Adolescent Literature

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Comment by Brandon Jones on August 3, 2009 at 1:10pm

13 Reasons Why was the most checkout out book in my classroom libray last year, and I have over 800 books.

Comment by Theresa on July 29, 2009 at 11:08pm

I just had that one in my hand (13 reasons) and put it back. I will get it soon as it sounds interesting. thanks!
I was in 1/2 price books and bought " A Mind at a Time". So far interesting facts on brain development in kids.
Anyone else a Ranger's fan? Book 6 comes out next Tuesday.

Comment by Pam Goble on July 29, 2009 at 10:17am

I did buy this book last weekend and will get to it on my vacation in 2 weeks. Thanks, Carolyn, for posting this. It is a wonderful forum to keep current on YA Lit.

Comment by Carolyn Parker on July 29, 2009 at 9:51am

I recently read the novel Thirteen Reasons Why. The novel has two protagonists, a young woman who has committed suicide and the young man who is listening to her suicide note. The story is told from both points of view, as we listen along to the tapes along with the male protagonist and as we follow his experiences while listening to the revelations on the tapes. I thought the novel was heart breaking and powerful, but also dangerous. The female protagonist addresses 13 people in her suicide note, explaining how each of them contributed on her path to suicide. The things that happened to this girl are very realistic events that happen to countless young people. The novel has the power to draw attention to painful actions that are often dismissed as "not a big deal" and to make young people think about the possible consequences of their actions. HOWEVER, the danger of this novel is that it also sets up an unhealthy paradigm that could have horrible consequences. The very premise of the book is that the behaviors of other students, sometimes cruel and sometimes negligible, led to this girl's suicide. It sets the stage for students to blame themselves if someone commits suicide. This would wreak havoc on the psyches of so many, and it would be incorrect. While what we do can have an incredible impact on those around us, suicide is the choice of the person who commits it, not of anyone else. If a teacher wanted to use this in a high school classroom (juniors/seniors), I would recommend that he or she discuss it with the students in great depth and make sure they understand the truths and the lies in the novel.

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