See an awesome intro to Brisingr, book 3 of Eragon and Eldest. The age of Christopher Pailini will astound you, making the books even more impressive.
AUTHOR: Martha Brooks
AGES: High school
REVIEW: This is another novel that got me in a big way. It ended up where I didn't even know it was going. The story is primarily told from teenager Odella's point of view. However, other characters' points of views are sprinkled in throughout the novel. The British Columbia Teacher Librarians Association (in Canada) awarded Mistik Lake the 2008 young adult book award, describing the story as:
In Martha Brooks’ Mistik Lake, family secrets are explored in an intergenerational narrative. When Odella’s mother leaves for another man, Odella must confront her mother’s past and cope with the impact it has on the way she sees the world. In this haunting and introspective story, Brooks creates a thoughtful character that will emotionally resonate with her readers.
In another post, Lauren W. described a novel called Speak. I found Speak's themes and mature content to be similar to Mistik Lake. Mistik Lake is full of very mature themes, including promiscuity and homosexuality. I recommend using this novel with care in a classroom.
AUTHOR: Laurie Halse Anderson
AGES: 9-12th grade
REVIEW: Speak is about a high school freshman named Melinda. She called the cops at an end of the summer party and is now an outcast at school. Instead of talking to teachers, parents or classmates, Melinda closes up into her own world. This novel addresses a lot of the hard issues involved in being in high school including peer pressure, parents, skipping class, the cost of popularity, drinking, sex and depression. For a more in depth summary visit Barnes and Noble at http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Speak/Laurie-Halse-Anderson/e/9780142407325.
Ms. Anderson’s writing is magnificent! Although the story deals with many hard issues, her realistic characters and sarcastic humor make this story very enjoyable. You will laugh, cry and maybe even want to reach out and hug the troubled main character. I really enjoyed the symbolism of Melinda’s hideaway. She hangs a poster of Maya Angela on the wall to help her find the courage this historical figure possessed. When she finally finds her voice again, it is in the shadows of this great woman. Melinda’s view of the world makes you reevaluate how you view yours. To read another review visit http://www.rambles.net/anderson_speak.html.
A word of caution if using this in a classroom: The reason Melinda called the cops at the party was because she was raped. This is not a novel you can assign and then talk about weeks later. It needs to be read and discussed as a class in a mature manner. For some very good lesson plans about Speak visit http://www.writerlady.com/speakh.html.
Guest Blogger: My name is Lauren W. I am currently a graduate student at the University of Memphis. I am getting my masters in education concentrating on English as a Second Language. My sister is a high school English teacher. She passed this book along to me to use with my 9th grade ESL students. The reading level isn’t terrifically difficult, but the content is incredibly valuable. They absolutely loved it! Lauren is a student in Dr. Grant's IDT 7061 course.
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