Genre 6 - THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Giaman, Neil. 2008. THE GRAVEYARD BOOK. New York: HarperCollins Publishers. ISBN 9780060530938

2. PLOT SUMMARY
On a dark night, a man, Jack, enters a house and kills a family only to discover the baby (and primary target) is gone. The curious child had wandered through the open door and across the street to the local graveyard. It is here that Nobody Owens is taken in, named, and cared for by a ghostly community. For the remainder of his childhood, Nobody—or Bod, as he is called—experiences the Freedom of the Graveyard where his new parents (the Owenses) and mysterious guardian (Silas) care for him. Through a series of episodic events Bod experiences life inside the safety of the graveyard gates and the dangers of the outside worlds (both human and ghoul). As the man, Jack, returns to finish his initial task, Bod comes into his own and eventually sets out for life in the world of the living.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
A high fantasy novel, THE GRAVEYARD BOOK, intrigues readers as it gradually reveals Nobody Owens, Bod’s, story. Through a mixture of life and death, present and history, this world and others, the consistently contrasting stories and themes keep readers engaged in the book’s tale. Many readers, especially tweens and teens, can relate to many of the human emotions and desires of both Bod and Scarlett (i.e. wanting to go to school, wanting to experience freedom, wanting a phone, feeling friendship, trust, etc.), while older (even adult) readers may be able to empathize with the guarding nature of the graveyard’s inhabitants.

An inventively interesting and unique cast of characters make up the graveyard, and in each character is a bit of a history lesson and look at a different time and society. Even non-human characters (like the ghouls) present a bit of education through their chosen titles—i.e. the 33rd president and the Emperor of China. As each new graveyard character is introduced, Gaiman adds his own unique touch by sharing with readers the individual gravestone inscriptions. This aspect combined with the occasional black and white illustration by Dave McKean gives readers a brief visual insight into the world that Gaiman is trying to create. The author does an equally excellent job of crafting accents and dialects through his word choice and dialogue.

The timeless themes of good and evil and growing up are present throughout the book; and, while they are not presented in the traditional manner, they are still quite relevant and applicable to readers of all ages and interests. Gaiman does a stupendous job of creating a warmth and home within the darker setting of an ancient graveyard.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Review in SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Gaiman has created a rich, surprising, and sometimes disturbing tale of dreams, ghouls, murderers, trickery, and family.”

Review in BOOKLIST: “This is an utterly captivating tale that is cleverly told through an entertaining cast of ghostly characters. There is plenty of darkness, but the novel’s ultimate message is strong and life affirming. Although marketed to the younger YA set, this is a rich story with broad appeal and is highly recommended for teens of all ages.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Because such vivid descriptions are given about creatures and worlds that cannot be seen or visualized, have students create illustrations of specific characters or places (i.e. Ghulheim) as they picture them. Then have students share their illustrations with others to see how different individuals may have imagined the same thing.
*Have students predict what will happen to Bod out in the world of the living—briefly finish writing his story.
*What would Nobody Owens’ headstone say at the end of his life? Have students consider this, and then create their own unique headstones for Bod.

Genre 6 - RAPUNZEL'S REVENGE by Shannon and Dean Hale

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hale, Shannon & Dean. 2008. RAPUNZEL’S REVENGE. New York: Bloomsbury. ISBN 15999070X

2. PLOT SUMMARY
Based on the classic story of Rapunzel, Shannon and Deal Hale bring Rapunzel to the Wild West in a graphic novel that depicts a quite capable young heroine with a bit of a temper, but an pure and loyal heart. After saving herself (a new twist) from her prison high up in a tree, Rapunzel ditches the egotistical prince and, instead, forms a friendship with Jack (from Jack and the Beanstalk). Through a series of favors for favors, Rapunzel and Jack make their way across some treacherous terrain with the ultimate goal of freeing Rapunzel’s true mother and teaching the evil witch (pretending to be her mother) a lesson.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In this new take on an old tale, the magic is still present. An evil witch with amazing growth power, tree prisons, magical beans, and lassoing braids all combine to create an adventure that is difficult to put down. In true graphic novel form, RAPUNZEL’S REVENGE is a nonlinear illustration of a determined heroine and her loyal friend and sidekick. Mixing the classic storyline with adaptations and new elements, the Hales craft a fresh new story that leaves the reader wondering what will happen next.

Characters that most readers are familiar with, take on new roles and new attitudes with hints of sarcasm and modern language. Trickery, jokes and fun, and friendship are all themes throughout the story which culminate to present the ultimate theme of good versus evil. This book appeals to both boys and girls with the female protagonist and an equally spunky male sidekick. The characters’ actions and motivations are understandable and most readers can empathize with the feelings that drive them.

Mixing the fantastical castle with the outside Wild West gives the book a bit of a more modern feel—this is accentuated with Rapunzel’s eventual denim and boots “get-up.” With each frame of the graphic novel, readers are sucked into the fictitious world and adventure that Rapunzel and Jack are a part of. This is a truly delightful and enjoyable tale, and one that is extremely difficult to put down.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Starred review from SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “While the witch's castle is straight out of a fairy tale, the nearby mining camps and rugged surrounding countryside are a throwback to the Wild West and make sense in the world that the authors and illustrator have crafted. The dialogue is witty, the story is an enticing departure from the original, and the illustrations are magically fun and expressive.”

From BOOKLIST: “This graphic novel retelling of the fairy-tale classic, set in a swashbuckling Wild West, puts action first and features some serious girl power in its spunky and strong heroine… Hale’s art matches the story well, yielding expressive characters and lending a wonderful sense of place to the fantasy landscape. Rich with humor and excitement, this is an alternate version of a classic that will become a fast favorite of young readers.”

5. CONNECTIONS
* Have students/readers try their own hand at adapting a well-known fairy tale into a more modern graphic representation.
*Compare and contrast RAPUNZEL’s REVENGE to that of the traditional fairy tale Rapunzel.
*Read in correlation with other Shannon Hale books and/or other versions of Rapunzel.

Genre 6 - THE FIRST PART LAST by Angela Johnson

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Johnson, Angela. 2003. THE FIRST PART LAST. New York: Simon Pulse. ISBN 0689849230

2. PLOT SUMMARY
THE FIRST PART LAST tells the dramatic story of Bobby, a sixteen year old boy growing up in New York City. With great friends and a beautiful girlfriend, Bobby does his best to live a normal teenage life, and he is quite successful until his girlfriend, Nia, gets pregnant. Forced to grow up all too quickly and raise a baby as a single father, Bobby quickly learns that life isn’t what it used to be and that his choices no longer affect himself alone. This brutally honest portrayal of life and difficult decisions warns readers of the seriousness of making “grown-up” decisions and the responsibility that follows.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The hallmark characteristic of contemporary realistic fiction—believability—shines through every page of THE FIRST PART LAST. The honesty of sixteen year old, Bobby’s, life and his personal feelings are at times hard to swallow, yet always relatable and easy to empathize with. Author, Angela Johnson, creates in Bobby, a well-developed character with a history, a present, and a future that play to the modern day teen. The decisions, actions, and consequences that Bobby must deal with are somewhat controversial issues in society, but that does not make them any less present in the lives of today’s teens.

Alternating between “then” and “now,” each chapter describes the moments leading up to Bobby’s new role as a father and the struggles that he experiences with that role. Gradually, readers learn the story of how the situation came to be—the choices Bobby and Nia made, the family adjustments, the heartbreaking outcome of the delivery, and dealing with the loss of a loved one while gaining a daughter. Johnson implements a unique style in the organization of the chapters, and it serves to propel the momentum of the novel forward.

While the topic for consideration is one that is highly controversial, Johnson in no way advocates for premarital intercourse or teenage parenthood. Instead, she presents a truth, an issue that is present in today’s society and is relevant to today’s teens. Depicting the unimaginable love a parent (even a sixteen year old) feels for their child in parallel with the selfishness of simultaneously being a child, Johnson fashions a warning to readers that emphasizes the seriousness of social decisions and the potential outcomes associated with them.

4. REVIEW EXCERPTS
From SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “Brief, poetic, and absolutely riveting, this gem of a novel tells the story of a young father struggling to raise an infant.”

Starred review in BOOKLIST: “… from the first page, readers feel the physical reality of Bobby's new world: what it's like to hold Feather on his stomach, smell her skin, touch her clenched fists, feel her shiver, and kiss the top of her curly head. Johnson makes poetry with the simplest words in short, spare sentences that teens will read again and again.”

5. CONNECTIONS
*Could be used in correlation with human development courses, health courses, and seminars regarding safe sex and abstinence. (This would, of course, depend on parental and institutional policies.)
*Discuss the various roles of families and how the nuclear family has adapted and changed throughout generations.
*Create a discussion panel or group of guest speakers/single parents to talk about the hardships of single parenting and having children at such a young age. It is important to give a realistic impression to teens about the circumstances surround the issue—do not glamorize.