WEEK 9: "Anna and the French Kiss" by Stephanie Perkins Booktalk

WEEK 7 Reading Across Media and Formats: "Smile" by Raina Telgemeier

Telgemeier, Raina. GRAPHIX, 2010.
Pages [232p.] [$9.95] ISBN [0545132053]

From Goodreads: "From the artist of BSC Graphix comes this humorous coming-of-age true story about the dental drama that ensues after a trip-and-fall mishap.

Raina just wants to be a normal sixth grader. But one night after Girl Scouts she trips and falls, severely injuring her two front teeth. What follows is a long and frustrating journey with on-again, off-again braces, surgery, embarrassing headgear, and even a retainer with fake teeth attached. And on top of all that, there's still more to deal with: a major earthquake, boy confusion, and friends who turn out to be not so friendly."

Raina Telgemeier is the author of a number of BSC GRAPHIX graphic novels including, but not limited to, SMILE, DRAMA, KRISTY'S GREAT IDEA, and AGNES QUILL: AN ANTHOLOGY OF MYSTERY. SMILE is a standalone, based upon Telgemeier's childhood. As Telgemeier writes, "It's all true. I was in sixth grade when I fell and knocked out my teeth, and I have been dealing with the consequences ever since. I had braces, a lot of surgery, and a lot of awkward smiles as a result. The comic SMILE was born out of a need to get the whole experience down on paper, since I spent so much time telling people about it" (Source). Smile was a 2010 New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice, a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2010, a 2011 ALA Notable Children's Book, a 2011 YALSA Top 10 Great Graphic Novels for Teens pick, and a Children's Choice Book Award Finalist (Source).

Admittedly I had never thought that I would read a graphic novel, however, after having finished this I am kicking myself for having waited so long to do so. I believe that, while quite humorous, the content of the story is one in which many readers can relate to (I personally can having experienced a similar situation to Raina when I was also in grade six). I wish that I had had this novel at that time to reassure me that I was not alone during such a difficult and awkward time in my life.

I believe that this novel will appeal to readers of all ages with all that it has to offer- enchanting and appealing illustrations, the narrative which flows easily, relateable characters and situations, humor, and so forth.

Booktalking YA

I randomly stumbled across this Youtube (Booktalk with XTINEMAY) channel tonight and I couldn't help but be reminded of the booktalks that we have discussed in class (and the ones that we, ourselves, are making)- not professional in the slightest, but fun nonetheless (plus it gets the targeted audience, young adults, actually discussing why they enjoy the books that they do- or don't).

Here is just one sampling of her booktalks (and no, I didn't choose this one to further encourage y'all to read DIVERGENT, I picked it because it is one of her most popular):

Young Adult Heroine Infographic

BuzzFeed/ NextMovie created this great infographic about some of YA's most popular heroines and all of their attributes!

You can find a full version of the Infographic HERE.

WEEK 6 ORCA Soundings: "Hannah's Touch" by Laura Langston

Langston, Laura. Orca Book Publishers, 2009.
Pages [132p.] [$9.95] ISBN [978-1-55469-149-4]

From Goodreads: "When sixteen-year-old Hannah gets stung, she rises out of her body, where she's greeted by her dead boyfriend, Logan, and a loving but unseen presence. She wants to stay with them. They say no. She must go back. There's something she must do.

But Hannah can't figure out what it is. Nor can she make sense of the weird things happening around her. Since the sting, she seems to have the ability to heal. Hannah doesn't know what to think. And then she faces another challenge: Logan has a purpose in mind for her new gift. And it's a purpose Hannah can't bear to face."

Laura Langston is a Canadian author who has written a number of books for ORCA Soundings, including, but not limited to, LAST RIDE, EXIT POINT, and HANNAH'S TOUCH. Though all of her ORCA Soundings books are standalones they do share the commonality of that many of them touch upon the theme of death. 

My largest complaint about this book is also it's biggest strength- personally I found the book to be far too short for me to make any real connection to it, I didn't feel like the emotions were as ferreted out as they needed to be, that the characters were as developed as they could have been, etc. However, I do see how the length of the book would be beneficial to hesitant readers. In finishing this book many hesitant readers would most likely feel a sense of accomplishment (not unlike I do after finishing a 500 page book), encouraging them to pick up more books to try their hand at. 

That being said, I do think that the paranormal element of this novel (the ability to heal) is quite interesting, without being over the top/ unrealistic. Therefore I think that those who are hesitant about reading books of this nature (ie. paranormal/ sci-fi-ish) wouldn't have any difficulties with this (as Beth Revis writes of her book ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, "This sci-fi book is for those teenagers who don't like sci-fi"). Also, I think that the storyline of death, acceptance, and life beyond will appeal to many readers, especially fans of contemporary (after finishing it I couldn't help but be reminded of many of Lurlene McDaniel's books from the late 1990s and early 2000s). 

WEEK 5 Recent Award Winners: "Half Brother" by Kenneth Oppel

Oppel, Kenneth. Brilliance Corporation, September 1st 2010.

Pages [375p.] [$19.99] ISBN [1441871497]

From Goodreads: "For thirteen years, Ben Tomlin was an only child. But all that changes when his mother brings home Zan ? an eight-day-old chimpanzee. Ben's father, a renowned behavioral scientist, has uprooted the family to pursue his latest research project: a high-profile experiment to determine whether chimpanzees can acquire advanced language skills. Ben's parents tell him to treat Zan like a little brother. Ben reluctantly agrees. At least now he's not the only one his father's going to scrutinize. It isn't long before Ben is Zan's favorite, and Ben starts to see Zan as more than just an experiment. His father disagrees. Soon Ben is forced to make a critical choice between what he is told to believe and what he knows to be true ? between obeying his father or protecting his brother from an unimaginable fate. Half Brother isn't just a story about a boy and a chimp. It's about the way families are made, the way humanity is judged, the way easy choices become hard ones, and how you can't always do right by the people and animals you love. In the hands of master storyteller Kenneth Oppel, it's a novel you won't soon forget."

Kenneth Oppel is a highly celebrated Canadian children's and young adult author- his most famous series include his The Silverwing Saga series (Silverwing, Sunwing, Firewing, and Darkwing) and his Airborn series (Airborn, Skybreaker, and Starclimber). Half Brother is his a standalone written in 2010 featuring Ben Tomlin and his science-experiment-turned-little-brother Zan, the chimp.

While I cannot confirm as to whether or not the period in which this book is set in, the 1970's, is effectively reproduced, being quite unfamiliar with the decade, I can confirm that the narrative is overall quite interesting (in fact, this subject matter holds a very special place in my heart as during my undergrad, a B.A. in bioarchaeological anthropology, I specialized in primatology and had quite seriously considered attending graduate school for it- though for lemurs rather than chimpanzees). 

I wouldn't necessarily say that treatment of the narrative is imaginative, I think that if anything it is extremely true to real life- the situations, the emotions, the dialogue, and whatnot. Therefore, while at times it was extremely engaging, at others it did border on being dull (during those dull moments I couldn't help but groan at the length of it- I think that shaving 100 pages off of it would only strengthen it). I do not believe that the theme is artificially imposed upon the plot, I think that it and the moral/ commentary are extremely natural- seamlessly being interwoven into one another. 

I think that telling this book in first person was the best choice as it really allowed the reader to develop an understanding and connection with Ben that they might not otherwise have been able to had it been told in third person. I think that both the mood is sustained and that the narrative flows easily- the deeper into the story you read the more you fall for Zan and the more you care about his future, not unlike if he was your own half-brother, human or primate. 

Curiously, my library system's copy of this book was shelved in the juvenile section, while the London Public Library system has it shelved in the young adult section. I personally feel that it is best shelved in the juvenile section as I found that it read like a middle grade book (Ben, the main character, is 13 years old). I think that those in their middle grade years/ lower end of the YA spectrum (13-14 years old) will get more enjoyment from it more than those in the higher end of the YA spectrum (18-24 years old). 

That being said, I do believe that this book does have a wide appeal- that male readers and female readers will like it equally. Additionally, I appreciate the fact that it is fairly educational without feeling so. 

Overall I did enjoy it, however I will not be rereading it (strange for me, as I almost reread every book multiple times). 

YALSA's Great Graphic Novels of 2013

Alongside announcing their YALSA also announced their list of Great Graphic Novels of 2013. This list is composed of 55 titles divided by fiction and non-fiction. Included among the selected titles are DRAMA by Raina Telgemeier, STEVE JOBS: GENIUS BY DESIGN by Jason Quinn and Amit Tayal and A FLIGHT OF ANGELS by Alisa Kwitney, Rebecca Guay and others.