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Title: American Born Chinese
Author:  Gene Luen Yang
Year Published:  2006
Publisher: First Second
Author Links: www.geneyang.com/www.firstsecondbooks.com/authors/geneYangBlogMain.html
Amazon Link: www.amazon.com/american-chinese-gene-luen-yang/dp/1596431520/sr=8-1/qid=1158759786/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-2750073-4085408?ie=utf8&s=books

When Jin Wang is a young boy and tells an elderly herbalist that he wants to be a transformer when he grows up, she responds with, “It’s easy to become anything you wish…so long as you’re willing to forfeit your soul.” In the Printz Award Winning graphic novel, American Born Chinese, author Gene Luen Yang tells a complicated story of a Chinese boy’s struggle for acceptance in an American society.  At first glance, the novel appears to be split up into 3 independent storylines.  The first is of a Monkey King from Asian folklore, who is rejected from the heavens because he’s not dressed properly.  Then he transforms himself into everything that he’s not, and tries to prove his power by bullying all those who originally rejected him and attempting to defeat his Creator. The Second storyline focuses on a young boy named Jin Wang and his initial struggles to make friends at his predominantly white elementary school, where the other kids toss out jeers of Chinese stereotypes.  Into middle school he has found some Asian friends, but begins to try to change himself, starting with his hair, in order to be more attractive to a particular white girl in his class.  Presented as a TV sitcom, with a laugh track at the bottom of particular scenes, the third story begins with a white high school boy named Danny who strives to be popular at his high school. However, every year his cousin, an “over the top” stereotypical Asian “funny man,” comes to visit him and appears to ruin his life.

Although different storylines,  all of these narratives deal with the same issue, trying to fit in where you’re perceived as being different, and the price you will pay, whether it be betraying a friend, a family member, your own culture, or even yourself, in order to achieve complete acceptance. In the end, these stories meld together, as the characters reveal their true identities and join together in the final scene, recognizing their faults, but accepting with pride who they were made to be.

The graphic nature of this novel makes this a book accessible as an independent read to most middle school readers.  However, to fully understand the stereotypes presented, to appropriately decipher the parables and fables told and to truly appreciate the difficulties the characters face, students would benefit from teacher guidance in reading this text.  Because of the graphic style, there are few words on each page to read, but each word is chosen carefully to convey a meaning of authenticity in the dialogue.  Readers will develop their inferring abilities as they must pay attention to facial expressions and ellipses to fully comprehend the reactions and emotions of the characters.  Those (adult) readers skeptical of this new genre of graphic novels will not be disappointed with this rich and poignant tale of culture.

Title:  Criss Cross
Author:  Lynne Rae Perkins
Year Published:  2005
Publisher:  Greenwillow Books
Author Link: www.lynneraeperkins.com/
Amazon Link: www.amazon.com/Criss-Cross-Newbery-Medal-Book/dp/0060092726/sr=8-1/qid=1171921859/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-8621530-1215607?ie=UTF8&s=books

In the Newbery Award Winner Criss Cross, author Lynne Rae Perkins explores the lives of a group of friends as they begin to cross over from childhood into adolescence and young adulthood.  As the school year ends and summer takes over, the young teenage characters are on separate searches for something “interesting.” The novel begins with Debbie fiddling with a necklace that she eventually loses, and the reader follows the necklace’s journey as it exchanges hands and pockets until it eventually makes its way back to its original owner.  As we follow the journey of the necklace, we also follow the journeys of Hector and Debbie, as they struggle to find the extraordinary in what they deem to be merely ordinary.  In between their regular gatherings each week to listen to a radio talk show entitled Criss Cross, the characters’ ordinary lives interweave as they struggle with acceptance, love, who they are, and who they want to become.  Through friendships, family, and music, they discover that their search for love and belonging is not in some far off place, but right before their very eyes. 

Although not filled with action, and even though the reader may struggle to connect with some aspects of the time period (a detailed discussion over Nancy Drew characters, sitting in a truck to listen to a radio show, longing to wear platform sandals), students will immediately relate to universal themes of belonging, search for self, rebellion from parents’ ideals, first love, and the old saying, “the grass is always greener.”   Although mostly written in prose, as the characters explore different avenues in life, the author also explores different genres to express various scenes, including haiku, magazine style, artwork and script format.  Criss Cross will serve well as a whole class novel and the author’s use of strong character development provides a story useful for character analysis and teaching comprehension through connections with text.  

Title:  The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
Author:  Kate DiCamillo
Illustrator: Bagram Ibatoulline
Year Published:  2006
Publisher:  Candlewick Press
Author Link: www.katedicamillo.com
Amazon Link:  www.amazon.com/Miraculous-Journey-Edward-Tulane/dp/0763625892/sr=8-1/qid=1171939154/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-8621530-1215607?ie=UTF8&s=books

In The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo, the reader follows the travels of a “china doll” rabbit, as he goes from being with a girl who loves him like a real person, to being tossed into the sea. Eventually he winds up in the hands of several different characters throughout this story, including an old couple longing for the love of a child, a traveling bum seeking companionship, and a dying girl, needing a little sunshine.  But the more poignant journey does not involve his physical travels, but rather the changes he endures inside himself.  As each owner develops a bond with Edward, he realizes that he needs them as well.  Through the love and abuse of others, he gradually transforms from being completely arrogant and selfish to discovering and feeling the true love around him, enabling him to humble himself and realize his vulnerabilities.  But with true love he discovers true disappointment and the pain that goes with loss, and hopelessness sets in.  However, in the end, his journey comes full circle years later as he, a changed rabbit, encounters his original owner, ready to accept and appreciate the love she, and now her daughter, will give him.

Although reading a book about a toy rabbit with thoughts and feelings may seem awkward at first, with teacher’s guidance, younger adolescents will appreciate the events of this quick read and even begin to empathize with Edward and the other characters.  The story and language are simple, but the message complex, as readers relate Edward’s passage to their own human journeys, and to those around them. This novel is also filled with religious symbolism that could be explored, and beautiful artwork that accompanies and enhances each chapter.   

Title:  Ida B…and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the
World
Author:  Katherine Hannigan
Year Published:  1994
Publisher:  Greenwillow Books
Author link:            www.harperchildrens.com/authorintro/index.asp?authorid=27798
Amazon link:            www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/0060730242/harpercollin1-20/

In this best selling novel, a determined, free spirited girl named Ida B. has a plan for everything. Most of her plans have to do with creating more amusement in her life because according to this spunky young lady, there is never enough time for all the fun that one could have.  Ida B’s parents are loving and nurturing, teaching her to not only be responsible for her chores, but also for the land around her, including their orchard.  And when they discover that Ida’s experience in school is stifling her spirit bringing on depression, they decide to homeschool her.  For a few years, life goes according to her plan, and all is wonderful. But when some events occur that Ida B. has no plan for, how will she cope?  Ida B’s mother develops breast cancer, and life as she knows it is turned upside down.  Due to her mother’s illness, Ida B has to return to school and her father has to sell part of their land, where Ida B. plays daily, in order to cover the expensive medical treatment.   None of this is part of Ida B’s plan, so she decides she must make a new plan, one that involves showing only anger and disappointment in her new situation.  She is now determined to show her parents that without their land and in forcing her to go to school, things would NOT be okay, as they tried to assure her. Throughout the rest of the novel, she wrestles with keeping her old jubilant self suppressed, even when she knows that the anger she’s exhibiting isn’t really how she wants to, or even should, act.  It is only through the help of a kind, understanding and persistent teacher, that Ida B. finally begins to surrender the inner battle she has created for herself. 

Readers will fall in love with Ida B.  Her funny and direct way of presenting her feelings will make readers laugh, and her struggles to cope will make readers cry.  Whether used as a classroom novel or an independent read, this story will touch readers’ hearts, as Ida B. tries to harden hers.  Author Katherine Hannigan uses vivid descriptions, extended similes and metaphors and comical hyperboles to bring a realistic and entertaining voice to Ida B.  Throughout Ida’s struggles, she learns the importance of giving people second chances, apologizing when you’re wrong, and allowing herself to adjust her plan, without adjusting the good inside of her. 

Title:  Looking for Alaska
Author:  John Green
Year Published:  2005
Publisher:  Speak (Penguin Group)
Author link:  www.sparksflyup.com/
Amazon link: www.amazon.com/Looking-Alaska-John-Green/dp/0142402516/sr=8-1/qid=1171940514/ref=pd_bbs_1/105-8621530-1215607?ie=UTF8&s=books

Miles Halter needs a new start.  After two years at his high school and no real friends to connect with, he decides to attend a boarding school in search of “the great perhaps.”  His boredom with his old life is quickly forgotten as he is kidnapped, duck-taped and thrown into the lake on his first night at the school; introducing him to the sometimes funny, sometimes dangerous, but always entertaining pranks between the different student groups at Culver Creek Boarding School. 

In his new environment, this skinny boy, who is obsessed with biographies and peoples’ last words, is befriended by his roommate “the Colenel” and a girl named Alaska.  They ironically dub him “Pudge.”  Through these new connections, he not only learns the politics of the student population, but also the importance of true friendship, loyalty and love, as this trio encounter the challenges of academics, authority and life as a teenager. 

The novel is divided into two sections, entitled “Before” and “After,” with the chapters noted as “one hundred twenty-seven days before,” “forty-nine days before,” etc, drawing the reader in to discover what the countdown signifies. But after one night of drinking in their dorm room, tragedy strikes, as Alaska is killed in a car accident.  And thus, the countdown ends and the AFTER begins.  Pudge and the Colonel are left trying to piece together what exactly happened that night to cause their dear friend’s death, wrestling with their incredible emotions of grief, anger and guilt. 

Through accurate dialogue, realistic adolescent situations, and strong character development with quirky personalities, author, John Green presents a genuine story of teenagers coping with life and dealing with death.  A coming of age book for older teenagers, readers will grieve along with Pudge and Colonel and rejoice in their final prank to honor Alaska’s memory. 

Title:  The Uglies
Author:  Scott Westerfeld
Year Published: 2005
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Author link: www.scottwesterfeld.com/
Amazon link: www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_b/105-8621530-1215607?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=The+Uglies

Tally Youngblood lives in the future, hundreds of years from now, where kids roam around on hoverboards, belly sensors warn them of danger, and there is little to worry about.  In the novel, The Uglies, author Scott Westerfeld has created a story in a time when our way of life today has been destroyed by our own indulgences.  And the future inhabitants of earth will do anything not to fall into our historic destructive patterns….anything. 

But for Tally Youngblood, all she is concerned about is being “Pretty.” Tally and everyone around her consider themselves an “Ugly,” until they are sixteen and old enough for the operation.  During this procedure, every “flaw”, from acne on their skin, to too wide noses, to asymmetrical faces, will be corrected, and their dreams of beauty will come true.  Being the youngest of all her friends, Tally is left behind in Uglyville for a few months while all of her friends enter Prettyville, spending their nights partying and having fun. But while left behind, Tally meets Shay, who will turn 16 on the same day.  However, Shay has different plans.  Not only does Shay fear the operation that will make her pretty, she has no intention of ever going through with it.  As the friendship between these girls evolves, Shay tries to convince Tally that she is pretty just the way she is.  However, although Tally develops an everlasting friendship with Shay, she longs for the day when she can join her old friends and be rid of her thin lips, squinty eyes and frizzy hair.  So when Shay presents her with the idea of running away to a secretive place called the Smoke, where other Uglies have taken refuge from the operation, Tally is troubled.  Although she declines Shay’s invitation, she promises never to tell anyone about where Shay ran away to.  However, when the day of Tally’s 16th birthday arrives, she is forced by a scary group of people in the city called Special Circumstances to reveal all that she knows about where her friend went, and if she ever wants to have the pretty operation, she must find where Shay is, and alert Special Circumstances. 

Tally does not want to betray her friend’s trust, but she doesn’t want to lead a life of ugliness anymore either.  However, when she arrives in the Smoke, she discovers a new colony, where Uglies have spent years building a home for themselves.  As she works and lives among these people, she gradually begins seeing people for who they are on the inside, and spends less and less time criticizing their “ugly” outsides.  Through befriending a boy named David, who was born in the Smoke to the founders of the colony, she soon learns that the “pretty” operation she had been looking forward to all her life not only would change how she looks, but would also alter how she thought, creating a Tally who was less genuine, more compliant, artificial.  It is then that Tally decides not to alert Special Circumstances and to start a life for herself in this new home.  However, in destroying the sensor to alert Special Circumstances, she unknowingly activates it.  A few hours later, they are surrounded by those who want nothing more than to destroy their way of life.  Tally must now figure out a way to rescue her new family and save them from the operation she now deems dreadful.  And even after she does that, she needs to somehow win back their trust. 

The Uglies, the first book in a trilogy, is an excellent companion to Lois Lowry’s The Giver.    Perfect to use with middle schoolers as a whole class novel or in literature circles, this book is filled with action, and will activate students’ critical thinking skills.  Although lacking in strong character development, this text will lead to many discussions of whether Tally’s world is better than our world, how her world is similar to ours, how it’s different, and if the events in our time could ever lead to the events in this novel.  Teachers will find this text to be excellent for teaching the comprehension strategies of Questioning and Predicting, and students will find themselves unable to put the book down as they learn the price the characters pay for beauty.  

Title: Dairy Queen:  A Novel
Author:  Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Year Published:  2006
Publisher:  Houghton Mifflin Company
Author Link: http://www.catherinemurdock.com/
Amazon Link:  http://www.amazon.com/Dairy-Queen-Catherine-Murdock/dp/0618683070/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-0821558-5052164?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174535316&sr=1-1s

D.J knows football.  Her father played and coached football, her brothers were star high school players and now play college football, she once played pee wee football, and even the cows on her farm are named after football coaches and players.  Having most of the responsibility of her farm this summer, D.J. also knows a little something about hard work.  So when a coach asks D.J. to help train a star quarterback, she knows she can do the job, but she’s not sure whether she’d want to work with Brian, the star quarterback from her school’s biggest rival.   She reluctantly agrees to secretly to take on the task of working with this rich, spoiled, lazy athlete.  However, she never dreamed that while she was teaching him a thing or two about hard work and football, he would also be teaching her about respect and communication…something her family struggles with on a daily basis.  Through her interactions with Brian, DJ gains the confidence to make a change in her life, to start doing things that she wants and enjoys, not just what others expect from her.  With her love of football mixed with her incredible athletic ability, DJ decides to try out for the high school football team….a decision that brings consequences she doesn’t expect.  In doing so, she loses the friendship she has developed with Brian and unexpected truths about her family and friends are revealed. 

Dairy Queen is the first novel of author Catherine Gilbert Murdock, and would be an excellent independent read for any middle school student.  Although the cover and title may attract only girls, boys may enjoy the football aspect of the novel as well.  Murdock has created a strong female character who throughout this one summer is confronted with issues of acceptance, responsibility, parental authority, communication, sexual identity, and confidence.  Although sometimes the dialogue is a bit trite, teenagers will relate strongly with the issues D.J. is confronting and will root her on until the end.  With typical teenage angst, D.J. learns that “life, no matter how much it sucked, every once in a while came together and was just perfect.”

Title:  Fairest
Author:  Gail Carson Levine
Year Published:  2006
Publisher:  Harper Collins
Author Link: http://www.harperchildrens.com/hch/author/author/levine/
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Fairest-Gail-Carson-Levine/dp/0060734086/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-0821558-5052164?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174535968&sr=1-1

Think fairy tales are just for little kids?  Then you haven’t read any of Gail Carson Levine’s fairy tale retellings.  Author of Ella Enchanted and The Princess Tales series, Levine has creatively reworked the Snow White story in her new novel, Fairest.   Abandoned as a baby, main character Aza, is raised by loving innkeepers in the Kingdom of Ayortha, a land where singing is their passion.  They sing at everything, and Aza is one of the best.  But not only can Aza sing, she can “secretly” illuse, which involves making her voice emanate from another person or object.  However, Aza is ugly—large, wide, pale skin, dark hair, ruby red lips.  She feels the sight of her is so repulsive, that she often speaks with her hand covering her face.  Despite the beauty in her voice and the beauty in her heart, Aza longs for the beauty of her face.  

In an unexpected twist of events, this homely innkeeper’s daughter finds herself as a confidante and “friend” of the new Queen Ivi, who is obsessed with being beautiful and adored. With an elevated status of the Queen’s Lady-in-Waiting and a wage to send to her parents, Lady Aza actually finds herself trapped, being forced to illuse a singing voice for the Queen, and appearing to support her in many selfish decisions she makes while her King husband has fallen ill. The only person Aza finds true acceptance with at the castle is Prince Ijori, who is captivated by her lovely voice and strong presence. But even he briefly betrays her, and she ends up in jail when her illusing deceit is discovered. But no fairy tale can end so grimly, and readers will continue turning pages as Aza escapes from prison, battles deadly ogres, finds refuge with gnomes, consumes a poisoned apple, outsmarts a magic mirror, and of course, lives “happily ever after.”   

Carefully plotted with twists and turns, filled with magic and mystery, all while addressing issues of identity and acceptance, this story will delight all middle level readers.  The use of visual and auditory description, the strong vocabulary, and the captivating action, makes this an excellent text to use in the classroom, especially if teaching the comprehension strategies of predictions, text-to-text connections and sensory imagery.   However, students who are not familiar with this type of royal fantasy might need some background knowledge to help them fully comprehend the text, especially in understanding issues related to the rule of the monarchy and various fantasy creatures.  

Title: The Higher Power of Lucky
Author:  Susan Patron
Illustrator:  Matt Phelan
Year Published:  2006
Publisher:  Atheneum/Richard Jackson books
Author Link: http://www.simonsays.com/content/destination.cfm?tab=4&pid=503504
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Higher-Power-Lucky-Susan-Patron/dp/1416901949/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-0821558-5052164?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174536538&sr=1-1

Why anyone would want to spend the rest of her life in a town with a population of 43 may seem baffling at first.  But once you meet 10 year old Lucky and the quirky citizens of Hard Pan, California, you, too, won’t want to leave this desert town.  Two years ago, Lucky’s mom was electrocuted after a rainstorm.  But with an absent father, Lucky was left with no one to care for her.  However, Brigitte, her father’s first ex-wife from France, comes to tend to her until a proper foster home could be found.  Brigitte ends up becoming her official Guardian, but throughout the story Lucky is in constant fear that Brigitte will miss her home too much and eventually leave her.  For this reason, Lucky always carries a “Survival Kit” backpack, and is constantly on the lookout for her Higher Power, something she hears a lot about through a hole in the wall of the town’s meeting place, that hosts several “12-Step” programs.  

In addition to “future world famous scientist” Lucky, readers will  meet Lincoln, her best friend who spends all of his time tying complicated knots; Miles, a five year old boy who mooches cookies from everyone; and Short Sammy, who lives in an old town water tank and creates tasty concoctions from the free government surplus food they all receive.   These charming characters all help Lucky make sense of her situation, and eventually, when she thinks Brigitte is leaving her for good, they all work together to bring her back home in the loving arms of her Guardian, whose plan has nothing to do with leaving Lucky.

Although The Higher Power of Lucky, by Susan Patron, received the Newbery Medal, it received more attention for its very brief, and proper, use of the word scrotum, a word that Lucky thinks sounds funny.  Whether or not you agree with the use of this word, it is such a miniscule part of the story, that it should not influence whether or not you read this charming tale of a young girl trying to cope.  Although younger readers may enjoy this story as an independent read, it would behoove them to have teacher guidance to understand fully, especially the central concept of a “Higher Power”, what it is, why members of Alcoholics Anonymous refer to it, and why Lucky has such an interest in it.  It would also be interesting to discuss Lucky’s  “survival kit,” why she has chosen such odd items for her pack and what students would feel to be necessary for their own survival kit.  Furthermore, the story lends itself well to discussions on character development and to cross curricular connections with Science. 

Title:  Sleeping Freshman Never Lie
Author:  David Lubar
Year Published:  2005
Publisher:  Dutton Books
Author Link: http://www.davidlubar.com/
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Sleeping-Freshmen-Ribbon-Fiction-Awards/dp/0525473114

Some students dread high school.  Others can’t wait to get there.  But most students experience mixed feelings of fear and excitement as they make their intial steps in to the halls of high school.  In Sleeping Freshman Never Lie, author David Lubar, truly captures the high school experience from the point of view of a freshman boy.  Scott Hudson and his friends begin the year vowing to stick together no matter what, but this promise quickly fades, as one friend immediately finds a girlfriend and ditches his former pals. We follow Scott’s journey through his first year in high school including the constant bullying he tries to avoid, the pretty girl who renders him speechless, the homework he’s buried under, the dances he never actually dances at, and the relationships that fade and develop.  Throughout the book this avid reader and writer wittingly reflects on his experiences with words of wisdom as he journals to his unexpected, unborn brother.  Like many typical teenagers, Scott is overly concerned with his acceptance by the right people, but in the end, it’s those he tried so hard to avoid, the giant bully, the girl with the face piercings and the non-stop talker, who he eventually befriends.

This novel would be excellent as a whole class or independent read, as teenagers will connect easily with many of the characters and situations in the story.  This book would be especially delightful to read in English class, as Scott’s favorite class is English, and the author weaves typical English class content and vocabulary throughout the text.  The main character is constantly experimenting with different types of writing to report the football games for the school newspaper, and author David Lubar does some experimenting with text as well.  Scott’s keen interest in reading and his desire to share stories and books with his family and friends may even inspire students to read some of the texts he suggests in the story.  From beginning to end, Lubar has constructed a realistic tale with a comical tone that will have readers laughing out loud and reflecting on their own decisions about their friendships and other relationships. 

Title:  The Road to Paris
Author:  Nikki Grimes
Year Published:  2006
Publisher:  G.P. Putnam’s Sons
Author Link: http://www.nikkigrimes.com/
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Paris-Coretta-Scott-Author-Honor/dp/0399245375/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-0821558-5052164?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174537901&sr=1-1

Eight year old Paris has no real home.  Her white father doesn’t want to be seen with a brown-skinned little girl.  Her mother has chosen alcohol and strangers over her.  Her grandmother doesn’t have the will to raise children again.  Her previous foster mom constantly abused her and locked her in closets.  The only thought that comes to her mind when considering the feelings associated with the word “home” is her older brother Malcolm.  But even memories with him are beginning to fade.  After running away form their abusive foster home, the brother and sister pair are separated, and Paris feels she’s now left with nothing—even in her new “home” with the Lincolns.  Eventually she learns to trust the new foster family she is with, as they too learn to understand her fears and behaviors associated with the abuse and abandonment she has endured.   But just as Paris finally feels comfortable with her new family, friends, and church choir, she receives a call from her mother.  Now she must decide whether her new, comfortable life with her foster family is where she wants to stay, or go back to her biological family, where she can finally be with her brother again, and try to start a new life with her mother who has been in recovery.  With “God in her pocket,” she has a difficult decision to make. 

The Road to Paris, by Nikki Grimes, is a sometimes difficult, sometimes heartwarming tale of family and home.  Through this story, Grimes exposes the challenges of the foster system, while also developing a character we grow to love.  When Paris has to make her final decision, the reader also is torn with what would be best for this talented young girl.  Addressing the themes of racism, religion, hope and family, the short chapters in this book make it an easily accessible text for most upper elementary/middle school reading levels and could be a basis for in depth classroom discussions. 

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