Shakespeare Saved My Life - Laura Bates

Bates, Laura. Shakespeare Saved My Life: Ten Years in Solitary with the Bard. Naperville, Illinois: Sourcebooks, 2013.

Surely not a new title, but one I have been interested in reading.  I am grateful to the committee who chose this title as part of a local reading competition, providing me with the perfect reason to purchase and read this memoir. I love a good memoir.  I am fascinated by the genre. I love reading and teaching Shakespeare.  My passion for exposing students to quality literature, just to expose them to quality literature aside, this title offers a variety of ways that Shakespeare speaks to men and women of today.

 

I find myself fascinated by Dr. Bates’ work. I sometimes fancy myself as awfully brave, offering up Shakespeare to reluctant high schoolers.  But her work in a maximum security prison in her home state of Indiana puts me to shame.  Further, the results she gets both in writing and orally, stunning.  Certainly I will share the videos and transcripts of some of this work that is available with my students who are seldom convinced of the bard’s accessibility. I am actively trying to locate the workbooks that she wrote in conjunction with Larry Newton, one of her first and most successful Shakespeare students.

 

Dr. Bates does a lovely job of intertwining her own life, learnings, and inspirations with that of the prisoners with whom she works, creating a bridge that many readers might refuse to believe exists between those in and outside of prison.  Larry Newton’s insistence on the idea that we all are imprisoned, some just more physically irrevocably than others is certainly one for my students to consider.  I see them create and maintain boundaries all of the time.  What a challenging way for them (&me!) to look at life.  The idea that we are not all that difference from the maximum security prisoner is also one worth consideration. At some level this notion is explored in The Other Wes Moore also in my library.

Certainly, I will be using this in my AP Literature course, and have already mentioned it to our other teachers who teach Shakespeare. I am also seeing potential for some book talking.  Because of the core, we have intentionally increased the focus of these talks on nonfiction.  I can certainly pair this with the Wes Moore titles.  I also have many modern renditions of Shakespeare’s work that would work nicely for a whole Shakespeare theme. I am eager to get started in all of these directions.

I enjoyed this Ted talk as I was working through the memoir - Shakespeare in Shackles: The Transformative Power of Literature: Laura Bates at TEDxUCLA. And...and an NPR interview to look at.


Because You'll Never Meet Me - Leah Thomas

Thomas, Leah. Because You'll Never Meet Me. New York: Bloomsbury, 2015.

So, sometimes I read a book and just wish I were the first time author who had written it. My reading of this title evoked just such a reaction. I find this a difficult book to summarize.  The story of Ollie and Moritz told in epistolary form explores the world through two interesting lenses.  Ollie is allergic to electricity and lives in relative isolation in the woods with his mother.  Aside from occasional visits from his doctor and the special friendship with the girl who visits the woods, Ollie has little human contact.  His letters to Moritz become a lifeline of sorts.  Moritz attends public school and lives with his father, but has no eyes and navigates the world with his unique talent of echolocation. Because he is so difference, he too is largely isolated.  These boys challenge each other, via their letters, to step outside of their comfort zones.  The results are challenging, emotional, and difficult. This novel tackles a variety of tough issues;  how we perceive and judge others, how we find love in a difficult world, what it means to be a parent, and what it means to be a child, what lengths should scientists go in the name of improving (?) the human condition.  I loved this book.  And I envy first time novelist Leah Thomas who drew these characters so expertly for me.  These boys were simultaneously exasperating and endearing. Thomas created a plot that is unique and engaging - both realistic and science fiction like. She sent me right to the internet to see if allergies to electricity exist.  She gradually builds suspense in the back story that I didn’t even realize I was looking for.

I have to get this in the hands of my kids.  I want them to always be considering new ways of seeing people and being compassionate to those who are different.  I want them to stand up to the bullies in their world.  I want them to think outside of the box in the way this novel demands. BUT...I don’t have a clear idea of how to sell it.  I’ve talked about it with some of my avid readers, and they are treating me as if I’m a bit crazy when I try to describe this title.  I will get there, though. I will hook someone, and then circulation will likely take off as they talk among themselves.  I look forward eagerly to hearing what my young readers have to say and if they will share my fascination with this title! Kudos Leah Thomas.

 


Wynn in Doubt - Emily Hemmer

Hemmer, Emily. Wynn In Doubt. Seattle, Washington: Lake Union Publishing, 2015.

I continue to explore the new adult genre in this title. I was drawn immediately in with the author's prologue about her great grandmother. That the main character is named Wynn, my grandmother's name surely didn't hurt. Wynn's story is likely a common one. At 28 when just isn't where she had hoped to be in life. Her career has gone nowhere. She isn't in a relationship, still pining over a boy who kissed her just once in high school. But, she makes a discovery. She learns of her gram's mom Lola who left her daughter behind to find a new life. Her own mother hates even the thought of this woman who hurt her mother. Her sisters side with her mom, but Wynn just finds that she needs to know. She feels a connection, off she goes with Oliver (the kiss...a bit of a coincidence that he is back in town and looking for her...) to find out what she can about Lola and her life. This quest is the beginning of her coming of age.

Wynn's journey resonates me she gives hope to the young person who struggles. Hope to be bold. Hope to try new things. Hope that it is never too late to redefine who you are. I can overlook the romance that doesn't completely work for me - my age perhaps? I seem consistently jarred by the relationships of the genre. But I like Oliver and I like how things work out...no spoilers. I like to read about women who insist on charting their own course, the historical story, the research, the diary all add to the narrative  I love the lesson of learning from the ones who precede us. The lesson that urges forgiveness. Much to be admired in this work.

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Dorothy Must Die - Danielle Paige

Paige, Danielle. Dorothy Must Die. New York: Harper, 2014.

"You have to get this book!" I heard this from more than one student at my school, I was a little embarrassed that is didn't really know the book, Dorothy Must Die. But intrigued by their excitement I thought I'd better get moving. This title was one of the last of my summer reads.

Paige flips the familiar world of Oz and the familiar perception of Dorothy 180 degrees. When Amy Gumm from Kansas finds herself in Oz after a harrowing spin in a tornado, things aren't at all as she's imagined them. Theodore she meets are afraid. The munchkins are victimized and controlled by a not so good Glinda the kingdom is ruled by a power hungry, exceptionally evil Dorothy. The lion feeds offered fear of other creatures and the scarecrow uses captives for horrifying experiments in his secret lab. And what is. Amy Fumm from Kansas to do? Dorothy has made it quite clear that she is to be the only Kansas girl to save Oz. Amy doesn't have that much faith in herself. Life in Kansas had been rough. Her mom was alternately drugged or out at a bar; she is bullied mercilessly by the popular, wealthy girls; her self confidence is at an all time low. When she is bonded to the wicked order who wishes to overthrow Dorothy, she is not at all sure of herself, their cause, or the training they provide. What follows is an epic adventure of twists and turns. Through it all Amy  Gumm becomes a newer, stronger version of herself.

The book's juxtaposition of Baum's fantastical Characters and Paige's purely evil ones is both jarring and intriguing. We journey there gradually along with Amy and Paige's world building gradually becomes more and more real. We are drawn into the battle and the suspense.

The language is a bit jarring, I get the idea of character building, but I'm not entirely sure the use of language renders Amy any more believable than she already is through the storytelling itself.  The book is also very violent, in the way of dystopias, and not graphic, but could be a bit much for younger readers who might be drawn to the title, based on their familiarity with the original story. But I will surely enjoy getting this into the hands of the mature readers who will appreciate this modern retelling of a beloved classic.


Saint Anything - Sarah Dessen

Dessen, Sarah. Saint Anything. New York: Penguin, 2015.

Sarah Dessen does not disappoint in her latest work. Impatiently I waited for my summer book order to arrive to get my hands on it, zealously avoiding spoilers online. Then, boom, I had the weekend to get it read before my first book talk of the year. I feature in it some of my favorite American young adult authors, naturally Sarah  Dessen gets a slide in the power point. I am super excited to talk about Saint Anything.

Dessen consistently gives her readers strong young women, who grow and become empowered. Sydney is no exception. She has felt lost in the shadow of her brother Peyton.  His criminal history has almost left her feeling invisible. But she embraces change - a new school, new friends. These new friends - Layla, Mac, Eric, and Irv are fully developed characters who have their own struggles, but find room in their circle for Sydney. Pizza, music, an abandoned carousel provide a setting where Sydney will ultimately flourish. Certainly she experiences some missteps. She is fully developed - real, flawed, and vulnerable. My girls will relate to her. Romance develops, but what I like about Dessen is that the romance is rarely the driving force in the story. Lovely to be sure, but Sydney is independent, and I like that message so much. She finds as much strength in newly realized relationships with her parents, brother, and girlfriends, both old and new, as she does in her romantic one.

A couple of sound bites that I love... "This wasn't news to me how your entire life could come down to one word, and not of your choosing." I can see how often my students can allow themselves to be defined so narrowly, and I love that Sydney learns to fight against this. And another... "There's no shame in trying to make stuff work, is how I see it. It's better than just accepting the broken." Indeed. I look forward to talking about Sydney with my girls. Some good conversations are about to happen, and I just love this part of my job.  Thanks, Sarah Dessen.