Title: Freaky Green Eyes

ENGL 552-81, Spring 2009, Book Reviews, Round 1 of 3

Title:Freaky Green Eyes

Author: Joyce Carol Oates

Publisher/Imprint: Harper Collins Publishers

Plot: Franky Pierson has the outer trappings of a good life. She isathletic and attractive, has close friends, and lives in an impressive postmodernist home in the hills above Seattle. Her father, a famous sportscaster and a larger-than-life personality, appears to adore his family and likes to keep them close. His attachment to his family soon takes on obsessive qualities, however, and only Franky’s brother escapes the “discipline” their father dispenses to keep the family intact and loyal to him. When Franky’s parents separate, and the children are left with their father, everyone in the family is angry and feels abandoned by Franky’s mom.

When her mom disappears, however, Franky is forced to rely on the secret source of strength she has within, the confident knowing self that she calls Freaky Green Eyes, in order to face some bitter truths about herself and her family. Franky has characterized her mother’s gradual disconnection from the family as a kind of “crossing over. From a known territory into an unknown.

From a place where people know you to a place where people only think they know you”(3). Franky’s journey parallels her mother’s as she, too, crosses

over and comes to important realizations.

Key Issues: The mother/daughter relationship is explored within the larger

context of trust. Frankie has to learn to trust herself before she can extend it to others. This is a coming-of-age story in which a frightened young girl develops an authentic sense of self.

Warnings: While there is physical and emotional abuse, it is not so graphic that this book couldn’t be used in the classroom. Teachers should be aware of this issue, however, and lead discussions with some sensitivity.

Audience: Both teenagers and adults could enjoy this novel. It probably is more of a girl’s book though; there are few redeeming male characters.

Teaching Ideas: Journals play a significant role in this story’s development. It might be helpful, therefore, to have students choose a character and write possible journal entries for significant parts of the plot. It could be challenging for the boys because the male characters are portrayed pretty negatively. However, it would be interesting to write from Franky’s brother’s perspective and see how it would feel to be immune to family violence and how that would influence your loyalties.

Tags: YA, abuse, adolescence, fathers and daughters, fiction, mothers and daughters, girls’ literature, psychological abuse, murder, mystery

Title:Whale Talk

Author: Chris Crutcher

Publisher/Imprint: Dell Laurel-Leaf/ an imprint of Random House, Inc.

Plot: T.J. Jones is the product of a one-night stand between a white,crank-addicted mother and a black-Japanese father. Mercifully, he is adopted at the age of two by a white, middle class family that loves and supports him. He is surprisingly but realistically well-adjusted; he understands grief and loss at a primal level, and while unfairness and cruelty infuriate him, he has reasonable adults in his life that help him to make sense of things. T. J. thinks that the sport system at his school is constructed on policies of exclusion and abuses of power, and he intends to confront it.

Therefore, he forms a swim team of misfits whose primary goal is to force the school to recognize them by winning the ultimate prize: the varsity letter jacket. T.J.’s primary purpose is to discredit those who humiliate others.

What he ultimately discovers, however, is the individuality and humanity of all the boys who have been previously discounted by their school system.

Although Crutcher deals with difficult issues, he does so with wry sense of humor that makes the book entertaining to read.

Key Issues: Primarily this is an exploration into the issues of hatred and bigotry with its resulting damage to the self. Individuals are resilient in this novel, however, and relationships have restorative potential. In addition, Crutcher develops the idea of being a strong individual and of having the courage to defend one’s beliefs and values.

Warnings: This book takes a hard look at racism and child abuse: the “n” word is used repeatedly. Although the overall message is positive, a class discussion of this novel would have to be handled with care and sensitivity.

Audience: This story could be enjoyed by adolescents or adults. Although it has a male protagonist and is about sports, it does not only target boys (although it is boy-friendly). The issues raised are universal and not gender-specific,so it would be appropriate for girls as well as boys. This would be a great novel for any athletes in the class.

Teaching Ideas: Because this novel deals with sensitive issues, I don’t think that it would be appropriate for small group discussion, at least not initially. Even though many students might have intensely personal responses to the content , and most people are more comfortable sharing personal concerns in a smaller group, I think that the teacher would need to be present and leading the discussion in order to maintain an appropriate level of respect for the entire class. That said, there are a lot of great characters in this novel, and a character journal could be useful, in which each student picks a character and must write from the perspective of that character. Another strategy that I would use would be an anticipation guide to stimulate discussion about the nature of evil, hatred, or bigotry before we read the book.

Tags: YA, sports, swimming, coming of age, fiction, adoption, abuse, family, friendship, racism, bigotry, overcoming obstacles, students with disabilities

Title: I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You

Author: Ally Carter

Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children

Plot: Carter tells the story of Cammie Morgan, a high school girl who attends GallagherAcademy for Exceptional Young Women. The school, which from the outside appears to be a well-to-do boarding school for wealthy girls, is in fact a spy school known about only by elite members of the international spy ring around the world. On her first CoveOps mission Cammie meets a local boy, Josh, whom she quickly falls for. Cammie spends most of the novel working out ways to escape the boundaries of the school in order to meet up Josh, her first crush and boyfriend, but in the end must choose between the life of secrecy demanded of spies or Josh, and the world beyond the gates of GallagherAcademy.

Key Issues: First crushes; single parenting/being the child of a single parent: (Cammie’s father was killed prior to the start of the novel); making choices between family and friends,

Warnings: I have no warnings against this book. There is no adult content; I think even students in Middle School would enjoy reading this book. The language is very appropriate. In fact, in one instance Carter chooses not to use a cuss word and instead writes,

Macey only wrenched her arm out of Bex’s grasp and said, “Don’t touch me, b--.” (Yeah that’s right, she called Bex the B word.)

Now see, here’s where the whole private-school things puts a girl at a disadvantage. MTV will lead us to believe that the B word has become a term of endearment or slang among equals, but I still mainly think of it as the insult of choice for the inarticulate” (36).

Audience: Middle and High School students would enjoy this. Some of the later high school students may find it a little young, but I think that the story and the issues are still very appropriate.

Teaching Ideas: Though I’m not sure I would teach this book as a whole-class book, I think there are a lot of fun things you could do with it especially if you are in a class that is linked to a history class. I have been to the InternationalSpyMuseum in D.C. and I think if your students were going to be learning about it or visiting it, this would be a great book to read in conjunction. There are also many references to events in history, (i.e. JFK’s death) in which Carter claims that the girls at the Academy know “the real story” which I found to be very eye-opening and which forced me to really think outside of the box and question what I think I know. Finally, it would be a great supplement to any literature that deals with children having to make tough decisions about the future as well as dealing with the loss of a parent.

Title: Prom

Author: Laurie Halse Anderson

Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Inc.

Plot: Ashley, a senior in high school, is an average student and has no plans to attend college after she graduates. She also has no plans to attend her senior prom. However, when the math teacher (and advisor to the prom committee) is arrested for stealing most of the money designated to pay for prom, Ashley is forced to help Natalia (her best friend and the chairman of the prom committee) plan the cheapest prom in the history of high school. During the hectic weeks leading up to prom, Ashley discovers that she loves each member of her family despite their idiosyncrasies, that she deserves a boyfriend who treats her with respect, and that she is far more capable than she once believed. Ultimately the prom is a huge success, and all of the students have a wonderful time dancing until dawn. In the end, Ashley decides not to rent a cheap studio apartment with her sleazy boyfriend, TJ. She is accepted into the local community college, moves into a house with Natalia (which just happens to be across the street from her parents’ house), and considers pursuing a career in accounting.

Key Issues:

Struggling with being an “average” student, Romantic relationships, Friendship, Popularity ,Peer pressure, Family dynamics, Poverty, Self-realization

Warnings:

Intense kissing scenes, School violence, Language, Smoking, Skipping school, Members of the opposite sex living together before marriage, Premarital sex, Drugs, Underage drinking, Teen pregnancy, Theft

Audience: Females (ages 15 – 18)

Teaching Ideas: I would not use this book in the classroom in any way because there are far too many sexual innuendos, inappropriate scenes, and curse words. The themes of self-discovery and friendship are admirable, but I know that there are better books available that convey the same messages. Furthermore, I would not recommend that my students read this book outside of my classroom either. I think that most parents would be upset by many aspects of this novel. To be honest, I am disappointed that this book is a New York Times best seller. I would not want my sixteen year old daughter reading about students “hooking up” after prom, experimenting with marijuana in the high school bathroom, or making plans to move in with their significant others after graduation. I realize that most teenagers see and hear far worse things on primetime television, but I firmly believe that teacher-recommended literature should be worthwhile and above reproach. Unfortunately, I found Laurie Halse Anderson’s novel to be neither.

Tags:

High school prom, Friendship, Romantic comedy, Self-discovery, Family dynamics

Title:Upstream

Author: Melissa Lion

Publisher: Random House, Inc.

Plot: It is fall, and Marty is about to begin her senior year of high school. However, everything is different now; her boyfriend (Steven) was killed in a hunting accident during the summer. With help from her mother, her two sisters, and her close friend (Katherine), Marty is able to cope with the sadness of losing the only boy that she loves. Marty spends her afternoons fishing in the Alaskan rivers with her sister (Dorothy) and her nights working at the local movie theater (with Katherine). Uncertainly strikes Marty and her family when the sheriff begins to investigate the details surrounding Steven’s death. Marty fears that everyone will soon learn that she was the one who pulled the trigger; she is the one truly responsible for Steven’s death. In the end, Marty leaves Alaska and moves to Hawaii, where she plans to study marine biology and hopes to escape her guilt.

Key Issues:

Mourning the death of a close friend / significant other, Family dynamics, Friendship, High school, Trust, Opening up to others

Warnings:

Sneaking out of the house in the middle of the night, Death , Premarital sex, Absent father, Some language, Gruesome images (gunshot wound) , Keeping secrets from authority figures

Audience: Males and females (ages 15 to 18)

Teaching Ideas: I liked a lot of things about this novel, especially the imagery that the author uses to describe the Alaskan landscape. Melissa Lion uses a lot of figurative language to describe the smells, sounds, tastes, and sights that set Alaska apart from the other forty-nine states. I also liked the message of the novel; Marty depends on her family and friends to help her cope with the death of her boyfriend. However, I still would not teach Upstream in a whole class setting because the novel contains sexual innuendos and mild language, both of which I think are inappropriate in teacher-recommended literature. If I were on a continuing contract with a high school, I might possibly have a small group of mature students read this book in a literary circle. Of course, I would first send a letter home to the parents explaining to them about the contents of the novel. I would also alert the students ahead of time about the language and sexuality in Upstream. I think that this novel is worthwhile to read and explores some very interesting themes and issues.

Tags:

Alaska, Death, Family, Friendship

Title:Runner

Author: Carl Deuker

Publisher/Imprint: Grafia

Plot: Chance Taylor, a high school senior, lives with his dad on a sailboat in Shilshole Marina in Seattle, Washington. Chance's father is both an Iraq War veteran and a drunk, and since his father has just lost his job again, Chance fears they may loose their boat; his father does not have the money to pay the monthly mooring fee. Although Chance is not a member of the school track team, he runs eight miles every day from the marina through the city and to the park near the coast; this helps him to clear his head.

Chance's daily runs gets noticed by the fat man who manages the marina office. One day, he stops Chance to offer him a job. All he has to do is run along his usual route and check for a package that will be waiting in some rocks in the park. Chance reluctantly decides to take the job; although, he knows that he will be involved in something illegal. At first, Chance enjoys the money that the new job affords. He is able to quit his old job washing pots at a local sea-food restaurant, and he can finally pay for a mocha and piece of cake when he meets Melissa, a girl in his class and the editor of the school paper.

From the vantage point of her high-dollar house overlooking the park, Melissa watches Chance and takes photos of him in the park. When she confronts him about the packages he retrieves, Chance promises to tell her all about it at the end of the school year, if she will just stay clear of him for a few more weeks. But soon the fat man ends up dead in mysterious suicide. Now Chance does not know what to do. He continues to store the packages with the playdough-like contents, and he suspects they contain explosives. Though he wants to get out of this situation, he can only wait to be contacted.

Meanwhile, he fears the police at every turn and worries that he could be the next one dead.

When the day arrives that the packages are to be delivered, Chance returns home to the boat and finds that someone has ransacked the place. He checks the secret area in the forward berth; the packages are still secure. He tells his father, already suspicious, what is happening. His father sends Chance to ask for help from Melissa's father, an attorney and an old friend.

While Chance is away, the terrorists return to hijack the boat and force Chance's father to take them directly towards one of the giant cruise ships in Puget Sound. Chance's father struggles with the terrorists, and the boat explodes before it reaches its goal. Chance is proud of his father's last brave act. Melissa's father offers to pay for Chance's community college tuition, finally giving him a chance at a future. But in the end, Chance decides it is better for him to forge his own life, and he resolves to call the Army recruiter as soon he graduates.

Key Issues: The key issues include poverty, military service, terrorism, crime, alcohol abuse, and ethical choices.

Warnings: There is little to no profanity. Some might find the subject matter objectionable.