Stargirl

I have owned this book for several years but had never found the time to crack it open until I was looking for YAL novels for this course. I was always put off by it's title and appearance and had a hard time believing that it was anything worth reading. However, after reading and very much enjoying Spinelli's Maniac Magee for this class, I decided to give Stargirl a chance. What I found was a really nice story that could spark change and appreciation if put in the hands of High School students. It has a little something for boys and girls as the narrator and main character is a male, but the hero and second most central character is a female.

I was really impressed with this story and found it to be much more useful as a part of a classroom than I had previously thought. It is definitely a younger YAL novel than some, but it does have enough maturity to be useful at the 9th grade level for sure. That would also be a good year for it because of the morals that it embodies. It speaks of individuality and acceptance. Through the model of Stargirl herself, this book shows kids how important it is to look past the differences of their classmates and appreciate the great things each person has to offer. Now, as corny as that sounded is exactly how un-corny the actual novel presents these ideas. It manages to pass on a good message without sounding preachy or out of date. I think it could appeal to a lot of kids as it is relevant and easy to read.

I would definitely use this novel in my classroom. I might not teach it to the whole class but rather offer it as a free read. I wouldn't want to make it cheesy or ruin its wholesome message by beating it over the heads of my students. I think it finds the most success as an individual experience which each student could react to on his or her own. I think it could really inspire kids who have felt like the outsider to embrace those unique qualities and realize them as good assets.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

I first read this epistolary novel, by Stephen Chbosky, when I was a sophomore in High School, for fun not class. It really touched me as a reader of that age and I was particularly curious to see if it would have the same effect on me if I read it with a nod towards using it with my future students. I found myself falling in love with the story and it's main character, Charlie, all over again. It made me excited to share this book with everyone I know, as well as to offer it to my students.

This is a novel which is frequently likened to Catcher in the Rye, but which I feel is far superior. I enjoyed Salinger's book immensely when I read it for my Senior year English class but I don't think it is as accessible to as many students as Perks could be. Perks has the advantage of being set in today's society and deals with much more recent and relevant topics. Throughout the novel, Charlie deals with life as a teenager- unrequited crushes, social pressures, and , oh yeah, school. He writes to an unknown reader about the ups and downs of just making it through High School on a day to day basis. It is impossible not to relate to his experiences as he begins to hang out with an older crowd. Interwoven with realistic depictions of his new found partying lifestyle are memories of his aunt Helen. These memories seem to the reader to hold some importance but it doesn't become clear until the end of his letters what this significance might be. In the end, it is this aunt, his own blood relative, who causes Charlie most of his heartache and suffering even though she dies before the novel starts.

I believe this novel could really change the lives of students, at least in the way that they regard literature. Students who have never felt connected to a character or who have never fell in love with a book and finished it all in one sitting might be able, like me, to relate to this novel. It offers a reader friendly format and teenager friendly topics. It lends itself to discussions on voice, epistolary writing, and making inferences.

I feel like I just can't do this book enough justice. It is a really solid read, particularly for students that are Charlie's age. Considering that I am not really a "reader," I could read and reread this book and still find myself emotionally invested in the well being of the protagonist.

You really have to read it in order to appreciate it!!!