Twisted - Laurie Halse Anderson

I cannot believe how quickly I got through this book! It really was good! Like I mentioned in my twitter posts, I love how Laurie Halse Anderson gives such realistic commentary throughout the narration and really represents the thoughts in a way that is different and edgy because it's truthful. This book was written from a male perspective, which I haven't read by Anderson yet. Though I think the female perspective books might have been a little more outstanding to me, this one was also a really great read. So far her three books have left me shocked (Speak), an emotional wreck (Wintergirls), and finally satisfied (Twisted). The book had a solid, fix everything kind of ending, which is pretty formulaic with Anderson's books that I have experienced. The other thing I noticed the three books have in common is the obvious significant event that is constantly referred to, and is revealed not necessarily all at once, but rather in details here and there within the beginning of the book. I enjoy that small element of suspense when I first get into a book, I think it really helps me stay with the reading until the next big event comes around that I get hooked into.
I think overall, Tyler was a cool character and an honest character in Twisted. He was developed in a way that I felt was intriguing and easy to relate to, even as a female reader. He had persistent thoughts of suicide and lack of self-worth throughout the book, which I also found to be mostly solidly honest about all else. It definitely sends the message that things like that can creep up on people, gives you a reason to be slightly more aware around adolescents. I am not sure if that is a message I should necessarily take from a young adult fiction novel, but it seems it developed anyways.
I think this book is completely teachable. I was waiting for some huge inappropriate happening because of the list of books I have read, and the predictions I was making; but overall that just didn't happen. Some language is a little rated R, but it was nothing explicit and frequent. The issues are basic teen issues and the focus of the text is the male emotion and the way that the character gets through the problem in a healthy confrontation of his underlying issue and an overall happy ending. It didn't promote drinking, drugs, sex, or self-destructive behavior, which I get worried about. I always want those behaviors to have a consequence in the novels so that the students won't pick up on it being some sort of great idea (I'll admit I'm slightly paranoid) but this book did that, it gave the consequences and the emotions that came with them.
So, yes, I loved another Laurie Halse Anderson book, I guess I'll keep reading!

Identical - Ellen Hopkins

There was so much talk throughout the semester about Ellen Hopkins' books, and I finally jumped on the train! Reading Identity was an awesome way to be introduced to the author. I'm still in awe of all of the concepts and style in this book, it was really incredible!
So I have to discuss this and in order to I have to throw some spoilers, BIG SPOILERS! So, skip this paragraph if you don't want to know! I knew there was something suspicious about Raeanne & Kaeleigh and the accident. My personal guess at first was that someone they knew was killed, then it developed into the thought that one of the sisters was dead. Once I noticed that the girls were never in the same place at the same time & never interacting, only speaking of the other (Raeanne of Kaeleigh), I knew I must be right and starting developing this theory that the sisters were one person! The further I got the more I picked up on clues and believed my theory! I was totally right! In the end we find out that Raeanne has died in the accident & Kaeleigh has developed Dissociative Identity Disorder. This plays perfectly with the connections of characters, small & big, Madison, the father, the mother, the grandparents. SOOOO much information is loaded out at the end of the book, and it was so unreal. Like I said, I had the prediction so I was not shocked or in awe, but it made me think the book was even more intricately written and created, which amazed me.

PHEW! Enough spoilers. Read the book, it's unreal! And it only takes a couple days!
I could not bring myself to have this book in my classroom or recommend it to students without truly considering all of the different elements to it. A student in a similar situation to Kaeleigh may or may not benefit from the text. The ending is hopeful and full of contentment, but it's still an incredibly strong text full of sexual abuse of family members, drug use, excessive alcohol use, explicit sex, language, and themes. It's rated R, in a lot of ways. I loved the book, some of it made me uncomfortable, but in my age group and generation, I am not unaware of these ideas, themes, awful happenings. Like I said, a recommendation would be incredibly difficult, but on some level it might be worth reading. Either way, the writing was brilliant, it was beautiful in verse I feel. I'm not sure I would have liked the story so much if it wasn't written in verse, it gave it a lot more emotion and a lot more dimension. Definitely a worthy read with a soothing ending! It gave me some good perspective on something my students might be going through and it made me feel lucky that my life has truly been comparatively simple, it made me grateful for that!

Wintergirls - Laurie Halse Anderson

I cannot believe how moved I am by this book.
It caught me so off guard and now I am crying and blogging at the same time!
The details of the book are cruelly realistic and scary. The feelings of this girl are so perfectly portrayed to intertwine with the feelings of all of the people around her, especially her family. Her disease, her demons, her visions, her fears, her actions are all formed into an incredible story about survival. The writing style if perfect for the story - the small details of repetition and combining words are telling and meaningful. The hope in the end is beautiful. Wow. I just feel like I cannot say a lot about the book because I cannot articulate what I just read, how it made me feel, and what I took out of it. Laurie Halse Anderson did it again, completely floored me with a story, left me speechless and ready to reread.
Certain details were just heart wrenching - her sister finding her on the bathroom floor, a ghost in her face with details that you can feel go up YOUR spine when you read it. Uh, gives me the heebie jeebies!
I think the story especially spoke to me for certain reasons, and maybe that makes my reaction far more dramatic than most others, but I cannot help but feel emotional about it. I would recommend this book up and down to anyone. Most especially to girls my age or slightly older or younger that battle with any sort of personal, emotional, or private struggle. I would say to anyone, read it, cry, and feel what her and her family feel, because its real. It is real and it really happens.
This book could work in a classroom. I am not sure it would be my first choice because it may only speak to certain students, and I like when a text can apply to all areas. I would love to hear a male reaction to this book. I would be worried about intense discussions, or passing judgments in class and I would be concerned about getting the entire moral across to the students. The book articulates the issue very seriously and in a concerning fashion, which might ease any of those judgments, but I would still be nervous about it.
However, the text itself could hold up. It is strong and well written, more towards females, but I would be more than willing to try it. Her writing is incredible in my eyes, and worth sharing with students everywhere.