This month's YA study has us discussing one of those elusive subgenres: contemporary realistic literature with male main characters. Sports books, action adventure, problem novels, and survival fiction are all included in this boy-centered breakout. Join us Wednesday, May 19th at 2:30 pm to discuss the rise of Gossip Girl and its imitators.
Remember, we're continuing to post to the comments section of the blog in place of using the cards. So go ahead and comment on this post (with your Google ID), including:
Your Name:
Book Title:
Brief Summary:
Comments on Appeal:
Who Would I Recommend It To:
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Book: Woods Runner, by Gary Paulsen
ReplyDeleteBrief Summary: 13-year old Samuel lives with his parents on the edge of the wilderness in the British Colony of Pennsylvania, a long way from any town. An expert hunter and woodsman, he's hunting a far piece from his settlement when he smells smoke, and upon his return finds his house burned, his parents missing, the few nearby families slaughtered by the Iroquois and Redcoats. He'd heard tell of a war with the English, but it had been only a rumor until the war exploded into his world. Samuel plunges into the world of war, gets exposed to the ways of the American Patriots and grows up very quickly in his efforts to find and rescue his parents in the faraway town of New York.
Appeal: At only 164 page-turning pages, it's an easy and quick read, full of excitement and fascinating, easy-to-digest historical detail on war and guns. Paulsen's a proven adventure writer, and has another award-winning (BBY, BBYA) book of this genre, for an additional read if this hits home for a reader.
To whom would I recommend it: boys, girls interested in the revolutionary war, those interested in guns and great adventure stories, those familiar with other Paulsen works.
Title: No More Dead Dogs
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Gordon Korman
2000, 180 pages
Brief Summary: Wallace Wallace is a reluctant high school football hero, having won a big game by luck. He hates Old Shep, My Pal and doesn't know how to put it constructively. So he is suspended from the team and forced to attend rehearsals of the play the school is also putting on of it. Wallace brings a fresh perspective to the group and adds rollerblades, a moped, and a lot more life to a struggling play as the kids and teacher eventually learn something from him as he learns from the experience and grows up a lot in the process.
Thoughts on Appeal:
It is very, very funny. Very nicely structured and an enjoyable read for anyone. And a boy book where sports is on the backburner and abuse, drugs, bad parenting just isn't there.
Who I Would Recommend This To:
Fans of Chris Crutcher searching for lighter fare, but really, this fish out of water story will appeal to all readers, even the girls out there as there are a few characters they can relate to as well.
Your Name: Heather
ReplyDeleteBook Title: Alabama Moon
Author: Watt Key
Brief Summary: Moon has lived in the woods his entire life and knows how to survive in the wild. However, when his militia father suddenly dies Moon finds himself all alone in the world. He ends up in an Alabama institution with other troubled boys and a fierce desire to escape. He knows everything about his forest environment, but virtually nothing about the broader social world. His quest to both free himself and rescue his friends is an exciting one.
Comments on Appeal: There are some heart-stopping moments, and the descriptions of the woods is very Man vs. Wild.
Who I Would Recommend This To: middle school aged boys, grades 6-8, who like both survival and friendship stories along with a hefty dose of rebellion. Also good for reluctant readers.
Title: Mexican Whiteboy
ReplyDeleteAuthor: Matt de la Pena
Bried Summary: Danny Lopez is a half-Mexican and half-White 16-year-old boy. He doesn’t fit in at his affluent San Diego prep school because his skin tone is a bit brown. However, when he goes to spend the summer with his cousin Sofia and his father’s relatives in the National City, he feels too pale. Then he falls in love with a beautiful Mexican girl who speaks broken English. Unfortunately, Danny doesn’t speak Spanish. He also meets, and gets intimidated by, Uno, a half-African American and half-Mexican streetwise roughneck. They hustle baseball so Uno could make enough money to live with his dad. Eventually, these two boys become friends. Danny wants to spend time with his father in Mexico. He also learns some disturbing family secrets from his relatives.
Comments on Appeal: All the characters are three dimensional. The story is told from a first person point of view. The lexile level is appropriate for reluctant readers. This book contains sensitive issues such as racism, gang violence, and underage abuse of drugs and alcohol.
Who Would I Recommend It To: Interracial, biracial and immigrant teens. It will certainly engage reluctant readers.