If You Come Softly

If You Come Softly

Jacqueline Woodson

1998 * p. 181 * YA Realistic Fiction

Ellie is a white Jewish girl. Miah is black boy. They are both fifteen and meet on their first day at the expensive prep school in New York City that both their parents have chosen for them.

They connect in a moment but neither can tell why.

Miah (Jeremiah) says to his friend Carlton (who is half black and half white):

"It's like I know her--like I can look inside her and see everything. I know it sounds craz--"

"You sound like you're in love, man."

Jeremiah frowned. "Nah. I don't even know her." But he remembered that first day, bending with her to pick up her books in the hallway. Something inside him went cold that morning--cold and hot all at once. "I couldn't even tell you her last name." He was thoughtful for a moment. "But I was sitting next to her in class today--and I don't know--I felt like we. . . like we should always be next to each other. I don't know."

Carlton stood up and tucked the ball under his arm. "Sounds like love, man."

"But she's white."

Carlton raied an eyebrow. "Hello, Miah. Look who you talking to, man. It happens. And you know what? It ain't the worst thing in the world" (89).

They think about each other constantly, but it takes weeks before Miah finally talks to Ellie. From then on they are virtually inseperable. They are together during school and often walk to Central Park to talk. They have a lot in common. Both of them come from an unsatisfactory home life. Ellie's mother has left the family twice. But even though she came back, Ellie feels like she can never fully trust her. Miah's parents are divorced. His father had an affair with another woman, and he ow lives with her across the street. Both of their home lives are awkward and a little depressing.

Miah and Ellie become each other's best friend and fall in love almost instantly. But, of course, their races are an obstacle. People look at them strangely and Ellie is afraid to tell her parents.

If You Come Softly is a love story, but is innocent and not cheesy at all. It is more about two people finding a connection that helps them tackle the disappointments of life.

I enjoyed this book, although I was a little depressed afterward. But it is a heartfelt story.

-Reading level: ages 15 & up

-Needs a more mature audience to appreciate the issue of interracial relationships.

-A few swear words

-Themes of racism, interracial relationships, broken homes, honesty, communication

95 Pounds of Hope

95 Pounds of Hope

Anna Gavalda

2002 * p. 90 * YA Realistic Fiction

Gregory Dubosc is 13 years old and in the 6th grade.

"Yes, I know there's something wrong. I'll tell you right away--don't bother to count on your fingers. I stayed back twice: third and sixth grades" (4).

Gregory simply doesn't like school. His parents are fed up with his bad grades and lies about assignments. They've taken him to doctors, and the doctors say he has ADD. Gregory thinks this is ridiculous, and attests that he simply doesn't like school and that everything seems like it's taught in Chinese.

Gregory finds his joy in his Grandpa Leon's workshop. He loves to build things and create. He is truly gifted when it comes to carpentry.

But going to school is inescapable, even though he has been expelled from two schools. His parents decide on sending him to boarding school but no school will take him because of his record. But everything seems to change when Gregory becomes interested in attending a boarding school that focuses on working with your hands and exploring creativity.

The book is short but poignant. Gregory is a typical student who feels dumb because he doesnt get good grades. It is truly sad. He is a good boy and only wants to feel that he is smart and make his parents proud.

The book is honest and a real glimpse into every student's struggles to get good grades. One quote in particular made me laugh and called back memories:

"Then comes the torture of homework. If my mother helps me, she always ends up crying. If it's my father, I always end up crying" (13).

Haha. So true. Gregory is very funny and real and relatable. I didn't find the story on a whole very outstanding or literary, but it is a good choice for students who have similar school problems and need a book that is short and uncomplicated.

-Reading level: ages 10 & up

-Contains a few swear words

-A short and uncomplicated read

-Themes of self-confidence, family, school, and individuality

Homeless Bird

Homeless Bird

Gloria Whelan

2000 * p. 212 * YA Multicultural Fiction

Homeless Bird is the story of 13 year old Koly who lives in India. Her family is poor, but loving. Koly is now at the age where she can be married, and soon her parents come into contact with another family who wish their son to be married to Koly. They live far away and Koly has never seen her husband-to-be, Hari. Hari's parents have told Koly and her parents that he is sixteen and will be a good match. However, after they are married and meet Koly and Hari meet face to face, they discover that Hari is deathy ill and the same age as Koly, maybe younger. But they are married, and worse than a deceitful marriage, is bringing shame to the family. So Koly stays with Hari and his parents.

On their wedding night, Koly sleeps next to her sister-in-law Chandra and is not allowed to even rarely speak to her husband:

"I slept very little that night, kept awake by my longing for my home and by Hari's coughing in the next room. As I lay there in the strange house, I felt like a newly caged animal that rushes about looking for the open door that isn't there. I thought I might be able to endure one day in my new home and perhaps two, but I did not see how I could live there for the rest of my life" (24).

Poor Koly's circumstances only get worse. I can't even imagine getting married at age 13 to a sickly boy, living with in-laws that I had never met, being treated unkindly, and never being able to go home for fear of shaming my family.

Hari's parents only had Hari marry Koly to get her dowry so they could take Hari to a holy city and be cured. But Hari is not cured, and dies. Koly is a widow at 13 and must wear the traditional white widow's sari. Now, Koly must live with her in-laws. Her sister-in-law leaves and is married, her father-in-law soon dies, and so Koly is left with her cruel mother-in-law--Sass. Koly is now 17. They are destitute.

Sass and Koly head for a new place to live with Sass's brother. But they stop at Vrindiavan, a holy city. Sass gives Koly some money to buy food for them. When Koly returns, Sass is gone. She has left without her and deserted her in the holy city. Koly is all alone, with little money, nowhere to stay, no friends or family.

Homeless Bird is a wonderful book, and though depressing, it still seems lighthearted. What really struck me is that this is a modern-day book. It is not written about a character that lived in India 100 years ago. It is a realistic, mulitcutluralistic account of life for a teenage widow. Since marriage is everything, to be widowed is to think your life is over. That is the real depressing aspect of the novel: to think that your life is over at 13 and that the rest of your life will be spent as a servant, unloved and poor.

Though I won't share the end, it does end happily. It is a wonderful insight into Indian culture and many terms are use throughout the book. (A glossary of terms is explained at the back of the book.) I loved it. The text is big and the pages are small making it a fast and interesting read.

-Reading level: age 11 & up

-Easy read.

-A reference to a bhang and drug use.

-Appropriate for all ages.

-Glimpse into the Indian culture.

-Themes of hope, endurance, respect and shame.

-National Book Award Winner.

Stargirl

Stargirl Jerry Spinelli

2000 * p. 186 * YA Realistic Contemporary

Leo is a typical, fairly popular, high school student in Arizona. His life seems normal until Stargirl walks into his life. Stargirl (yes, that is her name) has been homeschooled before coming to Mica High School. She wears pioneer dresses, plays her ukulele at lunch, know everyone's birthday and sings them "Happy Birthday" at school, has a pet rat that rides along in her purse, and is totally friendly.

Everyone thinks she is just strange and fascinating at first. Soon she becomes the most popular girl in school.

"How did it happen? ... Was it the cheerleading?...The last football game of the season was her first as a cheerleader. The grandstand was packed: students, parents, alumni. Never had so many people come to a football game to see a cheerleader.

She did all the regular cheers and routines. And more. In fact, she never stopped cheering...She ran straight across the fifty-yard line and joined the other team's cheerleaders. We laughed as they stood there with their mouths open. ... At halftime she played her ukulele with the band" (8).

But everyone's enthusiasm for her fades as her wild and unpredicatable nature is still an enigma. They can't figure her out. She is now an outcast. Leo is drawn to her still, however, and when Stargirl gives him a Valentine card telling him she loves him, his world changes forever. But now Leo must struggle between becoming an individual himself or keeping to the status quo.

The novel was charming. It was innocent. Stargirl is eccentric but genuine. She does nothing but good. She is constantly doing service for others, most of the time complete strangers. She never thinks of herself.

Stargirl is utimately about individuality and acceptance.

-Reading level: grade 8 & up

-Easy, fast and uncomplicated read

-Themes of individuality, acceptance, service, popularity, first love, selflessness

-Completely appropriate for all readers

I would reccommend this book to any, and all readers. I believe there is also a sequel: Love, Stargirl. I haven't read it yet, but I plan on it.

Speak

Speak Laurie Halse Anderson

1999 * p. 198 * YA Realistic Contemporary

Speak is about a girl named Melinda who starts high school as an outcast. No one will speak with her, not even her, now ex, best friend. She is totally alone and depressed, and her homelife isn't helping. Something happened over the previous summer before her freshman year that has labeled Melinda as an outcast and a target of rude remarks.

Melinda herself won't talk about what happened that summer. But as the novel goes on, you discover that Melinda had attended an end of the summer party with all of her friends. She has a couple of drinks and ends up being raped by a senior. After it happens, she calls the police but is too shocked to explain exactly what happened. The police come to the party, break it up, and arrest a few of the party-ers. Everyone blames Melinda as a taddle-tale, and never know that she had actually been raped and was trying to call for help.

The context of the novel sounds depressing, and it is. But it really impacted me. I couldn't stop thinking about it for days. One of the most terrifying aspects of the story are when Melinda sees, or is near, IT: the boy who raped her. Anderson, the author, portrays her terror and depression so well. It is a very emotional book only because Melinda herself refuses to be emotional about it or even recognize that it happened.

But she is still careful about where she is and with who. She becomes paranoid of everyone and everything. When the only person who is nice to her, a boy, invites her to hang out with him and some friends, she immediately says "no" and makes up excuses. On the way home, she has an argument with herself:

Melinda One: "Get a life. It was just pizza. He wasn't going to try anything. His parents were going to be there! You worry too much. You're never going to let us have any fun, are you? You're going to turn into one of those weird old ladies who has a hundred cats and calls the cops when kids cut across the her back yard. I can't stand you."

Melinda Two waits for One to finish her tantrum. Two carefully watches the bushes along the sidewalk for a lurking bogeyman or worse.

Melinda Two: "The world is a dangerous place. You don't know what would have happened. What if he was just saying his parents were going to be there? He could have been lying. You can never tell when people are lying. Assume the worst. Plan for disaster. Now hurry up and get us home. I don't like it out here. It's too dark." (132)

I truly loved this book. It was impactful and powerful. Anderson's portrayal of high school, the "lingo", scenes, and inner struggles is genius. It is genuine and realistic. This novel has been censored/challenged by a few schools because it deals with rape, but it is so piercing that I think every girl should read it to see an example of the dangers of drinking, rape, and even worse, keeping it to yourself and not seeking help.

-More appropriate for high school age.

-Has a scene of rape, but is not detailed or needlessly graphic.

-A few swear words.

-Themes of dealing with rape, denial, ostracism, unsatisfying home life, finding own identity, and "speaking up."

Laurie Halse Anderson has also written: Fever 1793, Catalyst, and Prom. I plan on reading Fever 1793 next.

After the First Death

After the First Death Robert Cormier

c.1979 * p. 233 * Y.A. Realistic Contemporary

After the First Death follows three teenage narrators: Ben, the General's son; Kate, the kidnapped bus driver; and Miro, one of the terrorists over the kidnapping. As part of their cause, the terrorists plan to highjack a bus full of preschool children, kill the old man who drives the bus, take it to the bridge, and make their demands. Miro, eager for his initiation as a man in the group, has been given the honor of killing the bus driver, his first personal kill. However, Miro is a little rattled when they highjack the bus and find that the driver is really a teenage girl, Kate. Now she must do everything she can to stay alive and protect the children.

Meanwhile, Ben's thoughts weave through the story as he remembers that day on the bridge. The reader never knows what exactly happens to him (until the end), but the trama he suffered is apparent as he contemplates ending his life once he confronts his father, the General, over the incident on the bridge.

This is the first of Cormier's novels that I have read. The story and tone of the plot are undoubtedly realistic and shocking. At first, I was a little disturbed at the seemingly hopeless aura of Kate's situation, but found it intriguing, personal, and suspenseful as themes of honor, bravery, innocence, fear, and war come through the wholly realistic teenage characters and their interactions with each other and with adults.

Here is a brief excerpt from the novel:

"Why are you doing this?" she asked, trying to keep any harshness out of her voice, needing to seem friendly and interested. By this she meant the bus, the children, the highjacking, this enire nightmare.

Miro knew her meaning. "It's what we must do," he answered in his carefully measured English, as if he were walking a verbal tightrope. "Our work, our duty."

"You mean your work is to kidnap children, hurt people, terrorize them?" The hell with trying to appear docile, let the chips fall.

"It's the war. It's all a part of the war."

"I haven't heard of any war." (118-119)

Cormier does a wonderful job of keeping the terrorist's nationality a secret. It takes away all political propoganda and lets the situation just happen. The novel is well-written and the characters are easy to relate to and grow to love. After the First Death was a breath of fresh air and tells a shocking story without unneccesary graphic violence.

-Depressing, but thought provoking

-Can appeal to both young men and women

-An easy read, but with good literary depth

-No foul language

-Some sexual inuendos and violence

-More appropriate for high school juniors and seniors

Cormier has written many other novels. Some of his that I plan on reading, and have heard many reccomendations on are:

I Am the Cheese,

The Chocolate War