Better Late Than Never: Catching Up on This Year's Reading

Building relationships with my students has become a goal that I strive to achieve yearly. As I participated in Professional Development on Twitter last night and responded to questions and provided answers, I realized that I choose to build these relationships differently than my peers. We all have the same goal in the end, but we each go about it in our own manner. I, for instance, like to build my relationships with my students through literature. As a reader, seeing my students make a connection to a book or a piece of literature provides me with such joy. Knowing that my students are becoming captivated as they turn the pages conveys to me that they are experiencing life outside of their realities. I have come to appreciate YA literature these last few years, but have made a point this school year to focus more on YA, to make those connections with my students, strive to build better reading habits, and most importantly develop a passion for reading. 

This school year, I made it a point to focus on popular or newly released YA literature and have possibly been produced into a movie or series on Netflix. I have a rule in my home and my family is not very fond of it. You have to read the book first to watch the movie. With the list of YA fiction that I have read this school year, I have tried to catch up with watching movies or series. Some of the books were read the last 2 years, but I am just getting to the point of watching the movies. Some of the YA literature that I have read are not yet or are not movies. The YA novels listed below I read in either print, ebooks, or listened through audiobooks on our school district OverDrive. 

November 2016

December 2016

 

January 2017

February 2017

March 2017

April 2017

With the school year beginning its closure, my list of YA novels is continuously growing. I plan on spending my summer days reading, whether it is in the car, before bed, having my morning coffee, or any chance possible, I will have a YA novel at my finger tips print or electronic. 

Netflix: New YA Series

Recently, Netflix has come out with a series based on the YA novel, Thirteen Reasons Why. 

Since this series has broadcast, the conversations among my students has increased regarding people's actions and how one may impact another without realizing it. I have been surprised at the responses, varying from truly understanding the main character, Hannah, and the impact her peers had on her to those who acted like it was just another sitcom and didn't think much of the content of the novel or series. In a way, it hit a nerve knowing some of my students did not think the subject matter of teen suicide was a big deal or that their actions or words mattered towards others or that they left an impact on someone else whether they meant to or not. It was an eye opener as to how much they are aware of what and who is around them. Not much. With social media, self entitlement, and everything surrounding them, students are not aware or choose not to be aware of what is happening within our society and to those around them. 

I have seen students checking the book out from the library, putting their names on the waiting list or going out and personally purchasing the book to going to the local library to read it. 

Watching the series, the book is portrayed well. Although language can be harsh at some times, the story of Hannah and her suicide is conveyed to the audience in a true manner and students are able to relate. This series has provided many talking points these last few days and as myself, my students, and other teachers continue this series, the conversations and relationships can become stronger, more in depth, and even create a more emotional connection for many. 

Slammed Trilogy #1

 Hoover, C. (2012). Slammed: A novel. New York: Atria Paperback.

This is book one of three. Eighteen year old Lake and her family relocate after her father dies unexpectedly, from Texas to Michigan. It is there that she meets her neighbor, twenty one year old Will, across the street. While out on their first date, they attend a poetry slam. They both have younger brothers who like to play with one another and soon become best friends. They are around each other, you would think they were connected at the hip.  It is not until when Lake enrolls in school that her and Will's world comes to a halt. When it seems that Will is Lakes poetry teacher, turmoil begins. Both has to learn how to balance school and intense feelings before someone finds out. If someone did, Will could lose everything; his little brother, his home, his career, and have to drop out of college.  It is through the poetry that Will creates and assigns his students that he and Lake are able to communicate their true feelings for one another.

The moment I realized that Will was Lake's poetry teacher was a moment that I about lost it. I didn't have anyone to turn to to talk about it (typically the case) and I was about to go crazy! My husband could tell something was going on as I could not sit still while reading, had my eyes glued to the book while in the car, and saw the glow of the flashlight as I read in the middle of the night to early hours in the morning. He has gotten used to it. I became instantly hooked with this love story and was anxious throughout the events of all three books.

I have become such a HUGE fan of Colleen Hoover and every chance I get, I make sure to find a book. Typically, I get one at a time, but not in this case. I got all three. Knowing it was a series, I had to. It would have bothered me to much to wait and have to go back. This is not the first of Colleen Hoover that I have read. I cannot wait til more material is published to continue reading.

I didn't realize that The Advett Brothers was a real band. I got on YouTube and searched for them and instantly fell in love with their music. Listening to them, I became excited hearing the quotes from each chapter in their songs. So thank you Colleen Hoover for introducing me to a new band that I find I can connect to at times and feel not overwhelmed or edgy when listening to them. I am definitely keeping an eye out for tour dates. 

The Knife of Never Letting Go

Ness, P. (2008). The knife of never letting go. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press.

The New World has been hit by the germ released by the Spackle, which has wiped out all of the women and half the men. Those remaining, as a result, are able to hear other people’s thoughts, as well as, animal’s thoughts. Through his journey, Todd, comes into contact with mental and physical trials through the swamps. When he comes upon silence. The silence he finds to be a girl who just landed in the New World. When Todd realizes he is infected with the germ, it is the girl who saves both of them. Taken to a new settlement, but escape to the most advance settlement in the New World that offer a could be cure for the noise. When the girl is harmed, Todd surrenders in order to help the girl.

This science fiction is ideal for adolescent 14 years old and up and offers insight to a dystopian society. This coming to terms with one’s identity is something that boys may find interesting with the continuous journey of escaping the germ.

Invisible

Hautman, P. (2006). Invisible. New York: Simon Pulse.

Something about Dougie is just not matching up. His friendship with Andy and their conversations about fire, makes the reader question what exactly is wrong with Dougie. Taunted at school, Dougie becomes isolated from his peers and obsesses about finishing the 22,400 matches in the basement. It isn’t until the end that the reader realizes that Dougie is talking to his deceased friend, Andy, who died in one of the fires he and Dougie set. When Dougie’a parents enroll him in a school where he will be monitored, Dougie lashes out by setting his last fire, the 22,400 matches in the basement.

The protagonist of the story tragically crumbles beneath his mental state and coming to terms with his involvement in the death of his best friend. Adolescents of age 12 and up can see what can happen when playing with fire and the consequences that come along with carelessness. This dark realistic fiction deals with death, denial, bullying, and coming to terms with ones consequences. This book provides teachers an opportunity to use as an example of what happens when individuals are careless with their behavior and actions.

My Friend Dammer: A Graphic Novel

Backderf, D. (2012). My friend Dahmer: A graphic novel. New York: Abrams ComicArts. Based on the real Jeffery Dahmer, Backderf provides insight on the Jeffery before he became the notorious serial killer. This graphic novel gives the reader an idea of what life was like for Jeffery before he became famous, his dysfunctional home, absent father, alcoholism, what he did after school to animals, who he stalked, what interested him, and his first encounter with murder. The reader is able to connect with the author better, by visualize Dahmer and his behaviors through the illustrations.

This dark realistic fiction is ideal for adolescents 15 year old and older due to the content of it being about a serial killer and what he did to carry out his actions, his thought process, and obsessions.

Teachers can use this graphic novel to introduce a research project for speech, debate, or criminal justice classes. This can be a starting point and bridge the research into more detailed and centered topics about Jeffery Dahmer.

Thirteen Reasons Why

Asher, J. (2007). Thirteen reasons why: A novel. New York: Razorbill. When Clay Jenson received a box full of cassette tapes, he was confused as to why, but the note informed him if he didn’t listen to them, there would be consequences.  The voice of on the tapes is Hannah Barker, a dead classmate. As he listened to the tapes, he heard her explain about each and every person, all 13, contributed to her death, how each individual taunted, emotionally and physically, enough to where she eventually killed herself.  With each person, Hannah gives direction to add to her stories. After a night of traveling the town late at night, heartache, and wave after wave of emotion, Clay’s life will never be the same.

This book is meant for ages 12 years-old and up. This dark realistic fiction touches on a range of topics including suicide and death, physical violence and bullying, such as rape. The protagonist, Clay, deals with the grief of losing a classmate while listening to her elaborate as to why she committed suicide. Teachers could use this book to discuss the importance of seeking help when questioning or visiting the thought of suicide. They could also use it to help adolescents see how their actions and comments can affect others and their lives. One never know what is going on is someone else's mind or what they are thinking. 

Thirteen reasons why: A novel is on the NYT Bestseller list for Young Adults.