American Born Chinese (Winner of YALSA's Printz Award)
The Book Thief (Winner of Eva Perry's and NCSU's Printz Award)
Surrender (Winner of Middle Creek's Printz Award; Eva Perry Honor Book)
An Abundance of Katherines (YALSA Printz Honor Book)
Sold (Eva Perry Honor Book)
Copper Sun (Winner of the Coretta Scott King Award)
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing (YALSA Printz Honor Book)
Rules of Survival (Eva Perry Honor Book)
Life as We Knew It (Middle Creek Honor Book)
American Born Chinese
by CarolineThe Essence of the Book
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang is a graphic novel that carries the message self-acceptance and is interestingly woven through the characters of Monkey King, Jin Wang, and Chin-Kee.
First, we are introduced to the Monkey King. The Monkey King is a character that believes he is invincible and masters the disciplines of Kung Fu to prove his belief. He makes an attempt to attend a dinner party for gods, goddesses, demons and spirits only to be told that he is just a monkey and would not be allowed in because he had no shoes. On the way back to his mountain the smell of “thick monkey fur greets him” and to his knowledge he had never smelled it before. Once he has returned to his mountain, the first thing he does is orders all monkeys to wear shoes. The Monkey King does not accept the fact that he is a monkey and strives to assimilate in a world in which he is just a monkey and nothing more or less. The Monkey King refuses to believe he is just a monkey and is buried under a stone for 500 years. It takes the Monkey King 500 years to accept himself as just a monkey.
Next, we are introduced to a Jin Wang. Jin Wang has grown up as a Chinese American and for the first nine years of his life he lives near Chinatown and maintains Chinese American friends and accepts his culture. As Jin Wang’s family moves we are introduced to the American stereotypes of the Chinese culture. Jin Wang is made fun of by the food he eats and plays alone on the playground. He is befriended by a new student, Wei-Chen, and his transformer. Little do we know the symbolism that lies in that simple transformer toy.
We are finally introduced to cousin Chin-Kee. Cousin Chin-Kee will cause the reader to laugh out loud. Chin-Kee is funny, obnoxious, smart, and does not care what the other students think or say about him. Yang does a wonderful job using Chin-Kee to poke fun of stereotypical Chinese behaviors. Though Chin-Kee causes Danny great embarrassment, Chin-Kee never once apologizes for being true to himself.
These three characters are kept separate through the majority of the book. At the end of the book, the author transforms these characters and we are left with the recognition of who they really are, not what they wanted to be.
Personal Response
The ability of the author to weave the characters together for a surprise ending was intriguing. I had to go back and re-read to make sure I understood the events that were unfolding. I came to the conclusion that I was reading the story of lives that were woven together and transformed by the power of self-acceptance. Once the Monkey King accepted the fact that he was a monkey, it is then that we learn the connection between Chin-Kee, Danny and Jin Wang.
American Born Chinese is the first graphic novel I have read. I found myself easily entertained and even laughing out loud. I enjoyed the graphics and their ability to assist in the telling of the story without the use of words. The author is to be commended for his ability to keep the story light and uplifting while discussing the important topic of self-acceptance.
I appreciate the fact that the book was a quick read and did not require a lot of time on my part. After reading Sold, it was nice to have a book that was lighthearted and funny. After reading the novel, I was not surprised that it won the Printz Award for 2007. The author had great insight into the personal conflict of self-acceptance and peer acceptance that young adults face on a daily basis, something at one time or another we can also identify with. The author addresses stereotypes straight on without tip-toeing around the issues. Also, the author’s use of imagination and graphics to enhance the novel adds to its appeal among young adult readers.
Professional Rationale
American Born Chinese would be a great novel to use to integrate Social Studies, Language Arts, and technology into the classroom. I can see using the book with any age group (6th-12th) to discuss a wide range of subjects. The subjects can range from the importance of self-acceptance, the ability to dispel stereotypes, and exploring Eastern cultures and traditions.
American Born Chinese
by Melissa
The Essence of the book
Each character is incredibly different yet amazingly the same. The Monkey King believes himself to be invincible and completes a detailed study of Kung Fu so further substantiate his belief only to be told at the Dinner Party that he is only a monkey and doesn’t even wear shoes! So what is the first change he makes?? He makes everyone under his rule wear shoes, the first step towards his assimilation. Though he fights and fights, he ultimately learns that his role is the role intended for him and he must accept it, initially against his will. Therefore, his assimilation attempt was in vain and for naught.
For young Jing Jang, all he has ever known in America yet he is still ostracized because of how he looks. He is abandoned on the playground, left to eat his lunch alone. The one classmate who looks like him is a girl and the rumors fly that they have a future arranged marriage. Then a new student comes to town who also looks like Jing and though Jing is hesitant at first, the new student, Wei-Chen, wins him over with a simple child’s toy. Jung goes on to sell his soul in exchange for a new face and identity, though he can never escape who he was in the beginning.
With the arrival of Chin-Kee came the most humor. He was loud and embarrassing and true to himself. He was funny without trying to be and didn’t notice that people were laughing at him. Furthermore, he put the American students to shame with his knowledge, which I thought was a perfect little dig at the American public education system. Chin-Kee, however, seemed to make the most sense out of all three characters for he did not feel the need to be something he wasn’t. In fact, though is true self is revealed, he never once apologized or complained for being who he was. In essence, his sense of self was astounding.
When these three characters collide at the conclusion of the novel, it is apparent that they were indeed all traveling to the same place, a place of acceptance and recognition of who their true selves were. Once at their destination of knowledge could they shed their outer selves and become who they were meant to be all along.
Personal Response
I love how this book all comes together at the end. At the beginning I thought I was reading three separate stories about 3 different characters. However, at the conclusion I realized I was reading an intricate story of lives woven together based on choices each of them makes.
I found myself giggling all throughout this book. I appreciated the humor that Yang incorporates to keep the mood light while the story is itself a bit dark and morbid. With the realization that the Monkey King is different, the book takes on a life of its own as each character naively thinks that the only way to achieve their goals is to assimilate to society. (I absolutely burst out laughing when the Monkey King “tooted” in the face of the demon on page 153. That was such a cute way to show power.)
Enter Chin-Kee. What an incredible character. I laughed so hard at his antics. The way he speaks was written so perfectly that I found myself reading aloud when he would speak, as it wasn’t enough for me to simply read the words; I had to hear them. I was so captivated by Chin-Kee that I even read some parts of the book to my husband which he of course didn’t understand because I couldn’t do the words justice!
I am reminded here of Liesel’s writing:
“ I have hated the words and I have loved them, and I hope I have made them right.”
I appreciate that this was a quick read and did not require a lot of thinking to uncover the message. I also appreciate the juxtaposition between Jing-Jang and Chin-Kee, one accepting of himself, the other not accepting at all. The dialect was flawless as the characters came to life through their words. The graphics in this novel were stunning but then I have never read a graphic novel and have nothing to compare the images to. However, I found myself reading quickly through the words so I could then examine the images more closely.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, particularly after reading The Book Thief as it lightened my mood and made me appreciate the tone of both books so much more. Though I am still unsure as to why this book was chosen over Surrender and The Book Thief, I do see it as an award worthy novel for its innovation and imagination……it might be that this book was given the Printz award because it was so drastically different from the others.
Professional Rationale
This book would be a great tool for any classroom teacher working to dispel stereotypes by facing them head-on. American Born Chinese would also be a great way to integrate Language Arts and Social Studies (with Art and Religion) since it has a history and style of its own. I would absolutely use this with my seventh grade students and in my opinion, this graphic novel should be used with all ages as it is applicable to different subjects on different levels.
American Born Chinese
by CliffAmerican Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang is the first graphic novel to win the Printz Award. It is a beautifully illustrated work that weaves the three narratives of the Monkey King, Jin Wang, and Cousin Chin-Kee together in order to explore what it means to face down stereotypes and accept oneself.
The first character we are introduced to is the Monkey King who is struggling to find acceptance with the great deities. He does this through mastering the great disciplines of Kung-Fu and literally beating acceptance out of each respective god. As he masters the great disciplines he not only becomes immortal, but also transforms into a humanoid and denies his monkey identity. He is successful until the greatest god, Tze-Yo-Tzuh, reveals that he created the Monkey King to be a monkey and the Monkey King should be content being a monkey. As the Monkey King rejects this truth, Tze-Yo-Tzuh buries the Monkey King under a mountain of stones for the next 500 years. It takes the Monkey King this long to accept his true form as monkey from which he then is small enough to escape the mountain of rocks He explains to Jin Wang his epiphany quite simply saying, “You know, Jin, I would have saved myself from the 500 years’ imprisonment beneath a mountain of rock had I only realized how good it is to be a monkey.”
It takes the intervention of the Monkey King for Jin Wang, a Chinese American, to understand that he also must take steps to accept his Chinese identity instead of viewing it as a curse. Jin Wang’s is the primary narrative and reflects the author’s own experience of growing up as a Chinese American and overcoming the self-loathing that is the result of negative stereotypes and the cruelness of his school-aged peers. While Jin Wang tries to deny his heritage, he does everything from change his haircut to rejecting his Asian friends in order to fit in. This is where the third narrative comes in as Jin transforms (much like the Monkey King) into a white kid named Danny who is perpetually accompanied by his cousin Chin-Kee who perpetuates every negative Chinese stereotype, preventing Danny from fitting in with his peers. This is truly an effective analogy to Jin’s struggles with his heritage is played out in the external conflict of Chin-Kee and Danny as Chin-Kee is the proverbial monkey on Danny’s back. Continuing this connection, Chin-Kee turns out to be the Monkey King in disguise who’s advice leads Danny to accept the Chinese side of himself, transform back into Jin, and eventually make up with his former Asian friends.
Personally, I found this story highly entertaining. Unlike many of my classmates, this is not the first graphic novel I have read as much of my time between the age of 10 and 13 was spent reading comic books and graphic novels. American Born Chinese however is a far cry from the “superhero saves the world” genre with which I am familiar. This graphic novel creates a strong emotional connection to the characters as most readers will be able to connect with Jin’s experiences of being picked on in school, his first crush, and navigating the thorny social jungle known as high school. Though Jin is judged because he is Chinese, everyone has been stereotyped in some way, making this book’s central message of accepting yourself a theme that everyone can relate to. The story is also full of witty humor that is at times sophomoric and subliminally dark at others. Overall, American Born Chinese is a pleasurable read with memorable characters and pertinent themes.
If this book were to find a place in the curriculum, it could easily be at home in the 7th, 8th, and possibly 9th grade curriculum. Because of the simple themes, universal appeal, and entertaining story and characters, middle school students would be able to find joy in the unique reading experience American Born Chinese provides. Again the struggle to gain acceptance among your peers while still remaining true to yourself is an experience every human with which every one has to cope- especially in middle school. In our mission to develop lifelong active readers, it is important that educators provide their students with memorable, positive, and various reading experience. American Born Chinese should be seen as an opportunity for the middle school educator to not only to provide a positive, meaningful reading experience to their students but also expose their students to a new, exciting genre of literature.
American Born Chinese
by KimberlyThe Essence of the Book
The essence of American Born Chinese is the importance of staying true to one’s self. In the novel you meet three distinct characters, the monkey king, Jin Wang, and Chink-Kee. Both the monkey king and Jin Wang seek out a new identity, the monkey kind wants to be a diety and Jin Wang wants to be viewed as a typical American student. In their quest to become someone else, they start to project stereotypes and insults that they endured onto others such as Wei Chen Sun.
The character of Chink-Kee represents every negative stereotype that exists regarding Chinese culture. Chink-Kee’s accent, his intelligence, the food he eats, and the way he interacts with the other characters shows us how people have formulated stereotypes about the Chinese culture that in reality are absolutely ridiculous. Chink-Kee is a visual representation of the stereotypes that Jin Wang is trying to overcome in order to fit in with his fellow classmates and appear to be an average American student.
When we first meet Jin Wang, he is a naïve child who plays with transformers and eats his traditional Chinese lunch. Over time, Jin Wang begins to change. In order to impress his classmates and a pretty young girl, Jin Wang also becomes trapped under a mountain like the monkey king where he can only be free by being true to his identity.
I believe the character of Wei Chen Sun represents those individuals who want to remain true to their culture and struggle to connect with others who are like them. However, like many individuals who try to keep their true identity intact, the pressure to fit in and conform causes them to rebel against the system. The mindset becomes, if I can’t fit into the popular culture then I will become part of the outcast culture.
What I will take with me
American Born Chinese is the first graphic novel I have ever read. I have read comic book and funny pages, but this is the first graphic novel I have read where there are three separate story lines within the book. Although I enjoyed reading the book, I am not sure if I will continue to read graphic novels. One of the many reasons for my indecisiveness is that I am not familiar enough with the genre to begin selecting a series to read on a leisurely basis, but I have not come to a formal conclusion at this time.
The illustrations in the book really helped me to connect to the characters in the story. I believe that a real world application of using visuals to help students connect to the characters in the text is important, especially with student who are visual learners.
Why is this book important?
I believe that the moral of the story is an important one for Young Adults. In middle school and high school, young adults are trying to find their identity and are also looking to find other people who resemble them. Within each social group of students you see that each member tends to resemble one another in regards to their choice of clothes, music, and outside activities. Within each school there is a central group of students who are considered to be the majority or popular group. While people in others group are trying to hold onto their own identity, they may start to believe that in order to be accepted they must change who they are to match the popular culture.
The book is also important because it can be used as a starting point on discussions regarding cultural stereotypes. The students in the book make comments such as “he is cats and dogs” that are the basis of many racially biased jokes and puns. Young adults are exposed to a culture of media that portrays many cultures in a stereotypical fashion and use stereotypes as a basis for comedy. For example, the African American or Latino male or female who is portrayed as a gang banger or hustler, the Asian male or female who is portrayed as an overachiever in school, or the American male or female who is portrayed as being affluent with all the resources needed to succees. Young adults need to have an understanding of how stereotypes affect other people. Since most Young Adults at one point in their life have felt wrongly judged by another group of people, they will find it easy to relate to the characters and build a discussion on how to change their own stereotypes of others.
American Born Chinese
by SarahAmerican Born Chinese is the action-packed graphic novel written by Gene Luen Yang. The novel consists of three seemingly unrelated stories with Jin Wang, the Monkey King, and Chin-Kee that tie together in the last couple of pages at the end. The main essence of the book deals with the main characters dealing with and overcoming their identity crisis. Jin Wang is a new student who is constantly picked on and hardly has any friends because he is Chinese. He falls in love with an all-American girl and feels that in order for him to be liked by her he needs to have the qualities of a while male. Monkey King is the all mighty powerful monkey who is rejected from a party because he does not wear shoes. As a result of the way he was treated, Monkey King spends days changing his appearance and his ability to do certain things and as a result becomes someone who he is not. Chin-Kee is the negative “Chinese stereotype” that irritates his cousin Danny to no end and brings shame to him.
I really enjoyed reading this book for several reasons; primarily the first dealing with the fact that it is a graphic novel. This was the first time that I have ever read a graphic novel and thought about teaching it in the classroom. I believe a majority of the students would fall in love with this type of literature because of the illustrations and format that it is in.
Chin-Kee was an absolutely hilarious character that when read out loud will have you off your seat dying with laughter. The stereotypes are used to provoke many different responses from the reader. When Chin-Kee first moves in with Danny and his family to visit, all of his belongings are in boxes that Chinese food comes in, which is funny. On the other hand when things are being said about the Chinese kids and they start to cry you feel nothing but bad for them.
People of all race/age/sex will be able to relate to this book because of the simple fact that the themes portrayed in it speak to volumes of people. Especially growing up students are trying to come to terms with who they are and fit in at the same time. American Born Chinese would be a very positive influence to those that are going through these life changes. Also, ABC could be used across the curriculum with students who would be able to learn more about the Chinese culture and the arts.
American Born Chinese
by PatriciaAmerican Born Chinese is a well-deserved winner of the Printz Award. Gene Luen Yang integrates the story of the struggle to fit in as an Asian American with his “three” ingenious characters: Jin Wang, the Monkey King, and Chin-Kee. Each character serves a unique purpose that is cleverly revealed in the end. Reading this book reminds us how it is sometimes hard to stand tall and be proud of who we are.
After the “heads-up” about the book in class I was prepared to enjoy it even though I am NOT a comic book fan. The fact that I really liked this book made me think about why I am not a comic book fan and I think I discovered why. I don’t feel this book catered to males as I think most comics do. American Born Chinese also has the flow of a “normal” story in a book. It has a beginning, middle, and end, which I really like to have as a reader. You can read this comic and get closure.
The pictures are just as integral a part of this novel as the story line. I was really amazed by how much they contributed to the story in themselves. It amazes me that someone could create such a brilliant story out such a few actual words.
I can’t even describe how much I think middle school students, but especially boys, would like this book. I’ve never taught middle grades so I might be thinking a little too optimistically, but it seems it would be a winner. There are so many elements to discuss in this book, not including its major theme of self-acceptance.
Studying the pictures would be a great opportunity to practice some critical literacy skills. For example, students could analyze the author’s perceptions of people and things, based on the pictures, and compare them to their own. Students could also deconstruct the author’s choice of characters and the impact of their accents and beliefs. After our discussion about critical literacy in our last meeting, this book seems like a perfect match for creating CL lessons.
American Born Chinese
by Michael
This is an interesting book to give a blurb on. It is my first attempt at reading a graphic novel. It is about three main characters: the Monkey King, Jin, and Chin-Kee. There are three separate stories that are woven together rather well in the end. The Monkey King becomes a master of Kung-Fu and because of that becomes a bit egocentrical. He begins to think of himself as a god. This creates problems for him and leads to a journey to both find and prove himself to his maker. Jin is an American boy of Chinese heritage, who sees his Chinese background as a hindrance. He is never very happy with himself and longs to be something else until one day he wakes up and has changed (at least externally). Chin-Kee is this stereotypical Asian character that speaks with an accent and is just so over the top it is hilarious. He is supposedly Jin’s cousin and is causing him embarrassment everywhere he goes. They end up in a fight and Jin realizes that Chin-Kee is not his cousin but is in-fact the monkey king, who is his former best friend’s father. This is where all of the characters are woven together. Chin-Kee was simply a form that the Monkey King had chosen to take to keep an eye on his son and later on Jin. They were emissaries to the human race. All of it came to a head within Jin himself. He needed to be content with who he was. He learned that it was okay to be himself and sought out his friend to apologize for what he had said and done. I was really impressed with the whole thing.
I’m glad this was my first journey into graphic novels. Following these three characters around and eventually pulling them together in the end was very interesting. I like Yang’s social commentary within the novel as well. The characters’ speech and actions say a lot for how youth look at people who are different than they are. Many of the characters in the background would pull their eyes to make them slant and make comments such as chink and gook. It’s not a happy picture necessarily, but it is a true representation, I think, of how differences are seen. For the few amount of actual words that it contains, this book says quite a bit. The pictures speak volumes as well. Many people would view this as simply a comic book, but I believe that it is as much of a story with a theme as any other novel out there. It is also a lot of fun to read. It was quite funny. Chin-Kee is hilarious. If you read his parts out loud, you will get the full effect.
I can think of a very simple rationale for stating the value of this book for teens. It is an easy book to read. I can see it as a fun book for any age group, but I can see it mainly for middle-school age students or possible early high school students who just can not get into reading for one reason or another. This book can be a good bridge book. It can get them reading and comprehending and analyzing a novel quickly, before they really even know what hit them. It can be a great confidence boost by showing them that they can in fact read a book and understand what it was talking about. It can show them that reading can be enjoyable, which is kind of the point. Perhaps this novel can be a springboard into other genres of novels. It is at least a good springboard into the graphic novel genre which is growing by leaps and bounds as a recognized form of literature. I believe that it could be loads of fun to teach a book like this. I can not think of any students that would not get into it. I would definitely use it as an extra reading in one of my classes.
American Born Chinese
By Megan
Having never read a graphic novel before, American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang provided me with an amazing introduction to this type of literature! I don’t know what was more impressive; the illustrations or the story line! The book begins with the story of the Monkey King, a powerful ruler who doesn’t want to be seen as a monkey any more, but as a god. The next section introduces Jin Wang, a Chinese-American boy who struggles to embrace his ethnicity. When he and his family move to a small town where he is the only Chinese-American in the school, things get even worse. In the third section, Chin-Kee is introduced, a boy who is the epitome of every Chinese stereotype that has ever been created! Chin-Kee literally ruins his cousin Danny’s life every time he comes to visit him in the United States. For the majority of the book, Yang takes the reader back and forth between these seemingly unrelated tales of the Monkey King, Jin Wang, and Chin-Kee. Although each story is entertaining in their own right, the best part of the book is towards the end when Yang brings these seemingly unrelated characters into one story.
As a white American I can’t say that I could totally relate to what Jin-Wang was experiencing, but after reading this book I have a better idea of what minority adolescents go through in America. In addition, although this was a fictitious tale I learned a lot about the Chinese culture and the things that they value. Being a Christian, I was also surprised at the number of similarities there seemed to be between Christian proverbs and Chinese proverbs that were integrated into the story. Many of the things that Tze-Yo-Tzuh (God) said to the Monkey King can be found in the Bible as well.
I would highly recommend this book for any adolescent to read, regardless of what their reading interests typically are, or what reading level they happen to be on. The pictures are an obvious draw for any struggling reader, but advanced readers would enjoy this book as well. I would love to read this book with an entire class, because not only would the pictures and humor make it a high interest read, but the theme of self identity and acceptance is one that every student will come face to face with at some point in their life. On so many levels (entertaining, insightful, and relevant) American Born Chinese is a must read!
“That’s it? What happens next? Does Lakshmi make it back to her family? If so, do they except her back? Does she ever get over what has happened to her?” These questions and many more flooded my brain as I read the final sentence of the book Sold, by Patricia McCormick. I must admit I was a bit disappointed, how could the book just end like that? Although as I thought about it more, I realized how captivated I was by this character, Lakshmi, and the horror of her story. If this had been like any other book, I wouldn’t have really cared what happened at the conclusion of the story, but then again I guess Sold, is not like any other book!
Sold is a story of a Nepali girl sold into sex slavery by her stepfather, and is told through a series of short free verse poems. McCormick does an amazing job of weaving each poem together, allowing the story to flow so perfectly that you forget you are reading poetry altogether! The rhythm of McCormick’s words and story are so beautiful, that once you begin, you are tempted to continue reading, turning the pages one by one, until there are no more to turn! Ironically, the beauty of McCormick’s writing is in sharp contrast to the horror of the story she chooses to tell.
Lakshmi, a 12 year old Nepali girl, has lived in a small mountain town her whole life. Life is simple, yet toilsome, for Lakshmi, who works hard to help her mother and baby brother, survive the droughts of the dry season, monsoons of the rainy season, and the selfishness of their one-armed gambling step-father. Eventually, with Lakshmi and her family unable to make ends meet, her step-father decides that she must be sent to the city to work, where she will live and send money back to the family so they can pay their rent, buy food, and plant more crops. Unbeknownst to Lakshmi, who thinks she will work as a maid in a wealthy family’s home, her step father sells her off at the local grocery store to a lady who works for a brothel in India. Lakshmi doesn’t realize her fate until she has made the four day journey into India, arriving at a house where she is locked up, beaten, and threatened into submission. The remainder of the book is one big nightmare for Lakshmi, who despite the beatings, starvation, rape, seems to hold onto the one ounce of hope she needed to survive and escape.
The story of Lakshmi, as horrible as it may seem, is based on actual events that take place every day in India. I applaud Patricia McCormick for taking on such a project, and exposing the unimaginable horror of sex slavery to Americans. I believe that every American, including young adults should be aware of the abuse that is happening to these young girls. I am however, in conflict with the idea of some young adults reading this book. Though it is beautifully written, and deals with a topic of extreme social importance, I don’t know if some adolescents would be disturbed by the raw images McCormick paints of men overtaking these young girls. But then again, is being disturbed ok? Often times it takes someone’s disturbance to evoke action. Though as a teacher is it my call to decide whether or not my student’s need to read about a topic that is so disturbing? Once again, this book has left my mind brimming with questions and conflict. So once again, I’ll say Sold, by Patricia McCormick, is not like any other book. Prepare to be moved!
Sold
by PatriciaSold is the story of Lakshmi, a young Nepalese girl, living in the hills of the Himalayas with her mother, baby brother, and stepfather. Her stepfather is a pig of a man to whom her mother feels forced to be married. Due to Lakshmi’s greedy stepfather, she is sold into prostitution where she is stripped of her innocence and soul. Lakshmi and her mother think that she is only moving to the city to make wages as a maid. Little do they know that she will endure what can only be described as unimaginable.
This is one of the saddest books I have ever read. What makes this book even more upsetting is the knowledge that it is based on fact. This might be a little random of a reaction but nevertheless it was… The first week I was home with my baby I could not watch the news because it made me so uncomfortable. I had watched the news a million times and had felt fed up with its focus on the negative, but it never scared me to the point of not being able to watch it. In becoming a mother I gained a whole new sense of the world that I still have today. (However I can sort of handle the news again.) While reading this book there was no way not to feel the pain of Lakshmi, but in addition I couldn’t stop thinking about how horrified and devastated Lakshmi’s mom would have felt if she knew what was happening to her daughter. It was also heartbreaking to think about any child growing up in a house remotely similar to the one portrayed in Sold. Now that I am a mother, not only do I put myself in other people’s shoes, I put myself in the shoes of the mothers’ of others.
I think the way this book was written had a strong impact on its audience. Each page was so concise yet elaborate with details. It felt as if not a single word of the book was wasted. Each snippet contributed a great deal to the story. I can’t remember another book I have read similar to this story in that way.
Because my only experience is with elementary students it’s not hard for me to say how, but with whom I would use this text. Regardless of whom I would have read this text, I think there would have to be some preparation for the topic. This book has great potential for the topic of social justice. It leaves you feeling like you must do something to help Lakshmi. Many young adults could benefit from the perspective this book would bring to their lives. So many students gripe about what others would only dream to gripe about. I feel Lakshmi’s story could break teens out of their own strife long enough to consider what goes on in the world around them. It could lead into an action-taking role for students!
I really liked and agreed with Kimberly’s points about Sold in her blog when she mentioned that it’s a good book to bring up issues of trust and survival as well as inner strength.
In addition, this book lends itself beautifully to the use of figurative language and the impact of using it effectively.
Sold
by Caroline
Sold is the powerful story of a young 13 year old girl that is sold by her stepfather for a mere 800-rupee into the world of prostitution. Lakshmi grew up on a mountain in Nepal with her mother, step-father and baby brother in a small hut with a leaking roof. Lakshmi is under the impression that she is going to be working in the city and will be able to provide her family with money to replace their leaking roof. Lakshmi does not question her step-father, nor her “auntie” when he is paid for work Lakshmi not yet completed. Lakshmi is naïve and completely unaware that she has just been sold into a life of prostitution. Lakshmi soon discovers that the world into which she has been sold consists of sex, filth, and lies. The story carries the reader through her time spent in the Happiness House, the ability of the soul to endure and survive, and the glimmer of hope that enables Lakshmi to triumph.
In the novel, Lakshmi and her mother, Ama, are having a conversation about husbands after Lakshmi has begun menstruating. Lakshmi asks her mother, “Why. Why must women suffer so?” (16) and her mother replies with, “Simply to endure, is to triumph.”(16). I was intrigued by this statement and asked myself if I would be able to “simply endure” so that I could “triumph”. At the age of 13 I do not know if I would have had the ability to endure a fraction of what Lakshmi had to endure. I do not know now if I would be able to endure the pain, the loss, and the unending sadness. I am amazed at Lakshmi’s ability to endure horrible acts upon her body, spirit, and soul, and I am in awe of her ability to triumph in the end.
Sold is an amazing story of a young girl’s ability and will to survive. Patricia McCormick takes the reader through the depressing, yet inspiring story of Lakshmi. Sold is a book that can easily be read in one sitting. I read most of it in one night! The ability of Patricia McCormick to write with such detail and imagery is amazing! At times, I felt as thought I was in the room with Lakshmi and could feel some of the same things she felt, even though I have never suffered anything like she did.
Patricia McCormick has taken a very difficult topic to discuss and has brought it to the light. Children are being sold into prostitution all around the world, even here in the United States. At Patricia McCormick’s website she has chronicled her journey to Nepal and India to research this topic for the book. I would highly recommend spending the time to read her diary from her trip. She mentions the fact that she too is a survivor of sexual assault. She does not go into detail, but she was able to share her story with two survivors from a brothel in India.
This book is important for several reasons. The first reason is it shares the unique ability of the human spirit to survive and endure through horrible circumstances. I believe that there are young adults that could connect with Lakshmi’s ability to survive, endure and triumph. Teenagers who have survived through child abuse, sexual abuse, or sexual assault may find this book encouraging and help them to discover a way to triumph.
The second reason this book is important is that is sheds light on the increasing large numbers of children, young girls, and young boys that are being lured into sexual activities by sexual predators. For us in the United States, this is happening through the internet. Sold is a novel that would allow for some discussion about the rise of this disturbing act in the United States and around the world.
The third reason this book is important is it allows teenagers to see a glimpse of life in another part of the world. Patricia McCormick describes the mountain village Lakshmi is from with great detail that I can see it in my head. She describes the cultural traditions and even lets the reader know that Lakshmi had been promised in marriage to a boy from her village. The influence of western culture is also evident in the book. The girls in the Happiness House daily escape their world by watching The Bold and the Beautiful, an American soap opera. Lakshmi befriends a young boy named Harish’s and through him learns about David Beckham and the sport of soccer. He also teaches her some English words using a
Sesame Street
picture book. I can clearly remember the description Lakshmi gave when she drank her first coca-cola, “I take a sip. It is true! A dozen tiny fireworks go off on my tongue. I cannot help but smile.” (236). Who would describe drinking a coca-cola for the first time the way it was described in Sold? These are things that I feel teenagers take for granted about our culture.Sold can serve as a springboard of discussion for many topics. It can be used to discuss the ability of one to endure and survive horrible circumstances, the increase of sex slavery/prostitution of young children, and the influence of western culture around the world. I do feel this book should be presented and taught to a group of students whose maturity level can handle the topics discussed in the novel. These are not topics that are easy and pleasant to discuss, and should be handled in a respectful and sensitive manner.
Sold
by MichaelWow! This is a really powerful book. It is a tough read as it grabs your heart and soul all the way through. It is a story about a girl named Lakshmi, who is 14. She already has a difficult life because her stepfather gambles away all of their money. The drastic seasons in her homeland do not help anything either. She and her mother do the best that they can to get by on a daily basis and seem to have a wonderful relationship. Unfortunately, her stepfather, and the loss of their rice crop in the monsoon, causes them to loose basically what little they do have. Her stepfather, whether intentionally or unwittingly, sells her into the sex slave market in the big city. I tend to believe that he knew exactly what he was doing. She had never seen a city and thought that she was going to be a maid for a wealthy family to help her own family. She was willing to work long and hard to make it happen. She was so sweet and eager and full of questions about her knew life. She believed everyone that she met along the way because of her nature and where she was from. She was placed in a brothel and forced to have sex with men for money. This tore her apart. She did everything she could to put it out of her mind and earn the money to free herself. She soon realized that neither was going to happen and it broke my heart reading about it. She witnessed girls getting sick and women being thrown out on the street. She was beaten and starved. Eventually, she was rescued by an American and a team of people looking to shut places like that down and save girls who were being held against their will.
Following this young girl’s journey is difficult to do. She is so well spoken and tough for her age that it makes you just fall in love with her. From the beginning of the novel, she is already so wise and independent feeling. She helps care for her sibling and the family land while her stepfather is out for days at a time. She is even the voice of reason to her mother who of course does not listen and says that they are lucky to have a man at all after her father’s death. Once she is taken towards the city, you begin to get a bad feeling in the pit of your stomach. I knew that it was not going to be good. She was just so trusting and so eager to look for her friend who no one had seen since she had left. I found myself wanting to bust her out of there and had a tough time sitting around waiting to see what was going to happen. She was treated terribly, a way no human should ever be treated. It is hard to believe that goes on in the world. I guess it is easier for us to believe that people are good, but that isn’t the truth. I don’t even know what to say as far as a personal response goes. This novel has my emotions flying out of control. It is truly tough to wrap my brain around all of this and imagine what these girls go through. It is horrible. I wish that more people would thrust it in people’s faces and get it out there. This novel, and its author, have done a good thing.
I think that this book would be a good one to use in a tenth-grade classroom because of the whole world literature aspect. I also think that the theme is very powerful and the students could really get into and have some great debates and projects come out of it. Perhaps some would think that it is a bit too much to bring into a classroom, but I think that we shouldn’t shy away from the things that affect humanity. Students need to know what goes on in the world. I think that they would surprise many people if given the opportunity to read a book like this. I would certainly like to see what would come about from it. I could come up with some wonderful research projects and essay ideas to go along with this novel, and I believe that students would really get into them. If we give them a chance to care, they will surprise us. Also, the format of the book and the language is good for an average tenth-grade student. They can read it fluidly without having to stop and think about what a word means every few sentences. They way the book is laid out makes it an easy read and makes it easy to comprehend. If I taught tenth-grade, and could get my hands on about 30 copies of this book, I would teach it definitely.
Sold
by Kimberly
“ Lately, I want to tell her, my stepfather looks at me the same as the way he looks at the cucumber I’m growing in front of our hut. …. When he looks he sees cigarettes and rice beer, a new vest for himself. I see a tin roof”
It is difficult to imagine what life would be like as a 13 year old girl living in a small mountain village in the country of Nepal. In the book, Sold by Patricia McCormick, we meet a girl named Lakshmi who lives with her mother, baby brother, and step-father in a small hut with a straw thatched roof.
Even at a young age, Lakshmi understands the importance of providing for one’s family. She views the crops her family sells and the plants she grows as a method of providing a better quality of life for her mother and baby brother. Her character is a strong contrast to the character of her step-father. When the house is damaged and the crops are pulled from their roots by the monsoon season, Lakshmi continues to think about the well being of her family over her own needs.
Like Lakshmi, many young women in our country are living in blended families where the mother married/remarried due to pregnancy or financial situations. In many of these situations, the stepfather does not have an active roll in providing for the family, but the mother does not have the means to withdraw her family from the negative situation. In Ama’s case, women are not allowed to own property so if the stepfather were to leave she would be forced to leave her village or find another male to replace him as the head of house. Ama often tells Lakshmi to be grateful for having him around, which is very similar to the plight of women in every country who stay in abusive relationships due to financial and emotional dependence.
Lakshmi innocently agrees to travel to the city to find work. She believes that Baja Sita will assist her in finding legitimate work for a rich mistress in the city like her friend Guita, whose family has a tin roof and electricity. Little does she know that she is about to find her self far away from home in another country being forced to buy her freedom from Mumtaz, an owner of a brothel in India. As the story progresses, we see her lose the innocent thoughts she once had as the connection to her past grows fainter and fainter until is almost disappears.
My reaction
I admit it, I read the entire book in one five hour long sitting. I was so intrigued by Lakshmi’s character and her ability to adapt to the changes that life brought her. I asked myself if I would have the strength to survive in her situation. I have not discovered the answer. It is easy to believe that I would fight back and risk my life in order to avoid being subject to sexual slavery, but it is one of the many situations where you never know what you have in yourself to survive until the situation arrises.
My heart caved in when I read about her being drugged by Mumtaz in order for her to submit to the sexual acts. I have heard on the news and through close friends about women being drugged unknowingly by men in bars and in social settings and forced into sexual situations. Her ability to continue to survive with the knowledge that she could not protect herself from the men who pay to be with her is astounding. When you contrast her ability to survive mentally and physically and learn to develop survival strategies to some of the other characters in the book, you begin to find yourself wanting her to succeed in buying back her freedom from Mumtaz.
One of the more fascinating points of this book is the how western culture has become a part of Indian culture. The characters sit around the television watching shows that are part of the American culture such as “1 million rupees” and “The Bold and the Beautiful”. The girls compare themselves to the pictures of women in movie magazines and spend their money on items such as coca cola just like young girls in America.
It is ironic that the very situation that keeps the young women in bondage allows them the freedom to attend school, have a roof over their head, food to eat, and medical care. It is also ironic that the system who puts them in danger of contracting diseases such as AIDS, Hepatitis, and TB discards them onto the street after they fall victim to illness and are of no monetary value. The young women in India are represented as goods to be bought and sold like groceries or clothing.
This book allowed me to reflect on some of the issues I encountered when working with at-risk youth. The work I did as a Resident Counselor has had an enormous impact on my life. I encountered numerous teenagers who, like Lakshmi, have mothers who have been with a series of negative relationships with another adult, both male and female. The teenagers I work with begin to develop difficulties in dating relationships and are susceptible to abusive relationships. One young girl that sticks on in my mind lived with her mother who had been married to a man who was incarcerated and then remarried another male who was currently incarcerated in a prison out of state. The mother could not understand why her daughter had behavior problems and was beginning to talk to males who were much older than she was at the time. In another situation, the young girl’s father was living with the mother of his child (who had several children from other relationships) but was continuing to have outside relationships with other women. Young women develop a sense of positive adult interaction, especially dating, through mirroring what is being displayed in their own household.
Why is this book important?
I am not sure whether society has become less innocent over the years and the topics being discussed in YAL has slowly begun to discuss the new issues that are arising among teenagers or if society was never as innocent as we would like to remember it being and these issues have always played a role in the lives of teenagers. Unfortunately, I believe that the later part is true. On a good note, we now live in a society that is less in denial about issues facing teenagers such as divorce, AIDS, child pornography, the dangers of child predators on the internet, sexual identity, pregnancy, and drug use.
This book is important for several reasons. The first being that is opens up discussions about inner strength and perseverance. In every group of teenagers I have encountered there is at least one survivor of life’s circumstances. Whether it was sexual abuse, verbal abuse, difficulty in school, a bad parental divorce, conflict with siblings, pregnancy, STD’s, or drug/alcohol addiction (themselves or a relative) it gives them hope to hear that someone else what in their situation and lived through it.
The second reason is the rise in the number of children who are being lured on the internet by sexual predators. Similar to the book, Sold, men can pose on the internet as friendly young adolescent males looking for friendship. However, like the case of Lakshmi and thousands of other young females, the reality of the stranger behind the mask can lead them into life altering situations such as the sex trade industry, rape, and in some cases death.
The third reason is that it opens the eyes of teenagers to a world outside of their own culture. This book is a starting point for research and discussion about the culture in India and Nepal, about the influences of western culture (television) on other countries, and about how our culture is similar to their culture.
The fourth reason is that it discusses the importance of friendship among females. The girls have a bond of friendship where each girl plays a particular role within the group. Shilpa uses her friendships to gain approval with Mumtaz by using personal information gained through her daily contact with the other girls. Shahanna, Anita, Monica, and Pushpa all have a unique friendship within the house. All of the girls teach Lakshmi how to survive in the house. The friendship between the girls teaches us both about human nature and the culture of those living in the sex trade industry. The story of friendship allows the reader to connect with the young women whose outward culture may appear to be radically different from their own. This book serves as a starting point for a discussion among young women about the importance of friendship and trust during times of survival.
Background Information
The growing sex trade industry in India has made headline news in recent years. Along with the growing tourism industry and the influx of American industry, the country’s underlying cultural values have created the subculture of the sex industry in India and other third world countries.
The exchange rate between the Indian rupee and the American dollar is mind boggling. The Indian rupee is worth about .022 American dollars. So, when we reflect on her owing 20,000 rupees to a madam for her freedom, which translates to approximately 440 dollars, it does not appear by American standards to be a large sum of money. However, if you take into consideration that she makes about 30 rupees per customer, approximately 66 cents a person can visualize the severity of her situation.
The growing sex industry in third world countries is not a new topic of discussion in the United States of America among child protection activists who are dedicated to protecting the missing and exploited children of the sex trade industry.
It has also sent off alarms among the members of the UNAIDS council. According to current reports, India now out ranks South Africa in terms of the number of AIDS cases that have been diagnosed in the country. Approximately one percent of the population in India has been infected with the virus. The UNAIDS council is working towards a solution to prevent a country wide epidemic of the virus. Education, testing, and counciling along with the distribution of medication have become a top priority among members of the council. However, the underlying cultural values associated with using condoms to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS may prove to be a more difficult challenge.
In India, as well as countries such as South Africa, many males believe that having sex with a young virgin can cure them of disease. According to reports, this makes young girls more appealing to those who are buying and selling in the sex trade industry.In Indian culture, women still have few rights. In general, women are not allowed to own property, their marriages arranged to men who often live in villages far away from their families, and the rate of gendercide continues to increase. Women have turned to the growing sex trade industry as a means of providing for their families in situation where the husband has abandoned the family. Women in India’s growing industry of strip clubs and prostitution can make about 500 rupees (11 dollars) a night.
Sold
by SarahSold tells the horrific story of 13 year old Lakshmi and her transformation from childhood into womanhood almost overnight. Lakshmi lives on a mountain in Nepal with her family who is extremely poor and whose life is directly influenced by the changes in the weather. Whether Lakshmi is dealing with monsoons or drought, her family’s continual struggles always leave them at barely making ends meet. As a way to earn extra money for the family Lakshmi offers to go work as a maid for a wealthy woman in the city. Lakshmi’s stepfather instead sells her into prostitution unbeknownst to her, and does not discover what has happened until it is too late. Sold depicts one teenager’s life that is sold into a life of sexual slavery in the brothels of India, but is a representation of the nearly 12,000 Nepali girls who experience this trauma every year.
“Simply to endure is to triumph.” These are the words that Ama tells Lakshmi during times of struggle, and that Lakshmi takes with her to India and uses as a survival technique. Never before in my life have I read a YAL that has addressed such realistic issues head on without holding back. Honestly as I read this book it pulled at my heartstrings. Lakshmi is a representation of thousands of young girls who lead the life she led without having any say in the matter. I have heard about the sex trade in different countries, but never before have I seen a bird’s eye view of exactly how it happens.
The whole situation seems almost fictional, due to the horrific circumstances these young ladies have to go through. As Lakshmi tries to hold onto her ideals and not let Mumtaz take them from her, one by one they slip through her fingers until there is nothing left. The lowest point being where we realize that Lakshmi has in fact been drugged in order to succumb to her ideals and she is raped by an older man against her will.
Lakshmi is surrounded by an assortment of different girls, each one helping Lakshmi become the new “Lakshmi” that she is at “Happiness House.” One of the more complex characters that we are introduced to is Monica. Monica at first is very brazen with the girls and the situation she lives in, trying extra hard to take every available customer who comes into the brothel. Everyone in the house is afraid of Monica’s temper, but she is also known to give strange acts of kindness. We learn that Monica has a child at home and she is working to pay her child’s way through school, along with helping her father and family out with operations and other such bills. During her time in Sold, Monica is released and able to go back to her homeland, only to be met at the village limits by her family begging her not to come home, for fear that shame would be brought onto the family. What would her child think? It didn’t matter; they had told her daughter that she was dead. This incredible young woman worked with everything she had for her daughter and family only to be told to go back to where she came from. At this point Monica is left with nothing and she returns to “Happiness House,” because she has nowhere left to turn. We are able to see inside Monica and beyond her tough girl façade, is a little girl trying her hardest to make it through one more day. No one should ever have to be put into the situation that these young girls were put in. What disgusts me is the fact that Mumtaz was able to “pay off” police officers in order to keep her business open. If the people who are supposed to protect us are as corrupt as those doing the corrupting, where are we left? I don’t have an answer. But I do know that something needs to be done, and maybe simply by my spreading this information onto my students something will be accomplished.
I think that this novel would be an excellent resource in the classroom for a number of reasons, the first reason being perseverance. Although Lakshmi lives in horrible conditions and circumstances she continues doing what she needs to in order to survive and triumph at the end. This is an inspirational message that all teenagers need to hear, because it will help bring one’s problems into perspective. Once perspective is established, students will be able to work through their problem instead of focusing on the overwhelming task at hand.
Sold is an incredibly informative book about Nepali girls being sold by their families into sexual slavery in India. This is a subject that I believe not many students will know about, so it will get them thinking about the exploitation of children and to think critically about whys in which to stop this problem. Some students may be able to relate to what has happened to Lakshmi and feel that they can speak out now about it. Also, students will be able to learn more about the Nepali and Indian cultures and see how the Western culture has affected the everyday lives of people half way around the world.
The Book Thief tells the painful but beautiful story of a young girl named Liesel Meminger. Markus Zusak weaves the story of Nazi Germany into the life of Liesel, her family, and her friends. As dangerous as it was, Liesel and her family refuse to embrace Hitler’s movement. Despite the inevitable horrors of such a time, a story of beautiful friendships and the power of literature prevail. This novel brings to perspective that not only Jewish people were deeply wounded by Hitler’s power.
At some point while reading this book I thought about a book by Joyce Carol Oates called We Were the Mulvaneys. I read ityears ago and don’t remember exact details of the story. At first I thought this was a random thought, but then I analyzed my thought further. I remember that Oates described things in such a way that made you feel in touch with all your senses while reading. Another aspect that connected The Book Thief to We Were the Mulvaneys was the fact that they both shared a story of a family living through tragic times. Both books are sad but the relationships in these books are heartwarming. I decided to “Goggle” We Were the Mulvaneys and saw that it was an Oprah book club book from 2001. Underneath the blurb were various reviews. Here are a few quotes…
“We Were the Mulvaneys will break your heart, heal it, and break it again.” “Elegiac and urgent… profound and darkly realistic…emotional power.”
When reading these descriptions of the book I realized that my thought wasn’t so random after all. I feel the same quotes could be used to describe The Book Thief.
Markus Zusak is undoubtedly a very unique and talented author. I would highly recommend this book to a young adult, especially if they had not read a book about the Holocaust before. The topic of the war and Hitler are very present and powerful, yet very cleverly intertwined. The war was not always on the front burner. Instead, individual relationships were formed and the war was weaved in and out of each relationship. I appreciated Zusak’s fresh perspective of the war from a non-Jewish family’s point of view. Having other experiences with this topic many times before, I have already gone through the emotions this book evokes. This is not to say I didn’t feel anything as I read, but had this been the first book about Nazi Germany I had encountered, it may have felt even more compelling.
Teens are expected to understand the abstract nature of literature, and this book provides several themes to analyze. There are many thought provoking ideas to discuss throughout this book including: choice and impact of narrator, theme of stealing, theme of books, the power of words, the kiss…
Sometimes it’s hard to actually believe what happened and we feel as if it would never happen today. This book, and others like it, makes it possible for teens to begin to grasp the reality of this tragedy and understand why it occurred. The Book Thief alsooffers a historical context to connect to the author’s purpose and messages not mention it has a deep richness in style.
The Book Thief
by CarolineThe Essence of the Book
The Book Thief is the story of a young girl named Liesel living in Germany during WWII, captivatingly told by Death. At the young age of 9, Liesel must leave her mother and freshly buried brother to go live with a foster family in the small town of Molching, Germany on a street named Himmell, ironically translated as Heaven. She forms a very close relationship with Hans Hubermann, her foster father, as he teaches her how to read and comforts her during her nightmares. The story is interestingly intertwined with the numerous relationships Liesel develops. Liesel’s relationship with Rudy continues through out the book as they must deal with demands of being a young child in Nazi Germany. Together, they form a friendship built on trust, loyalty and thievery. The relationship between Liesel and the mayor’s wife is one of the most loving and complicated relationships in the novel. Liesel is allowed to “steal” books from the library of the mayor’s wife. Liesel is not fully aware of the impact she has had in helping her heal from the death of her own son many years earlier. Liesel’s relationship with Max is relationship built on trust, friendship, and love that continues on long after Max leaves their home. The Book Thief is a masterfully written novel that demonstrates the will of one’s need to survive and the act of survival.
Personal Reflection
The Book Thief is definitely a book I will read again! I have never read a piece of historical fiction pertaining to WWII as well written as this book. The reason I found The Book Thief to be so interesting is that it is told by Death through the eyes of a young girl. The novel shows a compassionate side of the Germans that is not usually written about. Liesel’s foster family takes in Max, a Jewish man, and risks their own lives to save his. The author does a beautiful job at intertwining the characters to develop an outstanding piece of fiction. The characters portray many of the different view prevalent during such a tumultuous time. We see the sides of war from Nazi Germany, the Jews, young German children, mothers and fathers that have lost their children to the war, and Germans who attempted to stand up to the Nazi party. Through these perspectives, Zusak allowed me to see the perspective of a Jewish man being hidden by a German family, the perspective of those not willing to conform to Hitler’s regime, the affects of war on not just the allies, but the enemies as well, and the ability to love and survive.
Professional Rationale
The Book Thief definitely has its place in a world history or European history class. Zusak allows the reader the opportunity to experience WWII with a different set of eyes. Imagine the discussions a teacher could have with his/her students pertaining to the different perspectives of WWII. The Book Thief is a radical change book that should be on the approved reading list.
The Book Thief
by Cliff
“When Liesel looked back on the events of her life, those nights in the living room were some of the clearest memories she had. She could see the burning light on Max’s eggshell face and even taste the human flavor of his words. The course of his survival was related, piece by piece, as if he were cutting each part out of him and presenting it on a plate.”
The storyline of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak follows Liesel Meminger, an orphan, living under the strenuous living conditions of both poverty and Nazi Germany during the peak of World War II. The novel’s narrative weaves in and out of the lives of her family and neighbors as they search for their identity and morality during this confusing, complex time in history. However, the story is not delivered by an ordinary narrator, as it is Death himself who delivers this tale with an ghostly omniscient tone as he tells the story of his encounters with Liesel and the other characters as his profession intertwines within their lives. He nonchalantly introduces his tale as, “It’s just a small story really, about, among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist fighter, and quite a lot of thievery.” Though the story is nothing near this simple as the author stylistically and quite eloquently creates an intricate story about friendship, family, identity, and human nature.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak hauntingly relates the story of Leisel and her foster family’s plight in Molching, Germany during World War II so effectively you can “taste the human flavor of his words…as if we cutting each part out of him and presenting it on a plate.” Zusak’s story is remarkably human as any one who has felt an ounce of love or compassion for another soul will be able to relate to the moving storyline and the beautifully written characters. This novel delivers a unique perspective with an unprecedented voice. Perhaps no group in the past 50 years has been villianized as much as the Nazis, so it is interesting as Zusak brings out the human side of the German people during this time where we cannot help but recognize ourselves in their actions. Zusak shows that many Germans were just like us with families, honest jobs, and daily lives that were uprooted as a tyrant ruled with fear and propaganda. Characters such has Max, Rudy, and Alex Steiner show how average people struggled to cope with the evil going on around them. And Death is quite an effective commentator, not just about the evils of Nazi Germany, but war itself. It is also quite enchanting as Death is able to narrate and describe quite poetically the most important aspects of human nature, specifically the importance of family, friendship, and compassion.
All of Zusak's characters a craftily written, but Hanns Hubberman. It is nothing short of remarkable how the author creates one of the most loving, unique father figures I have ever read in the form of Hans Hubberman. From laboriously teaching his foster daughter to read to risking his life through, not only simply feeding a starving Jewish prisoner, but to risking his life to hide a Jewish fugitive because of a promise to an old friend. It is no wonder that Liesel loves her father with her entire heart and that the genuineness of their relationship cannot help but catch the attention of Death himself.
The story although revolves around Liesel and her struggle to cope with the death of her brother and acclimating to a foster home in a poverty-stricken neighborhood. She copes in many ways, most notably through the thievery of books. She finds solace in words and eventually shares this solace with the people around her in powerful scenes of her reading during air raids to calm her neighbors. She also communicates through words with her Jewish fugitive who creatively expresses his life story, dreams, and fears through simple picture books that in which any reader will find delight. Liesel would be destined to express her life in words, which would save her life in more ways than one. As the war inevitably encroaches on the lives of those in Molching, the reader’s heart is torn as these beautiful characters collide with the horrors of war. The reader though left with a great sense of tragedy and loss cannot help, much as Death, but be confounded yet appreciatory of the human experience.
The Book Thief is right at home in the 10th Grade curriculum as it provides a fresh look at an event in world history that is still not fully comprehendible today. It may also fit in the 9th or 12th grades curriculum. As it tells the perspective through the eyes of a child who is by no means a conventional character, the young adult reader can easily relate to her. The narrative voice is also so simple yet eloquent that the multifaceted themes are accessible in a way few books on the subject are able to accomplish. Also, though it presents the consequences of war, it does not do so in such a gruesome way as to warrant any alarm that it may be too graphic for a young adult reader. Though the prose is simple, it is in-depth enough for layers of analysis of plot, character, theme, and symbolism development. The themes presented in this book are more than relevant and tangible for the modern reader and The Book Thief should undoubtedly accepted in most high school curriculum.
The Book Thief
by Michael
For my first Printz book, I read The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. This is a wonderfully written book about a young teenage girl living in Nazi Germany told from the point of view of death itself. Her brother dies, she is given up by her mother, and she is forced to live with a foster family which doesn’t sound terribly appealing at first. Liesel makes a connection with her foster father, who becomes Papa, and her foster mother, who becomes, Mama. She lives a life that most don’t live by 80. She learns the power of love and the power of the written word and how both can continue to push you forward. It really is a beautiful story.This novel ate at my heart all the way through. The duality of man never ceases to amaze me. The hatred from the Nazis towards the Jews is enough to make you physically sick. I love that Zusak continually referenced Hitler without actually making him a character. For me, it showed him as the wordsmith that he was, (hiding perhaps) behind his army. He was feared, but never seen, unless he came to visit in a dream like he did with Max. On the other side, the kindness and love that the Hubermanns showed for Max and Liesel was amazing. I think it shows us that perhaps not all of Germany had been brainwashed by this monster. They took Max in and hid him indefinitely, at the risk of loosing their own lives, because they should. I found myself wanting to be a part of this ill-fated family. The narrator could not have been more appropriate. Throughout that time, and in that area, death was everywhere. To get this story from an outsider who sees death for what it really is is a great touch. Death was not taking humans. Humans, namely the Nazis (and the Allies later) were giving death the humans. It was almost like he was employed by Hitler himself. It was a little thought provoking. I have actually recommended this book to a friend of mine who teaches World History and Civics in hopes that he will get as excited about it as I did.
This book has value across the curriculum. It ties our English classrooms in with the History classrooms down the hall. Any time that we can teach across the curriculum, I believe it is always a plus. This time period, and this war, that Zusak writes about is a major time in the history of the world. It is one of the most infamous times ever. When we talk about the dangers of hatred, this is what we discuss. A novel like this one is an excellent way to supplement our History department’s efforts at teaching about Hitler, the Nazis, and genocide. It puts it in an easier context for them. They are able to see a girl who is almost their age and her family living their daily lives, affected greatly. While this is Germany and the early 1940s, students can find a piece of themselves in Liesel and Rudy, Max and Hans. It’s not a culture thing, but a human thing, and I believe that students will pick up on that. This book can add a different layer to the education that reading about it in a text book just can’t do. The vocabulary is on par with that of a high school student. The few German words take a little longer to get through, but add authenticity. The only issue that I see is the fact that it is over 550 pages long. That may or may not present a problem at some schools and to some students. I believe that the book is good enough that it would not present that much of an issue. If given the opportunity, I would definitely teach it after I correlated a lesson with some of the History teachers so that the students would be benefiting in both classes.
The Book Thief
by MelissaThe Essence of the Novel
In one word, the essence of The Book Thief is : survival. Throughout this novel, people struggle with mortality, spirituality, and sense of self. From the onset of the novel, the reader is faced with death and sorrow and the will to survive. With the death of Liesel’s little brother to the abandonment of her biological mother, she grows up quickly, as did Anwell in Surrender.
With a new family and new home, Liesel quickly assimilates and learns the ways of life on Himmel Street. She watches as her mother carries a grudge against a neighbor, manifested by spitting contests on each other’s doors. She learns what not to do so as to avoid the wooden spoon, wielded by her “new” Mama. She learns what it means to be hungry; she watches as her friend is damaged over and over again by society.
She finds a friend in her papa and through him, receives the most precious gift of all, the gift of literacy. Late nights spent deciphering word to painting unfamiliar words on the wall ultimately led to this story, this place in time, this sad but victorious ending.
The arrival of Max brings another touching tale to the novel, one of girl and Jew. Together they form an unbreakable bond of companionship and love of words. Liesel nurses him back to health with words and random gifts, useless to the normal person, treasures to Max. He in turn crafts a beautiful sketchbook of their life together, The Word Shaker. They continue to think of each other, even after Max has to leave. She sees him in her dreams, her prayers, and even next to her bed.
With the war raging and Hitler’s regime reeking havoc on the world, Nazi Germany becomes a negative term for many on Himmel Street. Hans Hubermann and his daughter struggle with “Heil Hitler” each time they are forced to say it. Rudy Steiner is so angry at Hitler that he sets off one day to murder him. In essence, all that the Germans believed in so fiercely was murdering their sons and husbands every day while ruining the survivor’s sense of self.
At the conclusion of the novel, death greets Liesel and walks with her a while, reuniting her with her long lost words. What a powerful image Zusak creates here, of an old woman, with whom death has been familiar with all her life, gingerly taking her story back from him. It is as if death is apologizing for all that happened to Liesel in her youth, for he ends by saying, “I am haunted by humans”.
Personal Response
Wow! What I found so endearing and powerful about this book is that it is so real. Following this little girl, lost and lonely, as she found her place in this world and her new family felt like I was reading about a long-lost sister or relative or the story of my grandmother before my birth.
It only took me three days to read this book, but it took me a full day to get through the last hundred pages. Tears spilled down my face when Hans Hubermann came home and only intensified as the book drew to a close. I was touched by the sincerity of two little children, a boy with lemon-colored hair and little girl with more tenacity than I will ever know, as they fed the Jews. I was sobbing with relief when Max and Liesel united on the street and she quoted his book to him. I was overwhelmed with grief when the little girl was rescued only to find there was no one left but her.
The loss of home, family, and friends and the ability to overcome and carry on is the underlying theme of this book. Liesel grew to love and trust and believe once again in the essence of family and in doing so, her story helps me to see the other side of Nazi Germany. She lost her family not once but twice; she lost her best friend and first love. However, as death tells it, she goes on to get married, have 3 children, and grandchildren.
Overall, she lives a life of love, one thing she always wanted and the one thing I think every human aspires to.
I am unsure of whether I have ever read a book so moving and spiritual than The Book Thief. At times I felt I was on a never-ending road and that the book was dragging me along. However, after completing it, I want to reread it as I know I will find new ideas and passages that I missed. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the book, the style, and the concreteness of it all, even as I listened to the abstract voice of death. Indeed, there are not enough words of praise from my lips that would do this book justice. It is truly a masterpiece.
Professional Rationale
This book is suitable for any age but due to the use of profanity, extreme though realistic, this book is more geared toward mature audiences, i.e. juniors and seniors in high school. However, when used as a read aloud by any teacher, it can be edited for middle school students and still maintain its effectiveness. This book will provide detailed information and in depth knowledge about the other side of World War II to anyone who reads it.
An Abundance of Katherines
by Michael
Colin is a seventeen year old, recent high school grad who has just been dumped by his girlfriend, Katherine. She is, in fact, the nineteenth girth named Katherine to dump him. His life is over, and all he can think about is how much he loved her and wanted her to come back. His best friend, Hassan, talks him into going on a road trip to begin to recover, which turns out to be the best thing he has ever done. They wind up in the small town of Gutshot, TN living with a girl named Lindsey Lee Wells and her mother, Hollis. All Colin wants to do is to matter to the world; he believes this will bring Katherine XIX back to him. He begins to work on a theorem that demonstrates and plots relationships mathematically and graphically. He sees this as his big “genius” moment. Unfortunately, he is unable to complete it (by himself at least). His new friend Lindsey offers him some advice, which proves to be the spark that lights the flame of ingenuity within him. The funny thing is, the closer he gets to completion, the more he begins to realize that he is over his most recent heartbreak and just may be into someone new, Lindsey Lee Wells perhaps. They seem to be the only two that they each can really be themselves in front of and who really understand on another. And one day, after an epiphany, it happens. They realize that they are right in front of one another, only the theorem doesn’t work for them. Colin figures out through Lindsey that love and life must be lived; they cannot be predicted. Colin has evolved into a new person (with a little help).
Colin’s plan for making mathematical sense out of relationships, and more specifically break-ups, is very interesting. I’m sure that everyone has been through a relationship ending, whether as the dumper or the dumpee, and tried to make sense out of a situation when none was there to be made. Green has hit on a topic here that affects everyone. I have never seen it approached from this angle before. I’m really quite intrigued by what he has done here. Colin wants to matter to the world because of his intelligence and because he thinks it will bring his ex-girlfriend back to him. Lindsey talked about just fitting in with different groups of people: the oldsters, the popular crowd, Hassan and Colin. The basic elements of these characters encompass youth today. They want to fit in or at least to not stand out in a bad way. They want to be liked, to matter, to be someone. This story was not about girlfriends named Katherine or girlfriends at all. It was about a boy trying to find himself, which is the case of most everyone in school. Even the two side characters, Hassan and Lindsey, were two teenagers lost. Upon meeting them, you would never have known it because they were both quite good at hiding it. Between the three of them, I feel like I can see a significant piece of every student that comes through my classroom door every day. I can even see myself just a few years ago. This book took me back to when I was a teenager and reminded me of the beauty, the joy, and the pain that came with it. It was very insightful. The math formula, however, was a little bit over my head. I did really like the footnotes with the various explanations and all the humor that came with it. Also, this novel is hilarious. I laughed out loud (I’m talking full out cackle) at least 25 times while reading it. Hassan is an absolute riot. His character was the perfect complement to Colin and his analytical, serious thinking. He was a beautifully written character, my favorite supporting character yet. I also really liked Lindsey and the complements that she brought to Colin. She was intelligent, but in a bit of a different way. She was therapeutic for him, like a one-woman rehab center for a man addicted to being dumped.
This novel can be taught in most any high school English classroom. I’m not sure that I would choose one over the others for any specific reason however. The book is an easy read. The language used may not be difficult enough for that of a higher level senior class, but it is not too difficult for freshmen either. I think it might be interesting to bring in a math teacher who understands the formula to help explain its significance to the class and perhaps demonstrate for them how it would be used. I am all for teaching books that are relevant to their lives, and this one is definitely that. High school students deal with little else but relationships and worries over being popular or important or noticed, or whatever the case may be. Green’s novel does a good job of tackling these subjects without patronizing them I think because they are not the ‘center of attention.’ The center of attention is Colin’s quest to find himself and figure out what his problems with 19 Katherines have been. My students could get into this book and have an enjoyable time trying to figure out Colin and exactly why he only dates (and gets dumped by) girls named Katherine. All teenagers can find a piece of themselves in this book and connect it to their lives. They may not volunteer the information, but they will want to see what happens to Colin in the end.
There is one minute sex scene, but I really don’t think it is a big deal since the author didn’t go into much description. If anything, it might help keep them interested.
I would definitely consider teaching this book to my students in the future.
An Abundane of Katherines
by Cliff“…How you matter is defined by the things that matter to you. You matter as much as the things that matter to you,” is one of the great epiphanies Colin Singleton and his cohorts discover in the humorous novel An Abundance of Katherines by John Green. The novel follows Colin Singleton and his charmingly vulgar best friend, Hassan, on the classic teenage road trip after Colin’s senior year in high school. Needless to say themes of teenage self-discovery abound in this book. While relevant, modern readers will immediately be able to recognize the formulaic story and identify cliché characters, themes, and teenage situations.
The story opens as Colin, a “washed-up” child prodigy, has suffered his 19th break-up from the 19th girl named Katherine (yes, the spelling matters). He is also dealing with the nagging fear that he will never live up to his self-imposed expectations that accompany prodigy status. Never popular in high school, all he wants in life (besides a girlfriend named Katherine) is to be known worldwide as a genius. “Famous is the new popular,” cleverly observes Hassan. In order to lift the spirits of he best friend, Hassan convinces that the great panacea for Colin’s angst is a road trip. As they escape their familiar Chicago and travel this nation’s great interstate network, they end up in rural Gutshot, Tennessee at the supposed grave of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, with whom Colin identifies as his “missing piece” of his heartbreak feels similar to the hole in the belly of the archduke. Convenient plot twists lead to Colin and Hassan befriending the locals and being offered a summer job recording the oral histories of the townsfolk. All the while, Colin is trying come up with the mathematical theorem that explains why all of his relationships have ended disastrously. Lindsey, Colin’s predictable love interest, aids Colin in this academic pursuit. She also is the plot vehicle for Colin and Hassan to discover their surrounding community where they hilariously partake in cherished local customs such as cruisin’ and hog hunting. Also, there is the more serious tasks of interviewing the “oldsters” and gaining insight into what it means to truly be a good human being, live a fulfilling life, and ultimately matter.
Overall, An Abundance of Katherines is an enjoyable, quick read that most definitely has comedic value yet also contains pertinent moments that can be relevant to most young adult readers. While this may be your stereotypical teenage road trip narrative, the characters are well written and most any reader will be able to identify with at least one. Hassan absolutely must be nominated for the best supporting character as he delivers some of the novels funniest comic relief and charming observations. Hassan is one of the most believable 19 year old guys this reader has come across. Right down to the crass humor and language, this novel is perfect for any teenage male. It is also witty enough to entertain more discerning audiences as Colin provides some intelligence to a otherwise sophomoric plot. Also, Colin, Lindsey, and Hassan go through very typical teenage issues as dealing with relationships and selecting which future is the most fulfilling. No matter how old, every one that reads this book will be able to identify with their own high school experience and hopefully laugh at themselves just a little.
Justifying An Abundance of Katherines as a novel to include in a curriculum may be a tough sell. Seasoned teachers and book snobs may find it difficult to label this novel as magnificent literature. The humor in the novel definitely is targeted to a teenage audience who has grown up on South Park and American Pie therefore can be seen as easily objectionable. However I, as a high school English teacher, feel this novel could really be used to encourage the jaded student to see that all literature is not boring and aloof. I could see any one of my students identifying and enjoying this book as part of an independent reading assignment or recommending it for pleasure reading. A high school senior particularly could identify with the characters’ life and relationship dilemmas. Hopefully, An Abundance of Katherines will not be dismissed as infantile and can somehow find an outlet to students who are in desperate need of literature that reflects their own lives.
An Abundance of Katherines
by Patricia
John Green tells the story of Colin Singleton, a self-pitying “dumpee”. Colin is a classic nerd who wants more than anything to matter in the world. After getting dumped for the nineteenth time by a Katherine, Colin feels the world is ending. His best friend, Hassan, decides to take Colin’s mind off all the dumping Katherines and go on a road trip. Hassan plays the exact opposite role of Colin, being all laughs and trying hard not to accomplish too much in one day.
Together this hilarious duo end up in Gunshot, TN, a far cry from their hometown of Chicago. In going through a series of unpredictable events, Colin discovers what really matters and it doesn’t involve being loved by Katherine. Colin and Hassan gain life lessons they would never have guessed they would learn in a place like Gunshot TN.
After finishing the book I thought of the movie Sideways. An Abundance of Katherines and Sideways both have the same sort of sense of humor about them, a “dumpee” for the main character, and two opposite friends who go on a hilarious road trip. Both the main characters and their side kicks have very similar relationships that evolve from their road trips.
John Green’s mind must work in very strange but great ways. The characters in this book were so unique and well written. I thought the conversations between Hassan and Colin were true to conversations of typical young adults, and they made me laugh out loud many times. Colin and Hassan’s characters were so perfect for each other. I felt like Green must have been writing about himself and his friends to a certain extent because they felt so real.
In addition to the hilarious main characters, there are numerous quirky themes and other threads throughout the book. The footnotes and anagramming are examples of little quirky things that I thought made the book interesting to read. Although I thought this was quirky in a very smart and funny way, I felt some young adult readers would not really get this book. There is a very distinct sense of humor that comes out in this book that I don’t feel would cater to all readers.
On another note, all the obsessing over the Katherines did get a little annoying at times. At the end when Colin finally told the story of each and every Katherine I felt like I had heard enough about them. Despite the slight Katherine overkill, this was a funny and very clever read!
This book could be used for general practice connecting to and personally responding to text. It provides a lot of aspects that young adults could relate to and enjoy pondering. It could be used as a springboard for discussion about students’ self-concept and beliefs about what they want for themselves.
An Abundance of Katherines
by MeganIt is the summer before his freshman year of college and Colin Singleton, a dorky, former child prodigy, is having, yet another post breakup breakdown. He has just been dumped by yet another Katherine. Oddly enough, Colin has only dated girls named Katherine and each one as far as he remembers has dumped him. This breakup seemed to put him over the edge, so as Colin is crying, laying face down on the floor of his room, his best friend Hassan suggests a road trip. After convincing their parents to let them go, and Colin agreeing to call his parents the at the same time everyday, the boys take off with no particular destination in mind. As time comes to pass, they end up in a small hick town in Tennessee called Gutshot. It is there that they meet Lindsey Lee Wells, her boyfriend TOC (“the other Colin”), and the rest of their crew. Lindsey’s family owns the textile mill in town, (which produces, of all things, tampon strings) and Lindsey’s mom Hollis, ends up hiring the boys to conduct interviews of the locals about what Gutshot used to be like.
Meanwhile, Colin is desperately trying to come up with a theorem that could predict, given the correct variables, the outcome of any given relationship. It would identify the Dumper from the Dumpee, and approximately how long the relationship would last. Throughout the book we get a glimpse inside of Colin’s head, as the author shares pictures of the graphs Colin has come up with. Colin wants to be somebody, to make something of his life, so part of his motivation to develop this theorem is so that he’ll feel like he matters in life. Through a series of comic events that go down in the small town of Gutshot, Colin and Hassan, have a summer like no other, full of new experiences, new girls, and new perspectives. Each boy seems to “come of age” during a road trip that every high school boy would dream of having.
This book, An Abundance of Katherines, by John Green is like none other I’ve read before, and due to its uniqueness, I can’t decide if I like it or dislike!. The plot is pretty typical: two boys take a road trip, they both grow and change from their experiences, and the protagonist gets the girl. However, the characters in the book are different and pretty original. Colin is a dorky, paranoid, brainiac, who is obsessed with anagramming and only dates Katherines. His best friend and side kick Hassan is a fat, unmotivated Muslim kid, who keeps the reader laughing at all the cracks he makes on his best buddy Colin. Even if someone couldn’t appreciate Green’s uncanny characters and cynical humor, at least they could learn a bunch of random facts that were dispersed throughout the novel. Through Colin’s wealth of knowledge about everything under the sun and the hundreds of footnotes Green includes, the reader can learn a variety of things such as: a way to remember the first 99 digits of pi, a list of words and phrases in a variety of different languages (Arabic, Dutch, French, Latin, etc.), or who the prime minister of Canada was in 1936. The crazy thing is that theorem that the fictitious Colin was working on throughout the novel, was actually based on sound mathematic facts! Green even went so far as to have his mathematician friend, Daniel Bass, write an Appendix to the book that explained Colin’s relationship theorem, complete with graphs, functions, and equations!
For its humor, quirkiness, and relevant theme, I would recommend this book to older adolescents (high school students versus middle school), but would not however, read this book as a class. I don’t believe this novel to be whole class appropriate due to the over use of the word “fug, fugged, fugging, and fugger”, some sex scenes, and the overall lack of depth found in the characters and plot. I think a high school student would find Hassan’s jokes, the foul language, the adventures, the romance, and the up to date cultural references, very engaging and entertaining. Although the characters didn’t go through any tragic, unjust, or grueling experiences, neither do most American adolescents. Colin and Hassan struggle with the same issues that any typical teenager struggles with, so I think that most teenagers would relate very closely these characters and their story.
An Abundance of Katherines
by CarolineThe Essence of the Book
Colin Singleton is a child prodigy that has just graduated from high school and has been dumped by his girlfriend Katherine. She is not the first Katherine to dump Colin, she is the nineteenth Katherine to dump Colin. Colin is convinced his life is over when his best friend Hassan suggests a road trip to help Colin forget about Katherine. With his friend Hassan, they set out on a road trip and end up in the small town of Gutshot, TN. Once in Gutshot they meet Lindsey Lee Wells, the daughter of Hollis, owner of the town’s textile factory. All Colin wants to do is matter. He hopes that he will eventually “matter” enough to win Katherine XIX back. Colin attempts to develop a theorem that explains the probable length a relationship will last. He believes this theorem will be his chance at becoming a genius, and not a washed-up child prodigy. As the story continues, we see the self-centeredness of Colin as he dwells on his theory of Katherines and his attempt to win back Katherine XIX. Hassan confronts Colin and allows us to see not only Colin’s problems, but Hassan’s and Lindsey Lee Wells’ problems also. Through his new found friendship with Lindsey Lee Wells, they work to create a solution to his theorem. The more Colin works on creating his theorem, the more he realizes that he is over Katherine XIX and may even be falling for Lindsey Lee Wells. Lindsey Lee Wells helps Colin see that love and relationships cannot be predicted, but they must be lived. Throughout the story, we see how Colin develops from a self-centered child prodigy looking for his chance to matter into a better friend and a better understanding of love and life.
Personal Reflection
John Green has written on a topic that everyone can connect with. They have either been the dumpee or the dumpeer, and in either case have probably tried to make sense out of the situation by trying to figure out what went wrong and why. I have never seen the idea of relationships taken to this level of trying to create a theorem that would predict how long a relationship would last and actually placing them on a graph. How interesting that would be!
Through out the book, we are reminded about the constant need to fit in. Colin is constantly reminded that he is no longer a child prodigy and wants to find his place in the world. Hassan, Colin’s best friend, is an overweight Arab, also trying to find his place in the world. He is balancing the traditions and customs of his culture while trying to fit into the Western world. He is also struggling with the decision of furthering his education. Lindsey Lee Wells is the chameleon character. She is able to fit in with the oldsters, the popular crowd, and even with Colin and Hassan. She doesn’t really discover who she is until the end of the book.
The entire math theorem/probability was over my head and did not hold my interest in the book. While this book was an easy read based upon language used and the ability to relate to the characters, I did not find it overly exciting or enjoyable. I did not find it exciting because I prefer to read more action/suspense type books. This was a feel good book about three teenagers trying to find their place in the world.
Even though, I did not overly enjoy reading the book, I found the footnotes at the bottom of the pages humorous. They allowed me the opportunity to sneak a glimpse into Colin’s thought process and reasoning. I did find myself laughing at some of the situations and comments Hassan made. Hassan played an interesting part in the novel of Colin’s best friend. Without Hassan, we would not have had Colin’s discovery that he (Colin) was not the only one with problems and a desire to fit in; that both Hassan and Lindsey Lee Wells had the same needs as Colin. Hassan is by far my most favorite supporting character in this book.
Professional Rationale
I feel that every teenager would have a connection to this story and to one of the main characters. Greene has taken issues that teenagers face and has put it in a novel that they can read. Greene’s ability to discuss relationships and the fear/worry of needing to fit in makes this a book that teenagers can relate with. Daily, teenagers face the need to fit in with a particular group or are dealing with a relationship. Perhaps if reading this book with a class, it would interesting to examine Colin and determine why he is obsessed with dating girls whose name is Katherine. If reading this with an English class, it would be interesting and even beneficial to bring in a math teacher to discuss the math theorem discusses in the book. It would be a great way to integrate reading and mathematics together.
An Abundance of Katherines
by SarahAn Abundance of Katherines is in essence a coming-of-age story for child prodigy Colin Singleton. Colin finds himself yet again, as the newest “dumpee” of one of his many Katherines; this Katherine being the first to actually break his heart. On the brink of depression, Colin and Hassan (Colin’s humorous, Arabic friend) set out on a road trip with no destination in sight, just the journey. Along the way, both Colin and Hassan come across many interesting people and land themselves in Gutshot, Tennessee, which could be the furthest place that either of them could’ve imagined they’d spend their summer vacation. Haunted by his Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, Colin works vigorously towards solving his equation, determined that when he does he’ll be able to predict the future of any relationship and finally win him “the” girl.
When I first started reading An Abundance of Katherines I have to admit that I didn’t like the book very much. The reader is introduced to Colin who is the protagonist of the story and is lovesick over this girl named Katherine. Through all Colin’s whining and complaining and going on and on about him being a child prodigy I thought to myself, if Colin were my friend, I’d tell him that he needs a reality check. Hassan is Colin’s loyal friend who tells him how things are and pulls “Dingleberry,” every time he’s had enough pestering. Early on in the novel we learn that Colin does in fact have several faults, those including: (1) The inability of being able to whisper (2) Telling a story with a beginning, middle, and end (3) Dating too many Katherines (4) Obsessing over his child prodigy status. After I became accustomed to Colin’s personality, I actually started liking his corkiness.
The way in which the book was written is interesting because I’ve never read a novel with footnotes being used as a way of telling a story. The footnotes are written informally and in the tone coming from a child prodigy, which is not typical in YAL that I have read before. As we read deeper into the story, the reader becomes aware of certain Katherines that seem to have had a profound influence on Colin. I for one was completely surprised when I found out that Katherine I and Katherine XIX was the same person. It seemed suitable that the person who started the Katherine obsession should be the one who breaks Colin’s heart and thus ends it. Hassan is also dealing with issues of his own while struggling with his religious beliefs, feelings on premarital sex, and whether or not to go to college.
An Abundance of Katherines is a contemporary YAL novel that is one of a kind. Both Colin and Hassan can be viewed as dynamic characters based upon how much they change from the beginning to the end of the story. From the start of the book, Colin is in search of a theorem that will help determine the future of any relationship. He believes that once this theorem is complete so will he. Dragging along the title of a “child prodigy” Colin feels the pressure to live up to this label, which inadvertently is stifling who he really is as a person. By the end of the book Colin realizes that “There is room enough to make himself into something other than a prodigy, to remake his story better and different…there was room enough to be anyone, anyone except who he’d already been.” Lindsey is a symbol of Colin “reinventing” himself, because she is the first girl who does not have the first name “Katherine,” and also disproves his theory on when their relationship will come to an end.
Due to the fact that An Abundance of Katherines deals with such issues as premarital sex, cursing, conflicting views and many others I would recommend this book to sophomores or higher. The fact that Colin and Hassan are at or around the age of 18 and are also having to question their futures suggests that a more mature audience is required.
An Abundance of Katherines
by KimberlyThe Essence of this Book
The definition of addiction is doing the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result. I admit to dating the same person (literally the same person) on numerous occasions and expecting for it to somehow magically work out in the end. Guess what? It didn’t. Go figure. For some people it is crash dieting and for others it is the people we date. As human beings we all fall into a pattern of comfort, even if it is unhealthy. We all believe that if we control one or two of the variable, for example the type of alcohol we drink rather than the amount, then the outcome will be different. We all have those moments our freshman year in college where we thought, gee I am never going to drink that again without much thought to the fact that we drank it like it was chocolate milk.
What I will take with me.
I remember thinking to myself in the eighth grade that people never change. They may learn new ideas and develop new habits, but essentially the core of a person never changes. This book proves that no matter what life brings to the table; people will essentially remain who they are at the core. For example, even though Hassan finds a girlfriend and drinks beer a few times, he essentially remains “Mr. Funny pants” who does nothing. Lindsey put so much time and energy into changing her outward appearance, but when she alone you see that her true personality is a sweet person who is quirky and spontaneous. Lindsey will always remain that way as a character despite whatever changes may occur in her life. Colin spends his entire life trying to rationalize why things happen and trying to find his “eureka” moment. Colin will always try to explain things that occur in his life rationally because it gives him a sense of security to know that things are not as out of his control as they are.
I have met several people in my lifetime who remind me of Hollis. They are hard working people who would sell their last pair of socks to keep someone else from doing without. At first, Hollis comes across as a hard business lady who is emotionally detached from her daughter, but gradually you begin to see her as a soft hearted devoted mother who is trying to keep the town of Gunshot together. I am not sure if I could continue to keep a whole town together despite the economy, but I admire someone of her character for trying. I do know that I would not make it three days on Survivor Island. I would end up giving all of my coconuts away to someone who is hungry and then they would vote me off the island.
Why this book is important.
This book does not stand out as “the most incredible revelation of our time” but it still maintains a level of importance. Growing up in the years of the Brat Pack with movies such as Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club, I understand the appeal of literature and novels that relates to the social culture of teenagers. I think that the appeal of this book is that it has current references, discusses current social issues, and the characters could be anyone from our local high school. I believe that this book is important because it appeals to the larger culture of teenagers. It opens up a discussion on popular culture and a genre of books and movies based on road trips, friendship, and finding one’s identity.
This book is also important because it describes human behavior in a way that makes the reader relate the characters to their own life. Everyone knows someone like Colin, TOC, Lindsey, or Hassan. It gives young readers a chance to look at the people in their own lives and see them from a different perspective.
I think that this book gives us a glimpse into life in a small factory town. The trend of businesses turning towards foreign markets has led to the downfall of many small towns in America. In North Carolina, when the Pillowtex plant closed near Charlotte, NC several years ago an emergency food bank had to be set up near the plant to assist families of laid off workers. When Winn-Dixie filed bankruptcy and closed its doors, thousands of people were laid off. Although people could draw unemployment, it left many families in a financial crisis due to child care and transportation issues. Young adults are being affected by the changing global market. They may know someone whose family has been affected or it may be their own family who has been affected. With the changing job market, it will be increasingly difficult for young adults to find jobs in fields such as information technology.
Essence of the Novel
“We are slaves, Amari. Slaves.”
This novel is a commanding tale of one girl’s struggle of survival during the heartbreaking days of slavery in America. When the “pale” men enter her village and rip it to shreds, her life is destroyed. Treated with less humanity than an animal, she is forced to understand what is happening to her as her innocence is stripped from her life, just as her clothes are stripped from her small body.
Amari is sold into slavery and is the “ultimate” birthday gift for a spoiled, rich, and obnoxious young man, Mr. Clay Derby. When Amari arrives at her new “home” she beings to fully realize the magnitude of change that has occurred in her life. She meets and is befriended by Teenie, the cook, and her precocious son Tidbit. She learns her place on the plantation and allows the reader a vivid glimpse into the mistreatment of slaves through her encounter with the conflicted Mr. Clay.
When Mrs. Derby smiles upon her and shows kindness, Amari find comfort. However, when Mr shoots Noah and the new baby. Derby, Amari realizes the key to her own survival is through escape. As she and Polly, along with Teenie and Tidbit spend the night in the smokehouse as punishment for their attempt to conspire against Master Derby, the plan is hatched and implemented the next day.
Through the woods to freedom, Amari is on yet another adventure as she continues to fight for her life and the lives of Polly and Tidbit. From snakes to Mr. Clay, she fights her way through miles and miles of land before reaching the “promised land”. Upon arriving at Fort Mose, Amari is able to relax but only for a moment. As she realizes that her future will now involve a child she created with Clay, she is more than ever determined to preserve her freedom and her own story. “This child carries the spirit of my mother.”
A poignant ending yet powerful nonetheless, Amari shows the in the end, it is indeed possible to overcome any obstacle when fighting for freedom.
Personal Response
This book is such an easy book to read and connect with. For most readers, slavery is a term that brings horrific images to mind and takes most Americans back to a dark time in our history. Reading the words on the pages was like listening to this little girl’s voice and in that voice, pain and sadness abound. I enjoyed the use of voice in this book, as it switched from one girl to the other. I found the progression of the characters’ development to be most powerful.
As Polly first comes into the plot, she is just as tainted and prejudiced as the people who have owned and mistreated her. She can’t see past the stereotypes and biases to realize she is in a position to affect change. Only after several incidents of Amari/Myna being mistreated does Polly begin to change her ideas and misconceptions. Thus a special bond between two lost girls is formed.
Likewise, the connection between Amari and Besa is one of such sweet sorrow. A perfect love moving towards marriage, their life together is brutally and mercilessly destroyed. As they leave each other and move towards their own destiny, there is a sense that they will never be what they were intended to be but that their paths would again cross. It is as if Sharon Draper knew the book could not be concluded without giving both Amari and Besa that long-awaited closure. Sadly, Besa is found a broken man with lifeless eyes and finally Amari can release the hopes and dreams of her other life and face her future head-on.
What I found most tragic is how Mr. Derby so heartlessly murdered Noah and then the newborn baby. I suppose my reaction is based not only on the scene but also on the fact that I know this type of incident was frequent during those terrible days. Aside from the reunion between Liesel and Max on the streets in Germany in The Book Thief, this is probably one of the most gut wrenching yet well-written scenes from any book I have ever read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and thought, just as in Surrender, the juxtaposition between Polly and Amari was fascinating. I was captivated by each character and found Teenie to be on the wisest characters I have ever encountered. One of my favorite lines from the book, also an important theme, came from her as she prepared to be separated from her son: “ Long as you remember, chile, nothin’ain’t really ever gone.” Indeed, Teenie, indeed.
Professional Rationale
This book came me to by recommendation of one of my own seventh grade students. Her mother had bought it for her for Christmas and she read it in 2 days. With that in mind, I do think this is a great novel for early adolescents but I think that seventh grade is a bit too young for some of the material. It is my opinion that this book is well suited for anyone in or above the eighth grade. I think it fits nicely with American History and could be easily integrated into a powerful unit about the slave trade and its impact on our nation’s history. If some of the material (rape scenes) were not included, this would be a great seventh grade novel to help students understand the impact of the slave trade in Africa, as Africa is a major part of the seventh grade Social Studies curriculum.
The Essence of this book
There are several ways to describe the essence of Copper Sun. The first being that Copper Sun is a story about a young girl’s perseverance against all odds and her ability to maintain her identity even in slavery. The second being that Copper Sun is a story about the power of friendship and human compassion. In the beginning Amari did not believe that she had the inner strength to overcome the oppression of slavery. However, over time we see Amari grow into a young woman who is filled with compassion, intelligence, and strength. Amari’s friendship with Polly develops slowly within the story line as we watch Polly find compassion and loyalty in a culture whish she believed was very different from her own.
In the story Copper Sun, you meet several distinct characters who on the surface do not appear to have anything in common other than they reside on Derbyshire farms. Mr. Derby and Clay own the rice plantation and believe that African Americans are only useful as slaves working the farm. Mrs. Derby comes from a wealthy family and appears to have all the luxuries and happiness of being the lady of the house. Teeny and Tidbit work in the kitchen and have a close mother-son relationship. Polly is an indentured servant from Beaufort who longs to be a lady of the house one day. Amari is a young African American woman who was brought to America and sold into slavery. But, as the story progresses the reader discovers that all of the characters have a story of love and loss that ultimately connect three of them together for life. The author’s ability to draw the reader in through their similarities and show the reader how one’s reaction to pain and sorrow can ultimately shape one’s future is amazing.
What I will take with me.
The use of language in this book was breathtaking. It was the first story of slavery that I read that allowed me to connect to the main character as if she were my friend. The realistic portrayal of slavery was thought provoking. I found myself in Polly’s shoes several times during the story and asking myself if I would have reacted differently in her situation. I often found myself questioning whether Mr. Derby and his son were truly human. I could not wrap my brain around the idea that a person would treat another human being so cruelly.
I found the story of Besa and Amari to be both sweet and sad. Young adults can connect to the heart break that Amari endures when she loses her love not once but twice during the story. I found myself wanting Besa and Amari to have a fairy tale ending of romance and bliss. Even in the beginning of the story, I found myself wanting them to runaway together and live happily ever after, but the truth is that sometimes love does not win out over everything.
I will take with me the sense of self-determination that Amari had in her life. I am truly inspired by her ability to overcome her obstacles. I will also take how Polly was able to open her eyes and see life for what it truly was and become free of her own prejudices.
Why is this book important?
This book is important because it gives a name and a face to slavery. It is important for young adults to learn that slaves were not just adults. It gives young adults the chance to step back and think about how they would feel if they were ripped apart from their family and sent to a land across the ocean.
This book is important because it teaches young adults that regardless of their background, everyone has trial and tribulations to work through in life. They see the world through the eyes of two 15 year old girls who both lost their families and are forced to serve Mr. Derby on his farm.
This book is important because it teaches us about perserverance and self-determination. It opens up a discussion about what it means to have the will to continue on the right path in life even when times are difficult. Many young adults will go to college in cities far away from their families and will have to deal with the pressures of the real world on their own. However, this book teaches us that we can have a sense of home and family even if our biological family is not with us. Young adults can discover how true friendships can help them overcome almost any obstacle in life.
Copper Sun
by Megan“Copper Sun Shines Brightly”
Though I’ve read other stories of slave narratives, this one is like none other! Draper’s style, both romantic and raw at the same time, takes you into the world of an African girl, named Amari, who after witnessing the brutal deaths of her father, mother, and younger brother, is forced into slavery. She is shackled, chained, and forced onto a ship that will bring her, and hundreds of others, to the Carolinas where they will be sold as slaves. Amari is sold to the cruel Mr. Derby, who gives her to his son as a gift for his 16th birthday. The same day Mr. Derby also purchases the remaining service of an indentured slave girl named Polly. Once Polly is introduced in the book, Draper, through noted sections, shifts back and forth between Amari’s and Polly’s points of view. It is at this point that an unlikely friendship blooms, as the two girls struggle to survive life on the plantation, and in the wilderness once they are able to escape.
As a historically fictitious novel, Copper Sun would be a great novel for not just an English class, but a social studies or history class as well. Although the actual story of Amari and Polly is fiction, the events, places, and some of the people are real. This book is an excellent example of slavery and Southern plantation life in the 1700’s. Not only would this book teach young adults about history, it also brings up issues of racism, injustice, rape, adultery, and inter-racial relationships; all of which are things they deal with in today’s society. Copper Sun also tells a story of hope, determination, and perseverance, all of which can be used to encourage students to triumph through their own difficult circumstances. Both Amari and Polly are wonderfully developed characters with a depth and realness that any one can relate to. This book would definitely be a high interest read for any adolescent!
In addition, I can’t get over how Draper’s writing has a way of pulling you into the story, making you feel like they are right there with Amari and Polly through their pain and suffering, and joys and triumphs. She tells this griping story so vividly that I felt like I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough! This heart-wrenching story of horror, injustice, friendship, perseverance, and hope is a testament to the power and beauty of the human spirit. In my opinion, we would be doing a disservice to our students if we didn’t let them read this book!
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing
by Cliff“Still do I struggle to remember the moral precepts I was taught in that place. Kindness, humility, piety, respect for other human creatures- these are the great desiderata of all who pursue virtuous action, and in matters not whether those who preach them heed their own advice. Right thinking is ever a battle, and often I cast my mind back to these early lessons and pursue these early ideals, though now the ghastly purpose of that dim college has been made clear to me; and he who ran it appears to me not like a man but some monster who instructed me, as the centaur Chiron wrote out lessons for young Achilles with his human hands, and spake his lectures with human mouth, while his glossy hindquarters dropped feces upon the Senate lawn.”
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing Vol. 1: the Pox Party is a historically inspired work of fiction that takes a unique perspective on the issue of slavery during the time period of the Revolutionary War as our founding fathers developed the fundamental principles that would become the philosophy on which our nation was established. It highlights the hypocrisy of the very moral code our nation was based on as it explores the very human nature of African Americans in a most grotesque manner through the story of Octavian, an African prince, and his mother Cassiopeia. At first the narrative seems to be a story of a youth receiving an upper crust, private education at the College of Lucidity, a cult-like group of intellectuals who conduct the most scientifically cutting-edge experiments of the time. This group also identifies each other by number only, with Octavian and his mother being the only ones with Christian names. Octavian is perfectly content in his peculiar situation having known no other life until he learns that he himself is a scientific experiment. Octavian and his mother are the only African who are not enslaved. The College of Lucidity hopes to prove if Africans are in fact human or a lesser sub-species. The hypothesis is that if an African is given a classical education, he will be as refined as European Royalty proving that he can be the equal of any white sophisticate given nurturing opportunity. If the experiment fails and Octavian is unable to transcend his “primal nature,” it proves that Africans are a sub-species thus justifying their status as human chattels. The plot sets up a formula for an unprecedented and disturbing depiction of the emotional damage caused though the practice of slavery which is magnified by the additional effect that the story is told through Octavian’s point of view as he goes from royal child prodigy to a common slave who eventually into a fugitive.
As a reader, I found this book a very challenging read. The author purposefully tried to create prose that reflected the time period, which was incredibly effective as it not only added authenticity, but requires the reader to read deliberately. This deliberate reading slows down the reader resulting in more time to ponder the words as they are absorbed which adds to the overall experience as the atrocities described actually require extra consideration in order for them to fully sink in. The nature of the experiments depicted is harsh and the tortures of slavery depicted are even harsher still- sometimes unbelievably so.
Octavian is an deeply complex character that is difficult to relate to as his experience is so outlandish. He is distant, intelligent, and, at first, not very amiable. His distance though is a symptom of his condition and the accompanying emotional turmoil. Octavian is treated simultaneously as an animal in an experiment while also being adored as a prince. Octavian continually struggles to find his place in life. He can never be accepted by the intellectuals who surround him because of his race. On the other hand, he cannot fully assimilate among the slaves (even when he is treated as one) because he grew up highly educated and privileged. This social conundrum leads Octavian to become unhealthily attached to his mother, who is the only person with whom he can identify. She herself is in a strange position as she is seen as the lady of the house who is admired and adored, but as the plot progresses, she too is reduced to a slave. Her emotional implosion that takes place because of this change plus her “accidental” death, leads Octavian to runaway and join the ranks of the local militia as the plot cleverly interweaves historical events such as the Boston Tea Party, the Battle of Lexington, and Bunker Hill. Here, he finds the purpose and acceptance he so desperately seeks within the comradeship of idealistic soldiers who are fighting for Octavian’s perceived freedom from oppression. It is important to note that the author impressively and thoroughly researched the history that frames this book to also include even rumors that were popular at the time such as the Revolutionary War would result in equality for all men, including slaves. With hindsight, the reader cannot help but feel a sense of melancholy as they watch Octavian become so enthusiastic for something we know, in the future, not to be true. The melancholy is only continued when Octavian makes this realization himself. The climax of the novel comes when Octavian is recaptured and confronts his master and former benefactor as they justify to Octavian why he will never be free and slavery will be a permanent fixture in America in large part due to his behavior and failure to assimilate. Of course, it is evident to the reader the hypocrisy of the ideals of the Revolution as they continue on this diatribe. Also it is obvious that their experiments purposely were designed for Octavian to fail once a new benefactor with interests and funding from slave owners took over the college. The book also ends on a cliffhange, setting up Volume 2.
The Life of Octavian Nothing Vol. 1: The Pox Party provides a unique view on slavery during a time in history that slavery is not usually discussed in history or literature courses. It serves to reinforce that concept of slavery never truly meshed well with American ideals. The inhumane way in which Octavian is treated as an experiment and as a slave graphically and memorably leads the reader cringe and ultimately, feel the pang of tragedy not just for Octavian, his mother, and Pro Bono, but also for the entire African population that had to endure in this unjust institution.
This is the type of book that will stick with you and haunt your dreams as it continues to sink in days after you have finished. For that reason alone, it deserves the Printz honors, but I fear it is not a book that will appeal to a broad spectrum of young adult readers. The complex prose and subliminal themes would be challenging for any high school student. However, it would fit perfectly in the 11th grade curriculum of American Literature or be taught even in a supplementary text in a U.S. history class. U.S. history students studying the Revolutionary War could easily find it interesting as Octavian appears in actual events they are studying. The human face that it provides to slavery is quite masterful and the perspective and the technique of the narrative is even more so. It also brings to life a great moral debate of the time as authentically as possible. The book even authentically represents the technology of the period and the spirit of discovery in the New World. As a historical piece, it can be an invaluable teaching tool with a powerful story, complex characters, and thought-provoking themes that would make it at home in any advanced American Literature or History course.
The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation
by MichaelThis is a book about a young man coming to grips with who he is and the harsh truths of where he is living. Octavian is a descendant from a royal blood line, but from exactly where we do not find out for a little while. He and his mother are living in the British colonies (soon to be America) with a well to do group of scientists. They are treated well. Octavian is given the best of educations, and his mother is given the finest gowns and wigs to wear. It is not until we get into the book a little ways that we find out that they are slaves. They are being treated so well because they are part of an experiment to find out the capacities of Africans. It is about the time that we find out who they are that they begin to be treated as actual slaves. About that time, an outbreak of smallpox threatens the colonies. This scientific society holds another experiment by having a “Pox Party.” Octavian’s mother dies; he runs away, joins the militia and has an epiphany. Octavian begins to question the difference between owning slaves and fighting for freedom from a tyrannical mother country.
For the first several pages, I felt terribly lost. I wasn’t sure who Mr. Gitney was, what country they were in, what time period we were looking at, or exactly what was happening. And when they began to call themselves the Novanglian College of Lucidity and refer to each other as 03-01 and 07-03, I was not sure if I was ever going to catch up. However, the more I read, the more I was able to pick up what Anderson was doing. I believe that the way he subtlety hid the fact that Octavian and his mother were slaves, just like the others, was brilliant. It took me a while to figure that one out. I think Anderson took many of the views of slaveholders of that era and encompassed them into the scientific views of the Novanglian College of Lucidity. I believe that he was simply hiding it. They were testing the intelligence and capacity of an African (as if they are all the same) while expecting failure throughout. Even in success, he would be set up to fail later. Their thinking seemed so backwards, which is what I have always associated with the pre-emancipation time period. They even had a ridiculous story for why Africans have black skin. I found it very insightful. I’ve always loved M.T. Anderson’s work, but I think he has done something even more extraordinary here. I’m also fond of the hit of historical value in the novel. It adds a nice touch, one that I really didn’t see coming in the beginning. Something that I found very interesting was the lines that had been marked out in several sections. They all seem to have been about his mother’s death. It really gives the book more of a personal (or diary) type of feel, like he is trying to block out the pain or the memory. I’d like to see what others have to say about that. One of the most powerful lines in the novel discusses Octavian’s views on color/race/ethnicity/etc. and the hypocrisy of his owners:
And then they imprisoned me in darkness; and though there was no
color there, I still was black, and they still were white; and for that,
they bound and gagged me.
This book is definitely culturally relevant. It discusses the issues of race and slavery in the colonies and the revolution. While it is a novel, it does have bits of historical value to it. In the author’s notes, Anderson discusses how he tried to set a scene when the colonies were not sure they were going to win the war. We all know that was in fact the case. I wouldn’t use it as a history lesson, but it does at least add a little to an already well-rounded history lesson. I like the book, and would consider teaching it for two main reasons. I love the way Anderson deals with race and the slave-owners’ views towards their slaves. I also love the character of Octavian. While he is very quite, he is very deep. When he speaks, he speaks multitudes. He is definitely a complex, complicated, and meaty character. Doing a character analysis of him would be a lot of fun for students. My only drawbacks to teaching the book are the diction and the first 40 or so pages. I think it would be a slow read for my students because of the language he uses. It is difficult to read at some points and even more difficult to understand. Perhaps I was not in a reading conducive environment when I began this book, but I had a difficult time staying with the first 40 pages. If I had trouble, my students would have trouble. And where I would push through it to see if I could find a foot hold, they would set it down and turn on the television. If I taught seniors, I would probably consider it more (and maybe/probably even upper level juniors).
Life As We Knew It
by SarahLife As We Knew It is told from the perspective 16-year-old high school student Miranda. Life is going on as usual until one day there are warnings that a meteor is headed on a collision path with the moon. Nobody thinks anything of this and life continues on until the day the meteor hits. All of a sudden Miranda’s life and that of her family’s get turned upside down in a split instant, although the magnitude of the aftereffects are not quite comprehensible initially.
“We are a family. We love each other. We’ve been scared together and brave together. If this is how it ends, so be it. Only, please, don’t let me be the last one to die.” Miranda’s family is just like another other suburban family. They have their share of fights, parents are divorced, sibling rivalry is prevalent, but there is one thing that they didn’t expect and that was count so heavily upon one another in hard times. This quote is taken near the end of the novel, where Miranda has come to terms that dying can in fact occur at any moment, but she does not want to survive her family.
At first the electricity stops working sporadically and then at all. Very slowly as the seasons change things grow from bad to worse. Miranda, Johnny, Matt, and Mom struggle with boredom, hunger, warmth, and injury, along with themselves and how to deal with the situation at hand. When we are first introduced to Miranda she is more concerned about herself and her own needs above anybody else. Even after the meteor hits and life has changed, Miranda is still the same person when she goes into the food pantry and eats the whole bag of chocolate chips. Slowly as the days go by and Miranda comes to terms with their unique situation she witnesses her mother’s daily sacrifice. Miranda initially does not want to give up any food and feels that her mother loves Johnny more than her, seeing as how he is still able to eat three meals a day and she isn’t. Through the progression of the story we see Miranda turn full circle from the greedy teenager who is more concerned about her own wellbeing to the young adult who is willing to sacrifice food like her mother. I liked the fact that Miranda is such a relatable character and her emotions are so real. She tells it how it is, which can be appreciated by the reader.
Life As We Knew It would be a wonderful asset to any middle/high school classroom. I feel that every girl growing up finds herself at a fork in the road with which group of friends to hang out with. Miranda is torn between hanging out with Megan and Sammi who have both gone in different directions since Becky’s death or hanging out with the swimmers. Perseverance is intertwined with hardship throughout the pages and shows the reader what can happen when you put forth your best effort.
The Essence of the book
This is a book based on the inner-workings of a young man’s mind, a young man so lonely and desperate for love and companionship that he develops an alternate personality to keep him company. From beginning to end, there are indications that what appears to be reality is in fact a figment of Anwell/Gabriel’s imagination.
Anwell is a typical little boy in the beginning who is constantly forced into adult roles. From caring for his older brother who is disabled to keeping the peace for the sake of his mother’s mental health, Anwell grows up too quickly without any love or support from him family. In essence, he is an invisible child only to be seen or heard when there is trouble.
When Anwell accidentally kills his brother, an accident created from fear of his mother, his life changes and he is not able to mentally cope with his mistake. Thus, Finnigan enters the picture. Together they romp and explore, Anwell learning what is it like to be a real boy without limitations. Finnigan takes possession of Anwell and together, they light up the town, literally.
Finnigan is set on destroying anyone who has ever hurt or embarrassed Anwell and he does so by setting fire to most everything over the course of a few years. He burns trees and gardens, barns and cars, and even the town library. From there, the book follows the boys as they get a dog and name him Surrender, only to let him roam wild and free. This leads to his demise and the beginning of the end for Anwell/Gabriel.
For me, the true essence of the book is found in the very first sentence: “I am dying; it’s a beautiful word.” It is only through death that Anwell/Gabriel realizes he can be rid of Finnigan, his alternate, evil personality. After killing parents, Anwell/Gabriel is taken to a mental health facility where is health steadily declines. There is no medical diagnosis for his illness yet he continues to worsen. In his last hours, he sees that Finnigan was indeed the reincarnation of his murdered brother Vernon. As he slips from this earth, he is able to leave behind all the evil and devilish characteristics that Finnigan/Vernon embodied and only then is he really free.
Personal ResponseWhen I teach novels, I always begin by asking my students to first look at the cover and makes predictions. So it is only fitting that I do that in this class. With the fire and the dog, I thought this would be a sad novel, possibly about a boy who loses his dog. However, after reading the novel, I was quite mistaken.
I thought the book was exquisitely written, with passages that created such vivid images in my head. For example, in the beginning when the bones are discovered, Gabriel says, “Bones have the patience of the moon.” Another beautiful section is when Gabriel is explaining his illness: “Inside my lungs the thunderstorm clashes, spliced by lightning. Coughing rakes my lungs, strains the cartilage between my bones. Blood splatters my chin and chest, warm, thick as cream." It is as if I could actually look into his body and see the torment there, not just physically but mentally as well.
I did struggle at times to keep up with the pace of the book, as it has many twists and turns in the dialogue and setting. One minute I was watching Anwell/Gabriel hack and cough and struggle for breath, the next I was frolicking in the woods with the two boys. One page I am reading about Anwell when he was a seven year old boy, then he turns 16 all of a sudden. The use of flashback in this novel was a bit overwhelming but effective none-the-less.
As the book continues, it became evident to me that these two boys were possibly one. When the boys make a “packet” only one is able to cut himself and Anwell/Gabriel wears Finnigan’s blood on his forehead, as symbol of possession to me. In another passage, when Anwell/Gabriel is finding a real friend in Evangeline, he reveals: “If I could have my life over again I’d want back just those few weeks of summer. Not a minute longer-not a moment of Finnigan in the birch tree, not a moment of the day I would soon spend in the forest while the world imploded around me.” The foreshadowing here is crazy powerful. It signified to me that all Anwell/Gabriel wanted was to be free of Finnigan and in the end, he found a way.
I was really not sure how the dog fit into all of this madness, unless he was the only symbol of sanity for Anwell. Naming the dog Surrender was a message in and of itself. I suppose the true reason for the dog was so that Anwell/Gabriel could actually feel some semblance of love for something in his short life.
Overall, it was a quick read, one that I couldn’t put down. I was fascinated by the juxtaposition of the two characters and the way the author used words to create images. I enjoyed the banter of the two boys and the symbolism throughout the novel. I also appreciated that though violence is a major theme, it was not so “in-your-face” and the violence was not spread from page to page, as the case may be with other novel. I think the novel was well-written and I would recommend this book to anyone over 13.
Professional Rationale
This book, in my opinion, might be best used in any high school English course to better explain the use of imagery, foreshadowing, and juxtaposition within a novel. The content is too violent for most middle school students but I believe Surrender could be a high-interest novel for many high school students and a captivating way to examine many literary elements.
Coming soon . . .
