Holding Up the Universe - Jennifer Niven

Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven

Bibliography: 

Niven, J. (2018). Holding up the universe. Ember. 

Plot Summary: 

A boy with face blindness and a girl who struggles with weight fall in love.

Critical Analysis:

The story is about finding courage when you feel you don't have any, and not letting anyone sway you from what you want. It's also a book about finding hope after loss and difficult times, and how to hang on to that hope in the face of adversity. But more than that, this is a book about letting people see who you really are, and admitting when you need help.

There were things I really loved about this book and things that bothered me. I liked some of the characters very much, and loved how Niven revealed their complexities little by little. This certainly was a unique story in many ways, but it didn't feel gimmicky in any way, and there was so much emotion and heart in this story, but it never felt emotionally manipulative.

What bothered me is just how cruel Libby's classmates were (even if I know this fact better than I'd like to admit, even all these years later), how unending that cruelty was, and how she really wasn't willing to tell anyone what was going on. There were a lot of things which remained unsaid in this book, and I found that frustrating. I also admit that I wondered whether someone like Jack would actually find himself falling for a girl who still weighed 350 pounds, and that distracted me a little bit.

Review Excerpt: 

Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)

[Niven] creates two indelible characters and a heart-stopping romance.

School Library Journal (starred review)

Written in short chapters of alternating perspectives, this is a thoughtful exploration of identity and self-acceptance, with commentary on overcoming adversities that will hit close to home.

Connections:

Internal Struggle - Mental Health - Overcoming Adversity - Relationship Skills

Interview with Jennifer Niven

Discussion Guide for Holding Up the Universe

Looking for Alaska - John Green

Looking for Alaska by John Green

Bibliography: 

Green, J. (2023). Looking for Alaska. Dutton Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. 

Plot Summary: 

Sixteen-year-old Miles' first year at Culver Creek Preparatory School in Alabama includes good friends and great pranks, but is defined by the search for answers about life and death after a fatal car crash.

Critical Analysis:

I love John Green. For me he is one of a very few male YA authors whose writing I really enjoy. His nerd-boy perspective on the world is fresh and interesting. For a change, it's nice to read how boys perceive girls instead of being stuck in boy-obsessed girls' minds portrayed in numerous female-POV YA books so popular these days.

"Looking For Alaska" is the second John Green's novel that I've read. This book is a Printz Award Winner, and rightfully so. The story is funny and sad, profound and silly. It explores the lives of several teenagers at a boarding school which include all usual attributes: pranks, hook-ups, and illicit activities involving alcohol and cigarettes. But the story goes beyond that as a tragic occurrence shakes the world of these teenagers and they are faced with issues of loss, suffering, and meaning of life. 

What I like about Green is that he is never condescending in his writing, or overly simplistic, like many YA writers are. He skillfully tackles important questions of love, sex, death, religion and philosophy, all within the limits of an YA novel. 

Review Excerpt: 

Kirkus Review

What sings and soars in this gorgeously told tale is Green’s mastery of language and the sweet, rough edges of Pudge’s voice.

School Library Journal

Alive with sweet, self-deprecating humor.

Connections:

Internal Struggle - Identity - Overcoming Adversity - Relationship Skills

John Green Unit - Popular John Green Books 

Educator Guide - John Green - Discussion Questions for each book

Dear Martin - Nic Stone

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Bibliography: 

Stone, N. (2017). Dear martin. Crown. 

Plot Summary: 

Writing letters to the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., seventeen-year-old college-bound Justyce McAllister struggles to face the reality of race relations today and how they are shaping him.

Critical Analysis:

Justyce McAllister is at the top of his class and his future is bright but none of that matters to the police who see him as a threat and a criminal because of his race. Helping a drunk friend is cause for arrest and playing loud music is enough to get you killed if you're black. 

Dear Martin is a very relevant look at race and policing in America. Justyce turns to writing letters to Dr. Martin Luther King as a way of expressing his feelings. 

Dear Martin is small but it packs a big punch(I saw that line in several reviews and I'm stealing it because its true). Dear Martin is unforgettable and gut-wrenching. Its clear-eyed and authentic. A definite must read.

Review Excerpt: 

Booklist (starred review)

Teens, librarians and teachers alike will find this book a godsend...Vivid and powerful

Publisher’s Weekly

A visceral portrait of a young man reckoning with the ugly, persistent violence of social injustice.

Connections:

Racial Discrimination - Bullying - Overcoming Adversity

Black Lives Matter

Bryan Stevenson TedTalk - “ We need to talk about an injustice”

Living Beyond Borders - Margarita Longoria

Living Beyond Borders Edited by Margarita Longoria

Bibliography: 

Longoria, M. (2022). Living beyond borders: Growing up Mexican in America. Viking, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC. 

Plot Summary: 

An anthology of short stories, essays, poetry, and comics about the Mexican American experience.

Critical Analysis:

Living Beyond Borders is a beautiful collection of short stories, poems, and works that describe a broad range of experiences of what it’s like to grow up Mexican or Mexican-American in a country that views that experience as a monolith. Each story is unique, just like the voice that tells it, and highlights a wide array of lives and lifestyles and the way in which culture, racism, and class play a role in day-to-day lives. I tended to love the short stories in this compilation most of all, especially one toward the end called “La Princess Mileidy Dominguez” by Rubén Degollado. It’s the perfect balance of heartfelt and heartache, with such a beautiful softness. 

I really enjoyed this collection and can’t wait to dive in to each of these authors’ individual works.

Review Excerpt: 

SLC (starred review)

This superb anthology of short stories, comics, and poems is fresh, funny, and full of authentic YA voices revealing what it means to be Mexican American . . . Not to be missed.

Booklist (starred review)

Superlative . . . A memorable collection.

SLJ (starred review)

Voices reach out from the pages of this anthology . . . It will make a lasting impression on all readers.

Connections:

Immigrants and Refugees

Essays, Anthology and Story Collection Unit

Hispanic Heritage Month - September 15 - October 15

Butterfly Yellow - Thanhha Lai

Butterfly Yellow by Thanhha Lai

Bibliography: 

Lai, T. (2020). Butterfly Yellow. Harper. 

Plot Summary: 

In the final days of the Vietnam War, Hang takes her little brother, Linh, to the airport, determined to find a way to safety in America. In a split second, Linh is ripped from her arms, and Hang is left behind in the war-torn country. Six years later, Hang has made the brutal journey from Vietnam and is now in Texas as a refugee. She doesn't know how she will find the little brother who was taken from her until she meets LeeRoy, a city boy with big rodeo dreams, who decides to help her. Hang is overjoyed when she reunites with Linh. But when she realizes he doesn't remember her, their family, or Vietnam, her heart is crushed. Though the distance between them feels farther than ever, Hang has come so far that she will do anything to bridge the gap.

Critical Analysis:

This book was incredible and it was my first YA historical fiction in a long time. I didn’t realize how immigrants were treated here in the United States back in the 1970’s until I read this book. I loved the budding romance in the book while T tried to teach H how to speak English and how to read. Parts of the book was definitely comical and it was enjoyable all the way through. I just wish I could’ve felt a little more invested into the storyline. I feel like the romance was lacking towards the end of the novel. I felt as I was reading it was a bit disjointed, and difficult to read at times because of this, I often had to go back and re-read to make sense of what was happening. However, the character development was amazing and overall it was very enjoyable.

Review Excerpt: 

Booklist (starred review)

In this radiant pearl of a book, Lại shows that we human beings are singing the very same song: a song of grace and redemption, a song of courage, a song of hope.

The Horn Book

One strength of the novel is the subtle character development. Another is Lại’s use of language. Those who hear Hằng’s remarkable tale can additionally think about contemporary connections to immigrant experiences, feelings of being an outsider, and the detours one’s life may take.

Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)

Remarkable. Told with ample grace, Lại’s finely drawn narrative and resilient characters offer a memorable, deeply felt view of the Vietnam War’s impact.

Connections:

Immigrants and Refugees

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month - May

Stories with different backgrounds about the Vietnam War - Different Perspectives of that time period.

Long Way Down: Graphic Novel - Jason Reynolds and Danica Novgorodoff

Long Way Down: Graphic Novel by Jason Reynolds; Illustrations by Danica Novgorodoff

Bibliography: 

Novgorodoff, D., & Reynolds, J. (2022). Long way down: The graphic novel. Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books. 

Plot Summary: 

Adapted from the author's novel of the same title.;"A Caitlyn Dlouhy book." As Will, fifteen, sets out to avenge his brother Shawn's fatal shooting, seven ghosts who knew Shawn board the elevator and reveal truths Will needs to know.

Critical Analysis:

I read the original Long Way Down as an audiobook last year and it blew me away. It was such a haunting, unforgettable read, so naturally I decided to pick this up.

I loved the art style, but I think this works best as a re-read. If you're reading this story for the first time, I'd strongly suggest to listen to the audiobook while reading the physical story (I've only listened to the audio, but I've heard that the formatting of the physical book adds so much to the story). The audio is absolutely brilliant because it's narrated by the author and I got chills the first time I read it. But if you've already read Long Way Down and want to experience the story in a new format, I would highly recommend this.

Review Excerpt: 

Kirkus (starred review)

A moving rendition that stands on its own.

BCCB (starred review)

Novgorodoff’s watercolors, which bleed at the edges like pavement stains, match the text in mood and fluency, and by putting faces to characters, they tacitly untangle the web of revenge killings and mistaken identities foundational to the plot.

Booklist (starred review)

Far more than just an illustration of the events of the novel, Novgorodoff’s iteration powerfully cultivates the tone and mood of its source material, demonstrating just how effective and artful comics can be.

Connections:

Using the original and graphic novel in a illustration unit with writing

A unit on graphic novels

Coming of age book for all boys - Boy book unit!

Stolen - Lucy Christopher

Stolen by Lucy Christopher

Bibliography: 

Christopher, L (2014). Stolen. Radiant Heart Publishing. 

Plot Summary: 

Sixteen-year-old Gemma, a British city-dweller, is abducted while on vacation with her parents and taken to the Australian outback, where she soon realizes that escape attempts are futile, and in time she learns that her captor is not as despicable as she first believed.

Critical Analysis:

I had to give this book five stars for several reasons. One of the reasons is because it was so fantastically well written. Beautiful, touching, heart breaking and real. Christopher doesn't spare on the details both good and bad. Never before have I felt a book to be so real, so gritty and tangible.

This book is a journey into the world of Stockholm Syndrome and the craft of Christopher's skill left even me, feeling the effects of this baffling psychological problem.

If you're looking for action and suspense in this book - you won't find it. Yet I personally found the strength of the characters and the outback itself was strong enough to carry this story without needing a great deal of edge-of-your-seat intensity. The mental intensity was enough for me. 

Review Excerpt: 

Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)

An emotionally raw thriller…a haunting account of captivity and the power of relationships.

Booklist

A complex psychological study that is also a tribute to the hypnotic beauty of the Outback.

Kirkus Review

From its compelling opening, the novel delivers taut suspense and a riveting plot in a haunting setting.

Connections:

Setting of the Australian Outback

A unit on interpersonal relationships

Adventure - Kidnapping and Abuse

Speak - Laurie Halse Anderson

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Bibliography: 

Anderson, L. H. (1999). Speak. Square Fish. 

Plot Summary: 

A traumatic event near the end of the summer has a devastating effect on Melinda's freshman year in high school.

Critical Analysis:

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is full of emotion. It is captivating yet devastating. I was overwhelmed by the honesty that was portrayed by Melinda through out. Laurie Halse Anderson did an incredible job of capturing Melinda’s feelings and describing the awkwardness of High School, being an outcast and feeling completely alone during the most desperate of times. This is a powerful YA novel about learning to accept the things you cannot change and finding the strength and power within to fight for yourself, no matter how difficult it may seem. 

Review Excerpt: 

Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)

In a stunning first novel, Anderson uses keen observations and vivid imagery to pull readers into the head of an isolated teenager. . . . Yet Anderson infuses the narrative with a wit that sustains the heroine through her pain and holds readers’ empathy. . . . But the book’s overall gritty realism and Melinda’s hard-won metamorphosis will leave readers touched and inspired.

Kirkus Review (starred review)

A frightening and sobering look at the cruelty and viciousness that pervade much of contemporary high school life, as real as today’s headlines. . . . The plot is gripping and the characters are powerfully drawn . . . a novel that will be hard for readers to forget.

School Library Journal 

Melinda’s pain is palpable, and readers will totally empathize with her. This is a compelling book, with sharp, crisp writing that draws readers in, engulfing them in the story.

Connections:

Meet the author interview - https://www.bookconnections.org/book_reading.cgi?id=2371

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Topics - Abuse, Gender Studies, and Women Studies

SEL Topics - Bullying, Relationship Skills, Internal Struggle, Overcoming Adversity

Concrete Rose - Angie Thomas

Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

Bibliography: 

Thomas, A. (2022). Concrete Rose. Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers. 

Plot Summary: 

A gang leader's son finds his effort to go straight for the sake of his child challenged by a loved one's brutal murder.

Critical Analysis:

This novel is full of symbolism with the title and how it relates to Maverick’s character. A prequel to "The Hate U Give," this novel is a well-written, character-driven story about the art of growing up. I love Maverick's voice as he navigates becoming a man and a father and figuring out what both of those roles will look like for him. While he doesn't always make the smartest decisions, Maverick's love for his family shines through, and he's able to use his intelligence to plan a better life for himself and the family he loves so much. I adored this book and felt transported back in time to the late 90s with Maverick's use of a pager. My only critique is that some of the slang felt a bit too new for the 90s (the use of "a minute" to mean "a while" or "a long time" for example) but most younger readers for whom this novel is marketed won't notice.

Review Excerpt: 

Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)

Thomas brings her trademark wit, nostalgic love of the 1990s and all things R&B and hip-hop, and her penchant for heartfelt characterization to this first-person exploration of Maverick Carter’s coming-of-age.

Horn Book (starred review)

Authentic to the point of heartbreak, Maverick’s voice is earnest as he wrestles with his decisions. Fans of Thomas’s work will not be disappointed in this intense portrayal of this phase in the Carter family’s story.

School Library Journal (starred review)

This is the perfect example of a narrative that straddles the beauty and pain of belonging and having the courage to make your own choices…. Thomas writes with a depth of humor and clarity that really allows readers to bond with the characters.

Connections:

Black History Month - February

Work with both Concrete Rose and The Hate U Give. You can read the prequel first or after The Hate U Give. It would give a good discussion throughout both books.

SEL - Racism, Community, The Black Lives Movement, Family, Activism, Justice, Law Enforcement, Identity, The Complexity of Gang Culture, Teenage Pregnancy, Class Equity