Watch the brief Animoto video on thought provoking summer reads.
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How would you feel if all what worked for and cared about was unfairly taken away? Ruth Jefferson has been employed as a neonatal nurse at New Haven hospital for 20 years. One day, a white supremacist couple Turk and Brittany Bauer refuse to have Ruth care for their newborn son Davis. However, Ruth is forced to watch Davis when she has to take over a shift for a nurse who has to handle another procedure. During that time, Davis stops breathing. If Ruth recitates the child, she is diobeying her bosses orders. If she does nothing, the baby may not survive. Ruth hesistates and overcompensates on the compressions when help arrives. In the end, Davis dies and Ruth is charged with murder.
The trial affects numerous parties. Turk uses his nefarious connections to build support for fight for justice for his son. He must also deal with his and Brittany's depression over the loss of their son. Ruth must figure out ways to support herself and son Edison without a nurse's license and limited job prosepcts. Edison, who had been sheltered by livng in a suburban upper Caucasian middle class commuinity, must confront the ugliness of racism for the first time. Finally, Kennedy, an ambitious defense attorney who has waited her due for a huge trial, is assigned Ruth's case. Ruth and Kennedy must confront prejudices and stereotypes to build a trust for an acquittal. Image from www.goodreads.com/book/photo/28587957-small-great-things
This book, currently adapted for film will truly engage audiences with this thought provoking question. How much would you risk to truly live? Madeline (Maddy) Winter has lived her life as "a bubble baby", a young woman who must remain inside the house. The few people she directly meets-her mother, Carla, and Mr. Waterman must be decontimaniated. Maddy receives an online education. Not surprisingly, Maddy longs for adventure & chance to see the real world. She wants everyday teenaged experiences- high school, prom, first kiss, etc. When Olly moves next door, Maddy makes a decision which really profoundly change her existence.
Diane Acherman chronicles the heroism of Jan & Antonina Zabinski's heroism of saving Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto by hiding them in their zoo. Acherman especially parallels Antonina's strong communicative abilities with zoo animals to her interpersonal skills of calming the Jewish charges while protecting them from their Nazi oppressors. The movie trailer (I plan on seeing this film soon) highlights the Antonina's inner strength during this historical period.
Another year of Holocaust Remembrance Day on April 28 is fast approaching. Pay attention to numerous perspectives and voices of those who endured and survived. Read through as many of these intimately crafted literary works from the following Padlet. Powerful Holocaust Literature There are numerous others I haven't even had the chance to read. A brief overview will also be included in the upcoming April 2017 Multimedia Newsletter.
In this futuristic world, Scythes glean (aka for kill) people for population control. As a result, they are revered and feared in the community. People who aspire towards Scythdom shouldn't be selected while those who despise it should be considered. Faraday Scythe recognizes key Scythe qualities of empathy and strong moral conviction in two local teens Citra and Rowan. Citra and Rowan are coerced into becoming Faraday's apprentices after he gives their families the most precious gift-one year immunity from gleaning and life long security for the family of the winner of the annual Scythe apprenticeship. The tension becomes quickly apparent. Citra and Rowan must compete against each other for the important prize, and depend on each other to navigate through the challenges of this perilous challenge.
Image from www.goodreads.com/book/photo/28954189-scythe Tim Tebow recounts strengthening his Christian faith during his professional struggles and interactions with others through his foundation. He offers practical advice on handling life difficulties and challenges.
Image from www.goodreads.com/book/photo/30233910-shaken How difficult would it be to stand up to oppression, especially with deadly consequences? Would you be able to go against deeply ingrained beliefs? Patricia McCormick weaves a historical narrative a young minister Dietrich Bonhoeffer spoke out against the Nazi regime, but willingly participated in a plot to kill Hitler despite his Christian beliefs. Bonhoeffer lived a comfortable life as brother less brave, intelligent, or attractive than his other sibling in early 20th century Berlin. However, the horrors of WWI and the devastating impact of Treaty Versaille that led to the rise of Hitler dramatically changed this trajectory. Bonhoeffer grew to become an ordained minister who cared deeply about the suffering of others. As a result, Bonhoeffer ended up on the Gestapo hit list by refusing to follow Nazi edicts. When the overwhelming majority of clergymen across the globe refused to support him, Bonhoeffer went against the traditional tenets of the Lutheran faith in joining a group who planned on assassinating Hitler.
Bonhoeffer argued God would show forgiveness towards those who exercised necessary means to remove evil. Image located at https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/28594377-the-plot-to-kill-hitler
When is it difficult to take sides? Tom, a man weary and scarred from war, meets and marries a sweet girl named Isabel. Isabel is willing to leave her city life to be with her husband in a far off coastal Australian region. Their wedded bliss turns into despair after 3 miscarriages. Their circumstances appear to change for the better when deceased father with a living baby is washed up on shore. Isabel views the baby as a gift from God and decides to raise Lucy as her own. However, Tom wrestles with this decision, knowing a grieving mother may well be in the mist. Yet, his love for Isabel is stronger.
In another part of the country, Hannah mourns the loss of her husband and child. Since their remains have never been found, she doesn't receive the closure she needs to move on with her life. In a twist of fate, Tom & Isabel's paths cross with Hannah. The bitter ramifications and family divisions of the couple's decision become painfully clear when the truth is eventually revealed. The trailer speaks for itself. Verdi depicts teen parenthood from a father's perspective in her tear jerking tale. Ryden, a boy who had everything going his way, becomes a single parent after his girlfriend Meg dies from cancer. He must grieve the loss of the girl he loved while juggling fatherhood, school, work, and the pursuit of a lifelong dream. A new co-worker Joni gives Ryden hope through this difficult period. In his emotional state, he hides his past and daughter Hope from Joni for the brief blissful moments. As Ryden reads and uncovers Meg's journals prior to her deaths, he uncovers unbearable truths. Ryden's life and relationships will unravel as circumstances become too difficult to bear. Will he overcome the new normal?
Image located at www.goodreads.com/book/photo/20933641-what-you-left-behind In this National Book Award winning historical fiction account, Whitehead tells a harrowing tale of a female slave's escape through the underground railroad. Eighteen year Cora survives the daily horrors of slavery at the Randall's Georgia Plantation with memories of her grandmother Ajarry, a woman of respect & resilience and mother Mabel, the only one who successfully ran away. Caesar, a newly captured freedman, inspires her towards her mother's path. Cora and Caesar will learn the road towards freedom run along two distinctly dangerous paths. First, aggressive slave catchers like Ridgeway, embittered over his sole failure of capturing Mabel, remain resolved in capturing runaways at all costs. On their journey, Cora and Caesar will discover the comforts of more civilized communities along the way prove just as perilous.
Image located at www.goodreads.com/book/photo/30555488-the-underground-railroad In her account, Jazz details her experiences as a girl inside a boy's body from infancy through her teen years. Even though the time each family member accepts Jazz's transformation differ, they continually support her endeavors. The Jennings family received quick acclaim as one of the first families to shed light on the lives of transgender children. Jazz, along with her parents and siblings, confronted all that came along with increased public exposure. Despite the fame, Jazz and her family remain steadfast in maintaining normal lives.
Image located at www.goodreads.com/book/photo/28587986-being-jazz In this exciting conclusion to Prisoner of blood & smoke, star crossed lovers Gretchen and Daniel face the ultimate test. After fleeing the Nazi regime and living a life of comfort in England Daniel returns home to pay his respects to his brother Aaron. Unfortunately, the Nazis learn of his whereabouts and accuse him of murder. Determined to clear his name, Daniel chooses to remain in Germany. Gretchen decides risking loosing her new found family, university admission, and freedom is worth helping Daniel.
Daniel and Gretchen must figure out who to trust since respectable figures are being arrested and killed by the new regime. Their fate depends on quickly obtaining the information to clear Daniel and expose the nefarious intentions without being revealed by their enemies, including those who knew them intimately. Image from www.goodreads.com/book/photo/22838220-conspiracy-of-blood-and-smoke Khalid, the Caliph (boy king) is plagued with a curse where he must murder 100 brides to break it. Shahrzad decides to marry Khalid to avenge her best friend Shiva's murder under his hands. Unlike the other brides, Khalid is attracted to Shahrzad, and is especially intrigued by her storytelling abilities. As a result, he shocks his kingdom by not strangling her with silk on their wedding night or anytime afterward. Shahrzad attempts to use this to her advantage-uncover Khalid's weaknesses in order to kill him. However, as Shahzad spends more time with her husband, she experiences conflicting emotions. Could she seriously be falling in love with a monster? Khalid is also tormented with crushing secrets. Will he reveal them to his new bride or keep them hidden?
In the meantime, Tariq, an important emir, also plots his revenge for the loss of his cousin Shiva and Shahrzad, the woman he loves. He enlists the help of Jahandar, Shahrzad's father, his friends, and nomads to overthrow the boy king. The emotional twists and turns of this royal love triangle keep readers on the edge of their seats. Khalid and Shahrzad change and evolve through their feelings for one another. The dramatic conclusion sets up surprising start to the sequel Rose and the dagger. Image from www.goodreads.com/book/photo/18798983-the-wrath-the-dawn
You may also access the website at padlet.com/ageltch/e8nx56l2duj2
Under her father's orders, Quinn McKee serves the community as a closer. A closer impersonates the person who died to allow the family closure from the loss. Even though Quinn is burnt out from a previous assignment, she is coerced into being a closer for Carolina Barnes's family. As "Carolina", Quinn not only faces the challenge of helping "her parents find closure, she must confront her "hostile sister Angie" and "grieving boyfriend Isaac". When Quinn experiences true love from her parents and Isaac as "Carolina", she begins losing her own identity. Quinn's complications increase with abrupt interferences and withdrawals from her case handler Marie, partner Isaac, and off & on again boyfriend Deacon. Will Quinn be able to fulfill her contractual duties and remain intact? As this assignment concludes, Quinn uncovers truths that will change the nature of her entire existence.
Laia lived peacefully as a Scholar in the Tribesman community before the Empire raided her home and seized her brother Darin for treason. At the elite Empire military academy, Elias seriously contemplates escaping from the torturous responsibility awaiting him as a possible future emperor.
Laia and Elias worlds' collide when she joins the resistance in hopes of freeing Darin. As a slave for the Commandant, Elias' mother, Laia experiences cruelty beyond her worst nightmares. By staying instead of fleeing, Elias endures the indignities and violence of the Emperor Trials. During their encounters at the Commandant's residence, Elias and Laia feel an enormous attraction for each other which puts them and the people they care about in considerable danger. Jacob and Ruth Gruener collaborate with Alan Gratz to tell their horrific Holocaust experiences through this powerful historical fiction piece. As a nine year old boy in 1939 Krakow Poland, Yanek takes his childhood for granted. However, that soon is taken away from him when the Nazis take over his country. Yanek must hide from deportation, celebrate his Bar Mitzvah in secret, and eventually survive 10 concentration camps, with all his family members long gone. This must fast paced spell bounding account constitutes as a must read on the horrors of the Holocaust.
Image located at https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/15756277-prisoner-b-3087 Security v. Liberty? At what cost should personal liberties be restricted for security? After a terrorist attack in San Francisco, the Dept. of Homeland security increases surveillance and other measures to protect the city. Yet,
high school student Marcus and his friends' lives are turned upside down when they are profiled as possible terrorists for their internet activity. Tensions rise when Marcus and his cohorts must decide whether to speak out or remain silent-if they haven't already... Image located at https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/954674.Little_Brother In this twisted adaptation of the Wizard of Oz, nothing is what it seems. Wicked is good-- Good is wicked. Amy Gunn , a Kansas high school from the wrong side of the tracks, pummels into a darkened Oz after a fierce tornado. As part of the outer world, she gives hope to the oppressed and poses a threat to the new order under Dorothy. The only ones who offer Amy assistance are three witches Mombi, Glamora, and Gert & a nymph named Nox from the wicked order. In exchange, Amy must kill a pampered, selfish, spoiled, and wicked Dorothy who has sapped Oz of almost all its magic and splendor. Glenda, the former Good Witch & Glamora's evil twin, the monkey brain sapping Scarecrow, the metallic army hunter Tinwoodman, and ferocious vicious Lion stand in Amy's way.
Image located at https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/18053060-dorothy-must-die A high school English class assignment sparks a catalyst for recovery. Laurel writes letters about her Freshmen year to entertainers who died tragically before their time. These correspondences help Laurel comes to terms with her sister May's abrupt death & events leading up to it. The parallels between lives of the lost musicians, writers, and actors to Laurel & her new friends are strikingly similar. However, Laurel can choose a different outcome unlike those before her with an inner resolve.
Image located at https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/18140047-love-letters-to-the-dead Many have been taught to believe success is a measure of hard work and talent. However, Malcolm Gladwell reminds us these are only two attributing factors. In his research, Gladwell concludes timing, family/community support, and cultural values contribute greatly on who gets to the top of the social ladder. Outliners dispels the myth of individualism as the determining factor for success.
Image located at https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/3228917-outliers During his final days, Enzo recollects on his years as the loyal & trusting dog to his race car driver owner Denny, his wife Eve, and daughter Zoe. Enzo's human insights of their joys & heartbreaks truly move the soul.
Image from https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/3153910-the-art-of-racing-in-the-rain Susan Campbell Bartoletti writes a fast paced gripping historical tale on a autobiographical account Helmuth lives his childhood in Hamburg during Hitler's rise to power. On the surface, the young boy goes along with the Nazi fervor against Jews and other political opponents. Yet, Helmuth recognizes cruelty and insanity behind it. As World War II progresses and his brothers are on the war front, Helmuth more openly questions the Hitler regime. He, along with his 2 friends, begin passing brochures about the German atrocities based on BBC reports and personal encounters not fully grasping the danger. In the end, Helmuth reflects as he waits for the executioner in a German prison. Helmuth's experience reminds readers of the small number of Germans who stood up against Hitler despite the cost.
Image located at https://www.goodreads.com/book/photo/1967633.The_Boy_Who_Dared |
AuthorI am Ms. April Geltch, CJUSD Librarian & advisor of the Yellowjacket Literate Book Club. YA Book Sites 50 Young Adult Book Blogs 100 Awesome Social Sites for Bookworms Ms. Geltch's 2009-12 Books of the Year: The Early Years Ms. Geltch's 2013 Books of the Year Ms. Geltch's 2014 Top Ten Books of the Year Ms. Geltch's 2015 Books of the Year Ms. Geltch's 2016 Books of the Year Ms. Geltch's Favorite Books 2017 Ms. Geltch's Reading Possibilities 2018 Ms. Geltch's YA Literature Recreational Reading Guide Nearby Libraries
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