. This was a great read and it also had multiple narrators. I found that each chapter was fun and different from the next. We got to see each characters side of what was happening and also learn about the other characters too.



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Hard Love by Ellen Wittlinger

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This was my favorite book this week because I really fell in love with the characters. I think I also liked it because the characters are writers also. I love to write and felt a sense of connection to these characters. Marisol is a lesbian and is very open about being one. Gio falls for her even though she is one. I think Gio falls for Marisol because she becomes a close friend and really cares about him and he hasn't had anyone in his life like that for a while. I saw differences of how gays and lesbians are treated now compared to this book. In this book Marisol's parents are so excited that she is hanging out with a straight boy in hopes that she will change and no longer be a lesbian. This can remain true for many parents who find out their child is gay. My brother is gay and my father had a hard time accepting it. My brother is also living in a different time than Marisol did and gays and lesbians are more accepted. Many more places are honoring gay marriages. Being gay is not something new but is more widely accepted than it used to be. Marisol being a lesbian was accepted as who she was because she stood up for herself and didn't change for anyone.



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Books for Module 5

I forgot to blog last week about the books I read so I am doing it now.

Beauty Queens by Libba Bray

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I really enjoyed this book and it's multiple narrators. I felt at times having the multiple narrators was a little hard to handle. Especially with everything else going on in the book but I did like getting to know all the characters. I think my favorite character was either Mary Lou or Adina. Mary Lou was more of a background voice but she was pretty funny. Taylor is from Texas and I thought I would really like her, but she seemed bossy and to about herself to me. I think I liked Adina because she really hated being in the pageant but did it anyway. I think every girl secretly dreams of being in a beauty pageant because our society is so about beauty and image now but not every girl gets to be. This book was funny and I see why it has gotten top ratings.



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Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book was awesome! I love some of the images that were created with each new dare. I loved when Dash went to Lily's aunt's house in search of Lily and how he describes her aunt and everything that happens while he is there. I think both characters were very truthful and learned a lot about each other throughout the whole process. This is a fast paced read and very enjoyable. I loved following them on their dares and waiting to see what was going to happen next. Having this novel as a multiple narrator novel made it fun. As the reader I got to know each of the characters individually but also together as they learned about each other. I would definitely recommend this teens.



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The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson/ Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I love this book. I think the poetry in it makes it extra special. I like to write poetry also so that was one of the reasons I really liked this book. I think teens would really like this book also. It has a love triangle involved and some teens can relate. Others who can't relate I think would like it to find out what happens. I really enjoyed it and I think I may just have to add it to my collection and read it again later.



Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I liked this book. It had good struggles in it and was a fast read. In class we had a discussion about why teens would relate to books like this. I think teens can relate because many are going through things like the characters are going through. The teenage boy, Carlos in the story is involved in drugs and violence and he thinks that makes him cool. But once he gets involved with this girl he wants out but can't really figure out how to get there without help. I think many teens don't know how to get out of a specific situation and don't know how to ask for help. Carlos didn't want help because he didn't want the people around him to get hurt but he got help anyways. I think any teens who are involved in a situation like this can relate to this story. I think even many boys would like reading this novel. It was a good read, and the one before it was too, I hear there is also a third one about the younger brother in their family. I may just have to add that one to my reading list too.



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