The mother of all posts

In my earlier entries I was trying to stay away from straight up book review posts.  I have read quite a few “problem novels” this semester.  YA novels were pretty foreign to me, but I found the idea of YA books about social issues intriguing, so I dove in.  I have decided this post will be primarily “book review.”  When I was a younger, if I read a book then it was automatically good.  I didn’t really think anything I read was bad.  It was like t.v.  I could watch the worst show, but it was “good” because I was watching it.  So I wanted to give my grown-up take on some of the books that I have read.

I have broken them all down into essentially 4 catagories: Drugs, Mental Illness, Violence/Abuse and Social Issues/ Coming of Age.  Of course, most of these books overlap catagories, but I went with the biggest theme.

For further reference I will use a rating system.  The rating is not just based on how well the story is written, but how attainable it is.  Some of the stories were quite far fetched and rather unbelievable.  Some dealt with topics, like heroin abuse, that might happen to a minority of kids, but it was believable.

So my brilliant rating system is *-****.  * being the lowest and **** being the highest.

Drugs

Beauty Queen– Linda Glovach- *

I wanted to like this book.  I really did.  I heard that it was pretty heavy and edgy.  It is, sorta.  But, completely unbelievable.  A nice girl from a broken home has dreams of becoming an actress.  She becomes a stripper to earn the big bucks.  She is so scared of going onstage for the first time that she allows a stranger to inject her with heroin before the show.  Where did that come from?!?  Generally people work their way up to heroin, it’s not the first thing they try. Naturally she becomes addicted very, very quickly and her life is a big fat mess.  The author of the book is a recovering addict, so I assume the emotions and sensations of being on heroin are accurate, but I think a bit more plot was needed before an innocent young girl because a stripper junkie at the drop of a hat.

Crank– Ellen Hopkins- ***

Like Beauty Queen, there was a little part of me that said, “wow she jumped into that fast.”  But overall, this story, written in a series of poems about a girl getting hooked on crystal meth, was quite believable.  I think that some readers might see this book as being “preachy.”  But, I know from experience that this stuff really does happen.  Just like that.  The format of the book is reason enough to get the book.  It looks huge but it’s a quick read that will get you thinking.

Smack– Melvin Burgess- ****

I loved this book.  I was all over it.  In a way it is kind of “Trainspotting for Kids.”  But, the message about heroin is clear.  I felt this book was more “grown up,” then a lot of the other YA books.  There were more characters and plotlines, and I really felt a connection with the characters.  Plus there are more issues than drug abuse that are very relevant to adolescent life.  Just read it.

Mental Illness

Burn Journals– Brent Runyon- **and a half

This book is an auto-biography about a boy that tried to commit suicide by setting himself on fire.  The beginning of the book is great as it chronicles the pains and fears of the boy before his suicide attempt.  Most of the book deals with his recovery both physically and mentally.  It is an amazing story.  The boy is very defiant with therapist trying to help him.  Then suddenly he breaks through in therapy.  There wasn’t much about that aspect.  there was a lot about the physical recovery however.  I think I was just waiting for that moment when he realized why he did it or seeing him work therapy to become healthy.  That part was too laking for me, but overall it is a great book.

Cut– Patricia McCormick- ** and a half

This is the story of a self-mutilator.  There were a lot of emotions about the mind of a cutter that I think McCormick captured very well.  Being a recovered cutter myself I thought there were quite a few things that were dead on.  However, as I stated in a previous post, I don’t like the idea of the character being in a hospital for cutting.  That is not realistic.  If she were suicidal, then I could see it.  But, cutters are not suicidal.  At least, that’s not why that cut.  I also didn’t like that the character seemed to get better so quickly.  Cutting is like an addiction.  It’s not something you can just stop doing that easily.   I know, I know, “Just don’t do it.”  That’s like telling an anorexic, “Just eat.”  It’s not that simple.  It took me many years to overcome this issue.  It was a horrible arduous journey that can’t be cured with the simple turning of a page.  But, I give praise that there is a book out there addressing this topic.  Maybe someday I will write one of my own on this topic.  I’ll just pencil that in.

Kissing Doorknobs– Terry Spencer Hesser- ****

I stumbled across this book in the library and almost didn’t pick it up.  I hadn’t heard anything about it but I decided to give it a go.  This is the story about an obsessive- compulsive.  She does a lot of strange things that scare her, alienate her from her friends and anger her parents.  This book captured the frustration of mental illness really well.  Her struggle with the disorder is not one unique to just OCD.  I also like that this book showed the character while she was in the dark with her disorder.  It shows the methods she used to cope and conceal her thoughts and actions, as well as how others around her behaved because they didn’t understand what was happening with her.  Eventually she is diagnosed and legitimately struggles to cope and recover.  I am glad I decided to pick this book up.

Massive– Julia Bell- ***

This story revolves around an English girl named Carmen and her anorexic/ bulimic mother.  Her mother tries to put her on restrictive diets and constantly bullies her about her weight.  Carmen resists but eventually falls into the same realm as her mother.  Both begin to fester away by supporting each other’s disorder.  I great book about the pressure to be thin.

Violence/ Abuse

Monster– Walter Dean Myers- *** and a half

I’m not sure if this is a “problem novel” in the classic sense, but I have never found a solid definition of problem novel.  So, considering the social issues of this book I am including it as a problem novel.  The format of this book is really cool.  It is written like a screen play.  The book deals with an African-American teen on trial for accessory to murder.  The tension is great and the racial issues are pertinent.  There were a few moments when I got confused like, “Wait, who is this person talking now?”  But, that could just be me.  Note the 3 stickers on the book cover.  That’s how you know it’s good 🙂

Prep– Jake Coburn- *** and a half

I was looking for some problem novels that were geared toward males and came across this book.  It’s about prep school boys in New York City that take on the persona of street thugs.  The novel is based on the author’s own experience in New York City prep schools.  I was not aware of this world.  It’s amazing that despite all the money and advantages that these kids have, they resort to lives of crime and violence for excitement.  I think male and female readers with both like this book, but I am really glad to see a book that really deals with male characters and is geared toward a male audience.

Speak– Laurie Halse Anderson – ****

Great book.  A lot of teens have read this and it’s being implemented into some school curriculums.  There are many themes in this book and perhaps I should have put it in the “Social Issue” section, but the acts of judgement and shunning are violent to me.  This book is probably the most popular YA book of the moment so I won’t go into great detail on plot.  You should just read.

Things Change– Patrick Jones- N/A

Ugh.  Apparently this is a book about teen dating violence.  I’m not sure because I didn’t get that far.  I got to about page 70 and had to quit.  First of all, the main male character has long hair, wears a jean jacket, drives a firebird (or similar car) and only listens to Bruce Springstien.  I had to look and see if the book was written in the ’80’s, but no, this century even.  The thing that got me was this guy was supposed to be really funny, or so the book said.  And his girlfriend was supposed to be really smart, or so the book said.  The part that killed me was when this super funny guy starts making fun of Hamlet by referring to it with breakfast foods.  “To be or not to be, that is the omelet.”  Not only is this the lamest thing I have ever heard, his super smart girlfriend laughs like he’s brilliant.  I just couldn’t do it anymore.  Apparently a lot of other people like the book. I just had to stop because my eyes were beginning to hurt from rolling them so much.

Social Issues/ Comming of Age

Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories– Chris Crutcher- *** and a half

This was another book on my quest for problem novels for boys.  Most of the characters in the short stories are based on characters from Crutcher’s other books.  Every short story has its own theme and issues which makes it a great read.  It is definitely great for boys because many of the stories revolve around athletics or other “boy” activities/ interests.  These stories are not afraid to raise some serious issues and have gotten some flack for that, but it also makes for some excellent short stories very pertinent to adolescents.

Blankets– Craig Thompson- *** and a half

I might get in trouble for listing this book here.  Barnes and Nobles states in bold that this book is, “Not appropriate for children.”  It isn’t technically listed as a YA book, but as a graphic novel.  Graphic novels don’t really have an age bracket.  I chose it because it’s a coming of age story based on the author/ illustrator’s life.  It’s very beautiful and subtle.  It is also a graphic novel which makes it super cool, but which also gives it its disclaimer.  There are cartoon pictures of nudity.  There are a few of little boys peeing, one of a pedophile babysitter and a few of teenage girl.  I have to say that they are really not shocking or pornographic.  Even the pedophile is drawn in a way that makes him seem a grotesque caricature.  I understand that some parents might have issues with this however.  Many parents have protested this book as being “pornographic.”  But, the pictures of the girl are so beautifully drawn that I don’t understand how they could be deemed pornographic.  It would be like telling your children not to look at “David” because he’s naked and dirty.  So, perhaps this book should be left to the older kids.  I thought it was very well written and beautifully illustrated.

The Body of Christopher Creed– Carol Plum-Ucci- ***

A kid that no one likes disappeared one day.  He left a note but no one knows if it was a suicide note or if he simply ran away.  The kids of this upper-class town become suspicious, make jokes about him and blame the “bad” kids in school for killing him and hiding his body.  One student crosses the line from being the cool kid to seeing people for who they really are.  The book’s a great mystery with a lot of great social themes.

Fat Kid Rules the World– K.L. Going- ***

How can you not love a book with a title like that?  A “fat kid” tries to commit suicide but is saved by a boy that introduces him to a new life.  A life of punk rock music.  The book is so funny in parts and very touching in others.  Troy, the fat kid, finds something that makes him feel more than his label.  Music takes him out of himself, which is what he really needed. There is actually a lot of people that like this book because of it’s “punk rock” theme.  I didn’t really think of that, but when doing a bit of research I found a lot of people saying they liked it because of it’s portrayal of the punk music scene.  On top of that, it’s a great book about a kid finding himself.

Ophelia Speaks: Adolescent Girls Write about Their Search for Self– Sara Shandler- ***

I actually just picked this book up at Goodwill with a few others and didn’t really think of it as “problem novel-esque.”  Well, it’s not a novel.  It’s a collection of personal essays written by girls on various issues; issues that problems novels discuss.  Theses essays shed so much light on the reality of the issues problem novels are discussing.  It validates them by saying, “Hey, this actually happened to me.”  There are quite a few different categories.  I wanted every category to be filled with more essays. That would be my only critique.  Perhaps there will be “Ophelia Speaks 2.”  By the way, Sara Shandler started this writing project in high school.  She sent out packets of info to schools across the nation and had girls mail their pieces to her.  She edited the book and it was published when she was a freshmen in college.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower– Stephen Chbosky- ****

This book was a nice calm retreat from the frantic ravings of many YA books.  It was much more grown up but still so attainable.  This book could fall into any category.  I honestly think there is just about every “problem” at least referenced in this book.  But, somehow it doesn’t seem overwhelming or pushed.  It unfolds naturally and calmly.  The characters are real and lovable.  This is a book that many of my friends have read.  I actually didn’t know it was YA until this class.  It crosses over age demographics smoothly.

The Pigman– Paul Zindel- N/A

I had to read this book in middle school.  Well, I was supposed to at least.  I’m pretty sure that never happened.  I do own the book however.  I buy books like some women buy shoes.  About 30% of my library is unread because I can’t stop buying books.  Anyway, I’ve had it for a bit and it’s a classic YA book.  So I yanked it off the shelf and gave it the old college try.  Nope.  Didn’t work.  I tried.  I really did.  But, it bored me to tears.  I know this is apparently some great book, I just couldn’t get into it.  The characters drove me crazy.  So I apologize to anyone out there that thinks this book is the bomb.  Maybe I will try it again someday and it will be a better go.  I have to find it first; I think I threw it under a table somewhere.

Rubber Houses– Ellen Yeomans- ** and a half

This book is hot off the press, printed in January of this year.  This is a book about loss and grief.  Like Crank, it is written in poetry.  Unlike Crank, it was about 400 pages shorter.  The idea is great, the poetry is great, the emotion is great.  But, I really wanted more.  It seemed too brief.  I got the idea, but I didn’t sink into it.  I wanted to sink not skim on the surface.

Stargirl– Jerry Spinelli- ****

I loved this book.  I want to be Stargirl when I grow up.  This is the story of Stargirl, the odd girl that is free and loves life fully and those that want her to conform to society.  I was a bit on the odd side in school, not to Stargirl’s standards, but odd enough for my small town.  I want to be that free.  As I was reading the book I was reminded of an interview that I read about Bjork, whom I love and adore.  During a recording session for one of her albums, she dragged a microphone out to the ocean and sang to the sea.  She literally sang to the sea.  That is beyond amazing and beautiful to me.  Bjork is Stargirl.  I look at the women I respect and they are all Stargirl.  I felt empowered and connected after reading this.  I really want to read it again.  Right now actually.

TTYL– Lauren Myracle- **

This book is a fun novelty toy, as it is written entirely in instant messages.  I didn’t think it was as difficult to read as I thought it would be.  There are some lighthearted issues in the book and a few more heavy and sinister.  The story itself isn’t bad, but I do call this a novelty because it’s going to be irrelevant soon enough.  Technology is moving so fast, in 5 years IMing could be a thing of the past.  I’ve gotten a chuckle out a few books where the kids had “beepers.”  Remember those?!?!  So, for now it’s a fun and a neat way to get kids to read, but I don’t see this sparking interest in the not so distant future.  But, if this genre really is you thing, Myracle has written a few more in same vein.  Buy them and put them in the time capsule.

What My Mother Doesn’t Know– Sonya Sones- *

The secret isn’t worth knowing, trust me on this one.  If you really want to know, open any 8th grade girl’s diary.  Here is premise of the book, “I love this boy!  It’s true love I just know it!  We broke up!  I’m going to die!  Oh, I love this boy now!  This time it’s for real!”  It made me ashamed to be a 13 year old girl.  But, I imagine a lot of 13 year old girls will like it because I remember thinking that same stuff at that age.  But, now that I’m old and jaded I just wanted to yell at the female characters and tell them to shut up.