We've Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March By: Cynthia Levinson

We've Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March By: Cynthia Levinson

I personally was really excited to read this book again, when I saw that it was on one of the lists I was so happy! I myself love History but I tend to get bored when reading about it unless it is in story form or I know it is all true. The author takes us through the background of different children who participated in the civil rights movement. The book tells us exactly the thing that people and especially these young kids and teens were going through. For example they ended up creating work shows to teach each other on how to stay safe when being sprayed by a giant water hose and how not to react when they were being called foul names and spat at my random strangers because they had a different skin tone than them. When reading it the stories are very humbling in knowing you have not had to go through horrific things like that. You also get to learn what they learned and saw how young people took a stand because they as young people had less to loose versus their parents who were working and providing for them and took care of the rest of they families.

Pros: Learn more about history through story and can be more interesting to people, and young adults can relate to this as they were being told about people their age in a different setting

Cons: The only down side is that it is pretty text heavy and a reader cannot skip around but thats how most books are anyways.

Some links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDNON7TDbUg

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/reviews/weve-got-a-job-cynthia-levinson/1110790597?ean=9781561458448

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12715346-we-ve-got-a-job

Darwin's Leap of Faith

This was an interesting tale because I knew basic facts about Charles Darwin but to read about his own personal life was interesting. The premise of the novel was his struggle with religion and science. In the beginning, he struggled with the idea on whether or not he would marry and start a family or dedicate himself to his research. He decided to marry his first cousin to keep the family line going and they had kids. They often times got into arguments about religion and science since Emma was very religious. This book also went into detail discussing the evolution theory. It was an interesting read to learn about his thought process and how he became known for this theories. Him and his wife were able to come to terms with their differences about the world and still have complex discussions. This idea is ahead of its time, where others are often shamed for their views against religion. 

This is the love story of two opposing views on the topic of god and science. 

Links:

http://www.biography.com/people/charles-darwin-9266433

http://www.livescience.com/474-controversy-evolution-works.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1QQCVEKIEU

Exit, Pursued by a Bear

This is a must read for young adults and adults alike. This tale of the character of Hermione Winters and her tale of her rape. She is a head cheerleader at her school and for her cheerleadering is everything. Its more than just a after school activity. In the book she focuses her strong persona and the challenges she faces trying to overcome what has happened to her without being another tragic tale. Her rape happened as a result of her going to a summer camp and being drugged by one of her classmates. Throughout the story we see her journey through the legal battles and what she has to face when she goes to school. 

The retelling of the rape from her perspective is hard to read at times. It is said in the book that she doesn't remember the crime happening but reading it, it is clear that she is scarred from the incident. 

One of the elements of the story I enjoyed was all the characters weren't against her. More often than not, I read or watch shows that depict the victim as alone and against everyone around her. It was a relief to read a book where she had her best friend Polly supporting her and not just Polly but also Polly's parents. From my point of view, for young adults, it gives them hope that when they face horrible situations where they don't know where to turn they can still find support with some people. This also creates the idea of standing up for what you believe in, with the strong females in this book it gives me hope for young woman to be able to read about this tale and strive to be that kind of support for each other. Reinforcing that victims shouldn't have to face incidents like these alone helps young adults build their own character to strive to stand up for themselves and those around them

The topic of rape is a difficult one to talk about at times but this book would create a conversation and with the characters in this book it also validates that victims should be able to come forward and try to move on with their lives and heal from the incident.

Links:

http://www.rapevictimadvocates.org/

http://www.icasa.org/crisisCenters.aspx?CenterId=1&PageID=501

https://www.healthyplace.com/abuse/rape/help-for-rape-victims-rape-victims-support

All these links are places where teens and adults can go to find proper support for cases of rape.

Caramelo by Sandra Cisneros

Caramelo

By Sandra Cisneros 

This novel tells the story of Celaya, a Chicagoan being raised by Gunajuatense family, her struggles with being Mexican American and her family. While the novel focuses on Celaya, chapter are alternated between her and her (awful) grandmother, Soledad. Her grandmother chapter focus on her coming of age revealing what life was for a young Mexican woman, the gender roles she was forced to follow. Whereas Celaya also known as Lala grows through the novel enjoying her customs and tradition in Chicago before moving to San Antonio where she is forced into a new reality that deals with classmates bullying her and being unable to adapt. Going to Mexico to see her family, lead her to some love problems and the involves her whole family.

I love reading this book because it is so descriptive you can really see yourself living alongside the characters. This is a great novel that allows a perspective into gender roles, and how sometimes culture help enforce gender roles more than you think. Family, economic, identity problems, it is a novel that everyone can enjoy even if they are not Mexican.

Pros:

·         It is a very vividly descriptive novel about Mexican and Mexican-American culture.

·         Interesting points of views in each chapter.

Cons:

·         Some Spanish language involved that would require translation for students before reading.

Links

Where to buy..

https://www.amazon.com/Caramelo-Sandra-Cisneros/dp/0679742581

Sandra Cisneros in current time..

https://www.instagram.com/officialsandracisneros/

Images of Guanajuato for context

https://www.instagram.com/guanajuato_mx/?hl=en

The House on Mango Street: A good short book to read over the summer

http://nlcphs.net/SummerReadings/Freshmen/HouseOnMango.pdf

The Catcher in the Rye

The Catcher in the Rye

J.D Salinger

In this coming of age novel, Holden Caulfield goes through his life difficulties in descending who is phony and who is real.  At 16, Holden is going through some problems that require mental help, before receiving that help he goes through multiple situations that make him question his sexuality, purpose, and whether he is ready to leave his childhood and entering adulthood.  Holden has interactions with multiple people that he realizes he is unable to relate to them. He views adulthood as a phony stage of life, and childhood holds the realness that life has to offer, he see this through his sister who is the only person who is not phony. This creates a conflict for him because he does not quite fit with the adult world nor is he prepared to join.

What is high school without dealing with phoniness? When teacher tell you what you have to do and constrain you in order to prepare for freedom, seems like life is just a paradox. This novel is aimed for the student who feel stuck in school, being underage you don’t quite have that much control over yourself but you are being force to pick up on adult responsible. They may feel like the weight of the world is on their shoulder, Holden offers a connection that will reader to see that this is a transition. While many do adjust or pretend to adjust nicely, there are some that find it difficult and that’s okay. There are many resources that are available for them,  mental health is something that needs to be discuss. This novel is just the start of a discussion.

Pros:

·         During students high school years, there is a conflict of power they are faced with. Going from 12 years of following rules and regulations and especially their last four years deal with their “last years” of childhood before they are released into adulthood where they no longer have no one else to depend on but themselves, students may feel similarly to Holden. Not feeling prepared to transition from elementary to high school to college, they may feel conflicted and this book opens up a great discussions.

·         Open up a conversation for mental health awareness

Cons:

·         It may be difficult to follow Holden’s stream of thoughts

·         Mild swearing

Links

Where can you buy..

https://www.amazon.com/Catcher-Rye-J-D-Salinger/dp/0316769487

What is mental health?

http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/recognizing-warning-signs

Who is J.D Salinger and what affect did the time period have on him?

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2011/02/salinger-201102

Fences by August Wilson

Fences

by August Wilson

There are many struggles that arose from the civil rights movement. During the late 1950s and early 1960s, every norm that had been set in place would now be put into question. This play “Fences”, deal with the African American family, Troy, Rose and Cory Maxson and the struggles they are faced with, past and present. Troy struggles with roles he had to take a young age, coming of age too soon, the problems of what fatherhood is, the lack of education, racial discrimination and love. Rose is confronted with her roles as a woman attempting to let her voice be heard, motherhood, not being able to move forward, and infidelity. Troy is a teenager questions his relationship with his father, his potential success, and his conflict with accepting history. This play opens up a dialogue to discuss how history continues to have repercussion even when the country is in route to a better system, how this not only affects the ones who have lived through it but the generations to come.  Moreover, there is also the role of fatherhood that is question, how much of the relationship is composed through emotion and obligation? Can either one be excluded?

Focusing on African American family, this play offers and insight to student that may be relatable or completely distinct to their own. How many times to we not read a book and read about a family that is the ideal family, supportive parents dealing with the heartbroken teen? While it may be cliché it is something we described in most play for teenager, however Fences is as real as it gets. What happens when you marry someone who feel like they haven’t prosper with their partner by their side? That what Troy felt with Rose, however Rose let him know, she has been standing in the same spot with him. He not only failed himself but her as well. What about being a father when you are still a child? What if you had your own dreams but society and life has constructed and pushed you into a mold that makes you a provider. Can you feel resentment? It is okay? Is infidelity okay when It makes you feel free? These are just some of the things you can begin to question acting out this play.

Pros:

·         Interesting perspective of what effects the late 1950s and early 1960s had on the African American family.

·         Also allows an insight to how parenthood is affected by past experiences

·         Freedom is discuss in multiple ways

Cons:

·         It is a very emotional book that talks about difficult familial situations that may be hard/uncomfortable for students to discuss

Links

Where to buy..

https://www.amazon.com/Fences-August-Wilson/dp/0452264014

Who is August Wilson?

http://www.biography.com/people/august-wilson-9533583

Movie Trailer/ Play acted out however the printed play takes place on stage versus the movie which moves to different places.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a2m6Jvp0bUw

Oedipus Tyrannus by Sophocles

Oedipus Tyrannus

Sophocles 

In this Athenian tragedy play by Sophocles, it is a shocking and twisted tale that takes place in media res and challenges the structure of the family. The play which is first created through the prophecy of the oracle that informs  Oedipus’ father, Laius, and Jocasta being told their fate if they are to have child, focus on the adult life of Oedipus who is unaware of his past and future fate. There are multiple themes that focus on fate, religion, being blind- literally and metaphorically- and incest. It is a difficult book to put down, once you are invested in the tale.

I love reading this play because it is so intriguing to see how the family structure is so intertwined, literally. We are so used to seeing the nuclear family in many plays, yet this play demonstrates the effects of being blind, one can come to question whether that blindness is out of truly being blind or avoiding the truth. There is multiple excerpt provided in the book that allow the reader to decide whether or not Oedipus is guilty of his fate. Readers themselves get to explore what fate is and see it’s effect on each character. It is an odd play, incest is never quite the popular theme of most books, nonetheless it is a play I am sure that reader will not be able to compare to anything else they have read.

Pro-

·         You are following the performance as an investigator, there are multiples clues given by different characters, it is up to the reader to place those clues together that can allow them to discover the truth of Oedipus life before Oedipus does himself.

·         The play deals with interesting issues of incest that allow for a truly shocking reaction.

·         The book provides excerpts of Freud’s idea of Oedipus and sex (Oedipus Complex) which allows for in interesting discussion of the family structure.

Con-

·         The play does deal with taboo subjects that may be uncomfortable for students to discuss about.

·         The dialogue between the multiple characters may be hard for students to follow, organizing the character is a must in order for confusion to be avoided.

Links

Where to buy…

https://www.amazon.com/Oedipus-Tyrannus-translated-Berkowitz-Theodore/dp/B0061GOC1A

Oedipus in relation to history..

https://www.jstor.org/stable/292475?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents

Who is Sophocles?

http://www.ancient.eu/sophocles/

What’s the controversy with Freud:?

https://www.verywell.com/what-is-an-oedipal-complex-2795403