BIBLIOGRAPHY
Kinney, Jeff. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID. New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2007.
PLOT SUMMARY
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID is a diary written in the form of a diary of a middle school aged boy named Greg. This book is an introduction into the life of Greg Heffley. Greg discusses his day to day life from dealing with his parents and his spoiled younger brother to trying to fit in and become more popular in middle school. From the stinky cheese on the playground to this comic strip he created with his friend Rowley, Greg seems to have the worst luck. Being a kid is hard and Greg knows that all too well.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The main character in DIARY OF A WIMPY KID is a middle school aged boy named Greg. Greg is a typical kid that goes through family life, friend experiences, and the dreaded new middle school. As his figures his way through life he writes his experiences in a journal. He is easily relatable for those kids who ever had apprehensions about new experiences, trouble with friends, and/or spoiled younger siblings.
Throughout the journal Greg explains his journey through his first year of middle school. The plot though quite simple is Greg’s life, and it is anything but simple to him. The majority of the book takes place at Greg’s house, school, and in the neighborhood. The descriptions are not too elaborate so that the reader can picture their own neighborhood and perhaps see themselves in Greg’s shoes. It is set in present time.
The theme of the story is simple; growing up. Greg has to make choices that will be best for him in the long run. He struggles with issues of being popular versus keeping his best friend. Like most young people, Greg chooses the easiest option at the time without thinking about the effects in the long run.
I believe this book is very obviously gender based. The issues that Greg goes through are that of a young boy. The issues may have been similar if it was a girl but definitely not the same. It is a fun read for both boys reading about each other and for girls reading about boys. This book has the giggle affect!
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
It is an excellent choice for reluctant readers, but more experienced readers will also find much to enjoy and relate to in one seventh grader's view of the everyday trials and tribulations of middle school.-SLJ
Unlike some other books about kids of this age, there's no sense of a slightly condescending adult writer behind the main character. At every moment, Greg seems real, and the engrossed reader will even occasionally see the logic in some of his choices. Greatly adding to the humor are Kinney's cartoons, which appear on every page.-BOOKLIST
CONNECTIONS
This is a light hearted story of a middle school aged boy. This would be a great introduction into a journal lesson in which students must write in a journal every day.
This book would be a great suggestion to a student that does not particularly like to read. It is easy to read as well as relatable to students.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
When You Reach Me
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stead, Rebecca. WHEN YOU REACH ME. New York: Wendy Lamb Books, 2009.
PLOT SUMMARY
WHEN YOU REACH ME is a story about a twelve year old girl living in the city, with her mother during the 1980’s. The book explains the life of this young girl, Miranda, from home to school and back again. The story deals with friendships, crushes, enemies, and family. While Miranda is trying to figure life out she gets a series of notes from an unidentified author. The notes are like clues into the future. On top of struggling with old friendships, creating new friendships, and helping her mother with her dreams, Miranda now has to worry about these mysterious letters.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Miranda is the main character in this book. She is a twelve year old girl growing up with her mother and her mother’s boyfriend. They live in an apartment in New York. Miranda is now old enough to get around the city without an adult. Miranda begins the story with one best friend. As he begins to neglect her she has to try and find new friends. Miranda is relatable to many children. She is independent yet still needs her mother and friends. She goes through tough times and relationships as most do during that stage in life.
The plot of the story was simple at times and complicated at others. I found myself getting frustrated when the talk about time travel came about. Not only do I not believe in time travel, I had to read the words several times to try and understand what they were saying and still never really got it. For the most part this is just a story about Miranda and her journey through adolescence. If the time travel had been left completely out it would have been much more relatable. The book is set in New York during the 1980’s. This is obvious because of the television shows discussed in the book.
The theme of the book is a bit harder to find. I would say that self awareness and individualism would be the key themes. Miranda spends most of the book figuring out who she is. Does she need her best friend? Does she need her mother? Does she believe what people tell her or will she determine what is real on her own? Although these questions may be different for Miranda because of her circumstances, most adolescence go through the same questions in their own life. Each person must figure these things out on their own.
Miranda is the narrator of the story. She uses dialect that is typical for a young girl. It is easy to understand and easy to relate to. The chapters are short which is perfect for readers who have not yet mastered novels.
Gender and culture are key aspects of this book. Culture comes into play when the African American girl in class is accused of stealing from the deli. She is told to never come back and her friends as well as her enemies stand up for her. The issue of gender happens between Miranda and her best friend Sal who is a boy. Although they are best friends, they have to take a “break” because Sal needed to spend some time with the other boys. It takes Miranda some time to understand that concept.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers.-SLJ
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 soul’s rest.-BOOKLIST
CONNECTIONS
This book could lead to a great class discussion. While the topic of the discussion could be many things I would focus on time travel. Have the students explain why or why not they believe that time travel could happen. This could lead to a great debate which often gets students involved.
Students should write a narrative about “When I traveled through time…” This is a great example of a narrative that might be used on the TAKS.
The topic of racism is touched on in this book. Depending on the age group being taught, that might be a lesson in itself.
Stead, Rebecca. WHEN YOU REACH ME. New York: Wendy Lamb Books, 2009.
PLOT SUMMARY
WHEN YOU REACH ME is a story about a twelve year old girl living in the city, with her mother during the 1980’s. The book explains the life of this young girl, Miranda, from home to school and back again. The story deals with friendships, crushes, enemies, and family. While Miranda is trying to figure life out she gets a series of notes from an unidentified author. The notes are like clues into the future. On top of struggling with old friendships, creating new friendships, and helping her mother with her dreams, Miranda now has to worry about these mysterious letters.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Miranda is the main character in this book. She is a twelve year old girl growing up with her mother and her mother’s boyfriend. They live in an apartment in New York. Miranda is now old enough to get around the city without an adult. Miranda begins the story with one best friend. As he begins to neglect her she has to try and find new friends. Miranda is relatable to many children. She is independent yet still needs her mother and friends. She goes through tough times and relationships as most do during that stage in life.
The plot of the story was simple at times and complicated at others. I found myself getting frustrated when the talk about time travel came about. Not only do I not believe in time travel, I had to read the words several times to try and understand what they were saying and still never really got it. For the most part this is just a story about Miranda and her journey through adolescence. If the time travel had been left completely out it would have been much more relatable. The book is set in New York during the 1980’s. This is obvious because of the television shows discussed in the book.
The theme of the book is a bit harder to find. I would say that self awareness and individualism would be the key themes. Miranda spends most of the book figuring out who she is. Does she need her best friend? Does she need her mother? Does she believe what people tell her or will she determine what is real on her own? Although these questions may be different for Miranda because of her circumstances, most adolescence go through the same questions in their own life. Each person must figure these things out on their own.
Miranda is the narrator of the story. She uses dialect that is typical for a young girl. It is easy to understand and easy to relate to. The chapters are short which is perfect for readers who have not yet mastered novels.
Gender and culture are key aspects of this book. Culture comes into play when the African American girl in class is accused of stealing from the deli. She is told to never come back and her friends as well as her enemies stand up for her. The issue of gender happens between Miranda and her best friend Sal who is a boy. Although they are best friends, they have to take a “break” because Sal needed to spend some time with the other boys. It takes Miranda some time to understand that concept.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
This unusual, thought-provoking mystery will appeal to several types of readers.-SLJ
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 soul’s rest.-BOOKLIST
CONNECTIONS
This book could lead to a great class discussion. While the topic of the discussion could be many things I would focus on time travel. Have the students explain why or why not they believe that time travel could happen. This could lead to a great debate which often gets students involved.
Students should write a narrative about “When I traveled through time…” This is a great example of a narrative that might be used on the TAKS.
The topic of racism is touched on in this book. Depending on the age group being taught, that might be a lesson in itself.
The First Part Last
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Johnson, Angela. THE FIRST PART LAST. New York: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2003.
PLOT SUMMARY
THE FIRST PART LAST is a book about a teenage boy that discovers his girlfriend is pregnant with his child. The book goes back and forth from the past to the present. The young man goes through trials and tribulations in his head as well as with his family, his girlfriend, and his teachers. While he knows he has a great future ahead of him, he is torn between his future as an athlete and his future as a father. The book follows him throughout his journey and explains how he came out on the other side.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The main character in the book is an athletic young man with a girlfriend and an active social life. He is a person that most teenage readers can relate to. While he is doing well in school, he must begin to think about his future. This can be a trying time in any teenager’s life but to add to the stress he finds out he is going to be a father. This particular issue is a growing concern these days. Regardless of whether the reader has had the same experience or not, likely they have had some experience that changed their life.
The plot of the story focuses around teenagers that become pregnant. The topic of teen sex and teen pregnancy is on the rise. Teenagers see this issue on television, in movies, and in real life. This is a current topic that will not likely go away any time soon. The book is set in current times. It takes place between Bobby’s house, his girlfriend Nia’s house, and school.
The obvious theme of the story is overcoming obstacles and doing what is right. Bobby has an inner struggle with his options of doing what he wants and doing what is best. He has to find a balance between his school, work, friends, and family. He struggles with his place in the family. He still wants to be young and protected by his mother yet he wants to be a strong father figure to his daughter.
Bobby is the narrator of the story. He gives his personal account of the things that took place during his high school career. While there is some dialogue in the story it does not overpower Bobby’s narration. The chapters give a unique style to this story. The chapters are labeled “now” and “then”. In the “now” chapters Bobby discusses his life now and how it is different from how it used to be. In the “then” chapters Bobby recalls the past when he first finds out about the baby and how he feels about it at the time.
The gender of this book is especially important. The main character is a boy deciding what to do about a baby that he and his girlfriend created. This is refreshing and unique because often times we hear the girl’s perspective rather than the boys.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Brief, poetic, and absolutely riveting, this gem of a novel tells the story of a young father struggling to raise an infant.-SLJ
Johnson makes poetry with the simplest words in short, spare sentences that teens will read again and again.-BOOKLIST
CONNECTIONS
This book is a great lesson on actions and consequences. While I do not think this book should be used in a classroom because of its context, I do believe it could be used by parents to teach their teenagers about the risks of sex.
On a literary note, the use of past and present shows a different way to tell a story and how to connect outcomes to the events that took place.
Johnson, Angela. THE FIRST PART LAST. New York: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing, 2003.
PLOT SUMMARY
THE FIRST PART LAST is a book about a teenage boy that discovers his girlfriend is pregnant with his child. The book goes back and forth from the past to the present. The young man goes through trials and tribulations in his head as well as with his family, his girlfriend, and his teachers. While he knows he has a great future ahead of him, he is torn between his future as an athlete and his future as a father. The book follows him throughout his journey and explains how he came out on the other side.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The main character in the book is an athletic young man with a girlfriend and an active social life. He is a person that most teenage readers can relate to. While he is doing well in school, he must begin to think about his future. This can be a trying time in any teenager’s life but to add to the stress he finds out he is going to be a father. This particular issue is a growing concern these days. Regardless of whether the reader has had the same experience or not, likely they have had some experience that changed their life.
The plot of the story focuses around teenagers that become pregnant. The topic of teen sex and teen pregnancy is on the rise. Teenagers see this issue on television, in movies, and in real life. This is a current topic that will not likely go away any time soon. The book is set in current times. It takes place between Bobby’s house, his girlfriend Nia’s house, and school.
The obvious theme of the story is overcoming obstacles and doing what is right. Bobby has an inner struggle with his options of doing what he wants and doing what is best. He has to find a balance between his school, work, friends, and family. He struggles with his place in the family. He still wants to be young and protected by his mother yet he wants to be a strong father figure to his daughter.
Bobby is the narrator of the story. He gives his personal account of the things that took place during his high school career. While there is some dialogue in the story it does not overpower Bobby’s narration. The chapters give a unique style to this story. The chapters are labeled “now” and “then”. In the “now” chapters Bobby discusses his life now and how it is different from how it used to be. In the “then” chapters Bobby recalls the past when he first finds out about the baby and how he feels about it at the time.
The gender of this book is especially important. The main character is a boy deciding what to do about a baby that he and his girlfriend created. This is refreshing and unique because often times we hear the girl’s perspective rather than the boys.
REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
Brief, poetic, and absolutely riveting, this gem of a novel tells the story of a young father struggling to raise an infant.-SLJ
Johnson makes poetry with the simplest words in short, spare sentences that teens will read again and again.-BOOKLIST
CONNECTIONS
This book is a great lesson on actions and consequences. While I do not think this book should be used in a classroom because of its context, I do believe it could be used by parents to teach their teenagers about the risks of sex.
On a literary note, the use of past and present shows a different way to tell a story and how to connect outcomes to the events that took place.
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