#10 Let's Have a Talk, You and I...

The Question: What would you say to an "unbeliever" who tried to convince you that
children's and young adult authors are "inferior" writers?

The Answer: Firstly, I have a problem with persons telling me, convincing me, or any of those dreadful things, about anything that matters. A toothbrush salesman, come try your best, but an "unbeliever" snubbing their nose at any type of literary artwork, come come so that I may correct your wrong and evil path. Children's and Young Adult literature is both a gateway and a fall-back shelter for readers of all ages. Authors of this genre, sometimes more so than authors of fiction and non-fiction, pay close attention to their plot, and language, and the archetypes that are folded away and developed in their story. The authors essentially mans the task of shepherding our youth in their books; slowly introducing them to new possible adventures and morals and characteristics that are positively prized in the American culture we share. When older generations re-read or begin anew in the "Children's Section" of the bookstore, we always find something that we have forgotten; have lost. I believe that we find a piece of our own innocence within the pages of "The Invention of Hugo Cabaret", "Finding H.F.", "The Giver", "Beautiful Blackbird". I am grateful that I choose to take this class. Mine own eyes have been further adjusted and now I see the array of colorful opportunities and adventures that were once dull and dove-gray. Through this genre I am allowed to venture within myself and reintroduce myself to the little Black child who sits right behind my eyes awaiting the journey with another Part Time Indian like herself.
There are no inferior genres and no inferior writers; there are just inferior critics and trespassers who just as well should be shot on sight, if one were to ask me. (evil chuckle)
Cheers guys.

The Indian in me Connects to the Indian in You!

We are all inextricably human, mostly, meaning that we are emotional, vibrant, confusing, linked beings who share different aspect of all walks of life. I think authors such as Alexie and Johnson, put forth stories which carry an universal truth and experience within them. “The Absolutely Truth Diary of a Part-Time Indian” offers its readers a metaphysical rope that we are able to tie into our lives and connect with the main character Arnold and move with him throughout his diary. The concept of intertextuality truly applies to this novel. More than influencing or assuming a relationship with another text, the novel influences and creates a relationship with its readers. I believe that another example of intertextuality between text is the idea of this diary. We are reading a novel which is written as a diary, purposely, as well as having verse and vocabulary of diary language interspersed with traditional story telling, all mimicking a true life diary of a teenager or any groups of person. At some points in the books, where he speaks about his parents, and drawing himself split in between, these concerns and soul tugging predicaments are mirror images of my own. Same ideas and influences; relationships are repeated in my past, your past or present and in Arnold’s diary. This novel reminds me that everything is connected and that no man is an island, as well as no book. I have so much to say, but the language is not with me to do my thoughts justice so for now I’ll say, I truly do love this book and am truly glad I have it in my library!

#8 Who are they to play God?

I will most likely remember the scene where the old man Roberto is released and walks through this ‘special door’ to be released. They celebrate and toast this murderous release, and yet the rules that state that the children cannot attend, almost leaves the children to remain pure until they are of age to be corrupted. It is entirely a gross tale to tell. All I could think about was how cruel this world has become or shaped to be. I also wonder about the passage before Roberto’s where Asher is giving some elderly woman a bath and how the difference between my reality and in the book. Whereas I would be bashful, but dutiful about cleaning, seeking, and seeing a naked person, that was not apart of my family, Asher feels safe and peaceful in a way, there, bathing a woman voluntarily, with any motive but to be of help. “The Giver” has definitely evoked an array of emotions within me. I am uncomfortable and angry, full of condemnation and yet pity these robot people. It is almost like pitying the Germans during the Holocaust; there is a want to feel for those who just did not know, who followed because their loyalty belonged to their country and their people, but to destroy another, because of their suppose inability to be seen as valuable, to die because of rules that have no explanation, and no humane values attached, is almost unthinkable to my reality and the morality set before me by my fore parents. Who are we to play God; yet who are they to play God with us? I will definitely remember this book five years from now and hope to revisit it in that time span as well.

#7 Feminist vs. Beatrice

The female characters in Effects of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds are almost categorical characters to me. The ideas of self for these types of women are varied in many ways but all intertwine themselves around the missing role and image of a man. The feminist critic’s perspective begins deconstructing characters with the understanding that a woman’s idea of self has been systematically been oppressed and silenced, denied and stereotyped. If I were to take on the shoes of a feminist critic, I would focus particularly on Beatrice, who I believe is the head of the problem as she is head of the household. As the mother, Beatrice interacts with her environment in a negligent and negative way. Her husband left her and she both distrusts men and yet yearns for their attention, and in this specific case, Mr. Goodman whose name and actions towards her daughter leans us to believe that he is a Good Man.
Even as a grown woman, Beatrice still cares about what others have to and have said about her. She allows the social, chauvinistic perspective warp her personal self and identity. She has dreams to a do something with her live but stops herself; seeing her children as “two rocks around [her] neck” and not having her father around, or any good man of his standard taking care of her. I do not believe that she ever acknowledges that even though her woman’s experience has been shunned, mostly by her own self-destruction, she does not value the experiences of her daughter and even oppresses Mr. Goodman stereotyping him as a Jew as seen with her back handed language describing him. From a feminist approach, I could only feel more pity and reject Beatrice and her self-destruction.

Worthy of an Award for Sure!

What I Saw and How I Lied definitely earned its place as a National Book Award winner. The plot or more so the way in which Blundell carried the reader through out the story, I consider a great ride. The topics, even though adult-like, matched the reality of our teenagers today. The novel presents passion and energy that was evident in every turn of the page. I believe that the book had fantastic historical accuracy. I am not widely capable of stating facts about the 1940's, but the elements were there in the book, such as the social use of cigarettes, the cocktails, and the details about the layers of dress, style of dressing that Evie explained, and the dresses, lipstick, hair imagery that the reader was able to piece together. The personal behavior was descriptive which made me believe that the story is historically accurate. Blundell also plays to the warped feminism in this book. It parallels to the 1940's perspective on women, the ownership of their bodies, and their sense of self. This did disturb me on a personal level, but again I can appreciate the novels and characters historical aspect and perspective.
Also, Blundell played to the readers’ sense of loyalty for their family and gave us mystery, sexual relations, desperation, and anger which all are tangible emotions that connected the reader to the characters. We were able to feel for these characters and care about them. As per requirements, What I Saw and How I Lied, offered the reader an in-depth exploration of the time period, the psyche of the chosen characters and the unique quality and sincerity of both the characters and the overall story. The language, I believe, carried the correct level of difficulty, respecting and stretching the readership of the readers. I love that there is this universal question of the degree of lies and what is a good lie and a bad one.
This was a great read!

#5 Make Lemonade? How About Make the Pieces Fit...

When I found out that my class would be reading a novel that was written in verse I was extremely excited. I love poetry, and I guess I have a bias about poetry, because I am a poet. Make Lemonade was definitely a different read then I am use to. I have read epic poetry and then individual poems that form a story, kind of like a puzzle of poems one must put together to figure out the story. Make Lemonade was a form of puzzle that we as readers were suppose to put together, but at some moments it was hard to form the pictures in the story, and then sometimes hard to appreciate the overall story because of the jagged edges of the poem pieces that sometimes fit, and most times did not. I believe that Wolff mixed prose and poetry in a way that did not work so well for this book. If she was going to do poetry, then make the story poetic, meaning the language, the scenery (make it concrete for all the five senses), as well as other important elements. The poem, in majority, made me think of prose chopped and fitted to what poetry is ‘suppose’ to look like. The narrative throughout the book and the points and lessons made were in-depth and engaging, but the format and word usage lost the appeal as a whole work of art. Furthermore, I do believe Young Adults would be further confused then I did. I believe the only way an author will successfully draw a young adult audience with a story in poetry, is to have a prose poem or have stanzas of poetry connecting the dots and thereby story in each one.

#4 And Most Likeable Goes To....

Finding H.F. is the best book! I have truly enjoyed reading it this semester. All the characters are neatly crafted and relateable. The topic is fascinating and sought to teach me something as I went through this wonderful book. I believe Bo, in Finding H.F. is the character for me! Up-to-date, Bo has exceedingly become my favorite character so far. Everyone has a relateable and intriguing, depth drawing story in this book, but Bo's, even though he is not that main character, he has a story that endeared me to his character. Julia Watts created Bo to be a supporting actor,and he supported H.F., literally within the book, but Bo was also a complete character. He had flaws and yet painstakingly approached his fears and overcame some of them. I believe his strength lies in his loyalty and vulnerability; his kindness. For me, Bo defied the 'normal' stereotype for the gay guy. He is hard when he needs to be and strives to get out and learn, and be better than those who told him he couldn't. Perhaps I am crediting Bo with more than he deserves or I am perhaps biased in the gay guy category, but Watts has defiantly endeared Bo to me.

#3 Wish I Had Known When I was a YA!

I believe that Julia Watts framed, Finding H.F., with care and the right amount of everything. Watts understood that this is a hard topic for persons to talk about, let alone have the taboo topic written as a story with relatable characters that one may find in their own family. I believe that this is a topic that needs to be pushed further and not hidden. This is my first time reading a work of art where there is a lesbian protagonist and her gay guy side kick, and I absolutely enjoyed myself. I wish that I had the opportunity to read Finding H.F. when I was a young adult. This story would have given me an insight to the struggle and hardship of growing up gay especially in a town where you are consistently hounded by warped Christians and ethnocentric ideas.
One other aspect that I loved about Julia Watt’s feature of a lesbian protagonist is that she did not cheapen the experience of both a teenager growing up or the homosexual experience. Our ‘Shero’ and her sidekick did not buckle under pressure nor hide to an extent what they are. Watts offers most possible relationships, colors and creeds of characters. This story is full with tangible and tactical journeys, sights, and problems. It is a story for both the young adult and the older reader. It was a wonderful ride!

#2 What Has Changed?: Now and Then

I believe that I have grown to really appreciate Children’s and Adult Literature from then to now. I enjoy ferreting out the universal messages, despite age or education level, that are always found in the lesson of words or skill in the artwork. I do not think I have ever been against reading literature, especially Children’s and Adult Literature. I enjoyed many books in the children’s section such as Curious George, The Magic School Bus, Puff the Magic Dragon, and other great reads. I found that the adventure and mystery, and in my later years, the lesson taught in these various books were worth the time and excitement and proved to shape my reading ability and appreciation for the arts.
As a reader of Children's and Young Adult Literature, I still find amazing morals and information gathered from the techniques used in the artwork and the usage and craft of language and words begin unraveled. I always enjoyed going to the Book Fair in Elementary and Middle School to find the latest adventures and science books. After immersing my self into this class, I have a better understanding of Children’s and Adult Literature and the importance of this valuable foundation.

KimC.

#1 Lesser? What?

Must we create another oppressed group?
Children need literature to read, to enjoy; to grow in and with. How can Children's and Young Adult literature be seen as less--lesser? These groupings of books or genres are not focused for those who would criticize them. Children's and Young Adult books, their topics, point of views, format, and style are meant for children and young adults and not exactly for other age and maturity groups. And yet, these various works of art are exactly that. These are the tools in which we craft the mental progression of the young we have bared. Why would we consider such important tools as lesser? Is it that our children are lesser? Do they not have the potential for higher education and must stick to the lesser? How can we press to oppress them on the basis of illustrations and wonderful fables, that teach more moral than perhaps you ever could?
Caldecott Medal winner for 2008: The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a current book which holds back nothing from the imagination and the conceptual birth of plot and characters. The book stetchs our youth in both spelling, vocabulary, and topics. Perfect for the budding mine.

Think before you speak...
Think before you speak less of things...
Perhaps you are approching irrelevance
and you're ideas are bankrupt.

KimC.