The Giver. ISBN: 0-440-23768-8. Lois Lowry. 1993. Newberry Honor. 12 and up. Classless, race less Utopian society.
Synopsis
The Giver is the story of Jonas a boy who is growing up in what seems to be the perfect civilization - a world free from choices, hardships and feelings. Jonas seems different from others early in the novel, but it is not until he receives his assignment at the age of twelve that he truly learns how to be different.
He is assigned to be the Receiver of Memories where he will undergo a very isolated training. It is in this training that the current Receiver (who Jonas begins calling The Giver) teaches Jonas of memories that his supposed "perfect" community cannot begin to comprehend. Through learning about emotions like pleasure and pain, Jonas realizes that his community is missing out on many things and he begins to question the way things work. He truly sees how wrong his society is when he witnesses the release of a newchild. The release is actually a sort of lethal injection.
Jonas decides he cannot live in a society that has no regard for human life. After he hears that the newchild Gabriel that has been living with his family is to be "released" he immediately acts by taking the newchild away on his fathers bike. When these two venture out into "Elsewhere" Jonas truly begins to live some of the memories that The Giver had given to him. He begins to see that there are upsides and downsides to both the safety and confinement of his community and the beauty and pleasure of Elsewhere.
Topics for Discussion
1. Free will
2. Right vs. wrong
3. Emotions
4. What makes us human
Critique
Lowry does an amazing job with setting in this story. The setting is one of the most important aspects of this novel. The community that Jonas lives in is fictional and entirely different from the world we have grown accustomed to living in. It is quite interesting that most of the characters in this novel believe that they are living in an ideal way, when the reader could interpret their way of life as absolutely horrifying.
It is equally interesting that our true world can be looked at as a terrible place with many atrocities and injustices occurring on a regular basis, but Jonas the main character would rather live in this atrocious world and be given the ability to feel feelings and be able to have free will that not. The things that we find horrible in our own reality are perceived as truly living by Jonas. I find this idea very fascinating and believe that it would bring about a wealth of valuable discussion in the classroom.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
The Golden Compass
The Golden Compass. ISBN: 0-440-41832-1. Philip Pullman.1995. Carnegie Medal (England), The Guardian Prize for Fiction (England). Age 12-17. Caucasian upper class, mythical characters.
Synopsis
The Golden compass is the story of Lyra, a brave and intelligent young girl. The story begins at Jordan College where her life is easy and full of mini adventures with neighboring children. Things begin to change for the worse for Lyra and others around her once the Gobblers begin stealing children.
Lyra's real adventure begins when she is introduced to Mrs. Coulter who offers Lyra the promise of North. Lyra is given the alethiometer by the Master of Jordan College before her journey begins. Once Lyra realizes that Mrs. Coulter is part of the Gobblers (Oblation Board) she is on her own - that is until she meets up with the Gyptians.
It is the Gyptians who explain to Lyra many truths about the Gobblers and their mission to rescue the missing children. Lyra also wishes to rescue her Uncle Asrael (who is really her father) and bring him the alethiometer.
On her journey she meets many mythical characters including witches, and ice bears that seem more like humans than bears.
In what seems like the end of her journey Lyra reaches her father and brings him the alethiometer only to find out that he needed a child to complete his mission. Because he did not want to use Lyra, he uses her friend Roger to cross over to another universe.
Topics for Discussion
1. Fantasy Genre
2. The difference between our world and the world in the novel.
3. Good vs. Evil
4. Right vs. Wrong
5. The presence of our souls and how they can be attributed to Daemons in the novel.
Critique
Pullman is a genius when it comes to creating characters. He creates Lyra as the perfect character for this novel because she is adventurous and knows how to lie (Iorek Byrneson refers to her as Lyra Silvertongue) to get herself out of a difficult situation - which there are many of. He also creates interesting characters like Daemons that seem to be a reflection of their humans better self, ice bears who carry on conversation, and witches that feel emotions entirely differently than humans do.
The setting is also interesting. It mirrors our world in that some locations are the same by name like England and the North, yet they are dramatically different.
Synopsis
The Golden compass is the story of Lyra, a brave and intelligent young girl. The story begins at Jordan College where her life is easy and full of mini adventures with neighboring children. Things begin to change for the worse for Lyra and others around her once the Gobblers begin stealing children.
Lyra's real adventure begins when she is introduced to Mrs. Coulter who offers Lyra the promise of North. Lyra is given the alethiometer by the Master of Jordan College before her journey begins. Once Lyra realizes that Mrs. Coulter is part of the Gobblers (Oblation Board) she is on her own - that is until she meets up with the Gyptians.
It is the Gyptians who explain to Lyra many truths about the Gobblers and their mission to rescue the missing children. Lyra also wishes to rescue her Uncle Asrael (who is really her father) and bring him the alethiometer.
On her journey she meets many mythical characters including witches, and ice bears that seem more like humans than bears.
In what seems like the end of her journey Lyra reaches her father and brings him the alethiometer only to find out that he needed a child to complete his mission. Because he did not want to use Lyra, he uses her friend Roger to cross over to another universe.
Topics for Discussion
1. Fantasy Genre
2. The difference between our world and the world in the novel.
3. Good vs. Evil
4. Right vs. Wrong
5. The presence of our souls and how they can be attributed to Daemons in the novel.
Critique
Pullman is a genius when it comes to creating characters. He creates Lyra as the perfect character for this novel because she is adventurous and knows how to lie (Iorek Byrneson refers to her as Lyra Silvertongue) to get herself out of a difficult situation - which there are many of. He also creates interesting characters like Daemons that seem to be a reflection of their humans better self, ice bears who carry on conversation, and witches that feel emotions entirely differently than humans do.
The setting is also interesting. It mirrors our world in that some locations are the same by name like England and the North, yet they are dramatically different.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Human Decency
Number the Stars. ISBN 0-440-40327-8. Lois Lowry. 1989. Newberry Award Medal Winner. Ages 10-14. Danish/Jewish WW II.
Synopsis
During the German occupation of Denmark, Annemarie Johansen learns many lessons about life. The Germans soldiers are taking Jewish families and relocating them to unknown locations and fates. Annemarie is forced at a young age to decide whether or not she would be brave enough to risk her life for her country, her best friend and what is right. In the end all characters in some way make a contribution to human decency helping the Rosen family and other Jews to escape Nazi occupied Denmark to free Sweden.
Discussion Topics
1. Friendship
2. Bravery/Courage
3. WW II/Denmark Resistance
4. Racism
5. Holocaust
6. Humanity/dehumanization
Critique
This is an excellent story of bravery and courage. The author does a superb job of creating each character in a way that contributes to the safety of the Danish Jews. Even without knowing it young Annemarie and even Kirsten aid in the escape of their Jewish friends. The Johansen family is risking their life for what is right and this book has the ability to spur many interesting discussion topics amongst young adult readers.I think it is also a great way of introducing WW II/Holocaust Literature to readers as young as 4th grade.
Synopsis
During the German occupation of Denmark, Annemarie Johansen learns many lessons about life. The Germans soldiers are taking Jewish families and relocating them to unknown locations and fates. Annemarie is forced at a young age to decide whether or not she would be brave enough to risk her life for her country, her best friend and what is right. In the end all characters in some way make a contribution to human decency helping the Rosen family and other Jews to escape Nazi occupied Denmark to free Sweden.
Discussion Topics
1. Friendship
2. Bravery/Courage
3. WW II/Denmark Resistance
4. Racism
5. Holocaust
6. Humanity/dehumanization
Critique
This is an excellent story of bravery and courage. The author does a superb job of creating each character in a way that contributes to the safety of the Danish Jews. Even without knowing it young Annemarie and even Kirsten aid in the escape of their Jewish friends. The Johansen family is risking their life for what is right and this book has the ability to spur many interesting discussion topics amongst young adult readers.I think it is also a great way of introducing WW II/Holocaust Literature to readers as young as 4th grade.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
The Latehomecomer
The Latehomecomer A Hmong Family Memoir. ISBN 978-I-56689-208-7. Kao Kalia Yang, 2008. Ages 13 and up. Hmong refugees/Hmong American working class.
Synopsis
The Latehomcomer begins as the story of a family's journey through war torn Laos to the unwelcoming refugee camps of Thailand and further to a very foreign America that would eventually become home. It is in Thailand that a very brave girl makes her journey from the clouds where she will enter her family in constant search of self and a place to call home. She begins her story before her birth starting with the experiences of her parents and the experience of her grandmother - a beautifully spirited woman who made the survival of the family possible. The story continues in America where the author and her family struggle for acceptance and freedom from the lives they had left behind.
Discussion Topics
1. The Vietnam War
2. The Secret War
3. Geography of Laos and Thailand
4. The Hmong culture/traditions
5. The American Dream
6. What it means to be American
7. Arranged Marriages
8. Death
9. Finding ones voice
Critique
This is by far one of the best books I have ever read. It was almost as if I knew Yang. Her beautiful story of war, fear, courage motherhood, the struggle for self and home made me feel an emense range of emotions. She writes beautifully about the characters of her life. The reader can practically see the family as they make their way across the Mekong River to the unknown. The use of Yang's family photos further invites the reader to truly know her family experience.
Not only does this book teach us of the struggles one family faced, it educates us about a culture we may have never known and a one sided war that's history is kept a secret from us. It is a wonderful resource for the classroom. I wish it had been around when I was in high school. It has the ability to teach many lessons about self, life, death, family, history and home. I absolutely love this book!!!
Synopsis
The Latehomcomer begins as the story of a family's journey through war torn Laos to the unwelcoming refugee camps of Thailand and further to a very foreign America that would eventually become home. It is in Thailand that a very brave girl makes her journey from the clouds where she will enter her family in constant search of self and a place to call home. She begins her story before her birth starting with the experiences of her parents and the experience of her grandmother - a beautifully spirited woman who made the survival of the family possible. The story continues in America where the author and her family struggle for acceptance and freedom from the lives they had left behind.
Discussion Topics
1. The Vietnam War
2. The Secret War
3. Geography of Laos and Thailand
4. The Hmong culture/traditions
5. The American Dream
6. What it means to be American
7. Arranged Marriages
8. Death
9. Finding ones voice
Critique
This is by far one of the best books I have ever read. It was almost as if I knew Yang. Her beautiful story of war, fear, courage motherhood, the struggle for self and home made me feel an emense range of emotions. She writes beautifully about the characters of her life. The reader can practically see the family as they make their way across the Mekong River to the unknown. The use of Yang's family photos further invites the reader to truly know her family experience.
Not only does this book teach us of the struggles one family faced, it educates us about a culture we may have never known and a one sided war that's history is kept a secret from us. It is a wonderful resource for the classroom. I wish it had been around when I was in high school. It has the ability to teach many lessons about self, life, death, family, history and home. I absolutely love this book!!!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
"Stories Lead to other Stories"
The Invention of Hugo Cabret. ISBN-10:0-439-81378-6. Brian Selznick. 2007. The Caldecott Medal. Age 9-12.
Synopsis
A young 12 year old boy's life takes an unexpected turn for the worst, he scarcely realizes that he has set out on a journey that will give meaning to his life. Hugo's life changes suddenly when his father is killed in a fire inside of the museum he works at. Before his death he introduces Hugo to the automaton (mechanical man) he had been working on.
Hugo is forced to move with his drunken uncle who mistreats the boy and makes him quit school. When his uncle disappears, Hugo resorts to stealing for survival which is where he meets Melies Georges and his goddaughter Isabelle. It is when Melies Georges takes Hugo's notebook away that the journey really begins.
Hugo will stop at nothing to get the notebook back. He goes to work for Georges in hopes that he will give him his notebook back (meanwhile he has found the automaton that his father had been working on in the pile of ruble of the museum). Isabelle ends up helping Hugo by steeling the notebook from her godfather. It is then they discover what the automaton's message had been. It was not only a message from Hugo's father, but a cry for help from Georges.
Hugo ends up going to a cinema library where he discovers that his fathers message (a picture from a movie his father had loved as a child) had been created by Georges. Georges had been amongst the first film makers, and he was greatly admired. Then Hugo and Isabelle make it there mission to reintroduce Georges to his long lost love of film making. In the end Hugo not only helps Georges rediscover himself, he also finds his calling.
Discussion Topics
1. Movies and the invention of dreams
2. Historical Fiction
3. Right vs. Wrong
4. Art/movies and the ability of a picture to tell the story.
Critique
I loved this book! In the beginning the author makes the characters remarkably mysterious, (using tactics like not giving us there names or purposes) which makes the reader eager to find out what will happen next. Then once they are introduced they all have intricate personalities, especially Hugo and Isabelle. Hugo is a sweet smart boy who's purpose is "fixing things" according to Isabelle. Hugo is very good at fixing things. He even "fixes" Papa Georges in the end.
I love the format. The book looks like a movie, although that might not be entirely clear to the reader until the theme of movies is introduced, but then it all makes sense. It as if the reader had been watching a movie all along. The pictures are absolutely gorgeous!
There were a few themes in this book, but I really like the fact that it is loosely based on a real person that had really experimented with the creation of automata. I also like the theme of movies and how they "invent dreams." I agree very much and have always been very passionate about movies for this reason.
There are several themes that can be discussed with children throughout this book. They can discuss the history behind the book (who is Melies Georges and what did he do). Students can discuss movies and how they "invent dreams." They can discuss right vs. wrong (was it right or wrong for Hugo to steal if he was doing it for survival? Was it wrong Of Georges to take Hugo's notebook? Was it wrong of Isabelle to steal it back?) They can also discuss historical fiction and its purpose.
Synopsis
A young 12 year old boy's life takes an unexpected turn for the worst, he scarcely realizes that he has set out on a journey that will give meaning to his life. Hugo's life changes suddenly when his father is killed in a fire inside of the museum he works at. Before his death he introduces Hugo to the automaton (mechanical man) he had been working on.
Hugo is forced to move with his drunken uncle who mistreats the boy and makes him quit school. When his uncle disappears, Hugo resorts to stealing for survival which is where he meets Melies Georges and his goddaughter Isabelle. It is when Melies Georges takes Hugo's notebook away that the journey really begins.
Hugo will stop at nothing to get the notebook back. He goes to work for Georges in hopes that he will give him his notebook back (meanwhile he has found the automaton that his father had been working on in the pile of ruble of the museum). Isabelle ends up helping Hugo by steeling the notebook from her godfather. It is then they discover what the automaton's message had been. It was not only a message from Hugo's father, but a cry for help from Georges.
Hugo ends up going to a cinema library where he discovers that his fathers message (a picture from a movie his father had loved as a child) had been created by Georges. Georges had been amongst the first film makers, and he was greatly admired. Then Hugo and Isabelle make it there mission to reintroduce Georges to his long lost love of film making. In the end Hugo not only helps Georges rediscover himself, he also finds his calling.
Discussion Topics
1. Movies and the invention of dreams
2. Historical Fiction
3. Right vs. Wrong
4. Art/movies and the ability of a picture to tell the story.
Critique
I loved this book! In the beginning the author makes the characters remarkably mysterious, (using tactics like not giving us there names or purposes) which makes the reader eager to find out what will happen next. Then once they are introduced they all have intricate personalities, especially Hugo and Isabelle. Hugo is a sweet smart boy who's purpose is "fixing things" according to Isabelle. Hugo is very good at fixing things. He even "fixes" Papa Georges in the end.
I love the format. The book looks like a movie, although that might not be entirely clear to the reader until the theme of movies is introduced, but then it all makes sense. It as if the reader had been watching a movie all along. The pictures are absolutely gorgeous!
There were a few themes in this book, but I really like the fact that it is loosely based on a real person that had really experimented with the creation of automata. I also like the theme of movies and how they "invent dreams." I agree very much and have always been very passionate about movies for this reason.
There are several themes that can be discussed with children throughout this book. They can discuss the history behind the book (who is Melies Georges and what did he do). Students can discuss movies and how they "invent dreams." They can discuss right vs. wrong (was it right or wrong for Hugo to steal if he was doing it for survival? Was it wrong Of Georges to take Hugo's notebook? Was it wrong of Isabelle to steal it back?) They can also discuss historical fiction and its purpose.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Teenage Idiocy?
Godless. ISBN-10: 1-4169-0816-1 (pbk). Pete Hautman. 2004. ALA Best Book for Young Adults Award, New York Public Library Best Book for Young Adults Award, Minnesota Book Award for Young Adult Fiction. Age 12-17. White working class.
Synopsis
Godless is the story of Jason Bock an intelligent, overly imaginative nonbeliever. After being forced into a religious group for teens by his fanatical father, Jason decides to make up a religion of his own. Jason has a “religious experience” after being punched in the face by Henry Staggs under the water tower. After this, it is during one of his Religious group’s meetings that Jason expresses to everyone that he doesn’t believe in God as we know it. Instead he believes in the Ten Legged God (referring to the 10 beams that the water tower stands upon). Jason calls his new found religion Chutenengodianism
After thinking logically about whether or not the water tower could actually be god, Jason convinces himself and a few friends into believing in his idea. Henry, Magda, Dan, Shin and Jason decide to climb the tower as a sign of their “faith,” but each had their own ulterior motives for climbing. Henry climbed to show that he was fearful of nothing. Magda climbed to express interest in Henry, Dan climbed to spite his overzealous father. Shin's first attempted climb and second successful climb were to prove that he is not a coward and to show that he had real faith in the oceans and water towers as supreme beings. Jason climbed on one hand because he thought it was fun, and on the other to prove that if we can believe in one religion based on often ridiculous ideas, then we can believe in a water tower as our God.
When the kids get caught on top of the water tower, each has his/her own personal revelation. Jason realizes that you have to believe in something in order to understand it. So just as many people believe in and understand God, Shin believed in and had a true understanding of the Ten Legged God. It is with Shin's strong beliefs that Jason realizes that Chutengodianism is not the religion for him. He doesn't truly believe in it and therefore does not understand it the way Shin does.
Discussion Topics
1. Power
2. The existence of God.
3. Different Religions - how they came to be.
4. Parental defiance (in what cases is it okay/not okay).
5. Teenage angst, destructive behavior.
6. Reality (literal proof).
Critique
Hautman does a fantastic job with character development in this novel, creating Jason as a young man that the reader can relate to. Jason is very conversational with the reader, making this book a more personal experience. Hautman also does a great job in describing Jason's friends and the reasons each one of them may be interested in worshiping a water tower as their god. For instance Henry wants to worship because he fears nothing and does not care what happens to him, while Jason wants to worship because he is a confirmed Atheist, that finds religion ridiculous.
The plot is gripping. At first the reader thinks that Jason is simply kidding when he introduces his religion in chapter three, but as he continues to make things up the more people get involved. The novel offers an anxious twist when four of the five members decide to climb the water tower and go for a swim. The reader will be holding on to their seat in fear and anticipation, hoping that these kids make it down safely.
The themes in this novel, God and religion, are some that most think are very taboo, especially if taught in a public school. Instead of giving a correct or prescribed answer to the question of who we should worship as our god or what religion should we be, this novel gives students the opportunity to question these things and hopefully establish their own belief system - one that works for them. Jason's father refers to the kids' activities as "teenage idiocy" (133), which climbing in the water tower definitely was. However, Jason and even Shin are far from idiots. They are reasoning logically about God and religion in a way that makes a lot of sense. Perhaps religion as we know it started the way Jason started Chutengodianism. These kids all realize that religion and God are things that are all based on the ideas of individuals, and they choose to question it. This novel displays to the reader that there are many faiths and many gods, and we have no proof of which one is the "right" one. It teaches the reader to be tolerant of many belief systems.
This novel can be used to facilitate many different discussions. It can be used to discuss faith, religion and God - topics adolescents don't often get to address, and may feel conflicted about. It opens up the opportunity to discuss teenage angst, defiance and destructive behavior. It also gives students the opportunity to analyze reality or what they believe reality is. They can discuss whether or not they need to have literal proof in order to believe in something.
Synopsis
Godless is the story of Jason Bock an intelligent, overly imaginative nonbeliever. After being forced into a religious group for teens by his fanatical father, Jason decides to make up a religion of his own. Jason has a “religious experience” after being punched in the face by Henry Staggs under the water tower. After this, it is during one of his Religious group’s meetings that Jason expresses to everyone that he doesn’t believe in God as we know it. Instead he believes in the Ten Legged God (referring to the 10 beams that the water tower stands upon). Jason calls his new found religion Chutenengodianism
After thinking logically about whether or not the water tower could actually be god, Jason convinces himself and a few friends into believing in his idea. Henry, Magda, Dan, Shin and Jason decide to climb the tower as a sign of their “faith,” but each had their own ulterior motives for climbing. Henry climbed to show that he was fearful of nothing. Magda climbed to express interest in Henry, Dan climbed to spite his overzealous father. Shin's first attempted climb and second successful climb were to prove that he is not a coward and to show that he had real faith in the oceans and water towers as supreme beings. Jason climbed on one hand because he thought it was fun, and on the other to prove that if we can believe in one religion based on often ridiculous ideas, then we can believe in a water tower as our God.
When the kids get caught on top of the water tower, each has his/her own personal revelation. Jason realizes that you have to believe in something in order to understand it. So just as many people believe in and understand God, Shin believed in and had a true understanding of the Ten Legged God. It is with Shin's strong beliefs that Jason realizes that Chutengodianism is not the religion for him. He doesn't truly believe in it and therefore does not understand it the way Shin does.
Discussion Topics
1. Power
2. The existence of God.
3. Different Religions - how they came to be.
4. Parental defiance (in what cases is it okay/not okay).
5. Teenage angst, destructive behavior.
6. Reality (literal proof).
Critique
Hautman does a fantastic job with character development in this novel, creating Jason as a young man that the reader can relate to. Jason is very conversational with the reader, making this book a more personal experience. Hautman also does a great job in describing Jason's friends and the reasons each one of them may be interested in worshiping a water tower as their god. For instance Henry wants to worship because he fears nothing and does not care what happens to him, while Jason wants to worship because he is a confirmed Atheist, that finds religion ridiculous.
The plot is gripping. At first the reader thinks that Jason is simply kidding when he introduces his religion in chapter three, but as he continues to make things up the more people get involved. The novel offers an anxious twist when four of the five members decide to climb the water tower and go for a swim. The reader will be holding on to their seat in fear and anticipation, hoping that these kids make it down safely.
The themes in this novel, God and religion, are some that most think are very taboo, especially if taught in a public school. Instead of giving a correct or prescribed answer to the question of who we should worship as our god or what religion should we be, this novel gives students the opportunity to question these things and hopefully establish their own belief system - one that works for them. Jason's father refers to the kids' activities as "teenage idiocy" (133), which climbing in the water tower definitely was. However, Jason and even Shin are far from idiots. They are reasoning logically about God and religion in a way that makes a lot of sense. Perhaps religion as we know it started the way Jason started Chutengodianism. These kids all realize that religion and God are things that are all based on the ideas of individuals, and they choose to question it. This novel displays to the reader that there are many faiths and many gods, and we have no proof of which one is the "right" one. It teaches the reader to be tolerant of many belief systems.
This novel can be used to facilitate many different discussions. It can be used to discuss faith, religion and God - topics adolescents don't often get to address, and may feel conflicted about. It opens up the opportunity to discuss teenage angst, defiance and destructive behavior. It also gives students the opportunity to analyze reality or what they believe reality is. They can discuss whether or not they need to have literal proof in order to believe in something.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
God Would Not Play Dice With The Universe...
Big Mouth & Ugly Girl, ISBN0-06-447347-3, Joyce Carol Oates, 2002. Ages 12 and up. Caucasian upper middle class.
Synopsis
This is the story of Matt and Ursula, or Big Mouth and Ugly Girl as they affectionately refer to themselves. Ursula's problem is that she has become so used to being ugly that she has created an alter ego (Ugly Girl) that will allow her to be ugly (inside and out) without allowing others to hurt her. The result is Ursula's extreme confusion about her own character. She carries herself as if nothing bothers her. Her super hero like alter ego has made people shy away from her. Students find her intimidating more than they find her ugly. Her family also finds her unpleasant and intimidating. Ugly Girl becomes Ursula's wall of protection against anyone who has hurt her in the past or could hurt her in the future. Ugly Girl has a revelation when she is faced with a moral dilemma; whether or not to help Matt Donaghy. She doesn't realize that Matt's dilemma is fate. It is the opportunity to find herself and to form a beautiful friendship.
Matt has a huge problem. He has been falsely accused of threatening to blow up Rocky River High school. Well, actually he wasn't falsely accused, just taken out of context. It is through gossip and poor judgement that people begin to slander Matt's name. His dilemma causes him to become a completely different person. At first Matt is shunned by his friends and becomes completely isolated. It seems his whole family is falling apart because of his big mouth. Once he forms a friendship with Ursula he realizes how "phony" he and the people around him used to be. He learns courage and the value of friendship from Ursula, who in turn learns how to open up and love. Lastly, he learns to control his big mouth.
Discussion Topics
1. Self Esteem
2. Gossip
3. Defamation of character
4. Effects of bullying and isolation of peers.
-Suicide
-Depression and Treatment
5. Negative body image.
6. Fate
7. Media hype surrounding school shootings.
8. Pressure from parents at this age and the struggle to get along with them.
Critique
"The hard part of humanity is history. All that's been done to human beings by other human beings" (263).
This quote is the reason a lot of people feel the way they do in this story and is the reason for the creation of Matt and Ursula's alter egos. Ursula created Ugly Girl as a means of shutting people out. Ugly Girl was her defense mechanism. She is someone that cannot cry and cannot be hurt. She can hurt others without giving it a second thought. Matt creates Big Mouth as his means of acceptance. If he is constantly talking and saying things to amuse others he never has to show them his true self. He will never find out what people really think of him...or so he thinks. Matt has a decent life on the surface in the beginning of the story until his big mouth and the catty gossip of his peers cause him to question who he once was. Matt uses Big Mouth to psychologically punish himself after his false accusation. When Matt is attacked by some of his school mates he thinks to himself, "This is what you deserve. Big Mouth. You know it is." (138). Matt also uses Big Mouth to explain why everyone is treating him so badly, but again this is just a defense mechanism. Matt doesn't really believe that he deserves to be treated badly over what has happened. "He did not know why they hated him so much" (139).
In quiet conversation with themselves, the main characters are in a constant state of judgment, inviting the reader to determine what kind of people they really are. I found myself wondering if Ursula was really "ugly" or had she just forced herself into believing this...did she think she was ugly because of how others had treated her? I also wondered if Matt really had a "big mouth," or was he simply acting as many 16-year-old boys do.
The plot of this story is gripping. On the surface the events look as if they might be happening by chance, but as the story unfolds it is easy to see that the events were destined to happen. The story begins with Matt being accused. Ursula happens to overhear Matt's joke about blowing up the school and decides to act on it. These two events set the story in motion which leads to the two characters becoming great friends and eventually boyfriend and girlfriend.
There are also dimensions of fate in the setting of the story. Both Matt and Ursula hike in the Rocky River Mountain Preserve, their common ground, which is where Ursula finds Matt contemplating suicide. Matt tells his dog Pumpkin that he wouldn't have gone through with it, but if Ursula hadn't run in to hims the story may have ended in tragedy.
After they begin to know each other the two characters realize they have much more in common than they think they do which is alluded to all throughout the book. They are almost mirror images of each other.
This book provides a wealth of discussion material for adolescents. It gives examples of how many of them may feel at that age. It also discusses the harmful affects of gossiping, teasing and bullying. It touches on important social issues such as negative body image, suicide and depression. It also goes in depth on relationships with siblings and parents which can be tough to handle with the pressures of school and social life for some adolescents.
Synopsis
This is the story of Matt and Ursula, or Big Mouth and Ugly Girl as they affectionately refer to themselves. Ursula's problem is that she has become so used to being ugly that she has created an alter ego (Ugly Girl) that will allow her to be ugly (inside and out) without allowing others to hurt her. The result is Ursula's extreme confusion about her own character. She carries herself as if nothing bothers her. Her super hero like alter ego has made people shy away from her. Students find her intimidating more than they find her ugly. Her family also finds her unpleasant and intimidating. Ugly Girl becomes Ursula's wall of protection against anyone who has hurt her in the past or could hurt her in the future. Ugly Girl has a revelation when she is faced with a moral dilemma; whether or not to help Matt Donaghy. She doesn't realize that Matt's dilemma is fate. It is the opportunity to find herself and to form a beautiful friendship.
Matt has a huge problem. He has been falsely accused of threatening to blow up Rocky River High school. Well, actually he wasn't falsely accused, just taken out of context. It is through gossip and poor judgement that people begin to slander Matt's name. His dilemma causes him to become a completely different person. At first Matt is shunned by his friends and becomes completely isolated. It seems his whole family is falling apart because of his big mouth. Once he forms a friendship with Ursula he realizes how "phony" he and the people around him used to be. He learns courage and the value of friendship from Ursula, who in turn learns how to open up and love. Lastly, he learns to control his big mouth.
Discussion Topics
1. Self Esteem
2. Gossip
3. Defamation of character
4. Effects of bullying and isolation of peers.
-Suicide
-Depression and Treatment
5. Negative body image.
6. Fate
7. Media hype surrounding school shootings.
8. Pressure from parents at this age and the struggle to get along with them.
Critique
"The hard part of humanity is history. All that's been done to human beings by other human beings" (263).
This quote is the reason a lot of people feel the way they do in this story and is the reason for the creation of Matt and Ursula's alter egos. Ursula created Ugly Girl as a means of shutting people out. Ugly Girl was her defense mechanism. She is someone that cannot cry and cannot be hurt. She can hurt others without giving it a second thought. Matt creates Big Mouth as his means of acceptance. If he is constantly talking and saying things to amuse others he never has to show them his true self. He will never find out what people really think of him...or so he thinks. Matt has a decent life on the surface in the beginning of the story until his big mouth and the catty gossip of his peers cause him to question who he once was. Matt uses Big Mouth to psychologically punish himself after his false accusation. When Matt is attacked by some of his school mates he thinks to himself, "This is what you deserve. Big Mouth. You know it is." (138). Matt also uses Big Mouth to explain why everyone is treating him so badly, but again this is just a defense mechanism. Matt doesn't really believe that he deserves to be treated badly over what has happened. "He did not know why they hated him so much" (139).
In quiet conversation with themselves, the main characters are in a constant state of judgment, inviting the reader to determine what kind of people they really are. I found myself wondering if Ursula was really "ugly" or had she just forced herself into believing this...did she think she was ugly because of how others had treated her? I also wondered if Matt really had a "big mouth," or was he simply acting as many 16-year-old boys do.
The plot of this story is gripping. On the surface the events look as if they might be happening by chance, but as the story unfolds it is easy to see that the events were destined to happen. The story begins with Matt being accused. Ursula happens to overhear Matt's joke about blowing up the school and decides to act on it. These two events set the story in motion which leads to the two characters becoming great friends and eventually boyfriend and girlfriend.
There are also dimensions of fate in the setting of the story. Both Matt and Ursula hike in the Rocky River Mountain Preserve, their common ground, which is where Ursula finds Matt contemplating suicide. Matt tells his dog Pumpkin that he wouldn't have gone through with it, but if Ursula hadn't run in to hims the story may have ended in tragedy.
After they begin to know each other the two characters realize they have much more in common than they think they do which is alluded to all throughout the book. They are almost mirror images of each other.
This book provides a wealth of discussion material for adolescents. It gives examples of how many of them may feel at that age. It also discusses the harmful affects of gossiping, teasing and bullying. It touches on important social issues such as negative body image, suicide and depression. It also goes in depth on relationships with siblings and parents which can be tough to handle with the pressures of school and social life for some adolescents.
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