Telgemeier, R., & Yue, S. (2015). Smile. NY, NY: Graphix.
Summary: Raina’s sixth grade year starts out tough when an innocent accident leaves her missing her two front teeth, but things only continue to get worse. Her friends tease her, she has to visit different doctors for her teeth all the time, and it really starts to take a toll on her self esteem. Read how Raina deals with the daily challenges of transitioning from a pre-teen to a teen and finally learns to smile.
Strengths & Connections To The Text: The textbook touches on how graphic novels aren’t kiddy books just because they have pictures. This book is a great example of how that statement is absolutely true. The readers can learn so much from this book and how to end bad friendships, deal with changes in their physical appearance, and making the most out of your middle and high school experience. As someone who personally felt very uncomfortable about getting braces, this would be a nice comforter to hand kids who may feel insecure about their braces as well.
Connections:
Pixton- A Site Where Students Can Create Their Own Comics
Alexie, S., & Forney, E. (2015). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian. London: Andersen Press.
Summary: Junior was born with too much water around his brain, he’s the center of constant bullying on the reservation, and things just get worst when he decides to transfer to Reardan, a mostly white school located outside of the reservation. His best friend, Rowdy, won’t speak to him, his sister runs away from home to get married, and the overwhelming epidemic of alcoholism continues to take the lives of the people on the reservation. Junior’s quirky personality makes journey that much more beautiful and a bittersweet joy to read.
Strengths & Connection To The Text: The author does a phenomenal job of incorporating a variety of themes and subject in this book. One of the subjects that I rarely see written about in young adult literature is alcoholism. Since it is a major issue on the reservation it keeps arising and we get a very uncensored insight to all the destruction it can cause. There are so many teaching points and discussion topics loaded in this book that could connect with a reader on a many different levels, from developing empathy, morals, and learning to get along with peers.
Connections:
ANDERSON, L. H. (2018). SPEAK. S.l.: FARRAR, STRAUS & GIROUX.
Summary: The start of Melinda’s high school reputation is ruined when she calls the police at a high school party her and her friend Rachel attend over the summer. Everyone treats her like an outcast. Her friends abandon her, the new girl, Heather, stops speaking to her, and Melinda falls into a deep depression. Although Melinda had a good reason to call 911 at the party, she never speaks up and says why she called until her former friend starts dating Andy, Melinda’s rapist.
Strengths & Connections To The Text: Through different characters perspectives, Andy is a protagonist and Melinda is the antagonist in the story since she’s the one that called the police at the party. Though the reader knows that Melinda is the protagonist, we still have to read through her suffering while Andy lives a guilt free life. While Rachel, is a former friend that abandoned Melinda, her dating Andy is what pushes Melinda to finally speak up. Protecting a former friend shows the character of Melinda and reveals a compassionate human nature that adolescent readers should see.
Connections:
Satrapi, M. (2005). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood. Pantheon Books.
Summary: Marjane Satrapi, the author, shares her personal story of growing up in Iran in graphic novel format. A divergent perspective allows us to see a more personalized view of the effects of the Islamic Revolution on the people, government, and religion through the eyes of a child/preteen.
Strengths & Connection To The Text: Another graphic novel that’s far from kiddy. While reading this book I felt as though I was looking out into a window of a world that I couldn’t imagine. From the bombs, raids, and death the pictures helped me to visually imagine what the author was experiencing without being too graphic in a way that would be hard for me to continue reading the book.
Connections:
Green, J. (2015). The fault in our stars. London: Penguin.
Summary: Hazel Grace and Augustus meet at a cancer support group and instantly have make a connection with their witty back and forth banter. Hazel Grace is hesitant to start a relationship with Augustus due to her sensitive condition and Augustus being in remission, but Augustus insists. This amusing story is full of surprises, humor, and pure love.
Strengths & Connections To The Text: There’s no deus ex machina in this novel as it ends in an unfavorable way to most. Though it’s not an ideal ending, it stays true to the style of the story. I would consider the repeated use of the word “okay” a motif in this novel as it reinforces the theme and symbolism a sense of peace and acceptance between both characters.
Connections:
Garden, N. (2013). Annie on my mind. New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux.
Summary: Liza and Annie meet at a local museum in New York and become friends despite their different backgrounds. As their friendship develops, the two girls share their first kiss and begin to question their sexual orientation. After a school administrator catches the girls together, Liza decides to end things but Annie is always on her mind throughout college. Will the girls ever reunite or was this just an experimental high school stage?
Strengths and Connections To The Text: Considering the year that this book was first published, 1982. I can imagine the impact that it had on students who may have been struggling with their sexuality. At that time there were not many books out about being gay and this text more than likely was relatable for many girls and assisted with the shaping of morals as they decided to stray away from what society deems as acceptable.
Connections:
Interview With Author
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