"You're my king and I'm your lionheart!"

I first heard about Al Capone Does My Shirts back in 2008 while taking the Children's Literature course with Dr. White. She brought the book to class to talk about it and recommended it to us. I never got around reading it until now. This historical fiction novel is set in 1935 and tells the story of a boy named Moose who is dealing with major changes in his life. After his dad gets a job as a prison guard in Alcatraz, the entire family must go with him. Alcatraz is an island about a mile from San Francisco. It was originally used to house a federal prison and other military buildings. At the time, the families of the guards lived on the island and commuted to school in San Francisco everyday.

Going to a new school means making new friends and Moose wonders if he will. When he does, he can't hang with them because he has to care for his older sister, Natalie, who is autistic. Their mother tries to get her enrolled in a school for children with disabilities but she keeps getting rejected. As a last ditch effort to help his sister, Moose writes a letter to Al Capone, who is jailed on Alcatraz, for help. Al Capone just happens to be one of the most notorious gangsters of his time.

Al Capone Does My Shirts can be paired with the novel Tru Confessions by Janet Tashjian. Both deal with kids who are trying to care for their siblings with special needs and survive adolescence at the same time. Students can watch the 2002 film adaptation of Tru Confessions after reading Al Capone Does My Shirts. They can participate in an issue study comparing the treatment of students with special needs in the past and in the present. Below is a scene from the film in which Tru(Clara Bryant) is at the beach with her twin Eddie (Shia LaBeouf). Students can compare Tru and Eddie's relationship with Moose and Natalie's. I found the novel especially interesting because it gives us a look at how Autism was handled in the past. People assumed that individuals with autism were mentally disabled and were not capable of learning. When the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act became law in 1975, children with special needs were guaranteed a free and appropriate public education. Prior to this, schools did not have to accept all students into their buildings. The absence of a law like this one is what prevents Natalie from getting the education that she needs. This novel can also be used to teach diversity and acceptance of individuals from all walks of life. It is written on a 4th grade level but I would definitely use it in a middle school setting or high school setting. All students needs lessons from the past to create a better future. The song "King and Lionheart" by Of Monsters and Men tells the story of two siblings who have been separated and doing all that they can to reunite. Although they live in the same household, Moose and Natalie live in two different worlds. But after a troubling event occurs, Moose becomes concerned for her safety and does what can to protect her. "And as the world comes to an end,I'll be here to hold your hand cause you're my king and I'm your lion-heart!"

"Start swimmin' or you'll sink like a stone..."

The first in a trilogy, The Maze Runner is a science-fiction novel set in a post apocalyptic world.A boy named Thomas wakes up one day to find himself in another world with his memories lost. He soon finds other boys in a place called the Glade who arrived the same way he did. In fact, a new boy arrives every 30 days. The boys have learned to survive by building a self-sustaining society but their ultimate goal is to escape through the maze. But this is no easy task. Within the walls of the maze are these terrible creatures called the Grievers. But one day, a girl named Teresa arrives at the Glade and things begin to change. The sun disappears and the walls of the maze stay open all day which means the Grievers are free to roam the maze and the Glade. As Thomas and his comrades try to survive, he makes a discovery that could save them all. I'll be honest and say that The Maze Runner was not my favorite book to read during this course. I was on the edge of my seat as I read it and I sometimes did not want to finish reading it. I'm not a fan of these types of novels but I wanted to give it a try since it was also a popular movie.

I will say that I really liked Thomas's character. When he first arrives at the Glade, there are already rules set in place. Alby, their leader, makes sure that these rules are followed. Unlike Thomas, the boys are content with living in the Glade. Thomas wants answers and he is not willing to sit around and wait for them. He breaks the rules so that they may have a chance to escape the maze. Thomas even comes up with a way to fight the Grievers instead of fearing them. Maze Runner is written on a 5th grade level but I would definitely use it in a 7th or 8th grade class. Themes presented in this novel include identity, fear, sacrifice, freedom, judgement, and individualism. Students could compare the novel with the movie adaptation and discuss the similarities and differences between the two. I would also have my students chose a character and complete a story map on them. They could highlight their physical characteristics, traits, and include a few quotes from the character. I think I would also have my students write an essay on what it means to be an individual.The Maze Runner could also be compared with other series such as The Hunger Games and Divergent. Both deal with young people who are unique and defy society's rules to survive. Students could choose between the three novels and conduct book club sessions. At the end of the novels, the students can compare and contrast the books.

I could not help but think of Josephine's Baker's version of Bob Dylan's classic, "The Times They Are A-Changin'". Ms. Baker's haunting voice mixed with the cautionary lyrics describe Thomas's plight perfectly. Like Thomas, I find myself defying society's rules quite often. I am not a "typical" 26 year old and I am often criticized for it. But I know what I want to do in life and I know what I need to do.I am not content with standing still. I want more out of life so I work for it. "Come gather 'round people wherever you roam and admit that the waters around you have grown. And accept it that soon you'll be drenched to the bone. If your time to you is worth savin' then you better start swimmin' or you'll sink like a stone for the times they are a-changin'"

"With all the force of a great typhoon"

When I first read the description of this book, I must admit that I was not that interested in it. I saw the cover and immediately thought that she was a spy. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks is an interesting novel about a girl who finds a way to fit in and does a great job at it. But what price must she pay for her newfound position? Frankie was always a lanky, okay-looking girl. But something happened the summer before her sophomore year. Puberty went to work and out came a bombshell. Now she was getting the attention she wanted and even attracted the attention of her crush, senior Matthew Livingston. Things were okay until Frankie realizes that Matthew only wants her as his trophy; as a prize to keep on display. She’s a smart girl and being shut down is not her style. She also realizes that she is being left out of Matthew’s secret club: Order of the Bassett Hounds. Alpha, the leader of the Hounds, orchestrates their elaborate pranks and schemes on campus. For years, they have dominated the campus with their presence. In fact, Frankie’s father was once a member himself. Being the clever girl that she is, Frankie decides that she will rule campus and solidify her reputation. But at a place where reputation is everything, will she go through with it? Will she risk EVERYTHING to prove a point? The answer is yes. As I read this novel, I was taken aback at how frank Frankie is. The novel even starts off when her writing a haughty confession letter to the head master of the school. Frankie single-handedly infiltrates the Order of the Basset Hounds and has them under her control. A few of my favorite movies came to mind as I read this book. One is the British film Billy Elliot. The film is set during the 1984-1985 coal miners’ strike in England. Billy’s dream is to become a ballerina. But with his father and older brother peering over his shoulder, he must sneak around to make his dream come true. But with self-determination and help from his ballet teacher, Billy works hard to become a legend. The other film is Disney’s 1998 classic, Mulan. In an effort to save her father’s life and regain her family’s honor, Mulan pretends to be a man and joins the military. Her efforts allow her to save China. In a classroom setting, I would use this novel with middle school students. I would have my students compare History with one of these stories. Frankie’s confession letter is included in the novel. Students could take on the roles of Billy or Mulan and write unapologetic open letters to society about their identities. Although they all take place in different parts of the world and at different time periods, they share similar stories. Mulan disguises herself as a man named Ping and joins the army. Frankie becomes Alpha and controls a group of men through email. Billy skips boxing lessons for ballet class. Themes that could be discussed are gender roles, betrayal, lies & deceit, and identity. The following scene from Mulan is ironic in that Captain Li Shang is trying to “make men” out of the soldiers he’s been dealt. In a moment of courage and will, Mulan bests all of the soldiers and becomes the greatest “man” of them all. This scene clearly shows that gender is not defined by what we can or cannot do. In The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks, Frankie takes the upper hand and “becomes a man” when in reality, she is just being herself.

"I want my life so bad."

When I first read the description for Speak, I was intrigued. After reading the blurb, I figured that things were not as they seemed and boy was I right. Speak is the story of a high school girl named Melinda. She appears to be a typical high school girl dealing with typical high school things. But everyone hates her. The jocks, the popular girls, the goths, the artists; she doesn’t fit in anywhere. Her best friend Rachael won’t speak to her and treats her like garbage. Her other friend Ivy ignores her. Melinda spirals into depression as she school starts without friends and she retreats to the thoughts inside of her head. But Melinda harbors a dark secret that she can’t bring herself to talk about.

In art class, Mr. Freeman has the students draw a slip of paper out of a broken globe. On that paper is the name of an object and the student’s theme for the rest of the year. He wants his students to figure out how to make the object speak to everyone who sees it. Melinda chooses a tree. As my junior high history teacher would say, “This is important.” The head of a depressed teenager can be a dangerous place. I found myself in tears a few points in the novel. I sympathize with Melinda because I’ve experienced some of her same thoughts. Is it me? What am I doing wrong? Maybe I should not have done that. If I do this, they will like me. Laurie Anderson does a superb job of getting inside the head of a teenager and every line coming from Melinda is believable. I think that all students would be able to relate to her in some way. Speak made me think of the song “Elastic Heart” by Sia. Teenagers are battling with themselves on a daily basis trying to survive adolescence. As Sia says, “I want it; I want my life so bad. I’m doing everything I can.” Speak can easily be used for an issue study about sexual abuse. I don’t want to spoil the story but like many victims, Melinda initially can’t bring herself to speak out. There are too many risks and too much drama associated with coming out. I would definitely use this novel with all high school students in all grade levels. 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders should be taught about rape culture and how it affects everyone. Prior to reading the novel, I would have my students write their own definition of rape. I want them to know that anyone, male or female, can be raped and that it is important to know what rape is. Students should have learned about rape statistics and how rape is handled around the world. Because it is a sensitive subject, I would have parents sign a permission slip for student participation. As I read this novel, I could not help but be reminded of Lisbeth Salander from Stieg Larsson’s Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. Lisabeth is a victim of sexual abuse but is able to take matters into her own hands. In fact, she makes it her mission to avenge women who are abused by men. However, I would NOT recommend this book in a high school setting. It is extremely graphic. I would however, utilize excerpts to compare with scenes in Speak. Speak made such an impact on its readers that Laurie Anderson was moved to write a poem featuring bits from fan letters. I have linked it below. By the end of the novel, Melinda has gained the courage to speak and this encourages other girls to speak. This novel deals with heavy topics but it is important that we speak up about them. “Sing” by My Chemical Romance talks about speaking up even when you are afraid for your sake and the sake of others. Although it’s difficult, Melinda finds the courage to do just that.

"Who can say where the road goes... only time."

I will admit that it took me a while to get drawn into When You Reach Me. This science fiction tale set in 1978 New York City tells the story of 12 year old Miranda and her quest to solve a mystery. Someone has been watching her. Someone knows all about her. Someone wants to save her best friend’s life. Someone appears to be a time traveler. One day, Miranda begins to receive notes from an anonymous person. They know Miranda’s every move and they also know where she hides her spare key. When the notes appear, things in Miranda’s life begin to disappear. Richard’s shoes. The spare key. The plastic Fred Flintstore bank at the sandwich shop. Her friendship with Sal suddenly goes down the drain after he is punched in the stomach for no reason. Miranda attempts to make new friends, avoid the boys and the laughing man who appears to be mentally ill.

When Your Reach Me delicately focuses on several social issues such as socioeconomic statuses. Miranda is the daughter of a paralegal who is also a single mother. Her mother’s boyfriend, Richard, comes over quite often for dinner but can’t get his girlfriend to marry him. Miranda and Richard have a pretty stable relationship. Our protagonist is also a latchkey kid which has become more common in our time. A latchkey kid is a child who goes home to an empty house after school every day. Miranda’s mother makes “enough” to take care of her family but a little extra money would not hurt. Things seem to be okay. But when Miranda befriends Annemarie, she sees how different her life is from the other students. Her floor is free from cigarette burns and the house is spotless. She has as doorman and a beautiful lobby. Annemarie’s father even cooks her a hot breakfast every morning. But while Miranda deals with her struggle to be normal, she realizes that her peers are struggling too. One appears to have everything a 12 year old could want but is held back by racism. Another deals with a chronic illness. “The Laughing Man” who roams the street has a mental illness but the community chooses to ignore him. Miranda’s mother even freaks out when she finds out that she gave him a sandwich. The words and tone that she used made it seem like she was describing a monster. Novels such as this one do not focus on just one issue but features several in small doses. This format makes it easier for the reader to see how these issues might look in real life.

When You Reach Me reminds me of Judy Blume’s classic, Are You There God? It’s me Margaret. Both are set in the 70’s and deal with a 12 year old girl navigating adolescence. While Blume’s book is realistic fiction, Stead’s novel can be classified as science fiction or mystery. It could also be paired with A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle which is also a science fiction novel about time travel. In the story a young girl named Meg goes on a journey to find her scientist father. I should also note that Miranda is reading this book throughout the novel and compares herself to Meg.

The title When You Reach Me made me think of the song “Only Time” by Enya. Even though it’s a love song, the slow pace coincides with the slow pace of the novel. In the song she says, “Who can say where the road goes? Where the day flows? Only time.” The value of time is an umbrella theme in the novel. Miranda must be patient to figure out the owner of the notes. Her mother spends weeks practicing for her appearance on “The $25,000 Pyramid”. Richard patiently waits for his girlfriend to say yes to his proposal. Miranda and Sal spend months apart before they are able to speak about his attack. As I turned each page, I was anxious to find out what would happen next. I think that this book would be appropriate for middle school students (6th, 7th, 8th grade). There are a few mild curse words but nothing that most parents would object to. I could definitely use this book as part of a science fiction unit. One activity that I would have my students do is create a timeline of the major events in the story. The students could work in groups to figure out which events should be included on their timeline and dictate duties to bring the timeline to life. Another activity could be to have the students write a poem describing their feelings while witnessing an event in the story. What did they see? What did they hear? I could also bring in articles and videos that describe time travel. Lastly, I would have students analyze the social issues from the novels and decide if they are still issues in our present time. If they are, are they handled differently? Are we more accepting of differences or are things still the same? "Only Time" will tell.

"They'll kick you, then they'll beat you, then they'll tell you it's fair."

As I looked on the list of books for this class, I was so happy to see The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi on the list. I became acquainted with her story back in 2007 when the film version titled Persepolis was one of the contenders for the best animated feature at the Academy Awards.

Every year, I check out the movies being thrust into the spotlight. It had stellar reviews so I expected nothing less. What I witnessed was a masterpiece. I soon became obsessed and found out that it was actually based on a graphic novel. I found myself researching the history of Iran. Prior to viewing the movie, the only thing I knew about Iran is what little I heard on television, the radio, or at school. I was not interested in the Middle East at the time as I was dealing with my 3 brothers being deployed there. I was a nervous wreck so I tried to shield myself from hearing anything about the war. But when I did hear anything, it was scary and I wanted nothing to do with it. What I didn’t realize is that the day I rented Persepolis would change my life forever. The Complete Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi’s autobiography and tells about her time growing up during the time of the Islamic Revolution in Iran in the 1970s and 1980s. From the time it was founded until 1935, Iran was known as Persia and its capital was Persepolis. The title is significant in that when it was known as Persia, the country was free. But when the old king was overthrown, the Shah changed it to Iran. This name change also signified a change in their country. The book is a black and white graphic novel with simplistic drawings but the story is anything but. The story begins with 10 year old Marjane living in Tehran, Iran with her two loving parents. She wants to be great when she grows up; in fact she believes that she is God’s last prophet. Marjane talks to God on a nightly basis and their conversations are depicted as ones between an uncle and niece. While they humor each other, they also talk about serious things.

One year Marjane was in school with all of friends and they were not forced to follow a particular religion. The very next year, however, boys and girls were separated and the girls were forced to wear “The Veil”. As the Islamic Regime continues to become stricter and more violent, the people start to rebel. In fact, Marjane’s family are social activists and regularly participate in violent protests. As Marjane gets older, her rebellion against the regime puts her in more danger than her family can imagine. Dealing with adolescence is a battle in itself but Marjane attempts to be a normal young woman with the Islamic Regime hanging over her head. As much as she tries, she cannot be free. Her family makes a decision that changes her Marjane’s life forever.

Although the subject matter is serious, The Complete Persepolis is full of black humor. One of my favorite scenes is when Marjane attempts to talk her way out of getting in trouble with her teachers. She decides to wear a denim jacket with a large Michael Jackson button on it. Marjane’s music choices were one of the ways that she rebelled against the state. The illustrations are simple but depict violence in a matter-of-fact manner. One panel depicts a man who is has been sliced into pieces. Some panels feature depictions of massacres. In addition to violence, the novel contains many instances of strong language and sex. I personally feel that the novel should be used in a high school classroom with 11th and 12th graders. An important assignment would be to compare the graphic novel with the film version of The Complete Persepolis. There are scenes left out of the movie that build up to pivotal moments in the novel. Because of this, I personally feel that the overall tone of the movie is less emotional than the novel. I also think that it would be interesting to complete a character analysis on members of The Satrapi Family. Her family played a large role in her growth as a person and I think it’s important to analyze them. The class could be broken into groups and each given a character to analyze: Marjane, Father, Mother, Grandma or Uncle Anoosh. The groups could write journal entries from their character’s point of view and collect items that the character might have in their suitcase. They could even create a collage using magazines and newspapers to describe the character. Prior to reading the novel, students should have already learned about the Iranian Revolution. By reading the novel, they only experience Marjane’s perspective of the revolution. Having background knowledge will help the students connect with Marjane and her situation. After reading this novel, I gained insight on the plight of the innocent people living in war torn countries. In the United States, we are free to express ourselves however we want. We can choose a religion or not have one at all. American teenagers need to be exposed to other cultures so that they become more open-minded and sympathize with those who are living in violent and oppressed situations. We tend to live in a bubble as I once did as a teenager. I did not think about the innocent people who had to live in such awful conditions. Although it is 2015, many people all over the world continue to be oppressed. Persepolis is a novel that must continue to be shared for years to come.

"I'll Be Your Number One With a Bullet"

The Realm of Possibility is one of the most interesting novels that I have read in a long time. What makes it unique is the format. Rather than follow a traditional narrative pattern, the novel is a collection of interconnected poems about teenage angst. Each chapter focuses on four different teens who are connected to other teenagers throughout the book. As I read each entry, I could not help but sympathize with each teen. The Realm of Possibility features tales of love, happiness, disappointment, heartbreak, and satisfaction told through the eyes of the individuals experiencing the emotions. Although I loved every entry, there is one that I must highlight. In a poem called “Suburban Myths” the narrator, Anton, discusses several so-called rumors. Some of the myths are generic while others are downright ridiculous. But as I continued to read, I realized how important this chapter was to the rest of the novel. I gasped so many times throughout the novel that I lost count. As I read this novel, I could not help but cry a few times. I was a teenager not too long ago and I remember feeling the way that some of the narrators did. I will admit that adolescence was THE worst time of my life. Too much happened at once and I did not know how to cope. I will say, however, that I would never want to “erase” or “redo” that time because it truly prepared me for life and for my future career as an educator. In addition to being my students’ teacher, I am their counselor, nurse, handy man, negotiator, and whatever else they need me to be. Although things were rough at one point, it got better. I am now at full speed and not ready to slow down.

At first glance, The Realm of Possibility reminds me of the critically acclaimed 2004 film “Babel”. It begins with an American being shot while riding a bus in Morocco. This single event is the end result of three different stories taking place in the United States, Japan, Morocco, and Mexico. The film and The Realm of Possibility both feature very different stories connected by the characters, themes, and objects. Although it not considered a young adult film, one of the characters, Rinko, is a deaf teenager dealing with a recent tragedy in her family. After viewing the film, students could write an entry for Rinko’s diary describing her emotions for one of the scenes of the movie. The Realm of Possibility can easily be compared to J.D. Salinger’s classic tale of teenage angst, The Catcher in the Rye. Aside from the fact that the novel plays a huge role in two of the narrators' lives, the tone is eerily similar to The Realm of Possibility. Holden Caulfield’s story is told from his point of view which gives us insight into his state of mind as he travels home for Christmas Break. Although he is on a physical journey home, he is also on a journey to find his purpose in life. I am a fan of “stream of consciousness” style writing so Catcher in the Rye and The Realm of Possibility were enjoyable reads for me. The Realm of Possibility is written on a 7th grade level but would be most appropriate for 11th and 12th grade students. The poems in the book focus on topics such as teenage sexuality, love, religion, depression, isolation, and death. An interesting project would be to reply to one of the poems from another character’s point of view. For example, a student would choose one of the poems and then pick another character who could describe the situation from their point of view. Prior to completing this project, the students should learn about different poetry styles and have time to listen to and write in the styles. I also think that it would be fun to have the entire class write their own poetry book. The students could be broken into small groups to write each chapter. An assignment like this may give some students an outlet to speak their mind on issues that they may currently be dealing with.

Of course, a blog post about teenage angst would not be complete with music. In a scene from The Catcher in the Rye, Holden is playing with his little sister on a carousel. As they play, the song “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” by the Platters plays on the radio. In my opinion, this song sums up many emotions felt during the teenage experience: love, hope, loss, sadness and others. Here is a link to other songs that helped me get through my teenage years.