The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

Bibliography
Gaiman, Neil. 2008. The graveyard book. New York: HarperCollins Pub. ISBN  9780060530945

Plot Summary 

This is the story of a boy named Bod, short for Nobody Owens, who wandered into a graveyard after his family was killed when he was two years old.  He was then adopted by a ghost couple and grew up among the many different characters of a graveyard including a vampire and werewolf.  Bod grows up learning the rules of the graveyard and develops a lack of fear that gets him into many sticky situations and eventually he meets the man who killed his family again.  Bod uses his skills he learned from his caretakers to defeat his enemy and decides to venture out on his own into the real world.  

Critical Analysis

Bod is a very likable and relatable character especially because he humanizes the interesting graveyard setting that readers are transported into.  The setting itself is vividly described by Neil Gaiman which adds to the book's eery and uneasy feeling.  Fog, darkness, thick iron gates, and similar are often used to describe the setting and it gives the reader a sense of dread to make the setting the perfect feel.  

The plot involves different adventures and twists that Bod comes to face including almost going straight through the gates of hell.  Neil Gaiman's style of simple and straight to the point language give this read a fun and dark twist that readers will enjoy. 

Review Excerpts

• Newbery Award Winner
• Kirkus Reviews  “Wistful, witty, wise—and creepy. This needs to be read by anyone who is or has ever been a child.”

Connections

**Check out Neil Gaiman's other works like The Sandman graphic novel set.  ISBN 978-1401238636

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Bibliography:
Yang, Gene Luen, and Lark Pien. 2006. American born Chinese. New York: First Second. ISBN 978-0312384487

Plot Summary: 

American Born Chinese is a graphic novel that weaves together three different, yet inter-related, stories.  The first story is about a monkey king and his struggles to conquer the world.  The second is about a child of immigrants, named Jin Wang, who finds it hard to fit in with his is American classmates.  The third story is about Danny whose Chinese cousin, Chin-Kee, comes to visit him every year.  Chin-Kee is a stereotypical Chinese teenager and this embarrasses Danny.  In the end all three stories come together and each boy learns how to be happy exactly as they are. 

Critical Analysis

All of the main characters in this book were memorable and strong.  The teen boys go through all the emotions that teens today can relate to such as the need to fit in, embarrassment from family members, love, and more.  The supporting characters are very funny and Chin-Kee will have readers laughing out loud. 

The different plots of all three stories were very heartwarming and funny.  While there was no tragic death or loss, the story was still engaging because we wanted these boys to find peace with their cultures and family.  The setting of the story was also relatable because it took place in American high schools.  We might not all be Chinese, but many of us have attended high school.  

Self -acceptance is a strong theme in this book and is applicable to anyone.  No matter what our backgrounds are, we all go through phases where we wish we were someone else.  This book touches on that nerve in all readers as they go through or remember their own quest for self acceptance.  

Culture is very strong in this book.  This book busts through stereotypes while making fun of them.  Chin-Kee is every single stereotype of a Chinese person that anyone could ever think of and it is clear that Gene Yang is doing this to put the stereotypes out in the open.  

Review Excerpts:

• The Miami Herald-  “. . . brilliantly written and designed, sophisticated and wise.”
• Publishers Weekly- “Yang accomplishes the remarkable feat of practicing what he preaches with this book: accept who you are and you'll already have reached out to others.”

Connections:

**Have students do a writing exercise in which they remember a time when they felt different than everyone else and how they feel about it now looking back.  

**Listen to Gene Yang talk about his own struggle with his cultural heritage.  http://youtu.be/FYCZqt5WSOM

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Bibliography:
Green, John. 2012. The Fault in Our Stars. New York: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated. ISBN 978-0525478812

Plot Summary:

This book is the story of sixteen year old Hazel Lancaster who has terminal cancer.  At a support group for teens living with cancer, Hazel meets Augustus Waters who is in the recovery stage of cancer.  The two quickly fall in love, go on an adventure in Amsterdam through Make a Wish, and return to find out that Augustus' cancer has returned.  Hazel stays by Augustus' side through the last few weeks of his life and in the the end, decides she doesn't regret loving him at all and it helps her come to terms with the fact that her own life would be ending as well. 

Critical Analysis:

There are many unique and lovable characters in this book.  Hazel and Augustus are both very witty and funny.  The supporting characters in this book are also great.  Augustus' best friend, Isaac, makes his loss of eye sight seem funny even though it's so sad and the heartache he feels from his first love are touching.  Peter van Houten, the tragic and cold hearted author, is also an interesting supporting character because of his villainous behavior but the reader will find themselves rooting for him anyways.  

The plot is very strong in this book.  The idea of teens who have cancer falling in love is very plausible so it is easy to imagine this happening but there was unexpected twist.  In the beginning, Hazel was the one we expect to die while Augustus seems so healthy.  It was surprising when Augustus was the one who died.  

The setting of the book is good because it takes place in a country we recognize, America, but also goes to a place many of us have always wanted to visit, Amsterdam.  John Green describes Amsterdam how we would all imagine it.  He even included a scene in the famous Anne Frank attic. 

Death and love are obviously strong themes in the book and one cannot turn a page without being reminded of either one.  This book has both male and female protagonists and readers will find themselves falling in love with them both.  

Review Excerpts:

• New York Times: "a blend of melancholy, sweet, philosophical and funny"
• NPR-  "[Green's] voice is so compulsively readable that it defies categorization,"

Connections:

**Read the first chapter along with John Green by following this youtube link: http://youtu.be/F_vFvbfn9Fs

**Take a virtual tour of the Anne Frank attic at this website: http://www.annefrank.org/en/Subsites/Home/