Genre 6- When You Reach Me

Steed, Rebecca. When You Reach Me. New York: Random House, 2009.

ISBN: 978-0-385-73742-5

Review
Miranda, a young teenager finds new friends when she didn’t expect to while also trying to nurse old friendships. Miranda’s mother is a paralegal who is infatuated with the t.v. show pyramid and hopes to compete so that the family can have money. When You Reach Me is a story about growing into being a teenager and the excitement and confusion that is associated with it.

Critical Analysis Miranda is one of the most relatable characters I’ve read in a long time. The subject matter of When You Reach Me hits so close to home for students coming into their teenage years with subjects like boys, finding friends, working with family, and sometimes losing friends. Reading this book teaches the reader that how you treat people and your actions, whether large or small, can affect people easily which is a big lesson for young people to learn. Overall, Steed gives young readers an almost perfect example of life as a young adult in the late 70’s. Understanding this book is a very ‘relatable’ read as well as has a touch of a sci-fi tone to it, I would definitely add this to my library as a teacher. Though it is geared more towards older students- middle school, I think this could be a great read for students as young as third grade.

Reviews School Library Journal- The stores and even the streets–in Miranda's neighborhood act as physical entities and impact the plot in tangible ways. This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers.

Booklist- "The mental gymnastics required of readers are invigorating; and the characters, children, and adults are honest bits of humanity no matter in what place or time their souls rest."

(Credit)

Connections Journal Entry- Students could write about a time they’ve had a major change in their life or even lost or gained a friend. The teacher could respond to student’s entries if they feel comfortable enough to share.

Compare/Contrast- Miranda has an obsession with ‘A Wrinkle in Time’. If students are old enough, a comparison could be done between When You Reach Me and A Wrinkle in Time. How are the stories similar? Do any of the characters resemble each other? If you could have adding more similarities to When You Reach Me, what would they have been?

Genre 6- American Born Chinese

Yang, Gene Luch. American Born Chinese. New York: First Second, 2006.

ISBN 13:978-159643-152-2

Story Plot
American Born Chinese is a story based on three smaller stories. One story is about a Monkey King and his want to be ‘all powerful’. The second story is about a Chinese boy, Jin Wang, who moves to a new school and tries to fit in by changing who he is. The third story is about a young man and his Chinese cousin, Chin-Kee and their attempts to get along at school. The three stories eventually meet and the reader discovers some very interesting twists!

Critical Analysis
American Born Chinese is a graphic novel which takes a while to get used to reading because each box has a picture and dialog. The illustrations in this novel are very exact and clear. I could easily follow the ‘flow’ of the pictures. My students love graphic novels and their ‘comic book’ feel. American Born Chinese would be a big hit with students. I love the meaning behind this novel- that just because you don’t look or act like everyone else, you still fit in. Differences can and should be embraced and this story is a good example of that. This novel is definitely intended for an older reader with a few inappropriate jokes throughout. Overall, Yang created a novel that reflects of situations that students find themselves in everyday. It is a creative novel that has a really great message about topics that are intense and hard to cover.

Reviews
School Library Journal- Their stories converge into a satisfying coming-of-age novel that aptly blends traditional Chinese fables and legends with bathroom humor, action figures, and playground politics.

Booklist- The stories have a simple, engaging sweep to them, but their weighty subjects--shame, racism, and friendship--receive thoughtful, powerful examination

Connections
Community Circle- Students could have a group discussion on whether or not they’ve ever felt different from their peers. Also, the group could discuss and create idea’s about to better accept friends who are different. In my experience, teaching students how to accept differences is a very valuable lesson!!

Genre 6- Speak

Anders, Laurie Halse. Speak. New York: Penguin Group: 1999.

ISBN: 0-14-131088-X

Plot Summary
Anders tells us a story of a young girl who has been traumatized. Speak begins by describing a timid girl who has one ‘friend’ and barely speaks to anyone. As the story continues, we learn that Melinda’s parents argue frequently and that Melinda once had friends but lost them after ‘ratting’ everyone at a party. Towards the end of the story the reader learns that Melinda’s silence is because she was so stressed from being raped by another boy in school, Andy. After finding refuge with her art teacher, friend Heather, and standing up to Andy, Melinda finds strength enough to learn to ‘speak’ and get past her experiences.

Critical Analysis
First and foremost, Speak is intended for an older audience. I would recommend this book to a counselor or older high school students. Laurie Anderson tells a story about a young girl who is being socially outcast for a really horrible situation. The story is written in stanzas or short paragraphs. These short paragraphs take a few pages to get used to but fit Melinda’s personality. She is interesting and to the point. I loved the meaning behind this story! Yes, a young girl is raped and that is a horrible situation but the story is more about how a girl finds sanctuary with her friends and her art class/teacher and finds her voice again. This story really highlights that teachers or any person involved in a student’s life should be mindful that even though we may not realize it, students find help with just being around us. Melinda was able to work past her experience by working with her art teacher Mr. Freeman. Overall this was an extremely well written story that I would highly recommend to older students.

Reviews
The Horn Book- “An uncannily funny book even as it plumbs the darkness, Speak will hold readers from first word to last.”
Publishers Weekly- “A stunning first novel… Anderson infuses the narrative with a wit that sustains the heroine through her pain and holds readers’ empathy…”

Connections
Although this book is highly recommended, I would not use it in my lesson plans. I would however use this story to help students recover from personal situations. Allowing students to read this book privately could help them feel less alone. Also, much like Mr. Freeman, I feel like being a teacher and doing my job well will give students another outlet and maybe allow them to express themselves without being forced to.