Choice - Deadline by Chris Crutcher

Deadline is the story of Ben Wolf and the choice he makes for his life as he races towards the end of it. Ben is entering his senior year of high school when he learns that he has a terminal disease and will likely die before the school year ends if he forgoes treatment. After weighing his options, Ben decides to take matters into his own hands, face his mortality alone, and enjoy the last few months of his life. Crutcher takes us on a journey of strength, courage, humor, teen drama, high school drama, acceptance, and mortality.

As we follow Ben on his journey, together we learn that keeping secret is tough, telling is even tougher, and it really isn't all that simple to go through life as if nothing is wrong. Crutcher brings his trademark, humor, teen angst, sports, and great story to the table in this book. He manages to tell a coming-of-age story that ends in death with a dose of humor and light touch. That's not to say that Deadline is all fluff and no substance. This book could really reach some kids. Kids with parents that are out of the loop, due to work issues, health issues, kids that have lost friends or family, kids that are harboring secrets, and kids that simply do not or cannot see the "ripples" created by their actions. Hopefully, as people, especially teens, read this book they begin to realize the fragility of life, and think about the reality of the "Nothing bad will/can happen to me" attitude so typical of teens.

I really enjoyed this book, as it made me laugh and cry. Ben is such a brave character who wants to do the right thing, protect those he loves, and go out with a bang, and on his terms. I think Deadline will appeal to boys and girls, jocks, the brainy kids, drama kids, really anyone. I feel that due to the intense subject matter, it would be most appropriate for high school students, but the reading level is pretty low, so even reluctant readers would be okay. I thought it was a pretty quick easy read, but really packs quite a wallop. This would be a great springboard book for a variety of conversations. Advanced classes, debate, and psychology classes could talk about the ethics behind Ben's decision to not even tell his parents his medical issues for much of the book, literature classes could use it as a starter for writing a variety of essays. Take a look at Chris Crutcher's website, educator section, for some really nice reading guides for several of his books, including deadline.

For a hook I would consider a couple of things:

1) Crutcher is a an author that has been routinely criticized for being too controversial, addressing topics that are too controversial, or tough for kids, and has had several titles challenged, including Deadline. This alone, as several blogger have noted, generates such great interest. Taking advantage of this during Banned Books Week, or any other time, is a no brainer. This fact alone will bring readers! Kind of makes me think of, "If you build it, they will come." How about, "If it's challenged, kids will read it!"? :-)

2) I found this book talk on You Tube: Deadline Book Talk. No need to reinvent the wheel and I think this will certainly spark some interest.

3) I would read the following passage and see what the students think might be coming.

Early August

My plan was to focus my senior year on information I could use after graduation when I set out for Planet Earth from the Pluto that is Trout, Idaho, population 943. My SATs said I wasn't even close to brain-dead and I was set to be accepted at any college I chose, as long as I chose one that would accept me. A lot of guys use their senior year to coast; catch up on partying and reward themselves for making it this far. Not me. This was my year to read everything I could get my hands on, to speak up, push myself and my teachers to get the true hot poop on the World At Large, so I could hit the ground running. How big a pain in the ass do you think that would make me in Mr. Lambeer's U.S. government/current events class, where Lambeer regularly alters reality with the zeal of an evangelical senator?

I also intended to shock the elite by etching my name atop the winner's board at the state cross-country meet, then come home to take Dallas Suzuki by surprise. Dallas Suzuki may sound to you like a car dealership in Texas, but for the past three years, she has been the single prey in the crosshairs of my Cupid's bow, and she doesn't know it because she is way, way out of my league.

Mr. Ambitious.

Then, about two weeks after my eighteenth birthday, a month and a half before beginning my final year at Trout High, I discovered I'll be lucky to be there at the finish. A warning like that usually comes from the school office, to be ignored until the third notice, but this was from The Office Above The Office and was to be attended to immediately.

Choice - Going Bovine by Libba Bray

I have to start by saying Going Bovine was one of the strangest books I have read in a long time. I really enjoy fantasy, and I know this isn't strictly fantasy, but Dulcie, Balder, Dr.X, and snow globe imprisonment is awfully close to fantasy in my book.

Going Bovine is the 2010 Printz Award winner.

Overall, I found the premise interesting, the storyline initially funny, but the gratuitous use of foul language, excessive details, extremely long dream scenes, and half formed characters(the family) really made this book bog down for me. Weighing in at nearly 500 pages, I had to struggle to get through it. I wanted to know more about Cameron, his twin and his family. Once I discovered that Cameron is dying, I wanted to learn how his family and friends are reacting. His dream state adventures are fun and entertaining, but even they got old. The more I think about it, I think my reactions to this book come from my experiences as an adult and mother. What I look for in a book is often wildly different than what kids are looking for and this creates a dilemma when reviewing books.

Honestly, I am not sure how to sell this book, maybe that's because I didn't enjoy it, but I know there are teens out there who will. Just take a look at reviews and you find plenty. Bray writes from the point of view of a 16 year old boy. She includes the trifecta of drugs, sex, and music - this often draws teen readers. I would recommend this title for high school students, especially those that are into quirky, artsy type books, and students willing to stick with the book for the long haul. Readers that are easily offended by language, drug use, and sex should steer clear. I don't think there will be a huge audience for this book, but some will really get it and love it. I would read the following as a hook. I think it includes the crazy fantasy aspect, as well as the, "I'm going to save the world." aspect.

“As a kid, I imagined lots of different scenarios for my life. I would be an astronaut. Maybe a cartoonist. A famous explorer or a rock star. Never once did I see myself standing under the window of a house belonging to some druggie named Carbine, waiting for his yard gnome to steal his stash so I could get a cab back to a cheap motel where my friend, a neurotic, death-obsessed dwarf, was waiting for me so we could get on the road to an undefined place and a mysterious Dr X, who would cure me from mad cow disease and stop a band of dark energy from destroying the universe”.

Graphic Novel - Fagin the Jew by Will Eisner

Calling all theater geeks! Where are the Dickens lovers? Find them and tell them about this graphic novel. Fagin the Jew might just catch their eye. Will Eisner uses the graphic novel as the vehicle to tell the story of Fagin from the Charles Dickens classic, Oliver Twist. Theater lovers will also recognize Fagin from Lionel Bart's, Oliver!.

In Fagin the Jew, Eisner gives us an in-depth biography of Fagin. He also address the issues of religious and racial prejudice, the cruelty of fate, and the even greater cruelty of man. Eisner includes very informative foreword and afterword sections that help explain the

author's reasons, intentions, and resources for this title.

As a graphic novel, this is a beautifully done piece of work. The drawings are first rate, characters well formed, London looks as I would have imagined it during the era of Oliver Twist and Fagin, and the sepia wash lends a solemn feel to the pages. This not a story of happily ever after and those looking for a lighthearted tale, need to keep on looking. Fagin's life is portrayed as one of misfortune, prejudice, and betrayal.

While I found this book interesting, it is not one I would read again for fun. I appreciated the gorgeous art and think most students, especially those into art, cartooning, and graphic novels, will appreciate it as well. The storyline, however, is a difficult one due to the issues Eisner addresses. Handselling this novel to theater lovers, artists, European and Jewish history buffs, and Dickens readers may be the way to go. I just don't see you average high schooler checking this title out on a regular basis. Including it in a group of books addressing prejudice, Dickens, and European history would also be a good bet. I am not entirely convinced that

this would be a good stand alone book in a booktalk, I really think it needs to be part of a grouping of books. I would recommend this book for high school students. Finally, Eisner was a well respected, highly honored artist and author, but Ifound no awards specifically for this work.

I would share the first few pages of the book, especially the section where, as a mere tot, Fagin learns to cheat and swindle passersby at the feet of none other than his father. I have scanned these in and included them, so you can see the lovely artwork and read the text, since I cannot do it justice.

Diversity - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is the faced paced, no holds barred, semi-autobiographical story about a year in the life of Arnold Spirit, Jr., better known as Junior.

Junior is 14 years old, a budding cartoonist, and at a crossroads in his life. Should he leave the reservation to attend the white school 22 miles away and maybe, just maybe, have a chance to get off the reservation and out of the extreme poverty, depression, and hopelessness that pervades his world? If he leaves he will get a better education and have a better chance at making something of his life. On the other hand, if he leaves he will betray his roots in the eyes of many on the rez, including his best friend, Rowdy. Diary follows Junior as he deals with first love, angry best friends, losing his Grandmother, family friend, and sister, becoming a basketball legend, alcoholism, poverty, and growing up and becoming a man.

I listened to this book on Playaway as I drove for work and hated getting out of my car! The recording is narrated by Alexie, himself and is roll on the floor hysterical in many places, while breathtakingly sad in others. Alexie manages to skillfully weave the hard truths about life on a reservation, poverty, alcoholism, teenage angst, love, lust, friendship, death, and life with the humor that only teenagers can see. What could have been a dark, dreary treatise on what is wrong with the Native American Community today becomes a swift, funny, and enjoyable ride through Junior's freshman year in school. Somehow Alexie manages to maintain Arnold's sense of hope regardless of the trials and tribulations he encounters. I suspect there is a lot more truth to this book than one might think, or that Alexie has admitted.

I would recommend this book for kids from about 7th grade on up. There are several instances of crude language, but one should expect that when it is told in the voice of a 14 year old. There are allusions to sex, child and spousal abuse, blatant alcohol abuse, drunk driving, death, accidents, poverty, hunger, and any variety of typical teen issues. The author doesn't pull any punches when discussing life on the rez. Students will understand how tough reservation life really is. Many of our students deal with many of the exact same issues and will be able to relate to Arnold with no problem. Sadly, they will know exactly what he is talking about. In respect to the issues that are dealt with and the course language, some of the more sensitive or younger kids might need to be steered away from this book, or at least warned. I can see boys and girls enjoying this book, but I think at risk boys might really be able to relate and enjoy the adventure. When doing a booktalk there would be no shortage of passages to read, because nearly every scene is a hook in itself. Here is one example.

It sucks to be poor, and it sucks to feel that you somehow deserve to be poor. You start believing that you’re poor because you’re stupid and ugly. And then you start believing that you’re stupid and ugly because you’re Indian. And because you’re Indian, you start believing you’re destined to be poor. It’s an ugly circle and there’s nothing you can do about it.

Substitute any racial/ethnic minority for Indian and this passage becomes universal.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian has earned a variety of awards. They are listed below.

2009 Peter Pan Award, Sweden
2009 Odyssey Award for audio version, produced by Recorded Books, LLC
2008 Washington Book Award - the Scandiuzzi Children's Book Award for middle grades and young adults
2008 Boston Globe–Horn Book Awards for Excellence in Children’s Literature in Fiction
2008 Capitol Choices Noteworthy Books for Children
2008 Book Sense Book of the Year Children's Literature Honor Book
2008 Pacific Northwest Book Award
2008 American Indian Library Association American Indian Youth Literature Award
2007 National Book Award for Young People's Literature
2007 Los Angles Times Book Prize Finalist
Publishers Weekly 2007 Best Books of the Year - Children's Fiction
The New York Times Notable Children's Books of 2007
Los Angeles Times Favorite Children's Books of 2007
National Parenting Publication Gold Winner 2007
Barnes & Noble 2007 Best for Teens
School Library Journal Best Books of 2007
Kirkus Reviews Best Young Adult Books of 2007 (pdf file)
Horn Book Fanfare Best Books of 2007
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbon Winner
Kansas City Star's Top 100 Books of the Year

Poetry - Jazz by Walter Dean Myers, Illustrated by Christopher Myers

Jazz is an absolutely glorious feast for the eyes, ears, and body! Walter Dean Myers manages to capture the sultry rhythm, staccato beat, and languid purr of good jazz music. His poems are perfectly paired with the fantastic art of his son. I love this book! To me this is an example of literature, music, and art combined to bring out the best of all three. With the free flowing verse that ebbs and flows like the jazz you would hear on Bourbon Street, students will feel the give and take of the verse. They will see that poetry doesn't have to rhyme and most importantly, it isn't always boring!

I was curious to see what grade levels this book is recommended for and tended to find grades 5-9. I decided to look at the Ohio music standards to see if I could incorporable Jazz into the high school curriculum. With little effort I found benchmarks in Historical Culture and Social Contexts, Analyzing and Responding, Valuing Music/Aesthetic Reflection, and Connections, Relationships, and Applications from grade K-12 where this book could be easily used to supplement instruction. Who knew a picture/poetry book could pack such a punch!

Myers includes a very nice, concise history of jazz music, glossary of jazz terms, jazz music timeline to round out the book. I think this book would appeal to all ages from middle to high school, especially to those music kids, those interested in African American music and history, and history buffs in general. Jazz could easily be used as a supplemental text in an English/Language Arts class, Social Studies and History classes, art, and music classes. I just think this is an all around gem of a book!

I think I would read any of the poems and share the artwork to help hook students. Pairing the book with recordings of some good jazz music, and/or videos of famous jazz men and women would help seal the deal. Who can resist the puffed out cheeks of Louis Armstrong, the amazing Wynton Marsalis, or the dulcet tones of Ella Fitzgerald, to name a few of the greats? This book can really open some doors!

The first poem in Jazz is aptly titled, Jazz.

Start with rhythm

Start with the heart

Drumming in tongues

Along the Nile

A black man's drum

Speaks

LOVE

Start with RHYTHM

Start with

the HEART

Worksongs

Gospel

triumph

Despair

Voices

Lifted

From the soul

Nonfiction - A Long Way Gone:Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah

Later on, when Junior went to secondary school, he befriended some boys who taught him more about foreign music and dance. During holidays, he brought me cassettes and taught my friends and me how to dance to what we came to know as hip-hop. I loved the dance, and particularly enjoyed learning the lyrics, because they were poetic and it improved my vocabulary. One afternoon, Father came home while Junior, Mohamed, Talloi, and I were learning the verse of “I Know You Got Soul” by Eric B. & Rakim. He stood by the door of our clay brick and tin roof house laughing and then asked, “Can you even understand what you are saying?” He left before Junior could answer. He sat in a hammock under the shade of the mango, guava, and orange trees and tuned his radio to the BBC news.

“Now, this is good English, the kind that you should be listening to,” he shouted from the yard.

While Father listened to the news, Junior taught us how to move our feet to the beat. We alternately moved our right and then our left feet to the front and back, and simultaneously did the same with our arms, shaking our upper bodies and heads. “This move is called the running man,” Junior said. Afterward, we would practice miming the rap songs we had memorized. Before we parted to carry out our various evening chores of fetching water and cleaning lamps, we would say “Peace, son” or “I’m out,” phrases we had picked up from the rap lyrics. Outside, the evening music of birds and crickets would commence.

A Long Way Gone is the heart wrenching, gut twisting memoir of a child soldier forced to fight in the bloody civil war that ravaged Sierra Leone from 1991 to 2002 and his miraculous escape and transformation. Given drugs, an AK47, and the ultimatum, kill them or we kill you, Ishmael Beah begins his nightmare as a child soldier. Beah tells in gritty, brutally honest detail the atrocities he witnessed and participated in. The story is filled with the simple joys of a child, such as singing, dancing, swimming, and enjoying ice cream juxtaposed with the cruel realities of war.

I found this book to be very difficult to read for a variety of reasons. As the parent of a 12 year old boy and I found myself reacting to much of the story on this level. Ishmael could have been my child and I cannot imagine Alex, my son, in Beah’s situation, nor do I want to. I also reacted very strongly to the images of brutality put forth in the story. I know that these are the reality in a war situation, but being aware of the age of the narrator, makes it that much more difficult. Amazingly, throughout the story, I felt a ring of hope. Somehow, this child found that spot deep within himself that was confident there was hope, somewhere.

This is a book that I feel should be carefully “sold.” Sophisticated readers in a high school would benefit from the story. The themes of death, desperation, war atrocities, drug use, child killers, and murder are rampant throughout the story and really necessitate the need for caution when circulating this title. I believe that the book holds a story that must be told, or we are bound to repeat past mistakes, but some vigilance with this title is necessary. Children that are living a life of violence, drugs, and no apparent way out will be able to relate. I think those students will be able to see themselves in Mr. Beah. Sadly, there are children in our schools, especially those in depressed urban areas that will be all too familiar with the kill or be killed refrain. I think the quote from the beginning of this post will help students connect with the author and hook students.

Additionally, there has been some question as to the validity and accuracy of Beah’s story, but no conclusive proof has been put forth. Additional information can be found at the book's website: http://www.alongwaygone.com/