W13: Dystopias – Little Brother
Dystopias are a popular YA genre: the questioning of authority, rebelling against the system, and the underlying frustration with the world are extremely relatable themes to a teen. I should include here in the interest of full disclosure, that dystopias are my favourite genre. I was really looking forward to the book of choice this week — maybe too much.
I read Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother. It is marketed as being inspired by George Orwell’s 1984, one of my favourite novels of all time. The novel tells the story of Marcus, who goes by the online handle of “w1n5t0n” (another Orwellian nod, besides the title). He is a 17 year old uber-techie, and his knowledge of getting around his school’s security system is useful when a terrorist attack on his city of San Fransisco brings in the Deptartment of Homeland Security. After the DHS imprisons and interrogates Marcus illegally, he vows to take them down. Focussing on issues of freedom, social activism, and the dangers of governmental control, this hacker tale seemed right up my alley.
Unfortunately, the actual reading of the book was very frustrating. It was extremely tech heavy, with the numerous techie concepts and hacker methods going way over my head. The novel felt like a series of reiterations of why privacy is important and how horrible government surveillance is. Little Brother lacked the poetry and horror usually present in dystopian literature. Instead of gently guiding the reader through the terror of a dystopian future and letting the reader make their own conclusions, Doctorow’s work kept banging the reader over the head with it (“this is BAD!!! Get it? BAD!!!)
Perhaps if I understood the tech aspects better I would have been more engaged. In the end, I found this novel disappointing. It wasn’t the true dystopian I had been expecting. If it hadn’t taken as much imagery from 1984, I may have expected less and could have enjoyed Doctorow’s work more. However, I did appreciate the repeated use of one of my favourite phrases which I find isn’t used often enough: “hulk out”.
That all being said, the book would be appealling to those readers who do have a tech/hacker/gamer background as they will be able to relate to Marcus and his friends. The book will also appeal to those who are interested in social activism and privacy rights.
Still, if a ya reader was looking for a good dystopian novel to read about government surveillance, I would more likely recommend Orwell’s 1984. For more advanced readers I would recommend the book that inspired Orwell, Yevgeny Zamyatin’s We (although I stress advanced reader as the book is Russian, i.e. it is a Russian novel.)
W11: From Zero to Hero – I Am the Messenger
The theme of “loser makes good” is appealing to YA readers. Typically, they are at a point in their lives where they don’t feel powerful due to so many changes whilst transitioning to adulthood. Reading a story where a peer discovers their agency to improve their own life is attractive to this reading demographic.
I Am the Messenger by Marcus Zusak tells the story of Ed Kennedy, a 19 year old underachieving cabdriver. He lives in a boring small town in Australia. When he isn’t driving his cab, he pines for his best friend Audrey, plays cards with his friends, and takes his coffee-drinking dog for walks. The one day, his mediocre life changes when he inadvertently stops a bank robbery. He starts receiving playing cards in the mail with messages written on them for Ed to deliver. Forced to do some good for those in his community, he stars to care and become involved in others’ lives. As he gains confidence and purpose he tries to find out just who is behind the messages and why he was chosen as the messenger.
This Printz honour book was extremely funny and enjoyable. I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Australian actor Marc Aden Gray, which added authenticity to the listening experience. The whole message of the book is that if Ed, the epitome of ordinariness, can help others and make a difference, then anyone can do the same. The book started out as a very funny read but then morphed into a more serious tone. I felt that the transition was disjointed and became too earnest for my taste. I was unsatisfied by the deus ex machina of the ending.
Still, it is really well written with realistic and likable characters. The narration in the audiobook was really well done with great inflection, voices, and timing. The book has wide appeal and the reader can’t help but root for Ed to succeed. I also skimmed through the book and it uses different fonts in interesting ways. Overall, it was enjoyable but not a must-read.
Review #2: Behemoth
Westerfeld, Scott. Behemoth. Read by Alan Cumming. Simon & Schuster Audio, 2010. $39.99. ISBN 978-1442334106.
The second installment in the Leviathan trilogy, Behemoth continues the story of an alternative steampunk history of the Great War. Set in 1914, the Clankers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy) with machine technology are fighting the Darwinists (Britain, France, and Russia) with genetically manipulated animals. Austrian Prince Alek is hiding after the assassination of his parents. Along with the help of his friend Deryn, a girl posing as a boy in the British Air Service, Alex attempts to regain his rightful place on the throne and end the war. Told in a third person narrative, alternate chapters tell the story from both Alek and Deryn’s perspectives as they travel through the Ottoman Empire. This keeps the pace and tension up and allows for a fuller story since the listener is privy to more information. More than just a steampunk novel, Westerfeld (of the Uglies series fame) has crafted a story teens can relate to. The novel also successfully presents political and social issues in an interesting and understandable way. What really makes this an exceptional item is the narration by Tony award winning actor Alan Cumming. Employing pitch perfect emphasis and expression, the listener is left excited and filled with suspense. Cumming also uses many accents and voices so that each character is an individual and he presents a fuller representation than just what is on the page. This audiobook will appeal to both males and females as it goes beyond a mere war story to include issues of history, science, friendship, romance, and politics. In terms of popularity, this title receives a 4P (broad general or genre YA appeal). I highly recommend this title on the superiority of the storytelling and narration, while acknowledging the subject matter may be too different to appeal to all readers/listeners.
W10: Censorship – Weetize Bat
This week focused on the issue of censorship in ya lit. It is an interesting demographic since legally teens are “children”, but they have more rights and freedoms than their younger counterparts.
The reading for this issues was Francesca Lia Block’s Weetzie Bat. It is an urban fairy tale which follows a teenaged girl named Weetzie Bat and her best friend Dirk. They are both searching for their Prince Charmings, although Weetzie calls her’s “My Secret Agent Lover Man” and Dirk’s is “Duck”. The setting is L.A., and Weetzie and Dirk love the fashion and aesthetics of 1950s Hollywood. This gives their friendship and vocab a mystical quality.
On their “Duck hunts” for their true loves, they get discouraged by the lack of quality guys (Dirk is gay). Weetzie is given a genie and her wishes are for lovers for each of them. The wishes come true, but the story goes beyond the happily ever after. Weetzie’s My Secret Agent Lover Man leaves her after she becomes pregnant with Dirk or Duck’s child (MSALM didn’t want a baby, so by having sex with both her friends, Weetzie and the boys ensure that the child will be no one’s and everyone’s.) Duck also leaves Dirk after getting discouraged by the AIDS epidemic in the gay community.
Still, like all fairy tales, the true loves come back and they all live happily as a family.
It is no surprize given the plotline, that this title has been challenged. Their is a gay main character, underage drinking, drungs, premarital sex, partying in LA’s club scene, and the most disturbing is wanting a child so badly, Weetzie resorts to bedding both Dirk and Duck (with their consent) so it can be “their” child.
I admit that when I first started reading this novel, I found it odd … very odd. But then I got into the flow and world that Block had created and I really enjoyed it. It is appealling for its short length (109p), lots of dialog, short sentences, linear plot, and not too complicated of a plot. These aspects make it enjoyable for an emergent or reluctant ya reader. It has a magical quality, such as with the names which describe the characters (it wouldn’t have been so if My Secret Agent Lover Man’s name was Bob or Gary.) The subversive content also make it appealling to a ya audience, as well as the fact that it is the first book in a series.
NaNoWriMo: National Novel Writing Month
I came across this very cool program and knew I had to post it here. The National Novel Writing Month occurs every November as a way to encourage writers to delve into their passions. The goal is to write a novel in 30 days. There is an adult program as well as a Young Writers Program (YWP). The program is intended to provide the support and framework to encourage writers to, well, write. There is no “official” winner, since anyone who completes a book gets a certificate. The real award is the satisfaction in completing a novel.
There is no length requirement for the YWP, as writers 17 years and younger set their own goals. I think this is a very interesting program to encourage budding authors to delve into their craft. There is no genre restrictions, language requirements, or copyright concerns. Basically: anything goes, since according to their FAQ page: “If you believe you’re writing a novel, we believe you’re writing a novel too.” If you have always wanted to write a book, maybe this is the impetus you need. In any case, happy writing!
W8 : Sex in YA Lit – Forever…
For this week’s theme of “sex in YA lit” I read Forever by Judy Bloom. This novel deals with the relationship between Katherine and Michael, two high school seniors who meet at a New Year’s Eve party. Their relationship grows but it is clear (to the reader) that it is not their hearts, and rather their hormones that are the fuel for their “love”.
The novel also explores other approaches to sexuality besides Katherine’s opinion that it should be with someone you love. The best friend Erica wants to “fuck” before going off to college. Katherine’s parents and grandparents have loving relationships, and even though she is embarrassed when she hears her parents making love, she is glad that they are happy.
The novel is problematic in some respects, perhaps since it was written in 1975 it is a product of its time. Sybil, the obligatory fat girl, is sexually loose and no one realizes she is pregnant due to her size. Artie, the acting prodigy, is dealing with the possibility that he is gay while Erica tries to “help him” to be straight. Michael treats Katherine in a patriarchal manner. Perhaps the first two issues were “edgy” at the time, but reading them now feels as forced stereotypes.
Like most teenage relationships, Katherine and Michael promise to love each other forever but it is mostly the sex that holds them together. The novel is a positive representation of being responsible about one’s sexuality since Katherine gets the pill from Planned Parenthood and Michael wears a condom. The mother and grandma are also realistic and understanding parental units who encourage safe sexual practices and by actually acknowledging that teens do in fact have sex.
An abundant use of dialog, accessible vocabulary, straightforward plot, and relatively short length of 199 pages makes this an easy read. Besides the issues identified above, the open and honest portrayal of teen sex is still relevant today.
Book Trailer
For this assignment I created a book trailer for the graphic novel Y: The Last Man by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra. Check it out on YouTube.
W6: ORCA Soundings – Middle Row
ORCA Soundings are, according to the publisher, “Teen Fiction for Reluctant Readers”. Published by the Canadian Orca Book Publishers, this series provides books in themes and formats that will encourage teens to read. The books feature:
- short novels
- contemporary stories
- interesting characters
- linear plots
These novels are also very affordable for libraries: paperpacks are $9.95 and library bound for $16.95.
As my first foray into this imprint, I read Sylvia Olsen’s Middle Row (2008). The story takes place in B.C. where Vince starts dating Raedawn, a First Nations girl of whom Vince’s parents disapprove. When their classmate Dune disappears, Raedawn sets off on a mission to find him, with Vince’s begrudging help. The novel deals with the issues of tolerance and racism, and believing something different than your parents. It also has a respectful and realistic treatment of First Nation relations.
As for the technical aspects of the book:
- first person
- lots of dialogue
- uncomplicated vocab with many colloquialisms
- short length (100p)
- straightforward plot (linear, logical sequence)
- exciting, full of action and conflict
- relatable themes (battle racism, conflict with parents, teen dating)
These aspects make for interesting content but in an accessible format for emergent or reluctant readers.
W5: Recent Award Winners: Ship Breaker
Paolo Bacigalupi’s 2010 novel Ship Breaker won the 2011 Michael L. Printz Award. It tells the story of Nailer, who lives in a dystopian future where sea levels have risen and destroyed coastal cities. Nailer works on the light crew, scavenging wrecked ships. When he finds a “lucky strike”–a new wreck never before touched by scavenge crews– he believes he has found his way out of indentured servitude. Instead, what he finds sets him on a journey to discover the true meaning of loyalty and family, and that he may not be just a “beach rat” after all.
I really enjoyed the dytopian aspect of Nailer’s society: devestating weather systems and rising sea levels. He is living in what used to be Louisiana, in an economy reliant on sailing and recycling. Readers will be able to relate to his dysfunctional family: a dead mother and a drug addict, abusive father. Nailer finds a surrogate family in Pima, a member in his crew, and her mother Sadna. It shows that family is not necessarily whom you share blood with, but rather who you share a loyalty to.
Themes of destiny and the future figure heavily in this novel. The message is that you have to be “lucky and smart”. This recognizes that the American dream of hard work is no longer relevant or realistic (if it ever was). Although one still has to work hard for what one can get, Bacigalupi sucessfully shows the role that luck plays. Nailer’s experience in poverty is an excellent response to the economic downturn/depression in the world today. Most important of all, this novel emphasizes the importance of literacy: Nailer saves the day and defeats his father because he has learned to read.
Ship Breaker presents a very relatable and admirable protagonist in Nailer, since he works hard to escape the crushing poverty surrounding his existence. The messages of loyalty and literacy are wonderful, and the dystopian setting is a great response to the economic uncertainty and injustice in our society. The excellent plotting, realistic characters, and action make this a great read.
W4: Booktalking
Booktalking is a way of promoting books to an audience. Although they can take place informally in the library, they are usually a more formal presentation. Typically, a youth services librarian would go to a high school classroom prepared to discuss various books he/she feels would be relevant to the teens in their community.
A booktalk is essentially selling a book to someone. According to Gorman and Suellentrop (2009), “it is a performance … it is a sales pitch.” They are done to increase circulation, promote a collection, connect with nonusers, and efficiently promote items to teens. Usually 2-4 minutes in length, the challenge is to tell enough about the book to hook readers without telling too much to give it away. There are various approaches and methods, and each is appropriate for specific books and audiences. The trick for the librarian is to figure this all out — no easy task! 
Moving into the “digital age”, a recent trend is to have book trailers: an ad to promote a book, much like a movie trailer. Originally done by publishers to sell their books, now readers, teachers, and librarians have been creating their own and making them available online. I see them as the way a booktalk can connect with the “wired generation”. People spend so much of their time now connecting online, they should be able to connect with the local librarian and library collection as well. Book trailers can be a simple and effective way to reach nonlibrary users and offer something that allows for creativity on the part of the librarian.
Some great ones I have enjoyed:
