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. 

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.

Feed

Anderson, M. T. (2012). Feed. Somerville, MA: Candlewick.

Set in a dystopian society, 100 years in the future, teenager, Titus, has a transmitter that feeds encouragements, suggestions, and advertisements on how to live their lives. While on the Moon partying, Titus meets Violet. After experiencing what it is like to live as normal humans due to their feeds being hacked and disconnected, Titus seeks to find out what exactly the feeds are about and what they mean, all while his love interest, Violet, disagrees with him.  Titus must also

This fantasy novel is intended for adolescents 14 years old and up and is comparable with the many novels relating to dystopian societies.  With moon travel so easily to obtain and technology implanted into humans and feeds suggesting how human live their lives, Titus continues to live according to the feeds and not accept how things have changed around him. Teachers can use this novel to compare and contrast existing dystopian societies and extend their lessons with comic strips of favorite scenes or posters of a feed. Teachers can also discuss how media has taken over for young adults and the influence it has today.

Proxy

London, A. (2013). Proxy. New York, New York: Speak. Currently my students are reading Proxy by Alex London. Much like the dystopian society that many other books seek, this is the first that I have read that has a "proxy," someone of the lower class who pays the debts of their patron, someone of the elite class. Many of my students have finished the book and are onto book two, Guardian, which makes not only myself please that many students are reading more outside of class, so is my school principal. TweenReads was a few weeks ago and I was not able to attend due to prior arrangements with my son's Cub Scout activities. I'm not going to lie. I was a little bit bummed I did not get to attend TweenReads. Alex London was there and I did not get a chance to meet him or get my book signed. Maybe another day. 

Proxy is on the Lone Star list this year for my students. The Book Club's goal is to read adn complete AR test on at least 12 of the books by the end of the school year. The more the better. The goal is to get my kids to reach our and read more for pleasure. So far we are off to a good start.