Annie on My Mind

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

Media Type: Audiobooks

Narrated by Rebecca Lowman

Length: 7 hrs. 19 min

Release Date: December 23, 2008

Summary:

The story is told as Liza remembers it, and focuses on her struggle to understand and accept her sexuality. Liza meets Annie in a museum and feels an instant attraction to her singing. They end up exchanging phone numbers and soon after a friendship develops. As they begin to spend more time together they realize that they love each other. Two girls in love is not something that society approves of; therefore, the girls face many challenges especially after getting caught. Liza gets suspended from school and faces getting expelled. After a hearing she is allowed to stay but two teachers who are also lesbians loose their job. Liza and Annie loose touch for a while as they both attend different universities. However at the end Liza calls Annie and their relationship rekindles.

Response:

Although the book appears to have a happy ending I am sure that if the story would continue we would see even more struggles and challenges being faced. Society is not very understanding when it comes to homosexuality. This book opened my eyes to a world that is rarely exposed or talked about. I wish more people would read this book and see that love is love regardless of gender.

Connections to textbook:
Chapter 5- This chapter talks about how adolescents develop. This book can be beneficial to a young adult wanting to read about lesbians and the obstacles that they encounter when society finds out about their sexual orientation.

Other books by the author

                              

Teaching Tools

Interview with Nancy Garden

http://cynthialeitichsmith.com/lit-resources/read/authors/interviews/nancygarden/

Grasshopper Jungle

Smith, A. (2014). Grasshopper Jungle. NY: Penguin Group.             

Media Type: Audiobooks

Narrated by Philip Church

Length: 9 hrs. 19 min

Release Date: February 11, 2014

                        

Summary:

Austin Szerba is a teenage boy from Iowa who gives you a detailed account of "the end of the world." He also gives you many different accounts of events and how they intertwine. So it all begins when some bullies break into the second hand store where Austin works. There were many strange artifacts there including a glass container with a "plague" that had been contained for a long time. They accidentally break it and the plague begins to spread turning some town people into huge praying mantis who just want to eat and reproduce. At the time only Shann, Austin and Robby really know what is going on. They find a safe place that had been created in case of this sort of event. A dilemma that also follows Austin throughout the novel is his sexual orientation. He loves his girlfriend Shann, but he also loves his bestfriend Robby. There really is no resolution to either problem, Austin just learns to live with them.

Response:

I found this novel a bit weird yet entertaining. There were sexual references made in almost every sentence. What I found unique was being able to get a perspective of what teenage boys do and think about. Growing up in a household wih only sisters always left me wondering what teenage boys were like. Overall I really enjoyed this novel, and I am looking forward to reading other novels by Andrew Smith.

Connection to the textbook:

Chapter 2- This book would be categorized under Young Adult Literature.

Chapter 7- This book received many awards including the Printz Award.

Chapter 12- This book would fall under apocalyptic science fiction.

Other books by the author

Teaching Tools

Author's Website

http://www.authorandrewsmith.com/

Author's Blog

http://ghostmedicine.blogspot.co.uk/

Book Trailer

http://www.ladyreader.net/2014/02/blog-tour-grasshopper-jungle-by-andrew_28.html#.Uxdull4-KkI

The Knife of Never Letting Go

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

Media Type: Audiobooks

Narrated by Nick Podehl

Length: 11 hrs. 55 min

Release Date: September 28, 2010

Summary:

Todd Hewitt lives in a world where everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts. He lives in a settlement called Prentisstown where he is the only boy left. The rest of the members are men because they had Todd believe that the "Spacks" (aliens) had spread a germ that killed all the women and infected them with the "Noise." Just a few weeks from becoming a man, Todd and his dog Manchee come across an area of complete silence. At first he thinks that it might be a spackle but it turns out to be a girl. This is where the trouble begins for Todd because for reasons he not yet understands, is told by Ben, his guardian, that he needs to run for his life. Before running away Ben gives Todd a book that belonged to his mother and a knife. Through this journey he develops a strong bond with his dog Manchee and the girl with no noise, Viola. They encounter many obstacles along the way, and Todd battles with the idea that he might never be able to kill and become a man. Their goal is to reach a settlement called Haven, which was mentioned in his mother's book. Once they get there things are not what they expected. Viola gets shot and Todd faces President Prentiss. The ending leaves you hanging with what will happen to Todd and Viola.

Response:

At first I was a bit confused as to why there was a talking dog. Once I became familiar with the "noise" the book started to come together. I was really getting into the book until it came to the cliff-hanger. I was a bit disappointed and frustrated at the ending. It felt like it just cut off at a crucial point of the conflict. There definitely was no resolution. I understand that this book was part of a trilogy but I have read other trilogies that don't end so abruptly.

Connection to the textbook:

Ch12- fantasy/science fiction- I made a connection to chapter 12 because this science fiction novel has aliens referred to as Spacks.

Other books by the author

                             

Teaching Tools

Author's website

http://patrickness.com/

Lesson Plan from Candlewick Press

http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763645761.bdg.1.pdf