Into the Wild by John Krakauer

Bibliographic Information: Krakauer, Jon. Into the Wild. Anchor Books, 1997. ISBN 978-0385486804
Genre: Non-fiction, Adventure, Adult crossover books.
Reading Level: Grades 7-12
Curriculum ties: Christopher McCandless, Hitchiking-US, Adventure, Alaska,Wayfaring life, West-Biography, Made into a movie.
Awards:Garden State Teen Book Award, 1999 Winner Non-Fiction New Jersey
Note: Made into a movie in (2007). Author of Into Thin Air (1997).

Reader’s Annotation: After graduating from college, Christopher McCandless embarks on an adventure from Atlanta to Alaska that he has wanted to take for years.

Plot Summary: Christopher McCandless was a typical student athlete who just finished college and is ready to take on the world, unfortunately it is not the world that his parents had in mind. Christopher was never felt that he had to identify with the material things that were provided for him by his family and now was his chance to live life for himself. Christopher cleared out his savings account which totaled about $24,000 and gave it to charity. Abandoning all his possessions, he began his journey to Alaska where he would live off the land and become one with nature. Along the way, he develops a new persona; the real him,  adopts a new name; Alexander Supertramp, and befriends those who he most relates to; other vagabonds trying to find their way. When Christopher finally makes it to Alaska in the Spring, he is filled with a sense of peace and excitement but this is only the beginning of  what proves to be a challenging feat.

Critical Evaluation:  The author uses references to several classic novelists including Jack London, Leo Tolstoy and Henry David Thoreau as Christopher’s guides and references in his life which you can see by his actions and beliefs. Jack London’s book Call of the Wild was Christopher’s inspiration to become one with nature. This Naturalism philosophy is what he lived by in Alaska. Christopher also adopted a Tolstoyan renunciation of wealth and return to nature when he sold all possessions and went off the grid. The most constant influence would be that of Henry David Thoreau’s Transcendentalism, rebelling against what he saw as the current situation and trying to be different than that. A theme seen time and again,  he rebells against his father’s work, his affluent life at home and then proceeds to change his name, identity and ultimately rebells against nature. This is a great way to incorporate some classic literature into a modern story.

Booktalking Ideas:
Do you think that McCandless was properly prepared to go on this journey?
2) Was McCandless of sound mind to go on this adventure? Was he suicidal? Mentally ill?
3) Discuss the significance of the relationship McCandless has with his pen-pal Wayne.
4) What influence does Jack London have on McCandless’ adventure? Survival skills?
Challenge Issues/ Defense:
Challenge Issues: none

Challenge Defense Ideas: There are no apparent challenge issues associated with this book. In the case that a challenge comes up, there are some things that you can do to start. You could read the book and become familiar with the content. Refer to the library collection development policy, and get reviews from reputable sources and teens that have read the book.
Why was this book included?: A gripping non-fiction account full of adventure and wonder.
Author Information: Mountain climber and writer Jon Krakauer was born in Brookline, Massachusetts in 1954. He was raised in Corvallis, Oregon from two years of age.
In 1976, Krakauer received a degree in Environmental Studies from Hampshire College in Massachusetts. He worked as a carpenter and fisherman and wrote articles on mountain climbing throughout the latter half of the 1970s. By 1980, he wrote regularly for Outside magazine and also wrote for such publications as National Geographic, Smithsonian, and Rolling Stone.
Krakauer but may be best-known for his book, Into Thin Air: A Personal Account of the Mt. Everest Disaster. In this book, Krakauer recollected his guided climb of Mt. Everest that was known as the 1996 Everest Disaster. Krakauer is also recognized for his 1996 book: Into the Wild. It spent more than two years on the New York Times bestseller list and became a movie in 2007. He also wrote When Men Win Glory in 2010.
(Bowker Author Biography. Retrieved from: https://sddp.sirsi.net/uhtbin/cgisirsi/?ps=z8ycJMz2mR/CENTRAL/143470071/9#syn_anotes)

The Dark Game: true Spy Stories by Paul B. Janeczko

Bibliographic Information: Janeczko, Paul B. The Dark Game: True Spy Stories. Candlewick Press, 2010. ISBN 9780763629151
Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Non- fiction
Reading Level: Grades 6-10
Curriculum ties: History
Awards: None
Note: Award Winning Poet

Reader’s Annotation: A collection of real United States spy stories revealing top secret accounts from the last two centuries.

Plot Summary: The author takes us back in time to reveal the true stories about famous American spies and spies who changed important American historical events in both positive and negative ways. In six chapters with accompanying photos that add to the account, the author begins with “How George Washington Outspied the Brittish.” He then goes on to clear up misconceptions such as Benedict Arnold being a spy and not a traitor. Other chapters include the mysterious woman who was identified only by a coded number and never a name during the Revolutionary War; Mata Hari, who faced the firing squad charged with being a double agent and Aldrich Ames and Robert Hanssen, the two American double agents who were caught red handed in the last two decades. My favorite story was that of the Ch

Critical Evaluation:What I thought was great about this book was how the author included a well rounded view of those who have helped shape America to be what it is today. For instance, the story he included about the Choctaw code talkers. A group of about ten soldiers who in 1917 used their native Choctaw language to help relay messages to and from headquarters to the fields. Their language was so rare that the Germans, who had been tapping American lines, were not able to decipher anything allowing the Americans to be successful in the war. A second story highlighted was about how African Americans were delivering intelligence to federal troops during the Civil War. General Lee believed that they were the army’s primary source of information because they knew about the terrain as well as where extra ammunition, guns and other supplies could be found. The author also gave a nod to Harriet Tubman, a spy who’s intelligence about waterways was invaluable in 1862.

Booktalking Ideas:
What other secretes do you think the government could be hiding?
Discuss qualities of a good spy, do you have what it takes?
What, if any, lifestyle changes would you have to make being a spy?

Challenge Issues/ Defense:
Challenge Issues: Representing the U.S. in a negative light.
Challenge defense ideas:
• Citizens’ ability to criticize the government helps prevent the government from misusing its power.
This book is a non-fiction account of events

Why was this book included?: A non-fiction offering with historical value to which teen boys would gravitate.

Author Information: Paul B. Janeczko aspired to be the teacher he never had, when he decided to pursue a career as a high school language arts teacher. From his own days as a student, Paul was obsessed with poetry of all kinds, and as a teacher he wanted to spread his own love of poetry to young people. Today, Paul Janeczko is better known as a writer, poet and anthologist.
Born in New Jersey in 1945, he was educated at St. Francis College, Maine and John Carroll University, Ohio, after which he became a teacher, and began publishing his works and collections in the mid-1970s. After twenty-one years as a teacher, he retired to focus on writing.
Some of Paul’s award winning teen books include “A Poke in the I, A Kick in the Head, A Foot in the Mouth” (2005), “Seeing the Blue Between: Advice and Inspiration for Young Poets” (2006), “Worlds Afire” (2007) and “Top Secret: A Handbook of Codes, Ciphers, and Secret Writing (2004).”Paul Janezcko lives in Maine with his wife and daughter.

(Author information obtained from Scholastic website. Retrieved from: http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=1640)

Hot X: Algebra Exposed! by Danica McKellar

Bibliographic Information: McKellar, Danica. Hot X: Algebra Exposed! Hudson Street Press, 2010. ISBN 9781594630705
Genre: Non-fiction, Algebra, Math
Reading Level: Grades 6-12
Curriculum ties: Math, Algebra
Awards: None
Note: Author of Math Doesn’t Suck (2007) and Kiss My Math (2008).

Reader’s Annotation: Danica won’t let you fall behind in algebra with her newest book by making math fun and accessible by teens; especially girls.

Plot Summary: In her third tutorial took, Danica McKellar continues to spread her message that girls can do math. The first chapter Alge-blah” focuses on using fun terminology that girls use and translating it into math terms setting a good base for all the terms used in algebra. As the chapters continue, students learn to tackle word problems, graphs, exponents, polynomials and the dreaded quadratic equation all of which can be read independently as needed. With Danica’s cool and  friendly teaching style, she puts readers at ease and uses step by step guides on how to solve problems as well as tips for using shortcuts when possible. There are a few other sections included that students can utilize while taking a break from crunching numbers. These are often filled with inspirational accounts, silly stories and sometimes just girl talk.

Critical Evaluation: This book is a mix of Cosmopolitan magazine, (with it’s “are you bold or shy” quiz and “Boy crazy confessionals”, “Five minutes to a better mood”), and a text book/tutorial/study guide. The cover, reminiscent to a magazine cover encourages girls to pick up this book which is a great way to market to teens. Inside, the graphics and fonts used are also visually appealing to teen girls incorporating high heels for the “Step by Step” portions, take out boxes for the “Takeaway Tips” and a trendy girl singing to denote a “Quick Note.” The font used is more like handwriting which give the feeling that she is right there doing the problems along side you. The only criticism I have is that is pretty much solely geared towards teen girls. Most teens struggle with math and there should be more books out there like this one that will actually be utilized.

Booktalking Ideas:
Discuss the reservations, fears, intimidation factors associated with math?
Do you think the information that was mot related to math detracted or added to the book?

Challenge Issues/ Defense:
Challenge Issues: none

Challenge Defense Ideas: There are no apparent challenge issues associated with this book. In the case that a challenge comes up, there are some things that you can do to start. You could read the book and become familiar with the content. Refer to the library collection development policy, and get reviews from reputable sources and teens that have read the book.

Why was this book included?: A fun and effective book covering a difficult topic for most teenage girls to round out the non-fiction portion of the collection.

Author Information: Best known for her roles on The Wonder Years and The West Wing, Danica McKellar is also a New York Times bestselling author, internationally-recognized mathematician and advocate for math education. A summa cum laude graduate of UCLA with a degree in Mathematics, Danica has been honored in Britain’s esteemed Journal of Physics and the New York Times for her work in mathematics, most notably for her role as co-author of a ground-breaking mathematical physics theorem which bears her name (The Chayes-McKellar-Winn Theorem).

Blogging for Teens by John W. Gosney

Bibliographic Information: Gosney, John W. Blogging for Teens. Thompson Course Technology, 2004. ISBN 9781592004768.
Genre: Non-fiction, Blogging, Computers
Reading Level: Grades 7-12
Curriculum ties: Technology, computers

Awards: None
Note: Most of the information in this book can be found online but in my library, many teens do not have internet access at home but still want to keep up with technology.

Reader’s Annotation: Do you want to blog but don’t now how to get started? This book will show you how step by step.

Plot Summary: A purely informational guide for starting a blog from a teen point of view. With fun chapters like “Perks of being a Wallblogger” and “Beyond the Blog: Expanding your Voice,” teens learn step by step how to chose which type of blog is appropriate for them and how to start one from scratch. The book is laid out in three parts: Finding Your Voice, Building Your Blog, and Blogging Examples. Finding Your Voice (chapters 1-5) focuses on finding the proper blog that will express your thoughts and feelings the way you want them to be seen by the world. Also, this section helps you connect your blog to the things you already passionate about like music and books. Building Your Blog (chapters 6-10) is the technology portion of this book, step by step. It also has a section on how to incorporate your blog into your everyday life so that you are not tending to it every minute of every day. The last section gives examples of blogs that would appeal to teens.

Critical Evaluation: The drawbacks to this book is the lack of color photographs, possibly too much text. The issue of text is somewhat alleviated by the “Special Elements” insets throughout the book that touch on all elements of blogging. Some of these include tech tips and warnings / cautionary tales, all from a teen bloggers perspective. There is also a section at the end of each chapter “Blogger 70” that presents a fictional blog postings that incorporate all of the key elements discussed in that chapter to provide examples of how they can imaginatively be incorporated in a real world situation. When read together, the “Blogger 70” posts actually tell a short story of a teen starting a new school and a new blog. In the appendix, teens will find a helpful list of abbreviations often used in texting, Instant messaging and blogging. The examples are relevant and funny which breaks up all of the serious tech talk found in the rest of the book. This book will give teens a good sense of the blogging world that is available to them.

Booktalking Ideas:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of having a blog?
Would you feel that blogs are a good outlet for teens to voice their opinions?
What role do you feel that technology plays in the average Teen’s life? How many hours a day are they using technology?

Challenge Issues/ Defense:
Challenge Issues: Cyber predators, privacy issues
Challenge defense ideas:
• Throughout the book, the authors warn teens to research the reliability of the hosting site.
The issue of security is addressed by the authors advising teens to set their privacy settings to where only certain people that they have invited can see the information posted on the site.

Why was this book included?: A representative of computer technology books for teens.

Author Information: John W. Gosney is the faculty liaison for the Learning Technologies division of University Information Technology Services (UITS) at Indiana University, and an associate instructor in the Indiana University School of Liberal Arts, Indianapolis. Prior to these roles, he served as director of technology services for the Indiana University School of Dentistry.
John also has experience in the publishing and pharmaceutical industries as an application developer, training consultant, and technical writer. He writes on all facets of the IT arena, including market analysis and forecasting, as well as guidebooks for application developers.
(Author biography obtained from Indiana University. Retrieved from: http://www.indiana.edu/~uits/iconference2011/present.html).

Rock the SAT: trick your brain into learning new vocab while listening to slamming music! by David Mendelsohn

Bibliographic Information: Mendelsohn, David, Moshan, Michael, & Shapiro, Michael. Rock the SAT: trick your brain into learning new vocab while listening to slamming music! McGraw Hill, 2006. ISBN 0071469036.
Genre: Non-fiction, SAT guides, Vocabulary, College examinations.
Reading Level: Grades 9-12
Curriculum ties: Vocabulary, SAT preparation.
Awards: None
Note: Book and 1 Compact disc.

Reader’s Annotation: 13 songs with more than 260 vocabulary words, what could be better than studying for the SAT’s with your iPod?

Plot Summary: Rock music meets boring vocabulary words in Rock the SAT, a collection of 13 songs, each with about 20 vocabulary words that are commonly found on the SAT test. The book and Compact disc work together ensure the complete pronunciation and definition of each word. The book serves as a workbook to supplement the vocabulary words and songs heard on the Compact disc by first listing the song in its entirety then on subsequent pages each word explored in detail. When broken down, the words are defined, used in a sentence, part of speech, synonyms, antonyms and additional notes. Each song has its own chapter where on the first pages, it lays out the lyrics then in the following pages, there are supplemental activities “Lyric Freaks”; a fill in the blank lyric exercise, “Plug in!”; a matching exercise and “Amp it up!” a fill in the blank that best completes the sentence. With an answer key at the end, students are prepared to utilize this study guide to it’s fullest.

Critical Evaluation: I was surprised how the authors were able to produce songs that teens would listen to while incorporating SAT vocabulary. The songs have musical integrity and the lyrics are not awkward or forced to fit in. When I read the book and listened to the accompanying Compact disc, I did notice that I had the song stuck in my head. It did take a few times of listening to the song to remember the majority of the lyrics (and vocabulary words) but I did learn a few new words in the process. The workbook section was helpful because it was a good reinforcement of what had already been covered. I did end up loading the Compact Disc to my iTunes and put it on my iPod. I still have the songs in there and listen to them for purely entertainment purposes. Teens will be receptive to this approach because their friends won’t know that they are actually studying.

Booktalking Ideas:
Is this an effective way to study for the SAT vocabulary test?
2) Discuss the effects of music on retaining information. 
3) Do you study with music? Does it help or hinder the quality of your work?
4) Would you use this method of studying for the SATs? Why or why not.
Challenge Issues/ Defense:
Challenge Issues: none

Challenge Defense Ideas: There are no apparent challenge issues associated with this book. In the case that a challenge comes up, there are some things that you can do to start. You could read the book and become familiar with the content. Refer to the library collection development policy, and get reviews from reputable sources and teens that have read the book.

Why was this book included?: I wanted to add a non-fiction book that was fun and functional.

Author Information: David Mendelsohn: Creator/Producer/Songwriter of Rock the SAT, also lead vocalist, guitarist and co- producer on the Rock the SAT album.  BA in Music and English, Tufts University, 1991.  David was a member, guitarist and principal songwriter for Wind-up recording artist Trickside, a pop-rock band that  received massive airplay and attention in the United States as well as overseas.  David has performed and toured around the country with Trickside, as well as performed in various bands around New York.  In addition, David has written music for other bands and performers, including the band 5NY, which gained serious attention overseas.  David has trained at the BMI Musical Theater workshop in Manhattan for 3 years and has over 15 years of song-writing experience.

Michael Moshan:Creator/Producer/Songwriter for Rock the SAT, Michael earned his BA in Political Science from Washington University in 1991, and his J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 1995.   Michael has over 15 years of song writing experience.  During the last 10 years, Michael has played keyboards and written music with a number of New York-based bands, collaborating with some of the most exciting musicians in Manhattan.

Dr. Michael Shapiro: Chief Editor/Writer for Rock the SAT, Michael has been writing and teaching English and American literature, creative writing, composition and journalism at the collegiate and secondary school levels for ten years.  He earned a BS in Natural Resources from Cornell University in 1990, an MA in English from the University of California, Davis in 1992, and a Ph.D. in English and American Literature from Brandeis University in 1998.  Michael is currently Professor of English and Chair of the Department of English at TransPacific Hawaii College in Honolulu.  He is an active writer; his poetry, fiction and non-fiction, some of which have received recent awards, have been published in numerous journals and magazines. For many years, Michael has helped students succeed on the SAT verbal both as private tutor and classroom instructor.

(Author biographies obtained from book’s website. Retrieved from: http://www.rockthesat.com/about.html)

Soul surfer : a true story of faith, family, and fighting to get back on the board by Bethany Hamilton

Bibliographic Information: Hamilton, Bethany, Burke, Sheryl & Bundschuh, Rick. Soul surfer : a true story of faith, family, and fighting to get back on the board. Pocket Books ; MTV Books, 2004. ISBN 0743499220.
Genre: Non-fiction, Biography, Sports, Made into a movie
Reading Level: Grades 6-10
Curriculum ties: Surfing, Hawaii, Shark attacks, Amputees, Personal narratives, Made into a movie.
Awards:South Carolina Junior Book Award, 2007-2008
Note: Made into a movie in (2011).

Reader’s Annotation: Surfing has been Bethany’s passion her whole life but after a shark attack  resulting in the amputation of her arm, she doesn’t know if she will ever surf again.

Plot Summary: Surfing is the favorite pastime of the Hamilton’s, they even homeschool their 14 year old daughter Bethany so that she is able to ride the best waves of the day. Bethany has been surfing all her life and has dreams of making a career out of surfing on a professional level. All her dreams are dashed after her and her best friend Alana were out in the water where Bethany as attacked by a 15 foot shark. Nearly losing consciousness at the beach,  she was rushed to the local hospital where doctors had to amputate her left arm but she survived. Bethany never believed that she would surf again but with the help and encouragement of friends and family and an unwavering determination, Bethany was back in the water after only a month. With some modifications to her surfboard, adaptation to her new situation and hard training, Bethany resurrected her pursuit of becoming a professional surfer.

Critical Evaluation: One thing that may detract young readers are the many references throughout this book to the strength that Bethany found in her Christian faith. Raised in a strong Christian household Bethany believes that with out the help of spiritual guidance, she would not have overcome this tragedy. She was helped by many people and her dream became possible when the Lord gave her strength to get back up on the board. Because of this relationship, Bethany really doesn’t seem to be depressed or hateful of the situation that was brought upon her. This part of the story seems somewhat unrealistic for such a young person that has suffered such a life changing event. Instead, she takes the “God has a bigger plan for us” mentality and comes to terms with the attack fairly quickly. Some younger readers may not agree with her religious philosophy but they will be charmed by her perseverance.

Booktalking Ideas:
Discuss what factors contributed to Bethany’s ability to overcoming her physical challenge.
2) Discuss how did Bethany’s view of life change after the attack? 
3) How did her family support Bethany during her stages of recovery?
4) Do you know any other athletes that are amputees or physically challenged and have also overcome a difficult situation?

Challenge Issues/ Defense:
Challenge Issues: Religious references

Challenge defense ideas:
• Bethany uses a religious figure to show how faith helped her in her recovery and acceptance to overcome her tragedy.

• Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.

Why was this book included?: This is an emotional story about the courage to overcome any obstacle which will be enjoyed by any teen reader.

Author Information:Bethany Hamilton has become a source of inspiration to millions through her story of faith, determination, and hope. Born into a family of surfers on February 8, 1990, on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, Bethany began surfing at a young age. At the age of eight, Bethany entered her first surf competition, the Rell Sun Menehune event on Oahu, where she won both the short and long board divisions. This sparked a love for surf competition within her spirit.

Out of the water, Bethany has grown from a young teenage girl with aspirations of becoming a professional surfer into a twenty-year old professional surfer with aspirations of becoming a beacon of inspiration and hope. Through the platform of professional sport, Bethany has been able to touch a large number of people with her message, charitable efforts, and overall spirit. Bethany just launched her own foundation, Friends of Bethany, which supports shark attack survivors, traumatic amputees, and serves to inspire others through her life story, and is involved in numerous other charitable efforts.

(Author biography obtained from author website. Retrieved from: http://bethanyhamilton.com/about/bio/)