On My Bookshelf: The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee Posted by Brynn Allison at June 18, 2018 Labels: my bookshelf, young adult literature <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YkV2nOZdrgo/WveNZPSg2TI/AAAAAAAAL30/tRI_nY7Y2DM7tGx_2ihAZke7l7QjXevTQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Slide3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee is an interesting look at what the future might be like told by five alternating narrators. Set in a tower large enough to house a city, the novel follows the intersecting lives of five teenagers, all acting on hidden motives to protect dangerous secrets. For one of them, it will end with a long fall to her death. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application." border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="590" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YkV2nOZdrgo/WveNZPSg2TI/AAAAAAAAL30/tRI_nY7Y2DM7tGx_2ihAZke7l7QjXevTQCEwYBhgL/s400/Slide3.png" title="The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee is an interesting look at what the future might be like told by five alternating narrators. Set in a tower large enough to house a city, the novel follows the intersecting lives of five teenagers, all acting on hidden motives to protect dangerous secrets. For one of them, it will end with a long fall to her death. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application." width="400" /></a></div> <b>The basic plot from Amazon: </b><i>New York City as you’ve never seen it before. A thousand-story tower stretching into the sky. A glittering vision of the future, where anything is possible—if you want it enough.<br /><br />Welcome to Manhattan, 2118.</i><br /> <br /> A hundred years in the future, New York is a city of innovation and dreams. But people never change: everyone here wants something…and everyone has something to lose.<br /> <br /> Leda Cole’s flawless exterior belies a secret addiction—to a drug she never should have tried and a boy she never should have touched.<br /> <br /> Eris Dodd-Radson’s beautiful, carefree life falls to pieces when a heartbreaking betrayal tears her family apart.<br /> <br /> Rylin Myers’s job on one of the highest floors sweeps her into a world—and a romance—she never imagined…but will her new life cost Rylin her old one?<br /> <br /> Watt Bakradi is a tech genius with a secret: he knows everything about everyone. But when he’s hired to spy by an upper-floor girl, he finds himself caught up in a complicated web of lies.<br /> <br /> And living above everyone else on the thousandth floor is Avery Fuller, the girl genetically designed to be perfect. The girl who seems to have it all—yet is tormented by the one thing she can never have.<br /> <br /> Perfect for fans of <i>One of Us Is Lying</i> and <i>Big Little Lies</i>, debut author Katharine McGee has created a breathtakingly original series filled with high-tech luxury and futuristic glamour, where the impossible feels just within reach. But in this world, the higher you go, the farther there is to fall….<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TWrbhCwdlK4/WxHpe4XIbiI/AAAAAAAAMDk/h-PKqmCxaD45l5hRGqkXYBlmvu4sbmCLwCLcBGAs/s1600/1000th%2BFloor.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee is an interesting look at what the future might be like told by five alternating narrators. Set in a tower large enough to house a city, the novel follows the intersecting lives of five teenagers, all acting on hidden motives to protect dangerous secrets. For one of them, it will end with a long fall to her death. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application." border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TWrbhCwdlK4/WxHpe4XIbiI/AAAAAAAAMDk/h-PKqmCxaD45l5hRGqkXYBlmvu4sbmCLwCLcBGAs/s400/1000th%2BFloor.png" title="The Thousandth Floor by Katharine McGee is an interesting look at what the future might be like told by five alternating narrators. Set in a tower large enough to house a city, the novel follows the intersecting lives of five teenagers, all acting on hidden motives to protect dangerous secrets. For one of them, it will end with a long fall to her death. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application." width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <div> <div> <div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><b>Why I liked it: </b><i><a href="https://amzn.to/2K6zVus" target="_blank">The Thousandth Floor</a> </i>is an interesting look at what the future might be like told by five alternating narrators. The novel begins with a peak at the ending, a girl falling from the tower, but it is not until the very end that who that girl is is revealed. As the plot unfolded, I made guesses as to who that might be and why, but in the end, I was surprised at who it was and how it all came together.</span><br /> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Of the five narrators, Avery, whose story is at the center of everything, is the one I would have like to see be more developed. She is secretly in love with her adopted brother, but there is little explanation of how that infatuation developed. I would have like to see more scenes from their childhood so that their mutual affection was more believable. </span><br /> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My favorite narrators were Watt and Eris, likely because they are caught between worlds. They live on the lower floors of the towers; Watt from birth and Eris due to a recent turn of events, but are navigating life on the upper floors. Watt uses the money he earns from his hacking jobs to try to fit in and Eris tried desperately to hide that her family's status has changed. Watt and his quant, Nadia, the technology he had implanted in his head, have a sense of humor, and Watt is kind in a world where most others think only of themselves. Eris is a whirlwind of emotions and while she at first seems self-assured and materialistic, the changes in her family and economic status impact her priorities, her view of he world, and her sense of self. </span><br /> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Classroom application: </b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The novel could be used in a history course as a way to introduce class systems and then make comparisons with real systems in countries around the world. Since the novel is set in the not too distant future, the novel could also serve as a springboard for students to develop their own "utopian" worlds with consideration to economics, government, education, transportation etc.</span><br /> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> If you are interested in purchasing a copy of <i>The Thousandth Floor</i> for yourself, you can find it on Amazon <a href="https://amzn.to/2K6zVus" target="_blank">here</a>.</div> </div> </div> <i><br /></i> <i>Note:</i> The Literary Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. </div> </div> </div>
More From The Blog 14 Novels With Diverse Characters to Recommend to Your Secondary Students Posted by Brynn Allison at June 15, 2018 Labels: book list, my bookshelf, young adult literature <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dpjDna9Q0Kc/Wx1H0QJr6cI/AAAAAAAAMNU/9Xibi6_AHuct9uAPCZMawTE9-J-C7mcUwCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide12.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Why is having a diverse classroom library and reading list so important? Many of us teach in schools with diverse populations and those students deserve to see themselves reflected in our classrooms and the books we read. Many of us also teach in schools that are not diverse and those students need to be exposed to cultures, races, religions, ethnicities, and sexual orientations that differ from their own. Here's 14 novels with diverse characters to recommend to secondary students." border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="590" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dpjDna9Q0Kc/Wx1H0QJr6cI/AAAAAAAAMNU/9Xibi6_AHuct9uAPCZMawTE9-J-C7mcUwCLcBGAs/s400/Slide12.png" title="Why is having a diverse classroom library and reading list so important? Many of us teach in schools with diverse populations and those students deserve to see themselves reflected in our classrooms and the books we read. Many of us also teach in schools that are not diverse and those students need to be exposed to cultures, races, religions, ethnicities, and sexual orientations that differ from their own. Here's 14 novels with diverse characters to recommend to secondary students." width="400" /></a></div> Why is having a diverse classroom library and reading list so important? Many of us teach in schools with diverse populations and those students deserve to see themselves reflected in our classrooms and the books we read. Many of us also teach in schools that are not diverse and those students need to be exposed to cultures, races, religions, ethnicities, and sexual orientations that differ from their own. Here's 14 novels with diverse characters that I've recently read and would recommend to secondary students. Click the title of each to read my full review and ideas for using it in the classroom.<br /> <div> <br /></div> 1. <a href="http://www.theliterarymaven.com/2018/04/review-saints-and-misfits-s-k-ali.html" target="_blank"><i>Saints and Misfits</i> by S. K. Ali</a><br /> This beautiful coming of age novel features Janna, your typical teenage girl dealing with your typical teenage girl issues: overprotective moms, annoying brothers, school stress, and mean girls. On top of all of that, the boy Janna thinks is perfect isn't Muslim (and Janna is) and the Muslim boy everyone thinks is perfect tries to force himself on her. <br /> <br /> 2. <a href="http://www.theliterarymaven.com/2018/04/review-when-dimple-met-rishi.html" target="_blank"><i>When Dimple Met Rishi</i> by Sandhya Menon</a><br /> Narration alternates between the two main characters Dimple and Rishi, two Indian teenagers struggling to define themselves as they exit high school and head off to college. This light romance story with a happy ending also tackles tough topics like gender and cultural norms, arranged marriage, and parental expectations.<br /> <div> <br /> 3. <a href="http://www.theliterarymaven.com/2017/11/review-the-hate-u-give-angie-thomas.html" target="_blank"><i>The Hate U Give</i> by Angie Thomas</a><br /> This novel covers so many important topics that are rarely touched upon in young adult literature in realistic ways. Even better is that Starr Carter is a strong African American protagonist supported by family members who are equally as well-developed as characters.<br /> <br /> 4. <a href="http://www.theliterarymaven.com/2018/01/review-ghost-jason-reynolds.html" target="_blank"><i>Ghost</i> by Jason Reynolds</a></div> <div> <i>Ghost</i> quickly grabs your attention. The narrator, Castle, reveals a traumatic incident involving his father in the first few pages and a chapter later strolls into a track practice and challenges the fastest runner, despite having never running track before. Castle doesn't claim to be fearless, but he is bold and unwilling to let others define him. </div> <div> <br /></div> <div> 5. <a href="http://www.theliterarymaven.com/2018/05/review-patina-jason-reynolds.html" target="_blank"><i>Patina</i> by Jason Reynolds</a></div> <div> In this second installment in Jason Reynold's Track series, Patty faces challenges at home and running track is her escape. Her mother suffers from diabetes so Patty and her younger sister live with their aunt and uncle, who are an interracial race couple. Patty also struggle to make friends at her new school where many of the students are well off.<br /> <br /></div> <div> 6. <a href="http://www.theliterarymaven.com/2016/11/review-everything-everything.html" target="_blank"><i>Everything, Everything </i>by Nicola Yoon</a></div> <div> Every day is the same as the one before for Madeline; she suffers from an illness that prevents her from any contact with the outside world. But then the boy who moves in next door catches her eye and everything changes.<br /> <br /> 7. <a href="http://www.theliterarymaven.com/2016/10/review-simon-vs-homo-sapiens-agenda-becky-albertalli.html" target="_blank"><i>Simon Vs The Homosapiens Agenda</i> by Becky Albertalli</a></div> <div> Simon is your typical teenager, trying to figure out where he fits in and decide who he is; he just also happens to be not so openly gay and being blackmailed by a classmate for it. The themes of friendship, relationship, betrayal, and trust will draw in teen readers.<br /> <br /> 8. <a href="http://www.theliterarymaven.com/2016/10/review-on-the-come-up-hannah-weyer.html" target="_blank"><i>On The Come Up</i> by Hannah Weyer</a><br /> This novel has a strong African American female teenager, AnnMarie, as the main character with excellent dialogue and blocking. This novel, based on a true story, touches on a variety of teen issues, such as mean girls, relationships, drug use, and sexual identity.<br /> <br /> 9. <a href="http://www.theliterarymaven.com/2016/10/review-absolutely-the-true-diary-of-a-part-time-indian-sherman-alexie.html" target="_blank"><i>The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian</i> by Sherman Alexie</a><br /> This tale of an outsider determined to make his own path in life also provides opportunities for teens to reflect on the loved ones they've lost. And despite some sadness and heavy topics, be prepared to laugh just as much as you want to cry.<br /> <br /> 10. <a href="http://www.theliterarymaven.com/2016/09/review-code-of-honor-alan-gratz.html" target="_blank"><i>Code of Honor</i> by Alan Gratz</a><br /> Kamran Smith used to have it all: a starring role on the football team, a beautiful girlfriend, the title of Homecoming King, a loyal best friend, and a spot at West Point in the fall. But after his brother is named as a suspected terrorist, Kamran and his parents are detained by Homeland Security and Kamran must fight to prove to everyone, even himself, that his brother is innocent.<br /> <br /> 11. <a href="http://www.theliterarymaven.com/2016/01/on-my-bookshelf-counting-by-7s-by-holly.html" target="_blank"><i>Counting by 7s</i> by Holly Goldberg Sloan</a></div> <div> Being different doesn't seem to phase Willow. She wears her gardening outfit on her first day of middle school and turns her mandatory counseling sessions into a game. But after both parents die suddenly, Willow must adapt to a new life with the Nyguyen family while coping with her grief. Willow meets these challenges and changes the people around for the better as she does.<br /> <br /> 12. <a href="http://www.theliterarymaven.com/2015/09/on-my-bookshelf-out-of-my-mind-by.html" target="_blank"><i>Out of My Mind</i> by Sharon Draper</a></div> <div> Melody wants the same things as any other fifth grade girl: to fit in, have friends, and maybe even get a spot on the Quiz Team. There is just one problem, she can't talk, and once she can, not everyone wants to listen. </div> <div> <br /></div> <div> 13. <a href="http://www.theliterarymaven.com/2017/05/review-shooting-kabul-by-n-h-senzai.html" target="_blank"><i>Shooting Kabul</i> by N. H. Senzai</a></div> <div> The night that Fadi and his family flee the Taliban's control is full of peril and in one terrible moment, the youngest sister is separated from the family and left behind in Afghanistan. Once in America, Fadi, his parents, and his sister struggle to assimilate while holding on to the hope that Mariam will be found. </div> <div> <br /></div> <div> 14. <a href="http://www.theliterarymaven.com/2018/02/review-escape-from-aleppo-n-h-senzai.html" target="_blank"><i>Escape from Aleppo</i> by N. H. Senzai</a></div> <div> Nadia must navigate through her war torn city in an attempt to reunite with her family. As bombs fall and shots are fired around her, she is filled with fear and the pain in her leg from a previous incident in the war in which she was struck by shrapnel. She, who has rarely left the house since her injury, must now rely on the kindness of complete strangers and think quickly in life or death situations. </div> </div>
On My Bookshelf: The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee Posted by Brynn Allison at June 11, 2018 Labels: my bookshelf, young adult literature <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S_oparYJzRA/WvBJpTy9BXI/AAAAAAAALvA/UQ3CAXKKCN86NIn6P43NJ2qQRUPnX_3PwCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee is so much more than historical fiction. The narrator Monty is hilarious and the novel is full of adventure and action. There's romance in the plot, but also some mystery. The author even tackles issues of race, gender, and sexuality. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application." border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="590" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S_oparYJzRA/WvBJpTy9BXI/AAAAAAAALvA/UQ3CAXKKCN86NIn6P43NJ2qQRUPnX_3PwCLcBGAs/s400/Slide2.png" title="The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee is so much more than historical fiction. The narrator Monty is hilarious and the novel is full of adventure and action. There's romance in the plot, but also some mystery. The author even tackles issues of race, gender, and sexuality. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application." width="400" /></a></div> <b>The basic plot from Amazon: </b>A young bisexual British lord embarks on an unforgettable Grand Tour of Europe with his best friend/secret crush. An 18th-century romantic adventure for the modern age written by This Monstrous Thing author Mackenzi Lee—<i>Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda </i>meets the 1700s.<br /> <br /> Henry “Monty” Montague doesn’t care that his roguish passions are far from suitable for the gentleman he was born to be. But as Monty embarks on his grand tour of Europe, his quests for pleasure and vice are in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.<br /> <br /> So Monty vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.<br /> <br /> Witty, dazzling, and intriguing at every turn, <i>The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue</i> is an irresistible romp that explores the undeniably fine lines between friendship and love.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BYaBImtAEfI/WvBNmykP6-I/AAAAAAAALvM/gYrFUzqQaIEwTna4RG40QsN2l9daY1MQACLcBGAs/s1600/Gentleman%2527s%2BGuide.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee is so much more than historical fiction. The narrator Monty is hilarious and the novel is full of adventure and action. There's romance in the plot, but also some mystery. The author even tackles issues of race, gender, and sexuality. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application." border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BYaBImtAEfI/WvBNmykP6-I/AAAAAAAALvM/gYrFUzqQaIEwTna4RG40QsN2l9daY1MQACLcBGAs/s400/Gentleman%2527s%2BGuide.png" title="The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee is so much more than historical fiction. The narrator Monty is hilarious and the novel is full of adventure and action. There's romance in the plot, but also some mystery. The author even tackles issues of race, gender, and sexuality. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application." width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <div> <div> <div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><b>Why I liked it: </b></span><a href="https://amzn.to/2JHhTyO" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue</a> falls under the genre of historical fiction, my favorite genre, but it is so much more than that. The narrator Monty is hilarious and the novel is full of adventure and action. His tour includes a visit to Versailles that end with him running through the gardens nearly naked, an ambush by highwaymen on the road to Marseilles, a kidnapping by pirates while stowaways at sea, and narrowly escaping a sinking island. There's romance in the plot; Monty is head over heels for his best friend Percy, but also some mystery; what does the puzzle box Monty steals hold and why does everyone want it so badly? Finally, the author tackles issues of race, gender, and sexuality. Percy is black, as are the pirates, in a time period when people of color were not treated well in Europe and slavery was still in other parts of the world. Felicity, Monty's sister, who is set to go to finishing school, but would rather be going to medical school, is barred from experiences because of her gender. Once Monty and Percy profess their love for one another, the question of how and where can they live a life together becomes a reality.<br /> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Classroom application: </b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">This is one I would recommend for high school and up because, as the title suggests, it is heavy on the vices: drinking, gambling, sex, etc. The novel would appeal to a wide range of students because it touches on so many genres: historical fiction, action/adventure, romance, and mystery.</span><br /> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> If you are interested in purchasing a copy of <i>The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue</i> for yourself, you can find it on Amazon <a href="https://amzn.to/2JHhTyO" target="_blank">here</a>.</div> </div> </div> <i><br /></i> <i>Note:</i> The Literary Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. </div> </div> </div>
On My Bookshelf: When by Victoria Laurie Posted by Brynn Allison at June 04, 2018 Labels: my bookshelf, young adult literature <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ch_QXfQdlZA/WvAiq7I27_I/AAAAAAAALuw/BvLdcO11jwIO8Y19BgJtAKU8UvIn3fqTQCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="When by Victoria Laurie falls into the categories of mystery, suspense, and thriller, and the twists in the plot kept me hooked until the end. Maddie's ability to see peoples "death dates" seems like a gift until she become involved in a murder investigation. A number of believable red herrings and realistic character development make the novel a hit. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application." border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="590" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ch_QXfQdlZA/WvAiq7I27_I/AAAAAAAALuw/BvLdcO11jwIO8Y19BgJtAKU8UvIn3fqTQCLcBGAs/s400/Slide1.png" title="When by Victoria Laurie falls into the categories of mystery, suspense, and thriller, and the twists in the plot kept me hooked until the end. Maddie's ability to see peoples "death dates" seems like a gift until she become involved in a murder investigation. A number of believable red herrings and realistic character development make the novel a hit. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application." width="400" /></a></div> <b>The basic plot from Amazon: </b>Maddie doesn't have a choice. The forehead of every person she sees is marked by the shadowy digits of their deathdate. Her unique, innate skill often feels more like a curse than a gift, and Maddie grudgingly puts it to use identifying deathdates for the paying customers her mother reels in. It seems like a straightforward way to help support her family-until one client's young son goes missing on the exact date Maddie has pinpointed, and she gets pulled into a homicide investigation that turns her world upside down.<br /> <br /> As more young people disappear and are later found murdered, suspicion swirls around Maddie. At once a suspect in the investigation, a target for the murderer, and a partner in a tantalizing dance with a boy who might be connected to it all, could Maddie also hold the key to cracking the case? <br /> <div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span> <br /> <div> <div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><b>Why I liked it: </b><a href="https://amzn.to/2jiMffX" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">When</a> falls into the categories of mystery, suspense, and thriller, which are all outside of my usual reading habits, but the twists in the plot kept me hooked until the end. As an adult reading young adult literature I can usually figure out how things are going to play out, but in <i>When </i>there were several believable red herrings that kept me from figuring out who the bad guy really was. I also appreciated the character development in the novel. Maddie, other than her "gift," was a realistic teenage girl and her mother's struggle with alcohol were realistically depicted as well. I loved the character of her uncle Donny, her hotshot lawyer, bachelor uncle who is always sweeping in to rescue her, but also takes her out to lunch just because.</span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bWgFfLCnqqc/WvAhfiWhYbI/AAAAAAAALuk/okgvMouo3W8HY8CrVyCX1nO6_YztUzCuwCLcBGAs/s1600/When.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="When by Victoria Laurie falls into the categories of mystery, suspense, and thriller, and the twists in the plot kept me hooked until the end. Maddie's ability to see peoples "death dates" seems like a gift until she become involved in a murder investigation. A number of believable red herrings and realistic character development make the novel a hit. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application." border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bWgFfLCnqqc/WvAhfiWhYbI/AAAAAAAALuk/okgvMouo3W8HY8CrVyCX1nO6_YztUzCuwCLcBGAs/s400/When.png" title="When by Victoria Laurie falls into the categories of mystery, suspense, and thriller, and the twists in the plot kept me hooked until the end. Maddie's ability to see peoples "death dates" seems like a gift until she become involved in a murder investigation. A number of believable red herrings and realistic character development make the novel a hit. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application." width="400" /></a></div> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">My two complaints about the plot are minor. First, Stubbs, Maddie's best friend make a remarkable and unrealistic recovery from his time in prison, which included a stay in solitary confinement to protect him from other prisoners. Second, the plot line surrounding Maddie's love interest was also a bit unrealistic. Maddie has a crush on a boy she sees once a year at football games, which is entirely based on his looks and incredibly superficial. Then suddenly she runs into him in several different places and he ends up moving in next door with his father, who happens to be one of the agents who investigated the deaths connected to Maddie and also saved her life. Coincidence overload there. </span><br /> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Classroom application: </b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">This book is a great one to recommend to students who are fans of April Henry's books like <i><a href="http://www.theliterarymaven.com/2017/10/review-girl-stolen-april-henry.html" target="_blank">Girl, Stolen</a></i> and crime TV shows like <i>Criminal Minds</i>. There are some dark themes (murder, death, a serial killer), but otherwise the book is appropriate for upper middle school and up. Maddie's talent, the ability to see "death dates," would certainly lead to interesting classroom conversations. Would students want to know their death date or not? How would knowing change how they carried out their lives?</span><br /> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> If you are interested in purchasing a copy of <i>When</i> for yourself, you can find it on Amazon <a href="https://amzn.to/2jiMffX" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /> <br /></div> </div> <i>Note:</i> The Literary Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. </div> </div> </div> </div>
On My Bookshelf: Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce Posted by Brynn Allison at May 28, 2018 Labels: my bookshelf, young adult literature <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k-xByoiVyS8/Wun4LEZelrI/AAAAAAAALsI/duNdU0CAc4UiKZenE4xOhopfkeS9bwKHQCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide4.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce alternates between the present action, Liam lost in outer space with four other children, and the past events leading up to his adventure gone wrong. Liam is frequently mistaken for an adult, which has its benefits, but when he wins a trip to ride an exciting new thrill ride, which turns out to be a trip into outer space, he may have finally let things go a little too far. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application." border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="590" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k-xByoiVyS8/Wun4LEZelrI/AAAAAAAALsI/duNdU0CAc4UiKZenE4xOhopfkeS9bwKHQCLcBGAs/s400/Slide4.png" title="Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce alternates between the present action, Liam lost in outer space with four other children, and the past events leading up to his adventure gone wrong. Liam is frequently mistaken for an adult, which has its benefits, but when he wins a trip to ride an exciting new thrill ride, which turns out to be a trip into outer space, he may have finally let things go a little too far. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application." width="400" /></a></div> <b>The basic plot from Amazon: </b>Liam has always felt a bit like he's stuck between two worlds. This is primarily because he's a twelve-year-old kid who looks like he's about thirty. Sometimes it's not so bad, like when his new principal mistakes him for a teacher on the first day of school or when he convinces a car dealer to let him take a Porsche out on a test drive. But mostly it's just frustrating, being a kid trapped in an adult world. And so he decides to flip things around. Liam cons his way onto the first spaceship to take civilians into space, a special flight for a group of kids and an adult chaperone, and he is going as the adult chaperone. It's not long before Liam, along with his friends, is stuck between two worlds again—only this time he's 239,000 miles from home.<br /> <br /> Frank Cottrell Boyce, author of <i>Millions</i> and <i>Framed</i>, brings us a funny and touching story of the many ways in which grown-upness is truly wasted on grown-ups.<br /> <div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D7g6xNkEbwY/Wuyvmc0FA5I/AAAAAAAALt0/S2rUTJm2KvAsENr_rVOFa_ubBhKElD8MgCLcBGAs/s1600/Cosmic.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce alternates between the present action, Liam lost in outer space with four other children, and the past events leading up to his adventure gone wrong. Liam is frequently mistaken for an adult, which has its benefits, but when he wins a trip to ride an exciting new thrill ride, which turns out to be a trip into outer space, he may have finally let things go a little too far. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application." border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D7g6xNkEbwY/Wuyvmc0FA5I/AAAAAAAALt0/S2rUTJm2KvAsENr_rVOFa_ubBhKElD8MgCLcBGAs/s400/Cosmic.png" title="Cosmic by Frank Cottrell Boyce alternates between the present action, Liam lost in outer space with four other children, and the past events leading up to his adventure gone wrong. Liam is frequently mistaken for an adult, which has its benefits, but when he wins a trip to ride an exciting new thrill ride, which turns out to be a trip into outer space, he may have finally let things go a little too far. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application." width="400" /></a></div> <span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span> <br /> <div> <div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><b>Why I liked it: </b><i><a href="https://amzn.to/2F9q3xs" target="_blank">Cosmic</a> </i>alternates between the present action, Liam lost in outer space with four other children, and the past events leading up to his adventure gone wrong. Liam is frequently mistaken for an adult, which has its benefits, like the time he almost test drove a fancy sports car or repeatedly rode an intense amusement park ride without needing parental consent, but when he wins a trip to ride an exciting new thrill ride, which turns out to be a trip into outer space, he may have finally let things go a little too far. As the supervising "adult" it is up to Liam to get the other children to work together so they can safely return to Earth. Despite the dangerous situation he is in, Liam is able to remain remarkably calm and even crack jokes. </span><br /> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Classroom application: </b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I'm always on the hunt for funny books and ones that will appeal to my male students. <i>Cosmic</i> fits the bill for both. It's a great middle school read and would likely appeal to less mature high school students as well (and we all know how mature high school boys are). There's no mature content to be concerned about.</span><br /> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Though entirely fictional, <i>Cosmic</i> would also be a good recommendation for students interested in space. The book does make reference to real events and people in the history of space exploration.</span><br /> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The book would also be an interesting pairing with <i><a href="https://amzn.to/2riFE9U" target="_blank">Charlie and the Chocolate Factory</a></i>. The plot has similar elements (four winners of a misleading prize, a quirky prize master, four unusual children and their parents). Students could compare the social commentary of the authors based on the characters and whether or not issues have changed from the publication of one book to the other.</span><br /> <div class="MsoNormal"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal"> If you are interested in purchasing a copy of <i>Cosmic</i> for yourself, you can find it on Amazon <a href="https://amzn.to/2F9q3xs" target="_blank">here</a>.</div> </div> </div> <i><br /></i> <i>Note:</i> The Literary Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. </div> </div> </div>
Using Digital Breakouts to Engage Secondary Students: 3 Ways to Gamify Learning Posted by Brynn Allison at May 25, 2018 Labels: back to school, breakout, technology <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R52YcgwLLTI/WvReTlyAB3I/AAAAAAAALv4/46wb1Apv5Qwg0evCteiSRK-o-gj3cRTIACLcBGAs/s1600/Slide3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digital breakouts are a fun and creative way to reinforce skills, preview or review a text, or even start off the school year that require no preparation or special equipment. These online activities make content more engaging and encourage cooperation among students. Read on to learn more about different ways to incorporate digital breakouts into your classroom." border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="590" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R52YcgwLLTI/WvReTlyAB3I/AAAAAAAALv4/46wb1Apv5Qwg0evCteiSRK-o-gj3cRTIACLcBGAs/s400/Slide3.png" title="Digital breakouts are a fun and creative way to reinforce skills, preview or review a text, or even start off the school year that require no preparation or special equipment. These online activities make content more engaging and encourage cooperation among students. Read on to learn more about different ways to incorporate digital breakouts into your classroom." width="400" /></a></div> Though breakouts, otherwise known as escape rooms, have just recently become popular in the classroom, the concept behind these learning experiences has existed for over 20 years. Breakouts as a classroom activity are modeled after escape rooms, which are physical adventure games in which players solve a series of puzzles and riddles using clues, hints and strategy to escape from a room. These real life escape rooms were inspired by "escape the room"–style video games, which similarly have various puzzles and riddles themselves follow the theme of the room. The format of a room or area containing puzzles or challenges has also been featured in multiple TV game shows.<br /> <br /> <b>Classroom Breakouts: The Basics</b></div> <div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> Unlike real life escape room games, in classroom breakouts students are not trying to escape a physical location, but instead must solve a series of puzzles in a specified amount of time, usually a class period, to unlock various locks on a box to reach whatever is placed inside the box. A breakout can be done using a physical box and locks, in an online format, or some combination of the two. I prefer digital breakouts because they don't require any special equipment, just the use of technology, and once the digital breakout is created, there isn't any set up time either.<br /> <br /> Breakouts builds classroom community as students must work together either in partners or small groups to complete the task. These fun activities usually include a plot that sets the purpose for the breakout and most students respond well to a little healthy competition to see who can successfully get the end first. Creating puzzles within breakouts that require students to use certain skills or content knowledge also makes these activities excellent forms of alternative assessment.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g17m1eLUWKo/WvSIRPUV-vI/AAAAAAAALwI/Y96EyrTucIMRl-NplyuH4fv8WCVQc7d3ACEwYBhgL/s1600/Slide1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Digital breakouts are a fun and creative way to reinforce skills, preview or review a text, or even start off the school year that require no preparation or special equipment. These online activities make content more engaging and encourage cooperation among students. Read on to learn more about different ways to incorporate digital breakouts into your classroom." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="560" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g17m1eLUWKo/WvSIRPUV-vI/AAAAAAAALwI/Y96EyrTucIMRl-NplyuH4fv8WCVQc7d3ACEwYBhgL/s640/Slide1.png" title="Digital breakouts are a fun and creative way to reinforce skills, preview or review a text, or even start off the school year that require no preparation or special equipment. These online activities make content more engaging and encourage cooperation among students. Read on to learn more about different ways to incorporate digital breakouts into your classroom." width="222" /></a></div> <div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <br /> These activities are designed to be challenging. There isn't a step-by-step set of directions for students to follow and many times there is no set order in which students must proceed. Different students will uncover different information at different times, and even after uncovering that information, they may not immediately know how to use it to unlock a lock. Sometimes all of your students may successfully break out, and other times few or none will (and that's okay; I've tried breakouts as an adult that I haven't successfully completed). <br /> <br /> This type of activity may be uncomfortable at first for some students, especially those who always want to know exactly what they need to do to earn X grade, and even for some teachers, especially those who aren't accustomed to letting their students struggle and work things out on their own. However, it is important to remember that breakouts are intended to promote out of the box, critical thinking as well as a growth mindset as students must try again after each failed attempt to unlock a lock.<br /> <b><br /></b> <b>Skill-Based Breakouts</b><br /> One way I use digital breakouts in my classroom is to reinforce and review skills such as <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Plot-Setting-Digital-Breakout-Activity-Escape-From-Plot-Mountain-3109881?utm_source=The%20Literary%20Maven&utm_campaign=Using%20Digital%20Breakouts%20to%20Engage%20Secondary%20Students%20-%20Plot">plot and setting</a>, <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Conflict-Types-Digital-Breakout-Activity-Conflict-Resolution-Specialist-3202580?utm_source=The%20Literary%20Maven&utm_campaign=Using%20Digital%20Breakouts%20to%20Engage%20Secondary%20Students%20-%20Conflict">conflict</a>, <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Character-Types-Characterization-Digital-Breakout-Activity-Character-Witness-3224743?utm_source=The%20Literary%20Maven&utm_campaign=Using%20Digital%20Breakouts%20to%20Engage%20Secondary%20Students%20-%20Character">characterization and character types</a>, <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Point-of-View-Digital-Breakout-Activity-From-Another-Point-of-View-3435523?utm_source=The%20Literary%20Maven&utm_campaign=Using%20Digital%20Breakouts%20to%20Engage%20Secondary%20Students%20-%20POV">point of view</a>, <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Theme-Digital-Breakout-Activity-Theme-Song-Playlist-3498711?utm_source=The%20Literary%20Maven&utm_campaign=Using%20Digital%20Breakouts%20to%20Engage%20Secondary%20Students%20-%20Theme">theme</a>, <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Irony-Digital-Breakout-Activity-Isnt-It-Ironic-3554501?utm_source=The%20Literary%20Maven&utm_campaign=Using%20Digital%20Breakouts%20to%20Engage%20Secondary%20Students%20-%20Irony">irony</a>, <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Symbolism-Digital-Breakout-Activity-Symbols-of-a-Well-Read-Student-3584386?utm_source=The%20Literary%20Maven&utm_campaign=Using%20Digital%20Breakouts%20to%20Engage%20Secondary%20Students%20-%20Symbolism">symbolism</a>, and <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Figurative-Language-Digital-Breakout-Activity-Figuring-Out-Figurative-Language-3648497?utm_source=The%20Literary%20Maven&utm_campaign=Using%20Digital%20Breakouts%20to%20Engage%20Secondary%20Students%20-%20Figurative%20Language">figurative language</a>.<br /><br />I find that while my students have often already had exposure to these literary elements, they do not have the definitions committed to memory and lack a deeper understanding of the terms. Instead of just taking notes or practicing with a drill and kill worksheet, using breakouts allows students to interact with different types of texts (short stories, fables, poetry, film clips, etc.) and engage in purposeful academic conversation with their peers. They become active learners, helping and correcting each other, and excited about the learning process as they uncover each piece of new information and solve each lock.<br /> <b>Breakouts for Previewing Texts</b><br /> Another way I use breakouts in my classroom is to preview or review novels or other texts we read as a class. When used to preview a text, breakouts can introduce the characters, setting, and plot or help build background knowledge of an issue or historical time period in the text. Similarly, a breakout can be a fun way to review the elements of a story after completion of reading or serve a s a reward for students' hard work during a novel unit.<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> For example, when teaching <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Outsiders-by-S-E-Hinton-Digital-Breakout-Activity-Preview-or-Review-3108238?utm_source=The%20Literary%20Maven&utm_campaign=Using%20Digital%20Breakouts%20to%20Engage%20Secondary%20Students%20-%20The%20Outsiders" target="_blank"><i>The Outsiders </i>by S.E. Hinton</a>, I use a breakout to pique students' interest in the novel and introduce them to cultural influences on the novel. Students watch music videos of Elvis and the Beatles, and read articles about the Vietnam War and drive-in movie theaters. Students also learn about the author and read the Robert Frost poem, "Nothing Gold Can Stay," the inspiration for one of the novel's most famous lines. Students will use information from this variety of text and media to find the codes that will unlock a series of locks so they can try to prevent a rumble between the Socs and the Greasers.<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k97Lv8KoKSg/WvSIojSbQRI/AAAAAAAALwQ/DRoMJYy5K-owh-p_z1R4V_0sA5OWi-YXwCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digital breakouts are a fun and creative way to reinforce skills, preview or review a text, or even start off the school year that require no preparation or special equipment. These online activities make content more engaging and encourage cooperation among students. Read on to learn more about different ways to incorporate digital breakouts into your classroom." border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="560" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k97Lv8KoKSg/WvSIojSbQRI/AAAAAAAALwQ/DRoMJYy5K-owh-p_z1R4V_0sA5OWi-YXwCLcBGAs/s640/Slide2.png" title="Digital breakouts are a fun and creative way to reinforce skills, preview or review a text, or even start off the school year that require no preparation or special equipment. These online activities make content more engaging and encourage cooperation among students. Read on to learn more about different ways to incorporate digital breakouts into your classroom." width="222" /></a></div> <br /> Similarly, since the length of <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Odyssey-Digital-Breakout-Activity-Preview-or-Review-the-Epic-3146158?utm_source=The%20Literary%20Maven&utm_campaign=Using%20Digital%20Breakouts%20to%20Engage%20Secondary%20Students%20-%20The%20Odyssey" target="_blank"><i>The Odyssey</i> by Homer</a> can be daunting and the cast of characters and numerous events in the plot can be difficult to keep track of, I find that a breakout is the perfect way to get students familiar with it all. Students are introduced to literary terms connected to epics: plot, themes, invocation of muse, in media res, epic similes, dactylic hexameter, stock epithets, and epic heroes, as well as some of the major characters. A<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "proxima nova" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> </span>video about the historical accuracy of <i>The Odyssey</i> and a tour of the stops on Odysseus's journey home are also part of the breakout. <br /> <br /> <b>A Breakout on the First Day of School</b><br /> Finally, I have also used a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Day-of-School-Digital-Breakout-Activity-Around-the-World-Back-to-School-3229823?utm_source=The%20Literary%20Maven&utm_campaign=Using%20Digital%20Breakouts%20to%20Engage%20Secondary%20Students%20-%201st%20Day%20Breakout" target="_blank">breakout as an activity on the first day of school</a>. I've never liked standing at the front of the classroom, giving the same speech over and over, class period after class period. And if it is boring for me, I can only imagine how boring it is for my students. In the past I have changed things up a bit by using <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Day-of-School-Stations-Back-to-School-Activity-2515270?utm_source=The%20Literary%20Maven&utm_campaign=Using%20Digital%20Breakouts%20to%20Engage%20Secondary%20Students%20-%201st%20Day%20Stations" target="_blank">stations</a>, but this year I wanted to do something completely different. I wanted the first day to be an opportunity for students to interact while engage in an activity that was fun and exciting, but also academically purposeful.<br /> <br /> Inspired by the Jules Verne novel, <i>Around the World in 80 Days</i>, in this <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Day-of-School-Digital-Breakout-Activity-Around-the-World-Back-to-School-3229823?utm_source=The%20Literary%20Maven&utm_campaign=Using%20Digital%20Breakouts%20to%20Engage%20Secondary%20Students%20-%201st%20Day%20Breakout" target="_blank">back to school breakout</a>, students followed Phileas Fogg's route around the world as they learned about the back to school traditions of different countries. Student used close reading and soft research skills to successfully complete the breakout. It also encouraged collaboration between students and out of the box thinking.<br /> <br /> While students were working on the breakout, I was free to walk around the room and interact with groups and individual students, a much better alternative to being tied to a PowerPoint presentation at the front of the room staring out at a sea of faces. I also had the chance to start to learn about them as learners. Who worked well with others and who preferred to work alone? Who stood out as a leader or a mediator? Who was excited by a challenge and who shut down when success was not immediate?<br /> <br /> You can find all of my breakout resources <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Literary-Maven/Category/Breakouts-Escape-Rooms-285496?utm_source=The%20Literary%20Maven&utm_campaign=Using%20Digital%20Breakouts%20to%20Engage%20Secondary%20Students%20-%20Category" target="_blank">here</a>. If you are interested in creating your own digital breakout, you can read about my planning process <a href="http://www.theliterarymaven.com/2017/04/breakout-digital-escape-classroom.html" target="_blank">here</a> and find resources and ideas for activities <a href="http://www.theliterarymaven.com/2017/04/breakout-digital-escape-room-ideas.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div> </div>
On My Bookshelf: The Way I Used To Be by Amber Smith Posted by Brynn Allison at May 21, 2018 Labels: my bookshelf, young adult literature <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n1Jf7I_0lrs/Wun4ES-HCtI/AAAAAAAALsA/HEOfBeidTwEaflZlyaUQK0oy7UEJmcDJwCLcBGAs/s1600/Slide3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Way I Used To Be by Amber Smith is the devastating story of how keeping a secret you shouldn't can destroy your life. After Eden is raped in her own bed her brother's best friend, she is convinced that no one will believe her. Instead of seeking help, she tries to pretend it never happened, but the trauma of the event and refusing to deal with it just leads to a spiral of destructive behavior and ruined relationships. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application." border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="590" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n1Jf7I_0lrs/Wun4ES-HCtI/AAAAAAAALsA/HEOfBeidTwEaflZlyaUQK0oy7UEJmcDJwCLcBGAs/s400/Slide3.png" title="The Way I Used To Be by Amber Smith is the devastating story of how keeping a secret you shouldn't can destroy your life. After Eden is raped in her own bed her brother's best friend, she is convinced that no one will believe her. Instead of seeking help, she tries to pretend it never happened, but the trauma of the event and refusing to deal with it just leads to a spiral of destructive behavior and ruined relationships. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application." width="400" /></a></div> <b>The basic plot from Amazon: </b>Eden was always good at being good. Starting high school didn’t change who she was. But the night her brother’s best friend rapes her, Eden’s world capsizes.<br /> <br /> What was once simple, is now complex. What Eden once loved—who she once loved—she now hates. What she thought she knew to be true, is now lies. Nothing makes sense anymore, and she knows she’s supposed to tell someone what happened but she can’t. So she buries it instead. And she buries the way she used to be.<br /> <br /> Told in four parts—freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior year—this provocative debut reveals the deep cuts of trauma. But it also demonstrates one young woman’s strength as she navigates the disappointment and unbearable pains of adolescence, of first love and first heartbreak, of friendships broken and rebuilt, all while learning to embrace the power of survival she never knew she had hidden within her heart.<br /> <div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1UQYMm2RSKY/Wuwwzu_oQEI/AAAAAAAALtk/9W_j1RWiBJoqktqLD7judJ8TeMuSba6mgCLcBGAs/s1600/The%2BWay%2BI%2BUsed%2BTo%2BBe.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="The Way I Used To Be by Amber Smith is the devastating story of how keeping a secret you shouldn't can destroy your life. After Eden is raped in her own bed her brother's best friend, she is convinced that no one will believe her. Instead of seeking help, she tries to pretend it never happened, but the trauma of the event and refusing to deal with it just leads to a spiral of destructive behavior and ruined relationships. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application." border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1UQYMm2RSKY/Wuwwzu_oQEI/AAAAAAAALtk/9W_j1RWiBJoqktqLD7judJ8TeMuSba6mgCLcBGAs/s400/The%2BWay%2BI%2BUsed%2BTo%2BBe.png" title="The Way I Used To Be by Amber Smith is the devastating story of how keeping a secret you shouldn't can destroy your life. After Eden is raped in her own bed her brother's best friend, she is convinced that no one will believe her. Instead of seeking help, she tries to pretend it never happened, but the trauma of the event and refusing to deal with it just leads to a spiral of destructive behavior and ruined relationships. Read on for more of my review and ideas for classroom application." width="400" /></a></div> <span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span> <br /> <div> <div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><b>Why I liked it: </b><a href="https://amzn.to/2vyZtOy" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">The Way I Used To Be</a><i> </i>is the devastating story of how keeping a secret you shouldn't can destroy your life. </span>After Eden is raped in her own bed her brother's best friend, she is convinced that no one will believe her. Instead of seeking help, she tries to pretend it never happened, but the trauma of the event and refusing to deal with it just leads to a spiral of destructive behavior and ruined relationships. She and her best friend, Mara, get tired of being picked on at school and make themselves over. They begin drinking, using drugs, and partying with older guys. After being unable to be honest with Josh, her almost boyfriend, and ending her relationship with him, she begins using sex with near strangers as another form of escape. She is angry and hostile to her parents and once beloved older brother. Almost four years later, when her perpetrator is accused of attacking someone else, Eden is finally pushed to share what happened to her in hopes that it will never happen again.<br /> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Classroom application: </b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">While <i>Speak</i> by Laurie Halse Anderson, a popular novel on a similar topic, is often used at the middle school level, I'd save this one for high school and up. Besides the sexual violence of the rape, which is eventually described in fairly graphic detail, the other mature content: sex, drugs, drinking make it more appropriate for older students. </span><br /> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></span> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The novel is a perfect illustration of the "victim mentality" and why so many sexual assaults go unreported. If used in class, I would have single gender groups discuss the book before bringing the class back together. I think students might feel more comfortable talking about sex and the ways people express their sexuality (i.e. the judgement around promiscuity for females, but not for males), which would lead to more honest conversations. </span><br /> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br /></span> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal"> If you are interested in purchasing a copy of <i>The Way I Used To Be</i> for yourself, you can find it on Amazon <a href="https://amzn.to/2vyZtOy" target="_blank">here</a>.</div> </div> </div> <i><br /></i> <i>Note:</i> The Literary Maven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.<br /> <br /></div> </div> </div> </div> </div>
