The Crow

O'Barr, J. (1994). The crow. Northhampton, MA: Kitchen Sink Press, Inc. ISBN 0878162216

Plot Summary

                       Eric Draven and his girlfriend Shelly are stranded in the middle of nowhere when their car breaks down.  Approached by a gang of drug-addled thugs, Eric is shot and paralyzed and can only lie helplessly as his beloved Shelly is raped and beaten to death in front of his eyes. They are left to die there on the side of the road.  One year later, restless and ferociously angry Eric is brought back from the dead by a crow, who leads him into the living so that he can seek his revenge on Shelly's killers.  Tortured by memories of his life with Shelly, Eric seeks out and annihilates each of the killers, one at a time.  During this journey he meets and befriends a young girl, Sherri, who lives by her wits because her mother is too addicted to drugs to look after her.  Eric does his best to take care of her while remaining dedicated to his mission of murder.  This graphic novel tells a story not only of violence, but of redemption and true love.

Critical Analysis

                           James O'Barr's storyline is anguished and intensely personal, as he wrote this graphic novel to cope with the death of his own girlfriend, who was killed by a drunk driver.  The fact that the characters and sentiments are close to him shine through in the power of the art and the story itself.   Eric is a complicated and rich character.  He is both unremittingly strong and vicious in his vengeance, and weak to the point of collapse in his grief over the life together that he and Shelly lost.  His journey is not only about finding and killing the men who took their lives, but about coming to terms with what happened before he returns to the world of the dead.  He relives memory after memory, some good, some bad, ultimately finding himself there at the death site again, watching as Shelly is killed and desecrated.  The crow is with him at this point, telling him that he doesn't have to look, but Eric cannot look away - here in particular is his intensity as a man and as a supernatural figure demonstrated.  Eric is killing murderers, but in doing so he becomes a murderer himself.  He becomes almost demonic.  This is the irony of his story.   As for the artwork, it is gorgeous.  Drawn completely in black and white, O'Barr moves back and forth between a frenzied, splashy but controlled ink aesthetic, and a delicate, ethereal pencil and shading aesthetic.  The scale of the panels also changes according to the mood of the story, so that some pages are tiled to show progression, and some pages are taken up by one large moment.  The Shelly memories are particularly haunting and pale.  She is clearly the most carefully rendered work in this graphic novel.  He also makes brilliant use of negative space in both black and white, so there are period of silence in the story according to Eric's mood.  Peppered throughout the text are quotes and passages from a variety of sources, such as the bible, song lyrics, classic literature, and poetry, lending a timeless and highly intelligent air to this work.  Overall, this work is a classic that influenced many graphic novels published after it.  Seeing as it was originally conceptualized and drawn starting in 1981, it was clearly ahead of its time. 

Reader's Notation

                              Eric and his beloved girlfriend Shelly are brutally beaten and left to die on the side of the road by a gang of thugs.  After witnessing this, Eric is brought back from the dead by a crow to seek his revenge on their killers.

About the Author

                             James O'Barr was an orphan who grew up in the foster care system.  He has long been interested in the arts.  As a child he studied Renaissance sculpture, photography, and live models.  In 1978 his fiance Beverly was killed by a drunk driver.  In response, O'Barr joined the Marines to help cope with this loss. He also began drawing and writing what would be come The Crow.  His story of revenge did not help him process her death, however, but made him increasingly angry and self-destructive.

                             The Crow, most notably, was made into a major motion picture starring Brandon Lee, who was tragically wounded and killed during the filming.  It formed a cult following, in part due to this.  The graphic novel was quite successful on its own, selling 750,000 copies worldwide.  O'Barr was the second American to be given the Storyteller Award at the International Comic Festival.  He continues to write and illustrate graphic novels today.

Genre

         Graphic novel

Challenge Issues

                          Possible challenge issues in this book include profanity, violence, murder, death, rape, paranormal elements such as returning from the dead, and depictions of sex and nudity. In the event of a challenge, I would consult the challenge defense file prepared for this book. The challenge defense file would include: positive reviews from credible sources for the purpose of proving merit to the challenger; negative reviews in order to inform me on what might be challenged; a written explanation of my own rationale for including the book in the collection as well as a summary of the plot; the American Library Association Bill of Rights; a review of my branch’s selection policy; and, as a last resort, an explanation of the reconsideration policy for my library and an official reconsideration form.

Curriculum Ties

                           Art: pen and ink style, movement, contrast, and scale.

Booktalk

              Eric, shot in the head, is forced to helplessly watch as his girlfriend is violated and viciously killed, before they are both left for dead. Even dead, however, he cannot forget what happened to them and is brought back to the land of the living to seek revenge. This graphic novel is beautiful, heartbreaking, and above all powerful, a story of love and what happens to it when it is ripped away.

Reading Level and Interest Age
                                                    Grades 10-12.

Why I Included This Book

                                            I loved both the movie and the graphic novel as a teenager. James O'Barr' intensity and passion are etched into the pages, into every stroke, making this a very affecting story for any age group. In particular, teens will respond to its fearlessness.

References

James O'Barr. (2011). Wikipedia.org. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_O%27Barr

Fallen Angels

Myers, W. D. (1988). Fallen angels. New York: Scholastic Inc. ISBN 0545055768

Plot Analysis

                     Seventeen-year-old Richie Perry graduates from high school and, unable to afford college, decides that joining the Army is the only way out of Harlem.  Soon he finds himself on his way to Vietnam, scared and unsure of what he has gotten himself into.  He forms a friendship with another black soldier, a loud-mouth kid who calls himself Peewee, and a quiet boy named Jenkins.  Despite promises that there will be only light work and little to no combat in Vietnam due to impending peace talks, Perry finds himself in the field sooner than he expected and is witness to Jenkins' death when the unfortunate soldier steps on a landmine.  This is a wake-up call for Perry and the beginning of the nagging question that plagues him more and more throughout the story - what are we doing here?  The more he witnesses - dishonest reports on how many Vietcong are killed, a racist commander who puts the black soldiers in the worst possible positions, another commander who is only concerned about a promotion rather than the safety of his troops - the bigger problem he has with this war and how it is being conducted, and over everything, the role he is being forced to play.

Critical Analysis

                           Perry's story is told simply, cleanly, and with realistic speech through his first person internal monologue.  There is no fancy prose here, but it is not necessary.  The horrors of Vietnam - dead Vietcong soldiers thrown about like ragdolls, fellow soldiers killed in the blink of an eye, the utter chaos of battle and the shock of being wounded - are razor sharp and quietly disturbing through the eyes of a scared soldier so young he is practically still in high school.  We feel Perry's moments of panic and confusion, his constant disorienting uncertainty of what exactly he is supposed to be doing and, the larger question, what exactly he is doing in the war.  Part of what makes this book so effective is how simply it is rendered.  There are no long dramatic soliloquies or life-changing conclusions - just the genuine emotions of a boy who is deeply out of his element and struggling to come to terms with life and death.  Another effective element of this novel is Myers' use of time.  He cuts back and forth between Perry's time in Vietnam and his life back in Harlem, revealing for the reader a picture of what he escaped when he joined the Army.  This is another question that haunts Perry the more deeply immersed he is in combat: why did he join?  Part of his reasoning was to create a better life for himself and his little brother, but he cannot deny the fact that the military was also an escape.  There was no future for him in Harlem outside of helping his alcoholic mother keep things together.  This understanding of Perry's past deepens his character.  The surrounding cast of characters is entertaining - particularly the brash and always outspoken Peewee, who provides comic relief as well as shelter for Perry from the horrible reality of his situation.  They are an interesting pair, Perry quiet and Peewee far too loud, providing a nice element of contrast in the story that brings out both characters and gives them dimension.  The final important characteristic of this novel is the details of the place.  The reader feels the heat of Vietnam, the humidity, the crawling bugs, the choking vegetation, the same bland food over and over, the boredom of the base and the frantic energy of combat.  This novel is a nerve-wracking experience addressing deep, important themes on an emotional, political, and moral level.

Reader's Annotation

                                  Perry joins the Army and finds himself in the throes of Vietnam, scared and uncertain of what to do.  The more he learns about the war and the way it is being conducted, the more he questions both his own involvement and his country's.

About the Author

                             Walter Dean Myers was inexplicably given away by his family to a man named Howard Dean and subsequently raised as a son by Dean and his wife Florence.  He did not perform well in school, although he was a good writer, and was told by a teacher who anticipated his dropping out to never stop writing, no matter what happened to him.  At seventeen, he did indeed drop out and joined the Army.   Later he remembered these words and began writing again about his adolescence, which he says was the most difficult time in his life.  He has achieved major success and created a huge body of work that is critically acclaimed.  In addition to writing, he also loves basketball and wonders sometimes what his life would have been like had he been good enough to get into the NBA.

                             Myers has been honored with numerous prestigious awards, such as the Michael L. Printz Award, the Margaret A. Edwards Award, and five Coretta Scott King Awards, among many others.  His reviews are consistently glowing, many calling attention to his realism and the striking effect that his works have on the reader.  Kirkus Reviews refers to him as one of the most important writers of children's books of our age.

Genre

         Historical - Vietnam

Challenge Issues

                          Possible challenge issues in this book include violence, profanity, racial slurs, depictions of war, and anti-war themes. In the event of a challenge, I would consult the challenge defense file prepared for this book. The challenge defense file would include: positive reviews from credible sources for the purpose of proving merit to the challenger; negative reviews in order to inform me on what might be challenged; a written explanation of my own rationale for including the book in the collection as well as a summary of the plot; the American Library Association Bill of Rights; a review of my branch’s selection policy; and, as a last resort, an explanation of the reconsideration policy for my library and an official reconsideration form.

Curriculum Ties

                           English and Writing, or History: for English and Writing, point of view and character development; for History, the Vietnam War.

Booktalk

               Imagine what it would be like if you had to head off to war right out of high school, when you were only seventeen years old, and you had no idea what you were supposed to be doing.  This is what it feels like to Perry, who finds himself in Vietnam because he couldn't afford college and there seemed to be no other way out for him.  He's trying just to keep his head above water, trying to just stay alive, but more than that he can't help but wonder what the point of all this is and why he is there at all.  This story is not just about Vietnam, but about coming of age and questioning everything around you.

Reading level and Interest Age

                                                   Grades 9-12.

Why I Included This Book

                                             Walter Dean Myers is one of the great authors of young adult literature.  I chose this book of his in particular because the issue of war is so relevant to today's young adults.  The way this novel is written makes it accessible without talking down to teens, so they can consider the questions of war and politics through a regular character thrust into a situation he cannot control.

References
Myers, W.D. (n.d.). Biography. Retrieved from http://www.walterdeanmyers.net/bio.html

Jacob Have I Loved

Paterson, K. (1980). Jacob have I loved. New York: Crowell. ISBN 0064403688

Plot Summary

                      Louise, nicknamed Wheeze, has lived her live in the shadow of her beautiful and talented twin sister Caroline, who was born sick, taking all the attention from healthy and hardy Louise. Caroline has a wonderful singing voice and is beloved by everyone. Louise is a tomboy who wishes she could do man’s work on her father’s boat. Instead, she goes out crabbing on a raft with her best friend Call, the proceeds of which she is compelled to donate towards Caroline’s singing lessons off the island where they live. Louise feels invisible much of the time, and is isolated when Call leaves the island for the navy and Caroline for music school. Her only other friend is the Captain, a mysterious resident of the island on whom she develops a crush. When a secret relationship between Caroline and Call is revealed, Louise hits bottom. She feels frantic to escape but does not know how. She must discover what she wants and understand how to achieve it, despite a lifetime of limitations and hardship. This is a story, set against the backdrop of World War II, not only about love and family relationships, but about the search for self.

Critical Analysis

                           This story is not a lightweight tale of family life. It is steeped in unfairness and melancholy, futility, and anger. Contrast is key in this story, as Louise and Caroline are exact opposites. Louise is a dark character. She is bitter and furious at her sister, both for elements out of Caroline’s control, such as her beauty and talent, as well as the arrogance and entitlement that are central to Caroline’s personality. The truth is that neither sister is easy to like, but this is what works about the book. Paterson is not spoon-feeding her readers standard characters, obvious villains and heroes. She creates a world of discomfort and struggle and her characters react in realistic, if sometimes frustrating, ways. Caroline is infuriating but in many regards innocent, a product of the favoritism resulting from her birth circumstances. Her life is easy. She can’t be expected to understand Louise’s daily responsibilities. Conversely, Louise has ample reason to be bitter. She is not treated the same by any stretch of the imagination, and this is through no fault of her own. Both of these characters are products of their environment. Louise’s character goes through massive transformation towards the end of the book, as she comes to terms with her mother, who encourages her to leave the island in search of more, and ultimately finds love and satisfaction. The setting of Rass Island itself is clearly and beautifully described. The cold, the wind, the water, the reeds, the struggle to make a living through fishing, the backdrop of odd residents who live there – all of it rises off the page and arrests the reader, coinciding with the distant but terrifying backdrop of World War II. The island is almost a character itself, even a family member, often loved but sometimes hated by Louise. On the whole, this is not an easy book with its overarching themes of anger, jealousy, and resentment that are never fully resolved, but the story is rich and satisfying and the characters are memorable. This book will stay with readers long after its conclusion.

Reader’s Annotation

                                 Tomboy Louise is jealous and resentful of her beautiful, talented twin sister Caroline. She must find a way to come to terms with the differences in how they are treated and find herself and her way to happiness.

About the Author

                             Katherine Paterson spent much of her childhood in China. Her family came back to the United States during World War II, where she remained throughout college. She studied English and American literature at King College in Bristol, Tennessee and then made plans to return to China to do missionary work. She could not get a visa to go to China, however, so she moved to Japan instead and lived and worked there for four years. Despite her intention to live there permanently, she met a pastor during a year of study in the U.S. and they were married. They had four children, two adopted and two biological, and it was at this time, after being asked to write a curriculum for a school, that she caught the writing bug. In and among the childrens' busy schedule, she wrote constantly but didn't publish much. After taking a night class in creative writing, she completed a novel which was eventually published, and her career took off from there. Currently she lives in Vermont with her husband; together they have four grown children, seven grandchildren, and a Golden Retriever.

                            Paterson has won many awards, such as more than one Newbery Medal, the National Book Award for Children's Literature, and several Parents' Choice Awards. In 2007 she became the Vice President of the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance. She has also been awarded a number of honorary degrees both in the U.S. and Canada.

Genre

         Historical – World War II

Challenge Issues

                          There do not seem to be any obvious challenge issues in this book. However, in the event of a challenge, I would create a challenge defense file. The challenge defense file would include: positive reviews from credible sources for the purpose of proving merit to the challenger; negative reviews in order to inform me on what might be challenged; a written explanation of my own rationale for including the book in the collection as well as a summary of the plot; the American Library Association Bill of Rights; a review of my branch’s selection policy; and, as a last resort, an explanation of the reconsideration policy for my library and an official reconsideration form.

Curriculum Ties

                           English and Writing: place, contrast, and character development.

Booktalk

             Have you ever felt invisible? That’s how Louise lives her life, under the shadow of her talented and lovely twin. They are complete opposites and Louise struggles with finding her own identity against the shining light of her sister. Set against the backdrop of harsh and beautiful Rass Island, with World War II raging on, this tale of two sisters is fraught with sadness, anger, and the search for love and self.

Reading Level and Interest Age

                                                    Grades 9-12.

Why I Included This Book

                                           As a teenager I absolutely loved this book. The characters were real, they had faults and weaknesses and as a reader I was sometimes unsure of whose side I was on. In contrast to some of the other books available to me at the time – such as Sweet Valley High – this book was absolutely a breath of fresh (dark, realistic) air. The sibling rivalry elements should resonate with many teens, as well as Louise’s quest to find and express herself, which is a struggle that teens face on a daily basis, in varying degrees.

References

Paterson, K. (2011). About Katherine. Retrieved from http://terabithia.com/about-katherine/

Paterson, K. (2011). Awards. Retrieved from http://terabithia.com/awards/

Forever...

Blume, J. (1975). Forever: A novel. Scarsdale, N.Y: Bradbury Press. ISBN 1416934006

Plot Summary

                       Katherine and Michael are in love and it seems so perfect, Katherine can’t imagine their relationship not lasting forever. The closer they get, the more she wants to be with him, and the more the issue of sex becomes unavoidable. Katherine is somewhat torn as to whether sex is an expression of love or a physical act, or somewhere in the middle. She and her friend Erica, who believes that sex is physical only, try to sort this out, and Katherine considers what she wants to happen in her relationship with Michael. The future looms large, with college and summer jobs in different states threatening to separate them. Can they survive the distance, or will they even want to? Katherine and Michael’s story of first love is touching and realistic, and will ring true with readers of any age.

Critical Analysis

                          This novel was groundbreaking at the time it was published. Never before had a young adult novel addressed sex in such an honest and unflinching light. Not only is sex openly discussed, Katherine is an active participant and she knows what she wants. She is an interesting and well-rounded character. She enjoys sex – this was also unusual for the time. She is empowered to make her own choices and does not regret them. And though she is in love with Michael and cannot imagine being without him, she understands that their future is uncertain after they are separated for the summer and then college. Once at her own summer job, she finds herself attracted to an older boy, and she breaks up with Michael when he comes to visit her. She sees her first love for what it is: not an infinite state of being, but the first step towards a series of more complex relationships. In this way, the novel is not just about sex as the censors claim, but about maturity and love and making healthy, reasonable decisions. Though this novel is a romance, it is not an idealistic one, or a Gothic romance in which the heroine is swept off her feet and loses her head. This is about a real high school relationship, and as such is an important and rational story that teens will relate to. The supporting characters, Katherine’s friend Erica, Michael’s friend Artie, Michael himself, and the infamous Ralph (who is admittedly not a character but certainly an important part of the story) are just as complex as Katherine, rather than stock sidekick characters. As always Judy Blume’s prose is tight, clean, and funny, as well as tender and endearing. This novel is a quick read without a doubt, but not for a lack of complexity.

Reader’s Annotation

                                 Katherine and Michael are head over heels in love and never want to be apart. Together they navigate the territory of how to express this love and how to handle the looming future in which they must separate for college.

About the Author

                           Judy Blume grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey and spent her childhood creating stories in her head. She got her Bachelor's in Education from New York University and has had a lifelong interest in children's education, as is evidenced by her participation in charities such as The Kid's Fund, of which she is the founder and trustee. She is also notable for her activism to prevent censorship - which is appropriate, as her books are often challenged or banned. In addition to serving on the National Coalition Against Censorship, she edited a book of short stories written by censored writers titled Places I Never Meant to Be. Currently she lives with her husband on various islands along the east coast; they have three grown children and one grandchild.

                           Blume's collection of work is vast and highly celebrated. Over 80 million copies of her books have sold and she has had her work translated into over 30 languages. She has received countless prestigious honors and awards, such as the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement and the Library of Congress Living Legends Award. She is still writing and publishing today.

Genre

         Romance - contemporary

Challenge Issues

                          Possible challenge issues in this book include sex, discussion of sexual orientation, birth control, and sexually transmitted diseases. In the event of a challenge, I would consult the challenge defense file prepared for this book. The challenge defense file would include: positive reviews from credible sources for the purpose of proving merit to the challenger; negative reviews in order to inform me on what might be challenged; a written explanation of my own rationale for including the book in the collection as well as a summary of the plot; the American Library Association Bill of Rights; a review of my branch’s selection policy; and, as a last resort, an explanation of the reconsideration policy for my library and an official reconsideration form.

Curriculum Ties

                           English and Writing: character development and story arc.

Booktalk

              Katherine is in love for the first time and everything feels brand new. But with first love comes a lot of pressure and responsibility, and she struggles to understand exactly what she wants and how to go about it. Then there is also the looming threat of college, which will separate them. Even something as wonderful as a first love isn’t always easy. Read this book for a realistic portrayal of teenage love.

Reading Level and Interest Age

                                                   Grades 9-12

Why I Included This Book

                                          This book is a classic. Most cite it as the first real portrayal of a sexual relationship between teenagers, so of course it has suffered many bans and challenges. Although it is somewhat tame by today’s standards, its contribution to the genre of romance and young adult fiction in general cannot be denied. A young adult collection wouldn’t be complete without it.

References
Blume, J. (2007). Judy's official bio. Retrieved from http://www.judyblume.com/about.php

Who Killed My Daughter?

Duncan, L. (1992). Who killed my daughter?. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 0440213428

Plot Summary

                     Kaitlyn Arquette, daughter of best-selling mystery author Lois Duncan, was shot and killed in July of 1989 on her way home from a friend’s house.  To this day, her murder is unsolved.  Duncan did everything in her power to push this case forward, but felt stymied by police, who were convinced the shooting was random and would not entertain any other possibility.  So Duncan went in other directions, trying the FBI, psychics, and a private detective.  Some of her investigating proved fruitful, some did not, but the deeper she delved, the more obvious it became that Kaitlyn’s shooting was not at all random.  She discovered that Kaitlyn and her live-in boyfriend had gotten themselves involved with a dangerous gang and that this most certainly had something to do with her death.  This book is a real-life mystery by a master of the genre, but more importantly, it is a story of loss and heartbreak written by a mother aching for justice in the death of her young daughter.

Critical Analysis

                       It might be easy to forget that this is a nonfiction book, so expertly is it crafted in the mystery style. Duncan knows how to twist a plot, how to reveal details at the exact right moment so that they shock the reader, how to keep a story so engaging that the pages seem to turn themselves. But the real reason that this book is so compelling and so affecting is that it is not a mystery novel, but a true crime account of a mother searching tirelessly for the killer of her beloved daughter. What the reader is experiencing is not only Duncan’s search, but her grief process.  This book is so deeply personal in its wrenching account of the death, of viewing the body, of her memories of Kaitlyn, it is sometimes just as hard to read as it is to put down.  The prose is as good as anything she has published, and the plot line is indeed straight out of one of her novels.  But there is a depth to this work that is unlike anything else she has done.  Whether the reader is skeptical of her methods (psychics, contacting the spirit of her daughter, etc) is immaterial.  The point is Duncan’s journey, her dedication to the cause.  It is impossible not to hope for a satisfying ending, an answer to the desperate question posed in the title, even though the reader already knows that the case is unsolved.  This book, as beautiful and compelling as it is, is not for the faint of heart.  Duncan’s novels wrap up nicely, no matter how many characters are hurt in the process.  This book’s ending, however, is just as messy and open-ended as the crime itself.

Reader’s Annotation

                              Due to an inept police investigation and a lack of help from law enforcement, Lois Duncan launches an investigation to discover why and by whom her daughter was murdered in July of 1989.

About the Author

                          Lois Duncan, the child of internationally famous photographers, was raised in Sarasota, Florida with one younger brother. Her writing career began basically as soon as she could write. She sold a story at age ten and during her teen years regularly contributed to Seventeen Magazine. As an adult, she taught journalism, wrote, and contributed to a number of reputable magazines such as Good Housekeeping and Redbook. She and her husband had five children, one of whom was tragically murdered and is the subject of her nonfiction book Who Killed My Daughter? Their other four children are all artistic and successful in their own ways.

                          Duncan has written 48 books for children and young adults. She has been honored with many awards, such as the Margaret A. Edwards Award.  Her books have been selected for many best-of lists such as the ALA Best Books for Young Adults and the Junior Literary Guild Selection list.

Genre

        Nonfiction

Challenge Issues

                       Possible challenge issues in this book include depictions of violence and death, religious or supernatural overtones, and disparaging comments about law enforcement.  In the event of a challenge, I would consult the challenge defense file prepared for this book.The challenge defense file would include: positive reviews from credible sources for the purpose of proving merit to the challenger; negative reviews in order to inform me on what might be challenged; a written explanation of my own rationale for including the book in the collection as well as a summary of the plot; the American Library Association Bill of Rights; a review of my branch’s selection policy; and, as a last resort, an explanation of the reconsideration policy for my library and an official reconsideration form.

Curriculum Ties

                        English and Writing: the genres of mystery and nonfiction, and plot structure.

Booktalk

            This book is the tragic story of a real life mystery inflicted upon one of the mystery genre’s most prominent authors.Lois Duncan’s daughter was shot and killed one night and the circumstances surrounding her death are unknown.  This is the story of her search to understand Kaitlyn’s murder and attempt to track down the people who did it, largely without the help of the police.

Reading Level and Interest Age

                                                   Grades 10-12, and beyond.

Why I Included This Book

                                       I absolutely loved Lois Duncan’s books as a teenager. When I found out she had written what was essentially a true crime book about her own life, I located it immediately and read it cover to cover.  I was engrossed in her story, the sad circumstances surrounding Kaitlyn’s death, and a number of scenes that stay with me to this day, such as when they viewed Kaitlyn’s body.  This book will interest teens, not just for its content, but for its relevance as it is written by and about such a prominent young adult author.

References

Duncan, L. (n.d.). Biography. Retrieved from http://loisduncan.arquettes.com/Biography3.htm

My Brother Sam is Dead

Collier, J. L., & Collier, C. (1974). My brother Sam is dead. New York: Four Winds. ISBN 0027229807

Plot Summary

                      Tim Meeker looks up to his smart, strong-willed older brother Sam. But when Sam returns home from college and announces that he will be joining the Rebel army, this news shocks the entire family. They are Anglican and loyal to the British government. Despite his family’s objections, Sam steals his father’s pistol and runs way to fight with the Rebels against the British. Tim, who believes in his brother and longs to emulate his passion and courage, is torn between loyalty to his brother and to his family and the beliefs he was raised to hold. The separation while Sam is away fighting is difficult for everyone. Their father’s growing resentment towards Sam isolates him when he returns home for visits. Conditions take a turn for the worst when their father is kidnapped by Rebels on an errand with Tim and Tim must return home alone to take care of his increasingly depressed mother and the entire household and family tavern. Set against the backdrop of the American Revolution, this story is not only about the history of our country, but about a family and how they cope with opposition and tragedy.

Critical Analysis

                          The strength of this book lies in its ability to show contrast and to tell two sides of a story. The reader is torn along with Tim in some ways. Obviously the Rebels are the favored side, as they fought for freedom from tyranny and oppression, but their brutality is evident in their treatment of the Meeker family and ultimately in Sam’s fate. The British brutality is just as prominent. They storm the village in which Tim’s family lives and take prisoners of war. Tim is a strong and sympathetic character. The reader feels his anxiety at being torn between his headstrong brother and his father. His life becomes increasingly difficult as one fate after another befalls his family. First Sam leaves, making more work for him, and then his father is kidnapped. Tim must work constantly in order to keep his mother and himself afloat. This is a coming of age story for him, as he matures past blindly accepting the values of his family and searches for his own beliefs. The historical aspect of this book is also very important and very well-executed. These authors do not pull any punches in their depiction of war and colony life. The atrocities and hard realities for both soldiers and civilians are not sugar-coated for a younger audience, making this one of the more commonly challenged young adult novels. The beliefs of both sides of the war are made evident through the story – not overtly like a history lesson – so that a reader who is not informed on the American Revolution could pick up this novel and come away both enlightened and entertained by the story.

Reader’s Annotation

                                 Tim is torn between his headstrong brother’s decision to right with the Rebel army during the American Revolution, and his family’s loyalty to Britain. He must make difficult decisions about how to remain true to himself as well as his family while struggling his way through the war.

About the Authors

                              James Lincoln Collier graduated from Hamilton College and shortly afterwards served in the military. Following this, he served as a magazine editor, but always had a passion for writing. He began with children's nonfiction but soon branched out into young adult novels on historical topics, co-authored with his brother, Christopher Collier, who is a historian. My Brother Sam is Dead is the most celebrated book they have written together. Currently he lives in New York and exercises his two passions - writing and playing jazz music on the trombone. He is a father of two.

                              Christopher Collier attended Clark University for his Bachelor's degree and achieved his PhD from Columbia University. He has spent his career as a professor at a variety of colleges, and writing books on American history. Like his brother James, he is also a musician and plays the trumpet and flugelhorn. He and his wife live in Orange, Connecticut, and have three children.

                             The Collier brothers have received many honors both separately and together. My Brother Sam is Dead, authored by both, is a Newbery Honor Books and an ALA Notable Book, and was nominated for a National Book Award. Christopher Collier's books have received such honors as a Pulitzer prize nomination and being named a Notable Trade Book in the field of social studies.

Genre

         Historical – Revolutionary War

Challenge Issues

                           Possible challenge issues in this book include violence and death. In the event of a challenge, I would consult the challenge defense file prepared for this book. The challenge defense file would include: positive reviews from credible sources for the purpose of proving merit to the challenger; negative reviews in order to inform me on what might be challenged; a written explanation of my own rationale for including the book in the collection as well as a summary of the plot; the American Library Association Bill of Rights; a review of my branch’s selection policy; and, as a last resort, an explanation of the reconsideration policy for my library and an official reconsideration form.

Curriculum Ties

                           English and Writing, or History: for English and Writing, point of view, contrast, story arc; for History, the Revolutionary War specifically, American history in general.

Booktalk

             Would you be able to completely rebel against your family’s beliefs and opinions? This is what Sam does when he runs away to join the Rebel army, and his brother Tim is shocked and impressed with his fearlessness. Now Tim has to decide whether to be loyal to his family, who are loyal to the British, or follow in his brother’s radical footsteps.

Reading Level and Interest Age

                                                   Grades 7-12

Why I Included This Book

                                           This is one of my favorite books about the Revolutionary War. As a teenager I responded to it on a deeper level than just reading interest – the idea of rebelling against your family to follow a more modern and mutinous set of beliefs is extremely attractive at this age. Teens are starting to come into themselves, discover and hone their opinions apart from their families, so this book in that way is imminently readable. It is also an accurate and well-written portrayal of an important period of American history, making it doubly important to include in any collection.

References
Christopher Collier, PhD. (2011). Scholastic.com. Retrieved from http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/contributor/christopher-collier-phd



James Lincoln Collier. (2011). Scholastic.com. Retrieved from http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/contributor/james-lincoln-collier

Twilight

Meyer, S. (2005). Twilight. New York: Little, Brown and Co. ISBN 0316038377

Plot Summary

                       Bella Swan makes the decision to move in with her father in Washington when her mother must travel with her stepfather. The small high school community in this constantly rainy town takes an immediate interest in the new girl and Bella, who is naturally shy, is pursued by both boys and potential friends. The only boy who intrigues her, Edward Cullen, seems to find her repellent after sitting next to her in class, and she feels rebuffed. But when a car nearly hits her in the school parking lot and Edward is able to reach her with lightning speed and stop the car with his bare hands, Bella becomes obsessed with finding out what his secret is. Jacob, the son of a family friend, tells her the local urban legends about vampires and werewolves and Bella concludes that Edward is a vampire. When she confronts him with this knowledge, Edward cannot deny it and confesses that he has been staying away from her because the scent of her blood is too appetizing for him, making it dangerous for them to be together. This does not deter Bella at all, who finds herself falling in love with the mysterious and beautiful Edward. Bella must navigate his strange world and the dangers inherent to it, and more and more she realizes the sleepy town of Forks is not what it appears to be at all.

Critical Analysis

                          Literary merit of this book has been hotly contested, as it is both widely loved and widely hated. But the bottom line is, it is compulsively readable, whether you buy into the world Stephanie Meyers has created, or whether you think Bella is a weak and empty character.  Regardless of any of this, Twilight is an absorbing story and the reader is quickly sucked into the drama, rivalry, and romance. It is true that Bella pales in comparison to the strength of the other characters. She is written to be this way: passive, shy, and unsure. These characteristics mate well with Edward’s ferocious strength and protective nature. A more empowered girl would have had difficulty accepting Edward’s limitations and moved on. In this way, Meyers has created a dynamic between the two characters that works well and reads realistically. Edward is a terrific character, struggling with and besting his own nature. This struggle is reawakened in his attraction to Bella’s blood and he must control himself when he is around her. All of his vampiric limitations fortify and electrify the story of their romance – the element of barely controlled urges, of stop and start, of attraction so deep it is literally a hunger. The reader yearns with Bella and Edward. The surrounding story is also very compelling. The werewolves are equally fascinating. The age-old conflict between werewolves and vampires gives Jacob’s rivalry with Edward for Bella’s affection a deeper level of complexity. This story is densely layered with family issues between Bella and her father, romantic impulse and impossible love, conflict and violence between two mythical creatures, and a thrilling race against time at the ending that seems impossible to resolve. The reader will definitely be compelled to continue reading the series.

Reader’s Annotation

                                   Bella is new in town and intrigued by a boy who seems to find her repellent. But when he saves her life in a way that she knows is not possible, she delves into his secret and finds herself caught in a world she never knew existed.

About the Author

                             Stephanie Meyer graduated from Brigham Young with a degree in English. Before her career began just a few years ago, she was a stay-at-home mom who dreamed up a trio of characters and a storyline that she hashed out while her kids were sleeping. She submitted this novel, Twilight, which was picked out of a slush pile for publication and overnight became a sensation. She currently lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and three sons.

                            The success of Twilight was meteoric. Within weeks of being published, it had achieved the number five slot on the New York Times bestseller list. Meyers has won such honors as being named one of the ALA Top Ten Books for Young Adults, Publisher's Weekly Best Book of the Year, and a Teen People "Hot List" pick. The subsequent books in the series received many accolades as well, and the phenomenon only grew as the movies were released.

Genre

         Paranormal/Horror - monsters

Challenge Issues

                          Possible challenge issues in this book include vampires, werewolves, sexual situations, and sacrilegious beliefs. In the event of a challenge, I would consult the challenge defense file prepared for this book. The challenge defense file would include: positive reviews from credible sources for the purpose of proving merit to the challenger; negative reviews in order to inform me on what might be challenged; a written explanation of my own rationale for including the book in the collection as well as a summary of the plot; the American Library Association Bill of Rights; a review of my branch’s selection policy; and, as a last resort, an explanation of the reconsideration policy for my library and an official reconsideration form.

Curriculum Ties

                           English and Writing: use of urban legend/ myth.

Booktalk

              A girl walks unwittingly into a town fraught with tension between two ancient mythical (or so she thought) races – and to top it off, she finds herself embroiled in the conflict and falling in love with one of them. Suddenly she becomes prey and there is a race against time to save her life. This book will absorb your attention so completely that before you know it, you've finished it.

Reading Level and Interest Age

                                                  Grades 9-12.

Why I Included This Book

                                           The most noteworthy characteristic of the Twilight saga is its popularity – and more specifically, how many girls who “aren’t readers” are responding to these books. The high demand for this book, and the way it has contributed to the shockwave of popularity in vampire and other monster books, makes it a no-brainer for a young adult collection.

References
Meyer, S. (n.d.). Bio. Retrieved from http://www.stepheniemeyer.com/bio.html

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Alexie, S., & Forney, E. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. New York: Little, Brown. ISBN 0316068209

Plot Summary

                      Arnold Spirit, a dorky teenager who plays basketball and draws cartoons to help him figure out his world, makes the difficult decision to transfer from the hopelessly underfunded school on the reservation, or “rez,” after a teacher beseeches him to search for more than the limited landscape of his home.  Seen as a sellout by almost everyone he knows, including his rough but loyal best friend Rowdy, and as an oddity by everyone at the new school, Arnold struggles to navigate both worlds.  Meanwhile, it is tragedy and sadness as usual on the rez, and Arnold has to deal with family deaths and rampant alcoholism on top of his more normal school concerns like girls and basketball.  His involvement in these two vastly different communities ultimately comes to a head in the form of a basketball game in which he must compete against his best friend turned rival.  This is a funny and deeply affecting coming of age story that spares no one in its unflinching examination of humanity at its best and worst.

Critical Analysis

                       Sherman Alexie has written a difficult and profound story.  There are cultural observations evident in the comparison of what life is like on the reservation with what life is like on the outside that are not easy to read.  The hopeless alcoholism in Arnold’s family, the careless deaths and suicide, the violence that exists as a daily reality among this community – these are the realities with which he was raised.  His status quo is a nightmare.  When he escapes this world, there is a sense of guilt and betrayal that he must overcome.  The white children in comparison seem to have it so easy, Arnold is completely foreign to them – and they to him.  Their lives could not be more different.  But the beauty of this story lies in Arnold’s eventual discovery that people are people and that it is possible to relate to someone so different from you it seems you came from another planet, if they will only give you the chance.  The tone of this very heavyweight story is comparably light and easygoing.  Arnold is a funny and sharp and endearing character.  Examples of his cartoons peppered throughout the book serve to illustrate how he copes with his difficult life, and as such are both hilarious and touching.  The supporting characters are tragic, resilient, and sometimes heartbreaking.  The reader is dismayed and depressed by Arnold’s home life, but Alexie shows that his family is not simply neglectful, but trapped within their own personal hells.  Rowdy is both good and bad, perfectly complex, definitely not a typical best friend sidekick character.  He poses the most trouble for Arnold, as Rowdy is one of his only allies, for better or worse, and his abandonment is difficult for Arnold to handle.  The setting of the reservation is heartbreakingly clear, even darker and dirtier against the pristine white high school.  The numerous examples of contrast in this book constantly play off of each other and give the reader a very sharply drawn picture of this wonderful character and the complicated world he must navigate.

Reader’s Annotation

                              Arnold Spirit sends shockwaves through his life on the reservation when he makes the decision to transfer to the rich white high school several miles away instead of accepting an inadequate education.  In the face of disapproval and opposition, he must learn how to navigate a completely new world, while remaining in touch with his old one.

About the Author

                           Sherman Alexie was born on the Spokane Indian reservation in Wellpinit, Washington.  He made the conscious decision to further his education beyond what was available on the reservation by transferring to a nearby white high school, just like his character Arnold Spirit from The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.  Also like Arnold, Alexie played basketball, and is now a noted writer on the subject.  He began writing seriously in college and published a volume of poetry after graduating.  Currently he is a founding board member of Longhouse Media, a nonprofit organization that teaches film making to Native American youth.  He lives in Seattle with his wife and their two sons.

                              In addition to his large collection of novels, short stories, and poetry Alexie collaborated with a director on a film adaptation of one of his short stories and created the award-winning Smoke Signals.  He has been honored with many awards for his fiction as well, such as the National Book Award for Young People's Literature, the PEN Faulkner Award, and the PEN Malamud Award for Excellence in the Art of the Short Story, among many others.

Genre

        Contemporary – identity (ethnic/racial)

Challenge Issues

                          Possible challenge issues in this book include violence, alcoholism, drug use, suicide, sex, profanity, and sacrilegious images.  In the event of a challenge, I would consult the challenge defense file prepared for this book.  The challenge defense file would include: positive reviews from credible sources for the purpose of proving merit to the challenger; negative reviews in order to inform me on what might be challenged; a written explanation of my own rationale for including the book in the collection as well as a summary of the plot; the American Library Association Bill of Rights; a review of my branch’s selection policy; and, as a last resort, an explanation of the reconsideration policy for my library and an official reconsideration form.

Curriculum Ties

                       English and Writing: voice, character development, humor, and form (use of cartoons).

Booktalk

            Arnold Spirit finds himself stranded between two worlds and he doesn’t quite fit in either.  He is seen as a traitor to his race by choosing to get a better education at the nearby white high school.  He must find a way to reach his full potential without isolating his family and friends who are content with what they have. His journey to figuring this out is hilarious and heartbreaking and anything but simple.

Reading Level and Interest Age

                                               Grades 9-12.

                                                  

Why I Included This Book

                                       The issues Alexie explores in this novel are profound and unflinching – as evidenced by the numerous challenges leveled against it.  The way in which he explores these issues are hilarious and touching.  This book is not light reading, but it is entertaining enough to keep teens engaged from beginning to end.       

References

Sherman Alexie. (2011). Wikipedia.org. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherman_Alexie

Alexie, S. (2011). Biography.  Retrieved from http://www.fallsapart.com/biography

Izzy, Willy-Nilly

Voigt, C. (1986). Izzy, willy-nilly. New York: Atheneum. ISBN 1416903399

Plot Summary

                       Izzy has a wonderful life.  She is a popular cheerleader with three close girlfriends and when a handsome senior, Marco, asks her on a date, she happily accepts.  But at the party they attend, Marco drinks too much and Izzy gets in the car with him against her better judgment.  There is a terrible accident on the way home caused by Marco’s reckless driving.  When Izzy wakes up in the hospital, she is shocked to learn that one of her legs was so damaged it had to be amputated.  Izzy’s entire life as she knew it is over.  She can no longer be a cheerleader.  Her friends are too uncomfortable to relax around her so they retreat.  The easy confidence she took for granted before the accident has vanished.  Izzy must change everything about her life.  A new friend makes this transition easier – the brash and outcast Rosamunde who is not scared away by Izzy’s trauma – as well as the therapist that helps Izzy come to terms with her disability.  This story is about Izzy’s recovery and the strength she never knew she had, and about the lasting effects pf the choices we make.

Critical Analysis

                            This story addresses a number of heavy issues, such as underage drinking, coping with physical disability, self-esteem, and popularity and acceptance.  Izzy takes her mobility, her social status, and her looks for granted before these things are taken away from her based on a decision she knows she should not have made.  This is a tough lesson to learn.  Izzy deals with deep depression and discouragement following the accident, just as any real teen would.  The pace of this book is somewhat slow and laborious, but this is in keeping with Izzy’s difficult recovery and her reluctance to make peace with her new body.  Despite the pace, however, this is not a slow, dirge-like read.  The story is arresting, Izzy’s plight and her difficulty coming to terms is completely understandable, and Voigt adds in details that make her struggle relatable and memorable.  For example, when Izzy’s parents bring home over sized baby diaper pins to pin up the empty leg of her jeans, Izzy is horrified and humiliated.  This kind of detail resonates with the reader.  The surrounding characters are realistic in their complexity and in their sometimes unlikeable traits.  Izzy’s former friends who are too disturbed by what happened to her to remain close are not likable, but their reaction is one that real teens would have.  Izzy’s well-meaning parents are equally uncomfortable and periodically clueless.  Rosamunde is blunt and annoying at times, but her loyalty and originality shine through, making her a great character and ultimately Izzy’s salvation.  While it is true that this book could be seen as something of a cautionary tale, preaching to young adults about the dangers of underage drinking and getting in the car with a drunk driver, this is not the only or even the main thrust of this novel.  Really this is a story of survival and change, and Izzy’s character far outweighs a hollow morality lesson. 

Reader’s Annotation

                                  Following a terrible accident caused by a drunk driver, Izzy must adjust to the loss of one of her legs.  The easy, trouble-free life she enjoyed before this trauma is gone and it is up to her to make her peace with the changes.

About the Author

                           Cynthia Voigt was born into a family of five children.  During childhood she enjoyed school and excelled in any subjects that  involved reading or writing.  She continued on to college, which she did not enjoy, but graduated on time regardless.  Following this she worked a number of jobs including nanny, office staff, secretary, waitress, and teacher, before finally becoming a full-time writer.  She spends her time writing and being with her children and grandchildren.

                            Voigt has written many books for children and young adults.  One of her most celebrated is Dicey's Song, which was a Newberry Medal winner.  She has won many other awards such as the Margaret Edwards Award, the Young Reader Award, and the Katahdin Award for lifetime achievement.

Genre

        Issues - death, disability and disease (injury)

Challenge Issues

                          Possible challenge issues in this book include underage drinking and drunk driving.  In the event of a challenge, I would consult the challenge defense file prepared for this book.  The challenge defense file would include: positive reviews from credible sources for the purpose of proving merit to the challenger; negative reviews in order to inform me on what might be challenged; a written explanation of my own rationale for including the book in the collection as well as a summary of the plot; the American Library Association Bill of Rights; a review of my branch’s selection policy; and, as a last resort, an explanation of the reconsideration policy for my library and an official reconsideration form.

Curriculum Ties

                        English and Writing: story arc and character development.

Booktalk

             Sometimes one bad decision can echo forever.  That’s what happens to Izzy, when she decides to get in the car with a drunk driver and loses her leg in a terrible accident.  Think about how you would cope if suddenly you were unable to do the things you used to do, all the things you take for granted.  Izzy has to start her life over in many basic ways and there is nothing easy about it, but she gains a great deal from her struggles.

Reading Level and Interest Age

                                               Grades 7-11.

                                                  

Why I Included This Book

                                       I remember reading this book and how different it was from anything I had read before.  Certain details stayed with me forever – like Izzy's embarrassment at having to use diaper pins with pastel plastic animal heads on them to pin up her empty pants leg.  While it’s true that this does read like a morality tale, it is deeper than simply a lesson for teens to avoid drunk driving.  Izzy  is a sympathetic character and teens will relate to her struggle and maybe, just maybe, think twice before they get in the car with a drunk driver or get behind the wheel themselves.        

References
Voigt, C. (n.d.). Author biography. Retrieved from http://www.cynthiavoigt.com/biography.php

Voigt, C. (n.d.). Books by Cynthia Voigt. Retrieved from http://www.cynthiavoigt.com/books.php