Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher

Cover:

Bibliographic Information:

Title: Thirteen Reasons Why

Author: Jay Asher

ISBN:  978-1595141712

Publisher: Razorbill

Copyright: 2007

Reader’s Annotation:

How would you react knowing you played a role in someone's suicide?

Summary:

Clay received a package in the main, which contains a series of cassette tapes.  When he goes to play them, her realizes they are from Hannah Baker, a girl who recently committed suicide.  Each tape side contains a story about a specific person who somehow contributed to her suicide.  She leaves instructions for the listeners to listen to the tapes, then give them to the next person on the list; failure to follow the instructions will result in the tapes being publicly released for everyone to hear.  As Clay listens to the tapes, he reflects on the specific stories and the people involved; he also follows a map that Hannah has included to accompany the stories.  Clay gets to his story and realizes he did not do anything negative, in fact Hannah found him to be kind.  Once Clay listens to all the tapes, he has to decide if he is going to pass them on to the next person on the list.

Critical Evaluation:

The subject matter of this book is very intense.  The story involves a lot of difficult situations, include sex, substance abuse, and bullying.  However, these topics are not discussed in a way that is lurid; they are central to the story, and handle in a way that makes sense within the plot.

The narration of the story slips from Clay, as he is recounting his experience with the whole situation, and Hannah, as she tells her stories in the tape.  This leads to a very unique style of story, in that a character is speaking from beyond the grave.  However, because Hannah is telling her stories while emotionally heightened, she comes across as a bit of an unreliable narrator.  All we know of the other people in Hannah’s stories is what Hannah tells us; for the most part, they are not all the well-developed throughout the rest of the book.

There is a bit of ambiguity in the story that can be frustrating for readers.  For example, the other people on the tapes are an important part of the story, and we never learn what happens to them at the end of the book.  There is a decided lack of resolution.

Still, Asher has created a very strong story.  Both Hannah and Clay are very thoroughly developed, which is important since they both serve as narrators.  Readers are left wanting more regarding the other characters, however, both in terms of development and resolution to their stories.

Author Biography:

(from author’s Amazon page)

Jay Asher's debut YA novel, Thirteen Reasons Why, has appeared regularly on the New York Times bestsellers list for the past nine years. It has sold over 2.5 million copies in the United States alone and is currently in production to be a thirteen-part series on Netflix. His second YA novel, The Future of Us, was coauthored with Printz Honor winner Carolyn Mackler. He is also the author of the forthcoming What Light. His novels have been translated into thirty-five languages. Visit his blog at www.jayasher.blogspot.com and follow him on Twitter @jayasherguy.

Genre(s): 

Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties:

Pennsylvania State Standard CC.1.3.9-10.K

Read and comprehend literary fiction on grade level, reading independently and proficiently.

Booktalk Ideas:

A discussion on the warning signs of teen suicide

A discussion about resources available for teens struggling with suicidal thoughts

          

Reading Level:

Lexile 550

Interest Age: 

14 and up

Challenge Issues: Could be challenged based discussion of bullying and suicide, as well as teen substance use and sexuality.

  If this book were challenged I would:

·         Listen to the concerns of the person raising the challenge

·         Consult the library’s collection development policy

·         Explain how this work meets a library need based on the collection development policy 

·         Consult YALSA’s Dealing with Challenges to Young Adult Materials

·         Consult reviews on VOYA, Amazon, Common Sense Media, and Kirkus

·         Discuss any awards or notable commendations the book received

·         Explain the library’s commitment to intellectual freedom as discussed in the ALA Library Bill of Rights

·         Give the patron the procedure for a formal challenge should they seek to pursue it

Why was this book selected:

Teen suicide continues to be a large issue, both locally and nationally.  A girl in my library’s school district died due to suicide several years ago, and many of the library regulars took it quite hard, as she was involved in the library a lot.  It is important that teens have access to books that discuss teen suicide, and the aftermath that other teens face, including survivor guilt.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie

Cover:

Bibliographic Information:

Title: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Author: Sherman Alexie

ISBN:  978-0316013680

Publisher: Little Brown

Copyright: 2007

Reader’s Annotation:

What do you do when you live between two cultures, and fit into neither of them?

Summary:

Arnold, our narrator, is a Indian teen living on the reservation, where everyone is poor, and opportunities are scarce.  Arnold does not really fit in, partly because he has some serious health issues.  Nearly everyone picks on him or beats him up, except for his best friend Rowdy.  Arnold decides he wants to transfer to the regular public school in the next town over, a school full of white kids, which causes Rowdy to no longer be Arnold’s friend.  At the new school, Arnold makes some new friends, and decides to join the basketball team, where he will play against his old schoolmates from the reservation school.  Arnold’s family suffers some tragic losses, leaving Arnold to wonder if he ever will really fit in anywhere.

Critical Evaluation:

One of the most notable aspects about this book is the feeling of authenticity.  As a character, Arnold feels so genuine.  I attribute this to the fact that Arnold has much in common with the author, Sherman Alexie, including the experience of growing up on a reservation.  It is imperative that the field of young adult literature contain stories of minority people, told by authentic voices.  This book is a perfect example of how an authentic voice can make such an impact on a book.  Arnold speaks very frankly about the hardships of life on the rez, including extreme poverty, and alcoholism.

The overarching tone of the book is one of humor.  Arnold is very good natured about the ways he does not fit in; it is a self deprecating sort of humor, which we see when Arnold talks about getting beat up.  Also, Arnold draws funny pictures that accompany his writing.  Even the aspects of the book that deal with difficult situations, like his fight with Rowdy, or the loss of his loved ones, are done in a way that invokes humor.  A lot of teen readers will be able to relate to Arnold’s use of humor as a coping mechanism.

As the story progresses, you really want to see Arnold succeed.  You are drawn to him as a character.  Part of the thing about Arnold that makes him so relatable as a character is him searching for his place in life, the place where he fits in.  This is a feeling that is so common among teens, it is no wonder that this book speaks to so many young adult readers.

In this book, Sherman Alexie has created a genuine character in Arnold, telling his own version of a story that teens know so well.  This is one of those magical books that hits all the right buttons to make it appeal to teens.  It is written in a honest, almost heartbreakingly funny manner that draws the reader in from the very first page.

Author Biography:

(from author’s Amazon page)

Sherman Alexie is the author of, most recently, Blasphemy, stories, from Grove Press, and Face, poetry, from Hanging Loose Press. He is the winner of the 2010 PEN/Faulkner Award, the 2007 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, the 2001 PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in the Short Story, and a Special Citation for the 1994 PEN/Hemingway Award for Best First Fiction. Smoke Signals, the film he wrote and coproduced, won both the Audience Award and the Filmmakers Trophy at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. Alexie lives with his family in Seattle.

Genre(s):

Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties:

Pennsylvania State Standard CC.1.3.9-10.K

Read and comprehend literary fiction on grade level, reading independently and proficiently.

Booktalk Ideas:

A discussion on what it feels like to be an outcast or outsider

A discussion on why Arnold chose to leave the reservation, and how teens may face a similar choice one day

          

Reading Level:

Lexile 600

Interest Age: 

14 and up

Challenge Issues: Could be challenged based scenes of violence, substance use and abuse, adult language, and discussions of sexuality.

  If this book were challenged I would:

·         Listen to the concerns of the person raising the challenge

·         Consult the library’s collection development policy

·         Explain how this work meets a library need based on the collection development policy 

·         Consult YALSA’s Dealing with Challenges to Young Adult Materials

·         Consult reviews on VOYA, Amazon, Common Sense Media, and Kirkus

·         Discuss any awards or notable commendations the book received

·         Explain the library’s commitment to intellectual freedom as discussed in the ALA Library Bill of Rights

·         Give the patron the procedure for a formal challenge should they seek to pursue it

Why was this book selected:

I really wanted my collection to include a book that featured a Native American voice, and this is absolutely the best example I have found.  This book is also one of the most frequently challenged books in recent years, so I wanted make sure I read it and anticipated it being challenged.  Frankly, I do not see what makes this book so different from many others in the field of YA literature.  The reasons that adults may challenge this book are some of the things that make it so special, the things that make it realistic and relatable to teens.  

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass, by Meg Medina

Cover:

Bibliographic Information:

Title: Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass

Author: Meg Medina

ISBN:  978-0763658595

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Copyright: 2013

Reader’s Annotation:

Being the new girl in school is never easy, especially once Yaqui Delgado decides you are her newest target.

Plot Summary:

Piddy has recently moved to a new neighborhood, which means she is now attending a new school.  At her new school she learns that a girl named Yaqui Delgado wants to fight her, and Piddy has no clue why.  Yaqui is bothered that Piddy has fair skin, and no accent, plus she is concerned that Piddy will steal her boyfriend. Yaqui and her friends begin to bully Piddy at school, to the extent that Piddy no longer wants to go to school.  Her grades begin to suffer, and Yaqui seeks solace in a Joey, boy from her old neighborhood.  Eventually Yaqui and her crew catch up with Piddy, and beat her up.  Someone films the altercation and posts it online. Piddy feels like she wants to escape, and Joey offers her a way out.  Eventually, the adults in Piddy’s life discover what has been going on with Yaqui, and consequences are dealt.

Critical Evaluation:

Meg Medina has written a compelling story that weaves together multiple difficulties faced by teenagers.  The story focuses on a girl being raised by a single mother, dealing with bullying at school.  This is a topic that many teens will relate to, as bullying continues to be prevalent in schools.  The writing really captures the anguish teens feel when dealing with feeling bullied, as shown in the portion of the book where Piddy no longer wants to leave her house.

Piddy is the main character of the book, and as such is thoroughly developed.  We learn about her back story, including her family’s history as well as her previous friendships.  However, would argue that Yaqui is also a main character, despite the fact that she is not as well developed.  Yaqui is the presence that looms large over the story, almost like the boogeyman.  The fact that Medina tells us very little about Yaqui is actually a strength of the writing; it makes Yaqui that much more a menacing presence. 

One of the strongest themes of this book is the concept of identity.  Latina identity is discussed through the struggle between Yaqui and Piddy, since Yaqui feels Piddy is “not Latina enough”.  But identity is also tackled through Piddy’s family history, and she learns the truth about her father, and his relationship with her mother.  Piddy struggles with her identity in terms of her old friends, as well as her identity within her new school.  This insecurity over the concept of identity is common among teens.

In general, the book is strongly written.  Medina really captures the feelings of isolation that teens feel as they struggle with figuring out who they are.  The characters are not only believable, they are relatable. 

Author Biography:

(from author’s Amazon page)

Meg Medina is an award-winning Cuban American author who writes picture books, middle grade, and YA fiction. She is a two-time winner of the Pura Belpré award: in 2015 (honor) for her picture book, MANGO, ABUELA AND ME, and in 2014 (fiction medal) for her young adult novel, YAQUI DELGADO WANTS TO KICK YOUR ASS. She is also the 2012 Ezra Jack Keats New Writers medal winner for her picture book TIA ISA WANTS A CAR. Her most recent novel is BURN BABY BURN, a 2016 Junior Library Guild selection that has earned multiple starred reviews.

Meg's other books are THE GIRL WHO COULD SILENCE THE WIND, a 2012 Bank Street Best Book and CBI Recommended Read in the UK; and MILAGROS: GIRL FROM AWAY, now available as an Amazon e-book.

Meg's work examines how cultures intersect, as seen through the eyes of young people, and she brings to audiences stories that speak to both what is unique in Latino culture and to the qualities that are universal. Her favorite protagonists are strong girls. In March 2014, she was recognized as one of the CNN 10 Visionary Women in America.

When she is not writing, Meg works on community projects that support girls, Latino youth and/or literacy. She lives with her family in Richmond, Virginia.

Genre(s): 
Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties:

Pennsylvania State Standard CC.1.3.9-10.K

Read and comprehend literary fiction on grade level, reading independently and proficiently.

Booktalk Ideas:

A discussion of what a person can do when they are either a victim of or witness to bullying in school

A discussion of what identity means to teens

          

Reading Level:

Lexile 670

Interest Age: 

14 and up

Challenge Issues: Could be challenged based on adult language, teen sexuality, and scenes of violence.

  If this book were challenged I would:

·         Listen to the concerns of the person raising the challenge

·         Consult the library’s collection development policy

·         Explain how this work meets a library need based on the collection development policy 

·         Consult YALSA’s Dealing with Challenges to Young Adult Materials

·         Consult reviews on VOYA, Amazon, Common Sense Media, and Kirkus

·         Discuss any awards or notable commendations the book received

·         Explain the library’s commitment to intellectual freedom as discussed in the ALA Library Bill of Rights

·         Give the patron the procedure for a formal challenge should they seek to pursue it

Why was this book selected:

I really like the way this book tackles the concept of identity.  It explores cultural identity, family identity, and the concept of teens dealing with how their peers see them.  We see this not only as Piddy discovers her own identity, but also how she realizes she sees her peers, like Joey, differently that she first anticipated.  I also really liked that this book showcases Latinx characters.  Also, this book very realistically discussed bullying violence.  There is just so much packed into this book, in a way that feels so honest, I think it will really appeal to a wide variety of teen readers.

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, by Barry Lyga

Cover:

Bibliographic Information:

Title: The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl

Author: Barry Lyga

ISBN: 978-0618916528

Publisher: Graphia

Copyright: 2007

Reader’s Annotation: 

In a world where jocks rule the school, how will a comic loving boy and a neo goth girl survive?  Do they even want to survive?

Plot Summary:

Donnie is a sophomore in high school, obsessed with the senior goddess,and  absorbed in comic books.  He keeps his calm by carrying a bullet in his pocket, and making a mental list of every person who wronged him, mostly the jock jerks.  Donnie’s only friend is Cal, one of only 10 black kids in the school who is a comic book loving jock. Donnie is working on his own graphic novel, and he homes to take it to a comic convention to show is idol, Brian Michael Bendis.  Donnie is constantly bullied by Mitchell Frampton, who hits him frequently.  Donnie sees a flash of a person dressed in black, sitting in the bleachers of the gym.  One night, he gets a strange instant message from someone he does not know, asking why he let Mitchell hit him.  He ends up meeting up with the person, Kira, a very pale girl who wears all black.  She starts calling him Fanboy, and they start talking about comics.  They begin hanging out, and he tells her about his graphic novel.  Kira and Donnie get into a fight, so he goes to the comic show alone, and is disappointed.  Donnie begins to have concerns about Kira's well being.

Critical Evaluation:

Taking into account that this was Lyga’s first YA novel, I would say that this book would be moderately appealing to teens. It features a lot of characters who feel like outsiders in their respective situations, and accurately portrays a lot of the angst that comes with being a teen.  However, there are some pretty significant flaws in the book as well.

I found the character development to be very weak; it is difficult to really like or care about any of the characters in the book.  I felt that the character of Cal was really under developed, and wondered if he really played much of a role in the story at all.  Yes, he was Donnie’s only friend, but the way their friendship is portrayed feels shallow and disingenuous.  The only thing the boys seem to have in common is comic books, and that does not seem to be a real basis for a friendship as important as this one is made out to be.  Donnie, as a character, is self-absorbed; while many think this is an accurate portrayal of a teen, I think it sells teens short.  To me, this book feels like what an adult thinks it is like to be a teenager in today’s world, without actually talking to any teens, particularly teens on the fringes who feel like outsiders the way these characters do.  For example, Donnie refers to his step father as the “step fascist” but there is no real exploration about why that is, what really happened to create such animosity.  Again, this seems like what an adult would expect a teen to act like.  Similarly, the dialogue seems a little contrived; the characters lack an authenticity in the words they say.  There are large swaths of the book that add very little, and could stand to be edited out.  For example, there is a scene where Donnie describes an elaborate lie he made a teacher believe about what really started the Great Depression, which seemed to have no real purpose.  This results is a very slow book, with lagging action.  Not all books need to be action packed, but this book took quite a while to get to where Donnie has a real meaningful, life altering moment, when he meets his idol Brian Michael Bendis.

Lyga presents a book with a heavy emphasis on comic books, which may appeal to a great deal of teen readers.  However, the book seems to really miss the mark in terms of capturing authentic teen characters and delivering a story that the reader actually will care about.  With some revision and editing, in terms of creating more robust characters and trimming some meaningless scenes, this book could be a strong story to appeal to reluctant teen readers.  The book does capture the essence of feeling like an outsider, which almost every teen experiences at some point. 

Author Biography:

From author’s Amazon page

Called a "YA rebel-author" by Kirkus Reviews, Barry Lyga has published twelve novels in various genres in his seven-year career, including the New York Times bestselling I Hunt Killers and his newest, Unsoul'd (for adults). His books have been or are slated to be published in nine different languages in North America, Australia, Europe, and Asia.

After graduating from Yale with a degree in English, Lyga worked in the comic book industry before quitting to pursue his lifelong love of writing. In 2006, his first young adult novel, The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, was published to rave reviews, including starred reviews from Booklist and School Library Journal. Publisher's Weekly named Lyga a "Flying Start" in December 2006 on the strength of the debut.

His second young adult novel, Boy Toy, received starred reviews in SLJ, Publishers Weekly, and Kirkus. VOYA gave it its highest critical rating, and the Chicago Tribune called it "...an astounding portrayal of what it is like to be the young male victim." His third novel, Hero-Type, according to VOYA "proves that there are still fresh ideas and new, interesting story lines to be explored in young adult literature."

Since then, he has also written Goth Girl Rising (the sequel to his first novel), as well as the Archvillain series for middle-grade readers and the graphic novel Mangaman (with art by Colleen Doran).

His latest series is I Hunt Killers, called by the LA Times "one of the more daring concepts in recent years by a young-adult author" and an "extreme and utterly alluring narrative about nature versus nurture." The first book landed on both the New York Times and USAToday bestsellers lists, and the series has been optioned for television by Warner Bros./Silver Pictures.

Lyga lives and writes in New York City. His comic book collection is a lot smaller than it used to be, but is still way too big.

Genre(s):

Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties:

Pennsylvania State Standard CC.1.3.9-10.K

Read and comprehend literary fiction on grade level, reading independently and proficiently.

Booktalk Ideas:

A discussion of different comic book styles, and how they may appeal to different types of readers.

A discussion on mental health resources in the community.

          

Reading Level:

Lexile Measure 710

Interest Age:

12 and up

Challenge Issues:

Discussions of teen sexuality, some swearing, teen smoking, violent fantasies

If this book were challenged I would:

·         Listen to the concerns of the person raising the challenge

·         Consult the library’s collection development policy

·         Explain how this work meets a library need based on the collection development policy

·         Consult YALSA’s Dealing with Challenges to Young Adult Materials

·         Consult reviews on VOYA, Amazon, Common Sense Media, and Kirkus

·         Discuss any awards or notable commendations the book received

·         Explain the library’s commitment to intellectual freedom as discussed in the ALA Library Bill of Rights

·         Give the patron the procedure for a formal challenge should they seek to pursue it

Why was this book selected:

I selected this book hoping to find a material that might appeal to reluctant readers.  I wanted something that might encourage readers who traditionally stuck to comics and graphic novels to move to a more traditional novel.  I also wanted a book that will help teen readers relate to the feeling of being an outsider.

All American Boys, by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiley

Cover:

Bibliographic Information:

Title:  All American Boys

Author: Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiley

ISBN: 978-1481463331

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Copyright: 2015

Reader’s Annotation:

When a teenager and a cop are involved in a racially motivated incident, everyone tries to figure out the shades of grey in a black and white situation.

Plot Summary:

It is Friday, and Rashad had to wear his ROTC uniform to school.  He takes clothes to school to change into afterwards, then prepares for a party later that evening.  He decides to stop at a convenience store to buy some chips, and in the store, woman trips over his bag containing his uniform.  A policeman who sees this thinks Rashad has either hurt the woman, attempted to shoplift, or both.  Instead of letting Rashad explain, the cop beats him up.  Rashad, a black teenager, is brutalized by an adult white cop.  Quinn, a white boy from Rashad’s school, prepares to go to the same party Rashad was planning to attend, with his friend Guzzo; they stumble upon the scene at the store.  The cop beating up Rashad is Guzzo’s older brother, Paul.

Rashad is in the hospital, where he is also in custody.  His family is upset, and his father, a former cop, feels certain that Rashad must have done something to bring this upon himself, such as stealing, as the police are suggesting.  Rashad’s older brother Spoony feels this was racially motivated police brutality.  Quinn is conflicted about his feelings, because Paul had been the one to help him heal when his father died, and Guzzo is Quinn’s friend and basketball teammate.

Video footage of the incident recorded on a cell phone is leaked to the media, as are Rashad and Paul’s names.  Quinn goes to a barbeque at Guzzo’s house, where the situation is tense.  In school, everyone is talking about the incident with Rashad and Paul, and the video.  Teachers are refusing to comment or say Rashad’s name, which leads to students making a concerted effort to say Rashad’s name, so that people understand this was a real person this happened to.  Tensions spill onto the basketball court during the team’s practice.  The next day, someone has spray painted “Rashad is absent again today” on the school’s stairs, and this becomes the protest cry of the students.  Quinn watches the video, and can no deny this was a racist act.  The #RashadIsAbsentAgainToday hashtag is flooding social media, and a protest is planned.

Rashad’s father recounts a story from when he was a cop, about passing judgement on a young black boy.  Quinn makes the choice to commit to marching in the protest, and wears a shirt declaring it.  Guzzo cuts off his friendship with Quinn.  Rashad gets discharged from the hospital, and looks up the hashtag on social media.  On Friday, one week after the incident, both Rashad and Quinn go to the protest, during which a list of names of black people who have been killed are read aloud.

Critical Evaluation:

This book was written by two authors, and features two different narrators.  The narrators are both teens, one black and one white, so their narrative voices have important similarities and differences.  Both narrators, Rashad and Quinn, feel authentic; they talk the way real teens talk, the think and worry about typical teen issues, like sports and potential romantic relationships.  Most of Rashad's narrative focuses on his experience and the aftermath.  His perspective is one of the victim, as well as one of a minority group.  He accurately portrays the frustration of having done nothing wrong, and being attacked for the color of his skin.  Quinn, on the other hand, approaches his narrative from the place of privileged as a member of the racial majority.  His narrative focuses on trying to figure out how he should feel about the complex situation.  While I personally would like to have seen Quinn be a stronger character earlier in the book, the struggle to accept the racial injustice is what makes Quinn's story authentic, and it is the part that white readers will relate to.  The narrative neatly switches between the two different perspectives of Rashad and Quinn, neither getting ahead of the other, neither revealing the other's story.  Rashad's narrative was written by Jason Reynolds, while Quinn's was written by Brendan Kiley.  Each author lends their personal experience to their character, creating an authentic voice, while combining for one cohesive, powerful story.

There were a lot of less important characters, at times a bit too many.  Some of the secondary characters, like Jill, Spoony, and Guzzo, are absolutely vital to the story.  However, many other characters are merely mentioned, and not really developed.  It seems that these characters are mentioned to lend to that authentic feeling of teen dialogue and thought processes, such as the other members of the basketball team or the girl Rashad is interested in, but it did seem to clutter the landscape of the story a little.  I would like to have seen a bit more of Jill in the story, since she is most visible female character.  

The story's action begins within the first few pages, when Rashad encounters Paul in the store.  There is a lot of time tracing the tension in Quinn's story, such as the barbeque at Guzzo's house, and the interactions with the basketball team.  Some of Quinn's story could have been tightened up a little, but that slow build helps convey the struggle Quinn faces, accepting something bad about someone he previously saw as a good person.

This book is a strong story written by two different authors, presenting two different perspectives of the same situation.  In general, Jason Reynold's writing is a bit stronger, with the character of Rashad having a more robust narrative voice.  Brendan Kiley presents the story of Quinn in a slower, subtler way.  Despite the differences in authors and narrative characters, both points of view meld together well, for a powerful story.

Author Biography:

Jason Reynolds

(From Amazon Author Page)

The first name bits:
What Jason knows is that there are a lot — A LOT — of people, young, old, and in-between, who hate reading. He knows that many of these book haters are boys. He knows that many of these book-hating boys, don't actually hate books, they hate boredom. If you are reading this, and you happen to be one of these boys, first of all, you're reading this Jason's master plan is already working (muahahahahahaha) and second of all, know that Jason totally feels you. He REALLY does. Because even though he's a writer, he hates reading boring books too. 

So here's what he plans to do: NOT WRITE BORING BOOKS. 

That's it, and that's all. 

Now, for the last name bits:
Reynolds is a graduate of The University of Maryland, College Park. He has been reviewed and profiled in The Washington Post, NPR books, Kirkus, Hornbook, School Library Journal, WNYC, Publisher’s Weekly, Poets & Writers, Gawker, mentioned as a standout in the Wall Street Journal, AM New York, Ebony Magazine, was awarded as a top book of the year by the New York Public Library system, and was the recipient of 2015 Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe Award for New Talent. 

Reynolds is on faculty at Lesley University, for the Writing For Young People MFA Program, and currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.

Brendan Kiley

(From Amazon Author Page)

Brendan Kiely's debut novel, The Gospel of Winter, has been published in eight languages, was selected as one of the American Library Association's Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults 2015, and was a Kirkus Reviews selection for the Best of 2014. He is also the co-author, with Jason Reynolds, of the novel All American Boys. Originally from the Boston area, he now lives with his wife in Greenwich Village.

Find out more at www.brendankiely.com.

Genre(s):
Contemporary Realistic Fiction

Curriculum Ties:

 Pennsylvania State Standard CC.1.3.9-10.K

Read and comprehend literary fiction on grade level, reading independently and proficiently.

Booktalk Ideas:

Discuss the Black Lives Matter movement, citing recent news articles

Discuss how the narrators each told the same story from their point of view, and how the narrator’s race impacted that point of view.

          

Reading Level:

Lexile Measure HL770L

Interest Age:

12-17

Challenge Issues:

Race issues, violence, language

If this book were challenged I would:

·         Listen to the concerns of the person raising the challenge

·         Consult the library’s collection development policy

·         Explain how this work meets a library need based on the collection development policy

·         Consult YALSA’s Dealing with Challenges to Young Adult Materials

·         Consult reviews on VOYA, Amazon, Common Sense Media, and Kirkus

·         Discuss any awards or notable commendations the book received

·         Explain the library’s commitment to intellectual freedom as discussed in the ALA Library Bill of Rights

·         Give the patron the procedure for a formal challenge should they seek to pursue it

Why was this book selected:

This story is one that is unfolding all around us.  Each week, we are faced with headlines and videos of racially motivated situations, particularly involving black males and police.  This book is a way to discuss these heartbreaking incidents, and the value of the lives being lost.  It is also important to for young adult patrons to see characters reflecting their peer group, and struggling with the same issues with which they are struggling.