A Contract with God

Eisner, Will. (2006). A Contract With God. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.

Image Credit: Wikipedia

Annotation:  

Four short stories give readers insight into the lives of residents living in Bronx tenements.

Booktalk:

Meet some of the tenement's most colorful characters: Frimme Hersch, Diva Marta Maria, Mr. Scuggs, and Goldie. Each resident has their own life experiences and expectations, and each is trying to realize their own "American Dream." Discover the tragic beauty that is alive in the Bronx tenements of 1930's-1950's New York.

Will Eisner, the godfather of graphic novels, creates images that convey just as much emotion and reality as the text [open book to random page to show the style of illustrations]. Find out how A Contract with God changed literature forever and inspired generations by being the original graphic novel.

Monster

Myers, Walter Dean. (1999). Monster. New York: Harpercollins.

Image Credit: Harpercollins

Annotation: 

A high school film geek finds himself on trial for felony murder. Through a journal Steve tells the story of his life and trial.

Booktalk:

Is Steve Harmon a Monster? Or just a kid who got caught at the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong people? Growing up on the streets of Harlem is no easy task. But aspiring filmmaker Steve loves his neighborhood and the tragic beauty it contains. After a botched robbery ends in the horrendous death of a convenience store owner, Steve finds himself in jail and on trial for felony murder.

Steve documents his incarceration and trial in an attempt to grasp the reality of what truly happened that fateful December day. His journal, creatively written in the form of a screenplay details facts and feelings [open the book to any page to reveal the formatting]. Strategically placed pixelated photos convey key emotions and events in Steve's life. Will Steve spend his life in prison or will the truth set him free? Join Steve through the trial of his life and decide if Steve truly is a Monster.

"Monster by Walter Dean Myers" video by iancj97

Awards:     

• ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 2000.
• ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, 2000.
• BCCB Blue Ribbon, 1999.
• Booklist Editors' Choice, 1999.
• Booksense 76 list, 2002.
• Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book, 1999. 
• Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book, 2000.
• Edgar Allan Poe Award nominee, Best Young Adult, 2000.
• Isinglass Teen Read Award, 2002-2003
• Heartland Award for Excellence in YA Literature Finalist
• Horn Book Honor List, 1999.
• Kentucky Bluegrass Award, 2001.
• L.A. Times Book Award nominee, 2000.
• Maryland Black-Eyed Susan Book Award nominee in high school category, 2000-2001. 
• Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Literature for Young Adults, 2000.
• National Book Award Finalist, 1999.
• New York Public Library Book for the Teen Age, 1999.
• New York Times Notable Book of the Year, 1999.
• Notable Children's Book, The New York Times, 1999.
• PW Best Books of the Year, 1999.
• Riverbank Review Children's Book of Distinction

I am Scout: A Biography of Harper Lee

Shields, Charles J. (2008). I am Scout: A Biography of Harper Lee. New York: Henry Holt.

Image credit: ©Macmillan

Annotation:  

A thorough look into the life of one of America's most celebrated and reclusive authors of the 20th century, Harper Lee.

Review:

I am Scout: The Biography of Harper Lee is serial biographer Charles J. Shields first attempt at writing for young adults. Shields success may be attributed to the fact that I am Scout is based on his award-winning adult-bestselling biography Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee. Whatever the reason Shields demands respect for his ability to get the reader into the head of his subject and portray them in an honest and masterful light. The cover art of the book is intriguing with an old Underwood typewriter, of personal importance to Lee, taking up most of the space as if it is ready to type the story of Harper Lee’s life. The title also features a tire swing in place of the “o” in Scout that is a nod to her childhood and a scene in Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird. The cover artwork and design is suitable for the topic, the target audience, and the storyline.

            The biography begins with the birth of Nelle Harper Lee in small-town Monroeville, Alabama and chronicles her life throughout success and tragedies. The book mainly focused on how her childhood inspired her best-selling novel To Kill a Mockingbird. Shields relies on first and second-hand accounts to pepper the biography with facts and insider stories, and is diligent in documenting sources in case readers want to further research anything. Readers become invested in Lee’s life, feeling her sense of accomplishment and sticking with her through the rough patches that frequented Lee’s life. While there is nothing in the book that is inappropriate, there are several instances of racial injustice that might be best understood by older readers ages 14 and up.

Awards:

• ALA Best Books for Young Adults, 2009
• Arizona Grand Canyon Young Readers Master List
• Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year, 2009.

The Outsiders

Hinton, S. E. (1967). The Outsiders. New York: Viking Press.

Image credit: Wikipedia

Annotation:  

A group of outcasts band together to survive the social injustice present in their small town and high school. 

Review:

The Outsiders is the quintessential young adult novel written by S. E. Hinton when she was just a sophomore in high school. Much of the success of this novel can be attributed to its authenticity in its representation of social class in high schools across the United States. Hinton presents two different social groups in an Oklahoma town; the Greasers are stereotyped as poor, uneducated “hoods,” while the Socs are perceived as rich, superior and perfect. Throughout the novel Hinton proves that appearances can be deceiving and all teenagers, regardless of their social class, experience similar challenges during adolescence. Touching on familiar teenage topics such as popularity, friendship, and identity allow young readers to relate to the main characters and storyline no matter what side of the tracks they reside.

The themes of death and loss are also present in The Outsiders, but Hinton uses both themes in a realistic way that demands empathy from the readers. The development of the relationship between the Curtis brothers is touching and authentic. While their familial issues may not be exactly the same as those of every reader, everyone can relate to growing pains within the family dynamic, especially during adolescence. Another important aspect of The Outsiders for many young adults is the portrayal of friends making a surrogate family for teenagers. As adolescents come of age, they tend to identify more with their peers than their family members. And in such a way, they develop a family as evidenced in the group of greasers that they novel is centered around. The book is most appropriate for young adults ages 14 and up due to the violence and intense scenes.

Awards:

• ALA Best Young Adult Book, 1975 
• Chicago Tribune Book World spring Book Festival Honor Book, 1967
• Massachusetts Children’s Book Award, 1979
• Media and Methods Maxi Award, 1975 
• New York Herald Tribune Best Teenage Books List, 1967