The Outsiders




Hinton, S.E. 1967. The Outsiders . Viking Books. New York, NY. ISBN 978-0142407332




PLOT SUMMARY

The Outsiders explores the life of a group of teenagers from low socio economic backgrounds called the “greasers”. These boys are in a constant battle with the “socs”,a group of upper middle class boys who have an easy life with money. The Curtis brothers, part of the “greasers”,lost their parents to an accident and rely on each other to make a decent living. The eldest, Darry, takes the role of the father, while the middle teen, Sodapop, quits school since he is unable to manage getting high grades. The youngest, Ponyboy, does well in school and spends most of his time with Johnny, who is ignored and belittled by his parents. One evening, after an argument with Darry, Ponyboy runs out of home to meet up with his friend Johnny. Both teens are confronted by the “socs. Johnny accidentally injures and kills one of the socs which leads him and Ponyboy to escape from the authorities and run away. As the events unfold, they hide in an abandoned church that later catches on fire. The young boys do everything they can to save some children caught in the fire. The “greasers” learn a valuable lesson about friendship and survival.



CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The Outsiders is narrated through the eyes of young Ponyboy. Although he is only fourteen at the time, he has encountered such difficulties in life that have made him mature for his young age. Although he comes from a low socio economic status, he does well in school and values learning and reading which is uncommon for a group like his. This book emphasizes the value of friendship, loyalty and finding one's true identity.. It also depicts the differences between two groups of teenagers; it describes a division between classes.


REVIEW EXCERPTS

The Horn Book–"This remarkable novel gives a moving, credible view of the outsiders from the inside...we meet powerful characters in a book with a powerful message."

Awards:

A New York Herald Tribune Best Teenage Book

A Chicago Tribune Book World Spring Book Festival Honor Book

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults

Winner of the Massachusetts Children's Book Award


CONNECTIONS

This book reminds us about the importance of the value of friendship and the importance of an education.

Other related books:

That Was Then, This is Now by S.E. Hinton


The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger


Activity: Have students compare and contrast the differences and similarities between the “greasers” and the “socs”. Then list the positive and negative traits of each group.


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We Are Not Free









Chee, Traci. 2020. We Are Not Free. Clarion Books. New York, NY .ISBN 978-0358668107

PLOT SUMMARY

We Are Not Free is a compelling and emotional historical fiction novel that portrays the lives of fourteen Japanese American teenagers living in San Francisco after the Pearl Harbor attack. With their families, these teens describe their anguish and desperation of being forced out of their homes, leaving their prized possessions and family heirlooms to go live in the Topaz incarceration camp. Each chapter narrated from a different character’s point of view shares the feeling of not belonging to either the Japanese or the American culture. Through their voices feelings of anger, resentment, hope, and bravery are observed. The teens value their friendship and share a dream of being accepted and valued. However, they are seen as a threat and the discrimination against them is horrendous. They are asked to present their loyalty to the American Flag, while being mistreated by the Americans. Some of the teens are asked to fight in World War II with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and show their loyalty to their country, while the families who are unable to share their allegiance are relocated to Tule Lake Camp.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This story is told chronologically during a period between 1942 to 1945. Each character continues the story from their point of view. The style of writing varies from verse to letters. The narration captures the essence of the teenagers as they share their deepest feelings from loyalty to fear to anger. Symbolism is captured through different objects such as the origami creations left behind by Mr. Ito. These paper animals are distributed the depressing day they leave for the encampment which brightens up the day for the small Japanese Americans not knowing what awaited them. While Bette’s blonde wig symbolizes her desire to embrace American culture.


REVIEWS

Booklist (starred review) –"Chee is a master storyteller…. Here, she uses her own San Francisco–based Japanese American family's history to inform a blazing and timely indictment of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during WWII. Her passion and personal involvement combine with her storytelling talents to create a remarkable and deeply moving account of the incarceration…. [We Are Not Free] should become required curriculum reading on a shameful and relevant chapter in U.S. history."


Kirkus Reviews (starred review) –"A compelling and transformative story of a tragic period in American history....Each voice is powerful, evoking raw emotions of fear, anger, resentment, uncertainty, grief, pride, and love....An unforgettable must-read."

Awards:

National Book Award Finalist

Printz Honor Book

Walter Dean Myers Award

Asian/ Pacific American Award for Literature Honor Book

CONNECTIONS

This book reminds us about the many injustices that have happened in the span of America’s history. It can appeal to immigrants who have found discrimination in this country. It also can connect to those who find the positive even in difficult and dark moments.

Other related books:

We Are Not from Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez

They Called Us Enemies by George Takei


Activity: Draw a portrait of your favorite character depicting both the external and internal responses.

Create origami art by listening to tutorials.

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Ordinary Hazards: A Memoir



Grimes, Nikki .2019. Ordinary Hazards: A Memoir. Wordsong. New York, NY. ISBN‎ 978-1635925623


PLOT SUMMARY

Ordinary Hazards is a memoir that recounts the life of young Nikki Grimes. Living with a psychotic schizophrenic mother and an absent father, Nikki and her older sister Carol, learn to fend for themselves at an early age. With time, both sisters are sent to separate foster homes. Nikki is blessed to spend several year with the Buchanans who teach her the meaning of love and family. Yet, soon she is sent back to her mom who has recently remarried. Nikki learns to adapt to many moves, and to defend herself against gangs, a delirious mother, and an abusive stepfather. Through these frightening ordeals she learns to express her emotions and begins to write her feelings in her confidant notebook.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Ordinary Hazards takes you on an emotional roller coaster ride that celebrates the power of words. Learning about Nikki Grimes’s experiences from such a young age, allow the reader to discover that many children live a tumultuous childhood. Through a collection of powerful poems, Nikki Grimes delves into themes such as family, abuse, and finding a place in the world. The book is arranged in chronological order from 1950 to 1966. However, instead of allowing her childhood traumatic experiences to shape her life, she turns to writing to inspire her to persevere and become resilient.

REVIEWS

The Horn Book, starred review- "As poetically written as Woodson’s Brown Girl Dreaming with a story as hard-hitting as Sapphire’s Push....the striking free-verse poems powerfully convey how a passion for writing fueled her will to survive and embrace her own resilience.... (a) must-read for aspiring writers.

School Library Journal -Grimes offers young adult readers the special treat of literary ingenuity in her new memoir... that doesn’t demand a time line. This nontraditional memoir from a long-working and highly acclaimed author will speak deeply to young readers harboring their own interest in writing or otherwise squeezing art out of life’s spiky fruit.

School Library Connection, starred review- “Written in highly readable verse and delivers a relatable message characterized by pathos and resilience... This book is an homage to the fortifying effect of written expression. School counselors can use this text as bibliotherapy for students in similar situations (and it) can also act as mentor text in classroom lessons on memoir writing or when teaching confessional poetry."


Awards:

ALA Michael Printz Honor Book (YA)

ALA Robert F. Sibert Honor Book

Arnold Adoff Poetry Award 2020


CONNECTIONS

This novel will appeal to those who have suffered from family abuse


This novel will create class discussion about trying to find oneself after experiencing traumatic events.



Other related books:

Forever is Now by Mariama J. Lockington

Brown Girl Dreaming- by Jacqueline Woodson

Apple: Skin to the Core by Eric Gansworth


Activity:

Students can choose to write a journal entry depicting a significant event in their life that has shaped them.

Students make a collage of pictures that describes what they represent.