THE POISON EATERS AND OTHER STORIES

Black, H., & Black, T. (2010). The poison eaters and other stories. Easthampton, MA: Big Mouth House.

Black’s anthology of short stories is impactful and reels in the reader from the very first short story, “The Coldest Girl in Coldtown." In this story, 16-year-old Matlida is bitten by a vampire. Alone and more than slightly buzzed, she sees a chance to do one final good deed.

Other stories follow the vein of her dark fairy series-which is a must read for fantasy lovers! She even gives fans a treat with the story, “The Land of Heart's Desire.”

Another story of note is that of “The Dog King.” With this offering Holly gives us a fantastical story set in medieval times. The story, in which not everything is what is seems to be, is a story that revolves around humans and wolves.

Many readers describe themselves as getting lost in a book. But what would one do if they this was truly possible. In “Paper Cuts Scissors” the male protagonist starts a library club to win back his girlfriend who is able to put things- including herself into books.

This diverse collection would be a good starting point for a short story writing unit.

IT'S PERFECTLY NORMAL

Harris, R. (2009). It's perfectly normal. Boston, MA: Candlewick Press.

In this highly contested book Harris, boldly explain the what occurs during puberty.  He does not gloss over the momentous changes that occurs to both the female and male body.  This book is a perfect springboard for parents who are reluctant or are not certain on how to approach their children with this topic.

The prevailing theme throughout the book is that no matter how different we are, all human bodies are “perfectly normal.”  He is also sure to mention the consequences of sexual intercourse. 

The art pieces that accompany the book alternate between the realistic, if somewhat whimsical and what some might deem as “graphic.” But one can make the case that in an educational book such as this, “graphic” is needed so that children/preteens can better understand the changes that are occurring in their body.

GEORGE

Gino, A. (2015). George. New York: Scholastic.

In this timely novel, Gino tells us the story of George who genetically was born a boy but knows that he is truly a girl. This something that the 10-year-old feels that she cannot share with others. She is already picked on by the boys in her class and even her brother and mother suspect that she might be gay, they don’t realize that her secret has nothing to do with sexual orientation.

The book begins with George ashamedly hiding who she is and questioning WHO exactly she is. She rushes home from school each day to dress up and chat with her “friends.” These friends are the models in the teen fashion magazines that George has secretly collected. Thankfully, George has a real friend in the spunky Kelly.

After reading Charlotte’s Web, Geroge’s fifth grade class will be putting on a school production and it is her deepest wish to portray Charlotte. Unfortunately, Charlotte is a female spider and she knows that the part will go to a “real” girl. She is heart-broken when Kelly gets the roll but she soldiers on, even getting revenge on the class bully Jeff.

The book’s climax comes when George and Kelly trade places and she gets to portray Charlotte. Her performance is received with applause and accolades. Her mother is still not comfortable with her revelation and is somewhat embarrassed. But the principle’s words of encouragement, “…you can’t control who your children are, but you can certainly support them…” help propel her to accepting that George identifies herself as a girl, as Melissa.

This book is aimed for the middle school group and would be a great addition to a unit on tolerance and acceptance of others.

THE DUST OF 100 DOGS

King, A. S. (2011). The dust of 100 dogs. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Publications.


King reaches out to readers with a unique premise: the reincarnation of a cursed female pirate.  
The meat of the story takes place in the 1980’s and Emer Morrisey is, the afore mentioned cursed pirate is finally human again after having lived across the world as numerous dogs.  She is now Saffron Adams, her memories are intact and she is ready to to dig up her fortune.


The book is told from three point of views.  Emer’s during the 17th century, Saffron’s and eccentric, real estate agent Fred Livingstone.  Although Saffron is Emer their different lives, and times, result in two different characters who although have many similarities are distinct individuals. Both of the girls, are great voices for teenagers- especially girls- who need to be encouraged to speak up for themselves. Livingstone is also a well-crafted character.  He is a sad man whose only true companion is his Doberman, Rusty.  This suspenseful story cleverly manages to draw all these timelines together to give us a fitting conclusion.

MONSTER

Myers, W. D., & Myers, C. (1999). Monster. New York: HarperCollins.

This multi-award novel unfolds in the most unconventional way. Myers novel starts with an undated journal entry but he quickly changes the presentation of the story to that of a script. The script is jotted down by Steve Harmon, the 16-year-old protagonist, in a notebook that accompanies him to his cell and to his court hearings.

Harmon faithfully documents his trial and it is through the witness’ testimonies that we learn about the crime that he is accused of participating in. Sporadically the script moves out of the courtroom and jailhouse to flashbacks of Steve’s past. This allows the reader to see a more complete picture of our character and the circumstances that lead him to be on trial for the murder of a respected shop keeper.

One major theme found in the story is that of betrayal. One by one each of the men on trial accuses the others of being the reason for Mr. Nesbitt’s death. There is also the betrayal Steve’s father feels. Mr. Harmon is a hardworking man who tried to set a good example for his son, and instead of respecting this and aiming to be like his father Steve ends up just being another inner city statistic.

In the end Steve is found not guilty, in part because of his film club teacher Mr. Sawicki who the defense uses as a character witness. When asked his opinion of Steve, Sawicki answers, “I think he’s an outstanding young man He is talented, bright and compassionate.”

This would be a great read to share with reluctant readers because it is fast paced and does not drown them into many details. An added bonus would be for the teacher to play the audiobook, because it is fully casted and makes for a compelling reading experience.

I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN

Nelson, J. (2015). I'll give you the sun. New York: Speak.

This book contains two protagonists, twins Noah and Jude Sweetwine. The book begins when they are 13 and switches between their point of views. At the opening of the book they are as thick as thieves and view the world with bright-eyed optimism. Fast forward three years and things are vastly different. There is barely any communication between the siblings and their lives are not at all what they’d planned.

What has happened is that each blames themselves for their mother’s death. Noah, does so because his mother walks in when he and the next door neighbor Brian are having an intimate moment. Only his sister knows that he is gay, so he is greatly- although wrongfully- ashamed about his sexual orientation. (There is also the fact that no one, most especially a teenager wants a parent to walk in on them and their sexual partner.) The next day he sees his mother cheating on his father. She eventually tells him that she is leaving her husband to be with her lover. While this is happening Jude is having her first sexual encounter, but it is not consensual. She later learns that her mother dies in a car accident at the same time she was “having sex” and she blames herself.

This novel is definitely character driven. In Noah we have a shy and imaginative soul, who even when he does a complete about-face is still fundamentally the same person. Jude transformation is a bit more profound because her lively spirt is broken, but no fear it is still there.

Nelson has penned a brilliant story that captures how difficult it is to be a teenager. She is able to expertly paints the struggle teens have to show the world- and themselves- who they truly are. Both protagonists are artist and she uses this as a way for them to express who they are and what they are feeling.

POISONED APPLES: POEMS FOR YOU, MY PRETTY

Heppermann, C. (2014). Poisoned apples: Poems for you, my pretty. New York: Greenwillow Books.

The fifty poems in this book are a clever spin on the fractured fairy tale genre. Heppermann’s poems address the multitude of issues that modern teenage girls face on a daily basis. The chief issue, being the high ideals of beauty that society expects from them. To highlight this struggle, the poems in the book are paired with surreal black and white photos, some that are borderline eerie.

In the poem, “Life Among the Swans” the ugly duckling laments her transformation. Although surrounded and accepted by fellow beauties she has never felt so alone or hunted. She closes her eyes and imagines hat she is back amongst the reeds and is able to hide from “the hunter’s hounds” who “charge past [her] on their way to prettier game.”

In the poem, “BFF,” she exposes the frenemy subculture that modern girls must navigate. Jill, the narrators BFF is a caring friend that doesn’t want to make her feel bad but lets her know that “Dylan isn’t good enough” for her. Jill is the helpful BFF who “knows a superchic way” to do hairs to that “it will hide” her “ginormous forehead.” Jill is “soooooo glad” to be her BFF because/“Like, who else could put up with you?/Lol.”


Aside from her poems Heppermann also provides an afterword. Here she discusses how fairy tales came to reflect society’s treatment of women. She writes that “in all likelihood” fairy tales originated with women who had to be stealthy with the stories they told. She notes that they “understood that including fantastical elements in their tales- golden eggs, singing harps, talking frogs- worked to mask a deeper purpose.” That deeper purpose she claims was to expose the true state of women’s lives.