Will and Whit

Will and Whit

By: Laura Lee Gulledge

Gulledge, L. L. (2013). Will & Whit.

Summary and Response:

Will lives with her Aunt and helps her run the antique store. Will has some eccentric friends and she just generally enjoys the basics of her life. Will is doing well until a hurricane rips through town and leaves her in sudden darkness. It is hurricane "Whip".  Will has never liked the dark and through this novel we get to see and understand how Will copes with this. Will is going to have to face her fears. By the end of the story we have seen her join a circus, go down a river on a mattress, get a crush, and get her friends to quit being jerks.  This is especially great to use whenever a student has a fear that they just cannot overcome. It is hilarious and helps show that sometimes there are worse things than small fears. 

Thirteen Reason Whys

Thirteen Reasons Why

By: Jay Asher

Asher, J., Wiseman, D., & Johnstone, J. (2007). Thirteen reasons why. New York: Random House/Listening Library.

Summary and Response:
Suicide is an issue that can hit close to home, especially for teenagers. This novel is about Hannah Baker who commits suicide using pills. She leaves a stack of tapes that explains each of her reasons for committing suicide.  Each person must watch the tapes and then pass them on to the next person. Clay understand and feels for what Hannah has been through.He makes sure each person sees their tape and passes in on. During all of this Clay sees a girl, Skye, whom he used to have a crush on and decides that her quit sullenness might be a cry for help. He resolves to help Skye unlike the help he ever gave Hannah. This novel is best suited for high school age students. No matter what context it is in, suicide is a serious matter, and affects thousands on a daily basis. This would be a good book to discuss the signs of depression and suicidal tendencies, 

The Book Thief

The Book Thief

By: Markus Zusak

Zusak, M. (2006). The book thief. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

Summary and Response:
Liesel is an orphan living in Hitlers birth place. She learns to read during this time and even helps a neighbor appreciate books. Liesel acquires her books by stealing them from the Mayor. Narrated by Death himself this is a great novel to use when teaching about the concept of voice and personification. Just when you think you have read everything dealing with WWII and the Holocaust; along comes this book. It leaves you feeling hopeful but also sick to your stomach at the thought of how much had to be hidden during that time. 

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

 By: Benjamin Saenz

Sáenz, B. A., Foglia, C., & Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers (Firm),. (2012). Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universe. New York: Simon & Schuster BFYR

Summary and Resposne:
It is the 1980's and Dante and Aristotle meet at a swimming pool. Ari is quiet and antisocial where as Dante is loud and center stage. Both boys become good friends and that friendship blossoms into love. They must figure out their relationship and how to make others understand it. Ari struggles with this and must decide how to go about each day. This novel is more appropriate for high schoolers as students need to show maturity in handling this novel and subject matter. 

Feed

Feed

By: M.T. Anderson

Anderson, M. T. (2002). Feed. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

Summary and Response:
 Feed is a futuristic novel where people have computer interfaces installed in their brains as infants. This gives everyone instant access to information and more importantly to advertisements that direct their habits. In this dystopian novel their world seems great, they party all the time, buy whatever they like, and school is more about how to get more enjoyment out of life. But when Titus and his friends head to the moon for a spring break party they are infected with a virus. Violet becomes our heroine in this story and it truly makes you wonder what technology is doing to us when we have the answers right at the tips of our fingers. This is an excellent novel to use when deciding if technology has too big of an impact on our lives. This would also serve as a great novel to use when talking about satire. 

Stargazing Dog

Stargazing Dog

By: Takashi Murakami

Murakami, T., Saisho, A., Fancutt, S., & Murakami, T. (2011). Stargazing dog. New York: NBM.

Summary and Response:
Enter a Japanese man, "Daddy" who is reserved and does not speak too much. He does talk to his dog, Happie, but that is about it. One day he finds himself sick, his daughter is rebelling against everything, and his wife asks for a divorce. He is now alone, with the exception of his faithful friend Happie.  He decides to pack up his car and take Happie and just drive. Throughout his journey we see the man go through changes. The man is a perfect example of an often misunderstood character. This novel would be best suited 7th grade on up. It may be a little hard to understand at first but it all comes together. 

The Elementals

The Elementals

By: Francesca Lia Block

Block, F. L. (2012). The elementals. New York: St. Martin's Press.

Summary and Response:
Francesca Lia Block introduces us to Ariel Silverman, a high school student, who is on her way to college. Ariel's friend suddenly goes missing. During her freshman year of college Ariel decides she must go figure out what has happened to Jeni, her best friend. During this journey Ariel meets a group of people who call themselves, "The Elementals."  It is difficult to tell if Ariel is having a dream or if it is completely true. There are numerous sex scenes with John which makes this novel a bit more on the high school end of things,  We finally discover what happens to Jeni and at least this part is sewn up for us. This novel had me baffled, for I could not quite figure out if it was a mystery or fantasy. Either way it was written well and kept me engaged. I wanted to help Ariel myself as I saw her breaking under the grief of Jeni and her mothers cancer. This novel should be used only with teens ages 16 on up.