About the Project

Hello!  I am an aspiring high school English teacher currently taking a course in Young Adult literature. This blog is my final project. Below you'll find a collection of posts that feature all of the Young Adult novels I read during the the semester as well as an online portfolio of some of my completed assignments (see above tabs).

For each of the texts, I've included book notes: a brief summary of the novel, some noted themes, a personal reflection, and a potential student reaction. I have also included several images (pieces of original art) that in some way remind me of the text. The images are meant to compliment the book. Some of them are very literal in their connection.  Others represent a theme, motif, or conflict from the text. I love visual art and literature, and I am fascinated by the intersections between the two.  Graphic novels are making their way into high school and college curriculum, and English educators are encouraging visual literacy.  I think that any of the images you'll see below would enrich a discussion of the corresponding novel, and I hope to use them in my teaching someday.

I have not included an analysis for the chosen images.  I've left this for you to imagine.  If you haven't read the books you see below, hopefully, you'll be inspired to read at least one of them.  And if you have read any of them, please feel free to comment!  I love the blog medium because it's an on-going conversation.  Nearly all of these posts were published at an earlier date on my personal blog.  Reading the comments from family members, friends, and strangers added to my understanding of the novels and made me think more deeply about the texts!  Thanks for reading and for participating in my little project,

-Courtney

Note: This blog does not include my own art. Most of the art is for sale. Nearly all of the artists have Etsy shops. Click on the links for more information on the individual artist or to purchase a piece. I love supporting the art community and I am glad that some of my readers have purchased pieces! Please do not reproduce the image with out crediting the artist.

Double Note:  In September of 2010, I started doing this as a regular post on my personal blog.  I've copied all of the relevant posts from my personal blog and have added a lot of extra components for the purpose of my class project (minus the comments, sorry).  

The Giver

Summary
Jonas, an eleven-year-old boy living in an imagined society where everyone is virtually the same.   Pain, fear, war, hatred, and prejudice do not exist.  At age twelve every member of the community is assigned a job and future career.  No one has any choices because life is intended to be easy and painless.  Citizens do not even choose their spouses and they do not have biological children but instead receive two children each which are born from Birthmothers, which is another possible job one might be assigned. When people become too old to perform their jobs, they move to the House of the Old where they are cared for and finally “released” from society.  The novel examines Jonas's life once he is assigned his calling, at the age of 12,  which is to become the society's new Giver or Memory Keeper.  During his training, Jonas begins to receive memories of pain, pleasure, and difference, everything that normal citizens know nothing about.

The Last of the Mountain Men by Raschella and Of the Same Mind by The Little Chickadee.

Polar Opposites by and Meerorkats both by HisssIllustrations.

Earthlight by The Cellophanes

Noel Blanc by DoubleParlour and Guy with Blue Eyes by OutsideTheBoxArt.


Noted Themes and Questions
The Giver asks really philosophical questions, which is why I am surprised that it's usually taught in middle schools.  Because the novel imagines a society where people have no choice yet no pain, the reader begins to wonder if sacrificing choice would be worth eliminating pain.
Reflection
In light of our class discussions on the dystopian novel, The Giver doesn't seem at first like a dystopian text.  It is a bit of a dystopia in disguise.  It reminds me a little of Brave New World and Feed, in that sense. The characters all appear to be happy, they don't experience pain or difficulties in life, and because of their absence, we begin to wonder about the value of sadness, strife, and inconvenience. Because choice has been eliminated, and the community leaders assign citizens job, homes, and even families, I at first wondered if the novel was a commentary on communism. However, as I read further, it seemed to me that Lowry was raising some more universal questions about the value of choice, pain, and other negative aspects of the human existence.  Why are they necessary? How do they factor into the human experience?
Student Reaction
Though The Giver is not at all difficult read, my sense is that many students might find the conversations about the book more interesting than the actual reading.  I might teach this book because I think it would spark really interesting discussion. 
Grade
The Giver is typically taught in middle school classrooms. I think it would be a good 9th grade book.

Supernatural, Adventure, Sports

Mexican White Boy


Summary
Danny Lopez has a hard time fitting in.  He is half-Mexican and lives with his mother in San Diego, where he goes to a private high school. When his mother and decides to go to Northern California for the summer with her fiance, Danny decides to go stay with his Dad's side of the family in National City, which is close to the Mexican border.  Danny doesn't speak Spanish and has a difficult time fitting in with his Mexican side of the family.  At first he is withdrawn and wonders about how he could have kept his father from leaving their family.  Danny is a good student and a talented baseball player who ends up eventually forming a friendship with Uno, the tough kid who initially hates Danny.

City of Lights by SixthAndMain.

 

Heritage by Heather Evans Smith.

Game Over by Margaret Lillian.

My Little Night by Dr. Kennedy Jones.

Noted Themes and Questions

The novel explores racial and cultural identity and looks at some of the difficulties biracial people may face. The author also looks at how language figures into the construction of one's identity, since Danny is part Mexican but doesn't speak Spanish. On a more basic level, it is very much about fitting in.  It is a coming-of-age novel and also has some romance. Finally, the novel explores the importance of the father figure.

Reflection

As noted below, I think this novel would especially appeal to make students. I really enjoyed the narrative voice, which felt quite authentic to me.  I struggled with all of the baseball references because I am not a sports person, but I am fascinated by literature that explores identity questions, and have wondered about finding Young Adult texts that examine biracial identity in specific.

Student Reaction

Most students would like this novel. I think that the book would especially appeal to male students. It's not a difficult read, so it would be a good one for reluctant readers. 

Grade

9th and up