Reality Boy

by A.S. King

King, A.S. (2013). Reality boy. New York, NY: Little Brown Books for Young Readers.

With his family’s feature in a “Supernanny” type reality show when he was only 5, Gerald Faust is somewhat of a reality star and a local celebrity.  However, considering the fact that what he’s famous for is some rather unusual bathroom habits, he’s been nicknamed “The Crapper” for the last 12 years, and it’s definitely something he’d like to be able to escape.  Now that Gerald is all grown up, he’s come to realize that even though he’s been labeled the problem child with the expectation that he has no option but to end up in jail, the true problem lies in his completely dysfunctional family.  His oldest sister is literally a psychopath and has been attempting to kill Gerald and his middle sister for as long as he can remember.  The parents are either completely oblivious to this fact or choose to turn a blind eye.  Mom seems to have nothing but hatred for Gerald and babies her oldest daughter who has dropped out of college and is back living at home in the basement having offensively loud sex with her boyfriend constantly.  Dad just seems to be over it all and at the point of not caring.  Gerald’s only escape is his work at the concession stand at the local arena and an interesting girl named Hannah whom he has difficulty even speaking to.  Eventually the ice gets broken and the two discover that they are both looking for a way out of their troubled homes and they make a plan to run away.  Told in alternating present time and flashbacks, this book would be an excellent addition to a lesson on the use of flashbacks in writing.  It’s a real eye-opener to the not so publicized life of reality stars.  Recommended for ages 15 and up.

Educator's Discussion Guide for Reality Boy

Publishers Weekly Interview with A.S. King

A.S. King answers questions on Reality Boy

The Knife of Never Letting Go

by Patrick Ness

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

This science fiction novel is set in the town of Prentisstown, a place where there are absolutely no females and the men and animals that are left have all been infected with the “Noise germ” by the Spackle.  This allows them to hear every single thought of every creature in close proximity which is quite chaotic and makes it hard to decipher what is real and what is fantasy.  While out in the woods one day, young Todd, who is just a few days shy of becoming a man, and his loyal dog Manchee stumble upon an area of complete silence unlike anything they’ve ever experienced.  Upon Todd’s return to town, the townsfolk immediately pick up on his new discovery from his thoughts and the two men who raised him, Cillian and Ben, hand him and incomplete map and a book written long ago by his mother and instruct him that he must leave immediately and escape to the town of Haven.  As Todd’s adventure into the world begins, he runs into a girl, the first one he’s ever seen, named Viola whose thoughts he is unable hear.  After initially being terrified of each other, they develop a bond and decide to help one another.  As they make their way toward the town of Haven, they are relentlessly pursued by Aaron the preacher, along with the Mayor and his posse.  Along the way Todd meets others and comes to discover that everything he’s ever known and been told about Prentisstown is a lie.  This book leaves off on a major cliffhanger and is the perfect beginning to the Chaos Walking trilogy.  Young adult fantasy fans will find the characters real and relatable and will no doubt enjoy this novel.

Discussion Guide for The Knife of Never Letting Go

The Knife of Never Letting Go Book Trailer

Interview with Patrick Ness

It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health

by Robie H. Harris

Harris, R. (2009). It’s perfectly normal: Changing bodies, growing up, sex and sexual health. Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press.

Children and teens are curious about sex and their changing bodies, and they have A LOT of questions. Many times they seek out the answers from their peers who provide information that is inaccurate. It’s Perfectly Normal is an excellent resource for children who are entering puberty and are curious about their developing bodies and sexuality. Sparing no detail, it provides honest, unbiased and accurate information on every conceivable topic from changes in the body, to the various types of sex, to family planning, to internet safety. This non-fiction text is organized in 6 parts: What is Sex?, Our Bodies, Puberty, Families and Babies, Decisions, and Staying Healthy.  Narrated by a bird and bee character, the authors provide illustrations and text to convey the different talking points in straight forward language that is age appropriate and unintimidating. A detailed table of contents and index will help readers find exactly the information they are looking for.  Harris and Emberley (Illustrator) consult with professionals around the world including teachers, child development specialist, health professionals, and scientist to make necessary changes and ensure that each edition contains the most up to date and accurate information.  This book does a wonderful job of representing the diverse collection of humanity and assures them that everything they are experiencing is "perfectly normal."  Recommended for ages 10 and up.

GEORGE

by Alex Gino

Gino, A. (2015). George. NY: Scholastic.

From the outside, everyone sees George as a boy.  Mom says "you'll always be my little boy," and others comment that he'll grow into a "fine young man."  But all George wants is for the world, especially his mother, to see him for who he really is, a girl. For as long as he can remember he just knew that he was a girl, and recently he’s discovered that he's not alone.  There are other people just like him and they even have a name, transgender.  The fourth grade play is coming up and this year they are doing Charlotte's Web.  George has his heart set on playing the female spider Charlotte.  When his teacher get angry and says she cannot cast George as Charlotte because he's a boy, he is devastated.  When George finally gets the courage to open up to his best friend Kelley, she is extremely supportive and accepting.  With her help, he is finally able to take the stage as Charlotte and show everyone who he really is.  While George’s inner turmoil is heartbreaking, the love and acceptance he receives from his young friend is refreshing and inspiring.  We see him slowly evolve from being a scared and confused child to becoming happier and more confident in being a transgender person.  Many of Havighurst’s theories of developmental task are evident in this story including adolescents learning to get along with peers, adapting to their physical bodies and defining appropriate sex roles.  Students who enjoy this book may also like Gracefully Grayson by Ami Polonsky.

Interview with Alex Gino

Brown Girl Dreaming

by Jacqueline Woodson

Woodson, J. (2014). Brown girl dreaming. NY: Nancy Paulsen Books.

This novel written in free verse, shares Jacqueline Woodson's story of growing up as an African-American child in the years following the height of the civil rights movement.  Years after Rosa Park's arrest for refusing to give up her seat to a white man, and Ruby Bridges entering that all white school amid armed guards and harassment, Jacqueline finds that remnants of segregation and bigotry are still alive, especially in the south.  The story follows her and her family as they travel first to South Carolina and then to New York City, looking for a place to fit in that really feels like home.  South Carolina is green and beautiful, where her mother grew up and where her grandparents live.  However, actions and attitudes here often leave Jacqueline feeling like a second class citizen.  And in New York, although the sidewalks aren't sparkling like diamonds as she expected, she doesn't have to be worried about being followed around by store clerks and made to enter through a back entrance because of the color of her skin.  The family tries hard to balance their new life in the city with their traditional Jehovah’s Witness beliefs, all while missing their family back home and feeling that they don’t exactly fit in completely in either place.  As Jacqueline struggles to find her place in the world, the one thing that never changes is the unwavering love and support of her family.  This book would be appropriate for anyone age 10 and up.

Lesson Plans for use with Brown Girl Dreaming

Grasshopper Jungle

by Andrew Smith

Smith, A. (2014). Grasshopper jungle. New York, NY: Dutton Books.

Science fiction novel Grasshopper Jungle is the story of a hormonal and sexually confused teenager Austin Szerba.  Austin attends private high school Curtis Crane Lutheran Academy with his best friend Robbi who happens to be gay and in love with Austin.  Austin has a girlfriend Shann, whom he has extremely strong feelings for, yet he wonders if it’s possible that he is in love with Robbi as well.  When Robbi asks Austin for a kiss, Austin obliges and is left feeling more confused than ever.  Amidst all his personal drama, due to a series of unfortunate events, a plague that turns people into gigantic praying mantises with insatiable appetites for food and mating is unleashed upon the withering city in which they live.  The three friends find safety in an old abandoned silo where they discover the origin of the plague and all of the supplies they will need to survive.  Once the boys figure out how to put a stop to the plague, using Robbi’s blood and a paintball gun, they take out the monstrous bugs, but are too late to save their town.  Austin and Shann have a child together, beginning the repopulation of Earth, however the bond between Austin and Robbi remains strong as they partner up to take on the post-apocalyptic world.  Due to the heavy references to sex, this book would be best for grades 9 and up.

Andrew Smith on Grasshopper Jungle

Goodbye Stranger

by Rebecca Stead

Stead, R.  (2015). Goodbye stranger. New York, NY: Wendy Lamb Books.

Rebecca Stead’s novel Goodbye Stranger is a book about the trials and tribulations of middle school.  A few years ago Bridge was hit by a car and spent a long time in the hospital recovering.  A nurse told her she must have survived for a reason and now she is trying to figure out if that is true and what that reason is.  Bridge’s best friend Em has a new friend Patrick whom she doesn’t really know, but begins corresponding with by sending photos of themselves back and forth.  At first it’s just innocent silly pictures of feet, elbows and such, however they soon become more risqué with him sending a picture in only his underwear and her sending one back in her bra.  When the picture of Em ends up circulating around the school, the girls’ other best friend Tabitha, who is a budding feminist and campaigner against social injustice, seeks revenge by sharing Patrick’s photo.  Amidst all of this drama, Bridge also makes a new friend, Sherm, a nice boy she meets after joining the Tech Crew who is dealing with the loss of his grandfather, not because of death but because he left his grandmother after 50 years of marriage.  As the story jumps around sharing bits and pieces of the characters’ personal struggles through interwoven narratives, middle school readers will not doubt notice reflections of themselves and their classmates.  Recommended for grades 6-9.  Other Stead novels students may enjoy are Newberry medal winner When You Reach Me and Guardian Prize winner Liar & Spy.

Speak

by Laurie Halse Anderson

Anderson, L. H. (1999). Speak. NY: Penguin

The summer before her freshman year of high school, Melinda and her friends attend a party full of older high school students.  When a good looking upperclassman takes an interest in Melinda, talking and dancing with her, she is elated.  However, things quickly take a turn for the worse when he takes her into the woods and rapes her.  Scared and confused she calls the cops leading to the party getting busted up and a lot of people really angry with Melinda who chooses not to explain why she called the police.  Alienated by her friends and most of the people at school, Melinda is forced into almost complete silence as she tries to deal with the trauma of what happened to her and her inability to express her thoughts and feelings.  With Melinda’s sudden withdrawal and drop in grades, some of her teachers believe her to be a troublemaker and her parents are left exasperated with no idea how to help her. The one thing that helps Melinda to relieve some of her stress is her art class.  Her art teacher is different, inspiring and helps Melinda to see things in a different light.  When her ex-best friend suddenly takes an interest in the boy who assaulted Melinda AKA “It” or “The Beast,” she decides that she has to speak up about what happened.  While her former friend doesn’t believe her at first, the rapist’s true nature is eventually exposed bringing a sense of relief and peace to Melinda and a reconciliation of friends.  This book opens up an opportunity for a healthy classroom discussion on rape, how it can make a victim feel, and ways to cope. Readers who enjoy this book may also enjoy Punch Like a Girl by Karen Krossing.

Interview with Laurie Halse Anderson on Speak

The Carnival at Bray

by Jessie Ann Foley

Foley, J. A. (2014). The carnival at Bray. Ashford, CT: Elephant Rock Books.

16-year-old Chicago native Maggie Lynch has been uprooted from her home and hauled off to Bray, Ireland with her younger sister when her mom marries a man she’s known only four months and agrees to move to his hometown on the other side of the world.  Forced to leave behind her beloved Nanny Ei and her wanna be rock star Uncle Kevin whom she idolizes, Maggie wonders if she will ever feel at home in her new surroundings.  Maggie struggles to make friends with the girls in her new school and finds the only person she can really talk to is 100-year-old Dan Sean, the oldest resident in the county.  One of the only things that bring Maggie joy are the care packages she receives from Uncle Kevin containing books, music and words of wisdom.  So when suddenly Uncle Kevin is found dead on New Year’s Day and Maggie discovers her family has lied to her about the details, she is devastated.  Armed with only Kevin’s letter to her, Nanny Ei’s Christmas money and two tickets to see Nirvana at the Palaghiaccio di Marino in Rome, Maggie embarks on the trip of a lifetime.  Along the way Maggie discovers true love and what it means to truly live.  Kirkus Review recommends Kurt Cobain’s biography Heavier than Heaven as a companion book to this Printz Honor novel and students who enjoyed The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky and Timely Persuasion by Jacob Lacivita will no doubt love this book.

Study Guide for The Carnival at Bray

Book Trailer for The Carnival at Bray

Jessie Ann Foley discuss The Carnival at Bray

Annie on My Mind

by Nancy Garden

Garden, N. (1982). Annie on my mind. NY: FSG. 

One day as Liza is strolling through the museum, she overhears Annie singing and upon meeting her realizes that this girl is unlike any she has ever met.  They soon strike up a friendship, first talking on the phone then eventually spending all their time together.  The girls become inseparable and begin to realize that their feelings of friendship have evolved into something more.  While Annie is ready to take the next step romantically, Liza struggles with these new feelings facing inner turmoil and confusion.  She slowly comes to realize that on some level she has always known she was different.  When two teachers from Liza’s school, who happen to be a lesbian couple unbeknownst to everyone, go on vacation and ask Liza to feed their cats, the girls get carried away.  They begin to use the couple’s home as their own private hang out daily until one day things become more heated and passion ensures.  It is during this moment the two girls are discovered leading to trouble not only for them but for the teachers as well.  The story is told through Liza’s flashbacks during her first year of college as she is attempting to write a letter to Annie to reestablish contact.  A major strength of this book is in the way it showcases what life is like for teen girls as they try to figure out and make sense of their feelings.  Books about the LGBT community are very popular right now, and although this book is quite a bit older, it is still applicable to today’s high school students as it discusses the issues and concerns that go along with being gay.

Interview with Nancy Garden