The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Alexie, Sherman. (2007). The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. Hachette Book Group: New York, NY.

Young Adult Fiction
Age range: 12 & up
Page count: 230
Awards: National Book Award for Young People's Literature

Summary: Arnold AKA Junior lives with his family in the Spokane Indian reservation. He gets ridicule because he was born with hydrocephalus (swollen of the brain), but fortunately he has his warrior friend Rowdy that defends him from anyone and anything. Arnold draws to be understood, he finds humor in his troubled life by drawing cartoons about the events and people that surround him. Mr. P, his teacher, advices him to leave the reservation and pursue a better education. Arnold wants to be successful so he enrolls at Reardan, a rich, all white school. Being the only Native American Indian in the school he has trouble fitting in. He is consider a  traitor for leaving the reservation. He feels life is a struggle trying to be an individual and being a member of a community.When he joins the school's basketball team and has to play against his reservation, he is consider an even bigger enemy, even by Rodwy. Arnold becomes friends with kids at Reardan and he finds out that if he lets people in to his life they can be pretty amazing, even they're a world different.

Reader's response: The book is based on the author's own experience and gives the reader an opportunity to look at the lives of American Indians today. The author does an excellent job of describing how many people of a minority community, including myself, feel or are made to feel when attempting to break away from the life we were expected to live. Just like Arnold, we try to find success while keeping our culture and heritage alive.
Arnold's diary is hilarious! It kept me laughing out loud the entire time. And the comic illustrations just add to the humor. I enjoy the 1st person narrative of Arnold, the author did a fantastic job of bringing out the character's unique personality in every page. He has a way of describing a sorrowful event and turn it into a funny story without trying too hard. He's a natural. I found myself literally crying and laughing at the same time.

Lesson plans by Penguin Random House

Sherman Alexie's Official Site and Twitter

Also read Thunder Boy by Sherman Alexie:

Textbook Reflection 1-5

Why do we share literature with children?

One of the most important reasons we share literature with children is for the pleasure of reading. Reading to children helps them acquire and develop language, as well as imagination. Kids learn to be emphatic when the books allows them to place themselves in the character’s shoes. Sharing literature supports life long readers. Books can act like mirrors or windows to children, they can relate or experience something new. Children learn to make philosophical expectations, forming their own points of view of what they read. Sharing literature can help transmit culture without having to wait for a certain holiday to inform children. I believe is important to keep thriving to share literature with our young adults, specially to close the gaps they might of have as children.

Divisions of Young People’s Literature

Children’s literature is for kids 0 to eight years old. Books in this division are wordless, illustrated, or novels with few illustrations. Middle Grade Tween division are books for 8 to 12 year olds.Young Adult literature targets 13 to 18 years old audience, characters are usually in the high school level and dealing with young adult issues. When suggesting a young adult book to a reader, the reader’s age has to be consider because the  books can contain language and content suited more for an 18 year old and not so much a 13 year old. Middle school, 11-13 years old, is not division, but it is a group of kids that have difficulty finding books of interest since the they’re too old for children’s books, but too young for young adult literature. The New Adult Division is for readers 18-30 years old, it concentrates on college and adult issues. In order to suggest appropriate books to our readers is important to get to know their interests and know their age or grade level so the content of the literature is interesting, understandable and something our reader can relate to and will want to keep reading.

Genres and Formats

Categories such as mysteries, chick lit, or sports are not genres, neither are formats such as poetry, drama picture books, or chapter books. Organizing books in categories or formats limit students choices. For example if a book is categorize in to chick lit, it is automatically limited to the boys. A librarian needs to be thinking of all kinds of readers that can be interested in a certain book when deciding what category a book can belong to or what categories to use.

What is YA literature?
Young adult literature are books that contain youthful protagonists. The point of view of the narrator whether 1st person or 3rd person presents an adolescent's interpretation of events. The young adult protagonist makes gradual and incremental changes through out the story without making a complete growth, he/she starts as an adolescent and ends an adolescent. To evaluate a young adult book one has to know the current trends as well as be informed on current issues and social issues involving young adults.

How do adolescents develop?
When adolescents develop physically they often have inner questions regarding puberty. Each person develops at a different rate, so many times adolescents question themselves when they see and feel different then their peers. When young adults start developing intellectual they can make a transition from concrete to formal thinking. This usually happens around 14 years of age, therefore teachers and librarians need think about the books they choose for kids and the questions they will ask to make sure students are able to think abstract and enjoy the literature. Developmental stages according to Havinghurst, a developmental theorist,  are stages as we transition from childhood to adolescents. Adolescents also develop as readers. They read for aesthetic experiences, or for enjoyment. They read for vicarious experiences, which is learning about new experiences through a book. When an adolescent sees themselves in a book and can relate to it, he/she is reading autobiographically. Unconscious delight is when the reader reads about the same topic, same author, series, etc. The last development of a reader is the development of empathy, in this stage the reader feel compassion and is responsive to the literature and to everyone that can relate to it. This developments don't necessarily develop in sequential order, they can all develop at different rates and time just like our adolescents.

Lily and Duncan

Gephart, Donna. (2016). Lily and Dunkin. New York, NY: Delacorte Books for Young Readers.

Interest level: Ages 10 and up
Pages: 352

Summary:
Lily Jo McGrother was born Timothy McGrother.  She starting 8th grade and is getting ready to show the world her transformation into "Lily". Her older sister Sarah, his BBF Dare,  her mother and her beloved tree "Bob" are her support team. Dad on the other hand, is having a hard time coming around. Little by little Timothy aka Lily takes tiny steps to show the world who she is deep inside, for every step she takes forward the bullies at school try to push him back.
Norbit is new in town and also starting 8th grade. He hates his name, is struggling with bipolar, and misses his father. What he wants more is to be able to fit in at school. When Norbit meets Timothy they become friends instantly. Their friendship is put to a test at school when Norbit finally gets a chance to play in the basketball team with the popular boys, the Nethernals, but they are Lily's worst nightmare.

Reader's response:
I liked the way the book was written in dual narrative. The story is told in alternative perspectives from each of the two characters letting the reader see the characters' personal views of their experiences. Both characters are equally important in the story, have a unique personality, and voice. In her author's notes, Donna Gephart, mentions her extensive research on transgender kids before writing the book as well as the promise to her son who suffers from bipolar disorder.


Donna Gephart Official Site

Follow Donna Gephart on Twitter

Another book to consider with the same topic on transgender is George by  Alex Gino.

It's Perfectly Normal

Harris, Robie. (1994). It's Perfectly Normal. Boston, MA: Candlewick Press.

Genre: Informational/Non-Fiction

Format: Graphic

Interest Level: 6th-8th grade

Summary: 

It's Perfectly Normal helps parents and young teens answer questions about changing bodies and growing up. It is a kid-friendly book that uses humor to comfortably and appropriately teach students the language many times parents find hard to explain. 

Reader Response: 

It's Perfectly Normal has been approved by science, health, and child development experts, but it has also has been challenged or banned by libraries because of its content. Others have asked for the book to be put in a restricted area in the library. The reader has to truly understand the author's purpose for writing the book, which is to answer every imaginable question a young person might have and answer it with facts and unbiased answers. I personally think is a good resource for young teens to get answers to the questions they might feel embarrassed or curious asking and get answers that are researched based. 

Robie Harris Official Site

Other books by the author:

Annie on My Mind

Garden, Nancy. (1982). Nancy on My Mind. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

Awards: 
ALA Best Books for Young Adults
YALSA Best of the Best
Age: 12 and up

Favorite phrase from the book: "Don't let ignorance win, let love."

Summary:
Liza is a senior in a private high school, she has everything going for her. She is president of the student council and is pursuing a career in architect.  Annie lives in the projects, her parents are Italian immigrants, and attends a rough school. The one thing they have in common is the love they have for each other. Since the day they met at a museum they became inseparable. Liza, feels confused as to why she likes Annie's company so much. She has trouble coming in to terms with her own feelings and restrains the attraction she has for Annie. After their first kiss, they confess their love to each other. The girls pretend friendship in front of others, but secretly they are more than that. When two of Liza's teachers go on vacation, she volunteers to take care of their home and cats. In the house the girls don't have to pretend anymore, they truly be themselves. A school administrator finds the girls together at the house and exposed them to the school faculty. Liza has to face her parents and the school board of trustees. In order to save her college career and avoid hurting her parents, Liza denies her romantic relationship. Both girls go on their separate way. Is not until college that Liza finally comes in terms with who she truly is and finally accepts herself. She reconciles with Annie and they both plan to reunite.

Reader's response:
Part of the narration is Liza's thoughts as she tries to write Annie a letter, in response to the many letters Annie has sent her during college. The other part is Liza narrating the events that happened between her and Annie during their senior year in high school. This is a very challenge book because of the topic it covers, but it is also a book that many young adults can relate to. The author does a great job describing the joy and the fear of being in love. She also does a extraordinary job including characters with different points of views, feelings, and believes that translates with what we experience today in society.

 Listen to the entire audio book (7hr15min) narrated by Rebecca Lewis, available thanks to Penguin Random House Audio.

Nancy Garden Official Site

Other young adult books by the author:

 Level interest: ages 14 and up

Level interest: ages 8 and 12