Book Review - The Adoration of Jenna Fox

The Adoration of Jenna Fox

By Mary E. Pearson

Henry Holt and Company

2009

ISBN:978-0-312-59441-1

pp. 265

What makes you you? Is it your hair? Your eyes? Your personality? Your brain? What could you take away from yourself and still be “you”? While reading the novel The Adoration of Jenna Fox all of these questions knaw at you and truly never let go of you.

Jenna was not supposed to survive a terrible car crash, but she did. Set not too far in the future, the reader meets Jenna as she first “wakes up” from a long coma. What happened? Where is she? Why does her body look unharmed? Through Jenna’s eyes the reader slowly learns of Jenna’s past, her relationship with her parents, and her mysterious unscathed current state. As her parents encourage her to view videos of her past, she learns of their far reaching and perhaps all controlling love. She wonders out loud – can parents love too much? Do parents have the right to make life altering decisions for their children? At what age should those decisions be the child’s solely?

As Jenna learns more about her past, she struggles to understand more about her current life. The discovery that she truly has been altered – a choice her parents made in a desperate attempt not to lose her – both shocks and consumes her. Desperately trying to be her “own person”, Jenna finally rebels from her parents’ tight grasp and demands to go out into the world and attend school. School opens her up to many risks and many discoveries. Through her classmates she experiences love, loyalty, sadness and confusion – but can she really be having these feelings as a “created being”? Jenna’s journey of self-discovery although in a very altered experience seem to be universal enough to appeal to any young adult trying to discover themselves, their place in the world, and their meaning of life.

I would highly recommend this book to young adults from age 12 and up and would also highly recommend this book for adults. The questions of who we are, what makes us us, and how we all make decisions in the face of death are incredibly intriguing and will keep the reader turning pages sometimes faster than they can read them.

Other books that I  recommend that deal with scientific experimentation on humans for this age group:

The Maximum Ride Series by James Patterson
Although my middle school library has multiple copies of these books - I cannot keep them on the shelves. The main character is Max, a mutant teenager with wings, she along with her mutated group of friends struggle to define themselves in a "normal" world while they fight to survive against their scientific creators.
Click here for a more detailed book review click here.

Dr. Franklin's Island by Ann Halam
A scientist captures two young girls and turns them into animals. As their bodies change they work to maintain their true human spirit of courage, love, and friendship. Does it matter what they look like? What makes them "them"? My sixth grade book group truly enjoyed using this book as a discussion for self-identity and discovery.

Book Review - TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY

TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY
a novel by Jay Asher
Published by the Penguin Group
ISBN 978-1-59514-171-2
pp.288




In high school I was trained to answer a suicide hotline - to this day, I can remember how nervous I was that the phone would actually ring. 


Could I really help someone overcome the desire to end their life? Could I really reel someone in from the abyss of confusion, of  hopelessness, of despair?  The question still lingers - could I really help?


13 Reasons Why is a heartwrenching 268 page suicide note. Instead of leaving her last thoughts down on paper, the main character Hannah records her last thoughts and  her13 reasons why she decides to take her life on cassette tapes for a specific list of people to listen to - whether they want to or not. From beyond the grave, she guilts her listeners into hearing their impact, their domino-like effect why a young, beautiful, full of life high schoolers would choose to end it all.


From the very first page to the very last, the reader is compelled to keep "listening" along with Clay Johnson, one of the members of the "list"to find out how they fit into Hannah's puzzle of self-destruction.  With the weight of knowing that Hannah already has commited suicide, each listener must agonize through Hannah's eyes the responsibility that they had in her death.  What DID they do? What DIDN'T they do? Could they have been the ONE person that could of stood between Hannah and death?


Each side of a cassette tape is dedicated to a single person on Hannah's list - they need to know what they did.... Did they not listen to her? Did they start rumors about her? Did they turn their back on her? Did they let other's bully or sexually harass Hannah? Did they provide the last drip of deceit and pain that tipped Hannah's life vessel over to never be refilled again? Did they "kill" Hannah?


This book is a hard one to put down, even though the reader knows Hannah's fate from the very beginning, it is very hard not to hold on to some hope that there is a way to turn back time, to undo the hurtful deeds that led to Hannah's death. Many times throughout this story I found myself hoping that the next tape would actually reveal that Hannah was alive, recovering somewhere, that her attempt at suicide had failed.


The references of bullying, sexual harassment, gossip, fake friends, rumors, love lost, feeling alone and hopeless are unfortunately very personal for many young adults...hopefully this book may also provide a turning point for some readers...to act, to not look away, to stop before saying or doing such hurtful acts to others no matter how trivial they may seem,  and in turn maybe be the one to save someone else...




Due to some of the sexual content of this book, I would recommend it for 14 and up, but the subject matter of suicide is something that needs to be discussed at an early age. According to the Centers for Disease Control...
" One of the leading causes of death amongst teenagers is suicide... it is the third leading cause of death, behind accidents and homicide, of people aged 15 to 24. Even more disturbing is the fact that suicide is the fourth leading cause of death for children between the ages of 10 and 14."


Here are some resources for that discussion.


If suicide even remotely comes to mind:


Please reach out and talk to someone at 1-800-SUICIDE


RESOURCES for TEACHERS, PARENTS, KIDS along with CRITICAL WARNING SIGNS CLICK HERE!










Other books young adult readers may compelled by this book:


A story of taking two friends taking their "list" of people that they hate and doing something about it:

Hate List by Jennifer Brown
see a review here.
see a youtube trailer of the books storyline here.

A classic and tragic story of depression and the toll it takes:
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath


See a synopsis at the following link.
http://depression.about.com/cs/truestories/fr/thebelljar.htm

Pathfinder Pam Munoz Ryan - something for everyone

Something for everyone...

Pam Munoz Ryan reaches into her reader's minds and helps them to get more comfortable about : who they are, who they might become, where they fit in in our world and how to relate to one's family, friends, and peers. Through the diverse genres of young children picture books all the way to young adult literature Pam Munoz Ryan takes these universal themes and makes them accessible to all readers.  Hopefully, 

this pathfinder is for teachers and students to learn more about the award winning author but also to find something for themselves..

Biography - Who is she?

Pam Munoz was born and raised in Bakersfield, California. Her days after school were spent at her grandmother's pouring over books. Her grandmother's story of arriving in California from Mexico is loosely portrayed in Ryan's award winning book, Espernaza Rising. Later in her school years, she attended a new school where she felt uneasy with herself and her peers - she took refuge in books. They were her "place to escape". Her career started in early childhood teaching and administration. When she went back to school for a master's in education, two separate friends asked her to consider writing as a career - they knew she had talent. Like many writer's beginnings turn out, her manuscripts were rejected left and right - "too many to count" she shares.  Finally, after many trials and tribulations her first book was published in 1994. Lucky for us, she has not stopped since and has published over 30 books for kids - from picture books, anthologies, young adult books, and even biographies.

Watch a video interview here.

Books - How many? For who?

Pam Munoz Ryan has been a very busy and successful writer. A few of her books are highlighted below. For a complete list of her books, a brief synopsis of each, and the many awards/honors that each has received please visit her comprehensive official website here.

1998 Riding Freedom - Life is hard for Charlotte growing up as an orphan in the mid-1800's. Find out how she and a secret defy all the odds.

1999 Amelia and Eleanor Go For a Ride - Following a true story of these friends adventure one night - flying in the face of convention.

2000 Esperanza Rising - Learn how losing everything can sometimes realize all that you actually have got.

2001 Mice and Beans -  A colorful story of a big family celebration. How does one feel special?

2002 When Marian Sang - A famous symbol of the Civil Rights movement. This story tells of Marian Anderson's successes and obstacles.


2004 Becoming Naomi Leon - Think positive. Can that truly save your family?

2011 Tony Baloney - How does a penguin stay out of trouble in his big family? How does he find love and mischief?

Awards/Honors - What do they mean?
It is very special to receive any award in writing - whether from fans, critics, or organizations. What makes Pam Munoz Ryan so unique is not only the number of awards that her books have been given, but the diversity of awards it truly amazing and awe inspiring. Her awards include: The Pura Belpre Award (for outstanding Latino/Latina topic book), ALA Notable Children's Book, IRA Notable Book for a Global Society, Starred Review Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal, Teacher's Choice Award, The Willa Cather Award (for presenting the west in literature), Arizona Grand Canyon Reader Award, Jane Addams Children's Book Award (for promoting peace and understanding amongst each other), ALA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults, Publisher's Weekly Best Book of the Year, NY Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, Smithsonian Best Book of the Year Award, over 50 state young reader awards, and many more... click here to see more awards and for which specific book they were awarded to. For more detailed descriptions of all the awards please visit the 
American Library Association website here.

Websites for more information/lesson resources:
- Scholastic has a very comprehensive site that will provide author interviews, Book Discussion guides, and teacher resources.
-  Reading Rockets has 3 video interviews available that give more insight into Pam Munoz Ryan's writing. 

Write to the author:
Pam Munoz Ryan
Scholastic Inc.
537 Broadway
NY, NY 10012


Email the author:
PMunozRyan@aol.com


Follow the author on Facebook or Twitter:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pam-Munoz-Ryan-Day/143501092341796




http://twitter.com/PamMunozRyan

Sources used to create Pathfinder:
http://www.pammunozryan.com/
http://www.ala.org/
http://www.scholastic.com/
http://www.readingrockets.com/
http://www.freshfiction.com/

Contributions:Pam Munoz Ryan is a writer that has had a wide impact on the world of young adult to young children's literature. Specifically, she has shown the strength of young female protagonists, often of Latina heritage throughout many of her books - this is a very important contribution in today's multicultural society. With growing number of Latinos throughout America, it is essential to have characters that young Latinos can relate to and aspire to learn life lessons from while providing a positive representation of their culture to the mass public. Many library and schools highlight and use her novels like Espernanza Rising and Becoming Namoi Leon to open up discussions about this unique and ever growing part of our population. Visit www.girlsinc.org/downloads/latinaresources_forgirls.pdf
for more ideas for great books on this topic.

She also is a true inspiration to aspiring writers. Pam Munoz Ryan mentions in many of her interviews that writing is not only her passion but her job that she takes very seriously. She has proven by the sheer  number of books written and with their consistency of quality which is recognized by both their popularity and their many, many awards, that prolific writers can also be high quality writers. On her official she devotes a whole page to give advice to both adults that inspire to be writers and students that want to be writers. Writers are encouraged to visit http://www.scbwi.org/ created by the Society of Children's Bookwriters and Illustrators, http://www.ralphfletcher.com/,  and many more to get started. Visit http://www.pammunozryan.com/ to get the complete list.  It is unique  to see an author take such steps to ensure that the next generation of writers is so supported and nutured.

Great Website Sources for teachers and students:
http://www.pammunozryan.com/ - official author website

http://www.ala.org/ - American Library Association, award explanation, book lists

http://www.scholastic.com/ - Book talks, lesson plans, interactive book activities, author interviews

http://www.readingrockets.org/ - website for young readers, author interviews, book reviews

http://english.clas.asu.edu/wq-naomi-leon - webquest for Becoming Naomi Leon

Written in Bone - Non-fiction Book Review

Written in Bone - Buried Lives of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland

by Sally M. Walker, 2006 Sibert Informational Book Award winner

Non-Fiction 

pp. 144

Carolrhoda Books 2009

ISBN: 978-0-8225-7135-3

Part history, part forensic mystery, and part archeology this eye-catching book takes the reader on a journey they will not soon forget. Sally M. Walker, winner of the Sibert Informational Book award in 2006, details the work of forensic anthropologists with detailed maps, diagrams, text, yet most appealingly through the use of big, bright, and fascinating photographs. 


This book is a great pull for young adult readers that are not pulled in by fiction - the detailed pictures, diagrams, and explanations may help many young adults that you do not have to be reading a novel to be a "reader".  I tend to use this book as an example to my middle schoolers of great nonfiction choices available to them.  I also would highly recommend this book to your history buff adult friends - it provides a wonderful eye into the local history of Maryland and the surrounding areas.  Feel free to stop by my house to get a first hand look at this great book - it is on my coffee table right now, being enjoyed by a wide variety of ages!


This large format book uses American history of Jamestown and Colonial Maryland to give a detailed account of how forensic anthropologists do their work.  It starts with introducing a Sally M. Walker herself as an anthropologist by study and how thrilled she was to be asked by Dr. Owsley of the Smithsonian to write a book about the Colonial settlers of the Chesapeake areas of Virginia and Maryland.  She describes Dr. Owsley and his fellow forensic anthropologists as translators of our history through the use of discovered skeletons. The mysteries of how one died, how one lived, who one was, and where one came from can often be solved by studying the dead and their remains. But as Ms. Walker points out - this is a tricky business and these scientists that are experts in many detailed works must also be very meticulous in the handling of human remains..."in all cases, human remains must be handled in a manner that respects the dead and well as the customs of the living."


Walker uses beautiful pictures to pull the reader in and detailed, yet succienct written descriptions to tell the story of how these anthropologists use burial sites in Jamestown and Colonial Maryland to discover the deceased's age, sex, birthplace, station in society, and even their length of time in the colonies.  Readers can easily become engrossed by the colorful pictures and Walker's captions provide a lot of information, but it is equally fascinating and recommended to take the time to read the painstaking journey that each of these scientists go to individually and in teams to truly discover the lives of their subject matter. 

It is hard to describe the visual appeal of this book without experiencing the pictures oneself, so I invite you to take a minute to enjoy an interview from the head anthropologist showing his work by clicking on this youtube video.