Summer Sisters by Judy Blume

            

Title:  Summer Sisters   Author:  Judy Blume
ISBN:  0385337663   Pages:  399
Publisher:  Delta Trade Paperbacks, New York, NY, 1998

Readers Annotation:
After spending a summer together in Martha's Vineyard, Victoria and Caitlin were determined to forever remain 'summer sisters'. Will the challenges of  growing up ever break that impenetrable bond? 

Author Information: 
Judy Blume received her Bachelor's in education from New York University in 1961. She was also honored as the Distinguished Alumna in 1996 by NYU, and the American Libraries Association gave her the Margaret A. Edwards Award for Lifetime Achievement. Judy Blume has written for a wide audience, including children, young adults, and adults. Blume's books Summer Sisters, Wifey and Smart Women are all New York Times bestsellers. She has sold over 80 million copies of her books and they have been translated into 26 languages. Fans and readers send her thousands of letters every year to discuss their feelings and concerns.

Judy lives with her husband George Cooper on the east coast, and she spends summers with family on Martha's Vineyard, the setting of Summer Sisters. Together they have three children who are grown up, and one grandchild.

http://www.judyblume.com

Plot Summary: 
Victoria Leonard lives with her parents and three younger siblings in Sante Fe, New Mexico. Money doesn't come easy to her family, and that struggle effects Victoria's relationship with her parents. Caitlin Somers is the most popular girl in Vix's class. So, when Caity suddenly invites Vix to spend the summer with her and her family at Martha's Vineyard, away from the suppressed life she has in Sante Fe, Vix doesn't hesitate. She is allowed to go, but her mother has reservations about Vix's exposure to a wealthier lifestyle.

Vix and Caity become immediate friends after their summer together, and vow to spend future summers together in Martha's Vineyard as 'summer sisters'. The Somers grow fond of Vix, and 'adopt' her every summer. Each year brings new adventures for the girls, as they discover the trials and tribulations of being teenagers.  When the time comes for the girls to go to college, Vix learns to balance her everlasting friendship with Caity.

Critical Evaluation:
The author takes the readers on an epic journey of one character, Victoria Leonard, with sophisticated language that flows smoothly throughout the story. The book is written predominantly from the point of view of the protagonist Victoria, and follows the intimate details of her life. Simultaneously, Blume gives the readers insights written from the point of view of other supporting characters, by presenting selections from their perspective at the end of many chapters. During the early years, the settings vary between Victoria's hometown Sante Fe, New Mexico, and Caitlin's vacation home in Martha's Vineyard. The story continues in Cambridge and then New York, once the main character has grown up. Though the reader does not get a full picture of most of the places where Victoria is living, Martha's Vineyard is different as much of the relationship of the summer sisters takes place in that meaningful setting. The emotions of the characters in the story are detailed to the point where the reader can truly understand their depth. Though the mood of the book is not heavy, Blume does help her audience understand the conflicting emotions Vix has for Caity, while also allowing the readers to appreciate her undying love for her friend.

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Coming of Age

Curriculum Ties:  English

Booktalking Ideas: 
     1.  Vix has been 'adopted' by Caitlin, a wealthy classmate, to be her summer sister/friend. Have you ever left your family for an entire summer?
     2.  Caitlin's family is extremely wealthy and always trying to give Vix gifts and scholarships. If someone was always offering you monetary assistance, would you take it?

Reading Level/Interest Age: 14+

Challenge Issue:  Teen promiscuity
- The book is a New York Times bestseller, and the author is an award winning writer
- Compilation of teen reviews, and the average reader reviews on Amazon.com and Goodreads.com
- Library policy

Why I chose this item:  Judy Blume is a famous author, and I thought a teen novel would be a great addition to my project. 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

        

Title:  The Perks of Being a Wallflower  Author:  Stephen Chbosky
ISBN:  9780671027346  Pages:  213
Publisher:  Pocket Books, New York, 1999

Readers Annotation:  
Charlie is just starting high school after the untimely death of his best friend. As he's introduced to new friends, new teachers, and new experiences, he discovers much about himself that he never knew.

Author Information:  
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, is Stephen Chbosky's first novel. Chbosky is known for his film The Four Corners of Nowhere, which won the Best Narrative Feature honors at the Chicago Underground Film Festival, and also premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. He also authored the screenplay for the film adaptation of Rent, which was critically acclaimed, and created the television series Jericho.

Stephen was born in 1970, and grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California's Screen Writing Program. Currently, Stephen is producing and has written the screenplay for The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and the movie is in pre-production. Chbosky now lives in Los Angeles, California.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Chbosky

Plot Summary: 
Charlie begins high school immediately after the tragic death of his friend, Michael. Charlie tells his story through letters to an anonymous friend, revealing his inner-most thoughts. While looking for a friend, Charlie meets Patrick and Sam, step-siblings in the twelfth grade. The letters follows his love for Sam, his understanding of Patrick's homosexuality, and mixing in with their group of friends. Charlie also describes his family, telling us about his relationship with his older sister and brother, both of whom he loves, and both love him back. Additionally, the pain of Charlie's aunts' untimely death is a key emotion that he deals with in many of his letters. Charlie learns a lot about himself during the ninth grade, some aspects that he is happy about, and others that almost tear him apart.

Critical Evaluation:  
This powerful book is masterly written, and tells the story of the male protagonist through his letter-writing to an unknown person. Charlie's narrative accurately captures the fluctuating emotions of a teenager, appealing directly to young adult readers. There is an added layer of angst from his depression,  corresponding to the  abuse he repressed from his past. One adult character in the book looks beyond Charlie's wallflower-like behavior, and taps into his intelligence. This relationship of acceptance and understanding is inspiring, especially to a wavering adolescent. Chbosky does not address many details in his writing, such as Charlie's last name, or the city he lives in. This direct and no frills style of writing allows the readers to be immersed in Charlie's life completely, joining him during his times of suffering and happiness. Both beautiful and painful, Charlie's story can be enjoyed by the young and the old. 

Genre:  Fiction, Coming of Age, Epistolary Novel

Curriculum Ties:  English - Journal or Letter writing

Booktalking Ideas: 
     1. Charlie's best friend Michael commits suicide. Do you or anyone of your peers know of someone who has committed suicide?
     2. Charlie loves Sam, a girl who does not return his affections immediately. Have you ever loved someone who has not loved you back?

Reading Level/Interest Age: 15+

Challenge Issue:  Molestation issues, Teen sexuality, Drug use, Homosexuality
- Part of YALSA's Outreach to Young Adults with Special Needs Committee list of 'Related Reading for Participating Teens' by The Great Stories CLUB
- Compilation of teen reviews, and the average reader reviews on Amazon.com and Goodreads.com
- Library policy

Why I chose this item:  I discovered this to be a popular book among teens from class readings, and I felt a classic YA book like this would be great for my collection.

Choosing Up Sides by John H Ritter

           

Title:  Choosing Up Sides    Author:  John H Ritter
ISBN:  0399231854    Pages:  166
Publisher:  Philomel Books, New York, 1998

Readers Annotation:
All his life, Luke has been told by his father the preacher that being a lefty is the sign of the devil. But, when Luke accidentally throws a perfect pitch with his left arm, he soon realizes that he has a life altering decision to make. 

Author Information:

John Ritter always enjoyed the sport of baseball, writing for The San Diego Union as Sports Editor. Eventually, this love for baseball led him to write his first of five novels, Choosing Up Sides, which won the International Reading Association's Children's Book Award. He was also honored with the Judy Blume Award by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators in 1994. Some of his other work
has appeared in journals, including Spitball: The Literary Baseball Magazine and The Christian Science Monitor.

Ritter attended University of California San Diego, where he joined the baseball team and met his future wife Cheryl. John currently lives in San Diego, CA with his wife. They are parents to a grown daughter, Jolie.

http://www.johnhritter.com/bio.html/

 

Plot Summary:

Thirteen year old Luke Bledsoe and his family recently moved to a small town, where his father had been relocated to be a preacher. Luke loves his father, but the preacher's shortcomings create a rift between the two. Luke's father's has a terrible temper, and would often physically abuse his son. Additionally, Luke was born left-handed, but his father tied that arm to his side to make it useless. Luke's father, motivated by a misconstrued religious belief, felt that being left-handed was a sign of the Devil.

One day, while doing chores outside, Luke hears loud shouting nearby. When he goes to check on the ruckus, he sees a large group of boys playing baseball - or as his father calls it, 'the Devil's playground'. But to Luke, it looks like everyone is just having fun. While he is standing off to the side watching, a ball lands his way. He throws it back to the players only to find that they are silenced by his aim and strength, and he is shocked by the wrongful use of his left hand. Luke is also shocked to find that the beautiful Annabeth has become enamored with him because of his shameful talent, and that his Uncle Micah now wants to write a newspaper piece on him. Conflict rages within, as Luke battles between the antiquated religious desires of his father, and his own desire for the freedom to be himself.

Critical Evaluation:

The reader can feel the author's love of baseball translated in the prose of the book, especially in the description of the importance of baseball to Americans in the 1920's. Small town life is accurately portrayed, and the reader can get a glimpse of this period in history through the jargon and vernacular used by the characters. Luke Bledsoe, the male protagonist 'speaks' to his audience, telling us his thoughts and emotions throughout the narrative. The audience can feel his conflict between wanting to do the wishes of his overly strict father, and wanting to live his life in freedom. Additionally, the reader is acutely aware of the romantic feelings the main character has for the beautiful and vivacious Annabeth. All in all, the book has a compelling story line for those adolescents who have suffered physical abuse at the hand of a parent or struggle with their religious upbringing.

Genre:  Sports Fiction, Historical Fiction

Curriculum Ties:  History - America and baseball

Booktalking Ideas: 

     1. When Luke's father found out that he had used his "Devil's arm" for pitching in the "Devil's playground" of baseball, he got so angry that he whipped him six times, and broke his arm. Do you feel that religious beliefs condone violence in any form?

     2. Luke's Uncle Micah takes him to see the famous Babe Ruth play in a charity event. What would you do if you had a chance to see the most famous baseball player of all time?

Reading Level/Interest Age:  12+

Challenge Issue: none

Why I chose this item:  This book is a great addition as a sports story for younger male adolescent readers. Furthermore, I included this book for those who might have experienced some form of physical or mental abuse.