Module 9: The Silence of Murder

Mackall, D. D. (2011). The silence of murder. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.

Summary: Jeremy is an autisitc teenager and a selective mute who has been accused of the murder of the town’s baseball coach. His presence at the scene of the crime and the coach’s blood on his favorite bat lead everyone to believe that he did indeed do it. That is, everyone except his sister Hope. She knows the person that Jeremy is, that it is against his nature to do harm, and will do everything in her power to prove his innocence.

Response: I enjoyed reading this book and was propelled to its finish in order to solve the mystery. I found it interesting to have the story told from Hope’s point of view as the younger and supportive sister to Jeremy. She understands that being his sister makes her different, but it causes her to rise above the immaturity of high school life and drives her to save her brother. I enjoyed that it is not the story of someone who is compelled to snoop into other people’s lives to find out answers, but one who does everything out of love, who gives voice to someone who is voiceless. Hope seeks the truth and in her journey to find it, she find out more about herself and even more about the brother that she knows and loves.

Reviews:

The Silence of Murder.

By Dandi Daley Mackall.

Oct. 2011. 336p. Knopf, Gr. 8-12.

"I have never even once thought there was something 'wrong' with my brother," says 17-year-old Hope Long, but few people share her view. Jeremy, 18, is selectively mute, autistic, and on trial for the murder of a beloved local coach. Wherever their irresponsible alcoholic mother has taken them, Hope has always been Jeremy's advocate, but now, in order to save Jeremy from execution, she must testify to his insanity. Convinced of her brother's innocence, Hope sets out to discover the real murderer. Her investigation leads to the loss of her only friend, a forbidden romance with the sheriff's son, family secrets, and a journey of self-discovery. Hope's first-person narrative pulls readers immediately into the story as she works her way through clues and false leads to the truth. The well-plotted mystery is intriguing, and Hope's determined efforts to solve it have an authentic feel. Secondary characters are a tad one-dimensional, but Hope's compelling voice and the very real sense of danger propel the pace to a solution that will have readers talking.--Lynn Rutan

Rutan, L. (2011, October 1). The Silence of Murder. Booklist, 108(3), 88.

Program: Have a book club discussion about The Silence of Murder. Before the book talk begins, have several jars available and pieces of paper. As that each participant write a pivotal scene or moment from the book that they found pertinent to the mystery or the cohesiveness of the story itself. Have each participant take turns picking a jar and reading the scene described and then discussing its importance.

Module 8: Unwind

Shusterman, N. (2009). Unwind. New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Summary: Connor, Risa and Lev are all teenagers who have one thing in common: they are about to be unwound. They live in a world where pregnancies must be carried to full term, but guardians may choose to unwind their children’s physical selves between the ages of thirteen and eighteen and have their parts given out as transplants to people in need. These Undwinds do not die nor do they continue to exist in their previous form. But for Connor, Risa and Lev, heading to the ending of their current lives is only the beginning…

Response: I had this book recommended to me by a Youth Services librarian where I work because she found the idea of the book to be thought provoking. I found it to be just that. The collision of the lives of Connor, Risa and Lev explodes into a vast array of perspectives altered by their coming together and holding onto their lives for as long as possible. I was most touched by Lev’s journey, as someone who is literally born to end, he is reborn into a second life and is able to see that his neatly packaged life is more of a complicated web. I feel that this is a great book to prompt discussion about human lives what the future holds for how we regard it.

(Side note- while I did enjoy the book, I wasn’t as pleased with the mention of skin color occurring only when a character “of color” appeared in the story. If the futuristic designation of white as the skin color sienna, and black as the skin color umber, then it should be mentioned for all characters, not just a given that the central characters will be white by the lack of mention of skin tone).

Reviews:

Unwind NEAL SHUSTERMAN

Shusterman (Everlost) explores one of the most divisive of topics--abortion--in this gripping, brilliantly imagined futuristic thriller. After a civil war waged over abortion has almost destroyed America, completely new laws are in effect. Human life can never be "terminated," but between the ages of 13 and 18, a child can be "unwound" by his parents, an irrevocable decision that leads to every single bit of his body being harvested for medical use. As the novel opens, 16-year-old Connor has secretly discovered his parents' copy of his unwind order, and decides to "kick-AWOL," or run away. Connor's escape inadvertently sweeps up two other Unwinds: a ward of the state who is not quite talented enough to merit her place in a state home any longer, and the 10th son of religious parents, who gave birth to him just to "tithe" him. Beyond his pulse-pounding pace, the cliffhangers and the bombshells, Shusterman has a gift for extrapolating the effects of alien circumstances on ordinary people and everyday behavior. He brings in folklore, medical practices, and slang that reflect the impact of unwinding, creating a dense and believable backdrop. Characters undergo profound changes in a plot that never stops surprising readers. The issues raised could not be more provocative--the sanctity of life, the meaning of being human--while the delivery could hardly be more engrossing or better aimed to teens. Ages 13-up.

Unwind. (2007, November 26). Publishers Weekly, 254(47), 54.

Program: Create a book talk of 3-4 books on social topics in fantasy and science fiction that are aimed for teens. Present an enticing summary for each book while highlighting the issues that are framed.

Module 7: Tua and the Elephant

Harris, R. P., & Yoo, T. (2012). Tua and the elephant. San Francisco: Chronicle Books.

Summary: Tua is a young girl who lives with her always-working mother in Chiang Mai, Thailand and helps her community of vendors by running errands across the night market. While running errands, Tua finds a whole in the wall surrounding the market that leads her to the bustling city where she encounters a chained elephant being mistreated and exploited by its handlers. She connects with the elephant, who she names Pohn-Pohn and is determined find her a safe place to live while outwitting the Pohn-Pohn’s previous owners in the process.

Response: I thought this book was an accurate depiction of life for a young girl of this age and it made it all the more engaging. There are many moments where we are keyed into the thought process of Tua who is respectful of adults, but knows the difference between those who are to be respected and those who are conniving such as the elephant’s previous owners. She also demonstrates quick thinking and resolve when her elephant is captured by two fisherman and she makes the ransom by filling plastic bags with strips of paper. She is aware of her own potential and as a young, imaginative person she is not limited to the boundaries of the adult world that would normally prevent her from taking action on behalf of the elephant’s life. I was also quite captured by the descriptions of tastes, smells and colors of the world around her.

Reviews:
Tua and the Elephant

R.P. Harris, illus, by Taeeun Yoo.

Harris's debut, inspired by a trip to the Elephant Nature Park in Thailand, follows nine-year-old Tua and her relationship with an abused elephant, PohnPohn. Tua, whose mother is a hardworking waitress, lives an independent life in Chiang Mai, near a popular night market where she finds--and falls in love with--Pohn-Pohn. The elephant is under the charge of two thieving scoundrels and wordlessly begs Tua to help her escape. As quick-witted and adventurous as she is warmhearted, Tua undergoes hair-raising escapades to keep Pohn-Pohn our of the villains' grasp and find her a sanctuary. Engagingly filled with Thai vocabulary, food, and customs, and peopled by helpful family members, chums, and kind monks, the book maintains a quick, suspenseful pace. The final chapters wrap up the story a little too neatly, however, and border on an infomercial about the sanctuary for abused Asian elephants. Nonetheless, Harris's story, enlivened by Yoo's gently evocative woodcut illustrations in violet and mustard, avoids overt anthropomorphism of Pohn-Pohn while maintaining the sweet connection between elephant and girl. Ages 8-12. Illustrator's agent: Holly McGhee, Pippin Properties.

Tua and the Elephant. (2012, April 2). Publishers Weekly, 259(14), 58.

Program: Have an event on Thai culture with different tables focusing on several cultural aspects represented in the book: Thai food, theater, market life, and wildlife and elephant endangerment. If possible, have food samples of Thai food, pictures or samples of theater clothing and adornment, and information about wildlife preserves.  

Module 7: Eleanor & Park

Rowell, R., & St. Martin's Griffin (Firm). (2013). Eleanor & Park.

Summary: Eleanor is the new girl in school with big red hair and quirky style of dress, waiting to find a place to sit on the bus. Park is a quiet half-white/half-Korean punk kid who dares to have her sit next to him just so she won’t socially flounder on her first day on the bus. Through this chance seating arrangement begins a young love between two awkward and misfit teenagers in 1986 complete with the music of the time. Amidst the complications of teenage emotions, family and circumstance, Eleanor and Park struggle to stay together and make their young love last forever.

Response: I fell in love with Eleanor and Park’s love in reading this book. I felt as if I was transported back to high school when peer opinion mattered so much, when everyone was very self-conscious and wary of their own appearance. The structure of the novel alternating through the perceptions of Eleanor and Park give us a full view of the complications of teenage lives. I felt that I could easily have known both of them as people in my young life and would have been surprised by all of the dramas that surrounded their life experiences.

Reviews:

Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Mar. 2013. 320p. St. Martin's/Griffin, Gr. 9-12.

Right from the start of this tender debut, readers can almost hear the clock winding down on Eleanor and Park. After a less than auspicious start, the pair quietly builds a relationship while riding the bus to school every day, wordlessly sharing comics and eventually music on the commute. Their worlds couldn't be more different. Park's family is idyllic: his Vietnam vet father and Korean immigrant mother are genuinely loving. Meanwhile, Eleanor and her younger siblings live in poverty under the constant threat of Richie, their abusive and controlling stepfather, while their mother inexplicably caters to his whims. The couple's personal battles are also dark mirror images. Park struggles with the realities of failing for the school outcast; in one of the more subtle explorations of race and "the other" in recent YA fiction, he clashes with his father over the definition of manhood. Eleanor's fight is much more external, learning to trust her feelings about Park and navigating the sexual threat in Richie's watchful gaze. In rapidly alternating narrative voices, Eleanor and Park try to express their all-consuming love. "You make me feel like a cannibal," Eleanor says. The pure, fear-laced, yet steadily maturing relationship they develop is urgent, moving, and, of course, heartbreaking, too.--Courtney Jones

Jones, C. (2013, January 1). Eleanor & Park. Booklist, 109(9-10), 98.

Program: Have a display for teens regarding trouble home life. Include non-fiction books and Realistic Fiction books representing these issues, such as Eleanor & Park. If possible have a safe-space discussion group for teens regarding these issues led by a professional in social services.

Module 6: Pinduli

Cannon, J. (2004). Pinduli. Orlando: Harcourt.

Summary: Pinduli is a young hyena eager to explore the world around her. She leaves her mama’s side under the promise that she will soon return. In her explorations she meets several animals who are critical of her appearance. Pinduli does all she can to change the way she looks and ends up creating an adventure of her own.

Response: I really enjoyed reading and rereading this book because of its wonderful illustrations. Each page is so well crafted to show each interaction that Pinduli has though interesting angles and perspectives. I really enjoyed the smaller pen illustrations underneath the text depicting Pinduli’s mother being worried and going out to look for her. It is another side of the story that gets told without words.

Reviews:

Cannon, Janell. Pinduli. Sept. 2004. 48p. illus. Harcourt.

Gr. 1-3. Cannon, best known as the author/ illustrator of Stellaluna (1993), here introduces Pinduli, a little hyena who lives in East Africa. One afternoon, Pinduli encounters a pack of wild dogs that make fun of her ears, a bald lion that calls her fur a "prickly fringe," and a zebra that criticizes the haziness of her stripes After transforming her "flaws" as best she can, Pinduli inadvertently tricks these animals into thinking that she is the "Great Spirit." They confess their misdeeds and agree to make amends Children will find Pinduli's hurt feelings understandable and her quick thinking admirable. The artwork, executed in colored pencils and acrylics, uses a restrained palette in the large pictures depicting the main story on the right-hand pages. On the left, below the text, a series of small ink drawings create a visual counterpoint by showing what Pinduli's mother is doing while events unfold. A four-page end-note discusses the various species of hyenas and their characteristics. Though a bit purposeful, the story may give teachers and parents a starting point for discussing insults.--Carolyn Phelan

Phelan, C. (2004, September 1). Cannon, Janell. Pinduli. Booklist, 101(1), 129+.

Program: Have a display of different animals with different attributes listed and a pro’s and con’s list underneath each animal. Children and parents visiting the display area may participate in adding words underneath each category to think about why certain animals are the way they are, what makes them unique or gives them certain abilities for survival. Encourage all those who participate to check out the book and how the animals are made to feel about their particular traits.