Out of My Ordinary

For my final blog post, I have decided to read a novel which I would have otherwise never read. By stepping out of my comfort zone, I will attempt to relay this experience for other readers in hopes to provide advice.

Judy Blume's novel, Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, depicts a young girl as she struggles to find her identity amidst her developing mind and body. She faces difficulty regarding buying a bra, having her first period and competition amongst her peers with boys and who can cross the puberty finish line first.

I admit that I could not personally relate to much of this novel but that is because of gender issues really. That is not to detract from the material, I just simply am restricted from experiencing much of the content in the story because I am male. That's ok, though. In fact, 50% of the population therefore wouldn't be able to relate to the novel because of their male disposition. However, this is ultimately not the case.

I am the only boy in a family of three sisters and one mother. To say that estrogen outnumbers testosterone in my house is an understatement. I am familiar with all of the latest fashion trends, female television shows and, above all, the ebb and flow of female behavior and personality. Therefore, while I may not have experienced much of the novel's content personally, I have certainly experienced it indirectly. Reading the story reminded me of growing up in my house as I have seen and witnessed about ten years of grade school/high school female lifestyles. In that sense, the novel was very therapeutic since it created a universal component to growing up through its humor and emotion. I can only imagine how much it spoke to a female who has experienced such events.

Also, even if a male didnt grow up in a house of women like I did, they will inevitably encounter the opposite sex eventually regardless of background. In my opinion, it can only aid in their social growth and development to observe through a window into the life of the female if only to better understand their peers, friends and potential partners.

Recommendation: Of course this novel is speaking directly to young women but I would advise men, if they are willing, to read the novel so they can widen their understanding of the opposite sex. For adults, I think every daughter at least should be given this novel in their young age in order to relate to a wider world of compassion and emotion in girl's their age.

Yes, There are perks of being a wallflower

Stephen Chbosky's novel, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, is a story written in a series of letters by the protagonist Charlie to an anonymous source. Charlie is a high school student who is shy, pensive, intelligent and stands on the periphery of the social circle. His letters document the struggles encountered in typical high school life such as relationships, family struggles, drugs and sexuality.

The novel is striking in its portrayal of sex, drugs, homosexuality and suicide. For some, this may be a red flag but, personally, it is a benefit of the novel to be championed. It is refreshing in this day and age to have a widely circulated novel deal with homosexuality for its speaks to a very real demographic present in young adults. I have written often about how novels can relate to their readers and many of my comments can be applied to the majority of the population. However, it is the minority which needs relation in novels more than anyone. These are the wallflowers of society and it is the exclusion of material that speaks to them which keeps them on the wall. More novels like this which deal with present yet possibly taboo topics aids in the blossoming of these wallflowers.

Second, and in my opinion more unique to this novel, is its use of other texts. Charlie's teacher mentions various novels which spread across all genres. Some of these example texts are Hamlet, The Great Gatsby, The Stranger, On the Road and Naked Lunch. They run the spectrum from classic to cult favorites. This is the perfect bridge between YA literature. For those readers who are unfamiliar with some of these texts, by picking up this relatively new novel they are thus introduced to the classics via the window of YA literature. What's more, the novel also introduces classic films and television shows such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show, The Graduate and Saturday Night Live. I believe, solely on a cultural level if nothing else, that every generation of young readers should be introduced to the novels as well as these indelibly American iconic materials.

Recommendation: I highly advise young readers to read this novel because it will expand, if nothing else, their knowledge of the bricks which have built a strong cultural foundation. For adults, it could be an enjoyable read with subjects that refresh possibly some of your favorite books and films.

The Most Excellent Year is Now

Steve Kluger's My Most Excellent Year tells the story of high schoolers TC Augie and Alejandra. In their English class, they are asked to write an assignment detailing their most excellent year. All three of them decide to recall their 9th grade year experience. These years are shown through various media such as instant messages, school assignments and diary entries. Meanwhile, a flurry of personal relationship provide the foundation for the writing assignment such as TC trying to get the girl and Alejandra trying to chase the possibility of her calling to sing and dance.

I believe that this novel's greatest importance is in its delivery and narrative. The stories of each characters are told through a stratification of perspectives in their various aforementioned forms. There is no clear, standard story method but rather a conglomeration of narrations. This is critical on many levels and probably one of the biggest reasons I would recommend it to young adults.

First, the varying perspectives of the novel illustrates the varying perspectives of real life. Teenage life is complex and multi-faceted and thus so should the novel's representation. Remaining within a single framed genre would perhaps be too simplistic and idealistic and thus not representative of real life.

Also, removing itself from the material and content of the novel, the way in which the story is told can be a very important stepping stone or teaching tool because it very much resembles the world in which young adults live. With the various social networks, computer dialogue, cell phones, and a multitude of other communication tools, teenagers are constantly in tough but more importantly through a wide array of media. Emotion and communication can take the pathway of a text message or a Twitter post. One is no less important than the other. Therefore, I believe this novel, in its varying voices, can really speak to the lifestyles of the emerging teenager.

Recommendation: The novel is right up the modern teenagers alley and can speak directly to their lifestyle. As for parents (maybe though who are a little technologically illiterate) this can perhaps be a bridge for the generation gap.

We Were Here, Were You?

We Were Here, by Matt de la Pena, is the story of Miguel who is sent to a group home because of an unspoken incident for which his mother will not even look at him for. During this time, Miguel meets Rondell and Mong. Together the three boys hatch a plan to run away towards the border and go to Mexico. All three teens come from different ethnic (Hispanic, Black, Asian) backgrounds and would be unlikely friends under normal circumstances.

First, I would like to voice my disagreements with this novel. I am unfamiliar with the juvenile detention system and have never associated myself with young criminals, so I may be mistaken with this criticism, but I think this novel has a few too many stereotypes. The dialect of the young men seemed a bit too much like people trying to impersonate young hardened criminals. Maybe that makes it seem more real but for me it exuded a sense of "this is what I think these people probably talk like". I could be completely wrong on that point though.

Another criticism I have is with the character of Rondell. There was little original about his character. He is a large, quiet, poor black male who has been on the wrong side of the law his whole life. How often have we seen that depiction? Oh, and wait, he is really talented at basketball? Well that doesn't help dissolve any stereotypes. While this may not have detracted from the merit of the story, it left me feeling a bit uninvolved.

Now, aside from my aforementioned criticisms, I do believe the story has redeeming qualities if only because it is about a world which many, myself included, are so unfamiliar with. It opens the door on a part of society that few realize exists or else choose to ignore. As unfamiliar as these people may be, they are still capable of speaking to us on a level which is both recognizable and reciprocated.

Also, I enjoyed Miguel's reflections on novels that he is reading and well as his journaling. It very much reminded me of Gantos' Hole in my Life which I also liked a lot.

Recommendation: I see many positive aspects in the novel for adults young and old if they have never personally experienced anything or anyone from this region of society. However, my one caveat would be to not immediately accept any stereotyped characters and let any young adults you know reading the novel to do the same.

Finding the Present in a Different Time

Kristin Cashore's Graceling is the story of a girl, Katsa, born with the extraordinary ability to kill people with her bare hands. Set in a fictional world, those like Katsa are said to possess "graces" which are extreme powers. Unfortunately, these powers are exploited occasionally as Katsa is forced to torture those demanded by her uncle, King Randa. Meanwhile, she meets a boy named Po, who also possesses a grace, and the two become extremely close after battling each other.

The main character, Katsa, is a very intriguing protagonist for a YA novel. She is ostensibly female but many of her character traits are ambiguously gendered. She is a lethal weapon with the capacity for instant death. She says that she will never marry anybody because it would compromise her freedom and independence. I am not saying that these are distinctly male or female traits, but it is rare to see a strong female lead in a novel who acts like that.

The main intrigue of the novel lies in its setting or time and place when considering its intended audience. Here is a world where people are born with special powers and kingdoms clash in violent competition. Certainly something every young adult runs into everyday, right? Thus, some people would argue that the novel is difficult to relate to because of the fantasy setting. Yet this is where I disagree. Imagine a young reader who feels ostracized and alienated as he/she grows up. Surely these feelings are rooted in the sometimes painful experience of adolescence more than most other periods of life. Now, this reader must think that they are totally alone with their respective problems and that nobody on Earth has ever had this problem before.

Now enters Katsa. She is born with this unique ability which nobody around her has. And lo and behold it makes her feel alienated and ostracized as well. Moreover, she lives in an entirely different place and time. If the reader can realize that some of these problems are universal to the human condition and that, yes, even people who lives in a world of make-believe can feel alone and alienated, then maybe there is hope for them yet. Not everything that relates has to come from your own backyard, much less planet.

Recommendation: I think this book would be great for a dream-filled reader who enjoys fantasy (because it is pretty heavy on the fantasy aspect) or someone you might think needs a counterpoint for their own troubles. As for adults, if you like the fantasy genre, then this could be right up your alley.

Relating to Frankie Landau-Banks

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks is a story about a high school girl who undergoes a physical and emotional transformation over the summer. She changes from "a homely child to a loaded potato" as her figure fills out and she gains a high sense of self-confidence. Armed with this new personality, she returns to her school, Alabaster Prep and immediately snags the unattainable Matthew and begins to unload many baffling pranks on the unsuspecting students of the school. She begins to take command of all those around her as she tries to invade the all-male secret society of which her boyfriend is a member. Soon she is controlling its members like pawns in a chess game.

If I had to recommend one demographic to read this novel, I think it would be males (high school boys if young, fathers of young girls if old). The main reason for this is the valuable insight which it gives into the psyche of a young adolescent girl and in a sense all young adolescent girls. While Frankie might have more Machiavellian ambition than most high school females, she still acts like a lot of them. She swoons over Matthew in the same way that many girls do. This would help boys understand that just how different girls may view relationships with the opposite sex and what is really valuable to a high school-aged girl. Also, it could open a whole new field of understanding for fathers. If a young girl's dad just doesn't get why their daughter spends so much time focused on the minutiae of their outfit, looks or boys, perhaps reading this book can let them in on what high school looks like through female eyes.

Of course, that is not to say that girls surely won't get a lot out of this novel. In fact, it is specifically targeted for them. For all females who have ever experienced a double-standard or the unfairness of the opposite sex, they can certainly reap the benefits of Frankie Landau-Banks. But maybe it can unlock a surprising door into the female mind for the male readers.

Recommendation: For many different aforementioned reasons, a good read for each individual demographic.

Nothing is Something

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing is a superbly crafted historical novel about a black youth in colonial American who is raised in a house of rational philosophy and classical education. As he continues his elite education, he discovers that he is merely a subject of an experiment to determine the intellectual power of Africans. After his mother's death, he runs away and joins the Patriot's cause. However, he is recaptured and brought back only to be forced to wear an iron mask.

There are two major reasons why I would recommend parent's buy this novel for their young adult. First, it has a particularly challenging style. There are differing narrators, 18th century language and multiple forms of narrative including letters and correspondences. While this form will challenge the reader it will also strengthen their interpretive and comprehension skills. Also, there are sections in which Octavian has scribbled over all of his writing in a moment of frustrated storytelling. I especially enjoyed these types of sections because it makes the reader aware of the job which a narrator has in telling their tale. Instead of a single author weaving a narrative, it highlights the notion that there is a human narrator with human behavior and capabilities.

Second, the novel is semi-historical. While Octavian may be a fictional character, he is living in historically accurate times. The racism, patriotism and rebellion of colonial America is all truthful and conveyed in the novel. Hence, I see this as a possibility for young students who may not be particularly interested in American History to learn the subject by means of a fictional story. The characters of the novel can be enticing hooks to bring young readers into the reality of history in a way that a objective textbook cannot. Thus, if you know a young adult who drags their feet through their history class, this novel could possibly provide the spark needed to liven up the subject.

Recommendation: Eye-opening and a great window into history for young adults; equally interesting in the historical aspect for an adult read as well.

Who's Hungry?

The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, is a dystopian novel set in the future. In the frightening world, participants are selected to compete in the Hunger Games in which tributes but fight each other to the death until only one remains. Katniss Everdeen (girl) and Peeta Mellark (boy) are both selected to compete and Peeta reveals his unrequited love for Katniss. Since the Hunger Games are televised (an extremely interesting facet of the novel and its implications), this announcement stirs an emotional reaction from the audience as Katniss and Peeta progress into the games while others die off. Suddenly a rule change is made in which there can be two winners of the competition. The story progresses due to this pivotal rule change but to reveal anymore would be doing any new readers a disservice. 

There are, in my mind, two very interesting points of the novel which I believe will both interest male and female readers as well as encourage parents to either give the novel to their children or read it for themselves. First, the issue of gender is very interestingly portrayed and it appeals to both sexes of potential readers. Katniss is a female protagonist which attracts female readers. It is very rare for popular novels to have such strong feminine characters which readers can connect with. However, there is an interestingly twist to this femininity. Katniss is a strong, almost patriarchal, character who hunts with a fierce personality (typically seen as male characteristics). Not to mention that the competitive hunt-or-be-hunted part of the novel will surely attract the adventurous young male reader. In this way I believe that the novel has universal appeal. 

Second, the majority of dystopian literature takes place in a different time than the present but almost always refers itself back as a caveat for the present day. In this novel, the themes of extreme voyeurism, reality television exploitation and strong-armed governmental control are all present. While none of these are extreme in our present society, there are certainly hints today which the novel extrapolates into a awful future. This sort of warning, when presented to an audience, will cause discussion and reflection on the current state of affairs.

If there is one reason to read the novel, it is to open a dialogue of the sort of things which are explored. Thus, young adults (the future adults running America) can be conscious of these facts and possibly heed the warning which the novel presents.

Recommendation: This novel is an excellent read for both young adults and their parents to read together so that a healthy conversation which spans age limits can be encouraged. Pick up two copies for yourself and a young adult you have in mind. 

Robert Cormier is the Cheese in his field.

Robert Cormier is argued by some to be the preeminent YA author due to his prolific catalogue of successes and expansion of the genre as a whole. While many of his novels were considered edgy and groundbreaking for their day in terms of explicit content some deemed unsuitable for young adults, he continued to write successful books until his name became synonymous with YA literature. However, some adult skeptics may be hesitant at first.

I Am the Cheese is about Adam Farmer who becomes suspicious about his background and family's past history. Upon finding two different copies of his birth certificate he probes further. After his father explains about the family's past lives before the need for reidentification and relocation due to his father's job, the Farmers are forced to move due to being discovered. While this is the general plot of the novel, the entire story is told while Adam is in a psychiatric facility and giving an interview to an employee there. The novel delves into themes of alienation, death and confusion. 

While some, including Cormier himself, feared the book to be too complex or dark for the younger audience, it proved to be a success. One particular point of merit that adults can find when reading this novel is the complexity of voice. The story switches between first-person, present tense, third-person and past tense. This choice by Cormier was somewhat groundbreaking in its deviation from standard form and led to an experimentation commonly used by following authors. In this sense, this novel can be extremely valuable to young readers because it can be such a challenging read which will not only expand their concept of narrative voice by also broaden their sense of what a novel can achieve. It's novels like I Am the Cheese that pave the way for progressive literature which create new standards in their respective genres. If for only that reason, this novel can be extremely eye-opening. 

Recommendation: Equally rewarding for adolescents and adults.

Looking for Alaska

I have read that some people, mostly parents, take umbrage at the inclusion of smoking, drinking and sex in Looking for Alaska. Not only does this bring up the age-old issue of censorship but, with the novel specifically, it also is a detriment to the real subject matter.

First, I have realized that with any media including literature, film, television, etc., people can tolerate violence and language but there is a strict tolerance for anything of the sexual nature. Just turning on the news, bombing and war are headliners but fines are issued for anything promiscuous. In the classroom, parents become very uncomfortable when novels such as Looking for Alaska are taught because they do contain scenes of sex. Why is this? Do parents feel uncomfortable when their children learn about sex from any other source than them? If that were the case, then a properly educated adolescent should be able to handle the subject matter appropriately and maturely. 

Also, the reason I enjoyed Looking for Alaska so much was because of its realism in both conversation, behavior and approach to opposite sexes. That is what high school is really like and that is how boys and girls really behave. If you try to feed the readers some fantasized PG-version of growing up, they will dismiss it immediately. None of the subject matter is gratuitous solely because it never goes beyond the realm of something which would realistically happen at that age. So, if one were to have a problem with the content of the book and an eleventh-grader reading it, then removing it from the reading canon would by no means hide those truths. In fact, reading such a novel like Looking for Alaska would help me realize that these same things are universally occurring. 

I don't mean to spend so much time focusing on the inappropriate content of the novel because by doing so, I am just as bad as the novel's detractors. The sexual ethics of Looking for Alaska are not its main points. There is a wealth of knowledge and lessons within the pages of the book and to argue whether or not it is a "dirty" book would be doing those lessons a disservice. 

I assume that in many years, anyone that took offense to the subject matter in the novel will rethink their position just as those that found The Catcher in the Rye to be an inappropriate and wrong novel when it was published are probably now bashfully regretting their opinion.

YA Literature in Bookstores

In search of YA Literature in bookstores, I decided to venture a bit off the beaten path in hopes to uncover the presence of adolescent books. I went to The Starclipper in University City which primarily focuses on comic books and graphic novels. 

When I first walked in, I noticed a large amount of young people between the ages of 8-20. This doesn't surprise me because the graphic novel has become a prominent and growing part of what young people, among others, read these days. Whereas paper comic books used to be popular many decades ago, now full length comic book-style graphic novels have emerged as of late as a large part of youth reading. This does not in fact surprise me. Disregarding subject matter for the moment, the graphic novel is extremely appealing as a segue between children's literature and adult literature. On the surface, it looks like "easy reading" because it is in comic form instead of extended prose. An adolescent might think "I don't like reading, but this isn't really reading so it should be faster and easier". Also, since so many of these novels have been adapted into action films, the books especially attract young males who have spent so much time watching this movies such a "Watchmen", "Sin City", "300" and "The Dark Knight". 

Now, when analyzing the content of these novels, the themes, storylines and characters are extremely complex and thorough that they are on par with significant literary titles. In this way, any young readers might be enticed to the graphic novels because of their "easiness" and action but benefit from the deep and detailed thematic plots. 

Are graphic novels specifically YA literature? No. I read many and I know that several readers many years my senior do as well. But young readers do in fact read them and I believe that they can cater just as much to them as to older readers. It is just difficult to assess the place these novels have in the canon since they hold a relatively new place in the literature world. I am very excited to see where these graphic novels venture from here and, more interestingly, which demographic they gravitate towards. Yes, young men might be interested because of the mass amount of Superhero or Action Team related content, but there is also hundreds of novels which could heavily interest young girls or be unisex. Those titles might not get much publicity as they aren't tapped for movie adaptations so often or publicized, but I think that the graphic novel in general is surely finding a niche and audience in the young adult.

Robert Cormier - After the First Death

The most striking feature of Cormier's After the First Death, is how it unabashedly confronts its subject matter with lack of censorship or reserve. Essentially, the novel deals with terrorism, murder, suicide, loss as well as several other mature points. The question is not whether the novel is inappropriate in its subjects but rather it is appropriate for its intended audience. I would argue that, yes, it is appropriate. 

Cormier is essentially showing other authors that young adults can in fact handle these mature themes. Death and grief are not simply facts of life which appear upon turning a certain adult age. These matters know no age limits and many young adults could very well be dealing with such personal matters. Also, if the reader has been sheltered from these facts, perhaps it is time they are introduced to them by a qualified and talented writer.

When dealing with the nature of appropriateness in topic matter, I see the progression over time like getting into a hot tub. One will first stick their foot in, let the body acclimate, then maybe slide in up to their knees and wait. Eventually, move by move, the person is able to get into the hot water because it lets their body gradually get used to it. Surely with every new move there is a temporary burn but eventually the body adapts. This is how I see writers like Cormier dealing with mature themes in YA literature. A book like After the First Death which deals with mature themes is like moving into the water up to your waist. It may sting at first because of its newness, but the body adapts and then desires to delve further into the water. Similarly, Cormier may have burned the YA literature world temporarily, but soon authors took after him and explored into the subject matter further as they began to immerse the rest of the body that is YA literature.

John Gantos - Hole In My Life

Upon further consideration of John Gantos' Hole In My Life, I believe I can assume its best interest for young adults. It is dark at times and for a mature audience (not that I think the YA crowd cannot handle such themes) but I do in fact think it has great benefit to the world of adolescents and even college-aged readers. This is because it speaks to the nature of occupational vocation. Within a readership which constantly asks "What do I want to be when I grow up?" and "Where is my life going and what difference can I make?", Gantos tells his story of becoming a writer and struggling to have his voice heard. And the whole time he starts this from a prison cell, an environment surely worse than any condition of the YA reader. It is a sort of you-can-be-whatever-you-want-to-be message. If an aspiring writer were to read the novel, of course he or she would be inspired to work towards their goal but I also think that anybody struggling to find their spot in the world would be drawn towards this novel. In fact, as a college senior who has been removed from the YA novel sphere for awhile, I was motivated by the story to continue to seek out my own personal occupational goal and achievement.