Girls Like Us Review

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Bibliography

Giles, Gail.  Girls Like Us.  Somerville:  Candlewick Press, 2014.  ISBN:  978-0763662677.

Summary

Biddy and Quincy are self-proclaimed “speddies,” or students enrolled in a special education program.  Academic challenges aside, these ladies are street-wise; they know the origins of their respective disabilities, and how the world perceives them because of them. Upon graduation, their counselor pairs them as roommates and secures jobs and lodging on the property of a politician’s elderly wife so that they can live semi-independently in the “real world.”  As part of the arrangement, Biddy cleans, and Quincy cooks and works part-time at the Brown Cow Market.  Both young women have suffered unspeakable violence and ridicule because of their handicaps.  When the demons of the past and new monsters in the outside world threaten to ruin their newfound happiness, they support each other, pooling their strengths to discover friendship, resilience, and mutual understanding. 

Critical Analysis

Girls Like Us teaches tolerance for differences.  Because young adults will undoubtedly encounter people from various walks of life in secondary school, college, and beyond, this is a virtue that they will do well to acquire.  Biddy and Quincy acknowledge right away that they are differently abled.  They know their impediments well, but view them as only one part of their experiences, not the sum of who they are.  The girls are also aware that people can be cruel about said differences.  They recount being mocked and mistreated by peers, strangers, and their own families. Biddy and Quincy’s ordeals will engender empathy in their audience.  Giles gives a voice to the victims of bullying.  Teens, who can be cruel and judgmental, will see that all people are deserving of kindness and respect.

Girls urges young adults to be open-minded when contemplating new friendships.  Often, we can find humor, strength, talent, and beauty in the people and places we least expect.  Initially, Quincy looks down on Biddy because the latter is illiterate, and her mental impairments are more severe. She also labels Biddy promiscuous based on rumors she hears at school.  Biddy puzzles over Quincy's abrasiveness and writes it off as a feature of her personality, without really exploring the source of her anger.  Naively, Biddy believes that Elizabeth is every bit as kind and graceful as Quincy is mean. Quincy, however, is wary of her elder, White employer - she assumes Elizabeth's philanthropy is rooted in pity. Elizabeth is mostly gracious to the girls, but underestimates and oversteps at times. The roommates discover that Liz has her own insecurities, that being abled and wealthy does not guarantee wholeness.  When the ladies relax their suspicions and assumptions, they become a tremendous support to one another.  They instill courage, self-respect, and dignity each other.  They provide comfort and protection.   They share their skills and strengths.  Most importantly, each helps to navigate through the other’s personal traumas.  This book encourages teens to develop authentic, deep friendships, and to rely on those in their circles for water, shade, and pruning, so to speak.

Finally, this novel addresses the heartbreaking epidemic of sexual abuse.  Unfortunately, women are especially vulnerable, regardless of age, orientation, socioeconomic status, or ability. Girls is a timely read for adolescents at an age where parties and dating could potentially put them at risk.  It also reassures victims that they cannot do anything to provoke, nor are they at fault for violence committed against them.  It also encourages them to report rape, and to depend on a support system rather than dealing with the hurt alone.  

Girls Like Us has a place in young adult literature.  There is a misconception that teenagers have unlimited health and vigor.  Quite the contrary, more than 1.2 million young adults are affected by disabilities that impede their daily lives.  44% of rape victims are under 18, and more than likely, perpetrators will not face legal consequences for their crimes.  These young people need a voice, and those around them need to hear and empathize with it.  This novel facilitates these goals.

Awards

• 2015 Schneider Family Book Award Winner, Teen
• YALSA’s 2015 Best Fiction for Young Adults
• 2014 National Book Awards Longlist for Young People’s Literature
• Booklist Editors’ Choice 2014

Published Reviews

Henley, Juli.  Rev. of the book Girls Like Us, by Gail Giles.  Voices of Youth Advocates (Voya) 1 Jun. 2014.  Web.  Accessed August 13, 2015.

Extension Activities

1. The World Through My Eyes – Can you imagine how hard it would be in class if you could not seem to focus, if the letters on the pages just did not make sense, if you could not get the numbers to add up? Go tohttps://www.understood.org/en/tools/through-your-childs-eyes and pick at least two simulations to experience what life is like for people with learning disabilities. Watch the accompanying videos of kids describing their challenges.
2. Mama Duck - Biddy has stuffed her abuse deep down into her psyche, convinced that no one values her life enough to take action against her attackers.  She rescues Quincy and accompanies her to the police station, but who will be her Mama Duck?  Write an alternate ending/addendum in which Biddy takes her agency back.  For instance, maybe she cuts up her coat or confronts her grandmother.  
3. Two Faced - Despite her tough girl exterior, Quincy is insecure about her facial deformity.  The reader discovers that she is extremely talented, efficient, intelligent, and strong.  Draw and color a picture of how you envision Quincy's face.  Make sure that one side is unaffected, and the other reflects her childhood injury.  On the unaffected side, cut and paste words that describe her strengths.  On the injured half, cut and paste words that reveal her weaknesses.  This is a lesson that true beauty lies in our goodness, not our appearance.

Related Literature

• Erskine, Kathryn.  Mockingbird.  New York:  Philomel Books, 2010.  Print.  ISBN:  978-0399252648 – 10-year-old Caitlin sees things in crisp black and white lines.  Because she has Asperger’s syndrome, ambiguities like color, facial expressions, social customs, and figures of speech confuse and frustrate her.  Her older brother, Devon, was always there to comfort and help her with her awkwardness.  When he is killed in a school shooting, Caitlin has to muddle through grief that is only compounded by ASD, with only the dictionary definition of closure and Devin’s half-finished project as her guides.
• McGovern, Cammie. Say What You Will.  New York:  HarperTeen, 2014.  Print.  ISBN:  978-0062271105 - 17-year-old Amy lives parallel to her peers because of cerebral palsy.  She spends the majority of her time accompanied by adult aides because of her limitations.  For her senior year, Amy resolves to form real friendships. When she recruits other students to be her aides, Matthew applies. By helping Amy, Matthew develops social skills and comes to terms with his own OCD, and they forge an unlikely romance.  

Quick Reads: The Rose that Grew from Concrete

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Bibliography

Shakur, Tupac.  The Rose that Grew from Concrete.  New York:  Pocket Books/MTV Books, 2009.  Print.   978-0671028459.

Summary

Before he was a platinum-selling rap legend, Tupac Shakur was an introspective teenager who was hungry for love, ambition, and social justice.  He was the eponymous rose that grew from concrete – a beautiful, exotic mind that managed to thrive in an impoverished, fallow ghetto, despite being out of place and unappreciated.  Divided into four sections, Shakur’s poetry speaks on love in several forms:  romantic, familial, and platonic.  He divulges his feelings of loneliness and the internal war between the vulnerable artist and ruthless thug inside of him.  Shakur pays homage to other star-crossed stars whose talents were too great for the world to comprehend.  He implores Black people to reclaim their rich history as thinkers, innovators, and agents of change.  Ultimately, he predicts his own early demise. 

Critical Analysis

Romantic love is a dominant motif of Rose, as well as the teenage experience in general. Tupac portrays himself as a Casanova, albeit with the best intentions.   A third of the poems are dedicated by name to the ladies in his life.  He celebrates their beauty, strength, smile, and passion, and mourns failed relationships nostalgically. His feelings are so palpable that one would think he married at least three of those girls! Young adults will identify with these intense emotions, the rollercoaster highs and abysmal lows of love.  They can take comfort that like Tupac, they will live to love another day to love another girl/guy. Perhaps they can also follow his example of making real connections with their romantic interests, of basing their affections on substantial qualities like the aforementioned beauty, strength, smile, and passion.

Teen readers will relate to crushing loneliness and being misunderstood.  In middle and high school, a young person can be surrounded by thousands of peers, yet feel invisible and unlovable.  Gifted students will appreciate how Tupac addresses isolation.  Pop culture values appearance and possessions over intellect, which leaves teenagers stooping, squatting, and hunching to fit into social crawlspaces that are too small for their talents in the name of acceptance.

Shakur also writes about the battle of who you are inside versus who your environment dictates you should be.  Many adolescents have big dreams, but feel locked out because of where they live, who their parents are, or how little money/opportunities they have.  They are tempted to bridle their greatness and submit to the violence, poverty, and hopelessness that swirl around them.  As they transition into adulthood, teenagers become aware of rigged socioeconomic and government systems. The see how drugs and gangs eat away at their neighborhoods, and how people in power are content to keep the have-nots powerless.  They want to do something, but their screams for more and better cannot be heard over the din of destruction.  For these young adults, Tupac is a resounding, lyrical voice.

For those who love his artistry, and those who only knew him by his “Thug Life” reputation, Rose gives insight into the heart of the man.  It dispels the militant, angry, gang-banger rumors that dogged Tupac and puts the focus on his wordsmithing. Social consciousness and the portrayal of a well-spoken Black man are a refreshing departure from the stereotypes of ‘hood life.  The inclusion of Shakur’s original poems in his own handwriting, complete with slang and “text talk” (i.e. 2 for “to,” an eye drawing for “I”) gives the book a rawness and authenticity that teens will appreciate.  The poems are brief and comprehensive, which make for a fast, but meaty read.  Young adults can move quickly through the book, then meditate on its profundity. Because it is arranged in quadrants, they can focus on certain topics; it is not necessary to read Rose in order.  There is little to no profanity or sexual references. Critically speaking, these poems were written up until age 19, so readers do not get to see a more mature, worldly Tupac.  Some would say that this book is biased and attempts to soften Shakur’s image after his murder.  Unfortunately, pictures are sparse. 

Librarians and educators should include this tome in any collection that serves urban youth.  It is a window into the mind of one of the greatest artists and performers of our time. Readers can trace the connection between poetry and music.  By seeing Tupac in a different light, they can identify their own talents and see the potential in themselves as well.  Because Tupac was murdered at the tender age of 25, this book immortalizes him.  It is already a classic for his fans.

Published Review*

Salpini, Susan.  Rev. of The Rose that Grew from Concrete, by Tupac Shakur.  School Library Journal 1 Jul. 2000.  Web.  Accessed July 26, 2015.

Extension Activities

1. Thorns – Tupac wrote Rose before he achieved international stardom as a rapper.  After he became famous, poverty, life in the ghetto, and ambition for something greater should not have been factors for him…or so one would think.  What problems would a mature, wealthy Tupac face? Brainstorm about the demons that a well-known entertainer would encounter and write a poem from the perspective of a 30-year-old Tupac.  Discuss at least 3 of Rose’s themes, but modify them to reflect Tupac’s new life (i.e. poverty vs. surplus). 
2. Composite of the Block – Tupac describes the ‘hood as being rife with police brutality, drugs, gangs, single moms, poverty, and little hope for the future.  Using his descriptions, make a picture of how you envision his surroundings.  Color your illustration, and feel free to use magazine and clip art.  Make sure to place a rose somewhere in the midst to symbolize Tupac’s resilience and indomitable spirit.
3. Surround Sounds – Select your favorite poem from Rose.  Listen it to its narration on The Rose that Grew from Concrete album.  Pay attention to line breaks, rhyme scheme, speed of delivery, cadence, emphasis on words, etc.  Write a brief paragraph telling about these, as well as any other literary devices you notice.  How is hearing the poem aloud different from simply reading it in print?  Does it enhance your understanding of the poem?  Is the speaker’s delivery effective; does it capture the emotions you think Tupac was trying to convey?

Related Literature

• Alexander, Kwame.  The Crossover.  Boston:  HMH Books for Young Readers, 2014.  Print.  ISBN:  978-0544107717 – Joshua and Jordan are twin brothers whose biological bond is only strengthened by their love of basketball.  Jordan’s new romantic interest leaves Joshua feeling alienated and angry.  This book is a good companion piece to Rose because they both discuss the central role that a talent plays in a young person’s life, as well as the pain of growing apart.
• Grimes, Nikki.  Bronx Masquerade.  New York:  Speak (an imprint of Penguin), 2003.  Print.  ISBN:  978-0142501894 – 18 urban teenagers of diverse backgrounds come together in a weekly class poetry slam to talk about their issues and aspiration.  In Mr. Ward’s English class, they feel safe enough to let their inner artists out of their hiding places.  Like Rose, Masquerade explores the intersections of circumstances with aspirations.
• Woodson, Jacqueline.  Locomotion.  New York:  Speak (an imprint of Penguin), 2010.  Print.  978-0142415528 –11-year-old Lonnie Collins Motion (AKA Locomotion) loses both parents in a house fire, and his sister to a discriminative foster system.  When his teacher, Ms. Marcus introduces poetry to the class curriculum, Locomotion simply, yet eloquently uses this medium to express his feelings:  missing his parents, loneliness and not belonging in his new foster home, wanting to live with his sister again, poverty, and the like. This verse novel features a younger male protagonist who gives perspective into the heartbreak that makes urban teens like Tupac hardened.  Seeing the vulnerable side of a Black boy can be a refreshing juxtaposition. 

*Rose garnered rave reviews, high sales, and was considered far ahead of its time.  Astonishingly, it did not receive any awards. 

Informational Books: Laughing at My Nightmare Review

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Bibliography

Burcaw, Shane.  Laughing at My Nightmare.  New York:  Roaring Book Press, 2014.  Print.  ISBN:  9781626720077.  

Summary

21-year-old Shane Burcaw was born with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a form of muscular dystrophy in which the muscles fail to produce critical strengthening proteins and deteriorate over time.  His torso and limbs are underdeveloped and extremely frail, and he will remain wheelchair bound for the duration of his (projected to be short) life.  He relies on his family and friends to help him perform his vital life tasks, including: toileting, hygiene, dressing, feeding, lifting, and rolling over for bed.  Despite all of these limiting factors, Shane is funny as hell!  While he is realistic about his illness, SMA does not define him.  Shane chronicles his day-to-day experiences on Tumblr; his fan base grows astronomically, leading to a documentary about his life.  His book, peppered liberally with profanity and risqué sex references, spans his diagnosis through his college years.  He affirms that he is very much the typical young adult with a healthy social life, romantic and sexual interests, a sense of adventure, intelligence, and a rapier sharp wit. 

Critical Analysis

Hardship is a dominant theme in Laughing at My Nightmare; it acts as a dual for Shane’s optimism and humor.  He is hospitalized several times for grave illnesses and has to undergo major, potentially life-threatening surgeries. Shane is greatly limited in his activities and requires extensive modifications to enjoy elemental pleasures that people his age take for granted.   This memoir will put a lot of issues into perspective for teen readers.  After reexamining their own hardships, they may discover that their problems are not as all-encompassing as they once thought in comparison to Shane’s, or decide their struggles are not insurmountable. Hopefully, readers will borrow from his positive outlook and channel their negative feelings into something great.

Young adults will certainly identify with Shane’s hunger for normalcy and acceptance.  Though his body is weak, he builds his mind and personality to convince himself, and especially his peers, that he is just as capable and cool as they are.  Shane incorporates his chair into activities to be part of the group.  He often bristles at having to ride the “short” bus or do adaptive physical education classes because he does not view himself as handicapped.  Teens unanimously agree that appearance is (practically) everything at this stage of life.  They will understand Shane’s insecurities about his chair and deformities.  They can also take courage in the fact that he has an amazing core group, and millions of friends via his social media accounts.  The message is that no matter how different you feel, there is a place where you fit perfectly.

Maturity is dominating theme of LAMN.  Shane, like all adolescents, craves independence.  He is intent on going to college to meet new people and get the real world experience, especially because his disease keeps him tethered so much.  Shane is exhilarated by the prospect of teenage debauchery. He speaks unabashedly about fooling around with hot girls (he is QUITE the ladies’ man and gets a whole lot of action!) and releasing his inner stud, both collaboratively and singularly.  Teens will find Shane’s romantic and sexual desires mirror their own.  They will appreciate his candor about arousal and masturbation.  The inner struggle of loving and needing one’s parents while desperately wanting to cut loose is a hallmark of young adulthood.

Humor takes many forms in LAMN, ranging from sarcastic, potty, dirty, to cathartic.  Shane is self-deprecating, a tactic teenagers can adopt at a time of such awkwardness; if you can laugh at yourself, you will no longer fear the laughter of others because you beat them to it. He uses levity to put new people at ease, as well as to educate the ignorant on their offensive questions/commentary. Jokes about his bathroom visits, urges, and “wiener words” abound.  Laughter is truly the crux of this memoir.  The humor will undoubtedly captivate young adult readers from start to finish. Like pain, laughter is universal, so it can bridge the gap between people from opposite sides of life’s fence, i.e. able bodied versus differently/disabled.  Shane’s ability to inspire laughter shows his audience that he is just like them in many ways.  Most importantly, there is healing in humor– adolescents who deal with depression, poverty, drug addiction, sexual abuse, and the like will see that buried beneath their deepest pain are reasons to smile.

 

LAMN has innumerable strengths. The inclusion of personal photos puts a face to SMA, while still giving readers a tangible peer that they can identify with.  With the abundance of dirty jokes, graphic visual images, and one-liners, this is definitely not a “you-poor-thing” sob story; the humor keeps it light.   Shane uses a second-person point of view and conversational tone, which makes readers feel like they are one of his many friends.  There is such an eloquence in his simple, candid descriptions; Burcaw is extremely well-spoken. However, some readers, particularly parents and administrators, may find graphic sexual references to masturbation, oral sex, arousal, and frequent profanity disturbing.  In his quest for normalcy, Shane can come off as elitist. At times, he separates himself from and makes fun of the mentally disabled, throws his intelligence in peoples’ faces, and exploits his disability to get special privileges. 

Laughing at My Nightmare has an enduring place in teen literature.  Quite frankly, disability is not discussed in literature nearly enough, especially where young people are concerned.  This book gives disability a voice.  It shows that disabled people have the same interests, desires, and deserve the same treatment as everyone else.  It is a testament that for as much as people differ, there are bedrock qualities that link everyone.  Shane’s story is told with shocking honesty, which young adults will certainly respect, and it is a true inspiration to all who hear/read it.

Awards

• 2015 YALSA Excellence in Young Adult Nonfiction Finalist
• 2015 Quick Picks for Young Adult Reader

Published Review

"Laughing at My Nightmare." Rev. of Laughing at My Nightmare, by Shane Burcaw. Kirkus Reviews 12 August 2014.  Web.  http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-62672-007-7.

Extension Activities

1. Hell on Wheels – Shane recounts the struggles of designing a yearly Halloween costume that would include his wheelchair in a cool, visually appealing way (He insists on no dopey box-over-chair-makes-truck theme!).  Brainstorm and sketch a costume for that incorporates wheelchairs.  It should be creative, unorthodox, and involve not just the chair, but clothing and props as well.
2. Laugh With Shane – Get to know the man behind the chair in all of his blunt, hilarious glory!  Read Shane's blog posts at http://laughingatmynightmare.tumblr.com.  View the short video, "My Last Days," at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwZZZkrJycQ. Visit his website, laughingatmynightmare.com to learn about helping people with muscular dystrophy get much-needed equipment and accommodations.  
3. The World Through My Eyes – Can you imagine how hard it would be in class if you could not seem to focus, if the letters on the pages just did not make sense, if you could not get the numbers to add up? Go to https://www.understood.org/en/tools/through-your-childs-eyes and pick at least two simulations to experience what life is like for people with learning disabilities. Watch the accompanying videos of kids describing their challenges.

Related Literature

• Bell, CeCe.  El Deafo. New York:  Harry N. Abrams Publishing, 2014.  Print. ISBN:  978-1419710209 – In this part graphic-novel, part biography, CeCe Bell recounts how a childhood bout with meningitis left her deaf.  She makes the uncomfortable, but often humorous adjustments to her new world.  At first she is embarrassed by her bulky Phonic Ear, but she adopts an alter-ego, El Deafo, and uses the hearing aid as her superpower for making friends and having fun adventures
• Erskine, Kathryn.  Mockingbird.  New York:  Philomel Books, 2010.  Print.  ISBN:  978-0399252648 – 10-year-old Caitlin sees things in crisp black and white lines.  Because she has Asperger’s syndrome, ambiguities like color, facial expressions, social customs, and figures of speech confuse and frustrate her.  Her older brother, Devon, was always there to comfort and help her with her awkwardness.  When he is killed in a school shooting, Caitlin has to muddle through grief that is only compounded by ASD, with only the dictionary definition of closure and Devin’s half-finished project as her guides.
• Giles, Gail.  Girls Like Us.  Somerville:  Candlewick Press, 2014.  Print.  ISBN:  978-0763662677 – Sassy Quincy and timid Biddy are paired together as roommates after graduating from a special needs program.  They each secure jobs and must learn to take care of themselves and one another.   Together, they tackle an unsympathetic world that has fangs bared to prey on their perceived weaknesses.

Fantastic Fiction: Zahrah and the Windseeker Review

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Bibliography

Okorafor, Nnedi.  Zahrah the Windseeker.  Boston:  Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2013.  eBook.  ISBN:  9780547529516.

Summary

Thirteen-year-old Zahrah lives in Kirki, a village in the Ooni Kingdom, on the fictional planet of Ginen.  In a land fixated on appearance and being “civilized,” her eccentric hair makes her a misfit to the highest power.  Zahrah has dada locks, living vines entwined in her thick braids. The Ooni people denounce their mystical past and bitterly resist all remnants of it, including Windseekers like Zahrah and the Forbidden Greeny Jungle at the far edge of town.  Their close-mindedness leaves her painfully ostracized and insecure. She discovers that her scornful locks come with beautiful gifts, like wisdom and flight.  When her dearest friend ventures into the enchanted jungle and is bitten by a war snake, Zahrah must use her supernatural powers to get the antidote: the egg of an egregious, murderous beast. 

Critical Analysis

The danger of being afraid is the predominant theme of Windseeker.  Paranoia costs Zahrah and her people dearly. She withdraws in fear of ridicule from her classmates.  Because of her trepidation to fly, she insists on practicing in the secluded jungle, which she puts her and Dari in harm’s way. Ironically, she is acrophobic, which delays her gift for a long time.  She eventually conquers her fear of rejection and judgment. Talking bravely with the animals of the Greeny Jungle gets her to her destination and out of trouble.  Once hesitant to even levitate, she develops control over her flying, a skill that ultimately delivers her.  She is infected with a poison that renders her unconscious if she gets too excited, so mastering fear is essential to her very survival.  This novel will encourage young people to step out of their comfort zones and dare to do the impossible.  It will motivate them to embrace the unknown inside of themselves and the world around them:  Try out for the team, ask the girl or guy out, raise your hand in class, wear that outfit, study abroad, et cetera.

Developing confidence and owning oneself are major themes that will greatly empower adolescents.  Zarah is obsessed with peoples’ perception of her.  Appearance is a huge part of social standing in her culture, so much so that citizens have mirrors sewn into their clothing and adorning their walls to constantly check their tidiness.  As Zahrah treks through the jungle, unable to bathe or groom, clothes tattered and dirty, and skin marred, she starts to care less and less about how she looks.  Gorillas playfully tease her about being human.  The banter, and more importantly, her encounter with the deadly elgort, make all the teasing back in the Ooni village seem trivial.  She draws confidence from navigating the jungle with relative ease after a few weeks, her clever ways of circumventing creatures, recognition of the wildlife, and the flying skills that save her life.  Zahrah sends a strong message to young adults like herself who struggle with their appearance and self-esteem:  Derive confidence not from your looks, but your deeds.  Appearance merely reflects DNA, but your talents are laudable because you cultivate them.  She does not start out strong, but becomes comfortable in her skin as she learns herself.  This gives teens hope that as they grow and do some introspection, they will find plenty to love about themselves.

Windseeker instills in readers the value of friendship. Zarah is the quiet, pensive, measured, shy yin to Dari’s outspoken, charming, impulsive, confident yang.  He teaches her how to disregard what others think and listen to her heart. He is one of the few people who truly sees her essence.  Her love and loyalty for Dari push her past her fears; when she wants to surrender to the jungle, these keep her going.  As she gains courage, she befriends Nsibidi the shopwoman (and fellow Windseeker) and the gorilla troupe.  These liaisons give her wisdom and strength.  Young people can learn much here.  When it comes to friends, it is not strength in number, but strength of character that counts.  Kids will take heart that they do not have to shadowbox in the popularity ring.  All they need are a few true friends to ride shotgun through life with.  The people who hold you down and pull you through are the only ones important enough to impress.

Young adult readers, with their technological infatuation, will learn to respect tradition.  The Ooni people are modern. They abandoned the rich traditions of yore in favor of technology and are now are afraid of their magical roots. Zarah marvels at how gorillas live harmoniously in their village without any technology. She suffers a bout of depression from lack of natural sunlight – her glow flower’s artificial light is no match for natural sunshine. The compass and digi-book devices are cumbersome, loud, and unreliable. Wisdom, a characteristic of the old generation, is her greatest asset as her gadgets fail.   This is perhaps a warning to the younger generation to know its history and rely on human ingenuity. 

Windseeker emphasizes exploration over ignorance. The Ooni village is insular, with no interest in what lies beyond its border. The field guide on the Forbidden Greeny Jungle is considered taboo literature, but this same book that no one dares to check out saves Zahrah and Dari’s lives. She finds that their kingdom is only a fraction of the world, that in the jungle, the animals and vegetation are intelligent, resourceful, even kind. Oonis are missing out because of self-imposed ignorance.  If the people would explore the jungle, they would expand their territory and arsenal of resources. This is pertinent to young adults because it urges them to be innovative, to ask questions about the world, and to tinker and create.

This book definitely has its strengths and weaknesses. Children will be exposed to a colorful, unique culture, and the fantastical backdrop makes this exposure fun rather than cumbersome and dry.  Pictures are great for reluctant readers because they bring the mythical creatures to life.  The various types of wildlife are described vividly and have amazing abilities; Okorafor is supremely creative. The book reminds kids to appreciate the old as they relish in the conveniences of the new.  It is funny, light, and a quick, easy read.  On the other hand, Zahrah is excessively obedient and childlike in her timidity.  Although obedience is a feature of African culture, today’s youth would see the characters as dorky, especially at an age where kids rebel in an effort to assert their independence. Drawn-out description causes lags in the plot – Zahrah spends whole chapters crying and having panic attacks. References to CPU flowers and plant architecture are confusing because readers do not get background on how technology is powered by plants.  Also, the typos in the eBook detract from meaning.

 Zahrah the Windseeker has a strong place in young adult literature because it is a true coming of age book in every sense of the phrase. Zahrah is an empowered female protagonist who has supernatural abilities, pluck, and grace; she embodies the type of character that today’s teenage girl wants to read about. Her growth is traceable throughout the book; readers emerge from the metaphorical “jungle” of adolescent insecurity and uncertainty strong and knowledgeable, just like her.  The messages of self-awareness and embracing one’s quirks are especially timely.  Finally, the way Okorafor weaves together folkales with fantasy, the ancient and the nouveau (Nigerian tradition and science fiction modernity), is a wonderful model for cross-genre writing.

Awards

• 2008 Wole Solyinka Prize for Literature in Africa

Reviews

Masters, Jonathan.  Rev. of Zahrah the Windseeker by Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu.  Voices of Youth Advocates 1 Feb. 2006.  Web.  Accessed July 8 2015. 

Extension Activities

1. After’While, Crocodile – Librarians go to http://www.dentistbird.com/index.html# to download the Dentist Bird app.  Using a Smart Board or tablet, read the West African folktale, Dentist Bird.  Play the Mission of Mercy game to keep the bird in flight and collect as much medicine as possible for the sick crocodile (class).  Complete the “Parts of a Story” and “Make a Story Map” sheets as a class (found in Teacher’s Guide under “Parents and Teachers tab”). 
2. Powering Up the Future – Zahrah talks about many futuristic technologies, such as the glow flower and CPU seeds.  Brainstorm a type of technology that will exist in the future.  List its name, what existing technology it will replace, how it will run, capabilities, and how it will make life easier.  Then, draw and color your invention.  Use any available art supplies (beads, construction paper, foil, pipe cleaners, cardboard, yarn, etc) to make it 3-D.
3. In the Eye of the Tiger – Zahrah describes the animals and plants of the Forbidden Greeny Jungle from her point of view.  Unfortunately, since few Oonis will enter the jungle, we only hear frightful legends of how terrible the land and its inhabitants are.  Flip the script!  Pretend that you are one of the animals or plants she describes and tell what life is like and what you think of humans.  List what you look like (colors, size, markings, body covering, etc), eat, where you live in the jungle, if you are good or bad, and how the people who enter the jungle treat you. 

Related Literature

• Okorafor, Nnedi.  Akata Witch.  New York:  Viking Books for Young Readers, 2011.  Print.  ISBN: 978-0670011964 – This tome, also written by Windseeker author Okorafor, tells the story of twelve-year-old Sunny.  A misfit like Zahrah, she is an American-born girl living in Nigeria who suffers from albinism.  Though her condition inhibits her ability to make friends and play sports, it comes with magical powers that she and her gifted friends will need to foil a serial killer.
• Farmer, Nancy.  A Girl Named Disaster. New York:  Scholastic Paperbacks, 2012.  Print.  ISBN:  978-0545356626 – Like Zahrah, eleven-year-old Shona embarks on a long and dangerous journey into the wild for a noble purpose.  Fleeing to her father to escape a suitor, she battles the wilderness, elements, hunger, and despair.  Her connection to the spirit world and a bond with a family of baboons keep her alive.
• Paulsen, Gary.  Hatchet.  New York:  Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2007.  Print.  ISBN:  978-1416925088 – This realistic fiction novel would make a nice, if not unorthodox pairing with Windseeker, as they are both YA survival stories.  Thirteen-year-old Brian must navigate the treacherous wilderness after the bush plane that is supposed to take him to his father crashes in the Canadian forest.  Like Zahrah, he uses paltry tools, his instincts, and newfound knowledge of the terrain and wildlife to survive. 

Realistic Fiction: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Picture from Amazon.com

Bibliography

Alexie, Sherman.  The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.  New York:  Little, Brown and Company.  ISBN:  978-0-316-01368-0.

Summary

Fourteen-year-old Junior (Arnold) Spirit is the whipping boy of Wellpinit, WA.  Born with hydrocephalus, which leaves him frail in stature with a large cranium and speech impediments, he is relentlessly bullied by residents of all ages.  With parents who are mired in poverty, alcoholism, and disappointment, his home life is just as dismal as his social life.  Fortunately, a teacher and a coach take notice of Junior’s intelligence and sweet jump shot.  Respectively, they motivate him to leave the rez for a better education at the White high school in Reardan and build confidence to become a star basketball player.  Although life deals him crushing blows from isolation and the deaths of several loved ones, he is able to mentally escape the rez and triumph.

Critical Analysis

Junior is marginalized as a Native American and has difficulty establishing his identity because of it. He resents how his people are relegated to the poorest parts of the country, where White people either openly scorn them or try to “save the savages” by moving into their reservation and stripping them of their culture. He has abiding pride and respect for Spokane customs.  Intuitive and in touch with his emotions, Junior thinks deeply about human behavior, keeping with the Indian belief that everything on earth has a spirit and is connected to everything else.  While he loves the songs, dances, wisdom, and close knit relationships on the rez, he knows he is destined for a big purpose.  Junior eventually earns the admiration of his Caucasian classmates and pulls a devastating victory over his former Wellpinit basketball team. It is his tribe members who declare him a traitor and shun him for leaving the rez.  He does not fit in either place comfortably, going from zero in Wellpinit, to invisible, then hero at Reardan, all in a twenty-two mile commute.  For this reason, he dubs himself a “part-time Indian.”  This book will resonate with young people who attend schools and/or live in neighborhoods where they are not the majority (even adults in college and the workforce), especially because defining oneself and seeking kinship are so important to children and teens.

Poverty and substance abuse go hand and hand in this novel.  Junior describes himself frequently as a “poor ass” Indian.  Simple necessities, like buying clothes, school lunch, and gas are feats for his family. The most prestigious jobs in Wellpinit are working at the casino or the trading post.   His financial struggles put Junior in embarrassing and dangerous situations. Both parents and a large percentage of the Spokane residents are functional alcoholics.  The Spirits squander what little money they do have on liquor.  Sadly, marginalized people are socioeconomically disadvantaged.  Because poverty tends to isolate people, tweens and teens may feel like undeserving outsiders compared to their middle class counterparts.  Part-Time Indian helps them to know that they are not alone.  Junior’s family is very loving, despite their money and substance problems.  Readers can glean hope that they can still be dignified in the face of financial adversity.  This book can also minister to the kids of parents with drug addiction.

Junior loses important people in quick succession.  To compact his sadness, all of the deaths are pretty senseless.  He grapples and grieves in multiple ways:  crying, laughing hysterically, anger, railing at God, withdrawing.  As kids get older, the likelihood that they will have to say goodbye to a friend or family member increases.  Junior copes with death by writing, drawing, emoting, and asking hard questions.  These are tactics that readers can use as well.

Escaping a toxic environment is a dominant theme of Part-Time Indian.  Junior looks at his parents and ruefully contemplates what they could have been.  He wonders at his sister Mary’s self-imposed basement exile.  All three are stewing in the sinkhole of the rez, too paralyzed by disappointment to dream anymore.  When his teacher reveals Mary’s writing talent and affirms that Junior is exceptionally bright, he becomes desperate for more opportunities than his tribe can offer him.  His transfer to Reardan even motivates his sister to move out.  This is an especially timely message for today’s youth – Sherman Alexie declares to readers, “You are NOT your surroundings!”  Kids will take back their power and use their talents to rise out of the ghettos, villages, and barrios. Indian convicts readers for living below their potential and challenges them to do more than the world says they can.

Hope and perseverance are the gorilla glue that keep Junior's fractured life together.  He has an indomitable spirit that lifts him above the bullying and poverty and propels him to success in school and sports.  When his best friend Rowdy deserts him and his tribe members mock him, it emboldens him.  Junior could settle for subpar education in Wellpinit, fall victim to the bottle like his counterparts, return to the rez school when acculturation got too uncomfortable, or quit school altogether, but he swats back with a smirk and some serious fervor.  He approaches life like his bullies:  He knows the blows will hurt and leave a mark, but he always gets up, no matter how many times they try to pummel him.  Adolescents will find a friend in this underdog.  They may even look at his circumstances and say, "If Junior can get his butt kicked physically and metaphorically and still push, so can I."  Even the most downtrodden readers will discover that they have every right to an education.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian is legendary because of its humor.  Junior says all of the things that kids and adults think, but do not say for fear of being too crass.  He approaches the saddest events with wit and sarcasm (i.e. His father's declaration that "I'm only an alcoholic when I'm drunk," or getting an erection when the quinquagenarian school counselor hugs him).  The illustrations - Junior's caricature cartoons - adorn every few pages and add even more hilarity to his far-out musings; they will surely hold a teen's attention and draw reluctant readers.  Indian advocates education, intelligence, and expressing emotions, which lets kids know it is okay to be sensitive and goal-oriented, things that are seen as "uncool."  It also teaches young people to explore and take pride in their heritage, and it gives beautiful insight into the rarely explored Native American culture from a youthful perspective.  The overall tone of the book is hopeful, and though Junior is Native American, he is an every-man type of character - funny, realistic, and raw.  However, this work is frequently and ardently challenged.  There are multiple, graphic references to sex - masturbation, viewing pornography, and some racy illustrations of cleavage are a few examples.  Profanity is moderate to heavy, including the harder curse words, like "f-bombs."  Bullying, violence, and drug abuse would set a lot of parents and school administrators back on their heels.  Some may interpret the close relationship between sensitive Junior and alpha-male best friend Rowdy as homosexual.  The characters also refer to each other jokingly with homophobic slurs, which the LGBT community would find highly offensive.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian should absolutely be considered a classic within the next ten to fifteen years.  It is raw, honest, and compelling without being too depressing.  This book provides so many safe havens.  Kids have the freedom to explore their emotions, question their values, form relationships outside of their culture, and talk about sex and puberty, all without feeling ashamed.  Junior is a sort of lovable crash dummy who goes before the readers to show them how to live through adversity with grace.  Sherman Alexie has opened the door for other authors whose ethnicities are mis-or underrepresented in literature, and he melds old school and new school Indian experiences seamlessly.

 Awards

• 2007 National Book Award winner
• 2007 School Library Journal Best Books of the Year
• 2007 Publisher’s Weekly Best Books of the Year
• 2008 YALSA Top Ten book
• 2008-2009 TAYSHAS Reading List book
• New York Times bestseller and 2007 Notable Book

Published Review

Shoemaker, Chris.  Rev. of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.  School Library Journal 1 Sept. 2007.  Web.  Accessed July 2, 2015.

Extension Activities

1. Live and in Color – Write a brief script about the most important people and pivotal moments in your life.  Go to toondoo.com and find animations that align with your script, then make a mini-comic.  You can use realistic and surrealistic illustrations. Be creative and funny!
2. Part-Timers – Watch “We are Still Here,” a mini-documentary about teenage and young adult Native Americans.  Write a paragraph in which you observe what elements of their culture they retain, and the ways they have assimilated to American culture.
3. The Absolutely True Story – Junior experiences dark nights of the soul, or personal tragedies.  These are realities for many Native American teens, and some are not as fortunate as Junior to overcome their depression. Read about teen suicide on Indian Reservations at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/02/us/pine-ridge-indian-reservation-struggles-with-suicides-among-young-people.html?_r=0. Note the similarities between Junior’s fictionalized challenges and those of suicide victims.
4. The Elder Council – Junior cites tolerance as his grandmother’s best quality, and admired her ability to accept and befriend people where they were.  Talk to an older person in your family – a grandparent, uncle, aunt, etc. – and decipher their character strength. Make a display board with a picture of the elder, standout quotes, a short biography, and artwork that represents their best quality.
5. We Shall Remain – Go to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/weshallremain/ and click on “Films.” Watch episodes 1, 3, and 5 to learn about the disenfranchisement of Native Americans and how they fought back to defend their land and customs.  Then, click on ReelNative and watch any three videos of your choice.  Write a summary in which you compare and contrast the interviewees’ experiences to Junior’s with regard to identity, art/literature, education, poverty, etc.

Related Literature

• De la Pena, Matt.  Ball Don’t Lie.  New York:  Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 2005.  ISBN:  978-0385732321 – Seventeen-year-old Sticky and Indian’s Junior are kindred spirits, as basketball saves both of their lives and serves as their escape from their toxic surroundings.  Unfortunately, Sticky does not have a loving family like Junior. A foster kid who is victimized by angry pimps, neglected by his prostitute mother, and unable to meld into a new family, he finds acceptance and respect on the court and amongst the Black kids he hoops with. 
• Walker, Brian F.  Black Boy White School.  New York:  HarperTeen, 2012.  ISBN: 978-0061914836 – Fourteen year old Anthony loves his gritty city of East Cleveland. He wins a scholarship to an exclusive boarding school in Maine and with it, a (reluctant) way out of the violence and drugs that inundate his neighborhood.  However, the transition is not easy, as he has to battle with White classmates’ stereotypical perceptions of him.  Acculturation and assimilation cause Ant to question his identity, much like Junior. 
• Wurth, Erika T. Crazy Horse’s Girlfriend.  Chicago:  Curbside Splendor Publishing, 2014. ISBN: 978-1940430430 – Sixteen-year-old female protagonist Margeritte is a mirror image of Part-Time Indian’s Junior.  Whereas mild-mannered Junior does not partake in the destruction that fells his tribe members, spunky, angry Margeritte is part of the problem because she deals drugs.  Poverty, substance abuse, hopelessness, and escape are common themes.

Cultural Diversity: Ghetto Cowboy

Picture from Amazon.com

Bibliography

Neri, G. Ghetto Cowboy. Somerville: Candlewick Press, 2011. Print

Summary

When twelve-year-old Cole’s truancy gets him suspended and at risk of repeating 7th grade, his beleaguered single mother shuffles him into the car and makes a midnight streak from Detroit to Philadelphia. She is convinced that only a man’s firm discipline can save him from the streets. That man is a distant father who Cole scarcely knows about and bitterly resents for abandoning them. Initially surly and embittered, Cole marvels at how his father has transformed a dilapidated neighborhood riddled with drugs, gangs, and row houses into a horse sanctuary and riding team for kids. With kindred spirit Boo the horse and the riding troupe of Black cowboys, he is swept up into the same magic that kept his dad away his whole life. When the oppressive city government threatens the only outlet that the community has, his fight for the horses becomes a fight for his own future and the identification of a purpose he did not know he had. 

Critical Analysis

Cowboy explores the themes of pride and dignity in hard work extensively. When readers meet Cole, he is not a bad kid. He is aimless and does not know where he fits; he does not believe he is capable of anything significant. His mother’s long work hours and her own frustration with life contribute to loneliness and boredom. One of his first interactions with his father is when Harper gives him a job – to muck out the stables. The young man positively blooms as he feeds, brushes, trains, rides, and eventually saves the horses. The kids on the block flourish once they feel useful and important. This is a message that young adults can benefit from. There is much intrinsic value in working hard and helping out (i.e. babysitting, working at a family business, an after school job, running errands for an elderly family member or neighbor, etc.).

Racism and classism are concepts that readers desperately need to understand at the young adult level. They will be entering the world where they will either encounter prejudice as minorities, or will have to take a stand against and be sensitive to others as the privileged majority. One of the best aspects of Cowboy is that it addresses covert racism. The city neglects the dilapidated Chester Avenue for decades, letting it devolve into a ghetto. Once it hits an all-time low and they see a lucrative opportunity, government officials mastermind a smear campaign to tear everything down. They strategically deny the community civic services like waste collection and use the media to capture the worst side of life in the ‘hood. Harper and the Riders do not act out violently; that is what society expects. They read up on laws such as homesteader’s rights and use media scrutiny as a platform to expose injustice. It is imperative that budding adults know about second-tier discrimination, that job denials, school zoning, restrictive laws that target minorities, and the like are realities. This book will sharpen their acuity for spotting it, and hopefully inspire them to speak out peacefully and knowledgeably.

Maturity is a thematic thread woven throughout Cowboy. Because Cole is young, he has ample room to show growth, and his wise, observant nature make him receptive to life lessons.

In the beginning, he is surly and selfish. He feels like his mother owes him care, that it is her job to do for him, but he does not hold up his end of the bargain by attending school regularly. He does not care about anything in particular and is just ambling through life, looking for delinquent adventures. He evolves when his father allows him to make his own decisions and deal with the consequences; Harper does not beg or appease Cole, but treats him like the world would. When he realizes that pouting and acting out are ineffective and self-deprecating, he is forced to fall in line to get attention by working the stables like all the neighborhood kids. Harper, even as an adult, exhibits immaturity. He loses everything because he put his love for horses above that of family. They both must choose a path: Cole is at a crossroads between thug life and the straight-and-narrow, and Harper faces enduring isolation. So much of adolescence is about maturity – defining who you want to be and changing for the better, even when it is painful.

Finally, Ghetto Cowboy implores the young adult audience to know their roots and take pride in their history. With so many negative portrayals of men of color, Cole and many readers like him do not know that ethnic people originated the cowboy way of life. Through stories of Tex and the other horseman, Neri takes back the traditions of his people. He shows readers the beauty and ingenuity of Black culture.

Some reviewers contend that the heavy use of dialect is distracting and hard to follow, but in terms of authenticity, it is indeed one of the strongest features of the book. Cole’s subjects and verbs disagree more often than not, but it is beautiful, poetic imperfection. G. Neri strikes a delicate balance in that his characters are unabashedly ethnic in their speech, but obviously very intelligent and socially conscious. Young readers, especially Black readers, will have no trouble at all with the colloquialisms, as they mimic natural language for urban youth; actually, the slang increases the book’s appeal to reluctant/struggling readers and those who think reading is a “soft” pastime. Cole and his Chester Avenue family are witty, street-smart, wise, and mouthy, which makes for lots of humor. Some quotables that exemplify humor and dialect: “Earn his trust? He just a horse! And you just a boy,” he says. “I ain’t no Harry Potter. And I ain’t living in no closet.” “…dumb ol’ black Clint Eastwood” (Neri, pg. 24-26). Neri also preaches the power of rechanneling negativity into something productive and fulfilling. Cole, Cousin Smush, and his sidekick, Snapper, lived varying degrees of street life. Harper and the Chester Ave. riders catchthem at pivotal points and show them how to transform the boredom, apathy, frustration, and lack of confidence by caring for horses. Teens can learn that there are opportunities for them beyond their immediate circumstances. This could motivate them to explore community service, the arts, music, sports, academic clubs – anything that keeps them out of trouble and builds their self-esteem.

Like any other great book, Cowboy is not without its weaknesses, mainly because it feeds into stereotypes. Cole is abandoned first by his father, then by his mother, perpetuating the stereotype of the irresponsible Black parent who has children s/he cannot financially support and emotionally nurture. He is raised by a single mom, another troubling motif in Black literature. Some will find Harper infuriating because he cares so tenderly for the horses and the children of the neighborhood, but was adamantly uninvolved in Cole’s life. There are several times where Harper reads as detached and cold to his son (i.e. letting him sleep in the closet, not cooking for him, accusing him of gang-banging). His hustle mentality can be disconcerting. He explains to Cole that he works odd jobs to “survive,” – he has no career and no real interest in one, outside of being a horseman, which validates the shiftless label placed on Blacks. With all of the senseless violence in cities like Philadelphia, Cowboy is chaste to a fault. All of the kids are “redeemed” by the horses. Smush and Snapper spend time in juvie and are very small-time drug dealers, but it would have been nice to see a casualty of street life – whether drugs, drive-bys, robbery, etc. – to juxtapose the rider kids. In real life, there will be ones who get away, and young readers cannot truly grasp the message if they do not have a full, even gritty understanding of what they are up against.

This book has a firm place in young adult literature. The dialect and references to poverty and violence in urban communities make it so timely. More importantly, it not only tells of the problems, but gives hope; it is a hand to navigate kids out of their circumstances. The way that it balances a rich, little known tradition of Black horsemanship with the current problems that plague Black youth, coupled with all of the honors it has garnered, will elevate Cowboy to classic status in the coming years.

Awards 

• 2013 Bluebonnet Master List
• 2012 ALA Odyssey Award
• 2012 Horace Man Upstanders Book Award
• 2011 Junior Library Guild Pick
• 2011 VOYA Top Shelf for Middle School Readers
• 2011 Cybil Award Finalist

Published Review

McDuffie, Ann. Rev. of the book Ghetto Cowboy by G. Neri. Voice of Youth Advocates 01 October 2011. Web. Accessed June 27, 2015.

Extension Activities

1. Ruff Riders ––Watch a mini-documentary, “The American Life:  Horses in North Philly,” to learn about how the Philadelphia riding troupes have positively impacted the lives of urban youth at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcEMghqgjcg. 
2. No Rhinestones for Cowboys: View photos and read captions from “The Concrete Cowboys of Philadelphia at http://www.wsj.com/articles/photos-the-concrete-cowboys-of-philadelphia-1419366049.  Compare and contrast information in the article to events in Ghetto Cowboy.
3. You’re at Home on the Range – Visit PBS’s Texas Ranch House at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/ranchhouse/index.html. There, click on 1867: Places, People, and Events and read “African American Cowboys” and “Buffalo Soldiers on the Frontier” to learn more about the history of notable Black frontiersmen and their accomplishments.
4. Postcards from the Ghetto – Write and illustrate a postcard or letter from Cole to his mother that describes some of his stand-out experiences with his dad and the Chester Avenue riders.  *Listen to “My Favorite Things” by John Coltrane for added inspiration.
5. Based on a True Story – Interview an older relative about a job or tradition that is important to your family.  Summarize your findings and make an oral presentation to the group/class.

Related Literature

• Neri, G. Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty. New York: Lee and Low Books, 2010. Print. ISBN: 978-1584302674 – Like Ghetto Cowboy, this book by the same author explores how poverty, parental absence, violence, and a system rigged to fail him take their tolls on Yummy, an eleven-year-old who commits murder. This book exposes a grittier side of ghetto life, which is a nice pairing to the mostly upbeat Cowboy.
• Booth, Coe. Tyrell. New York: Push Publishing, 2007. Print. ISBN: 978-0439838801 – The title character, like Cole, is walking a tightrope between succumbing to the perils of his environment and doing the right thing. However, he lacks the positive role models that Cole has, as his mother is a drug addict, his father is incarcerated, and he is homeless. 
• Myers, Walter Dean. Monster. New York: Amistad Publishing, 2004. Print. ISBN: 978-0064407311 – Steve is not a bad kid. He gets swept up into a bad predicament and eventually stands trial for the murder of a store clerk. While awaiting his sentence, he channels his jail experience into a promising screen play to cope.

Challenged Books: What My Mother Doesn't Know

Picture from Amazon.com

Bibliography

Sones, S. (2001). What My Mother Doesn’t Know. New York, NY: Simon and Shuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 0689841140.

Summary

Sophie is a spirited, artistic, Jewish teen living in Boston, Massachusetts. She is the only child of a soap opera addicted mother and workaholic, often absent father, both too lost in their own marital strife to pay attention to her. Her mother is distant, emotional, controlling, and out of touch; she mostly side-steps important conversations about puberty and dating. Sophie fills the loneliness with typically handsome heartthrob guys, but in the back of her heart, she is curious about classmate and homely outcast, Murphy. After a series of romantic let-downs, Sophie is drawn to Murphy by their mutual connection to art. His kind, creative, and attentive nature unfurls, and she is able to see the masterpiece beneath.

Critical Analysis

What My Mother Doesn’t Know reads much like a diary. Sophie is an all-American teen girl – chatty, easily excitable, and flitting from one topic (or boy) to next on the turn of a dime. She has a small clique, namely Rachel and Grace, and spends a lot of time on the phone and/or hanging out with them. Her bubbly personality and obsession with boys gives her mainstream appeal, but she is also a bit of an outsider because of her fondness for art and writing. Her opposing “girl’s girl” and reflective, creative sides make her relatable to a wider range of teens, both the social butterflies and wallflowers.

Young readers will give resounding “amens” to Sophie’s pleas that her mother knows nothing about fashion, boys, or her as a person. Sones explores a very real conflict of adolescence – needing parental attention and approval without wanting their interference. Her moodiness and resentment of her mother in particular is a common motif for young women because at this age, kids strive for independence, and, moving away from the idolization of childhood, are able to analyze parents’ shortcomings. The topic of marital discord and its effects on children will also attract adolescent readers.

Mother also addresses the angst of dating and breaking up. It is only by these temporary heartbreaks that Sophie (and her audience) learns to demand respect, to look beyond the surface for companions with character and depth. Perhaps a savvy reader will pick up on clues that Sophie is dealing with a jerk and be able to better define what s/he wants and cannot accept in a date. Mother encourages young people to stand by their convictions rather than buckle to peer pressure and trends, like Sophie stood by Murphy even though he was “plain” and unknown.

Sophie expresses curiosity about her rapidly changing body, admiring her blooming “girls” and hoping for more voluptuous blooms. She describes her crushes to the point of near salivation, in a tone that borders lust. Her encounter with a cyber-pedophile could be somewhat disturbing, but the threat is disposed of quickly and without Sophie being hurt. This, some kissing, and talks about breasts and lime, lacy panties are the most risqué scenes, but presumably the reason why the novel has been challenged.

Mother is written in short to intermediate lines of verse, a rhythm appropriate for the musings of teenage Sophie, who at times flits from boy to boy and thought to thought, while at others, deeply ponders serious issues. Rhyme in this piece is minimal and seems incidental, not too cutesy. This is good for a young adult novel, as heavy rhyme would make it sound too childish. The language is simple where vocabulary is concerned. The flourishes take place in other literary elements, like alliteration and hyperbole, which Sophie uses lavishly to describe the sudden rush she feels looking at the handsome Dylan, or the intrigue that creeps into her reluctant mind for Murphy.

This book has a place in young adult literature because it is a safe, tactful way to confront questions about sexuality, physical maturation, and dating without being too graphic; it is a conversation starter, and something I would recommend parents read if they want to know what their teens are thinking. However, a glaring weakness is that Sophie is pretty vapid and lives in an insular world. She comes across as having no interaction with anyone who does not look or live like her, and her friends reiterate the idea that sameness is the status quo. Readers of color may not be able to connect. Conflict is the stuff that a good book is made of. Sophie does not have any pressing issues or personal tragedy. Teens today, who deal with drugs, sex, parenthood, divorce, illiteracy, and etc. may not be able to take her privileged, “want-my-way” problems very seriously. 

 

Awards 

• American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults (2002)
• American Library Association Top Ten Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (2002)
• VOYA Top Shelf for Middle School Readers (2003)
• Named a Top Ten Editor's Choice by Teenreads.com (2001)

Reviews

Kirkus Reviews. (1 October 2003). Rev. of the book What My Mother Doesn’t Know by Sonya Sones. Web. Accessed 19 June 2015.

Extension Activities

1. Sophie’s Anatomy – Diagram Sophie using a graphic organizer (think gingerbread man outline). Apply character traits to describe what she thinks, feels, wants, and says. “Accessorize” her outline with details form the story (i.e. new bra for the “girls”) to add humor. 
2. Growth Chart – Trace Sophie’s development, noting how Sophie evolves from flaky and shallow to artistic, introspective, and discerning in her choices. This can be in the form of a timeline, with illustrations that show Sophie as a toddler (immaturity) to a young woman, with coordinating events from the story as the descriptive notes on bottom. 
3. Trip Down Lover’s Lane – Draw a map of all of the places Murphy and Sophie visit. Accompany the pictures with descriptions of why Murphy takes her there and how they contribute to her feelings for him. 
4. Open Diary, Open Mike – Choose a pivotal scene and write a haiku from Sophie’s perspective.

Related Literature

• Sones, S. (2013). What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 978-1442493841. – This is the sequel to Mother, but told in Murphy’s voice. Interestingly, the tables have turned when brilliant Murphy becomes coveted by a popular college freshman and starts to question his relationship with dreamgirl Sophie.
• Green, J. (2008). Paper Towns. New York, NY: Dutton. 978-0525478188. – Told from a boy’s point of view, an interesting twist, the main character has an unrequited crush on a popular girl, much like Mother’s Murphy character, however, this book offers a more in-depth look into the façade of popularity.
• Han, J. (2014). To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 978-1442426702. – The main character is boy-crazed, much like Sophie, and expresses these feelings in love letters…that are accidentally mailed out to the objects of her affection! Details about the family dynamic add depth that Mother lacks.