Assassination Classroom by Yusei Matsui

A super organism takes over a junior high class of misfits and helps them grow into the best people they can be.

General Information:

  • Series: Assassination Classroom (Book 1)
  • Price: $9.99
  • Paperback: 192 pages
  • Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; thai edition (December 2, 2014)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 9781421576077
  • ISBN-13: 978-1421576077
  • ASIN: 1421576074

Plot:

The plot of Assassination Classroom Volume 1 is our introduction to Class 3E of Kunugigaoka Junior High and them trying to kill their teacher in the classroom using spell B.B pellets. There teacher? An superorganism (humanoid) that can reach speeds of mach 20 and more importantly recently blew up two thirds of the moon with the threat of blowing up the world at the end of the school year. His catch is he wants to specifically teach classroom 3E and he will not harm any of the students. So what does he do with class 3E which houses the worst students and rejects of the school? Of course he casually dodges all their assassination attempts and help teach them while improving all aspects of them in the process! In this first volume we get introduced to many of the main characters and on top of that learn that whoever kills the Octopus gets 10 billion dollars!

Reading and Interest Level:

The marketed age group for this book is for 6th thru 12th grade and the interest level runs along that large range as well as it is a book that can be enjoyed for various reasons by teens in that range.

Evaluation: 

This Manga is very effectively written in both style, drawing, movement of the plot, and the message behind the story. On the cover it is a somewhat silly story of a bunch of junior high kids trying to kill a superorganism octopus with special weapons that are harmless to themselves. In reality this manga has very deep messages about growing up, overcoming adversity, and believing in oneself through self improvement. This message is very strong and Koro Sensei (the octopus name given to him by the students) makes it very clear that he will do his best to mold and help each student grow to fulfill each of their full potential. The art and the pacing of the story also make it an easy and appealing read. The book has great value purely in an entertainment sense but also in the core messages that it is trying to spread to its readers.

Bibliotherapeutic Value:

The bibliotherapeutic value of this book is very high because of the life lessons taught to each student by Koro Sensei. Each student is placed into class 3E for a reason and the class is purposefully kept down by the school as an example of what failures look like. Each student learns from Koro Sensei and though the lessons are limited in the first volume as the students are just being introduced, the rest of the series will offer many life lessons and ways of overcoming obstacles in your hopes and dreams.

Issues Present:

The issues that are present in this book to be challenged involve heavy use of violence, and in future volumes heavy sexualization of female characters. In general, especially with the first volume the heavy amount of violence in the manga leads to concerns. Also that violence uses guns and knives whether they are real or not, in a school where school shootings has been a pandemic in this country.

Defending the Title:

To defend these issues, a librarian should point out the fact that the book comes from Japan and there are cultural differences that will leak into the books. As for the violence, there is no gore and none of guns or knives in the manga are effective on humans. As for the sexuality in future versions, that is a difference in culture but nothing is overly revealing, though certain female features may be enhanced for visual effect they are fully covered at all times.

Book Talk Idea:

The book talk idea that I would use in this first volume would be to follow Koro Sensei and see what he helps each student with and what he ends up doing to either teach them or physically help them. (Example: Sugino and his baseball skills) Unfortunately there are no page numbers in manga but if you read the volume you can clearly pick up multiple instances and they are terrific talking points in a book discussion.

Genre:

The genre of this book is fiction but more specifically Manga: Science Fiction. Follows the students of Class 3E of Kunugigaoka Junior High and them trying to kill their teacher.

Similar Reads:

Author’s Website:

N/A

Awards:

Texas Maverick Graphic Novels 2013 (And Ongoing)

Professional Reviews:

http://blogs.slj.com/goodcomicsforkids/2015/10/01/review-assassination-classroom-volume-1/

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25165248-assassination-classroom-vol-1?rating=3

https://www.theouterhaven.net/2017/10/assassination-classroom-vol-18-review/

Why I chose to read this book?

I chose to read this book as it is an extremely well written manga that has a very high check out rate at our library. It also has a high rate of parents questioning it as they see what appears to be kids shooting up a school in some of the images. This plus the extremely interesting premise which ends up having many twists and turns throughout the rest of the series is what got me to pick up volume one of this manga!

My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf

A biographical look into the childhood of the famous serial killer Jeffery Dahmer.

General Information:

  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Price: $19.99
  • Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; 59478th edition (March 1, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1419702173
  • ISBN-13: 978-1419702174

Plot:

The plot of My Friend Dahmer follows the the friendship of the author and Jeffrey Dahmer during there middle school and high school years. It explains how he met Dahmer and what he was like during his younger years. It paints a picture of extreme bullying and abuse by his teachers and parents. Dahmer was always encouraged by his friends to act out during the books pretending to have seizures in public. He also turned to hard drinking very early in his high school years. The author would also highlight some moments in his childhood that could have hinted towards his psyche which led to him becoming a prolific serial killer later on in life. This book is a graphic novel.

Reading and Interest Level:

The book is marketed for Young Adult. However its interest level and actual reading level is much more aligned with 10th-12th graders. We hold it in our teen graphic novel section at my library.

Evaluation:

I have read a lot of graphic novels and My Friend Dahmer is unique not only in its content but the way it portrays its content in a very different style of drawing. The art does a great job as does the writing in depicting the way Dahmer was from his slouch to his mannerisms when interacting with people, it is all portrayed within the writing/illustrations of the book. It is very effective in not giving Dahmer a pass for his crimes but highlighting what a troubled life and issues Dahmer went through during these crucial years during his life. Though he had friends they did not understand the darkness that was welling up in Dahmer and due to that they didn’t think anything other than he was a peculiar guy. Again this book was very effective and a compelling read.

Bibliotherapeutic Value:

The bibliotherapeutic value in this book comes from seeing the danger of isolation, bullying and a dysfunctional home. This book shows the workings of what a very troubled childhood can lead to mentally. Not even going as far as the serial killing but just the isolation leading to trouble-making, delinquency, hard drinking, and eventually the loss of his humanity. It is a dark read but it has value in the sense that you can learn from it.

Issues Present:

The issues present in this book include bullying, the depiction of animal cruelty/brutality, profanity, and heavy underage drinking. All of these things were common occurrences in Jeffrey Dahmer’s life in middle school and high school leading to a lot of psychological and social problems in his younger years. Some of what makes these issues harder for parents to accept is the fact that they are visually shown as it is a graphic novel.

Defending the Title:

The defenses for this book stem from the fact that this book though it depicts violent actions of a serial killer in his younger years, it is a learning experience. Nothing in this book is exaggerated but a retelling of history from the viewpoint of one of Dahmer’s friends from school.This book should be defended by explaining that nothing even the visuals of these negative actions are shown in graphic detail and they are not meant to be gory or to scar those who read about it. This book is a lesson in humanity deriving from a troubled human serial killer.

Book Talk Idea:

A book talk idea for this book would be to have the readers follow his escalation with alcohol and the deepening psychological battles that he would be facing. It seemed like his decline went hand and hand with his increasing dependency on alcohol. Pages:81, 83, 98, 99, 124, 130, 131, 133, 149, 158, etc.

Genre:

The Genre is a Nonfiction Biographical Graphic Novel on the life of Jeffrey Dahmer.

Similar Reads:

Author’s Website:

http://www.derfcity.com

Awards:

Alex Awards – Best Adult Books For Teenagers 1998 (And Ongoing)

Capital Choices Book Awards 2013 (And Ongoing)

Georgia Peach Teen Readers Choice Book Award Nominees 2004-05 (And Ongoing)

Virginia State Reading Association for Young Readers Program Nominees High School

New Jersey Garden State Teen Book Awards 1998 (And Ongoing)

Professional Reviews:

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/derf-backderf/my-friend-dahmer/

https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/may/31/my-friend-dahmer-review-jeffrey-dahmer-marc-myers-john-backderf

Graphic Novel Review: My Friend Dahmer by John “Derf” Backderf

Why I chose to read this book?

I chose to read My Friend Dahmer based off of its subject matter and the fact that it was a nonfiction graphic novel with a very peculiar drawing style. The hook of being able to read about this serial killers childhood on the graphic novel medium really struck me as interesting. For a book with such a dark figure as its main character and focus it was very well written and not gory or uneasy to read with content matter. Overall it was a very good book to read whether you are a fan of graphic novels or not.

Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher

A young biracial man who is a star athlete in a racist part of the United States, overcomes adversity and learns more about the world in the process. 

General Information:

·         Paperback: 304 pages

·         Price: $14.99

·         Publisher: Greenwillow Books; Reprint edition (June 30, 2009)

·         Language: English

·         ISBN-10: 9780061771316

·         ISBN-13: 978-0061771316

Plot:

Whale Talk is about the story of a young man named The Tao Jones, though he prefers T.J, and his story during the senior year of high school. T.J is interesting in the sense that he is a gifted individual both intellectually but also physically dominating in all sports he attempts though he never plays an organized sport for his high school. T.J lives in a small town in Idaho and everything revolves around the high school sports teams. Due to his lack of participation in addition to the fact that he is an adopted and his ethnicity is a mix of Asian – African – Caucasian. T.J learns how to handle both himself and his “enemies” as the story unfolds centering on the creation of the school’s first ever swim team. In the end he learns a lot about himself and how the world works but also makes a large impact on those around him.

Reading and Interest Level:

Whale Talk is marketed to grades 7-9 and for ages 12-14, however the story is oriented more for high school readers. Though the writing is not overly challenging however due to the age of the main character and the situations that he is going through I think high school teens is the correct target audience for this book.

Evaluation:

Whale Talk was, like many of Chris Crutcher’s books, very well written. First of this book touches upon so many different topics, including but not limited to adoption, racism, bullying, anger issues, domestic violence, and male vs. female violence to name a few topics. The book touches upon all of these topics in a realistic viewpoint and yet dives into them all deeply in some form or another through the eyes of T.J. Chris Crutcher Whale talk is effective by portraying these tough topics for teens through the lens of a teen. It is also extremely effective in the way that it is written in the sense that these characters are hyper-realistic and easily relatable. The problems these characters face may be difficult and not easy to talk about but they are real issues that many teens may face and many of them that do face these hardships have no one to talk to or feel isolated as if they are the only ones that these hardships can happen to.

Bibliotherapeutic Value:

The bibliotherapeutic usefulness of this book is incredible based upon the number of issues the book deals with all in one story. There is so much relatable material crammed into one story that almost anyone could find something to relate to in the book. There is material for those facing racial prejudice both through T.J’s eyes but also the little girl who tries to scrub the “black” off of her skin. It touches upon bullying with T.J getting jumped but also through Chris Coughlin who has a mental disability due to drugs given to him as a baby. There are family/domestic abuse performed by Rich and Mike Barbour, one on his own family and the other on his high school girlfriend. There are T.J’s rage issues and his reluctance to join in community events. All of these issues get confronted and dealt with by T.J and his family. There are even more than what I have listed and it is something that Teens can read about and realize that they are not the only ones facing these problems.

Issues Present:

Issues present within the book that may cause it to be challenged or banned are actually quite numerous. For starters the language in the book is very strong with a large number of swear words and racial language such as the N word. There are also racial issues with name calling; and straight up refusal of accepting children based off of their ethnicity, and even racial taunts towards the main character during the swim meets. Besides that the town in the book is a religious town in Idaho and the book references everything that the town lets slide for its athletes even though it is supposed to be a religious town. There is degradation of a mentally challenged student by both teachers and students, there are athletes that throw around racial slurs, and the star athlete literally tries to rape his girlfriend and the main character is told to keep quiet about it so that the star athlete’s reputation wouldn’t be tarnished. All of these things can be brought up in challenges towards the book.

Defending the Title:

Defenses of the issues that may be challenged are quite simple. This book is a realistic portrayal of a town that is facing these situations. Unfortunately that area of the United States is known for being racist towards non-Caucasians. When someone gets hit in the back of the head after being jumped they are not going to just say gosh darn, expletives are much more likely. All in all this book is realism and though that realism is ugly at times, the facts are that teens face this all the time all over the country and just because we don’t like it doesn’t mean that it isn’t how it occurs. When defending this book it these points should be brought up.

Book Talk Idea:

A great book talk that could revolve around the book Whale Talk would be to follow how T.J reacts to all of these events in his life with anger or defiance until the final act of his father at the end of the book. It is a story arc itself that shows how T.J is dealing with these anger issues until he finally learns that sometimes you have to forgive those who are at fault as some things can’t be changed.  This is shown throughout the book on pages 22, 53, 85, 103, 135

Genre:

The genre of the book is Teen Fiction or Realistic Fiction as it is a story about a young man dealing with racism, being adopted and growing up finding himself.

Similar Reads:

Author’s Website:

http://www.chriscrutcher.com/

Awards Won:

2002 – Washington State Book Award for outstanding books published by Washington authors

Professional Reviews:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49746.Whale_Talk

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/chris-crutcher/whale-talk/

https://www.publishersweekly.com/0-440-22938-3

Why did I choose this book?

After reading Loser’s Bracket I was looking at more Chris Crutcher books. This one stood out to me because of the idea of this start athlete living in a small town where everything revolves around sports, yet he does not play any organized sports until his senior year and he picks swimming. The school never even had a swim team before. It was also appealing because the main character was adopted so it was something to relate to right off of the bat.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

A gang of greasers and soc who never get along go to far in their antics causing someone to die. In the process Ponyboy learns a lot about himself and the world around him. 

.General Information:

  • Age Range: 12 and up
  • Price: 7.99 Paperback
  • Grade Level: 7 – 9
  • Lexile Measure: 750L (What’s this?)
  • Paperback: 142 pages
  • ISBN-10: 014240733X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0142407332

Plot:

The Outsiders is a story told through the eyes and perspective of a young Teenage boy named Ponyboy that is a coming of age story while living as an outcast in society’s eyes. Viewed as an outcast also known as a greaser in the context of the novel Ponyboy learns of societal prejudice and daily threats/violence with the Socs. When the violence is taken too far, Ponyboy learns a lot about society and growing up facing many problems that range from drug/alcohol use, using violence to solve problems, and social tensions/cliques.

Reading/Interest level of the book:

Content of this book is marketed towards those that are 12 and older. I think that the way it was written and the content of the book itself is right along those age lines as well. The “bad” language used in the book isn’t heavily used and the violence through realistically told is not written in a way that the older middle schoolers and young high schoolers would be turned away from it. The writing style used within the book is relatively straightforward and easy to read at a younger age reinforcing the fact that anyone 12 and up should be able to pick the book up, understand it, and enjoy the book/lessons learned from the book. These lessons and life issues should tend to make most kids ages 12 and up interested in the book as they are problems that show up in high school and middle school (though maybe not always as extreme as the ones in the story).

Evaluation:

This book is very well written even though it is not necessarily a tough or elaborately written novel. The author tells this story in a way that you can relate to the characters and the problems and no one in the book is a good guy nor a bad guy. It is hyper realistic in the sense that it describes problems of the world that a young person will likely face such as social cliques, being branded a label whether that label is viewed positively or negatively by society. It talks about drugs and alcohol without it taking center attention of the story. Overall the story itself is valuable in the way it was written and how easily approachable the characters are to the young readers. There is a reason this book is considered a classic and part of that reason is as this book ages some of the imagery may no longer be relevant but the messages and tropes within the book continue to do so.

Bibliotherapeutic value:

This book as mentioned previously in this review does a great job in describing social constructs through school and teens but also within society itself. The main source of the conflict is described between the Greasers and the Socs’, however as one reads deeper into the story you can understand how the lines aren’t really that distinct between the two groups. This book helps teens who may be going through that phase of being in the outcast group or facing social exclusion from various social cliques and how to continue being themselves in the face of all of the societal pressure.

Issues Present:

The Outsiders is commonly challenged for Juvenile violence, gang violence, and drug/alcohol use by minors. All of these topics are present in the book however even more controversial may be the topics of family abuse, societal neglect for those of a lower income, and bullying that escalates into major incidents of violence.

Defending the Title:

Everything in The Outsiders, even though it was written a long time ago, is relevant in some shape or form to today’s teens. Social constructs/cliques, and economic disparity is still very relevant in today’s society and just because you are labelled as something as a teen does not mean that is all you can be. These are critical life lessons that need to be learned and taken on as a teen which is all the reason to have this book and endorse it more. Nothing in the book is overly graphic in detail or unnecessarily violent in order to push the story. The real life situations however are completely relevant and something that teens should be allowed to read about.

Book Talk Ideas:

The descriptions of characters and how they develop would be an interesting book talk idea as the beginning of the book they greasers and Socs’ are described and each character is labelled as such as if that is what they were. Throughout the book we learn more about the characters and they no longer are just Greasers or Socs’ and we learn that there are many similarities and labels don’t limit who you are. These ideas are shown on many pages though good examples are: Pages 9, 10, 19, 28, 29, 66, 67, 101, 108 etc.

Genre/Subject:

The Outsiders genre is fiction though a more specific filing system would list it under realistic fiction. It is a story of self-identification, social constructs, economic disparity.

Similar Reads:

Authors Website:

http://www.sehinton.com/

Awards Won/Accolades:

New York Herald Tribune Best Teenage Books List, 1967

Chicago Tribune Book World Spring Book Festival Honor Book, 1967

Media and Methods Maxi Award, 1975

ALA Best Young Adult Books, 1975                                                                                

Margaret Edwards Award

Massachusetts Children’s Book Award, 1979

Professional Reviews:

https://www.hbook.com/1967/08/choosing-books/reviews/review-of-the-outsiders/

Why I chose to read it:

The Outsiders is a book that I read way back in middle school and have always remembered and references to it have always popped up throughout my life. After setting up my libraries banned book week display in the Teen Center that was one of the titles that was used in the display. Seeing the book in the “banned” book section made me want to read it again to truly remember what it was about.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

A young lady entering high school is raped at a summer party. Unable to tell anyone she shuts down until finally she can speak out about what occurred.

General Information:

  • Age Range: 12 – 18 years
  • Price: $10.99
  • Grade Level: 7 – 9
  • Lexile Measure: 690L
  • Paperback: 224 pages
  • Publisher: Square Fish; Reprint edition (May 10, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 9780312674397
  • ISBN-13: 978-0312674397
  • ASIN: 0312674392

Plot:

This book follows the story of Melissa and her traumatic experience with sexual assault as an incoming freshman in high school. The story speaks about her at a party and it is at this party that a boy named Andy assaults her. She calls 911 but in her panic flees from the party and says nothing to anyone. When she goes to high school everyone thinks she busted the party and she was so traumatized from the assault that she was unable to communicate to anyone what had occurred to her. The book however starts with her at high school and goes through her classes and then her eventual trouble in those classes. Eventually she sunk into a deep depression with her grades suffering and her own form of communication is through the trees she was drawing in art class. In the end Andy was revealed and he went to attack her again but this time she was defended by her fellow students. The book ends with the art teacher giving her an A+ and with her finally opening up and telling her teacher the full story as the school now backs her and treats her as a hero instead of a villain.

Reading and Interest Level:

This book is marketed for grades 7-9 and ages 12-14 years old. I think the interest level is actually much broader than that especially with the concepts included in the book I think anyone from 7th -12th grade would be interested in this book.

Evaluation:

I would evaluate this book as a very well written book and a compelling read. The style of writing which may seem discombobulated and disorganized at first as it bounces around a fair amount within the context of the plot line may turn some readers off but it helps connect us through the chaotic nature of Melissa’s thoughts. This was a very traumatic experience for her and she at first can not mentally cope with it and then you add the added pressure of failing grades and being ostracized by everyone in her school. It tells her story in a compelling way that really gives insight to the trauma and the problems that victims of sexual assault face. Overall it was effective in giving out its message and providing an outlet for young teens to read about this experience.

Bibliotherapeutic Value:

The bibliotherapeutic value of this book is one of the reasons for its success and the reason why it is continually referred to for teens. The #MeToo movement and the idea of women coming out and speaking against sexual assaults and rape that occurred to them is well known in the recent news. It is extremely difficult for people to discuss these themes especially due to its traumatic nature. This book is a way for girls to read and realize they are not alone in this and that though it is traumatic and a huge issue they will work through it and when they do speak about it they will not be hated for telling the truth. This is one of the most useful therapeutic books out there for teens.

Issues Present:

Issues present in the book are very obviously laid out for the reader. There is the issue of sexual assault which is the biggest issue. It also has severe bullying, and references to underage drinking in the beginning of the book. There is also the issue of severe language throughout the book. All of these issues are things that have been challenged in this book as some parents do not want their teens reading about such topics.

Defending the Title:

Defending this book is rather simple in the sense that there are lots of cases to choose from to help you defend this book. Sexual Assault and the trauma that comes with it will inevitably lead to strong language. This is a tough topic but it is one that needs to have a voice especially for all the young teens that are out there just like Melissa, too scared to speak out about the sexual crimes committed against them.

Book Talk Ideas:

The book talk idea that I would like to bring up for discussion would be to follow how her trees evolve throughout the book until she actually comes out with her story. The pages to really focus on would be: 103, 118, 147, 152, 153, 196, 197, etc.

Genre:

The Genre of this book is Teen Fiction: More specifically a story of sexual assault and how a young girl handles it.

Similar Reads:

Authors Website:

http://madwomanintheforest.com/

Awards:

School Library Best Books of the Year

Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon Award

California Young Reader Medal

BCCB Blue Ribbon Award, Books for the Teen Age

New York Public Library

Golden Kite Award Winner

National Book Awards Finalist

NYPL Books for the Teen Age

Booklist Editors’ Choice

American Library Association Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adults

ALA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adults

School Library Journal Best Books of the Year

American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults

Golden Kite Award for Fiction

PA Carolyn W. Field Award

Michael L. Printz Award – Honor

American Library Association Quick Picks for Young Adults

Kentucky Blue Grass Award

ALA Best Books for Young Adults

Edgar Allan Poe Award Nominee

Horn Book Magazine Fanfare List

Professional Reviews:

https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-374-37152-4

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/laurie-halse-anderson/speak-anderson/

http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/275-Speak

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/439288.Speak

Why I chose to read this book?

The hook for me in this book was the fact that I have never read a book that was explicitly about a sexual assault. I have read books that contained sexual assault such as A Girl with a Dragon Tattoo as an example. This book was eye opening in the difficulties that woman can face in when it comes to sexual assault. It was appalling to see that she could not talk about it do to the trauma and then when she opened up about it finally to someone who was supposed to be her friend the first thing that came out of her friend’s mouth was You are a liar. It is an eye opening book that really does a great job showing us these difficulties and on top of that it was a very good read.

that’s NOT what happened by Kody Keplinger

A martyr’s best friend who survived the school shooting tries to tell the truth of what happened that day in the bathroom. 

General Information:

  • Age Range: 12 and up
  • Price: $12.39
  • Grade Level: 7 – 9
  • Lexile Measure: 720
  • Hardcover: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Scholastic Press (August 28, 2018)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1338186523
  • ISBN-13: 978-1338186529

Plot:

This book is about the aftermath of a school shooting. There were 6 survivors that the gunmen had contact with and five of them stay in touch every year. One of the survivors was named Lee and she was in the bathroom stall hiding with her best friend Sarah who was killed by the gunman. Sarah became a martyr through what ended up being an untrue story. Everyone thought she died defending her faith to the gunmen but in reality that is not what happened. This story explains the process of healing and understanding of what happened in this traumatic event three years before. This story of healing and understanding leads to the truth and various underlying issues with some of the survivors being discovered and worked through. Ultimately it ends with Kellie Graynor the girl who actually had the cross necklace everyone thought was Sarah’s and the girl who got ran out of town by trying to tell the true story.

Reading and Interest Level:

The book is marketed for grades 7-9 and ages 12-14. This is the correct rating for the interest level as well, especially after comparing it to other school shooting books. It is not nearly as dark or graphic but it still explains the process of healing that takes place after such a traumatic event.

Evaluation:

This book was well written, especially for being about a tough topic, while being oriented for a younger audience that other school shootings books. It terrific in the sense that the author does not make it about the shooter at all but rather the victims and the aftermath they have to deal with. It is about coming to terms with what happened and being able to speak out and tell the truth whether people want to believe you or not. It is a valuable lesson in staying true to yourself and understanding that healing is process and support is one of the key pillars of recovery.

Bibliotherapeutic Value:

The bibliotherapeutic value in this book is extremely high as the amount of school shootings has been a mainstay in our news for the past decade. It seems as if there are is a new school shooting every other week on the news and it predominantly is in high schools across America. Unlike the other school shooting books on this list this one is oriented for a younger crowd and is 100 percent on the healing process after the traumatic event of a shooting. The story takes place three years after the fact and it highlights many important issues such as keeping things bottled up and turning to alcohol, to letting lies get out of hand to the point that a young girls life gets destroyed. It talks about how important it is to truly recover and how even though the truth my not be accepted by everyone, if the victims don’t find the truth there lives may end up unraveling later on.

Issues Present:

The issues present in this book are not actually about the shooting. The real issues are about bullying, alcoholism in minors, and a negative view of christianity as the most commonly challenged themes. The society itself turns on Lee just like they turned on Kellie when the truth was trying to be revealed. As for alcoholism is in reference to Eden who is a college freshman now and is turning to alcohol as a way of coping with the traumatic events. The issue about the negative view of christianity is in reference to how the community turns on Lee. The community is a christian community in a small town and they outcast and bully Lee in response to her trying to tell the truth. They were more concerned with pushing their agenda than helping out this young lady. Obviously this is not very Christian like which caused some outcry.

Defending the Title:

The way to defense the issues that I have presented are to explain the importance of how important it is to present some of these views to teens. The idea of turning to alcohol as a coping mechanism as a young teen is a very real reality. This book helps them realize that it does not help with anything and only drives you deeper into despair. The issues of bullying are also very real and a part of teens daily lives. The most difficult issue to defend would be the idea of a negative view of Christianity which is generally brought up by Christians. The book does not say all of Christianity is bad but when a lie gets out of hand certain groups such as religious groups may try to use it to further their agendas rather than get the truth out there.

Book Talk Idea:

The book talk idea that I would like to present would be to follow the letters that Lee has everyone write and try to understand them based off of the problems those characters are facing within the book. These letters give great insight and end up being part of the final healing process for these children. Pages: 47-55, 118-129, 181-189, 274-276, 285-296, 308-325

Genre:

The Genre of this book is Teen Fiction: The story of healing after the traumatic events of a shooting three years earlier.

Similar Reads:

Authors Website:

http://www.kodykeplinger.com/

Awards:

N/A

Professional Reviews:

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/kody-keplinger/thats-not-what-happened/

https://www.newyorker.com/books

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37825410-that-s-not-what-happened

Why I chose this book?

I chose this book amongst the other school shootings books because of the hook that they specifically never mention the shooters name. Not once is the shooter given attention where the other school shooting books clearly indicate who the shooter was and some background information about them. This book was one hundred percent about the victims and how they found the truth and used it to recover. It was a really good read and is definitely an important book to think about including in a collection.

this is where it ends by Marieke Nijkamp


The perspectives of the various students involved in the school shooting at the end of the morning assembly. 

General Information:

  • Hardcover: 288 pages
  • Price: $11.33
  • Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire; 1 edition (January 5, 2016)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 9781492622468
  • ISBN-13: 978-1492622468
  • ASIN: 149262246X

Plot:

This is where it ends is a book told from multiple perspectives of the students who went through the 50 minutes of a school shooting. It starts from the beginning when the principal finishes the speech and everyone who is in the auditorium for the assembly tries to leave and finds themselves locked into the room. Then Ty pulls out his gun and raises it saying he has a question before shooting the principal and commencing a school shooting. This book ties together all of these various perspectives and show how interconnected everyone was and the way things get put into perspective in those moments of terror. These were classmates, friends, and siblings of the shooter and it occurred in one of those towns where nothing ever happens. The book helps explain the emotions of the various characters and what they were witnessing in those moments.

Reading and Interest Level:

This book is marketed for grades 10-12 and for ages 15 and up. This is the correct interest level as well as the book is about dark material of school shootings and the complex emotions that occur within those incidents and the victims are in those grades making it the characters relatable.

Evaluation:

This book was very well written and effective in its portrayal of a school shooting incident and how the people involved reacted and were connected to one another within the incident. Many other school shootings books that I have read are very well written as well however they tend to explain the aftermath and the recovery while this book dives in and explains what is happening in the moment. The emotional confusion and reactions are laid out to bare and if you are a teen that has been fortunate enough to experience this situation it is something that can show you that you weren’t alone in feeling. It is an emotional book that delves deep into the psyche of the victims and how they deal with the moment at hand. Overall it is very well written and definitely recommended.

Bibliotherapeutic Value:

The bibliotherapeutic value in this book is extremely high as the amount of school shootings has been a mainstay in our news for the past decade. It seems as if there are is a new school shooting every other week on the news and it predominantly is in high schools across America. The concept of being a part of a school shooting is something that used to never be a possibility and now the confusion of possibly being a part of one leads to fear and confusion. How can someone get through a school shooting, what is going on at that moment? Why didn’t anyone just tackle the shooter and take the gun away? This book touches on the psyche of the victims and helps give some semblance of what is going through the victims minds at the time of the shooting.

Issues Present:

Issues presented in the book are the school shooting and the extreme violence that comes with the school shootings. The issues are rather straightforward as it is the subject matter of the novel. Some other issues that may be challenged or added on to the challenge would be the language used in the book as well but it is mostly about the violence.

Defending the Title:

To defend the issues presented as a librarian would be to explain the importance of this novel. Unfortunately our reality is that school shootings are a real and viable issue in our world at this time. It is a strongly confusing issue and something that is difficult to explain or comprehend. This book takes a inside glimpse of the minds of victims during this horrific event. That is why this book is necessary to have in the library. None of the violence though graphic in nature is graphically depicted with unnecessary details. In all for a book on such a grim subject matter it keeps it clean.

Book Talk Idea:

Some book talk ideas for this novel would be to follow Ty’s sibling and how she is handling watching her  brother go through this act an the thought process she is going through while witnessing all of this. Some of the page numbers that can be referenced are: 57-60, 71-73, 86-88, 101-104, 146-147, 213-216, 236-238

Genre:

The genre of this book is Teen Fiction about a school shooting and the survival of some of the characters.

Similar Reads:

Authors Website:

http://www.mariekenijkamp.com/musings/

Awards and Lists:

☙ THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is a #1 New York Times Bestseller.

☙ THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is a National Indie Bestseller.

☙ THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is a Publishers Weekly Bestseller.

☙ THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is a 2017 Barnes & Noble Bestseller.

☙ THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is a Publishers Lunch Buzz Book (Fall/Winter 2015 edition).

☙ THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is a Winter 2015–2016 Kids’ Indie Next Great Reads pick.

☙ THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is a 2017 Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers.

☙ THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is a 2017 Teens’ Top Ten pick.

☙ THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is a 2017 Teen Choice Book Awards finalist.

☙ THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is a 2017 Colorado Blue Spruce Award nominee.

☙ THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is a 2018 Buckeye Teen Book Award nominee.

☙  THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is a 2017 ILA/CBC Young Adults’ Choice.

☙  THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is a 2017 Hebban Award for Best YA winner (Netherlands).

☙  THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is a 2018 Cultura Talents YA laureate (France).

☙ THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is a Goodreads Choice Awards finalist (best YA fiction).

☙ THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is a Cybil Awards finalist (best YA fiction).

☙ THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is an Epic Reads Book Shimmy Award winner (category: Here and Now).

☙ THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is a Barnes and Noble Teen Top Pick (January 2016).

☙ THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is a Goodreads Best Book of the Month (January 2016).

☙ THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is a Hudson Booksellers Best Book of 2016.

☙ THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is a BuzzFeed Best YA of 2016.

☙ THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is a Paste Magazine Best YA of 2016.

☙ THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is a RTÉ Best YA of 2016.

☙ THIS IS WHERE IT ENDS is a 2016 ABC Best Books for Young Readers.

Professional Reviews:

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/marieke-nijkamp/this-is-where-it-ends/

https://www.publishersweekly.com/9781492622468

http://www.booklistonline.com/This-Is-Where-It-Ends-Marieke-Nijkamp/pid=7726229

https://www.slj.com/?detailStory=teens-review-marieke-nijkamps-debut-eve-buntings-latest-and-more

Why I chose to read this book?

I chose to read this book due to the interesting nature of the author writing about a school shooting specifically the events during the shooting more so than the aftermath. The mental anguish and confusion that gets highlighted by the author is an interesting glimpse into this horrific situation but also is very enlightening on the thought processes that can occur during such an event. Overall it was a terrific book and it one I would suggest to others to read.

Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card

A young genius on earth is used to crush an alien species that had invaded over 70 years prior. 

General Information:

  • Series: The Ender Quintet (Book 1)
  • Price: $9.83
  • Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Tor Science Fiction (July 15, 1994)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0812550706
  • ISBN-13: 978-0812550702

Plot:

Ender’s Game is a story of Earth and her colonies 70 years after nearly being wiped out by an alien species. The earth is overpopulated at this point in time so there is a universal 2 child rule with very few exceptions. One of those exceptions is Ender Wiggins who is a Third and is allowed to exist due to his and his siblings very high IQ scores. The global government in charge of the defense of earth from a possible second invasion from the alien species is taking the brightest minds up to the international space battle station for training to see who will lead Earth’s forces one day. Though Ender is a genius he has a hard time and conflict seems to follow him as he kills two children (one in kindergarten and one on the battle station) though both in self defense. He is also relentlessly pushed to his limits both physically and mentally at the battle station. In the end he is used without his knowledge to lead Earth’s forces in what ends up being a genocide against the alien species.

Reading and Interest Level:

Marketing has Ender’s game at a 9th grade reading level but it will interest any teen in high school 9-12th grade.

Evaluation:

Ender’s game is a high energy science fiction story that has very deep issues and thought provoking scenes for the reader to think about. It is a very well written book that keeps the reader engaged. There are a lot of twists and turns and everyone is grey even Ender. The author does a wonderful job of you wanting Ender to win but also questioning whether he is the right person to lead earth. The ending specifically is wonderful when you think that Ender was just tricked into committing mass genocide against these perceived enemies of earth only to finally succeed in the one simulation game that always gave him trouble which leads to him discovering a larva that will hopefully recolonize the alien species. It is a very effective book in spreading life lessons in an entertaining way.

Bibliotherapeutic Value:

The bibliotherapeutic value in this book really varies as there are many topics that can be covered using Ender’s Game. The first couple that I would like to talk about on a level that is more relatable immediately by teens would be the idea of being ostracized for being intelligent. When you are intelligent and people recognize you as a threat or a rival they will do their best to push your limits. Though Ender’s Game takes that to the extremes, the way Ender works his way through these problems is a something that teens can relate to and learn that hey it is okay that they excel and that they can overcome the obstacles that are being placed in front of them by others to hinder them. The other issue that this can offer therapeutic value is in the sense of the lessons of hated in Ender’s Game. Earth is overcome by its hatred and fear of the alien species that there was no chance of surrender or talking to them to try and understand what provoked the attack 70 years before. Instead they let that blind hatred lead them down the road of using a little boy in what ends up being a near genocide campaign without his knowledge that it was happening.

Issues Present:

The issues present in Ender’s Game leading to it being challenged include child on child violence (killing), two child rule, and the presentation of genocide as an answer to a foreign populace. Also oddly enough I saw a challenge on this book describing it as pornographic in nature which I still do not understand but as it was a legitimate challenge on the book I will mention it.

Defending the Title:

The defenses for this title and the challenges laid out above are relatively simple besides the pornoggraphic claim as I still do not understand where that is stemming from. The presentation of suicide as an answer is an overlying example of when fear leads to unbridled hatred and humans forget that the ones that are being ostracized have families and lives as well. The idea of genocide is something that occurs regularly throughout human history and it is an abominable crime which is some of the crux that the end of the book is getting at. As for the child on child violence, all of the killing was done in pure self defense with no malicious intent and the rest of it shows an example of how to rise and overcome the pressures of bullying. 

Book Talk Idea:

The idea for a book talk that I would like to talk about in this book would be to follow Ender’s siblings story along with his and take a look at how each of them handle different areas of difficulty and their roles in how the story end. They have an important part in Ender’s life and yet they proved incapable of being successful in Ender’s shoes as they had already been tested out by the military. Some of the pages that really highlight this are: 2, 3, 14, 15, 122, 123,130, 131, 150, 151, 232, 233, 310, 312

Genre:

The Genre of this book is Teen Fiction: Science Fiction with the theme of a futuristic society using a genius child to destroy an Alien species that almost wiped out earth 70 years earlier.

Similar Reads:

Author’s Website:

http://www.hatrack.com/

Awards:

1986 – Nebula Award for Best Novel

1986 – Hugo Award For Best Novel

1986 – Science Fiction Chronicle Reader Award

Professional Reviews:

http://sfreviews.net/card_enders_game.html

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/enders-game

https://www.pluggedin.com/book-reviews/enders-game/

Why I chose to read this book?

Ender’s Game as a science fiction book about a war between humans and an alien species that had nearly wiped them out seemed like an interesting book. However the hook of the book is the fact that it was about so much more than that. Ender’s Game is thought provoking on many levels from whether or not the two child rule is good or bad for the earth? To how far can a child be pushed before they are pushed to far? Also the idea of is all encompassing hatred/fear the root of genocide and war? It is really a well written book and the premise got me started but the depth is what made me really enjoy this book!

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

A firefighter has a realization that the books hes burning are important part of keeping humanity intact in this dystopian society.

General Information:

  • Paperback: 249 pages
  • Price: $8.99
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster; Reissue edition (January 10, 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 9781451673319
  • ISBN-13: 978-1451673319
  • ASIN: 1451673310

Plot:

The plot summary of the Fahrenheit 451 revolves around a futuristic dystopian society and the life of a firefighter named Guy Montag. In this world firefighters burn books instead of putting our fires as society has banned the reading of all books. At some point Guy’s chief explains to him that at first books were the subject to criticism form minority groups and then authors stopped writing anything good to try and appease everyone, so the government decided to just ban everything and make it illegal not only to own a book but to read them as well. The triggering points in Guy’s life is after a young girl he met dies from a speeding accident and after watching an older lady burn herself with her books rather than give them up. Guy realizes that the government was actually afraid of the ideas that books could spread and eventually Guy escapes and joins others who record books. In the end he ironically burns a book still after memorizing it to keep it preserved.

Reading and Interest Level:

The marketed reading level for this book was for grades 9-10 and  would agree that the interests level would be around those grade though older teens may be able to better appreciate some of the messages within the story.

Evaluation:

Fahrenheit 451 is still read in high schools to this day due to how well written and effective the story is. The plot in this book is timeless as the lessons transcend generations which is why it is continually referred to. I personally find it an enthralling read and it gives terrific lessons in how to handle censorship and the importance of defending free speech and what can happen when those things get taken away from you.

Bibliotherapeutic Value:

The bibliotherapeutic value of this book for teens revolves around the concept of censorship. Being able to express themselves and the importance of having access for information is taken for granted at times especially in our country. Not being heard or listened to as a teenager is a much more common concept and this book is a good way for them to work out the importance of such a topic that as I said previously is taken for granted a lot of the time.

Issues Present:

The issues present in this book revolve with anti-government resentment, censorship and depicting teenagers with drugs, alcohol and speeding cars. The main reasons that this book has been challenged and even banned in some areas of the United States has revolved around the burning of books which includes all religious texts such as the bible or the Quran. This had certain religious groups in outrage. Some leaders have also put out the dislike of the strong anti-central government messages that the book seems to promote.

Defending the Title:

The ways librarians can counter these controversies within Fahrenheit 451 to help defend having the book within their collections would be to talk about the importance of the topic of censorship. By pulling the books you are essentially acting as the firemen in Fahrenheit 451 by not allowing teens to have access to this book. Nothing in the book is overly graphic and all of the “anti”-government sentiment revolves mostly around the idea of censorship.

Book Talk Ideas:

Some ideas for a book talk for Fahrenheit 451 would be following the path that causes the change of mindset for Guy Montag. To go from a firefighter to someone who now saves books is the most extreme change that could happen in this universe that Ray Bradbury created. Some of the pages that reference these changes are: page 35, 49, 59, 70, 85, 89, 104, 137, etc.

Genre:

The genre of this book is Teen Fiction: Science Fiction – dystopian society about censorship by book burning.

Similar Reads:

Author’s Website:

http://www.raybradbury.com/

Awards:

2004 – Ballantine

Professional Reviews:

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/fahrenheit-451

https://www.theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2008/jan/15/burningstillfahrenheit451

Why I chose to read this book?

Fahrenheit 451 is a classic read that gets read by many students in early high school and with the hot topic issues in the news the idea of censorship is very real and a strong concern as the world is becoming a more volatile place. This book is the best book besides (Library Wars Manga) at discussing the topic of censorship. The hook of the book is definitely the main character had the journey he makes once he finally has cracked open one of those forbidden books.

Divergent by Veronica Roth

A young lady finds that she is one of the select few that have a divergent mind in this futuristic society which puts her life at risk.

General Information:

  • Series: Divergent (Book 1)
  • Price: $11.39
  • Paperback: 487 pages
  • Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0062024035
  • ISBN-13: 978-0062024039

Plot:

Divergent is a book that takes place in the city of Chicago in the dystopian future. The world is divided into five factions. Each faction has a lot of conformity within them as people are tested to see what faction they belong to based off of aptitude tests taken once the teens hit 16 years old. This story follows a young girls named Beatrice Prior who goes by the name Tris when with the Dauntless clan after changing clans from Abnegation at her ceremony. What is special about her is she is actually showing aptitude for multiple factions meaning she is a divergent. She is told to hide that because the society views divergents as threats as they want conformity from everyone for each specific faction. As Tris tries to find herself in the Dauntless clan the is drugged and controlled and used as soldiers to invade the other factions to take power within the world however as a divergent the serum does not work on Tris. That is the foundation of the first book of the series.

Reading and Interest Level:

The book is marketed for grades 10-12 and ages 15 and up. Based off of reading the book and the themes within the book I believe that the marketing for the book makes perfect sense .

Evaluation:

The first book of this series was written exceptionally well. It hits one many different teen aspects, such as having a love interest, finding oneself, following your heart versus your family, total government control, and conformity. Each of these themes is touched upon within the book in an intelligent matter through the views of Tris (Beatrice Prior) and in a way that is easily relatable to the teen audience. Its effective in the sense that it uses these messages to move the plot and keep the book interesting without becoming heavy or to slow for what essentially is an action-adventure science fiction tale. That is why this book is effective especially with its target audience of older teens.

Bibliotherapeutic Value:

The bibliotherapeutic usefulness of this book is very high which is likely why it is so popular with the older teens. On an individual level teens can relate to multiple problems faced and worked through by Tris. For example the finding oneself when you don’t seem to fit in anywhere is a theme faced by Tris as she is a rare divergent in her world. Or following your families footsteps versus carving your own path which is faced by both Tris but even more shockingly her brother who everyone expected to stay with the family. Then finally how important individuality is even if it is threatened as conformity can lead to very serious societal issues which get exposed in this book. All of these issues can be felt and experienced on a regular basis.

Issues Present:

The issues present in this book include anti-government sentiment, child violence, and ostracizing the other as potential concerns that may be brought up in a challenge to this title. There are mutterings of dissent throughout the book starting with the doctor who tells Tris to keep her divergent nature hidden from the government through to the end where a rebellion starts by the divergents. The child violence was almost a softer version of spartan society in the dauntless faction which is a concern for some parents. One child from the dauntless ended up committing suicide during this training section.

Defending the Title:

How to defend this book from these challenges is to explain the importance of these topics and the fact that the book presents them in a clean and easy to relate way. The child violence in the dauntless training for example is for the most part safe beyond superficial injuries. The anti-government sentiment is a large part of our world today so it is a relatable subject. This book isn’t telling teens to become anarchists but rather to understand the dangers of totalitarian government and the conformity/exclusion of what the government views as the other or thoughts they view as radical.

Book Talk Ideas:

Some book talk ideas for this title would be the topic of Tris self discovery throughout the novel. It starts in the beginning while worrying about the aptitude test and it only grows as she joins dauntless. Some of the pages that could be referenced  to in the book on this topic are: 6-7, 20-23, 40-43, 130-132, 177-179, 256-258, 378-384 etc.

Genre:

The genre and subject matter of Divergent is Teen Fiction, specifically science fiction and action adventure.

Similar reads:

Authors Website:

http://www.carvethemarkbooks.com/

Awards:

The Amelia Bloomer Award

2011 Goodreads Best Young Adult Book

2011 Goodreads Choice Awards Favorite Book

Yalsa Teens Top Ten

Professional Reviews:

https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2014/jul/15/review-veronica-roth-divergent

Why I chose to read this book?

The hook of this book that really drew me into it was the strong division of society into factions. I thought that it was reminiscent of what our political parties look like and I could see how a teen would really relate to it because not only do they see it in the government and politics but also within there daily lives with social cliques. Also from the viewpoint of Tris trying to find herself in a moment of transition in her life was intriguing as she has to decide what the rest of her life will be like at a young age. Overall the book was terrific to read and a top choice to have in a library.