Books 14 and 16
14. Brown Girl Dreaming, by Jacqueline Woodson. This one fits the middle school novel requirement for the Book Riot challenge. This is essentially Woodson's autobiography, told in free verse. It's beautifully written. Woodson (After Tupac and D Foster, and many other books) covers her life from a toddler in Ohio and a young child growing up in Greenville, South Carolina, and later in her years split between Greenville and Brooklyn, the latter city which would eventually become her home. She captures a childlike innocence with a story set in the middle of the Civil Rights movement. She shows the difficulties growing up in two areas, both of which present difficulties, but she doesn't dwell on the hardships. Instead, you see the closeness of her family, especially to her grandparents. You see her relationship with her mother, two older siblings and her younger brother. You see her curiosity as she seeks to find her way and find where she fits, and her thrill as her ability to tell stories and, later, write them come to fruition. This is an excellent book for preteen and younger teens- or any age.
15. Trashed, by Derf Backderf. This fulfills the graphic novel requirement for the Book Riot challenge. Backderf, best known for his graphic novel My Friend Dahmer. Here, Backderf tells a fictionalized story of his time serving as a garbageman. As expected, this story has a generous serving of Backderf's irreverent humor. However, there's also a good deal of compassion, such as when the garbage crew comes to a house that has obviously been foreclosed on. Throughout the story, Trashed gives information on how much garbage is generated in the United States, how it is stored, the anatomy of a landfill and even some history on garbage trucks. While the story is listed as a fictionalized story of Backderf's life behind a sanitation truck, I suspect there's more truth than fiction in many of the stories, which not only go over the perils and hardship of picking up garbage, but exposes the garbage in politics and even within people. There are a few four-letter words, but teachers in the higher grades shouldn't feel they need to hesitate to use this book as a teaching tool, and not just for ecology, either.
16. Big Girls Do Cry, by April Kirkwood. This was an interesting autobiography of a Youngstown woman who had a periodic affair with legendary singer Frankie Valli. She recalls her days as a child, going with her mother to Four Seasons concerts and meeting Valli afterwards. When she was older, she'd go back with him to his hotel room. Her infatuation and dreams of becoming the next Mrs. Frankie Valli would color her relationships with other men, none of which ended well. She reflects on her weaknesses and on imprinting, which she says can ruin any relationship. Kirkwood also goes into her background, growing up in blue-collar Youngstown, her up and down relationship with her troubled mother, and the more stable support of her aunt and grandmother. This is a quick read, about a colorful and fascinating life. Today, she works as a counselor and as a speaker on relationships.
Currently reading: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, by John le Carre.
15. Trashed, by Derf Backderf. This fulfills the graphic novel requirement for the Book Riot challenge. Backderf, best known for his graphic novel My Friend Dahmer. Here, Backderf tells a fictionalized story of his time serving as a garbageman. As expected, this story has a generous serving of Backderf's irreverent humor. However, there's also a good deal of compassion, such as when the garbage crew comes to a house that has obviously been foreclosed on. Throughout the story, Trashed gives information on how much garbage is generated in the United States, how it is stored, the anatomy of a landfill and even some history on garbage trucks. While the story is listed as a fictionalized story of Backderf's life behind a sanitation truck, I suspect there's more truth than fiction in many of the stories, which not only go over the perils and hardship of picking up garbage, but exposes the garbage in politics and even within people. There are a few four-letter words, but teachers in the higher grades shouldn't feel they need to hesitate to use this book as a teaching tool, and not just for ecology, either.
16. Big Girls Do Cry, by April Kirkwood. This was an interesting autobiography of a Youngstown woman who had a periodic affair with legendary singer Frankie Valli. She recalls her days as a child, going with her mother to Four Seasons concerts and meeting Valli afterwards. When she was older, she'd go back with him to his hotel room. Her infatuation and dreams of becoming the next Mrs. Frankie Valli would color her relationships with other men, none of which ended well. She reflects on her weaknesses and on imprinting, which she says can ruin any relationship. Kirkwood also goes into her background, growing up in blue-collar Youngstown, her up and down relationship with her troubled mother, and the more stable support of her aunt and grandmother. This is a quick read, about a colorful and fascinating life. Today, she works as a counselor and as a speaker on relationships.
Currently reading: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, by John le Carre.