TWU - LS 5623 Adventure, Sports & Mystery - DAIRY QUEEN

YA

Murdock, Catherine Gilbert. 2006. DAIRY QUEEN. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 9780618683079

PLOT SUMMARY - ANALYSIS

This book about football, farming, and family has a deeply raw dialogue about society, sweat and second chances.  Hard work combined with the spirit of doing something you love can produce a most interesting set of circumstances for the main character, D.J. The story’s opening takes ten pages before the gender of D.J. is mentioned and so the readers are not surprised by the passion that D.J. has for playing football for her Red Bend hometown team in the fall. Murdock sets the stage for a girl playing football with the boys by introducing and developing D.J.’s brother’s as secondary characters in the story, although mostly as legends. 

The writing is so pure in describing the life of a dairy farmer and the local small town football counter-culture from the narrator’s point of view that there are few elements of shallow insecurities that surface that are so common in female-lead books rather there is a hard line of determination and relentlessness that makes D.J. such a pillar of strength for her family and for her assignment, Brian.

This extremely likable narrator invites readers into her confidence and then rewards them with an engrossing tale of love, family, and football. (Horn Book (May/June, 2006))

“The grass is always greener” theme frequents this story as D.J. and Brian exchange family baggage. D.J. describes Brian in her first encounter with him saying “he gets top grades and is father owns a dealership so of course he has a new Cherokee, and all the girls are after him even though he wasn’t a starter because his grades are so good that he’d raise the team GPA, which coaches always like” (page 8-9). D.J. discovers that her family lacks communication skills when she learns that Brian’s mom travels and helps people learn to communicate while her mom’s job is to “keep the peace, make sure everyone is doing okay, and not say too much about it” (page 208).

D.J. grows throughout the book in her ability to have a friendship with Brain, reflect on the relationship between her and her best friend, Amber, and understand her family dynamics. She sees her mother in a different light and sees her as a happy person away from the house. She sees her father as a proud supporter and her brother, Curtis as a quiet “cow” doing as is expected every day, but wanting a different life.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Booklist 04/01/06

Publishers Weekly starred 05/15/06

Kirkus Review starred 04/15/06

Wilson’s Junior High School 08/01/07

New York Times 06/18/06

Wilson’s Senior High School 10/01/07

CONNECTIONS

Murdock, Catherine Gilbert. 2007. THE OFF SEASON. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

ISBN 9780618686957

·         Partner this book as a sequel

Mackey, Weezie Kerr. 2007. THROWING LIKE A GIRL.New York: Marshall Cavendish.

ISBN 9780761453420

·         Partner this book in discussing other female sports protagonist

Dole, Mayra L. 2008. DOWN TO THE BONE.New York: HarperTeen.  

ISBN 9780060843113

Partner this book to explore self-acceptance as an extension of Amber and D.J.’s relationship.

TWU - LS 5623 Adventure, Sports & Mystery - DOUBLE HELIX

YA

Werlin, Nancy. 2004. DOUBLE HELIX. New York: Dial Books. ISBN 9780803726062

PLOT SUMMARY - ANALYSIS

“We humans are going to tinker with our genetic makeup. The human genome is a locked box that we are going to pry open” (page 224). This ethical look at science and biotechnology is a fascinating read.  The reader is left more informed and possibly more conflicted in the struggle between what we can do as human scientists and what we should do. In the book’s conclusion, Eli is speaking with Dr. Fukuyama and she says “there’s a difference between using gene therapy for the treatment of existing medical conditions, and using our growing, but far from perfect, knowledge of genes – or of humanity – to declare that we absolutely know who has – and who hasn’t – a right to life at all” (page 245).  

Werlin’s writing of Eli’s character makes him incredibly complex noting so many conflicting personality aspects like being brilliant and confused, vulnerable and strong, attractive and despised, trustworthy and not willing to trust.  The reader jumps into Eli’s life as he is graduating from high school, but with no immediate plans for college. Eli is a very lonely and closed person.  He has a relationship with his girlfriend Viv, but not much of a relationship with his dad until later in the book. 

Dr. Wyatt enters into Eli’s life as an employer, but turns out to have a heavier manipulative hand in Eli’s life.  The lab where Eli works is a haven for his mind, where he can focus on science and taking care of the specimens. The lines are blurred for Eli with regard to the lab animals that he uses to comfort himself - and his girlfriend, Viv, who is more of a stable and clear head through all of the chaos that becomes his life.  Eli’s missing mother figure is replaced a bit by Viv and eventually Eli’s father becomes an emotional part of his life, as well.

When Eli is faced with a new friend, Kayla, he finds a dark spot in his soul that needs some light. As Eli explores the lab and Dr. Wyatt, he makes a shocking discovery – one that will change his life, Kayla’s and his father’s forever.

The reader is left with a lesson to “live everyday to the fullest” because you never know what the future holds. 

Exciting thrilling elements of distrust, dishonesty, ethical misconduct, and intellectual vanity run through this story.  Werlin delivers more than just a solid thriller-cum-growing-up story. She offers a thoughtful consideration of genetic engineering and takes a stand, but not at the expense of an intriguing mystery (Booklist, Feb. 1, 2004 (Vol. 100, No. 11)). This fast-paced book is a gem for anyone who likes science and surprises and wants to explore a debatable topic with students. 

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Booklist starred 02/01/04

Publishers Weekly starred 02/16/04

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books 02/01/04

School Library Journal starred 03/01/04

Horn Book 10/01/04

Wilson’s Junior High School 01/09/10

Library Media Connection starred 10/01/04

Wilson’s Senior High School 10/01/04

CONNECTIONS

Patterson, James. 2005. MAXIMUM RIDE: THE ANGEL EXPERIMENT. New York: Little Brown. ISBN 9780316155564

·         Partner this book in discussing more variations in genetic experiments in humans

Pearson, Mary E. 2008. THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN 9780805076684

·         Partner this book in discussing the ethics of biotechnology developments

Pearson, Mary E. 2011. THE FOX INHERITANCE. New York: Henry Holt. ISBN 9780805088298

·         Partner this book as a sequel to The Adoration of Jenna Fox to discuss further ethical boundaries in prolonging life

TWU - LS 5623 Adventure, Sports & Mystery - I'D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU, BUT THEN I'D HAVE TO KILL YOU

YA

Carter, Ally. 2006. I’D TELL YOU I LOVE YOU, BUT THEN I’D HAVE TO KILL YOU. New York: Hyperion. ISBN 9781423100034

PLOT SUMMARY - ANALYSIS
Set in a spy school for girls, this entertaining novel centers on 15-year-old Cammie, the headmistress's daughter, who must decide if she is cut out for a life of secrets. Though the plot takes a while to unfold, fun details and characters will keep readers engaged (Publishers Weekly (May 15, 2006))

The mysteries behind the Gallagher School’s façade are revealed in this first spy book by Ally Carter. The premise of the spy adventure rests on the assurance that the town folk think that the Gallagher Academy is an elite prep school.  Behind the walls, girls are being trained in many languages and taking classes to hone their skills in covert operations, martial arts, and code breaking. This endearing story is of new friends, first experiences with boys, and the struggle of Cammie being two different people.  This is written in a gentle style that explores the developing friendship of outsider, Macey McHenry and Gallagher returning students, Liz, Bex and Cammie. Cammie’s insecurities will resonate with readers of this book when she is worried about what to wear, what she looks like, and questions every step of her relationship with Josh.

The challenges from the new teacher, Mr. Solomon include covert operations through the Roseville town carnival. The girls are undercover and see the residents of the town up close, when Cammie makes the mistake of meeting Josh, a townie. There are some very docile moments for a more adolescent reader and the relationship with Josh is very innocent and virtuous with him wanting to protect Cammie. Cammie concludes that “all these years I’d thought being a spy was challenging. Turns out, being a girl is the tricky part” (page 144).

Cammie struggles to keep her two lives separate meeting Josh in secret to go to the movies and exchange notes through a secret rock. Cammie and Josh share the frustrations of the expectations of their parents to fulfill their chosen career path.  Cammie’s mom is the head of the spy school and expects Cammie to follow in her footsteps, as well as, Josh’s dad who runs a local pharmacy and expects Josh to take his place.

The book has inserted faux copies of reports that the girls have filed about their operations written in a non-emotional, very informative language.  This is in opposition to the “bubble gum” flavor of the text of the story where we get the giggly responses from the girl characters about the forbidden relationship between Cammie and Josh.   Readers will be entertained with this book, but very few moments are indeed heart-stopping or dangerous. 

Throughout the book, the power of girls and women is prevalent.  The author writes strong female characters that show strength of mind and body when met with a challenge.  The girls can blow the tire of the driver’s education car, just at the right moment to have the car stop at Josh’s house. 

There is a moment where Cammie has to chose between saving her friend or keeping her secret safe from Josh and his friends as she confesses to herself, “if it came down to a fight between the real me and my legend, which one would I choose? (page 238)

In a final ode to the book’s title, Cammie’s secret is revealed and Cammie admits that “there are reasons Gallagher Girls don’t date boys from Roseville. He (Josh) just didn’t know that the reasons are classified” (page 253). The author leaves the characters more skilled, more educated, more experienced, and ready to take on other adventures.

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books 06/01/06

Publishers Weekly 05/15/06

Horn Book 10/01/06

Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) 10/01/06

CONNECTIONS

Horowitz, Anthony. 2001. STORMBREAKER. New York: Philomel Books. ISBN 9780399236204

·         Partner this as a teen-aged, male-lead spy book

Carter, Ally. 2007. CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY. New York: Hyperion. ISBN 9781423100058

·         Partner this as a sequel with the same lead character

Spradlin, Michael P. 2005. TO HAWAII, WITH LOVE. New York: Harper Collins. ISBN 9780060594107

·         Partner this book as a female heroine who leaves a private school on a journey to find an artifact

  

TWU - LS 5623 Realism, Romance & Censorship - THE CHOSEN ONE

YA

Williams, Carol Lynch. 2009. THE CHOSEN ONE. New York: St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 9780312555115

PLOT SUMMARY - ANALYSIS

When thirteen year old Kyra faces the harsh fact that her future may not be what she has dreamed it could be, she is torn between the family that she loves and her desire to break away from all that distresses her about the lifestyle of a family with one dad, three moms and seventeen siblings.

This is primarily a story of conformity versus nonconformity. Something about Kyra pushes her to remember the times when her family had books and how faced with the want to desperately keep a book for her little sister, Kyra was forced by her father to abide by the religious leaders and destroy the book. 

Even though most readers cannot directly relate to the specifics of her religious, closed off society, the thoughts and dreams of freedom are universal with young readers. The readers can identify with the characteristics that Kyra shows in her interest in conserving her family, wanting freedom and quiet from her large family, along with wanting to marry her true love.

The setting of the isolated community with the barbed-wire, sets the tone of this story as one wonders if the fence is truly keeping the “bad” out or the “bad” in. The feeling of safety and protection is really a ploy at control and authority over the weak believers who cannot see the abuse and dysfunction purely because someone anointed by “God” tells them to follow certain rules and regulations.

The desperation of Kyra to walk out of the fenced area and just stroll down the road is a temptation that is fulfilled when the bookmobile shows up and Kyra borrows one book at a time.  The irony is that the bookmobile driver, Patrick, becomes her savior and gives her courage to escape her life. There is a huge internal conflict as Kyra discovers books in conflict with the teachings of her father and church regarding anything other than the Bible.

The style of writing with the descriptive language of the religious leaders and their command of the followers is frightening.  The insight into the thoughts of Kyra is heartbreaking at times and draws the reader into her desperate need to escape. The speed and acceleration of the desperation conveyed in the book by Williams leads to a situation where the reader cannot put the book down because there is a longing to pull her out of the situation and into a better life.  Angela Carstensen (VOYA, June 2009 (Vol. 32, No. 2))  writes “It is a girl-in-peril story, and as such, it is impossible to put down and holds tremendous teen appeal. Kyra’s fate is uncertain until the very last page and the tension is almost unbearable. It is also a clear example of the power of books and reading.”

The transformation of Kyra is from curious young girl to fearing her life as another wife, to finally her new self that is free from the cycle that is her religious destiny, to arrive as a lone orphan. Through her journey Kyra draws on the insecurities of teenage life, the uncertainty of growing up and the hope that there is something better outside the compound. In one of the final statements in the book Williams writes “I was sure, sure, I had changed. Sure of it, that only the new me would run. That if I saw me, I would be different. Sure only the new me would have been able to get away. The hollow places inside me start to fill up.” (page 202)

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Booklist 02/15/09

School Library Journal 07/01/09

Horn Book 10/01/09

Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA) 06/01/09

New York Times 06/14/09

Wilson’s Junior High School 01/09/10

Publishers Weekly starred 05/25/09

Wilson’s Senior High School 02/01/11

CONNECTIONS

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. 1997. LEAVING FISHERS. New York: Simon & Schuster

Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780689811258

·         Partner this book in discussing another story of a young girl influenced by a strong religious group.

Beale, Fleur. 2002. I AM NOT ESTHER. New York: Hyperion. ISBN 9780786808458

·         Partner this book to gain a different perspective from examining the life of a girl taken from her free life and put into that of a repressive cult.

Crutcher, Chris. 2005. THE SLEDDING HILL. New York: Greenwillow Books. ISBN 9780060502430

·         Partner this book to see the influence a religious group can have over book banning and censorship.

 

TWU - LS 5623 Realism, Romance & Censorship - STORY OF A GIRL: A NOVEL

YA

Zarr, Sara. 2007. STORY OF A GIRL: A NOVEL. New York: Little, Brown. ISBN 9780316014533

PLOT SUMMARY - ANALYSIS

Eighth-grader Deanna Lambert had an encounter with her brother’s best friend that casts a three year shadow over her life. The relationship with her two best friends, Lee and Jordan is tested and Deanna faces Tommy with a new found forgiveness. Deanna struggles with her relationship with her Dad and tries to keep herself from repeating the cycle of emotional distance that her family has established.  Deanna’s brother, Darren, and his wife, Stacy, live in the basement of her parent’s house with their baby, April. 

The drabness and stagnancy of her parent’s life is always on Deanna’s mind.  Zarr’s depressing description of the living situation for Deanna from the shift work of her mother and father to the summer job at a rundown pizza place, accelerate her fear that she will end up a Zerox copy of her mom and dad, stuck in her hometown of Pacifica.

The beginning of the book sets the shock and acts like a confession for Deanna.  “I was thirteen when my dad caught me with Tommy Webber in the back of Tommy’s Buick, parked next to the Old Chart House down in Montara at eleven o’clock on a Tuesday night” (page 1). The reader immediately feels sorry for the fate of Deanna because of the rumors and isolation at school.  Any reader knows the importance of a reputation in a school peer setting.

The style of writing that Zarr uses with Deanna’s character is reflected in a diary-like dialogue with explicit explanations of sexual feelings and emotional frustrations between Deanna and the other characters alternating with Deanna’s thoughts. The language is authentic, harsh and crude and exposes a desperate and depressing situation that begins the book and continues dark and hopeless with the disappearance of Stacy.

Karen Coats (The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, May 2007 (Vol. 60, No. 9)) writes “There’s nothing canned or artificial about the insights here: Zarr’s very real characters speak with either the wisdom or the stubbornness they have chosen to distill from the pain of their past mistakes. Nor do Deanna’s epiphanies emerge fearless and fully formed; rather, she is slowly but surely, with faltering steps that many readers will recognize as their own, in the process of becoming someone she can like and trust.”

This has huge appeal to teens because the language is authentic and the topic of having your reputation ruined is a fear of so many teenage kids. The controller versus the controlled of Deanna and Tommy plays out in a way that leaves the reader fearful that it could happen to them.

The story of a girl is what Deanna uses to escape her own life by writing about a girl that is floating out to sea.  The sea is the emotional distance that her family put between Deanna and her mom and dad. The emotional distance evaporates as Deanna is again a child in her mom’s lap watching T.V. and her dad shows his humanity as he holds and calms April and tells Deanna they should look for a car for the next school year.

The theme is that no matter what, you can make a better life for yourself. One mistake will not ruin your life, unless you give up. When Deanna is shown kindness by Michael, Tommy, and finally her mom and dad she realizes that relationships can change for the better. Zarr finishes this book with a resounding statement of second chance by saying that “Sometimes rescue comes to you. It just shows up, and you do nothing. Maybe you deserve it, maybe you don’t. But be ready, when it comes, to decide if you will take the outstretched hand and let it pull you ashore.” (page 189)

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Booklist starred 03/01/07

Publishers Weekly 01/29/07

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books 05/01/07

School Library Journal starred 01/01/07

Horn Book 10/01/07

Voices of Youth Advocates (VOYA) 02/01/07

Kirkus Review 12/15/.06

Wilson’s Senior High School 10/01/07

CONNECTIONS

Martin, C. K. Kelly. 2009. ONE LONELY DEGREE. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780375851636

·         Partner this poetry book in discussing a sexual encounter and two friends in love with the same boy.

Martin, C. K. Kelly. 2008. I KNOW IT’S OVER. New York: Random House. ISBN 9780375845666

·         Partner this book in discussing teenage pregnancy from the view of both the father and mother.

Lamm, C. Drew. 2003. BITTERSWEET. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 9780618164431

·         Partner this book to explore another father-daughter relationship

TWU - LS 5623 Realism, Romance & Censorship - ALONG FOR THE RIDE: A NOVEL

YA

Dessen, Sarah. 2009. ALONG FOR THE RIDE: A NOVEL. New York: Viking. ISBN 9780670011940

PLOT SUMMARY - ANALYSISAs Auden is facing her last summer before college she reflects on all the things she has missed.  With the help of some new friends and a love interest she finds herself outside of her usual protective, serious, and studious demeanor with the wind blowing through her hair, some scabs on her knees, and cupcakes and coffee for comfort.

Never stayed out late

Never ridden a bike

Never dated a boy

Never went to the prom

Never had close friends

Never the kid

Always the adult

In this tale of becoming a child again, Auden’s controlling mom, who is happier when surrounded by adoring male graduate students, sets the dysfunctional daughter-mom relationship when she quotes “Oh darling, don’t be bitter. It’s the first instinct of the weak.” (page 122). Auden’s mom is beautiful with long flowing hair and serves as a muse to the students that gather at her home for parties - always the center of attention with Auden just off on the wings.

In this romantic quest story, Auden’s dad and his new wife, Heidi, have a baby and Auden decides to go visit them in their beach cottage, which portrays the laid-back summer setting. This gives Auden a different living situation where she gets a fresh start for her summer life.  Without school to steal her focus, she is able to have peer relationships for the first time. The peer group in this book helps Auden develop her sense of independence. The inexperienced Auden falls into a regrettable, one night stand, navigates through authentic, supportive girl relationships, comes to terms with her dad as an adult, and has her first relationship. Dessen’s mature writing style portrays the older teen conversation perfectly and helps the reader get into the head of Auden with so much reflection written in Auden’s voice. From dating, driving around, spending time picking snacks at the convenience store and deciding on a prom date, all the language is typical of a teen’s life in the summer at the beach.

Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, May 15, 2009 (Vol. 77, No. 10)):

“Dessen reworks well-traveled terrain and creates a remarkably original story with realistic teen dialogue, authentic girl friendships and a complex underlying question: Can people really change?” Auden learns that maybe it is not the people who have changed, but her relationship to the people. When seeing others in a different light, of course they appear different, sometimes stronger, sometimes weaker, and even sometimes not what they appear at all.

This book is very appealing to a YA reader because it is a story of growing up, getting away from a possessive mother, and learning how to value people including Heidi and her new friends - Leah, Esther and Maggie. Auden discovers that Heidi is not what her mother had told her or what she seems on the surface as a fashion conscience store owner, and comes to find a true protective, business-savvy mother figure.

Auden’s personality is in contrast to her brother, Hollis, who is a free-spirited, never committed soul touring other countries while Auden is steadfast at school. 

Auden fights her obsessive scholastic nature and starts spending time with Eli, who was a for-profit trick bike rider. Auden finds him after he has lost a friend and has lost his passion for riding. The two share in a unique nighttime dating arrangement including

pie, clean laundry and convenience store food.

The theme of this book is that one should not rush to be an adult too soon, but to enjoy all things that are steps in childhood. Relish the time as a young person. Learn to ride a bike, have friends, and try relationships.  Value your family…whatever definition that might be. When Auden tries to over-evaluate her summer, Dessen writes “It was fast and furious, the talking, the emotion, the back-and-forth and forth-and-back. I realized that if I tried to focus on it too much, I got overwhelmed. So I just decided to relax into it, bumpy and crazy as it might be, and try for once to just go along for the ride” (page 323).

REVIEW EXCERPT(S)

Booklist 04/15/09

Publishers Weekly 04/27/09

School Library Journal starred 06/01/09

Horn Book 10/01/09

Kirkus Review starred 05/15/09

Wilson’s Junior High School 01/09/10

New York Times 08/16/09

Wilson’s Senior High School 02/01/11

CONNECTIONS

Masterton, David. 1991. GET OUT OF MY FACE. New York: Atheneum. ISBN 9780689316753

·         Partner this book in discussing stepfamilies and challenges of adapting to new siblings.

Sones, Sonya. 2001. WHAT MY MOTHER DOESN’T KNOW. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9780689841149

·         Partner this free-verse poetry book as a different genre in discussing first loves and divorce.

Dessen, Sarah. 1999. KEEPING THE MOON. New York: Viking. ISBN 9780670885497

·         Partner this book by the same author as a similar story of a teenage girl working in the summer developing friendships and exploring her own sense of self.