1.       Harris, R.  (2009). It’s perfectly normal.  Boston, MA:  Candlewick Press

This great non-fiction text lets kids know that people and bodies come in all shapes an sizes and that even though different they are all perfectly normal.  Texts that honestly answer questions about sex and sexuality are very difficult to come by.  This book provided easy to understand answers to questions that all kids have.  Information included is birth control, HIV and sexually transmitted illnesses.    It’s successful in it’s unbiased response to common everyday questions that kids have about these topics. 

I think this book was amazing.  I loved the illustrations and the straightforward responses.  The target audience is grade 6 – 8, but some more mature 5^th graders could probably use the text especially considering the fact that early onset puberty is becoming more common.  With a genre of general no –fiction, this text could easily be adapted to a health class or science class.    Candlewick press has a great resource for using this text both at home, in class by caregivers and other adults in a child’s life.

http://www.candlewick.com/book_files/0763626104.mis.1.pdf

Gino, A. (2015).  George.  NY: Scholastic.

George is a story about a transgendered boy who believes he is a girl.  George thinks this a secret he must keep.  When his teacher announces that the class play is going to be Charlotte’s Web, George really wants to play Charlotte, but his teacher tells him he can’t because he is a boy.  The story is one of keeping and expressing secrets.  When he finds a friend in Kelley, he/she is finally able to experiment which who he/she believes he really is.

My research recommends this ext for grades 3 – 8 I’m guessing because of the age of the characters. There are paragraphs, which approach concepts such as taking hormones and gender reassignment surgery that 10 year olds would not understand.  The content is entirely too mature for it’s younger target audience. Teaching in a small rural East Texas school district I am confident that this text would also encounter significant opposition. This text might be useable in more urban districts where LGBT issues are more common.  I personally was uncomfortable with the content, which hindered me somewhat from interacting with the text.  Try as I might I was unable to find a single site that had any recommendations for using this as any type of instructional text.  I think the target audience and characters are way off base on this one.

Garden, N. (1982).  Annie on my mind.  NY:  FSG

This story chronicles Liza’s love affair with Annie in a culture where homosexuality is not accepted.  After an incident of starting up an ear piercing “business” which results in the daughter of one of the schools biggest supporters, Sally and Liza are suspended. After Liza returns to school Annie writes a letter to Liza telling her that she is gay. While cat sitting for her teachers, they meet together for “private” time.  Sally and Ms Baxter show up together.  A search of the home reveals the teachers are gay Ms Baxter promptly accuses them of influencing minors.  During this process Liza reveals to her parents that she is also gay. Ultimately, both teachers are removed from their jobs, but they see it as a perfect chance to retire to their country home.  Encouraged by Ms Widmer and Ms Stevenson, things work out for Liza and Annie.

This text is appropriate for 9^th through 12^th grade.  With a lexile measure of 1000L the vocab. may have some unknown words, which would challenge the students.  It is a general-fiction novel, which addresses values, character and acceptance.  There might be some concerns in some areas regarding its focus on homosexuality.   Nanccy Garden has written several books addressing these issues such as “Sally’s Family” and “Holly’s Secret.” This text presents issues, which may be deemed inappropriate.  I suggest a thorough reading and a parent book talk before embarking on this text in the classroom.

Bell, C. (2014).  El Deafo.  BY: Abrams

This is a memoir, which tells about Cece Bell and chronicles her life after her hearing loss and her learning to use a “phonic ear.”  She talks about how it gives her the ability to hear pretty much everything even some of the things she shouldn’t and wishes she couldn’t.  The ability to hear things tends to isolate her from the other students and her classmates.  All she really wants is a true friend.  Eventually she learns to use this hearing aid to her benefit and becomes what she calls “El Deafo, Listener for All.”  This helps her find her place and find the friend she has always wanted.

This story would probably appeal to grades 4 – 9.  Written as a “graphic novel” is part of its wide appeal.  As a graphic novel, the vocabulary is simple and often abbreviated making it readable down to about 3^rd grade.  This text could easily be applied to elementary lessons on tolerance and overcoming difficulties.  It would be a perfect text to use in a classroom with a hearing impaired student.  This text could also applied to a social studies lesson on sub-cultures as deaf culture is significantly different from hearing culture.  It is a cute story that encourages perseverance.

Anderson, L. H.  (1999). Speak.  NY:  Penguin

Speak is a story about Melinda Sordino who attends a party and is raped by a popular senior boy while there.  She calls the police and has the party busted, but she doesn’t report the incident out of fear.  Her friends turn on her when they realize that she was the source of the phone call.  Struggling through the school year, she finds solace in the art room where she is inspired by her art teacher to “create.”  This opportunity to cope with her feelings gives her the chance to open up and “speak” about this terrible incident.  Using her artwork, Melinda regains her confidence and begins telling her story in pieces.  When Andy attempts to rape her again, Melinda shatters a mirror and holds one of the pieces to his neck threatening him.  The lacrosse team hears the screaming and comes to her rescue.  Once the truth is told Melinda is free from her own mind and finally accepted.

This book deals with the modern and still taboo issue of sexual assault.  Other books that deal with some of the same themes as Spear are, Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes, and My Heartbeat.  It is most appropriate for grades 9 – 12 based on the content.  The reading level is a 690L so the vocabulary is simple enough for the struggling reader.   It is a work of Realistic Fiction and deals with the issues of adapting to high school, bullying and sexual assault/abuse.  Obviously this text is going to appeal primarily to girls.  While the vocabulary is suitable for younger grades the language and violence in the text could be deemed inappropriate.

Alexie, S. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian.  NY:  Little Brown.

SUMMARY

Junior is a fourteen-year old boy living on the Spokane Indian Reservation in Washington. He was born with hydrocephalus (water in the brain), which has led to a number of health problems that have made him the victim of bullying from his tribe members.  Junior is frustrated by the lack of resources at the reservation school.  Mr. P. tells Junior the only way he can succeed is to get off the reservation. Junior takes Mr. P.'s advice and decides to transfer to Reardan, Junior decides to try out for the Reardan basketball team, and, makes it onto the varsity squad.  Reardan goes on to beat the reservation team causing Junior to struggle with mixed emotions.

In spite all of the trials he has faced during his freshman year at Reardan, Junior gets mostly As in his classes. While visiting the cemetery with his parents,  Junior thinks about all the people he has loved who died alcohol-related deaths, and all the Spokanes who will die in the future.

My Response:

This text is easily readable for 7^th to 10^th grade and could be used for a social studies lesson on tolerance and the societal issues of reservation life such as poverty and alcoholism.  Some concerns might be the descriptive use of violence, strong language and some adult content.

Woodson, J. (2014). Brown girl dreaming. New York, N.Y.: Nancy Paulsen Books.

SUMMARY

This memoir by Jacqueline Woodson, describes her childhood as an African American child in the N.E. and the South during the 1960’s. Her issue is what to do with her life and how to make that happen. She tells about her visits to the South to spend time with grandparents in a region that is still struggling with racial issues. Regardless of these issues, there are some who are more accepting. Later she moves to New York.  Once there, she makes friends with a Puerto Rican Girl (Maria) and decides she wants to become a writer. She and Maria begin to imitate black-panther activist Angela Davis even though they know nothing of her life and cause.   Ultimately Jacquie’s teacher, Ms. Vivo tells Jacquie that she is a writer and Jacquie makes plans to fulfill that dream.

STRENGTHS:

This text fits an age range of 12 -18 or so as the story line is simple, but the writing line it complex.  Its focus on moral concerns and dilemma can easily be used to teach this literary issue as well as provide instruction on figurative language.   The 1^st person point of view is one that makes the text easily relatable to the African American YA reader. This text could easily be paired with historical instruction of the civil rights movement and the issue of racial change during that time period.  It could be used as a mentor text for students to use to write their own poetic memoirs.