
Layla. Rosanna. Elise. Donna. Delilah. They all have something in common with Audrey: they are all women immortalized in song by a former lover.
RU LIFT provides critical commentary by Roosevelt University faculty, students, and alums about LIterature For Teenagers, more popularly known as young adult literature. In particular, the blog focuses on recently published books that have been nominated for and/or earned placement on honorary book lists sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association.
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GREAT GRAPHIC NOVELS: 2008 NOMINATIONS
The Wall: Growing Up Behind the Iron Curtain
Inside Out: Portrait of an Eating Disorder
The Saga Of The Bloody Benders
Malcolm X: A Graphic Biography
Nat Turner: Vol. 2, Revolution
BEST BOOKS FOR YOUNG ADULTS: 2008 NOMINATIONS
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier
Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl
QUICK PICKS FOR RELUCTANT YOUNG ADULT READERS: 2008 NOMINATIONS
99 Ways To Cut, Sew, and Deck Out Your Denim
Chasing Yesterday: Book 1, The Awakening
The Periodic Table: Elements With Style
What They Found: Love on 145th Street
TEENS TOP TEN: 2007 NOMINATIONS
What Happened To Cass McBride?
7 comments:
"...your own self-identity while the world is watching and simultaneously taking it upon itself to form one for you."
I like the way you ended this review. I was sold on the cover of the book alone. I can just imagine how embarrasing Audrey must have been. I want to read the book just to hear how her ex portrays her. Anyway, back to your quote, it seems that when the world is watching you, the concept of 'self' is thrown out the window. You become whatever they say you are. This can be a good theme high school teachers can use for students having trouble identifying who they are, like the character in your last story.
Yeah this is nice, I especially liked the "imagin part" it help me get into the novel with out reading it and created a sense of excitement for me. I like the way you related to real life high school issues such as self-preception
I guess we understand how Sharona feels when she hears "My Sharona". This book seems like a hoot. I would love to read it. I would like to know if this novel is based upon a real life adventure by the author. Overall it seems like an excellent read and not every book needs to be taught and analyzed in a literary way. Why can't we just read for fun?
Not long ago, I read an article in the paper about what it was like for the Delilah inspiration for the Plain White T's song. This book seems a lot like a fictionalized account of that article. I think you're right--it's more of an entertaining easy read than something to be included in the classroom--but this book sounds like a great recommendation for a student looking for a good summer book.
I was struggling with trying to find a book that uses different types of media within itself for a project I am doing...but I think you found it for me! When you said that the chapters are labeled as song lyrics with titles and artists, I knew that I could easily use this book.
Your review was strong, and I will most likely be reading this book over break...thanks!
Hi Lauren--nice job, and great comments here, too. Like Shirley, I was really struck by your ending.
It seems to me your ending suggests a theme common in the world today--this idea of "celebrity," and in particular growing up in front of cameras. For some people, the cameras appear because of talent, for others, because of sensation. For many others, they just appear because this is now something we can do: set up a camera, and you are on YouTube.
So maybe this novel is tapping into and representing something really interesting that is going on in our society more generally speaking.
If you can't tell, I'm providing some support for the final exam option related to using your reading to develop interpretations of what is going on in the world today.
On a different note, your review reminds me of texts like Just Listen and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist....the teen obsession with music and technology seems to be making its way into a lot of novels these days.
Thanks again for a "cool" review.
TP
One more thought--maybe add in some hyperlinks before the end of the project, to help with the connections you make in this review?
Cheers,
TP
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