Casey Reads!

Hi Readers,

The guest blogging continues! Today Dr. Jones’ student Casey takes the stage …

Hi readers! My name is Casey; I am an English teacher in the RCSD and am working on my Masters degree in literacy at Nazareth College. I love to read! My favorite genres are realistic fiction, historical fiction, and magical realism. Though I love reading now, when I was in middle and high school, I did not. I think it’s because my teachers never gave me books to read that interested me or related to what I was going through. If one of my teachers handed me Matt De La Pena’s “We Were Here” and engaged me in it, it just may have inspired my love for reading much sooner.

Matt De La Pena’s “We Were Here” falls into the realistic fiction genre, that being one of the reasons I chose to read it, the other being that I seek out books by Latino authors (Latino literature is written by individuals who were born in the US, but are of Hispanic descent). I find I am continually drawn Latino literature because of a common theme that weaves through the stories. It is a theme of searching for or connecting to an inner self, and often having to forge many identities into one. De La Pena did not let me down! “We Were Here” definitely deals with an inner struggle of identity and a search for personal meaning.

The book is narrated by the main character Miguel’s journal entries; it is his voice that carries us along through the book. While writing in his journal, which he was ordered to do by the court, Miguel describes his recent past: a tough and gritty, impoverished but sunny, and often happy life in Stockton, California. Nostalgic memories of his mother “moms” and older brother “Diego” inhabit this life in Stockton, but we quickly realize Miguel is not in Stockton anymore, and the happy times with his “moms” and Diego are long gone.

Miguel is in “juvi” and being sent to a group home for boys with criminal pasts because of something he did, something so bad he will not even write it in his journal for us to know. What he does tell us in his journal is how alone he feels. How he remembers the way his mom wouldn’t even look at him or speak to him, even to say goodbye as she left him on the front stoop of the group home, his new home for a while.

Miguel tells it how it is. He is not too happy to be at the group home and he demonstrates it through his writing and his actions. His first fight occurs not even a day into his stay at the group home. His journal entries are filled with honest and heart sinking insights into how much he really believes that life has given up on him, and how he is not sure he even cares at all that it has. He decides that one night when he wakes to see the kid he fought standing above him just watching him. At first he feels fear, but then he calms and realizes when you feel like you aren’t even alive anymore, when you feel like an empty shell nothing can hurt you anymore, and that is how he feels. The thing is the whole time that we are getting to know Miguel we know he is smart! He reads voraciously while at the group home: Walker Hurston, Salinger, and others. His mind works and works exploring existential questions of existence like what is the point of all of this? Of living? Of life? Demonstrating that as much as he wants to believe he is giving up, he can’t. He is too smart.

Though Miguel does isolate himself from the others in the home, he is approached by Mong, the fearless and chillingly detached Chinese kid Miguel fought on his first day, and asked to escape the home. I think Mong chooses him because he sees the same detached apathetic attitude that he himself has. The duo quickly turns into a trio when they are joined by Miguel’s roommate Rondell: an illiterate, deeply religious, phenomenal basketball player, who can go from calm to a violent fighting rage at the drop of a hat. Mexico is their destination, where they hope a future awaits them: a chance to start over.

As they embark on a journey down the California coast Miguel begins to learn about who he is and who is “friends” are. Though walking for miles and miles each day, the journey contains a poetic quality. This occurs because the coast is always there. The ocean waves beat steadily against the shore day and night, and each evening the sun sets on the horizon. The endless shore and the ocean waves and the beauty of it all that assists Miguel in pondering the significance of it all: his crime, his life, death, and why bad things happen.

This book truly takes you places as you read it. It makes you furious, it makes you question your own life and circumstance, it makes tears stream down your face, and most of all, it makes you want to read it again!

Wow, Casey. What a great review! “We Were Here” is one of the Matt’s books that I haven’t read yet, but I definitely want to read it now!

Katie Reads!

What’s up, readers?

I’m INSANELY busy right now with graduation from college (!) and getting ready for TBF 2012! So it’s a good thing I have some guest bloggers to pick up the slack for me – enjoy this post by another of Dr. Jones’ graduate students, Katie!

My name is Katie Navarro and I am a graduate student at Nazareth College. I am taking a course in young adult literature, and have really been enjoying the opportunity to read some fantastic authors who will be at the Teen Book Festival! I teach in the Fairport School District, and although I have taught at many different grade levels, middle school is my favorite! One of the first novels I read for class was “The Candidates” by Inara Scott. I am a big fan of the “Twilight” series, and this novel has a similar feel which is why I would love to share more about it!

Have you ever felt like you wanted to go to a school where you could just start over and be yourself without so many complications or secrets? Delcroix Academy gives that opportunity in Inara Scott’s novel “The Candidates.” The main character, Dancia Lewis, quite frankly, feels like … a loser. From the very beginning of this novel, we learn quite a bit about Dancia, but there is still a lot to discover.

Here is what we do know:
1. Danca Lewis is a 14-year-old girl
2. Her parents died when she was young
3. She lives with her grandmother in a small two bedroom house
4. They do not have a lot of money
5. She has no friends
6. A school called Delcroix Academy is trying to recruit her, but the school is only for rich students with special talents
7. The student recruiter is "hot" (according to Dancia)
8. She has some sort of special power where she hurts people who are being rude to people she cares about
9. She is worried that the school may know about her power

This novel is exciting and keeps the reader guessing! I found myself asking question after question! What exactly is her power and how does it work? How did she even get a "power" in the first place? Is she going to go to the school? What would happen to her grandmother if she did go to school? Will she make friends? What about the “hot” student recruiter she met?

Dancia may have escaped the “every day” issues of being a teenager in school, but Delcroix Academy has brought on a whole new list of issues for Dancia to face. Her new friends and love interests are just a small part of Dancia’s journey! This is the first novel in a trilogy and is the start to an exciting new series!

I would recommend this novel to readers who also like “Twilight” and “Harry Potter.” The mystery and romance will keep the reader engaged and on the edge of their seat! Enjoy!

Thanks so much for stopping by Carly Reads, Katie!

Caitlin Reads!

Hi Readers!

Dr. Laura Jones’ students are back and guest blogging again! Meet Caitlin and enjoy her review of “The Orange Houses”!

Hi Readers! My name is Caitlin Thomas. I am currently attending Nazareth College in pursuit of a Masters Degree in Literacy Education. Although it may sound as though I want to teach at two very different levels, I would love to teach for kindergarten or Middle School. I would really enjoy educating students in History, as it was one of my majors during my undergraduate career. During this semester at school I have had the opportunity to read a ton of great young adult literature. As the 2012 Teen Book Festival approaches I find myself most looking forward to meeting Paul Griffin, author of “The Orange Houses.”

I loved reading Griffin’s “The Orange Houses”! It was a beautiful, heart-wrenching tale about the friendship between three characters, whose lives intersect as a result of unique circumstances. Each chapter is told from the perspective of one of the three characters. Jimmi Sixes, also known as “Crazy Jimmi,” is a street poet and military veteran, dealing with the demons of post war in the Middle East through drug addition. Fatima, a 16-year-old illegal refugee from Africa, wants nothing more than to leave the hardships of her past behind, and to bring her sister by her side in America. Tamika Skyes, also known as “Mika,” is a too-smart-for-school hearing-impaired 15-year-old, who constantly tries to shut out the world around her.

“The Orange Houses” reaches out and grabs you, transporting you on a wild ride through immigration scares, drug abuse, bullying, and artistic beauty up until the traumatic and climatic hanging of Jimmi Sixes. The theme resonates throughout the text in that friendship is the most important thing in the world. This is displayed as each character is willing to risk everything for each other, despite the consequences.

I believe that teens will be able to relate to the real world issues identified throughout the text. The struggles of each character clearly mirror the struggles of everyday teens. Reading the text opened my eyes to the realization of teen violence and bullying. I found it extremely scary to read certain parts of the book. Tamika’s ultimate run in with gang violence forced me to see that bullying is truly a problem both in and out of schools. Such issues as this, as well as immigration and addiction, resonate throughout society. I think that it is important for teens to encounter such text and see it as an opportunity to connect with the world around them. Because of this, “The Orange Houses” could easily be incorporated into a classroom curriculum. It represents real issues and struggles that teens everywhere face. It encourages discussion and the use of critical thinking in asking students what they would do if placed in one of the character’s shoes.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to just about anyone! It is truly a suspenseful, heart-pounding story intertwined with artistic beauty, allowing the reader to look at the world a bit differently when finished.

Thanks so much for blogging, Caitlin! After reading your review, I can hardly wait to read “The Orange Houses”!

Jamie Reads!

Hi Readers!

Remember last year when TBF committee member Dr. Laura Jones had her students write guest blog posts for me here at Carly Reads. Well, they’re back! Help me welcome a whole new batch of guest bloggers. First up is Jamie!

Hello readers! And thank you to Carly for this guest blog spot! :)

My name is Jamie; I’m a certified teacher through the sixth grade, after receiving my bachelor’s degree from SUNY Brockport in Arts for Children and elementary/special education. I currently am a graduate student studying literacy education at Nazareth College; I anticipate completing the program this summer and would be interested in becoming an elementary classroom teacher, or literacy/reading teacher.

Reading YA lit has been a fun adventure, so far. Because of my elementary education background, YA lit is not something I have focused on in quite some time. Since I am a certified teacher through the sixth grade, I am glad I have recently been able to dig into YA lit. Some of my favorite YA books I would recommend include “Stargirl” by Jerry Spinelli, and “A Northern Light” by Jennifer Donnelly. I’m also really looking forward the 2012 Teen Book Festival—this will be my first year attending! I’m most looking forward to meeting Laurie Halse Anderson. I recently read her book, “Fever 1793”; I’m eager to check out her other books!

I have also recently read “How My Private, Personal Journal Became a Bestseller,” a novel by Julia DeVillers, another 2012 TBF author. This was a book that I wish I had read in or right before high school. I was shocked when I went to the library, and they had to get this book sent to me from a different library! After reading it entirely, I know it really should be everywhere. So, here's to spreading the word on this book... :)

Jamie Bartlett became a famous author (pretty much overnight!), all because she accidentally handed in her own journal as her English assignment. After being fed up with rude popular and picture perfect girls, her journal demonstrates a story made for all teen girls—which is based off of Jamie’s true reality as a freshman in high school. The boys, cliques, popularity, family members, they all play a huge role in the lives of everyday teen girls. I don't think people tend to understand the kinds of pressure teen girls are under in our society, at times.

Her main character Isabella transforms into Is —a super girl with superpowers, and it changes everything. A simple motion of a 'flick' can create a balance between her friends and her vs. the Evil Clique of Populors.

Everyone (mainly teen girls – but everyone) goes crazy about this book; even everyone in Jamie’s school. It is top rated, number one! You'd think that Jamie had it all. She was flying to Hollywood and New York City; meeting celebrities, making appearances, doing interviews, and signing books. But, everyone expected Jamie to BE Is. How will she handle this situation?

This book is made for all girls (and boys!), but it really does send a great message. Believe in yourself, stop putting yourself down, try and be positive, be you FOR you. I hope you find this book as enjoyable as I did!

Thanks, Jamie. Hey readers? If you loved Jamie’s review, be sure to check out her blog by clicking here!

Carly Finally Posts It (the interview with Brent Crawford, that is)

Hey Readers!

Do you guys remember when I raved about the hilarity of “Carter Finally Gets It”? Today I have an interview with Brent Crawford to share with you. Enjoy!

Carly Reads: Your first novel, “Carter Finally Gets It,” is so realistic that I have to ask, is it autobiographical?
Brent Crawford: Unfortunately, yes. Cut and pasted, directly from personal experience or stolen from one of my close friends.

CR: Although “Carter Finally Gets It” is hilarious, I also interpreted it as being very much about how hard it is to grow from a boy to a man in today’s society. What advice do you have for teenage boys stumbling through adolescence on their way to adulthood?
BC: I think what Carter is trying to communicate is that failure is good thing. Apathy and laziness will get you nowhere. It's only by trying and risking failure that can you really achieve or at least figure out who you are and what you want. I have to remind myself of this all time.

CR: You also have a background in acting. Does your acting career influence your writing career? Or vise versa?
BC: Yeah, they're different forms but ultimately I just like telling stories. When I act, I'm just helping someone else tell their story and it's like the cherry on top of the sundae ... so much fun. But when I write, it's my world and get to do exactly what I want. I also only seem able to write from one character's perspective and that's just character study... and that's just acting... but, like, a lot more typing.

CR: What was the last book that you read for pleasure?
BC: Sigh... I'm currently reading “The Help” (chick lit... love it). Just finished “The Autobiography of Fredrick Douglas.” I don't think that counts as "pleasure reading" but no one forced me to read it and it's so good/awful that it made me want to vomit a bunch of times.

CR: What author are you most looking forward to meeting/seeing at the Seventh Annual Greater Rochester Teen Book Festival?
BC: I'm looking forward to meeting them all, but if I had to pick one... Brandon Mull! I dig “Fablehaven”!

Brent, I loved “The Help,” too! And I thought the movie was pretty great too. (And I NEVER say that.) Thank you for taking the time to answer these interview questions for me and my readers!