Dear Author letters of hope

Picture retrieved from: http://flit.hubpages.com/hub/Dear-Author-Letters-of-Hope
Chapter Book: Yes         Genre: Non Fiction

Kaywell, J. (2007).  Dear author letters of hope. New York: Penguin Group.ISBN 978-1-101-04279-3. $12.47

     Dear Author letters of hope is a compilation of letters to young adult literature authors from their readers expressing gratitude for the books they wrote. All of the letters were about challenges young adults face such as suicide, drug abuse, sexual abuse and self-mutilation. That’s not to say that these are the only types of books these authors write however; those topics just happened to be the focus of this particular book. Some of the authors were, Cherie Bennet, Lois Duncan, Rodman Philbrick, Laurie Halse Anderson, Chris Crutcher and Christopher Paul Curtis.

     Dear Author letters of hope is a unique book in that not only do the readers write the authors but the authors actually take the time to write back. Moreover in their responses the authors are very candid about what their motivation was for writing the books and in most instances some of the authors wrote about their own experiences or experiences of someone very close to them. For example a reader wrote author Cherie Bennett about how she was overweight and had been teased by her peers and the devastating affect it was having in her life. As it would happen in her younger years Cherie Bennett faced that same challenge of being overweight and she explained how she overcame the negativity of the situation. Lois Duncan encourages her reader to get help from a suicide support group. Letter after letter each author displays a very caring and understanding show of emotions towards their readers.

     Now I must be candid and admit that this was my first complete reading of an e-book and what has taken me so long are the pros and cons of reading an e-book. The challenge I have with reading an e-book in its entirety is not being able to turn physical pages. The pros are that the book seemed shorter to read for lack of a better word. I thought the book was very well written and I would recommend this book for young adult readers ages 14 and above. I believe Dear Author letters of hope is a good tool for young people facing challenges mentioned earlier in those particular areas as well as their support system with regards to understanding how to help. In addition, the book offers a wide range of helpful websites and hotlines such as: The Abuse Hotline 1-800-422-4453.        

Sofi Mendoza's Guide to Getting Lost in Mexico

Picture retrieved from http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/563483.Sofi_Mendoza_s_Guide_to_Getting_Lost_in_Mexico

Chapter Book: Yes      Genre: Realist Fiction

Alegria, M. (2007). Sofi mendoza’s guide to getting lost in mexico. New York: Simon Pulse. ISBN-13: 978-0-689-87811-4. $8.99.

     The book Sofi Mendoza’s Guide to Getting Lost in Mexico, is about a young lady who was born in America to Mexican parents. All of her life she was raised as an American. While in high school she falls head over heels in love with a white boy named Nick. All she could think of was that when they finished school, they would get married, have the American dream and live happily ever after.  During the last days of her senior year in high school she and a group of friends decided to go to Mexico to party to celebrate before their graduation. Of course Nick would be there, so against her parents’ wishes and her better judgment she just had to go, but while in Mexico she discovers that Nick does not feel the same way, so Sofi and her friends decide to leave early. On their way back home to America, when they get to the boarder she discovers that her green card is a fake document and that she must stay in Mexico with her relatives and that is where her journey begins.

     The author Malin Alegria, wrote this story based on the real-life story of Martha and Carmelia Luna from Santa Paula, California. They were denied reentry into the United States after visiting TJ for an afternoon (p. vii).  Sofi Mendoza’s Guide to Getting Lost in Mexico takes place in San Inocente, California. The story begins with Sofi being the typical teen feeling as if her parents are too strict, they do not understand her and as soon as she graduates from high school she is leaving home going to live on campus at USC where she will be able to do whatever she wants. Her parents are hardworking Mexicans who left Mexico a long time ago in search of fulfilling the American dream for themselves and their daughter. After disobeying her parents Sofi realizes that she may have to spend the rest of her life with her relatives in Mexico. Just as Cinderella has universal application, the same is true for the Wizard of Oz. In the story the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy felt as if she was trapped in Kansas but after being in the world all alone she realized that there was no place like home.

     There were no illustrations in Sofi Mendoza’s Guide to Getting Lost in Mexico however; the author was very vivid in her story telling. I thought the book was very well written and it captured my total attention. I would highly recommend this book for teens ages 14 and above. While reading Sofi Mendoza’s Guide to Getting Lost in Mexico, the ups and downs and struggles Sofi’s family faced in their quest to find the American dream, reminded me of a book I am reading called The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabelle Wikerson. It is an epic story about the migration of black families from the South to the North. One of the greatest stories ever told about how people left one part of America with nothing to live out the American dream and actually accomplished their goal.

Picture retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/31/books/31book.html?_r=1

See pictures of the characters from Amazon’s website.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0679444327/ref=rdr_ext_tmb

Frankenstein

Picture retrieved from: http://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Graphic-Revolve-Mary-Shelley/dp/1598898868/ref=sr_1_7?s=booksHYPERLINK "http://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Graphic-Revolve-Mary-Shelley/dp/1598898868/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330303705&sr=1-7"&HYPERLINK "http://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Graphic-Revolve-Mary-Shelley/dp/1598898868/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330303705&sr=1-7"ie=UTF8HYPERLINK "http://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Graphic-Revolve-Mary-Shelley/dp/1598898868/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330303705&sr=1-7"&HYPERLINK "http://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Graphic-Revolve-Mary-Shelley/dp/1598898868/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330303705&sr=1-7"qid=1330303705HYPERLINK "http://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Graphic-Revolve-Mary-Shelley/dp/1598898868/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330303705&sr=1-7"&HYPERLINK "http://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Graphic-Revolve-Mary-Shelley/dp/1598898868/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1330303705&sr=1-7"sr=1-7

Chapter Book: No     Genre: Graphic Novel

Burgan, M., Callero, D. (2008). Mary shelley’s frankenstein. Minnesota: Stone arch Books. ISBN 978-1-59889-830-9.  $6.95.

     The book Frankenstein is a gothic science fiction novel about a young man Victor Frankenstein, who desires to become a great scientist by perfecting human existence and in his zeal, goes too far and creates a monster that he cannot control. The monster goes on a journey leaving death and destruction in his path. Victor must find the monster and destroy him before it is too late. This book was written in the nineteenth century by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley 1797 -1851, and is retold by Michael Burgan as a graphic novel.

     Can a human being be brought back to life after he has been dead long enough for decomposition to set in? Who are we? Where do we come from? And what are we really made of? Those are just a few questions I’m sure Victor Frankenstein asked himself time and time again until one day he determined to find the answers. The story Frankenstein begins somewhere near the Arctic Circle where Captain Robert Walton and his seamen and their ship are trapped on the ice. While there they see what seems to be unreal, a creature of some sorts was traveling through the night and a half dead man chasing behind him. Captain Walton and his men rescue the half dead man. He is revived and begins to tell a story so fantastic that you would have to see it to believe it. Unlike the original version that had no illustrations, the graphic novel tends to take away the mystery of your imagination. However, Burgan stayed true to the story line therefore I think the graphic novel was very well written and lends itself to an even wider reader base. I would recommend this book for readers 14 years old and above.

     After reading Frankenstein I remembered a book I read called The Adoration of Jenna Fox. It is a story about a teenage girl who died in an automobile accident and after death her parents brought her back to life not considering all of the drama she went through after discovering that she was only ten percent. Books of this nature even through science fiction have good arguments for the pros and cons of cloning and stem cell research. 

Picture retrieved from:                                                                                                       http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1902241.The_Adoration_of_Jenna_Fox

Thirteen Reasons Why

 

 




                                 Picture retrieved from:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/159514188X/ref=dp_otherviews_0?ie=UTF8&s=books&img=0_0?ie=UTF8&s=books&img=0

Chapter Book:  Yes    Genre: Fiction

Asher, J. (2007). Thirteen reasons why. New York: Penguin Group. ISBN: 978-1-59514-171-2. $11.25.

     Thirteen Reasons Why is a very haunting tale about a young lady who commits suicide after being rumored about and bullied by her peers. However, before she commits the act of suicide she leaves behind thirteen reasons why. The author Jay Asher said that the inspiration of this writing came from one of his very own family members who were the main character’s age. The story takes place in a town that is a composite of the two cities where the author grew up in and around California (p.296).  Although this story is labeled fiction, it deals with a very non-fictional problem that plagues a high number of teens today.

     Imagine that you wake up and begin to start you daily routines. You’re off to work or school, you step outside you door, and there is a package addressed to you with no return address. You open the package with excitement only to learn that someone you know has committed suicide and left you all of the details as to why they did it and is forcing you to share that information with others. Well that’s what happened to young Clay Jensen. One of his friends, a girl he very much admired but could never express his feelings to name Hannah Baker did that very deed. She left Clay several tapes naming the people she felt was responsible for her decision and demanded from the grave that he share those tapes with them. 

     While reading Thirteen Reasons Why I began to remember that this time last year one on my students committed suicide after being bullied on face book. I cannot help but wonder if he felt like Hannah, alone, scared, misunderstood. I looked back in my memory to see if he showed in telling signs and the only thing I remember is that the week before he committed the act, he cleaned out his locker. Although there were no illustrations in the book, the author very vividly describes every scene. I have very mixed feelings about the book however, I thought it was very well written and unfortunately it is a subject matter that we must give attention to. I would recommend this book for teens 14 and above with a lot of group discussion.

     After reading Thirteen Reasons Why if you are interested in books that deal head on with teen disorders you might find Winter Girls interesting by Laurie Halse Anderson. This story is about eating disorders and its deadly affects. So many of our teens suffer in silence but hopefully after reading these books we as adults will be brave enough to ask why and how can we help.

Picture retrieved from http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5152478-wintergirls

My Young Adult Literature Reading List

#	GENRE	TITLE	AUTHOR	YEAR 2007 -present
1	Nonfiction	A.      Zero to Breakthrough B.      Black and  White	Vernice Armour Larry D. Brimner	2011 2011
2	Realistic Fiction	13 Reasons Why	Jay Asher	2007
3	Graphic novel	A.      Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein B.      Gettysburg	Michael Burgan C.M. Butzer	2008 2009
4	Non-Western setting	A.      Drawing From Memory B.      Sofi Mendoza’s Guide to getting lost in Mexico	Allen Say Malin Alegria	2011 2008
5	e- book (Playaway, audio, Kindle, …)	A.      Dear Author B.      Not Just Black or White	Joan F. Kaywell Katie Jayne	2007 2009
6	Fantasy	A.  Ship Breaker B.  The Hunger Games	Paolo Bacigalupi Suzanne Collins	2010 2008
7	Short Story Collection	A.      You Don’t  Even Know Me B.      Rain Plays Barefoot	Sharon Flake Jennifer Steen	2010 2011
8	2011 or 2012 Award-Winner: Printz, Sibert, Morris, Alex, Edwards, Schneider, Batchelder, or Belpre	A.      Where Things Come Back B.      Big Girl Small	John Whaley Rachel Dewoskin	2011 2011
9	Film adapted from a work of young adult literature	A.      The Hunger games B.      The Help

Zero to Breakthrough

Picture retrieved from: http://ebookstore.sony.com/ebook/vernice-flygirl-armour/zero-to-breakthrough/_/R-400000000000000369980

Chapter Book: Yes Genre: Non-Fiction

Armour, V. (2011). Zero to breakthrough. New York: Gotham Books.

ISBN: 978-1-592-40624-1   $25.00

     The book Zero to Breakthrough is written by Captain Vernice Armour (Ret. USMC) the first African-American female combat pilot; and is about her many accomplishments as a female athlete, the first female African-American on Nashville’s motorcycle police squad, and as a member of the San Diego SunFire professional women’s football team. In her book she highlights six Zero to Breakthrough strategies that will help you find your purpose and keep your passion about whatever it is you believe you are meant to do in this life. She has become a well know motivational speaker in high demand.

     Have you ever read a book that was so interesting that you did not want to put it down? Well that’s exactly what happened when I read Zero to Breakthrough. The author of the book takes you on a journey filled with excitement and intrigue. From her first pony ride, to her long drive from Columbus, Ohio to Nashville Tennessee, to the very hostile environment of Iraq. It is very clear to me that Captain Armour is a very intelligent woman just from her life accomplishments alone. And yet, the book is written in a very clear simplistic format. I love the way she connects each adventure to her military training. There are no illustrations however, the story is told so precise that you can see vividly every detail. One incident in particular that stood out was the time when she was in Iraq and had to save the lives of a squad of Marines and soldiers who were pinned down by mortar fire. The mission was a success and when she returned home she went to get a check-up and standing in line waiting to be seen as well was one of the Marines whose life she saved. Through their conversation they realized their connection to each other and celebrated their survival in a joyous manner. I celebrated with them as though I was there. That’s just one of the reasons I highly recommend this book. It is well suited for Young Adult Readers and above.

     After reading Zero to Breakthrough, if you like reading books about the Iraqi war you might be interested in Sunrise Over Fallujah written by Walter Dean

Myers. That book is about a young man’s experience in the war in Iraq and all of the challenges and successes he faced.

Picture retrieved from:  http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9780439916240-4

Film adapted work

Hello everyone, did we confirm that we will view the movie  The Hunger Games?