Young Adult Literature - Unbroken: 13 Stories starring Disabled Teens

 

Bibliographic Data: Nijkamp, Marieke. 2018.

Unbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. ISBN: 9780374306502

Plot Summary:

This anthology explores disability in fictional tales told from the viewpoint of disabled characters, written by disabled creators. With stories in various genres about first loves, friendship, war, travel, and more, Unbroken will offer today's teen readers a glimpse into the lives of disabled people in the past, present, and future.

The contributing authors are award winners, bestsellers, and newcomers including Kody Keplinger, Kristine Willis, Francisco X. Stork, William Alexander, Corinne Duyvis, Marieke Nijkamp, Dhonielle Clayton, Heidi Heilig, Katherine Locke, Karuna Riazi, Kayla Whaley, Keah Brown, and Fox Benwell. Each author identifies as disabled along a physical, mental, or neurodiverse axis—and their characters reflect this diversity.

Critical Analysis:

Unbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens is a fiction anthology including short stories in multiple genres—fantasy (including a science fiction selection) and contemporary and historical realistic—and forms. Each story is written from the point of view of a disabled main character and by a disabled author who experiences that disability. The stories take place around the globe and in historical, contemporary, and futuristic settings. Representation is richly inclusive across race, culture, gender, and sexual orientation, and categories of

disabilities. From romance to mystery to magic to angst, there is something to appeal to everyone here. Additionally, the quality of the writing and range of styles make this book a rich source of mentor texts for teaching writers.

Strengths/Weaknesses:

I really enjoyed these stories and hope that more disabled characters are featured in Young Adult books to come. It’s something that isn’t thought much upon but touches many people’s everyday lives. I can’t wait for readers to pick this one up and realize that you can be disabled, and still have an amazing adventure, fall in love, and save the world.

Awards:

Publishers Weekly

*A Junior Library Guild Selection*
*A Kirkus Best YA Book of 2018 That Feeds Imaginations*

*American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL): Lists of Best Books, 2010-2021*

"What makes these protagonists different proves far less relevant than the universal emotions they express." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Fans of every genre will find someone to root for in this collection focused on disabled heroes and heroines." —Seventeen Magazine

"There is something for everyone in this volume. VERDICT A great choice for all YA collections." —School Library Journal

 

 

Young Adult Literature - What My Mother Doesn't Know

 

Bibliographic Data: Sones, Sonya. 2001. 

What My Mother Doesn’t Know. New York: Simon & Shuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0689841140

Plot Summary:

What My Mother Doesn’t Know is a novel written in verse by Sonya Sones. It is the story of Sophie (or Fifi) and the verses read as if they are Sophie’s stream-of-conscious diary entries. She discusses the many trials and tribulations inherent to fourteen-year-old girls. Back zits, boy problems, love, lust, anger at parents, discontentment, periods, hormones; nothing is left uncovered by Sones. The novel is quick and exciting, as the reader does not have to wait long to figure out the secrets Sophie is hiding from her mother, and more often, from herself. The author is even able to touch on religious prejudice, depression, and the hazards of cyberspace.

Critical Analysis:
If Sones stated that this novel was written by transcribing a fourteen-year-old girl’s dialogue over the course of a year, the audience would be hard pressed to dispute her. The flow and rhythm of this novel is effortless and consistent with whatever new subject Sophie describes.

Sones clearly has a mastery of sound, as she uses subtle literary tricks like, rhyming (“I must confess, I would like him less”) alliteration, (“dirty-rotten, deceitful, despicable snake”) and repetition (“I’m gray through and through, even my thoughts are gray, if I cut my finger, I’d bleed gray blood”….”it’s going to be a long gray winter”) intertwined from verse to verse. Her similes are humorous (“I’m dancing with a bunch of girls, bouncing like kernels of popcorn in a hot frying pan”) and help create rich visual imagery.

What is perhaps most striking is Sones’ ability to write lines that are beautiful because of their simplicity. The language is just rich enough to be interesting, but concise enough that the readers will not be bored. Many times, I found myself cringing because I felt exactly what Sophie was talking about. I had experienced all of the parental problems, encountered the same mean girls, blushed through the same embarrassing conundrums, and cried and cursed until I thought my heart would rattle itself loose and explode right out of my chest.

Strengths/Weaknesses: 
This novel has so many strengths! It immediately draws you in, it is interesting, it is funny, it is realistic, and it is never slow! It will grab and keep a teen’s attention. The only weakness I found was in the religious aspect of the story. Sones introduces Sophie, who is Jewish, to her boyfriend’s parents. A boyfriend’s parents have previously discriminated against Sophie because of her religious affiliation. There is an excellent opportunity here to show the audience that her new boyfriend’s parents are absolutely tolerant and accepting of her regardless of her religion, and instead Sones makes Murphy/Robin’s mom Jewish. Yes, it is nice to see the characters bond over this, but it would have been so much more impactful if she had not taken this (seemingly easy) route! 

Awards:

• Winner of the Iowa Teen Book Award (2005–2006)
• Michigan Thumbs Up Award Honor Book (2002)
• Chosen an American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults (2002) 
• Chosen an American Library Association Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (2002)
• Named an International Reading Association Young Adults' Choice (2003)
• Named a Booklist Editor's Choice (2001)
• Voted a VOYA Top Shelf for Middle School Readers (2003)
• Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award: YA Recommended Title (2003–2004)
• Named a New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age (2002, 2003, and 2004)
• Named a Texas Lone Star State Reading List Choice (2003–2004)
• Named a Top Ten Editor's Choice by Teenreads.com (2001)
• Named a Bookreporter.com Best of 2001 for teens.

Connections: 

1. Will engage teens that are not reading lovers! 
2. Can be used to highlight the different literary techniques the author utilizes. 
3. Can promote journaling. 
4. Would be excellent to use in a book club! 
5. Read the sequel to WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN’T KNOW:
6. Sones, Sonya. WHAT MY GIRLFRIEND DOESN’T KNOW. ISBN 0689876033
7. Read other novels in verse by Sonya Sones:
8. Sones, Sonya. TO BE PERFECTLY HONEST: A NOVEL BASED ON AN UNTRUE STORY. ISBN 068987605X
9. Sones, Sonya. STOP PRETENDING: WHAT HAPPENED WHEN MY BIG SISTER WENT CRAZY. ISBN 0064462188
10. Sones, Sonya. ONE OF THOSE HIDEOUS BOOKS WHERE THE MOTHER DIES. ISBN 1442493836

 

Young Adult Literature - Naruto

 

Bibliographic Data: Masashi Kishimoto. 2003. 

Naruto, Vol. 1: Uzumaki Naruto. New York: VIZ Media LLC; 1st Edition (August 16, 2003).

ISBN 1569319006

Plot Summary:
Welcome to the world of ninja. Naruto Uzumaki, an alienated kid who lives in the Hidden Leaf Village has a dream to become a Hokage, the best ninja in the village, and the one who supervises it. However, he isn’t very good at ninjutsu, thus he failed the academy exams three times. He is always alone, and kids don’t really want to have anything to do with him, same with teachers. Naruto is a prankster, usually doing nasty things in the village because he wants attention. That all changes when one of the teachers approaches him and offers him respect for a certain mission, he has to do for him. Naruto accomplishes the mission successfully only to realize he’s been fooled. He learns that the reason he’s being alienated is because of the Nine Tailed Demon Fox, who destroyed the village 16 years ago. What follows after that is a story of pain, sadness and joy as Naruto tries to accomplish his dream of becoming a Hokage.

Critical Analysis:
We have the premise of the story that happens in Naruto. It’s very long series, having 72 volumes and 700 chapters. It’s a typical Shonen type story, with the main protagonist meeting new enemies each arc, getting more powerful because he needs to defeat them, rinse and repeat for the whole series. Since Naruto is very young at the start of the series, it’s easy to relate to him and his decisions. It’s one of those things that made me like it in the first place. Besides that, the story uses the supernatural element in form of ninjutsu. Now, some of you who haven’t had any contact with Naruto may be confused. How is ninjutsu a supernatural element? Well, in this series, ninjutsu isn’t the art of killing (not literally of course), it’s the art of using your strength to bring forth techniques that vary from making a clone, to busting out fireball from your mouth. It makes the story interesting, making you eager to see what techniques different characters possess and how will they impact the upcoming events. The characters are pretty much all ninja, as such, expect a lot of hand-to-hand combat. It’s really well done, and if you pay attention to the drawings, you’ll see even the slightest details that make a difference.

Strengths/Weaknesses: 
The story is, for the most part, really good and coherent. That is, however, up until certain point. The “unique” techniques impossible to obtain were handed over left and right like on a flea market sale. I kind of felt the same way, but when all is said and done, it’s still the same Naruto that you’ve started with, it’s good for what it is, and as long as you won’t be trying to find deeper meaning in a, what essentially is, battle Shonen series, you should be more than fine and appreciate it that much more.

Awards:

·        VIZ MEDIA'S MANGA SHONEN JUMP™ NARUTO™ NAMED WINNER OF 2006 QUILL AWARD

 

·        Volume 7 Of Hit Manga Series Declared A Winner Of "Consumer's Choice" Literary Award To Honor Excellence In Writing And Publishing

Young Adult Literature-The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

 Young Adult Literature-The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Bibliography:

Sherman A. (2007). The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Plot Summary:

Junior (Arnold) lives in an Indian Reservation where alcohol is more important than life.  Junior wanted a better life so he transfers to Reardan High School.  There he is known as Arnold, he is now split between his reservation and his new school.  He has to deal with his best friend from the reservation, Rowdy being upset because of his decision.  At Reardan High School Arnold is treated like an outcast as well.  In order for Arnold to have a better social standing he decides to join the basketball team.  He is surprised to find out he makes the varsity team and he is a starting player.  He is confronted with playing against his best friend.  This became a struggle to find out who he really is and after beating his best friend Arnold discovers there isn't much glory defeating his own tribe.  Arnold and Rowdy settle their differences and in the end Arnold decides to continue at Reardan High School the next school year.

Strengths:

This book is culturally diverse and is intended for 12-17 year olds.  It is an easy read and the plot is simple to follow.  It does have a lot of vulgar words, but at the same time this book discusses many topics teens may be encountering such as sexual awareness, family importance, and drug abuse.  Even though it does have some extreme language it is something that young adults can relate to.  Junior is facing many issues that young adults are facing today which many young adults, especially males will relate to. It is also ideal for a young adult that is feeling like an outcast to cultural differences in his/her school or neighborhood.  Sherman Alexie is a great writer and this is a great read!

Connections:

Other books written by Sherman Alexie are the following:

 *Compare and Contrast The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian to another great book written by Sherman Alexie.

Connections to the textbook:

This book was a great read!  Not only did I read the book, but my 16 year old daughter read it as well.  We talked about the connections we each made while reading the book.   It took me back to my adolescent years and I thought about the insecurities I had as a young adult.  I thought about all the fears I had and could not face them,  It sparked conversation with my daughter, we conversed about facing our fears and how fear holds us back from living life to the fullest. Her older brother, my son, and her older sister also joined in the conversation.   They all said it taught them to face their fear even if it is difficult to do, it is best.