Speak

This book could easily be paired with Boy Meets Boy. Many thoughts went through my head while reading speak, like: Would Melinda be accepted in Paul's school? Would Melinda be able to speak out if she were in the environment that Paul grew up in?

As uncommon as Paul's high school was, Melinda's school seemed more realistic to me. I mean, going through high school, kids get ostracized if they wear the wrong clothes to school (which is referenced in the book when Melinda talks about what she is wearing to school on the first day and all of her thoughts on this). That stuff is realistic. You didn't hear about motorcycle cheerleaders or transvestite quarterback/homecoming queen, this stuff hits more at home for most of America's youth. I feel that this is how a gay individual would feel in a high school as well, not like Paul was in Boy Meets Boy. These two characters would be ostracized similarly for two totally different things.

I love how the book was written, it made you feel that you were suffering through this whole experience with her. The book was broken down in short spurts... maybe symbolizing her struggles to speak? She doesn't come out and say what is wrong with her, you eventually find out through the clues early on in the text....which also would parallel a rape victims inability to let others know of the problem.

I Maya Angelou symbolism is great too. Melinda is the caged bird, she even paints the prison, which is the tree, in art class. She is the one with the wings clipped reliving the nightmare which was that dreadful night of the party.

What?

I want to say that I am really excited about next weeks novel because this one made no sense to me. Going back to last week's discussion, I would like to talk about the credibility of this book. How many students reading this book are going to relate to this story? Chances are not many at all. To have a transvestite in a high school is one thing, for it to be the starting quarterback/captain is another. I like how the author tries to shatter the stereotype, but how many of these students reading the book, will take it seriously?

But maybe, the authors intent was to make everything, outside of Paul and Noah's relationship, seem unrealistic. If everyone and everything outside of this relationship seems silly and fake maybe people will realize how real this relationship could be. I don't know, I couldn't find a clear message to present. I apologize for this lack-luster blog but this is the best I can do.

To relate this book to something in the students life I decided to talk about the MTV show: The Real World. This was the first time I "saw" a homosexual. It seems that every show they have has a male or female who is attracted to the same sex. The show is outlandish and crazy but it is a way for teenagers to view how different people can be.

On a side note, I did try out for the Real World in 2006. That was a fun experience.

Forever

Wow judy! Never thought you had this sort of thing in you. Well being the only male in this class I am sure to have a completely different view on this book. How did I ever read this book? I am not sure.... I felt like one of those old ladies that love to read the smutty "adult" novels or the women who Tivo every soap opera, every day. I just felt dirty reading page to page.

With that being said, I do not think this novel should be read in any school district. I can picture the boys in high school having to read this book... The jokes that would arise and gestures that would be made. The book is completely from the Kath's standpoint. What young man would want to read a book about a girl and her sexual feelings? I am 6 years removed from highs school and I could only read one chapter at a time. It is uninteresting for a male to read this book. I am certain that high school students will not receive the right message from the book.

Which leads me to another point... What is the books message? What I got out of this book was that if you keep trying you will eventually reach your goal. I mean how many times is this guy going to try and get in this girls pants before he succeeds? My man Michael is a scumbag. Or maybe judy is just portraying him to be in the beginning. How much of the story talks about everyday conversations between the two? I mean each meeting starts with a brief conversation and ends with him getting shut down when he tries to make a move.

As for Kath, you are just a tease! So many times you lead the "scumbag" on, into thinking he has a shot to "score" and then you shut him down.

Anyhow, the reason why I am talking about the two characters in this way is to show what kind of message is being portrayed to the readers. I do not want my students reading about a girl that doesn't stick to her "guns." She is constantly giving into Michael and he keeps putting her into more and more uncomfortable situations. But in his favor, how is he supposed to know what she wanted when she continued to lead him on.

This story doesn't promote strength by an individual in a relationship setting. Neither one of them put their foot down and stated what their intentions were in the relationship. I mean the occasional, "I love you" doesn't count. THEY ARE TEENAGERS!!! I am sorry, any high school relationship I saw ended in "disaster," or so in their eyes. The only high school relationships that worked out were the ones that weren't as serious at that time.

I am sorry but this book is not good for a younger crowd. It is teaching the wrong message for kids that age. You have the slutty girl that sleeps around with everyone and eventually gets pregnant, the other girl that has sex with a homosexual to make sure that he is really gay, and then there is the protagonist in the story who cannot make up her mind and, in my opinion, relies on her friends advice to make up her mind.

If this book were to teach anything in a classroom setting it would be how NOT to live your life. It could teach the negative influence of peer pressure and how it is not cool to fit in (Sybil getting pregnant).

In closing, don't teach this book!!!! Boys won't read it and girls will get the wrong message. I am not sure I can pick up: Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, or, Fudge-a-Mania ever again!!

And to keep my text to self TV show comparison: While reading this book, I pictured Kath and the other characters as the cast of the OC/The Hills/Laguna Beach. I mean how many of the kids we teach are as well off as the characters in the book? Not many! That will be another difficulty in the attempt to have students relate to the story. I wish I could have gone up to Vermont to go skiing for the weekend at some awesome resort, but I can't and, most likely, neither will my students.

The Chocolate War

Working with this book has been a lot of fun. I will admit that I was late getting the book and I am only half way through it. I could relate to a lot of its writings, with the whole rebel kind of attitude. When I was growing up, even now, I tend to speak up and take charge for what I believe. As a teenager, we are still finding out what we are made of. This story should relate with a lot of readers in the middle school/high school setting.

I related parts of this story to a cartoon that used to air on Saturday mornings: "Recess." When it comes to the Vigils, they reminded me of a group of students that ruled the playground in the cartoon. They would have different servants to take care of different tasks (assignments) during recess. I used these visuals throughout my reading of this story. ----->Below are some pictures of the characters in the show. The second picture is the title of the movie that they made, it fits the "Disturbing the Universe" piece. Saving the World One Playground at a Time, suggests the overtaking of power from the teachers and putting it in the hand of the students. The students in The Vigils are trying to do the same thing.

As far as the assignments throughout this story, they remind me of another cartoon character, Bart Simpson. I appologize for using cartoon characters to convey my thoughts, but I couldn't help but think about these fictitious people while reading this story. In the cartoon The Simpsons, Bart is constantly getting into trouble by doing things to his principal, Seymour Skinner. I related The Vigils actions towards Brother Leon to how Bart treats Skinner.----> Below are pictures of Bart Simpson and Principal Skinner.

Once again I appologize for having to relate this book to cartoons but that is what immediately popped into my head. I plan on reading the remainder of this book in the next day or two and plan on adding to this blog when I am finished.

P.S. I hope this is what I was supposed to do

Websites used for this blog:

paceni.files.wordpress.com

grinningplanet.com

impawards.com

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