Week 3 - Getting Acquainted with YA Books and Writing

   

Getting Acquainted with YA Books and Writing

This newsletter and the next two weeks will focus on various books and authors that will facilitate adding books to your READING lists. I hope some of these recommendations will help you expand your knowledge of books for upper elementary readers.

Classics VS Contemporary

Often our classrooms settle into using the same tried and true classics as assigned reading.  We need to start taking a look at the wisdom of that.  Times have changed, often we perpetuate racial or cultural stereotypes -- and there are books that accomplish the goal while presenting a more relatable and accurate picture of the era involved.  This article is a must read.

SLJ Review Editors. (2020 May28). Reading alternatives to three problematic classics.  SLJ School Library Journal.  Retrieved from https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=reading-alternatives-to-three-problematic-classics-racist-books

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Brian Selznick 

The Inventions of Hugo Cabret made headlines in the world of literature when it was named the Caldecott Award book in 2008, then came Wonderstruck that was released to great acclaim. In 2015 Selznick's The Marvels was released. In 2017, Wonderstruck took center stage again when a discussion about casting for a new movie based on the book caused a stir in the media world.
This is a topic open for debate. Comments?
 Keegan, Rebecca. (18 May 2017) Julianne Moore on the "Incredible Privilege" of Playing a Deaf Role in Wonderstruck. Vanity Fair. (WEB) http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/05/julianne-moore-wonderstruck-cannes-interview

READ

Read and share books for middle school and high school /readers. In addition to full-length novels such as Wonderstruck by Selznick,  you might also read and share poetry, biographies, and information books meant for this age level -- all types of books.  The more you read the more knowledgeable you become. The amount you are able to read will depend somewhat on the length of those books - obviously early chapter books will take less time than a book such as the novels by Brian Selznick.

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Using a Selznick Picture Books with Older Readers 

Selznick has a 2018 release of a picture book that was often mentioned as a contender for the 2019 Caldecott Award. You may quickly dismiss a picture book as reading material for secondary students but don't overlook the potential of using picture books with older readers. This book by Selznick alludes to other of Selznick's books and historical occurrences - all detailed in "Key to Baby Monkey's Office."  Consider using the book to challenge older readers to create the "key" to each chapter/case on their own. And then challenge them to incorporate some similar references, in writing or illustrations, into their own writing.
Selznick, Brian. 2018 and Serlin, David. (2018) Baby Monkey, Private Eye. Illustrated by Brian Selznick. Scholastic Press.
A reviewer for School Library Journal aptly includes information about literary allusions to previous books - references that will go above the head of the very youngest of audiences but the title will be a great starting point, for using with older readers, to discuss these references and their relationship to the novels.

"PreS-Gr 1—Selznick and Serlin take the easy reader format to new creative heights. Baby Monkey may be a baby (and a monkey) but he has a full-time job as a private eye. Baby Monkey solves five cases (one for each chapter) by looking carefully for visual clues. Full-page illustrations facing single, simple, and often repetitive sentences in an oversized typeface make this ideal for emerging readers. The sharp pacing and charming humor also make it an excellent read-aloud choice. Selznick's signature black-and-white drawings—his noir-like style here played up to full effect—invite readers to linger and look carefully. With each case, the framed paintings and various bric-a-brac decorating Baby Monkey's well-appointed office changes. Hidden clues and jokes abound, as in "The Case of the Missing Spaceship," wherein the opening two-page spread shows a framed poster of A Trip to the Moon (a hat tip to devoted Selznick fans), an image of Apollo 13, a portrait of Galileo Galilei, and a bust of John F. Kennedy. Will most of these references sail over the heads of the intended audience? Perhaps. But the story works just as well without them, and Selznick and Serlin take pains to make sure young readers have enough information to look them up if they are so inclined; the "Key to Baby Monkey's Office" in the back matter lists each visual reference by chapter/case. A running gag about Baby Monkey forgetting to wear—and struggling to put on—pants will have readers cracking up. In the very last case, the primate private eye jumps into the loving arms of his mom and takes a well-earned nap. VERDICT A delightful easy reader that is as funny as it is elegant. This will be enjoyed equally by youngsters and their grown-ups.—Kiera Parrott, School Library Journal"

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Trent Reedy 

Trent Reedy is a veteran of the Afghan war. (http://www.trentreedy.com).  Prior to going to war he was teaching in Iowa. He loved books and reading and writing. While he was in Afghanistan his wife sent him a copy of Katherine Paterson's Bridge to Terabithia. Find out more about Paterson and her books at http://www.katherinepaterson.com). Reedy read the book and was very moved ... read the rest of the background about Paterson and Reedy's friendship in this article: Pollak, S. (2014 Feb 23) Soldier finds lifeline in letter exchange with Vermont author. Retrieved from http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/life/2014/02/23/soldier-finds-lifeline-in-letter-exchange-with-vermont-author/5659977/.

Words in the Dust

Reedy's first book written while a student in Vermont was Words in the Dust. His second, Stealing Air.
Reedy, Trent. Words in the Dust. Arthur A. Levine Books. 2011. 272 p.
Reedy, Trent. Stealing Air. Arthur A. Levine Books. 2012. 288 p.

My favorite remains Words in the Dust but Reedy has now gone on to write a trilogy regarding war in the United States.

This sentence aptly sums up where this trilogy is going "I am Private First Class Daniel Christopher Wright, I am seventeen years old, and I fired the shot that ended the United States of America."

Reedy, Trent. Divided We Fall Book 1: Divided We Fall.Arthur A. Levine Books. 2014. 384 p
Reedy, Trent. Divided We Fall Book 2: Burning Nation. Arthur A. Levine Books. 2015. 432 p.
Reedy, Trent. Divided We Fall Book 3: The Last Full Measure. Arthur A. Levine Books. 2016. 464 p.

From the publisher:

"In a YA trilogy like no other, Trent Reedy has raised the most primal questions of our national existence: Do we owe our greatest loyalty to our friends? Our state? Our country? Our party? How do we reconcile our individual rights and common needs? What keeps us all united -- and what happens if we fall apart? Now, in this third book, the Second Civil War has come to an end in Idaho. The Feds have taken the fight to other fronts, and Danny and his friends are free of U.S. dominance. But that freedom comes with considerable costs, from Danny's disturbing flashbacks to the war, to the Brotherhood of the White Eagle, whose "security" for Freedom Lake looks more like outright thuggery. After Danny makes a shocking discovery about the Brotherhood's final aims, he and his friends lead a group of townspeople on a dangerous journey across a ravaged Idaho, hoping to build a better society of their own, and fulfill the dreams they had in what once was the United States."

Reedy's newest title is Gamer Army. It is a different type of book - this one delving into the world of science fiction. Watch a trailer of this dynamic new title on Trent Reedy's site at https://trentreedy.com/#foobox-1/0/QKSs7m7DD3g.

Reedy, Trent. (2019). Gamer Army. Scholastic/Levine.

And just announced in June 2020

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Bill Konigsberg

Konigsberg, Bill. The Porcupine of Truth. Arthur A. Levine Books. 2015. 336 p. ISBN: 978-0-545-64893-6. Carson has been estranged from his father for years but now he is headed to Billings, Montana to help his mom take care of his father. His father is a dying alcoholic - and Carson barely knows him. While in Billings Carson meets a runaway teen, Aisha Stinson, who is escaping from her dysfunctional family; and he meets Pastor John Logan, who holds a 30-year-old secret about Carson's grandfather who disappeared long ago. Together the two teens set out to find a "porcupine of truth" -- and manage to have an epic journey. Konigsberg has written other books as well ... search his website at https://billkonigsberg.com/books/ to find out more about the author and about his other books.

 If you visit his website you most certainly will find out that Konigsberg does not shy away from aghast topics and hits them head on. His 2019 title The Music of What Happens is destined to be a very popular read. You can learn more about that book on his website - https://billkonigsberg.com/books/ .
But before you delve into specific titles you must read this blog entry that shines a light on why specific books are so important to LGBTQ youth.
 Read: "Proud Fierce Papa Bear" -- The Speech, on his blog Bill Konigsberg Online. His speech is available at https://billkonigsberg.com/2018/11/19/proud-fierce-papa-bear-the-speech/.

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Historical Fiction or Biography 

 Lee, Stacey. Under a Painted Sky. G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers. 2015. 384 p. ISBN: 978-0-399-16803-1.
Young women do not travel the Oregon Trail without family. So Samantha and Annamae are forced to pose as boys and hide from the law (1849).

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Emily Arnold McCully 

McCully is noted for her accurate and spell-binding look at history - sometimes in the form of biographies and sometimes historical fiction.
Ida Minerva Tarbell
 A biography that sheds light on a great person (biography) but also provides much information regarding the era that gave rise to big business. McCully, Emily Arnold. (2014) Ida M. Tarbell: The Woman Who Challenged Big Business.– and Won. Clarion.

A Promising Life: Coming of Age with America: A Novel shares a fictionalized account (historical fiction) of Jean Baptiste, the infant son of Sakakawea and Toussaint who were both part of the Lewis and Clark expedition. When Baptiste's parents gave him up to Captain Clark who offered to "raise this 'beautiful and promising child' as his own son" Baptiste was propelled into two worlds - McCully's fictional account of his life spins a fascinating look at Baptiste's life. McCully, Emily Arnold. (2017). A Promising Life: Coming of Age with America: A Novel. Scholastic/Levin, 2017.

She Did It: 21 Women who changed the way we think

McCully's 2018 publication features biographies of 21 talented women who have made a significant impact on America's culture. The book has been described as being an "...insightful look at 21 women who left a legacy of inspiration introduces readers to ... inspiring figures." Among those featured are: Barbara Gittings, Patsy Takemoto Mink, and Shirley Chisholm, Jane Addams, Barbara Gittings and Dolores Huerta, and Ethel Percy Andrus, Rachel Carson, and Grace Hopper among others.

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History through Person Experiences - Japanese Internment

This episode in our US History is often relegated to a very few words in a standard textbook World War II narrative.  This 2019 book is a book that will bring a face to the Japanese Internment period - a blot on our history that is often ignored.
Warren, Andrea. (2019) Enemy Child: The Story of Normal Mineta, A Boy Imprisoned in a Japanese American Internment Camp During World War II. Margaret Ferguson Books/Holiday House.
A list of more books (including picture books about the era) can be found at:
McBookwords. (2019) World War II - Picture Books and More.  Retrieved at https://www.mcelmeel.com/teacher/curriculum/picturebooks_WWII.html.

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Mental Illness 

Green, John. (2017) Turtles All the Way Down. Dutton Books for Young Readers.

Described by USA Today as “A thoughtful look at mental illness and a debilitating obsessive-compulsive disorder that doesn’t ask but makes you feel the constant struggles of its main character. . . . Turtles explores the definition of happy endings, whether love is a tragedy or a failure, and a universal lesson for us all: ‘You work with what you have.’”

• Schantz, Sarah Elizabeth. (2015). Fig. Margaret K. McElderry Books. 352 p. ISBN: 978-1-481-42358-8. -- Fig and her entire family are impacted by this story of mental illness. Fig wishes for a life where she is loved - in return for the love and devotion that she offers her schizophrenic mother. 
•  Voigt, Cynthia. (1982) Dicey’s Song. Atheneum. — Dicey at 13 is the oldest sibling and must take care of Sammy, Maybeth, James when Momma abandons te four siblings in a mall parking lot. Later she was traced to an asylum where she lay unrecognizing, unknowing, she left her four children no choice but to get on by themselves. The children make their way to their grandmother's rundown farm on the Maryland shore. But the story is just starting.
•  Jacobson, Jennifer. (2011) Small as an Elephant. Candlewick. -- Ever since Jack can remember, his mom has been unpredictable, sometimes loving and fun, other times caught in a whirlwind of energy and ”spinning” wildly until it’s over. Jack, like Dicey in Voigt's book, finds himself abandoned and left to do for himself. 

 These are classic titles that would serve well as collaborative reads. (see list below).  Schantz's Fig title is rather recent. Richardson's title is a little easier to read and as such would provide some opportunities for differentiating an assignment - - ask readers to keep a reader's journal - If you have 30 minutes that you can allocate each day for this activity - read 2/3 of the allotted time; respond in writing 1/3 of the time -- and one day a week each student should review their reader's journal and be prepared to discuss what they have gleaned so far from reading their book.
 It will not matter which book the students are reading -- the discussion can take place with the entire class sharing their ideas.
Questions to jump start each week's discussion:

1.  What are you learning about living with mental illness? 
2.  How does the illness impact the ill person; and how does the illness impact family members? 
3.  How does the author of your book help readers understand the impact? 
4.  Do you think you are beginning to understand mental illness a little better -- why or why not? 
5.  What techniques is your author using to move readers to the position where the author wants you to be?

These are some newer book titles to explore -- 
Miss You Love You Hate You Bye by Abby Sher (Farrar, Staus and Biroux, 2020)
Just Breathe by Cammie McGovern (Harper Teen , 2020)

Along with the titles mentioned above you might be interested in this list which adds titles to some of those mentioned:

Reidel, K.N. (n.d.) 12 kid-approved middle grade books that tackle mental health.  Brightly: Raise Kids Who Love to Read. (blog) Retrieved from
https://www.readbrightly.com/kid-approved-middle-grade-books-mental-health.

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Rodman Philbrick

Several years back, I was invited to speak at the Virginia Educational Media Association (VEMA) conference and during the conference I was fortunate enough to be able to hear Rodman Philbrick -- wish you had all been there but thought you might be interested in a summary.
Rodman Philbrick is an interesting author.

Picture a longshore man, carpenter, -- a man who loved mysteries and who had been writing since 5th or 6th grade. Along the way, at about age 50 he thought he would try his hand at writing mysteries, he did and was marginally successful -- he had been writing seriously since he was 16 years old. Nobody would buy a book from him. He wrote for 11 years without even getting a marginally positive rejection letter.
Eventually he did get published in the adult market. He fashioned himself as a mystery/suspense writer which he was -- but only marginally successful. Then one day he was at a conference and got this idea for a story - -a story that was really precipitated by his meeting of a young man who had been brilliant, small in stature, friends with a big guy who sometimes carried this slightly physically handicapped guy on his shoulders. This young man -- had been, first sighted by Rodman years before when he observed him and his large friend in the small town where they grew up. One day Rodman's family was invited to dinner at the young man's house and he met the young man face-to-face. He was brilliant. They came to know one another but then the young man died too young -- age 22. Rodman was driving back to his home one night with his wife, and suddenly the characters came to him -- he started writing but alas a scream brought him back to reality -- HE WAS DRIVING. His wife suggested he pull over, she continued to drive and he continued to write down his first few paragraphs.

Do you know the book yet?

Freak the Mighty is now a classic title associated with Philbrick.
The writing of the book went much faster than he thought -- he even put aside a suspense novel he was writing (an adult book as that is all he was writing). This new book was a YA voice, it was a ya book. But now Philbrick had no agent. His adult agent had been "let go." He only knew adult editors -- no one who dealt with children's/YA books. But then he thought of Kathryn Lasky - a writer friend who he sometimes met at adult writer's conferences. He knew she also wrote in the children's market. He called her up, half thinking she would be insulted that he would think he could write a children's/ya book. But he called, she didn't laugh. She reminded him of an editor they both had met -- and Kathryn knew well, at the last conference. The editor had mentioned a particular book that she had liked of Philbrick's. Kathryn offered to call her -- she did and the editor called Rodman back within 8 hours. She said send the manuscript FEDEX and she would read the mss on the plane to California. He did, she did, and when she landed in California she called with an offer to publish his book -- he knew he was going to be a YA author -- things were changing.

By now you might have guessed that the book is Freak the Mighty, first published by Scholastic in 1993, with many reprints and still in print. Philbrick is still writing more than 24 years --  recent titles from Philbrick include The Big Dark (Blue Sky Press, 2016) and Wildfire (Blue Sky Press, 2019).
Find out more about Rodman Philbrick and his books on his website at http://www.rodmanphilbrick.com/.

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Graphic Novels - a Format NOT a genre.

And before you leave this section - I must remind you that all of these subjects, and all genres might be presented in the traditional format that you are most accustomed to reading or in a graphic novel format.  I thought I would share with you this graphic (shared with permission) about reasons for reading graphic novels. (Click on the graphic for a larger version).

Laura Halse Anderson's classic title Speak, has been reimagined as a graphic novel and has been released by FSG, 2018.

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End of Week 3 newsletter