The Boy In the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Boyne, John. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. David Fickling Books; Mti edition, 2008. ISBN 0385751893

Plot

Bruno is an eight year old boy who loves to play and have fun with his friends. One day, he returns home from school to find his belongings being packed into crates. His father, a Nazi soldier, has received a promotion and the family must move from their home in Berlin to a new house in “Out-With,” Poland. Bruno does not like his new home because it is in the middle of nowhere and he has no friends to play with. Outside Bruno window he realizes that there is a ‘farm’ where everyone is wearing pajamas, he sees children so he want to go over to play with them. Bruno who dreams of being an explorer decides that he must go over to find out what is going on. While exploring the hidden fortress, he meets another boy, but he is behind the fence wearing the pajamas. Shmuel is an eight year old boy just like Bruno which automatically means they are going to be friends. Bruno does not understand why Shmuel is behind the fence and cannot come out. Shmuel sort of understands the situation he is it but not completely. They become friends even though there lives and circumstances are different but develop an innocent friendship that results in shocking consequences.

Critical evaluation

This story is meant for children to understand the Holocaust but has more adult themes. The children are unaware of what is really going on within the fence. Bruno, a son of a soldier, does not really understand what his father is doing nor does he know that what his father does is affecting his friend, Shmuel. This novel is an eye opener for both child and adult because both play important roles. The father is the in charge of the “death” camp and is killing thousand of people without thinking about it. Bruno thinks that Schmuel is living an ok’ay within the camp and does not believe it to be dangerous. Bruno’s father realizes first hand what it feels like to lose someone with the gas chambers that he approved of.

Readers Annotations

Bruno is a young boy whose family moves to Poland after his Nazi father is promoted. Bruno discovers a new place where he makes friends with Shmuel not realizing that he has made friends with a Jewish boy in a concentration camp. There friendship leads to consequences that there innocent minds never thought of.

Information About the Author

The Boy In The Striped Pajamas followed in 2006, originally published for younger readers, it quickly found an audience with both adults and children. Since its release Boyne enjoys to visit schools and classrooms, talking to young children about the issues raised in the novel

Genre

Historical Fiction

Curriculum Ties

History/English

Booktalking Ideas

1) Father when he realizes that Bruno was in the gas chamber

2) How the extermination of thousands happened

Reading Level/Interest Age

Gr. 9+

Why Book Included

Has been on my list for a while, thought it would be a perfect time to scratch it off.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Lee, Harper. To Kill A Mockingbird. Harper Perennial Modern Classics; Reprint, 2007. ISBN-10: 0060935464

Plot Summary

Finch “Scout”, an 5 year old girl, tells a story through her own eyes. Finch lives in a small Southern town in Alabama, during the Depression. She lives with her father Atticus and her older brother Jem. Throughout there story there is a trial of a young black man accused of raping a white woman. In the summer there neighbor Dill Harris comes to visit his Aunt next door and they all have a lot of fun being mischievous. Boo Radley, lives down the block and is the towns “boogeyman.” Scout has heard stories that Boo is crazy and to stay away from his house. The trial of the rape becomes more dominant in Scouts life especially when Atticus is called in to defend the accused, Tom Robinson. Scout does not realize the racial tensions in her town until the trial becomes heavier. Scout is proud of Atticus but does not understand what is really going on until later.

Critical evaluation

Told from a child’s point of view the reader is only able to see and comprehend Scouts view with the trial. The reader only knows as much as a child knows since it is her telling. Scout at first behaves like a child, by playing games and acting like a brat at time. When the case gets Atticus involve she begins to gain an interest and wants to understand what is going on in her small town. Scout realizes that judging someone from there appearance is not the right thing to do. This correlates her understanding with the trial but also with Boo Radley who she once feared but ends up rescuing her.

Readers Annotations

Told through a 5 year old girl eyes this story captures the understanding of racism in a southern town.

Information About the Author

The plot and characters are loosely based on Lee’s observations of her family and neighbors, as well as on an event that occurred near her hometown in 1936, when she was 10 years old.

Genre

Crime/Coming of Age

Curriculum Ties

English

Booktalking Ideas

1) Atticus point of view

2) Racisim. Still an issue?

Reading Level/Interest Age

Gr 9+

Controversial Subject Matter and Defense of Ideas

Racism

Pulitzer Prize Winning Novel

Why Book Included

Have not read the book in a while thought it would be fun to read again.

TTYL by Lauren Myracle

Myracle, Lauren. TTYL. Amulet Books, 2005. ISBN 0-8109-8788-0

Plot

Madigan Kinnick (madmaddie), Zoe Barrett (zoegirl), and Angela Silver (SnowAngel) just started there sophomore year in high school. While the girls have been best friends since seventh grade, they each look elsewhere to seek approval from others. Mad has Jan who is a the queen bee of the school. Zoe deals with Mr. H who uses Christianity to get close to the students but is very flirty. Angela gets a boyfriend who she thinks is the one but becomes crazy after he sees her with another girl. Sophomore year was supposed to be great for these three friends but they are facing a lot of challenges. There friendships are put to the test through many events that occur.

Critical Evaluation

This story is done completely in Instant Messaging which is at first annoying but later it becomes easier to read. The language used is how a teen would type in IM, which is no punctuation marks, lessening of letters in words, abbreviating, IM lingo, and emoticons. The best scence is when Zoe is put in an awkward situation with Mr.H. Zoe is the studious good girl with ultra-strict parents. She craves the approval of her teacher, who happens to be a 24 year old single man. When her teacher invites her to Christian fellowship events and to church, her parents approve. However, the teacher develops an inappropriate interest in his pupil. Zoe and the teacher end up in a hot tub together, where she is rescued by her friends. This is a serious situation that was written very humorous. The teacher could have had taken advantage of Zoe and put her in an uncomfortable situation. Teenagers when put in what seems to be a serious situation turn it into a joke since the consequences are not really thought about.

Readers Annotations

The story of three 15 year old girls starting 10th grade. It is told entirely through instant messages between the girls in which they talk about their hopes and fears and the activities in their lives.

Information About the Author

Myracle does not us IM to catch up with her friends but emails frequently

Genre

Young Adult/Friendship

Curriculum Ties

English

Booktalking Ideas

1)Zoe when in the bathtub with Mr. H

2) IM lingo

Reading Level/Interest Age

Gr 9 -10

Controversial Subject Matter and Defense of Ideas

Mature Content : Sexual Situations – teacher

Selected for entry into Anita Silvey's 500 Great Books for Teens

Why Book Included

I thought that idea of it being in IM was cool and would be entertaining to read.

The Wanderers by Richard Price

Price, Richard. The Wanderers. First Mariner Book, 1999. ISBN 0-395-9774-6

Plot

The Wanderers is an Italian gang from the Bronx, whose members include Richie, Joey, Despie, and Buddy. They are high school students growing up in the early 60s. There man leader is Richie and they tend to get into a lot of fights with other rival gangs, mostly The Baldies, which is lead by a big fat guy named Terror. Racism and prejudice is vey present within the gangs and at school. When a discussion at school about racial equality comes to play racial tensions hit the roof and a fight is planned. The Wanderers and others are stuck in an era of the 50s where racial inequalities exist and gangs are still popular. Richie meets, Rhonda, a college girl who introduces Richie to the new era. Richie’s current girlfriend, Nina, ends up getting pregnant. While Richie and his friends are living there lives there is a change in society that is blossoming. Richie is stuck in the middle and does not know where to go.

Critical evaluation

This story takes place in 1964 which is a time when the old is meeting the new. Price captures the essence of teenage youth and the switch from the 50s to the 60s. In 1964 the civil rights act was established. Race is a major issue throughout the story it shows that social change has to happen or the world would be stuck in this violent era full of hate. The battle that was going to take place between The Wongs, The Afros, and the Wanderers does not because they realize that there is no point to it. His friends were stuck but he did not want to be but with his girlfriend being pregnant he felt that he had no where to escape.

Readers Annotations

It is 1964 in the Bronx and the Wanderers are trying to keep the spirit of the 50s alive by listening to the same music and being in a gang. After Richie meets a college girl he realizes that he does not want to be stuck there.

Information About the Author

The Wanderers is Price’s first novel that he wrote when he was 24 years old.

Genre

Fiction/Coming of age

Curriculum Ties

English

Booktalking Ideas

1) Life in the 50s

2) Richie after he found out Nina was pregnant.

Reading Level/Interest Age

Gr. 9-13

Why Book Included

My friend sold it to me when he was explaining the transition of the 50s to 60s being captured.

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Hinton, S.E. The Outsiders. Speak, 2003. ISBN 0-14-038572-X

Plot

Ponyboy Curtis and his brothers, Sodapop and Darry are part of a gang of greasers. There parents died in a car accident and Darry has to take care of his younger brothers. They often get in fight with the Socs, a group of wealthy, privileged boys who beat them up for fun. Ponyboy is the youngest brother who is shy, quiet, and smart. Soda, the middle brother, is very handsome and likable. Darry, is the adult, he is very serious, works most of the time, and is pushes Ponyboy to do well in school. Pony does not feel that they are a real family because they are constantly arguing with one another. Ponyboy and Johnny end up getting into trouble that could possibly end there lives so they run away. While away they both reevaluate there lives and decide to change it but tragedy strikes that might hinder it. Ponyboy wants something more than just being a greaser but is it to late for them to change?

Critical evaluation

Hinton explores the differed side of a notorious generation. They were not all brutes that wanted to fight all the time. Hinton reveals the Soc to be the problem in this novel. They have the money and social statues that the greasers do not so they do not get reprimanded for there actions. At first the greasers seem to be the victims but as the story progresses they grow as individuals as well as a family. They teach the Soc once and for all not to mess with them anymore. After the large fight at the park that should understand that. Hinton captures teenage greaser life very well in her various novels.

Readers Annotation
Ponyboy and Johnny are part of a gang of greasers though they do not seem the part since they are both shy and do not like to cause any trouble. They get themselves in trouble that would change there lives as well as those around them.

Information About the Author
S.E. Hinton began to write this novel when she was 15 years old

Genre

Realistic fiction

Curriculum Ties

English

Booktalking Ideas
1) greasers and modern gangs

2) ponyboy first person narrative

Reading Level/Interest Age

Gr 9-12

Controversial Subject Matter and Defense of Ideas

Violence, underage drinking, smoking

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

Why Book Included

It is a popular novel that I have always wanted to read that I never got around to doing.

Suburbia by Eric Bogosian

Bogosian, Eric. Suburbia. Theater Communications Group, 1995. ISBN 1-55936-101-8

Plot

Jeff, Sooze, Tim, Buff, and Bee-Bee are all high school friends who live in suburbia and hangout in front of a convenient story on most nights. They are bored suburbans out of highschool who are almost entering there 20s. Jeff talk talks about going back to college some day while he lives in a tent in his parents' garage. His girlfriend Sooze imagines herself as a performance artist in New York. Tim was kicked out of the Air Force and most of his time getting drunk. Buff loves pizza and is a little bit crazy. Bee-Bee, Sooze's best friend, is recently out of rehab but it having a hard time staying clean. These are group of friends are hanging out in front of the liquor store waiting for there old friend Pony. Pony is the only one who has made it out of the suburbs. He has become a big ‘rock star’ who is going to perform at the local arena and is the only one who is doing something besides hanging around in parking lots. His return causes the others to think about there lives and future.

Critical evaluation
Suburbia captures life after high school, the limbo between teen and twenties, and suburban life. The main character Jeff wants to go to college but it to afraid to do so because he thinks that he is not good enough. His fear causes him to be comfortable in the situation that he is in but when Pony returns he realizes that there has to be something more out there and realizes he has to go out there and get it. He no longer wants to stay in suburbia and drink in parking lots. The other characters are also in the same situation or either does not want to aspire to do anything. They do not want to grow up and would rather stay where they know best. Life after high school is one of the hardest transitions and Bogosian portrays that very well.

Readers Annotations

Out of high school, living in suburbia, there is nothing to do except hang out in a parking lot. Pony, there old high school friend is in a band that is playing at the local hockey arena which causes them to re-evaluate there lives.

Information About the Author

The character Jeff is drawn from Bogosians own post teenage life.

Genre

Young adult/suburban life

Curriculum Ties

Drama

Booktalking Ideas

1) Jeff first person narrative

Reading Level/Interest Age
Gr. 9-12

Why Book Included
I thought the idea of post-high school was interesting since most of the novels deal with life in high school or the summer right after graduation.

Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brasheras

Brashares, Ann. Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Dell Books for Young Readers, 2005. ISBN: 0553494791

Plot

Lena Kaligaris, Tibby Rollins, Bridget Vreeland, and Carmen Lowell, have been close friends since childbirth, practically sisters. Carmen finds a pair of thrift store jeans that fit all four girls great, even though they all have different shapes. They believe the friends to be magical since it is impossible that the jeans fit all of them, so that night they make rules about the jeans. They are about to spend there first summer apart from one another so the jeans would be shared between one another. Lena is heading to Greece to spend time with grandparents, Carmen visits her father in South Carolina, Bridget is attending soccer camp in Mexico, and Tibby is the only one staying home. All four girl experience one of the most eventful summers of there lives. Leah meets a boy in Greece who she is forbidden to see due to family rivalries. Carmen finds out that her father is about to re-marry and has an established family. Tibby meets Bailey, a ten year old girl who she befriends. Bridget has her eye on one of the coaches at the camp who she is determined to get. It is there friendship, as well as the jeans, that help them get through the summer. They were changing but they had each other.

Critical evaluation

The four girls are use to having each other all the time and this might be one of the summers they face apart but the jeans give them that same courage they get from one another. The jeans become part of there foursome. The novel captures all four girls feeling and events perfectly, as a diary. Carmen feels that her father is leaving her for another family but does not know to express herself. Tibby becomes good friends with Bailey but Bailey has Leukemia, her death teaches Libby to be more optimistic in life. Bridget is the first one to sleep with a boy and she regrets it after he does not want anything to do with her. Lena falls in love with a Greek boy who her family did not accept. There situations act out the way teens would feel. The author captures the raw emotions of being a teenager, by only using emotions rather than logic.

Readers Annotations

Miracle jeans and sisterhood allow four friends to make it through one of the hardest summers of there teenage lives.

Information About the Author

She is best known as the author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series of books.

Genre

Fiction/young adult/friendship

Curriculum Ties

English
Booktalking Ideas

1) the jeans. First person narrative
Reading Level/Interest Age

12+

Why Book Included
My sister told me that the book was really good so I took a chance on it since it is not the typical book that I usually check out.