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YA Reading Challenge #4: Tasks and Discussion
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Misty
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Jun 05, 2010 05:55AM
Oh, lord. Sounds heartbreaking. Great questions!
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It is. It was tough to assign a star rating to. I wanted to give it one star because it made my stomach turn, but then I wanted to give it 5 stars because it was able to make my stomach turn. I'd never say it's a "good" book, but I'd definitely say it's well written and the end is satisfying.
I just finished Athletic Shorts: Six Short Stories by Chris Crutcher (btw- I think we need a Chris Crutcher or Short Story topic on Wild things). This collection of short stories are often found on the ALA challenged book list. It has been challenged because it has a story that has an 18 year old boy befriending a man with AIDS, because it discusses homosexuality and because of its language. Chris Crutcher, though, is an expert at what he does-writing about reality. He said, "They think kids should not be exposed in print to what they are exposed in their lives. But I believe what I believe, so I write my stories." Crutcher even has a whole section on censorship on his website: http://www.chriscrutcher.com/content/... I, personally, find it spectacular that such a contemporary set of short stories was published in 1991!
Now for task 4.20 I must post discussion questions about the book. I am going to separate it into two categories: Basic book questions & Thought provoking hard questions (some you can only answer if you have read the book, but I tried to throw in some that are basic discussion questions)
Basic book questions
*Some of the short stories had characters from some of Crutcher's other novels, did you feel that made it hard to connect to the characters and understand their stories?
*Did you feel the prefaces at the beginning of each story were helpful or hurtful?
*Crutcher often intertwines sports into his stories- do you think that is an effective way of introducing these hard topics? Do you think girls would find this novel as friendly as boys would?
Thought Provoking Hard Questions
*Crutcher says, "We are all bigots. All of us prejudge people on some basis, be it race, sexual preference, height, age or any scores of categories we use to make ourselves seem superior when we are, in fact, feeling inferior." Do you agree?
*Do you agree with parents in Iowa who did not want their 8th graders exposed to this novel? What age do you feel it is appropriate for?
*This book was published in 1991, way before there was mainstream LGBT young adult literature. Now this book is not purely LBGT, but includes stories that could be categorized as such. How do you think it was accepted at the time of publication?
Misty wrote: "Great questions, Kellee, thanks!"Thanks :)
I may add to them as I think...
It was a very thought-provoking set of stories.
Task 4.20 Blue Plate SpecialTold from alternating chapters of three characters, three teenage girls living in three different time periods. Madeline is in the 70s, and her mother is an alcoholic; Desiree is in the 90s, and she becomes pregnant when she is raped by her mother's boyfriend; and Ariel is in 2009, and she has a father in jail and a boyfriend that wants to control her.
-How does the theme of life's leftovers affect each of the three main characters?
-Why did Desiree's mother take Larry's side instead of her daughter's? Do you think Desiree had any choice but to leave?
-What finally made Ariel realize that Shane's idea of a relationship was not the same as hers? What were the signs earlier on that Ariel had tried not to notice?
-What happened in Madeline's past that made it hard for her to accept a relationship with Tad?
-What did you think about the ending- did it surprise you?
For 1.20 I'm supposed to discuss If I Stay with the person that rated it 5 stars. Do I just message her? Should I ask for her here?
Kellee, I just commented on my person's review of the book, since it didn't look like she was participating in the challenge.
AngelaSunshine wrote: "Kellee, I just commented on my person's review of the book, since it didn't look like she was participating in the challenge."Good idea- thanks Angela :)
Yeah, all you can really do is put your thoughts on there. We can't force someone to discuss, but if your person wants to, then go for it. :)
I commented on her review, thus completing that task completely :)
Mod
Is Finny and Gene's (narrator) friendship a healthy one? Why or why not?
Why did Leper enlist first?
In the dust jacket, this book is considered the tragic coming of age story. Who is the most tragic character?
Gene is full of rage. He takes this out on Finny early, Leper later. Yet, after the final act, he claims his rage is gone. Why/ How has this happened?
Great questions, Jennifer! I LOVE this book!
Playlist for 4.25 on The Grave by James Heneghan1. Live- Alone
2. She & Him- Black Hole
3. Gorillaz- Don't Get Lost in Heaven
4. Hanson- Crazy Beautiful
5. Beatles- A Little Help from your Friends
6. Nine Inch Nails- Big Man with a Gun
7. Al Green- Ain't No Sunshine When Your Gone
8. Eric Carmen- Hungry Eyes
9. Rock Kills Kid- Run Like Hell
10. Ok Go- Hello my Treacherous Friends
11. Jet- Move On
12. John Williams- Finding Satsu
13. Nine Inch Nails- Dead Souls
14. Hanson- When You're Gone
15. Adele- First Love
16. Jill Scott- Family Reunion
I chose the songs based on the plot and feelings portrayed in the novel.
Misty, for the second part of 4.25 can I do some research on the potato famine so that I can learn more about the historical fiction aspect of the novel?
Fantastic diversity in your song list, Kellee, it's got me intrigued about the book. As for the research, I am all for research (I am a nerd, I ♥ a good research project. Seriously.) Is the research leading to something, or is the research the sidetask? Are you going to tell us what you learned or do some sort of comparison?
Thanks Misty :) I really hope I caught the emotions and story of the novel with the playlist. Research papers are my favorite too!!!! I can share what I learn. I don't want to give away too much because it is part of the plot, but I can do a write up :) Would that be sufficient?
Thanks. We can be nerds together :) My bachelor's degree is in literature and it is pretty much a degree in research papers. Thank goodness I love them and was good at them! :)
AngelaSunshine wrote: "I'm hoping to... but I'm just starting our trade show season at work, so it's busy busy for me. You'd think with the kids out of school things would get easier! lol... oh well."Well good luck :)
Trade show season? Where do you work?
(Moved it to the discussion folder so to keep discussions separate per Misty's request :D)
For task 4.25 Misty allowed me to do a research paper where I researched the true mass grave which James Heneghan's novel The Grave is based around. Through my research I have found a mystery for the ages: Old Swan’s Mass Grave
In James Heneghan’s novel The Grave,Tom Mullen goes to school across from a construction site where something quite odd has been discovered. It is a secret from the public, but Tom feels like he needs to go exploring. When he does, he finds the most horrifying thing imaginable: a mass grave. The mass grave that Tom discovers is based off of a true discovery in October, 1973 in Old Swan, England on the building site of St. Oswald’s Junior School. In an article by Tom Slemen, a Liverpool-based writer, he states:
“There were 3,561 bodies buried according to age group in a huge square, in coffins of an unknown type of wood that would not burn… They were found in October 1973 while clearing space for a Roman Catholic primary school. No maps or parish records show this graveyard…. The mystery deepens as the Home Office [‘the UK government department responsible for immigration control, security and order’:] soon cordoned off the site, and the bodies were taken to be cremated and buried at a cemetery in Anfield…. Archaeologists from London were furious, but the Home Office refused to comment until the 1990s and then admitted the entire files were lost.”
Even as James Heneghan researched for his novel, the Home Office refused to comment or help with the investigation for the novel.
One theory is that this mass grave is filled with deceased Irish victims of the potato famine, this time in Irish history is also known as the Irish Holocaust. Because Ireland was such a desolate place to live during this time, a mass number of Irish mobilized and immigrated into American and England. Many believe that the mass grave at Old Swan is filled with immigrants who were victim to the potato famine. This is the angle that Heneghan takes as well. The two characters who are buried in the mass grave both perished from the “disease” which we now know was probably potato blight or typhus. Liverpool, where Old Swan is a district:
“was the largest port for transport of Irish famine victims. to the colonies, sometimes picked up victims at Irish west coast ports and transported them to Liverpool, with some voyagers taking between two and four weeks, depending on weather and winds. Those passengers were landed in Liverpool in various stages of ill health, then transported to quarantine camps outside the Liverpool municipal boundary…. thousands of famine victims died, not just enroute, but in places like the quarantine station… In 1847, 50 ships arrived from Liverpool filled to the gun'nels with Irish famine victims who were discharged at Grosse Ile in the St. Lawrence River. That same year 5,424 people died of various diseases, but mainly typhus, at the quarantine station.”
However there are other theories behind the mass grave. According to an article by Peter Berresford Eills from the Irish Post, some believe that it is a case of mass murder:
“'Containment Squads' moved in on the diseased and starving immigrants, removed their children, then herded the Irish men and women to a containment camp in a field on the outskirts of Liverpool. They were then systematically shot and buried in unmarked coffins"
Either way, this is a mystery that may never be solved, because the bodies have been cremated. The man that gave the order to cremate the bodies did step forward to give an interview. In the interview he stated that the bodies did not have gun shots and he was cremating them for health and environmental reasons, so it can probably be assumed that the latter theory is untrue. Other possible theories are that the mass is filled with plague victims from a different era.
Through Henghan’s novel, you get to explore one theory of the mass grave and after researching, I believe that it is probably the most likely theory. The bodies were in coffins, so they were not a complete disposal, and the idea of quarantine stations fits with needing a mass grave for all the victims. Read The Grave to follow Tom Mullen in his discovery of what the mass grave means to him.
Sources:
http://www.yoliverpool.com/forum/show...
After words in The Grave by James Heneghan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_office
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Fa...
*Sorry- some of the spacing is weird... and probably isn't my best work, but the research was thoroughly interesting!
Kellee -- That is completely fascinating stuff, and something I knew relatively little about. I actually want to read about it now. Great job!Heather (and others): I LOVE that you guys are doing playlists. AND that they aren't just songs you like, but songs you think will fit (meaning you are discovering new ones). Fantastic!
Kellee wrote: "AngelaSunshine wrote: "I'm hoping to... but I'm just starting our trade show season at work, so it's busy busy for me. You'd think with the kids out of school things would get easier! lol... oh we..."My fiancé owns a gymnastic mat manufacturing company and I work for him. I do the bookkeeping at the office mainly, but we all wear lots of hats so we set up booths at the regional gymnastic shows around the country. I'm in your region right now, Kellee, Atlanta, Georgia. Basically I'm spending three 10 hour days in an 8'x8' booth trying to sell our stuff!!
Jennifer W wrote: "4.20 A Separate PeaceIs Finny and Gene's (narrator) friendship a healthy one? Why or why not?
Why did Leper enlist first?
In the dust jacket, this book is considered the tragic coming of age story. Who is the most tragic character?
Gene is full of rage. He takes this out on Finny early, Leper later. Yet, after the final act, he claims his rage is gone. Why/ How has this happened?"
****May be minor spoilers in answers***
1. The friendship is not healthy from either side of the coin. Gene feels like it is always a competition with Finny and he must do something to beat him. I think from Finny’s side it was unhealthy at first because he saw Gene as a tag along and someone who he could get to do anything. Later on, Gene became Finny’s puppet fulfilling things Finny couldn’t.
2. I believe Leper enlisted first because he was naïve. He saw the war as a way to expand on his skiing and I don’t think he realized the extent of the war. Actually, I don’t think any of the boys at Devon had any idea about what was really happening. I think they all felt that ignorance was bliss.
3. The most tragic character? This one is tough. The character that had the most tragedies: Finny, of course, but I really think the most tragic character is Gene. Gene had so much going for him, but he let his demons push him in the wrong direction. He didn’t find himself until it was too late.
4. I believe Gene realized the stupidity and idiocy behind his rage. I, personally, never understood his rage and thought it was immature. Maybe he just finally figured it out…
What were your answers Jennifer?
Has anyone else read the book? Have any insight?
AngelaSunshine wrote: "My fiancé owns a gymnastic mat manufacturing company and I work for him. I do the bookkeeping at the office mainly, but we all wear lots of hats so we set up booths at the regional gymnastic shows around the country. I'm in your region right now, Kellee, Atlanta, Georgia. Basically I'm spending three 10 hour days in an 8'x8' booth trying to sell our stuff!!..."Ah- so you are down here in the lovely humidity of the south east, hm?
I hope you have a successful weekend!!
Great job! They all sound so interesting, and I LOVE that you took the time to make it fit and think them out.
Now that we are nearing the end, and some of us (ahem *Kellee*) are finished, I thought I'd ask what you guys thought of this challenge and reading outside of the box. What was your favorite book? Were there any that you didn't expect to like that you did, or vice versa? Did you discover any new genres/topics/authors?Basically, did this serve any purpose at all?
:P
Mod
No, it's not a healthy relationship. They both were looking for what they could get out of the other person without really wanting to invest any of themselves into the relationship. I didn't really even understand why they were friends at all. I found it interesting that when Finny was gone for a while, Gene turned into a "normal" guy, but when he returned, Gene reverted back to his angry self.
Why did Leper enlist first?
I think he was sick of being unnoticed and left out of things. I think he thought he could find himself better in the army than he could at the school. But I agree with Kellee, they all were pretty oblivious about the war.
In the dust jacket, this book is considered the tragic coming of age story. Who is the most tragic character?
I thought Leper was, but then, he was the one I most identified with, so that may be part of it.
****** Major Spoilers******
Gene is full of rage. He takes this out on Finny early, Leper later. Yet, after the final act, he claims his rage is gone. Why/ How has this happened?"
For whatever reason (jealousy or feeling inadequate, most likely), Finny is the source of Gene's rage. Like I noted above, when Finny was recovering from his broken leg, Gene turned into a normal guy. I think so long as Finny was around, Gene was going to be an angry man. I think Finny had to die, or Gene was going to be angry forever. I guess at that point, Gene no longer felt he had to measure up to anyone and could be himself.
Mod
Misty, I, personally, loved this challenge. It really helped me expand my reading boundaries and make me think about what genres I am neglecting (not only in reading, but in my classroom library).
My favorite book from the challenge is really hard to answer, because I loved a lot of the books for different reasons. Some were just 5 star books, some taught me about a time in history I didn't know about, some taught me about a culture I didn't know about, some expanded my knowledge, some introduced me to a new series or author. Overall just about every book fit into a space in my heart.
So- YES! The challenge worked, at least for me. :)
I liked the challenge, too. It wasn't as hard as it looked originally to find books to fit the tasks. I've read a couple of books that I may not otherwise have ever gotten around to (Howl's Moving Castle!)There are a couple of more books on my list for the challenge that I haven't gotten to yet, but am really wanting to read for the different culture task. I have to strike while the iron's hot, so to speak! I've still got 10 days :)
My review of Oh. My. Gods. for task 4.5:This book was light and fluffy, and reminded me a lot of Percy Jackson. Except that instead of an adventure starring real life demigods, it's a romance starring real life demigods. But a lot of the same plot twists are there, the same cliques that result from which god the students are connected to, and the same anxiety of the main character not belonging to any of the cliques. There wasn't as much mythological name dropping here though, I only learned the name of a little known god of healing--Asklepios. A cute romance but I'm not inclined to seek out the sequel.
Misty, did you determine your big winnahs for this challenge yet?
Yep, see post 224 in the Report Points thread.
Hey, alright!! I must've missed that post. Woohoo! ;-)
I was surprised when I didn't get a message from you. I just figured it was because you were busy with the new challenge, and you knew I had your address.
Wild Things: YA Grown-Up
Books mentioned in this topic
Oh. My. Gods. (other topics)The Neverending Story (other topics)
A Separate Peace (other topics)
The Grave (other topics)
The Grave (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
James Heneghan (other topics)Chris Crutcher (other topics)
Suzanne Collins (other topics)
Siobhan Dowd (other topics)
Zlata Filipović (other topics)
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