Ad Lit Outside Text (Mandy)

Mandy by Julie Andrews Edwards (1935-)
Publication year: 1971
This text dealt with the issues many teens faces regarding loneliness, the desire for more and wanting to belong. It is a story of a ten year-old orphan girl, Mandy, who is feeling lonely. She decides to go wandering in the meadows and the country and she stumbles across a cottage. She decides to make this her own cottage and keeps it a secret from the head of the orphanage and everyone else she knows. She begins to lie and steal things for her cottage. The only person that ever finds out about her cottage is her friend, Sue, who happens to follow her without Mandy's permission. Mandy becomes ill and after a challenging journey to her cottage, she becomes very ill and cannot make it back to the cottage. Eventually, Sue tells the elders where she may be and Mandy is rescued by the owner of the land. After recovering at his house, she falls in love with the family there and does not want to go back to the orphanage, which she must do after some time. She becomes sad again, but a month or so past and the family asks her to be part of their family. She now knows that what she needed to be happy was to share love and she decides to give the cottage to the rest of the orphanage girls to show them what it feels like. It is a charming story that shows adolescents how to deal with loneliness, wanting to belong, and the desire for more.

Krista :)

Ad Lit Outside Text (Gathering Blue)

I read Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry. This is one of the companion novels to the well know book The Giver (the 3rd book in the trilogy is Messenger). Gathering Blue was published in 2000. Lowry was born in 1937. She write mostly children's and young adolescent literature. Her most recent book was Gooney the Fabulous.

Gathering Blue was a delightful read and fulfilled my expectations, knowing it was part of The Giver trilogy. The book follows Kira, an orphaned girl with a crippled leg who is disliked in her community because of these two factors. People argue that she should be cast out of the community to die in the woods. Her miraculous talent to understand and create art through weaving saves her and gives her purpose within society. As she learns more about her art, she learns more about herself and the truths of her community. All is not what it seems. In the end, everyone appears to Kira to be broken in some way or another. Can she gather blue (the color of peace) to change the history of her people?

This book works to question our societal norms of socioeconomic class, discrimination of diversity and our reactions to pain. I would recommend it for grades 5-7, with the understanding that any age group can pull meaningful lessons from this book.

Lynn

The Little While Horse

Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith

Statement:

I think this book is very interesting because even though there is a ‘good’ and ‘bad’ side that the problems between the two sides end up being solved diplomatically. I feel that most every fantasy novel involves a power struggle between good and evil and is resolved by a war, not diplomatic measures.

Question:

What do you think the effect of the blunt gender stereotypes and religious content is on adolescent readers? Especially when many of you see this book being read by the younger side of the spectrum, who may have less of a sophisticated way of processing the content.

Nick

Outside Text

Night by Elie Wiesel

Lord of the Flies by William Golding
Dawn by Elie Wiesel
Survival In Auschwitz by Primo Levi

Eliezer and his family were uprooted during the Holocaust, placed in a concentration camp and forced to survive the most inhuman genocide know to man. Through the fight to survive Eliezer was desensitized and lost his most sacred connection to God. The book details Eliezer’s life within a concentration camp and his struggle to find a meaning to live.

This book was a gripping story of survival which brought many tough situations which most adolescent youth would not encounter, but many adolescent readers find a connection with Eliezer because he is their same age. For that reason I would suggest this book to all adolescent readers because it portrays a lesson which the youth can learn from.

Dain Clausen

The Little White Horse

Related Texts:
Secret Garden by Frances Hodgeson Burnett
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine

Statement:
Overall I enjoyed this book including the adventure and innocence it possessed. I found it interesting that while Maria and Robin were scared of the dark men, their plan was to merely talk to them and convince them to be good.

Question:
Did you feel that is was a bit out of place the Maria and Robin were to marry right away and and is it appropriate to command Maria never to quarrel with anyone? Aren't arguments healthy at times?

Sarah

Outside Text

Story Time by Edward Bloor
Harcourt, Inc. 2004

The story unfolds as Kate, an eighth grader, and her Uncle George, a sixth grader, experiment with George’s new flying device for Peter Pan. Both George and Kate receive an invitation to attend Whittaker Magnet School for the coming school year, the best preparatory school in the nation. George, receiving a perfect score on his entrance exam and known for his brilliance, is ecstatic for the opportunity, while Kate does everything she can to decline. Once the school year starts, Whittaker is much different than anyone expects with a nationally celebrated test based curriculum, the ruling Whittaker-Austin family, and mysterious occurrences. Kate and George seek to solve the mystery as Pogo, the librarian who speaks in rhymes, provides the necessary clues to discover the truth behind the so called demon and numerous murders.

This text is a satire of the national education system and challenges the idea of the meaning of a quality education. It explores the dangers of books and a test based achievement system so students have a greater understanding of the systems they are a part of through symbolism.

Sarah

Outside Text

Almost a Woman, by Esmeralda Santiago
Vintage Books: New York, 1999

This memoir by Esmeralda Santiago follows the life of a Puerto Rican immigrant through her first seven years in the United States. Esmeralda lives in Brooklyn, New York with her family. Through a variety of experiences - learning English, dates and proposals from men she is and isn't interested in, and acceptance to the Performing Arts High School - Esmeralda transforms from a shy thirteen year old Puerto Rican, to a confident and talented twenty-one year old woman.

Like most successful adolescent literature, Santiago focuses on the differences she senses between herself and her peers. While she addresses the obvious differences (she is Puerto Rican, she doesn't speak any English when she immigrates to the US, she has ten siblings), the text is still appealing to youth because she addresses universal truths. She refutes the additional responsibility she is given as the oldest child, she has power struggles with her mom and often craves more freedom than she is given, and she experiences a range of unusual encounters with men (some romantic, some lustful, some uncomfortable). While her experiences are not universal, the feelings and motives behind them are those shared by a majority of adolescent girls.

-Becky Andert

Outside Text

Catalyst by Laurie Halse Anderson

related texts:
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen
Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

This book deals with the pressure that is put on adolescents during their senior year. Anderson describes the different pressures that are put on teens, such as applying to colleges and getting good grades. It also addresses the end of senior year when no one wants to do their work. Another issue that is brought up in the book is acceptance. It sends the message to teens that they shouldn't judge people before they get to know them.

Catalyst is about a girl named Kate. Kate is a senior in high school and is one of the last ones to recieve her acceptance letter from MIT, the only college she applied to. Kate never bothered to tell anyone else that she only applied to one school. When Kate finds out she didn' get in, she is faced with the pressure of having to tell her father and friends. Other unexpected things happen in Kate's life that seems to make her life spin out of control. At the end Kate learns a big life lesson.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone. It would be the perfect book for a junior or senior in high school.

Holly Bohlen

The Little White Horse

Texts:
The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett
A Little Princess, by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams

Statement:
Like Anne, Maria had some character flaws that were minor, but pointed out to her as potential hindrances to her life's goals. Anne struggled with her abilities to discern her own feelings about men, while Maria struggles to control her vanity. Both young women work to control their tempers, a side of them depicted very little in the novels.

Question:
Maria was fascinated with the idea of seeing the sea. How did this wish to see the ocean affect her stay with Sir Benjamin? Does the water represent something, as often happens in other texts? What does it mean that her first close encounter with the body of water is in a dangerous situation?

Wizards at War

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

The Amber Spyglass by Philip Pullman

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

I enjoyed this book; however, I was left feeling confused about what happened on the moon at the end of the book.  I don't know it that was because I read it fast or what.  I feel like a little more foreshadowing in this book would strengthen it's weaker points a lot.

How is the success of Ponch and the success of Memeki related?  Was it because they both changed their stories?

The Little White Horse

Harry Potter Series—J.K. Rowling
Chronicles of Narnia – C.S. Lewis
The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett

This book did not interest me; however I can see how young adolescent girls could connect with the independence which Maria Merryweather had to face as an orphan.

Did the fact that Maria was an orphan create more connections with 13 year old girls or did it cause the reading to become more of a fairy tale?

Outside Text

The Giver: Lois Lowry (1937-present)
Published in 1993 by Houghton Mifflin Company

This is a science fiction book that deals with another world in my understanding. The whole book is based mainly on the life of a boy named Jonas who gets a special assignment at the Ceremony of Twelve. He is to be the receiver of memory and only one other person has that assignment in the town. It is here where Jonas learns the horrible truths about the society in which he lives in.

This book is extremely well read and has many controversial topics embedded in its pages. Some issues that are looked at include growing up and fitting into societal standards, feeling left out and other topics of inclusion as well as some issues about moral choices. Some controversial topics in this novel include euthanasia, suicide, and infanticide.

Ashley Martin

Outside Text

Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson
Published in 2007 by Viking
Anderson has been writing since 1992

This text deals with many adolescent issues such as popularity, being a loser, breaking the law, sex, depression, family issues, and much more. If there was one concern that was present through out the book it would be social status in high school. Since there are many different topics that are presented in this book it is very relateable to the adolescent audience reads it.

This book is about a senior in high school named Tyler. Over the summer he got in trouble with the law because he vandelized the school to make people think he was no longer a loser. When he got back to school he attracted the prettiest girl in school. No one liked the idea of a loser dating a popular girl. After a party Tyler was accused of taking nude photos of Bethany, the popular girl. Even though he had nothing to do with it he was the number one suspect. For the next couple days Tyler's family life starts to go bad and he becomes depressed. He feels like the only way out is to kill himself. When he is about to pull the trigger he realizes that ending his life is not the solution. He decides to start his life over and begins to realize that being popular is not the most important thing in life.


Mary Ellen Korby

The Little White Horse

Harry Potter Series - J.K. Rowling
The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe - C.S. Lewis
I Capture the Castle - Dodie Smith

Statement:
I honestly did not like this book at all. It seemed so childish and so much fantasy that it made me dislike it. I mean, obviously I like books such as Harry Potter and Narnia books, but maybe books like this really don't intrigue me.

Question:
Do adolescents really get into fantasy like this? I know kids love Narnia and Harry Potter, but this book seems more for very young kids.

Wizards at War

Related Texts:

So You Want to be a Wizard - Diane Duane

The Once and Future King - T.H. White

The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien

I realize that I am in the minority, but I have really enjoyed the last couple books. I thought that there were several parallels that could be drawn between Wizards at War and Native Tongue, the most apparent being that Memeki was waiting for a word that would cause/inspire her to become the Hesper, thus changing the shape of the universe and the balance between good and evil, while the women of the Lines created a language that changed them and the world around them.

There were several instances in the novel where characters (Memeki, Ronan, Sker'ret, Ponch, etc) were faced with a choice between embracing their destiny and becoming more, or turning away and remaining who they have always been. How do Duane's ideas about destiny and becoming compared to those presented in Giant's Star and Grass? Does Duane's concept of destiny and choice help to define what is good and what is evil in the novel?

Outside Text

All-American Girl by: Meg Cabot (1967-present)
Published in July of 2003 by HarperCollins Publishers

This novel is the first of two novels about the main character Samantha Madison who is the middle, usually forgotten, child of her family who is also the "black sheep" of the family. She gets in trouble for failing German because she spends class time drawing celebrity drawings for her classmates, so as punishment her parents enroll her in an art class where she meets a cute boy named, David. One day when Sam decides to skip her art class, she ends up saving the Presidents from a assassin. By saving the President, Sam instantly becomes a national hero and very popular, but Sam does not want this. Along with all of this fame, the she meets the presidents family and it turns out that his son is David from Sam's art class. To make matters even more embarrassing, Sam is appointed Teen Ambassador for the UN, and has to deal with political matters along with love troubles with David. By the end of the novel Sam has to realize what she really wants before its too late.

I'm not going to tell the ending, because I think it ruins books...

This novel deals with many adolescent issues such as the "in-crowd," popularity, teen angst, some political issues, staying turn to yourself lessons, and first loves.

-Amy Culver

Wizards at War

A Wizard of EarthSea - Ursula K. LeGuin
Wizards of Skyhall - J.R. King
Children of Rhatlan - Jonathan Fesmire

Coming in the seventh book I found myself a little frustrated by references in the text to events that had happened in previous books that I didn't know about, but I really enjoyed this book and found many of the ideas in the book such as the twychild and avatars very unique and interesting.

How well did you feel the science of the book was explained, and how well did you follow it in connection with the magic of the wizards?

The Little White Horse

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling


I found this book to an interesting read however not very stimulating. It was a classic fairytale where everything falls very neatly into place and everyone lives Happily Ever After. I don't think adolescents would find this book as interesting as other books that are similar such as the Chronicles of Narnia.

This book is highly sexist with very negative conotations towards women. Do you think the protaganist Maria overcomes the sexism and defies it, or is she docile and accepting? How much of this is just a product of time?




Ashley Haugen

The Little White Horse

3 Texts
Chronicles of Narnia By: C.S. Lewis
The Hobbit By: J.R.R. Tolkien
Harry Potter Series by: J.K. Rowling

Statement:
I really did not enjoy this book at all. I felt that even though the writer must have put a lot of thought into every sentence she wrote, but it was too much detail for me and took away from the book.

Question:
Would older adolescents really be able to relate themselves to this book, or is it meant for younger adolescents?

-Amy Culver

Wizards at War

-Harry Potter series by J K Rowling
-The Never Ending Story by Michael Ende and Ralph Manheim
-Saving the World by James Patterson

Comment: I liked that this book dealt with multiple teen issues without drawing a line of good and bad between adults and teens.

Question: I had never heard of this series before. How popular is it? Who is reading it? Does it have a dedicated following? Does the Potter series detract from other adolescent scifi/fantasy series? What happened in previous books? Why this odd array of characters (ex a tree)?

Lynn

The Little White Horse

3 texts:
The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
I Capture The Castle by Dodie Smith
The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling

Statement:
It took me a while to get into this book. It was hard to focus on the story and the characters at first.

Question:
This seems like it would be a book more for elementary or middle school students than for high school students. Does this seem right?

Jessica Johnson

The Little White Horse

I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith
The Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling
A Little Princess, by Frances Hodgson Burnett

"Humanity can be roughly divided into three sorts of people - those who find comfort in literature, those who find comfort in adornment, and those who find comfort in food..." (page 7). I agree with this, and - being a literary sap - thoroughly enjoyed the detail of the book. Books that have beauty starting at sentence-level (word choice, syntax, flow, etc.) intrigue me. I savor books in which every sentence is well-written, and when the plot is interesting as well, that's perfect.

I am curious about the poem at the start. Is it meant to be read as an epigraph? Is it written by Goudge? If it is, was the poem written to accompany the novel, or was the novel written to expand the idea of the poem?

The Little White Horse

The Secret Garden- Frances Hodgsen Burnett
Harry Potter Series -J.K. Rowling
Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis

I really enjoyed this book and the detail put into writing it. It seemed that Goudge carefully chose each word specifically to paint the scene for the reader; I felt as though I was in the setting of this book and I knew exactly how Goudge wanted me to see things.

I saw at the bottom of the book that J.K Rowling loved the book and I had looked up a few more things about the book and saw that it was one of the books that inspired her. I have not read any of the Harry Potter books, but I wonder if anything comes up in the books that draws parallels to this book or if there are any hidden references because it was such an inspiration?

The Little White Horse

Goosebumps series- RL Stine
The Red Pony- John Steinbeck
Bridge to Terabithia- Katherine Patterson

I was a fan of Maria's personality. At first, she was a little nervous about coming to her new town, but she adjusted nicely. She seemed to be the type of person that makes the best of things, and is optimistic. It seems to be a childhood thing. The fantastic elements of the story fit well with the childhood optimism because Maria was the only person that saw things like Robin, for example, and Miss Heliotrope represents someone who does not have this childhood innocense.


A few of the characters had very different names. I was wondering what the significance of each of them is? For example, is Digweed called that because he digs weeds from the garden?

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling
The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett
The Children of Green Knowe by L. M. Boston

Goudge's work is all about details. She describes everything vividly. I don't believe this is a good point though. Her attention to detail leaves the readers with little to imagine in the book, which is half the fun when reading for me.

This book is full of symbolism, which leads to the question... will adolescent readers be able to understand all of the symbolism in this book or will it just be a fantasy novel to them?

Paige

Wizards at War

Harry Potter series-J.K. Rowling
Pendragon series-D.J. MacHale
The Dark is Rising-Susan Cooper

I'm not sure how I feel about this book; it seems like a combination of Harry Potter and a few other series of books I've read, and I can't decide if that bothers me or not. One thing that did bother me, however, was the excessive stress on certain words when people were thinking or talking.

Even though I can't decide if I like this book or not, I am still intrigued and want to find out about things like: what's an ordeal? and how did Nita's mom die? etc. etc.

The Little White Horse

3 books:
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis


Statement:
It took me a long time to get into the book. Since it is set in the 1800's it is hard to relate to. I do like how the reader needs to use their imagination, which I feel is a very important quality to have in a novel.

Question:
I noticed that this book won the Carnegie Medal which is a book award for outstanding childrens books. Do you think that children (from the ages 9-12) would be able to relate to this book? Or is this book more suited for the adolescent age group? Should this book be catergorized as a children's book or an adolescent book?

Mary Ellen Korby

The Little White Horse

Related Texts:
I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Statement:
I had a really hard time getting into the book. Usually I am able to read the book like I am a character in the book. This was also hard for me to read, because I like novels that are set in current time and find it hard to realte to novels in the past.

Question:
Because this novel is set in the 1800's, do you think adolescents would like the book? And also how does this book relate to adolescents?

Holly Bohlen

Wizards at War

Related Text:

So You Want to be a Wizard - Diane Duane

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - J.K. Rowling

Kushiel's Avatar - Jacqueline Carey

I think that I am in the minority when I say that I have liked the past few books, including this one. I thought that there were a number of parallels that could be drawn between this novel and Native Tongue, the most apparent being that Memeki was waiting for a word that would allow/inspire her to become the Hesper, thus changing forever the nature of the universe and the battle between good and evil , and by creating a new language the Lines women changed their own reality into something that was barely recognizable. 

There were several instances in the novel where characters (Memeki, Ronan, Sker'ret, Roshaun, Ponch, etc) were asked to make a choice, either embrace their destiny, fulfill their responsibilities, be more, or turn away and keep the status quo. How does Duane's presentation of the ideas of choice, becoming, etc. compare to those presented in Giant's Star or Grass?

The Little White Horse

-The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
-A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett and U. C. Knoepflmacher
-A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

Comment: I started this book believing that I wouldn't enjoy it and ended it thinking it was rather charming. I enjoyed how Goudge drew upon connections between women and the moon as well as how she addressed death. I noticed that J K Rowling holds this book in high regard and I wonder if there are any connections that she brought into the Potter series (ex Zachariah and Mrs Norris?).

Question: In what ways does this text play into stereotypical gender roles? In what ways does it transcend stereotypical gender roles?

Lynn

The Little White Horse

Related Texts:
-Chronicles of Narnia: C.S. Lewis
-The Secret Garden: Frances Hodgson Burnett
-A Little Princess: Frances Hodgson Brunett

Statement:
Although I do feel that this novel would appeal to a younger female audience, I found it kind of hard to find relevant and also it was hard to relate to and personally I found it kind of unbelievable. I do think that there were good elements of fiction involved and it was fairly well written, I just feel that for an older reader, they would not buy into the storyline.

Question:
What was the author trying to get across when she was finished writing the novel? I had a hard time pulling a main point or a lesson or anything from this novel.

Ashley Martin

The Little White Horse

Related Texts
1. The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald
2. Linnets and Valerians by Elizabeth Goudge
3. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Statement:
This novel is definitely targeted toward a younger female audience. With all the glitter, unicorns, and naiive optimism, few older adolescents will be able to relate to Maria.

Question:
I was confused by what Goudge is trying to accomplish with this novel. What message is she trying to send to readers?

--Emily Allex

The Little White Horse

3 books:
1. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgsen Burnett
2. A Little Princess by Frances Hodgsen Burnett
3. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis

Statement:
This wasn't one of my favorite books. I'm not really interested in fantasy books because there's nothing relatable to me. Maybe that's just my preference, but honestly I didn't enjoy this book.

Question:
How many adolescents are really captured by this type of book? I think one of the main readers adolescents read is to relate to someone or something. In this book, there is really nothing to relate to which leads me to believe many adolescents wouldn't read this book or at least not enjoy reading this book.

The Little White Horse

Texts: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Chronicles of Narnia of C.S. Lewis
The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

Statement: I really liked this book, and how much Maria changed from the slightly vein girl at the beginning to the noble, courageous proud girl at the end who did what was right no matter what. I thought one of the main lessons in this book was patience, both for Maria and the reader. It was frustrating to me that I still did not know the plot or the scheme after reading more than a third of the book. By the time I got to page 91 or 238, it was still in the "wow this new place is amazing and everything is working out perfect for Maria, and the whole world revolves around Maria." There was no challenge for her by that time. I felt I had to learn patience through her because as a reader, the author was not letting me know very much more information than the character, which I feel is kind of rare in literature.

Question: This story is very simple to me, and very fantastical. I really lost the age progression of this book because I am pretty sure Maria got married at age fourteen or something, and to her cousin. In any case, I still really enjoyed it. Do you think that this is a fantastical story that still captures the essence of a child? Although it is a bit magical, which many books are and do very well, will this particular book grab hold of readers and allow them to relate to the character/characters?

Native Tongue

The Handmaiden's Tale by Margaret Atwood

House like a Lotus by Madaleine L'Engel

Sabriel by Garth Nix

I actually liked this book despite the graphic descriptions of the mutilated babies.  It had interesting plots, and the concept of language as a commodity never occurred to me.

In regards to the mutilated babies from the interface, do you think our society could ever reach a point where we disregard ethics to this extreme?  Could this be the author's way of raising the ethics of stem cell research and psychotropic drugs for children?

Outside Text

Stuck in Neutral by Terry Trueman (1947-present). Published by Harper Collins in 2000. This book won the Printz Honor in 2001, along with 38 other awards and top book list picks.

This short novel follows the life of Shawn McDaniel, a 14-year old boy with Cerebral Palsy. This condition leaves Shawn trapped inside his own head, as an intelligent boy able to remember everything he has ever seen, heard, or smelled, but incapable of brain function allowing him to communicate anything. Shawn's father left the family because he wasn't able to cope with the condition, and Shawn now believes that his father is planning to kill him. His father's sentiments are primarily expressed through his Pulitzer prize winning poem about Shawn. We walk with Shawn as he learns about life and family and how to cope with knowledge only in his head.

The text deals with ideas of family, love, and sacrifice, along with the trials of growing up being different.

Family Tree

Animal Farm- George Orwell

Wind in the Willows- Kenneth Grahame

The Narnia Series- C.S. Lewis

Comment: I really enjoyed the ideas behind this book, especially the ecological and environmental side. I enjoy the questions it provokes about current ethics pertaining to animals and intelligence.

Question: Do you think its realistic that the animals that eventually take over the world would also adopt such a similar and identifiable culture to medieval humans? (For instance sultans, and harems and such.)

Native Tongue

A Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood
The Slave and the Free - Suzy McKee Charnas
Tarnsman of Gor - John Norman

The whole idea of Encodings and language in the book was a difficult one for me to grasp at first, but I though it was an interesting stylistic choice to have explanations of it in paragraphs at the beginning of the chapters.

Do you think the book would be as meaningful if it were men who were under the control of the women?

I Capture the Castle

Anne of the Island by Lucy Maude Montgomery
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

I found this book hard to relate to. I didn't recognize any of the references in the book and I found the characters to be lacking emotionally at times. I thought the plot and message were relatable; it was just the composition that made it a hard read.

Given that the book is hard to follow for today's youth, what can teachers do to make this book an interesting read both in and out of the classroom?

Paige

I Caputre the Castle

Anne of the Island by Lucy Maude Montgomery

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

This book was difficult to read at first and took a long while before I got found the book enjoyable. In fact I think the rest of the book was very interesting once sifted though the background information.

As an adolescent reader I’m not sure that I would continue to read this book after the first section of the book. Do you think that all the background information that Cassandra presents and the early time period that this book is set would prevent adolescent readers from finishing this book?

Nick

I Capture the Castle

Books:
Emma, Jane Austen
Girl with a Pearl Earing, Tracy Chevalier
The Little White Horse, Elizabeth Goudge

Statement:
Cassandra's journaling is fun to explore. This sort of meta-writing experience was a challenge to engage. The non fairytale like ending was refreshing, if emotionally disappointing.

Question:

What can we learn about present reader's expectations with regards to the ending? Can we ever speculate on what prior reader's expectations for the ending might be?

I Capture the Castle

Related Texts:
Elizabeth, Elizabeth by Eileen Dunlap
Emma by Jane Austen
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Statement:
I found the characters in this book very shallow, especially when Cassandra talked about emotions she ought to feel in various situations.

Question:
Did Cassandra grow throughout the book or does she remain static as life continued around her?

Sarah

Native Tongue

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets-J.K. Rowling
The Rivers of Zadaa-D.J. MacHale
Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister-Gregory Maguire

I enjoyed this book; I liked the determination of the women to not be belittled by the men and still be independent human beings.

However, how could women have let this happen in the first place? Why didn't they fight for their rights so they wouldn't be taken away in the first place?

Anne of the Island- Lucy Maude Montgomery
The Secret Garden- Francis Hodgson Burnett
Wurthering Heights- Emily Bronte

Comment: I enjoyed Cassandra's character in this book; she was very mature and good-hearted, but I was sad that the story ended so unhappily; I was expecting her "fairytale" to come true.

Question: Did the author ever tell us why Cassandra's father actually stopped his writing?

Krista

Native Tongue

-The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
-The Judas Rose by Suzette Haden Elgin
-Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Comment: I enjoyed that nonverbals were paid as much attention to as verbals as a form of understood language.

Question: What was the purpose of having the leading women (Nazareth and Michaela) have such opposite physical appearances? It kind of reminded me of a Betty and Veronica type of stereotype.

Lynn

I Capture the Castle

Wuthering Heights- Emily Bronte
Persuasion by- Jane Austen
Cinderella- Various Authors

I found it very difficult to connect with the book. The format did not work in my opinion, it did not intrigue me.

Would the book be improved if it was written as one continuous book instead of three separate books? Why did the 2003 movie fail? Is the audience of adolescent literature changing?

The Family Tree

The Book of the Dead by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

The Two Towers by J.R.R. Tolkein

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling

The plants taking over concept kind of scares me, but I usually think of this kind of take over happening with bugs.

Do you think the fact that the trees were affecting mostly the suburban areas is a message from Tepper that we need to live in cities or in rural areas?  If so, what do you think she has to say about the urban heat islands and their effect on the environment?

I Capture the Castle

Anne of the Island by Lucy Maude Montgomery
The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett
Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte


I enjoyed this book very much. The imagery and style of Dodi Smith was refreshing and the voice of Cassandra was humourous, clear and wise.

Are we given any clues in the beginning as to what really caused Mr. Mortmains writers block?




Ashley Haugen

I Capture The Castle

-Emma by Jane Austen
-Anne of the Island by Lucy Maude Montgomery
-Wurthering Heights by Emily Bronte


Comment: I thought it was funny and ironic that Cassandra was seen by others as young or someone who hasn't come of age when she played the most nurturing and mature role of the all characters.

Question: This is a simple question, but did anyone else expect a happier ending?

Lynn

I Capture the Castle

Anne Frank – The Diary of A Young Girl

Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

Anne of the Island - L.M. Montgomery

I Capture the Castle was definately a different type of book with the way that it seemed Cassandra explained everything in the beginning. I got so much information at one time.

Why did the author choose to write the book this way by giving so much background right away? Is it a certain technique? Is she trying to give the reader a different view of reading?

I Capture the Castle

Books:
-Little Women: Louisa May Alcott
-Anne of the Island: L.M. Montgomery
-Emma: Jane Austen

Statement:
I found that I had to force myself to keep reading this book because it took me quite a while to get into it. I think the first notebook could have been set up a little differently in order to get the facts across and still keep the reader interested in what was happening.

Questions:
What do you think the reasoning was behind having three small books inside of a larger book? Is this more effective for adolescents than it is for adults?

Ashley Martin

I Capture the Castle

3 Texts:
The Diary of Anne Frank by Anne Frank
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Anne of the Island by L. M. Montgomery

Statement:
It was really hard for me to get into this book. Until a while it, I had to force myself to keep reading.

Question:
Why did Smith choose to write this book as she did? As three small books in one? She could have written it as one long book.
-Jessica Johnson

I Capture the Castle

Texts:
The Castle of Crossed Destinies, by Italo Calvino
Species of Spaces and Other Pieces, by Georges Perec
For Your Eyes Only, by Joanne Rocklin

I am intrigued and impressed by Smith's choice to write this as a journal. Unlike some journals, I do not feel that my knowledge of characters is severely limited because of the narrator; rather, I think that Cassandra/Smith's use of flashbacks helps provide rounded insight into each person.

Through the novel, as Cassandra was reflecting on her writing, I frequently found myself asking the same questions of my own writing as she did of hers. I also have similar frustrations, weaknesses, and revelations with my writing as she did with hers. As writers, what can we learn about our own writing from reading meta-writing?

-Becky Andert

I Captured the Castle

3 texts:
-Persuasion by: Jane Austen
-Cold Sassy Tree by: Olive Ann Burns
-Jane Eyre by: Charlotte Bronte

Statement: I had a hard time getting through the first part of the book because of Cassandra's detailed explanations. It was not until the Cassandra and her family meet the Cottons that the story line became some what more interesting. I have to admit that I do not really care for Cassandra as being the narrator of the story.

Question: Do you think that adolescents of this era would be able to relate to the characters as much as the adolescents during the 1950's? Do you think that adolescents are worried about the future such as marriage and money?

-Amy Culver

I Capture the Castle

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne
Emma by Jane Austen

Statement
I really enjoyed how unpredictable the author made this book. It seemed that there were a lot of unexpected twists and he did a great job at keeping those from the reader.

Question
What was the purpose of all the details at the beginning of the book? It reminded me of when I used to read Redwall books in junior high and they would go into great lengths about the feasts...while my best friend loved details about food, I thought it was unnecessary and did not necessarily add to the content either. I felt this way at the beginning of this book and just wonder what the purpose was.

I Capture the Castle

3 Books:
Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett and Tasha Tudor
Anne Frank: Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Statement:
The story is told through Cassandra's journals and while reading these journals we get to know her through her feelings and what she goes through. She is funny and loves life, making the reader fall in love with her character.


Question:
The book was first published in 1948 and then became unavailable. It was widely popular and evetually became reissued. Do you think it's popularity is due to the ablility to relate to adolescents or is it continuing to be loved by the generation who read it before?

Mary Ellen Korby

I Capture the Castle

Related Texts
1. The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge
2. Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
3. Emma by Jane Austen

Statement:
I wasn’t able to find the message Smith is trying to send readers with this book. I thought a lot of the detail was unnecessary and the characters' sub-plots were disjointed (Rose’s engagement and the father’s writing). The overall intention of the novel was unclear.

Question:
The movie version of I Capture the Castle (released in December 2003) received poor reviews. Does this show a lack of interest in the novel among the modern adolescent population?

--Emily Allex

I Capture the Castle

Related Texts:
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Book of a Thousand Days by Shannon Hale
Heartburn by Nora Ephron

Statement:
At first, it was really hard to get into the book. There was alot of detail given about the castle and Cassandra's life; which at times I found confusing. I also felt the book skipped around at times.

Question:
This book seems like it is directed toward a more mature audience, because it is set in an older time period. What age of adolesents would this book be directed towards?

I Capture the Castle

Rip Van Winkle- Washington Irving
Cinderella- Various Authors
The Diary of Anne Frank


I thought the genious of Cassandra's father was humorous. He would spend so much time thinking of what to write in his book, and how to write it, that most of his life would pass him by. To me it just did not seem worth it. He would neglect his kids and treat his wife poorly just so he could create a work of literature that, in my opinion, probably was not that great.

I noticed the book was published in 1948. I was wondering about Stephen, and how he was portrayed in the book. I feel like Stephen usually got the shaft in the book, and I do not know why that is? Did the portrayal of this servent represent real life servents in 1948? What is the reason Dobie Smith did not have Cassandra and Stephen end up together? On a side note: I wanted them to.

Kevin Matuseski

I Capture the Castle

3 texts:
1. Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery
2. Heidi by Johanna Spyri
3. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Statement:
I found the character of Cassandra's father to be very interesting. We never knew much about him, other than he was a writer that now refuses to write and now spends most of his time locked in a room alone. I was very curious about him throughout the whole story.

Question:
I was wondering if we ever knew Cassandra's age? I never noticed it in the text(I may have missed it) but was always wondering how old she was. Everyone refers to her as a child, yet she is so responsible and seems to be almost in the "head" of the house position.

Native Tongue

Related Texts:

The Guild Of Xenolinguists - Sheila Finch

DragonSong - Anne McCaffrey

The Judas Rose - Suzette Haden Elgin

I liked this book a lot. That being said, I spent a lot of time being extremely angry at the men in the story. I don't think that there was a decent guy in the entire story, unless they were to old to be anything but grandfatherly. I did think that the idea that the misunderstandings between men and women were related to the inadequacies of language to describe the concepts that women think about.

Do you think that the premise is plausible? Would it be possible for the vote, the right to own property, etc. to be taken away after it has been given and held for over a half a century? Woud the people being disenfranchised really let it happen?

I Capture the Castle

Texts:
Wuthering Heights- Emily Bronte
Jane Eyre- Charlotte Bronte
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

Statement:
Cassandra must spend copious amounts of time writing. Unless her shorthand makes writing much faster, the amount of writing she does would tie up a large amount of her time.

Question:
Does Cassandra's writing help her with the growth we see throughout the novel? Would she grow and learn as much without that vehicle for her thoughts? Will that pattern of growth change as she moves into writing for other audiences, or did this journal provide all the growth she needed for this stage of her life?

The Family Tree

Related texts:

Winnie the Pooh?

Comment:

Although I suspected it in the beginning, I was still surprised when Tepper revealed what the people from 3,000 years in the future really looked like.  I was more surprised when I found out that the umminha were humans.

Question:

Is Tepper a vegan?  Does she expect that animals will start talking to us?

The Family Tree

-The Visitor by Sheri Tepper
-The Never Ending Story by Michael Ende and Ralph Manheim
-Speaker For The Dead by Orson Scott Card

Comment: I found the cannibalism sections to carry a lot of irony. The pig ate eggs for breakfast. Come on, in most cases she would be next to those eggs. I think if you're going to go all the way and say that the eating other beings is disgusting, you should just go full fledged anti-animal products from the moment they are introduced as animals. Otherwise it looks like a convenient gloss over the ethics of the matter.

Question: Do you think Tepper is able to catch a wider audience by separating out the stories in the beginning? In other words, do some readers get into Dora's story more than the animals'?

Lynn

The Family Tree

Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
Clan Ground - Clare Bell
Animal Farm - George Orwell

I found this book a little hard to get into, but once I did I really enjoyed it. However, the whole revelation about talking animals definitely surprised me and made me go over the part of the book I had just read and think about it differently.


How well do you think the author dealt with the issue of the science that created the talking animals?

The Freedom Writers

Texts:

The Diary of a Young Girl - Anne Frank

A Million Little Pieces - James Frey

Whale Falk – Chris Crutcher

Statement:
I loved how Ms. G was the type of teacher who really cared about her students and educating them on life, happiness and more. She found the way to get them to change and understand that they don't have to go to the gang life.

Question:
Since Ms. G concentrated so much on her students, I wonder how her life and the students' life would be different if she would have been more of a "normal" teacher who sometimes doesn 't go that indepth with their students.?

The Family Tree

Animal Farm - George Orwell
White - Ted Dekker
The Visitor - Sheri Tepper


I grew to like this novel the more I read it. The future setting of The Family Tree seemed to be a basic variation of other fantasy worlds; I found Grass' setting (planet) to be more interesting and was surprised at how much more I enjoyed Grass because of that. Also, I appreciated the message of The Family Tree, but it got to be pretty preachy when they started talking about eating human babies and how it was no big deal. Overall, this book was interesting and pretty fun to read.

Question: I may have just missed the explanation, so I apologize if this was answered... how were the animals able to know of Inglitch, etc., but did not think of the humans as being intelligent?

Freedom Writers' Diary

Books:

Diary of a Young Girl- Anne Frank
Stolen Voices: Young People's War Stories-Olara A. Otunno
The Pursuit of Happyness (film), directed by Gabriele Muccino

Statement:

The students' writings are really tragic in many ways. However, it is heartening to read about the growth/maturity these students have to face these difficulties. Life will not always be a struggle and it's good to know that-yay hope!

Question:

Ms. G is a unique teacher in the light of her great belief in her students, but shouldn't this sentiment be true in all teachers? What kinds of messages are sent when comparing a teacher who has visible impact on students versus a teacher who may have the same kind of effect on students but isn't recognized by it. Does our society value one teacher over the other?

The Family Tree

Related Texts:

Fool's Errand - Robin Hobb

The Company Of Glass - Valery Leith

Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

The idea of plants gently pushing back at humanity was interesting, and would probably be a good thing if it actually happened. I also thought it was funny that the Weelians were originally from Washington, D.C.

Was it a surprise when it was revealed that Izzy and Nassif and the others were not human? How did this revelation change how you interpreted what had already happened in the story? Did you guess that the Weelians were human?

The Family Tree

Darkhenge-Catherine Fisher
Dark Water-D.J. MacHale
Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone

I really enjoyed this book. It was a real mystery and kept me wondering what was going to happen next, even though the more I read the more I realized I should have known what was going to happen next. My mind assumed things and when I realized I was wrong I was completely caught off guard.

What do you think Tepper was trying to accomplish by making the 'heroes' mostly animals? How did this contrast with making people like the Wheelians be the desendants of politicians (hence their sickly nature)?

Freedom Writers Diary

Texts:

Adios Barbie-ed by Ophira Edut
Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher's First Year: Esmé Raji Codell
Save the Last Dance- (film) directed by Thomas Carter

Statement:
Aside from her ingenuity in finding texts her students could relate to, Ms. G's biggest step in making a difference was not taking the luxury of giving up on them. For so many students who had constantly felt abandoned, having some semblance of constancy in their lives made all the difference.

Question:
Ms. G refers back to her student Sharoud a number of times. What did he mean to her? If he hadn't managed to be impacted at least somewhat in her years of student teaching, would she have had the ability to stay around for the next few years?

The Freedom Writers

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl, by Anne Frank
Shabanu: Daughter of the Wind by Suzanne FIsher Staples
Monster by Walter Dean Myers

Statement:
I am inspired by the message that each of the Freedom Writers took to heart: that one individual is all it takes to make change. As a child we grow up hearing that "you can make a difference," but we cease to hear that record as we age. It is like a breath of fresh air to hear other older kids who truly believe that they can make a difference. We all should be reminded that we have a power to create change.

Question:
How was the Freedom Writers community affected by their stories? Did anything change? Where are the Freedom Writers today?




Ashley Haugen

Freedom Writers

-Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
-Zlata's Diary: A Child's Life In Wartime by Zlata Filipovic
-Teach With Your Heart: Lessons I Learned From The Freedom Writers by Erin Gruwell

Comment: I love that this book wasn't edited. It brings such a real quality to my reading experience. It gives me such insight into what the actual situation was like, social and educationally (grammar) within room 203. It also gives me such hope for the future.

Question: I am always so amazed at field trips, speakers, events, etc that Ms Gruwell is able to pull together. Is this a high standard for teachers who expect to have a balanced life?

Lynn Moore

Freedom Writers Diary

Books: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Statement: I thought it was interesting that the diaries had no names. I know this was to protect themselves from both others in the class, and afterwards upon publishing. However, it gave two interesting factors to the book. I thought on the positive side, it made it hard to tell whether some were female, male, or what race they were, unless they spoke about it or implied with words from their language. This was good because one main message is that race doesn't matter, so by taking away names, it makes it harder to identify what race they are, and having matter a lot less. We only have their message to pay attention to. On the other hand, I think race is a critical part of their lives, and although it matters less in the end, after this class has formed this family, it matters a lot at the beginning. I also think that the lack of names makes it harder to relate to each other characters, and hard to know whether they have double entries and which ones they are. I wish I could connect a little better with each of the individual characters.

Question: Erin Gruwell's marriage did not work out during the process of her time with the Freedom Writers...is it possible to put as much time and effort into her kids and make a relationship outside of that work at all? Is that an impossible thing, to be that passionate and work that hard for something and build something else outside of it?

The Freedom Writers Diary

Texts:
A Child Called "It" by Dave Pelzer
The Lost Boy by Dave Pelzer
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Statement:
I want to become a social worker and work with kids in foster homes and who have had troubled pasts. This book made me realize what I would be getting myself into, and it made me really excited to get into it and start helping teens realize they're more than what they think they are.

Question:
Where are all the Freedom Writers now? Did they reach their goals in life and become what they wanted to become?

Freedom Writers Diary

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl – Anne Frank

Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul – Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Kimberly Kirberger (editors)

Kaffir Boy – Mark Mathabane

Statement:

I really enjoyed this book. I was surprised how mature and well collected all these students thoughts were throughout the diary entries. It was a common theme that many of the students in the class could relate fairly well to each others experiences and situation. A lot of that has to due with the simple fact that they live in the same area but at the same time I felt so disconnected from these students at times because I have never had to deal with barely any of their experiences if any.

Question:

I remember one of the earlier entries talked about how it was important that the class material was similar to the children’s experiences so that they could relate to and empathize with the characters. Because Mrs. G. did this is was what made the difference for this person to actually enjoy reading and school.

How does this book relate to other students as far a teaching material? Would this book be useful for children who have more privileged lives and don’t live in an urban project or gang infested streets? What books are appropriate for these children? Is there any crossover/ how specialized does a curriculum have to be for student to obtain value?

Nick

Freedom Writers Diary

Related texts:
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
The Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardner
The Kids From Nowhere by george Guthridge

Statement:
I love the Freedom Writers Diary! The story of how Erin Gruwell changed kids' lives is very inspiring. Reading the story, reaffirmed my dream of wanting to become a teacher. I want to be as inspiring as Erin Gruwell when I become a teacher, in ways she is my hero. She helps convey the message in what others think is impossible really is possible.

Question:
Erin was constantly ridiculed by teachers and in her first year of student teaching, students gave her a hard time. What pushed Erin Gruwell to keep teaching when she was being ridiculed by so many people?

Holly Bohlen

Freedom Writers

Books:
Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Pattillo Beals
The Lost Boy by Dave Pelzer
Anne Frank by Anne Frank

Statement:
My favorite part which was also the most touching part of the book for me was when the Freedom Writers were holding hands in the rain on the Lincoln Memorial. They were remembering that this is the spot that Martin Luther King Jr. gave the I Have a Dream Speech. The book reads, "Ironically, when I looked at the Freedom Writers holding hands in the rain, I realized that we are his dream cme true." I thought that this really summed up the book well. It made me realize how big of an impact that the teacher had on each one of the students and what a big step it was for them but worth it in the end to make friends with everyone no matter who they are or what they look like.

Question:
These students were able to overcome lots of obsticles in school and in their real life. They were able to deal with the issues with the help of their teacher Ms. G. Do you think they would have been able to do it without her? What do you think the education system would look like if every teacher was like Ms. G? Would all the "at risk" students be able to succeed just like the Freedom Writers did? What should some of us do as future teachers to make sure that we make all of our students believe in themselves and in the end be successful?

Mary Ellen Korby

Freedom Writers Diary

Related Texts:
Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
A Child Called "It" by Dave Pelzer
Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Patitllo Beals

I really enjoyed how we were never given names with the entries. It left us learning to distinguish between characters and entries based on their traits and made us look at their writing styles more closely.

What are all of the Freedom Writers doing today? Are there any books that follow up on the student's lives?

Paige

Freedom Writers Diary

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl – Anne Frank
The Outsiders – S.E. Hinton
The Giver – Lois Lowery

I thought it was great how the text was presented. The anonymous entries allowed for more connection with the reader in relation to the text. I also found it interesting how each text was left with grammatical and spelling errors present; to me this created a greater sense of reality in the stories.

In the diaries there is a much higher degree of individuality and therefore reached many more people on a personal level. Did some of you feel overwhelmed or offended by some of the diaries?

The Freedom Writers Diary

Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher
Breaking Rank by Kristen Randle
Stand and Deliver dir by Ramon Menendez

I was frequently moved by the tragedy of the student's lives, and although I sometimes slipped into pompous english major mode and looked down my nose at the book for having multiple entries with similar themes/plot elements, I think that It really drives home the the trauma that these kids were living in.

Was anyone else confused by the fact that the Writers delivered a copy of their book to the Secretary of Education halfway through their Junior year and the book kept going until the end of Senior year?

Freedom Writers Diary

Texts:
1. The Hobart Shakespeareans, film by Mel Stuart
2. A Child Called "It", by Dave Pelzer
3. Imani All Mine, by Connie Rose Porter

The forward mentions that the diary entries are numbered to help promote the universality and anonymity of the experiences, but I would have preferred if the entries had been accompanied by names. I think it would have added concrete visualization and more personality to the story.

With this text and (as well as with Hobart Shakespeareans) there were other teachers who didn't support Ms. G. Why not? Were they more concerned at having the new teacher make them look bad or were they embarrassed that she had courage/talent to do what they couldn't do?

Becky Andert

Freedom Writers Diary

The Freedom Writers Diary

Related Texts
1. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
2. Zlata's Diary: A Child's Life in Wartime Sarajevo by Zlata Filipovic
3. Durango Street by Frank Bonham

Statement:
This is very much an inspiring novel for adolescents. It shows them firsthand that anyone can succeed with purpose and determination. This novel will especially appeal to adolescents because it was written by teenagers, for teenagers- their messages are clear and heartfelt.

Question:
The Freedom Writers obviously accomplished some great things. However, Erin Gruwell played a big part in their success. Without effective teachers, are teenage successes like this truly possible?

--Emily Allex

Freedom Writers Diary

Books:
-Coach Carter: Jasmine Jones
-Warriors Don't Cry: Melba Patillo Beals
-The Outsiders: S.E. Hinton

Statement:
I really enjoyed this novel and do feel that despite what many people think about kids like these, they are able to make a difference and surprise everyone with the amount of impact they have on the world around them. I really liked the fact how each entry was kept anonymous but you were still able to make connections with the characters and see their progression throughout the novel.

Question:
What are the freedom writers doing now? In the epilogue it talks a little bit more about what happened after graduation with the freedom writers but I would like more of a follow up and see what kinds of differences they were still making in their lives and the lives of other people who they have encountered since high school.

Ashley Martin

The Dispossessed

Other texts:

Brave New World By Aldous Huxley

The Begum's Millions by Jules Verne

Plato's Republic by Plato

Comment: I Liked the way the focus of this book, although it was Sci-fi, was on Social and Political issues rather than technological development.

Question: Do you think there is any merit behind Le Guin's apparent, prediction that eventually Physics and Science will become more philisophical than logic and math based.

Outside Text

For my text I choose "Good Omens" by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Originally published in 1990.

Basically the story is a satire of the apocolpsye and the coming of the anti-christ. Everything is all set for the world to end and for heaven and hell to go to war with each other but unfortunatly the satanists charged with placing the anti-christ in a home accidently give him to a rather nice English couple instead of an American diplomat. So he doesnt grow up to be the greedy and malevolent child they wanted him to be and instead becomes a rather normal kid. The book itself is set very much in the same tone as hitchhikers guide to the galaxy and involves a multitude of hilarious and unlikely characters.

Dimitri

The Freedom Writers Diary

Related Texts:
A Man Named Dave by Dave Pelzer
Educating Esme by Esme Raji Codell
Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Patillo Beals

Statement:
The diary entries in this book are the reason why I have wanted to become a teacher. Yes, students need to gain an education at school, but that directly connects to life as well. Only when people feel accepted and safe can they begin to learn and grow.

Question:
Students in one grade at Wilson High were greatly impacted through writing? How will this tradition and healing continue in the future?

Freedom Writers

3 Texts-
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
Warriors Don't Cry by Melba Patillo Beals
Parrot in the Oven: Mi Vida by Victor Martinez

Statement-
I loved this book, but I also found it difficult to read at times because of the explicit topics in the entries. I feel that that explicitness is not bad, if it wasn't there I would not believe that this book was really true. As a future teacher this book made me realize that this could possibly be my future teaching job as well as that teaching is not just a job it is a lifestyle. The teacher Ms. G also showed me that teaching is not just limited to the classroom and gives me hope that I can change the lives of my future students just as she did.

Question-
It was stated in the book that the entries of the journals were going to be number to keep the writers anonymous. Do you guys feel that the numbered entries did that, but also left no room for the biased notions and prejudice of the readers? And do you feel this adds much more to the book as a whole?

-Amy Culver

Outside Text

I read Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut for my outside text. It was originally published in 1969 by Delacorte Press, though the paperback version I have was published in 1999 by Dell Publishing.

The story is centered around Billy Pilgrim's experience as a POW who survived the fire-bombing of Dresden in 1945. That story is the main thread of the novel, while it jumps around to different points in Billy's life, including that of an alien abduction. Billy's experience at Dresden closely matches that of the author; Vonnegut purposely blurs the line between Billy's fictional story and real life.

outside text

My outside text was Fragile Things by Neil Gaiman, a compilation of award winning short stories. Some of the stories are science fiction based, others are more fantasy based or horror influenced. The book was pulished in 2006, and includes short stories from throughout Gaiman's career.

Grass

Other Texts-
Dune - Frank Herbert
She - H. Rider Haggard
Raising the Stones - Sheri Tepper


I really enjoyed the depth that Tepper went into when she wrote the mini-backstories of her characters. Rillibee's story was fairly intense, especially with the ridiculously depressing parrot. The backstory of Elder Brother Fuosoi and his uncle made his being a Moldy at least somewhat understandable. Not that I would sympathize with killing billions of people over a dying relative, but it was a good attempt at rationalizing his beliefs.

Question: If Sanctity's "motto" is Sanctity. Unity. Immortality., then why would the people in the higher level positions of Sanctity not clone the old Hierarch (Carlos) and instead let him die to be replaced? By letting the hierarch die, they seem to undermine one of their core beliefs.

Outside Text

The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks

The first novel written by Brooks, The Sword of Shannara has become a great success and has opened the door for many series sequels and even recently a series of prequels to this book. Although this text is often call "Tolkein-light" or Tolkein for dummies, I found the plot and writing style dissimilar enought that they did not remind me too much of each other. I very much enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a new fantasy series to delve into.

This novel shares the story of Shea Ohmsford, a young half-Elven man who is revealed to be the lost and last heir of the ancient royal Elven bloodline of Shannara. At the behest of Allanon, the last of the race of Druids and a powerful sorceror, Shea embarks on a quest with his brother Flick and a group of companions to seek the fabled Sword of Shannara and use it against the evil Warlock Lord who is once again planning a war against the people of the Four Lands. The book follows the adventures of the group as they seek the ancient weapon and comes to a climax as Shea must ultimately came face to face with the Warlock Lord and attempt to defeat him.

Grass

Related Texts:
C.S. Lewis' The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
Theodore Sturgeon's More than Human
Clifford D. Simak's City

Comment: I enjoyed the fact that such a sizable role was given to the horses in the book, as though they were supporting characters rather than tools or possessions, made me wonder if Tepper was a horsewoman herself. I found some of the Grassian "animals" rather difficult to imagine though, after they were first described as "mounts," "hounds," and "fox" during the initial hunt I had a hard time getting those images out of my mind.

Question: In light of this book's emphasis on spirituality, sin, salvation, and religion, why do you think Tepper chose to single out the Catholic church and a fictitious former-sect of the Catholic church in Grass? While Catholicism has a large following, it does not have a monopoly on religious thought today or in '89 when she was writing, so why the Catholic church rather than another religion or denomination?

Laine

Outside Text

Prophecy by Elizabeth Hayden, published in 2000, New York: Tom Doherty Associates.

Prophecy is the second in the Rhapsody trilogy, the first and third books being Rhapsody and Destiny, respectively. In Prophecy the book picks up with the story of Rhapsody, a half-human half-lirin (think Lord of the Rings' elves) woman who is trained as a singer and namer and her two friends Achmed and Grunthor, also half breeds in their new home among the Firbolg, a primative humanoid species whom Achmed has made himself king of. Rhapsody is about to embark on a journey to return a knife made of a dragon's claw to the dragon it came from before the dragon comes to take it back (assumable destroying the Bolg in the process). She is to be guided by the mysterious, cloaked man called Ashe who claims he has been to the dragon's layer before. Achmed and Grunthor do not trust Ashe, but Rhapsody is stubborn and they cannot dissuade her from going.

During her absence Achmed and Grunthor continue to explore their new home, the ruins of a massive and glorious city carved into the heart of a mountain range which has been uninhabited except by the Bolg for centuries. During their exploring they happen upon an ancient Dhracian woman, a race devoted to the pursuit and destruction of the F'dor, evil spirits who enhabit hosts and use them to bring about destruction. She has lived in the heart of the mountain for years, alone except for The Sleeping Child, a creature made from living stone, one of a handful of elements strong enough to contain the F'dor. The F'dor seek for the child because her bones can be used to release all the F'dor that have been trapped for ages in the heart of the earth. Achmed and Grunthor learn about a prophecy which foretold the coming of The Three who are supposed to save the world. They begin honing their skills for the coming war.

Meanwhile Rhapsody completes her errand with the dragon and makes a couple of other stops as well, all the while feeling a growing attraction for her guide. Ashe walks the world in a misty cloak that makes him almost invisable, as he has done for the past 20 years to keep the F'dor from locating him. However, Rhapsody's encounter with the F'dor and his evil minion the Rakshas at a temple in a nearby city gives her an idea of how she can free Ashe from the clutches of the F'dor. Now her only problem is to convince Achmed and Grunthor to help her help Ashe, and the resulting clash delivers a devastating blow.

Outside Text

Cosmonaut Keep - Ken MacLeod

Cosmonaut Keep tells the story of Matt Cairns, in mid-21st century communist E.U., and his descendent, Geregor Cairns, 200 years later, on a planet called Mingulay. In Matt's story, he is a computer programmer and hacker. He receives a disc of encrypted information from an American spy and friend. At the same time the E.U. government announces that first contact has been made with an alien intelligence living in an asteroid in the Kuiper belt. When Matt cracks the code, he finds plans for what seems to be a UFO. The government gets wind of what's happening and Matt runs to the US and later to the asteroid. There, he and the scientists who have been communicating with the aliens begin to build the ship.

Gregor is a biology student and his family is part of the group occupying Cosmonaut Keep. Since the arrival of the original cosmonauts, they have been working to complete the Great Work, working out human navigation between the stars. When Gregor makes a breakthrough, he goes on a quest for confirmation of his findings and the equipment to finally finish the Great Work.

Grass

Ender's Game Orson Scott Card
Speaker for the Dead Orson Scott Card
Dune Frank Herbert

I think that Tepper creates a very intriguing world. I'm fascinated by the global conspiracy created by the commoners, allowing the Commons to be the cultural and economic center of Grass at the same time that the Bons think that it is Dickensian town full of shoeshines and blacksmiths. World creation seems to take importance when a piece of science fiction isn't driven by technology.

I'm a little uncomfortable with the scenes between First and Marjory. Am I alone? If Tepper is pushing these boundaries on purpose (and I'm pretty sure that she is), what is her intention?

Outside Text

The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury (1946)

Bradbury's novel tells the story of the human colonization of Mars. This story is told through a series of short stories that range from less than a page to twenty or so pages in length. Bradbury covers a lot of ground that would be familiar to a student of American history, especially our Western Expansion. We see stories about the first military expeditions to Mars, evangelizing to Martians, and the first glimpses of a human-martian society that is completely independent from Earth.

Bradbury's writing style is fantastic, ignoring the fact that the story takes place from the years 2000 to 2006, it feels as fresh as anything that I have read in my Contemporary Lit and Modern Fiction classes. He also uses humor more than any other author of science fiction that I have read.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in reading a book by one of the so called "Greats" of science fiction.

Grass

-Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
-Jurassic Park by Michael Chrichton
-Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell


Comment: In a really weird way, the talk of Terra and the party at the beginning of the book really reminded me of Gone With The Wind. I know it is a stretch, but that is what was in my mind the whole way through.

Question: Does Tepper have a background in poetry? The first chapter along with all her poetic descriptions really kept me interested. I could easily visualize what she was describing.

Lynn

Outside Text

Speaker For The Dead by Orson Scott Card (published in 1986)

I had a lot of expectations when I started this book, following Ender's Game. Card wrote in the introduction that this book had been his original intention. Ender's Game was written so that he could write Speaker. That said, I was pleased with the story. It did not have the same feel as Ender's Game, but that was ok. Ender had grown up, changed, and so had Card's writing. Unlike Ender's Game, I would not consider this adolescent science fiction.

The book starts thousands of years after the bugger wars. Ender is asked to Speak the death of a scientist, who died mysteriously through the hands of a new alien species, on the planet Luistania. Ender, prompted by the Hive Queen, agrees to investigate the planet and see if he can make the final atonements for the Buggers.

This book has minimal scenes of violence. Ender, although isolated, is much more free to discover the relationships around him. Card plays around a lot with language and symbolism as well as focusing on anthropology and sociology.

Lynn

Outside Text - Jurassic Park

Jurassic Park, by Michael Crichton, is one of the best books I've ever read. The novel has an over all theme that just because humans can do something does not mean they should do something. That is, technology is advancing faster than we can create social norms or legal systems to handle the consequences.

While everything Crichton did not expressly say is interesting to think, argue, and debate over, what he actually writes is what makes Jurassic Park good. The reason I like the novel is because, simply, Jurassic Park is an entertaining novel, especially for the reader who is a fan of Science Fiction. Crichton really hit the mark when he decided to write about something as awesome as dinosaurs running amok.

Those of you who enjoyed the movies and haven't read the books should give them a shot. Remember, you don't have to finish anything you start reading!

Freedom Writers

3 texts:
1. Coach Carter by Jasmine Jones
2. Teach With Your Heart by Erin Gruwell
3. Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Statement:
I found this book to be very interesting and inspiring. As a future teacher, it was especially inspiring to see how powerful a teachers impact is on their students' lives. It was amazing to see how the students' changed (for the better) throughout their time with Miss G. She did an amazing job pointing the lives of her students in the right direction.

Question:
Where the Freedom Writers are now? After reading the epilogue, I found out a great deal about the Freedom Writers and how they continued to write. But that was written some time ago, where are they now? Are they still writing? Did some of them become teachers so they could change their students' lives like Miss G did for them?

Amber Steffenhagen