FICTION, FANTASY AND YA LITERATURE BLOG #3: MONSTER
BIBILIOGRAPHY
Myers, Walter Dean. 1999. Monster. New York, NY. Harper Collins Children’s Books. ISBN: 0-06-028077-8
PLOT SUMMARY
Steve Harmon is a sixteen year old by from Harlem who finds himself on trial for murder. The book’s title comes from the word that the lady prosecutor calls him. Monster. So what really happened? What did Steve do? Was he a part of the robbery gone wrong, at the wrong place at the wrong time, or guilty because he has the same brown skin as the criminals? The reader is able to act as a fly on the wall in the courtroom by reading the fast paced screen play of the courtrooms activities. The handwriting typeface journal entries from Steve allow the reader to understand Steve’s feelings and fears while he sits in jail awaiting the verdict. This fast paced book has the reader engaged and engrossed until the final verdict is in.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The story opens with a journal entry from Steve: “The best time to cry is at night, when the lights are out and someone is being beaten up and screaming for help. That way if you sniffle a little they won’t hear you. If anybody knows that you are crying, they’ll start talking about it and soon it’ll be your turn to get beat up when the lights go out.” Steve introduces his screenplay with a cast of characters and then gets right to the story of the courtroom with the dialogue as the main vehicle used to reveal the characters, although we are able to come to understand Steve’s feelings and character through his journal entries scattered throughout the book. The story is set at the Manhattan Detention Center in New York. I liked the fact that the book allows the reader to come to their own conclusion after being presented with the evidence, the witnesses and the final remarks. There is a sense of ambiguity about the book. We never learn the exact truth, but learn a lot about our main character, and our own judgments and biases. One thing is for sure Steve’s life will be forever changed by this experience.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Amazon.com
"Monster" is what the prosecutor called 16-year-old Steve Harmon for his supposed role in the fatal shooting of a convenience-store owner. But was Steve really the lookout who gave the "all clear" to the murderer, or was he just in the wrong place at the wrong time? In this innovative novel by Walter Dean Myers, the reader becomes both juror and witness during the trial of Steve's life. To calm his nerves as he sits in the courtroom, aspiring filmmaker Steve chronicles the proceedings in movie script format. Interspersed throughout his screenplay are journal writings that provide insight into Steve's life before the murder and his feelings about being held in prison during the trial. "They take away your shoelaces and your belt so you can't kill yourself no matter how bad it is. I guess making you live is part of the punishment."
From School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up-Steve Harmon, 16, is accused of serving as a lookout for a robbery of a Harlem drugstore. The owner was shot and killed, and now Steve is in prison awaiting trial for murder. From there, he tells about his case and his incarceration. Many elements of this story are familiar, but Myers keeps it fresh and alive by telling it from an unusual perspective. Steve, an amateur filmmaker, recounts his experiences in the form of a movie screenplay. His striking scene-by-scene narrative of how his life has dramatically changed is riveting. Interspersed within the script are diary entries in which the teen vividly describes the nightmarish conditions of his confinement. Myers expertly presents the many facets of his protagonist's character and readers will find themselves feeling both sympathy and repugnance for him. Steve searches deep within his soul to prove to himself that he is not the "monster" the prosecutor presented him as to the jury. Ultimately, he reconnects with his humanity and regains a moral awareness that he had lost. Christopher Myers's superfluous black-and-white drawings are less successful. Their grainy, unfocused look complements the cinematic quality of the text, but they do little to enhance the story. Monster will challenge readers with difficult questions, to which there are no definitive answers. In some respects, the novel is reminiscent of Virginia Walter's Making Up Megaboy (DK Ink, 1998), another book enriched by its ambiguity. Like it, Monster lends itself well to classroom or group discussion. It's an emotionally charged story that readers will find compelling and disturbing.Edward Sullivan, New York Public Library Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Library Binding edition.
CONNECTIONS
Motown and Didi by Walter Dean Myers
Bad Boy: A Memoir by Walter Dean Myers
Slam! by Walter Dean Myers
Hoops by Walter Dean Myers
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
FICTION, FANTASY & YA LITERATURE BLOG #2 RULES
FICTION, FANTASY AND YA LITERATURE BLOG #2: RULES
BIBILIOGRAPHY
Lord, Cynthia. 2006. Rules. New York, NY. Scholastic Press. ISBN: 0-439-44382-2
PLOT SUMMARY
This contemporary modern fiction novel tells the story through the eyes of twelve-year-old Catherine. Catherine’s little brother David is different from the other kids because he has autism. To help David be more ‘normal’ in the eyes of others, Catherine teaches him rules and talks with him even when he needs to borrow words from others, mostly from the Lobel’s Frog and Toad are Friends. Of course Catherine is struggling with her own life and sometimes wishes things were not so hard. She desperately wants to be friends with the new neighbor girl, Kristi, but finds friendship in the last place she would expect.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The characters in this book are revealed mostly through dialogue and conversation. Jason, a boy Catherine meets at David’s OT (Occupational Therapy) office uses communication cards and the conversations between Catherine and Jason help the reader to understand each characters thoughts and feelings better. The dialogue is natural and suited for the characters age and attitudes. The story is set in a small town on the coast during the summer. The book has a lot of funny parts and kid humor as well as some sad and touching parts. I liked the part where Catherine makes more communication cards for Jason and she makes one that says “stinks a big one!” and he uses it in his sentence, Speech.Woman.Stinks a Big One! And I loved the part where Catherine takes Jason out for a run by running behind him and pushing his wheelchair as fast as she can. The reader can imagine the seagulls flying in the air and the feel of cool air on the kids faces, while the townspeople look on in amazement. Catherine’s character develops and she comes to learn more about herself and as well as the concept of ‘normal’ and why she just might have to throw out some of her rules.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7-Twelve-year-old Catherine has conflicting feelings about her younger brother, David, who is autistic. While she loves him, she is also embarrassed by his behavior and feels neglected by their parents. In an effort to keep life on an even keel, Catherine creates rules for him (It's okay to hug Mom but not the clerk at the video store). Each chapter title is also a rule, and lots more are interspersed throughout the book. When Kristi moves in next door, Catherine hopes that the girl will become a friend, but is anxious about her reaction to David. Then Catherine meets and befriends Jason, a nonverbal paraplegic who uses a book of pictures to communicate, she begins to understand that normal is difficult, and perhaps unnecessary, to define. Rules of behavior are less important than acceptance of others. Catherine is an endearing narrator who tells her story with both humor and heartbreak. Her love for her brother is as real as are her frustrations with him. Lord has candidly captured the delicate dynamics in a family that revolves around a child's disability. Set in coastal Maine, this sensitive story is about being different, feeling different, and finding acceptance. A lovely, warm read, and a great discussion starter.-Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Gr. 4-7. "No toys in the fish tank" is one of many rules that 12-year-old Catherine shares with her autistic younger brother, David, to help him understand his world. Lots of the rules are practical. Others are more subtle and shed light on issues in Catherine's own life. Torn between love for her brother and impatience with the responsibilities and embarrassment he brings, she strives to be on her parents' radar and to establish an identity of her own. At her brother's clinic, Catherine befriends a wheelchair-bound boy, Jason, who talks by pointing at word cards in a communication notebook. Her drawing skills and additional vocabulary cards--including "whatever" (which prompts Jason to roll his eyes at his mother)--enliven his speech. The details of autistic behavior are handled well, as are depictions of relationships: A heartwarming first novel. Cindy DobrezCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
CONNECTIONS
Looking After Louis by Lesley Ely
Ian's Walk: A Story About Autism by Laurie Lears
Taking Autism to School (Paperback) by Andreanna Edwards Illustrated by Tom Dineen
BIBILIOGRAPHY
Lord, Cynthia. 2006. Rules. New York, NY. Scholastic Press. ISBN: 0-439-44382-2
PLOT SUMMARY
This contemporary modern fiction novel tells the story through the eyes of twelve-year-old Catherine. Catherine’s little brother David is different from the other kids because he has autism. To help David be more ‘normal’ in the eyes of others, Catherine teaches him rules and talks with him even when he needs to borrow words from others, mostly from the Lobel’s Frog and Toad are Friends. Of course Catherine is struggling with her own life and sometimes wishes things were not so hard. She desperately wants to be friends with the new neighbor girl, Kristi, but finds friendship in the last place she would expect.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The characters in this book are revealed mostly through dialogue and conversation. Jason, a boy Catherine meets at David’s OT (Occupational Therapy) office uses communication cards and the conversations between Catherine and Jason help the reader to understand each characters thoughts and feelings better. The dialogue is natural and suited for the characters age and attitudes. The story is set in a small town on the coast during the summer. The book has a lot of funny parts and kid humor as well as some sad and touching parts. I liked the part where Catherine makes more communication cards for Jason and she makes one that says “stinks a big one!” and he uses it in his sentence, Speech.Woman.Stinks a Big One! And I loved the part where Catherine takes Jason out for a run by running behind him and pushing his wheelchair as fast as she can. The reader can imagine the seagulls flying in the air and the feel of cool air on the kids faces, while the townspeople look on in amazement. Catherine’s character develops and she comes to learn more about herself and as well as the concept of ‘normal’ and why she just might have to throw out some of her rules.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7-Twelve-year-old Catherine has conflicting feelings about her younger brother, David, who is autistic. While she loves him, she is also embarrassed by his behavior and feels neglected by their parents. In an effort to keep life on an even keel, Catherine creates rules for him (It's okay to hug Mom but not the clerk at the video store). Each chapter title is also a rule, and lots more are interspersed throughout the book. When Kristi moves in next door, Catherine hopes that the girl will become a friend, but is anxious about her reaction to David. Then Catherine meets and befriends Jason, a nonverbal paraplegic who uses a book of pictures to communicate, she begins to understand that normal is difficult, and perhaps unnecessary, to define. Rules of behavior are less important than acceptance of others. Catherine is an endearing narrator who tells her story with both humor and heartbreak. Her love for her brother is as real as are her frustrations with him. Lord has candidly captured the delicate dynamics in a family that revolves around a child's disability. Set in coastal Maine, this sensitive story is about being different, feeling different, and finding acceptance. A lovely, warm read, and a great discussion starter.-Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
Gr. 4-7. "No toys in the fish tank" is one of many rules that 12-year-old Catherine shares with her autistic younger brother, David, to help him understand his world. Lots of the rules are practical. Others are more subtle and shed light on issues in Catherine's own life. Torn between love for her brother and impatience with the responsibilities and embarrassment he brings, she strives to be on her parents' radar and to establish an identity of her own. At her brother's clinic, Catherine befriends a wheelchair-bound boy, Jason, who talks by pointing at word cards in a communication notebook. Her drawing skills and additional vocabulary cards--including "whatever" (which prompts Jason to roll his eyes at his mother)--enliven his speech. The details of autistic behavior are handled well, as are depictions of relationships: A heartwarming first novel. Cindy DobrezCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
CONNECTIONS
Looking After Louis by Lesley Ely
Ian's Walk: A Story About Autism by Laurie Lears
Taking Autism to School (Paperback) by Andreanna Edwards Illustrated by Tom Dineen
Monday, November 5, 2007
FICTION, FANTASY & YA LITERATURE BLOG #1: THE GIVER
FICTION, FANTASY AND YA LITERATURE BLOG #1: THE GIVER
BIBILIOGRAPHY
Lowry, Lois. 1993. The Giver. New York, NY. Random House Children’s Books. ISBN: 0-440-23768-8
PLOT SUMMARY
Jonas lives in the Community, a world that knows no pain, hunger, poverty or even death. But it is also a world without love, passion, choices, or freedom. At the Ceremony of Twelve Jonas enters adulthood and is given his Assignment. But unlike the other Twelve’s who receive Assignments such as Doctor, Engineer or even Assistant Director of Recreation, Jonas is given the mysterious Assignment of Receiver of Memory. With this Assignment Jonas begins to learn the scary truth of the Community.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The Giver is a wonderfully thought provoking modern science fantasy for young adults. I enjoyed how the author did not give a forward or explanation of the setting or story, but instead plunges the reader headfirst into the story and allows the reader to experience the Community through the eyes of the young protagonist, Jonas. The plot begins with Jonas feeling anxious about the Ceremony of Twelve and of what Assignment he will receive, and ends with his personal growth, discovery and courage to do what is right. At first I was confused as to what time period and country the setting is in, but then realized as this is a fantasy, the setting needs only to be enough to help the reader visualize the surroundings and might be an “other world” or “imaginary place.” The reader quickly comes to learn that the Community is a Utopian place where the people in the community have no freedom to choose their jobs, their spouses, or their children, but no one is left hungry or homeless. Everyone has their place and if rules are not abided the perpetrator will be “released” to Elsewhere. Babies are cared for by Nurturers until married couples apply for children and are assigned a child, only one boy and one girl. After the children are grown they are given an Assignment and are free to leave and apply for a spouse of their own. The parents are sent to be with the Childless Adults and later in life to the House of the Old, and lastly released to Elsewhere. The characters are revealed through their conversation and actions, but since members in the community besides Jonas and the Giver seem to be devoid of any real feelings, their characters are rather blank and flat. Jonas character develops and grows as he receives memories and learns more about the community and the world he lives in. The story comes to a climax when Jonas learns the truth of a “release” and must choose to disobey the rules in order to save a Newchild he has come to love like a brother. The theme emerges naturally from the story and is not stated or pushed upon the reader. The reader is allowed to come to their own conclusion through by using their critical thinking skills. The story makes me think of a line from movie I really liked, Vanilla Sky. The sidekick character said, “The sweet is never as sweet without the sour” I think that is so true. This book allows the reader to come to the conclusion that differences, pain, choices and feelings are all important and necessary to really live.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
From School Library Journal
Grade 6-9-- In a complete departure from her other novels, Lowry has written an intriguing story set in a society that is uniformly run by a Committee of Elders. Twelve-year-old Jonas's confidence in his comfortable "normal" existence as a member of this well-ordered community is shaken when he is assigned his life's work as the Receiver. The Giver, who passes on to Jonas the burden of being the holder for the community of all memory "back and back and back," teaches him the cost of living in an environment that is "without color, pain, or past." The tension leading up to the Ceremony, in which children are promoted not to another grade but to another stage in their life, and the drama and responsibility of the sessions with The Giver are gripping. The final flight for survival is as riveting as it is inevitable. The author makes real abstract concepts, such as the meaning of a life in which there are virtually no choices to be made and no experiences with deep feelings. This tightly plotted story and its believable characters will stay with readers for a long time. --Amy Kellman, The Carnegie Library of PittsburghCopyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Amazon.com
BIBILIOGRAPHY
Lowry, Lois. 1993. The Giver. New York, NY. Random House Children’s Books. ISBN: 0-440-23768-8
PLOT SUMMARY
Jonas lives in the Community, a world that knows no pain, hunger, poverty or even death. But it is also a world without love, passion, choices, or freedom. At the Ceremony of Twelve Jonas enters adulthood and is given his Assignment. But unlike the other Twelve’s who receive Assignments such as Doctor, Engineer or even Assistant Director of Recreation, Jonas is given the mysterious Assignment of Receiver of Memory. With this Assignment Jonas begins to learn the scary truth of the Community.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The Giver is a wonderfully thought provoking modern science fantasy for young adults. I enjoyed how the author did not give a forward or explanation of the setting or story, but instead plunges the reader headfirst into the story and allows the reader to experience the Community through the eyes of the young protagonist, Jonas. The plot begins with Jonas feeling anxious about the Ceremony of Twelve and of what Assignment he will receive, and ends with his personal growth, discovery and courage to do what is right. At first I was confused as to what time period and country the setting is in, but then realized as this is a fantasy, the setting needs only to be enough to help the reader visualize the surroundings and might be an “other world” or “imaginary place.” The reader quickly comes to learn that the Community is a Utopian place where the people in the community have no freedom to choose their jobs, their spouses, or their children, but no one is left hungry or homeless. Everyone has their place and if rules are not abided the perpetrator will be “released” to Elsewhere. Babies are cared for by Nurturers until married couples apply for children and are assigned a child, only one boy and one girl. After the children are grown they are given an Assignment and are free to leave and apply for a spouse of their own. The parents are sent to be with the Childless Adults and later in life to the House of the Old, and lastly released to Elsewhere. The characters are revealed through their conversation and actions, but since members in the community besides Jonas and the Giver seem to be devoid of any real feelings, their characters are rather blank and flat. Jonas character develops and grows as he receives memories and learns more about the community and the world he lives in. The story comes to a climax when Jonas learns the truth of a “release” and must choose to disobey the rules in order to save a Newchild he has come to love like a brother. The theme emerges naturally from the story and is not stated or pushed upon the reader. The reader is allowed to come to their own conclusion through by using their critical thinking skills. The story makes me think of a line from movie I really liked, Vanilla Sky. The sidekick character said, “The sweet is never as sweet without the sour” I think that is so true. This book allows the reader to come to the conclusion that differences, pain, choices and feelings are all important and necessary to really live.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
From School Library Journal
Grade 6-9-- In a complete departure from her other novels, Lowry has written an intriguing story set in a society that is uniformly run by a Committee of Elders. Twelve-year-old Jonas's confidence in his comfortable "normal" existence as a member of this well-ordered community is shaken when he is assigned his life's work as the Receiver. The Giver, who passes on to Jonas the burden of being the holder for the community of all memory "back and back and back," teaches him the cost of living in an environment that is "without color, pain, or past." The tension leading up to the Ceremony, in which children are promoted not to another grade but to another stage in their life, and the drama and responsibility of the sessions with The Giver are gripping. The final flight for survival is as riveting as it is inevitable. The author makes real abstract concepts, such as the meaning of a life in which there are virtually no choices to be made and no experiences with deep feelings. This tightly plotted story and its believable characters will stay with readers for a long time. --Amy Kellman, The Carnegie Library of PittsburghCopyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Amazon.com
In a world with no poverty, no crime, no sickness and no unemployment, and where every family is happy, 12-year-old Jonas is chosen to be the community's Receiver of Memories. Under the tutelage of the Elders and an old man known as the Giver, he discovers the disturbing truth about his utopian world and struggles against the weight of its hypocrisy. With echoes of Brave New World, in this 1994 Newbery Medal winner, Lowry examines the idea that people might freely choose to give up their humanity in order to create a more stable society. Gradually Jonas learns just how costly this ordered and pain-free society can be, and boldly decides he cannot pay the price.
CONNECTIONS
- Calico Captive by Elizabeth George Speare
- The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George SpeareA Newbery Honor Book
- I Am Regina by Sally M. Keehn
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