Extra Credit Review 2: The Hunger Games

Citation: Collins, Suzanne. The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic Press, 2008. Print.

Annotation: Locked in an arena for a fight to the death, Katniss doesn't really expect to see her family again, but she must ask herself, what is she willing to do in order to get home?

Justification for Rejection:

      In The Hunger Games, Collins crafts an intriguing, fast-paced plot that hooks readers, both avid and reluctant. The characters experience danger and adventure which appeals to readers while an unconventional female protagonist manages to cross any lines of gender-based appeal. Katniss makes for an authentic, yet admirable protagonist. She sacrifices her own safety repeatedly for the safety of her family and those weaker than her, even in the arena. Yet, Katniss makes for a fierce contender who is not limited by her gender or her size. Katniss balances very difficult ethical dilemmas and somehow comes out a winner. Collins' settings and plot mirror reality enough to be convincing but the story slips into a striking departure from the reader's reality into a horrific, yet captivating dystopian universe. In Katniss' world, the reader sees characters not much different from their own family and friends. Her world is different from the reader's but it is not difficult to imagine how our own world could take just such a striking and terrifying turn. Collins takes aim at important social commentary on politics, ethics and the importance of family life but falls just short and the buzz of action drowns out the potential message. The Hunger Games is a well-written and highly readable book, particular useful for reluctant readers, but the book's potentially meaningful resonance with adolescent development falls prey, like many of The Hunger Games' characters, to the slaughter of the games. For this reason, The Hunger Games comes up short as a “best book” contender.

Genre: Coming of Age, Science Fiction, Challenged Books.

Extra Credit Review 1: Speak

Citation: Anderson, Laurie Halse. Speak. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 1999. Print.

Annotation: An outcast without a voice, Melinda must find a way to speak up for herself and for the other girls who might suffer because of IT, before anyone else gets hurt.

Justification for Nomination:

      Anderson writes the story of Melinda, a girl who was raped and outcast from a limited first person perspective. Through this device, the reader experiences Melinda's isolation. Alone with her thoughts, removed from all possible help, Melinda must battle her fear of speaking. Melinda's loneliness and confusion resonate with adolescent readers, even if their experiences differ from those of the character. Melinda's voice is simple, but authentic. Speak may not be flashy. In many ways it reads like a teen's diary, but that is precisely why it is relevant. This work of fiction was created to mirror the real-life experiences of a teen. The pep-rallies and cutting class, the dysfunctional home- this may not be flashy, but it is real and the pain of Melinda's experience- her rape is real to many teens. Anderson does not create a flashy plot line with murder and intrigue in order to address the issue of sexual abuse. She places the experience smack dab in the middle of an ordinary teenager's life- a party on a farm, an art class, a janitor's closet- because that is precisely where these experiences take place, in ordinary life. The story does not need to take place in a back alley crime scene to be effective. In contrast, it is the normalcy, the almost boring setting that makes this story so riveting- these things happen to real people, in the midst of their every day lives and for that reason this story is indeed relevant.

     I do not believe that it is possible to write a story that every teen will embrace. While I believe and agree that a wider audience appeal is ideal and that broader relevance (particularly across genders) does attribute to the award-worthiness of a work, I believe ultimately, a work must be awarded for how powerfully and accurately it reaches readers. No work is perfect and no work will be relevant to every single reader, but some works reach their readers in such a powerful, life-altering manner that they cannot be ignored. I believe that Speak is one of these works. Speak may not reach every reader, but the readers that are effected by Speak are moved in such a meaningful way, in both their personal development and in their understanding of the world, that Speak is indeed a worthy title.

Genre: Printz Award Winner, Coming of Age, Realistic/Problem Novel, Challenged Books.

Review 10: Monster

Citation: Myers, Walter Dean. Performed by Peter Francis James. Monster. New York: Recorded Books, 2000. Print.

Annotation: In a world where accused criminals are automatically known as monsters, 16 year old Steve Harmon must prove to a jury and ultimately himself that he is not a monster, but a human being.

Justification for Rejection:

Myers' original approach and intriguing plot catch the reader's (or in this case listener's) in this courtroom novel. Myers' manages to address issues of racism, prejudice and the social justice system in one fairly succinct plot line. Steve Harmon's character gives voice to questions of ethics, morality and justice. His character is stigmatized and accused, to the point where even Steve is not sure of his own humanity. Steve's internal questioning and self-doubt resonates with adolescent readers, but I feel this title quickly gets caught up in the straight-forward plot details, at the expensive of potentially more meaningful reflection.

Since my experience of Monster was via an audio recording, I decided to pick up a copy of the printed edition as well. Thumbing through the book, I am noticing the effects of radical change in format. There are pertinent pictures which appear at just the right time in the story. Myers' “screenplay” approach takes on a whole new life in print, mimicking an actual screenplay with camera directions. Portions of the story which are intended as a first person narrative are printed in Steve's handwriting in order to mimic a journal entry. So much of this novel's strengths are in the formatting that I feel I must re-evaluate the work in print. As for my “rejection”, let me specify that it is for the audio recording of Monster and as far as the book itself goes- the jury is still out.

Genre: Printz award winner, Search for Identity, Realistic/Problem Novel, Multicultural, Audio title.