Through the Woods

Bibliographic Information

Carroll, Emily. Through the Woods. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2014. Print. 

Summary

Through the Woods is a graphic collection of short stories which focus on the dark elements of the woods at night. Author Emily Carroll clearly reflects the influences of fairy tales and gothic stories in her stylization and plots. Each of the five graphic tales tells the story of a dark thing lurking in the night, usually with an unexpected twist. The drawings are well-done and just creepy enough throughout the tales, keeping the mood just right as they progress. 

Analysis

This book’s greatest strength is in Carroll’s ability to draw a reader into her imagination through her drawings. Each one is in just the right color palette, evoking just the right mood to continue the story. The stories are intriguing and often unexpected. They play on traditional tales without falling into the trap of being entirely predictable. For some readers, it may be bothersome that not all the tales end conclusively. A couple left me wanting a little bit at the end, which is certainly intentional, but could bother some readers. 

Through the Woods would definitely be appealing to any teens who like reading graphic novels. Since it’s in a short story format within the graphic set-up, it also provides a slightly different reading experience than many other books. I think it would also appeal to anyone who leans towards original fairy tales and their dark endings. I would give this a book a place in the canon of young adult graphic texts. It is definitely for an older young adult audience, since many of the stories include slightly gruesome elements, but it’s formatting as a graphic collection of short stories is intriguing and compelling, especially since it is a rarer format. 

Activity

After reading Through the Woods, students could write their own stories, graphic or otherwise. It could be a story based in the fairy tale tradition, as these ones are. Perhaps it would be even more beneficial to have students choose the sort of story they’d like to reinterpret. Maybe some students want to rewrite westerns, or sci-fi, or romance. It would be great to have them all do a graphic format, but as a failure at graphic design myself, I’m hesitant to suggest that since it can cause some students to shut down. 

Related Resources

For students who enjoy graphic novels, both Anya’s Ghost and Sarah and the Seed are also folk/fairy tales told in a graphic form. They also both have strong elements of gothic storytelling in them, which will appeal to anyone who enjoyed Through the Woods. 

Brosgol, Vera. Anya’s Ghost. New York: First Second, 2011. Print. 

Andrews, Ryan. Sarah and the Seed. http://www.ryan-a.com/comics/sarahandtheseed01.htm. Online. 

Carroll is definitely inspired by the original fairy tales of tellers like the Brothers Grimm. Reading the original tales will help a reader see how Carroll got to her tales- especially if they’ve never read or heard the full tales in their original versions. Edgar Allen Poe is another strong influence on the gothic elements that readers will enjoy. 

Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm. Grimm’s Complete Fairy Tales. San Diego: Canterbury Classics, 2011.  

Poe, Edgar Allen. Complete Tales and Poems. Edison, NJ: Castle, 2009. 

Published Review

Hunter, Sarah. ”Reviews: Through the Woods." Booklist, vol. 110, no. 22, Aug 2014, p. 58.

Sugar Changed the World

Bibliographic Information

Aronson, Marc and Marina Budhos. Sugar Changed the World: A Story of Magic, Spice, Slavery, Freedom, and Science. Boston: Clarion, 2010. Print.

Summary
Sugar Changed the World traces the development of the sugar industry through its roles in religious ceremonies and as a coveted spice, well into the development and then end of slavery. The authors both trace their family histories back into the web of sugar trading and share that with the reader as they trace the story of sugar through to the modern day. The book is engaging, sweeping, and enlightening. The resources included at the end are an invaluable tool to see the progression of the story of sugar. The authors provide a master timeline- which ties together the timelines for multiple countries and eras. They also include notes, resources, and an index for reference. The pictures included through out the text are well chosen and bring a sense of reality to a story that seems impossible at times.

Analysis
This book’s greatest strength is the authors’ evident passion for the topic. They begin the story by sharing that the sugar industry formed each of their families, then tracing the history itself. The telling is interesting and detailed without being overwrought or draining. The pictures scattered throughout add to the story without making it feel childish. One weakness I would point out is that the story sometimes moves non-consecutively, especially between countries as slavery develops in America, England, France, and the Caribbean. This can make it confusing at times- though the timelines at the end help when it gets a bit convoluted.

The format and style of telling definitely makes this an appealing book for anyone who likes to read non-fiction titles, especially if they’re interested in overarching history. It tells a story that encompasses the world in a way that actually does just that, rather than continually splitting it into country-by-country histories. I would give this a book a place in the canon of young adult informative texts. It does a wonderful job of combining interesting tidbits and full overarching history into one text, even with pictures and maps included in the text. It is written conversationally without being condescending, as well, which is a feat in and of itself for many informative texts.

Activity
In relation to this book, a beneficial activity would be to have students research fields where slavery is still prevalent, or simply tends to fail in the realm of human rights. Many of our modern industries are not very reliable in terms of how workers are treated all the way through the process. This activity could open eyes to how often people are still mistreated and underpaid. Some good examples of questionable fields are chocolate, clothing broadly, and coffee.

Related Resources
For students who want to continue to learn about the development of slavery and it’s eventual downfall as the global economic power, there are a number of options to choose from. These suggestions are recommended for older teens by Social Justice Books, https://

socialjusticebooks.org/booklists/slavery/#non.

Hamilton, Ruth Simms. Routes of passage: Rethinking the Africa Diaspora. Michigan State University Press, 2006. Print.
Taylor, Yuval. Growing Up in Slavery. Chicago: Chicago Review Press, 2005. Print.

If a student felt especially drawn to either of the authors, they both have a wide range of books to choose from for a next read. Many of Aronson’s are less wide sweeping and tackle more modern topics like Race or J. Edgar Hoover. His book on the American Revolution seems to have the same sweeping worldwide scope. Budhos, on the other hand, writes more fiction than non-fiction, though much of it relates well. Tell Us We’re Home deals with teens who struggle with class differences in school, largely based in their mother’s jobs as maids and nannies.

Aronson, Marc. The Real Revolution: The Global Story of American Independence. New York: Clarion. 2005.
Budhos, Marina. Tell Us We’re home. New York: Atheneum, 2010.

Published Review
"Reviews: Sugar Changed the World." Kirkus Reviews, vol. 78, no. 17, Sept 2010, p. 848. 

Unbreakable

Bibliographic Information

Garcia, Kami. Unbreakable. New York: Little, Brown, 2013. Print. 

Summary

A paranormal romance, Unbreakable tells the story of Kennedy Waters, a teenage girl with a photographic memory, discovering the hidden world of ghosts and demons. After her mother dies suddenly, Kennedy is approached by mysterious twins who convince her to come along on their mission to banish a strong demon from this world. They believe she is the fifth member of the Legion of the Black Dove, a society formed in opposition to the Illuminati, specifically to rid the world of this demon. Along the way, Kennedy struggles with her own identity, her relationship with her father and feeling torn between the twin brothers. 

Analysis

This book’s greatest strength is how fast paced it is. It moves briskly through the story, always keeping the reader moving and on their toes. It’s engaging and believably references the real world, making the reader feel like this could actually be happening around them without anyone knowing it. It also does a good job tying in the historical references to secret societies and folklore of the supernatural elements. However, the romance is predictable and somewhat trite. It feels like every other teen paranormal love story. The characters could also use some more development- Kennedy herself can be annoying at times and unbelievable at others. The other members of the Legion suffer the same deficits. 

This novel would absolutely appeal to some teens, though most likely girls would be more drawn into the story since it is so heavy on the love triangle plot line. There is little in it that could make it inappropriate for the age range, though some of the paranormal elements may be too much for certain readers who find themselves sensitive to such topics. I wouldn’t necessarily say this title specifically ‘deserves’ a place in the canon. There are many other series that could fulfill its role, just with differences in paranormal style and characters. However, it is certainly an enjoyable quick read that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend as a fun diversion. 

Activity

An interesting activity could be to have a day where students learn about secret societies. This has long been a fascination point with teens, but even with adults. Having students do a “secret society” fair could be a really cool event that also forces students to learn about verifying sources and the role of such societies in history. Emphasize source reliability (not just sketchy websites claiming famous people are Illuminati) and the historical role the society has played in political and social development. 

Related Resources

From reading reviews and blurbs, this book seems to be similar to the TV show Supernatural, so that may be a good connection to make for students interested in either one. For readers who like the romance element of the story, just with a little supernatural element thrown in, both the Chemical Garden trilogy and the Fallen series will continue their reading through multiple more series. 

DiStefano, Lauren. Wither. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2011. Print. 

Kate, Lauren. Fallen. New York: Ember, 2009. Print. 

Supernatural. WB/ CW. 2005- . Television. 

Kami Garcia first became known for another book in a similar vein to this one- Beautiful Creatures. It is co-written with Margaret Stohl and the first book in a series (with many sub novels included), The Caster Chronicles. It was made into a movie, as well. Readers who enjoy Garcia’s writing style and form of creativity in Unbreakable will also enjoy the supernatural elements in Beautiful Creatures and may be inspired to further pursue works by both Garcia and Stohl. 

Garcia, Kami & Margaret Stohl. Beautiful Creatures. New York: Little, Brown. 2009.  

Published Review

"Reviews: Unbreakable." Kirkus Reviews, vol. 81, no. 16, Aug 2013, p. 142.

Two Boys Kissing

Bibliographic Information

Levithan, David. Two Boys Kissing. New York: Knopf, 2013. Print. 

Summary

Two Boys Kissing  gives the reader a broad overview of the experience of gay men (and boys) in America. As the title states, it revolves largely around Craig and Harry, who decide to break the Guinness World Record for longest kiss. They are supported by a myriad of voices through the text. It is narrated by a chorus of men who died of AIDS before medication became widely available. They give us the stories of 6 other gay high school boys- two other couples in different stages of knowing one another and two who feel alone. They also serve to remind the reader of the struggles, fears, and unknowns of the previous generation of gay men. 

Analysis

This book’s greatest strength is in its ability to give the stories of the boys real feeling and depth. Levithan does a wonderful job (in his writing in general) of bringing the high school boys into focus. He respects their doubts and fears about their communities accepting them as gay and gives the reader great insight into how each boy relates to himself and others differently. For some readers, I think the chorus style commentary may be confusing, although it could be a good introduction to the style of greek plays and other works that utilize a chorus. This chorus could be a weakness, depending on the reader, as could the multiple stories interlaced in the book. At times, it is difficult to remember which boys are which as the stories continue to develop simultaneously. 

I feel like this story would appeal to most teens- and especially to teens whoa re struggling with their own sexuality. Most young adults understand the feeling of being left out or unaccepted, a core conflict these boys are facing. It is developmentally appropriate, as most teens now know a friend or family member that has come out. Especially with the chorus of men reminding the reader of the past, it gives a clear vision into what the gay community has had to survive without being morbid or too detailed. Two Boys Kissing is a great example of an up and coming genre. It represents the LGBTQ genre of teen literature well, both in current experiences of teens and those of the men who came before. It deserves a place in the canon and will hopefully remain a core piece of literature for every reader interested in the growth of the gay community. 

Activity

Have students think of a cause they would like to make a statement for. Maybe they were convicted through this reading and want to be an advocate for LGBTQ rights. Maybe they see the race issues happening in the news every day now and decide to speak for them. Maybe they want to speak out on gender equality. Next, have them think up innovative ways to gain awareness for their cause. Craig and Harry think up an interesting and entirely different way to garner attention- perhaps your students can too! 

Related Resources

For readers looking to learn more about the history of gay culture in America, there are a number of books worth referencing, both non-fiction and fiction. While a bit older, Alsenas’ Gay America is a pictorial representation of this history and serves as a good introduction for a reader who may not be as interested in non-fiction.  Another book in the same vein as Two Boys Kissing that may appeal to readers is 2014’s Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. It also explores the expression and budding understanding of a teen boy’s sexuality and the implications it has on his life as a whole. 

Alsenas, Linas. Gay America: The Struggle for Equality. New York:Amulet, 2008. Print. 

Sáenz, Benjamin Alire. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. New York:Simon and Schuster, 2014. Print. 

David Levithan is an author worth sticking with, as well, if a reader is interested. He writes in many different styles and formats, so each book is a very different reading experience than his others, though he maintains his voice throughout his writing. He has also been proliferate in co-authoring books, many of which are entirely worthwhile and may even introduce some new authors!

Levithan, David. Every Day. New York: Ember, 2012. Print. 

Levithan, David. Boy Meets Boy. New York: Ember, 2003. Print. 

Levithan, David & John Green. Will Grayson, Will Grayson. New York: Dutton, 2010. Print. 

Published Review

"Reviews: Two Boys Kissing." Kirkus Reviews, vol. 81, no. 14, July 2013, p. 182.

The First Part Last

Bibliographic Information

Johnson, Angela. The First Part Last. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2003. Print. 

Summary

The First Part Last is the difficult story of a teenage boy taking full responsibility for his newborn daughter. It is told in the first person, drawing the reader into Bobby’s story and his love for his daughter, Feather. The narrative switches between the past, before Feather is born and the current day, when Bobby is struggling with raising his daughter on his own. It recounts the very real struggles of raising a child by yourself, especially while still being a child yourself in many ways. 

Analysis

Bobby’s story is extremely touching and very relatable for many teens. Most teens know someone who has gotten pregnant as a teenager too, whether or not they kept the baby. Hearing the story from the perspective of a teen guy who chooses to stay gives a new perspective from many of the stories that exist and draws in both genders. In terms of weaknesses, the book sometimes makes Bobby’s struggles seem a little overwrought. He seems to have parents who are well-off and supportive, but then his mom completely separates herself from him and the baby and dad is barely mentioned until the last third of the book. It seems like these actions would be a bit out of character for the parents as they’re established in the “before Feather” sections. 

I feel like this story would appeal to most teens. It does focus on an inner city black teen, but his story is universal and has appeal to all races, cultures, and even ages. It is developmentally appropriate, especially for older teens who have experienced pregnancy in their social circles or schools. The First Part Last absolutely deserves its place in the canon of YA lit. Angela Johnson is a well known and very accomplished author and this story is well-written and engaging while telling a story which is not often told. Seeing the struggles of a young black man raising his child on his own is realistic and eye-opening to the challenges inherent in that experience. 

Activity

This book is a first person narrative that flashes back between the time leading up to a life-changing event and the results of that event. Have teens try to write their own story of a big event in their life in this same manner. Remind them to hold back some of the past information as they tell the present story and to balance between the times evenly. This will require thinking in a new way about an event that was important to them and help them develop writing skills. 

Related Resources

Coe Booth’s Tyrell series would be a great way to give interested readers another book to read that is similar in protagonist while being different in both plot and voice. It is still a black teenage boy struggle through with little parental support and a younger person to care for, but the circumstances differ dramatically and provide another viewpoint. 

Booth, Coe. Tyrell. New York: Scholastic, 2006. Print. 

If a reader is interested in getting familiar with an outstanding African-American writer, they should consider sticking with Angela Johnson. For young adult audiences, I’d recommend Heaven or Bird, both of which are interesting and developed enough for an older reader, though they may be a bit easier of a read for an older teen. Heaven is even set in Heaven, Ohio, where Bobby’s brother lives in this novel. If they have younger siblings, maybe the YA reader would even consider sharing their new author through some of Johnson’s beautiful picture books. 

Johnson, Angela. Bird. New York: Dial, 2004. Print. 

Johnson, Angela. Heaven. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1998. Print. 

Johnson, Angela. A Sweet Smell of Roses. Eric Velazquez, Illus. New York: Aladdin, 2007. Print. 

Published Review

Rochman, Hazel. "Reviews: The First Part Last." Booklist, vol. 100, no. 1, Sept. 2003, p. 122.

Bless Me, Ultima

Bibliographic Information

Anaya, Rudolfo. Bless Me, Ultima. Berkeley: TQS Publications, 1972. Print. 

Summary

Bless Me, Ultima tells the story of young Antonio Márez y Luna’s coming of age. It is the recollections of his adult self on the time when Ultima, a curandera (native healer) came to live with his family. During this time Tony begins school, learns English, witnesses three murders, and becomes a true adolescent. Adult Antonio reflects on the struggles he experienced about who he was to become. His mother’s family, the Luna clan, works the land and cares for crops and the earth. They are stalwart, quiet men who follow the ways of the moon. His mother hopes that Tony will become either a farmer or a priest. His father, on the other hand, comes from the Márez clan, a tribe of men committed to wandering as vaqueros and seeking adventures. Antonio himself cannot decide which path to follow and begins to question his own Catholic faith as he takes his First Communion and realizes God does not always work in as blatant and mystical ways as one may hope. Ultima guides Tony along his path, helping him grow and understand that sometimes life is much more complicated than just choosing one way or the other.  

Analysis

Bless Me, Ultima’s strength comes from Anaya’s own experiences as a young child in New Mexico. He wrote this novel specifically to share the history of a culture and area that was (and continues to be) underrepresented in literature. As one reads the story, they can see the passion and commitment he has to his culture and his own history. The magical elements blend well without pulling a reader out of the story itself. Antonio’s own questions and doubts are also very understandable and real. They are questions most people grapple with at some point, though some of his questioning does seem early for his age. The greatest weakness is definitely Anaya’s tendency to romanticize the time. Much of the story strays into dreamy descriptions and recollections. He does give readers a clear view of some of the down sides to the melding cultures, but much of it is still overly romantic.

It would probably appeal most strongly to youth with a connection to either New Mexico or Chicano history and culture. It is an interesting bildungsroman and the historical commentary is very different than most other novels for this age, though I found the story itself to be somewhat lacking in interest. There is also a good deal of violence and just general “boys being boys” that gets tedious and may bother some readers. It is developmentally appropriate, especially in Antonio’s struggle with his faith and trust, though the violence and some language may bother younger readers. Despite my misgivings about some of the elements of the story, it absolutely deserves its place in the canon of YA lit. Bless Me, Ultima was one of the first YA novels to approach Chicano history and culture in the English canon and needs to be recognized as such. 

Activity

This book would link in really well to a unit on Chicano culture and history. Even in a public library, it could be grouped with books on the history of New Mexico or other Chicano authors. As part of this display, youth involved in the library could create art in a traditional new Mexican style, write their own experiences as Chicano youth, or create other expressions of the culture as they learn about it. 

Related Resources

Doing a reading promotion on banned books would surely benefit from the inclusion of Bless Me, Ultima. This could also encourage young adults to ask about what other banned books they could read. I’d encourage continuing to read about American history and culture with books such as Their Eyes Were Watching God or even The Grapes of Wrath. These both embody an older America and both bring their respective time periods to life in a very real way. 

Hurston, Zora Neale. Their Eyes Were Watching God. 1937. Reprint. New York: Harper Perennial Modern Classics, 2006. Print. 

Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath. 1939. Reprint. New York: Penguin, 2002. 

For older readers, I’d recommend delving into magical realism, which is largely prominent in modern Latin American literature. Two of the most prominent authors in this genre are Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Jorge Luis Borges. I would encourage students to find these elements that are also present (and perhaps a little too blatant) in Bless Me, Ultima. There are a number of other authors that are influenced by or writing magical realism, both in Latin America and in other cultures. 

Marquez, Gabriel Garcia. One Hundred Years of Solitude. 1967. Reprint. New York: Harper Collins, 2006. Print. 

Borges, Jorge Luis. Ficciones. 1956. Reprint. New York: Grove, 1994. Print. 

Published Review

Rose, David James. "Reviews: Books." Hispanic, vol. 7, no. 8, Sept. 1994, p. 90. EBSCOhost, ezp.twu.edu/login?url=http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2060/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=9409227690&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

How I Live Now

Bibliographic Information

Rosoff, Meg. How I Live Now. New York: Wendy Lamb Books, 2004. Print. 

Summary

How I Live Now is a speculative fiction novel imagining a future in which there is essentially a third World War, created through independent attacks and disparate terrorist groups. It follows Elizabeth, who goes by Daisy, from Manhattan to her aunt’s farm in rural England. She is sent away due to continuing disagreements with her pregnant stepmother, as well as her father’s frustration with her anorexia. Aunt Penn is part of a war council that is meeting in Oslo to try and negotiate peace, so she leaves Daisy and her four cousins alone on their farm shortly after Daisy’s arrival. The 5 children are able to maintain a relatively normal way of life, though Daisy and her cousin Edmond do end up falling in love and begin a romantic relationship. Unfortunately, the fighting progresses much more quickly than anyone expected and the farm is eventually taken over by the army and the children separated to live in other homes. Daisy’s love for Edmond and fierce protection of the youngest cousin, Piper, gets her through the war alive, though not unchanged. 

Analysis

The greatest strength of the story is the honesty found in Daisy’s own thoughts. She is 15 at the beginning of the story and never once do you doubt it. She focuses heavily on her romance with Edmond prior to the war separating them, just as many oblivious teenage girls would. She questions the morality of that choice and rationally recognizes the many problems society would have with them being together, both her being older and the more dramatic problem of being first cousins. She also mentions and struggles through the feelings of abandonment from her father sending her so far away, sadness at never properly knowing her mother, and the control she feels through anorexia. As such, the war becoming such a serious battle comes as a surprise to the reader, too. 

The greatest weakness was the romance with Edmond and it’s incumbent doubts and worries, which took away from the other issues Daisy faced. I speculate that Rosoff included it to show the degradation of society as a whole, but they never truly interact with society for that to be really true. Edmond could have been an adopted, orphaned family friend and the strength of the relationship would have functioned the same without the distracting element of being close relations. Sexual first cousin relationships are not something that need to be normalized in society, so it seems unnecessary. 

The story as a whole has a lot of appeal to YA audiences- and a lot of good that can come from it. Many teens feel abandoned by adults in their lives, have disorders of varying forms (such as Daisy’s anorexia), and feel too alone and defiant to change anything. This book helps show why it’s important to move beyond these struggles and begin to live again. It is definitely a book intended for older readers. While Daisy is 15, I would only suggest this be read by a mature readers. The sexual relationship with Edmond can be distracting to readers who will focus too heavily on it, but much more importantly, there are some graphic depictions of the war and the carnage that comes alongside such violence. It certainly deserves its place in the canon of YA literature and should continue to be read by both teens and adults. 

Activity

A great activity would be to have students speculate about their own future. This book makes the possibility of a world-wide guerrilla war situation seem like something that could be in our near future. It’s interesting that this book was published 13 years ago and seems like such a real possibility for the future we could experience. Having students work together to imagine a future- even a very dark one- could help them realize the possibility of this book becoming a form of reality. They could form this in a written format, such as a play or a story, or as a visual representation in art or media. Hopefully from this discussion and speculation students could see how the future go poorly and would be inspired to make the world move in a more positive direction. 

Related Resources

This book would certainly appeal to fans of the recent influx of apocalyptic literature set in realistic futures. Series such as Divergent and The Hunger Games are the most well-known of these recent block-busters, but there are a variety of other individual novels and series to get to know, too. I think it perhaps more closely relates to other YA books about World War II, since they have the same sense of realism and relationships that sometimes lack in the post-apocalyptic literature. Code Name Verity would be a great suggestion for a reader who enjoyed the war elements of the story, as well as having the relationship development, though it is not romantic. 

Wein, Elizabeth. Code Name Verity. New York: Hyperion, 2012. Print. 

For older readers, Children of Men  or The Handmaid’s Tale would be a great suggested read. They are both set in a speculative future, with average people at their center. Children of Men also includes the elements of war that come to the forefront in How I Live Now, while The Handmaid’s Tale is set in a time after society has been reestablished. Neither of these focus quite so specifically on developing relationships, however, so that should be considered in what the reader liked about How I Live Now.  

James, P.D. Children of Men. 1992. Reprint. New York: Vintage, 2006. Print. 

Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid’s Tale. 1986. Reprint. New York: Anchor, 1998. Print. 

Published Review

“How I Live Now.” Review of How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff. The Guardian. Accessed at https://www.theguardian.com/books/2013/nov/01/review-how-i-live-now-meg-rosoff. 

This review from The Guardian covers the book in depth from a popular British culture standpoint- which is, after all, the audience it was originally written for. 

Seventeenth Summer Review

Seventeenth Summer

Bibliographic Information

Daly, Maureen. Seventeenth Summer. New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1942. Print. 

Summary

Seventeenth Summer is the remembering of Angie Morrow’s seventeenth summer, 1938. She is the third of four sisters in a small town in Wisconsin. Her two older sisters have dated, both at home and at college, but Angie is surprised when she is courted by the high school’s basketball star, Jack Duluth. They spend the summer developing their relationship, but both know that Angie is going to go off to college in Chicago when the summer ends while Jack will be required to stay and work in his family’s bakery. In the end, they must decide what that separation means for them. The story is told from Angie’s perspective, looking back and telling the story of the summer she first fell in love. 

Analysis

The story is a great early embodiment of the genre of teen summer love from the teen’s own perspective. It certainly has the same feel as many of the realistic fiction teen romances out there currently, just more chaste in many ways. I found it very interesting to see how our cultural understanding of dating and relationships have changed. It is mentioned often that it seems inappropriate for a girl who is only 17 to be seeing the same boy night after night, which would seem almost scandalous to many today. We’re much more focused on only dating one person at a time for teenagers than this book seemed to be. On the other hand, Angie wonders if she’s too young to have a crush on a boy. In a culture where we start using crush as an innocent infatuation that even young girls have, that sounds absurd. These contrasts will appeal to an audience who enjoys the structure and feel of young adult romance while also wishing to learn about the past. 

Daly began writing this story when she herself was 17 and it is loosely based on her own experiences, so her style of writing is very personable and nearly diary-like. However, it is very of its time and can sometimes feel overwrought or even aimed to a younger audience. These could be turn offs to some readers, though it may be easily overlooked with the understanding of it being written in such a different time period. Perhaps most disconcerting to me was the knowledge that in a mere few years, these 17 year olds would be the boys shipping off to World War II. I think this may also hit many teens, who have often studied World War II in depth in school, and feel a little eerie, just as it did to me. 

Overall, Seventeenth Summer is essentially an early example of a book written for teens, by a teen. This, alongside its evident development of the genre of young adult romance, secures it a place in YA literature for many years to come. The lack of heavy issues, sex, or language also makes it accessible from an earlier age than many of the modern books in this genre of YA. The most scandalous mentions are of beer drinking (with Jack’s classmates, who are all the legal drinking age of 18) and smoking (which was not considered scandalous at the time). Presented correctly, this book could certainly appeal to many young adult readers and still feel interesting and intriguing, even as it pulls the reader into an older time period. 

Activity

An interesting activity (especially if you choose to correlate Our Town as suggested in my related resources) would be to have a group turn the story of Seventeenth Summer into a short play. They could do it three acts and develop the characters via dialogue rather than seeing it all through the eyes of Angie. This would help the group flesh out and identify with more characters from the story and feel like they’re experiencing the time period. 

A less interactive but just as productive activity could be to encourage journalling of one’s own summer. I would recommend this simply be an encouraged activity (rather than a shared one) so that the writers could feel that they’re writing in privacy, much as it seems Angie is. This would open students or patrons to assessing their own growth and hopes for the future. 

Related Resources

Seventeenth Summer is a clear and direct predecessor to some of the “chick lit” that is popular today. For readers interested in the coming of age and romance of the story, I would absolutely recommend looking into Sarah Dessen’s work. She even specifically has a few books related to the theme of a teenager over the course of a summer. 

Dessen, Sarah. That Summer. New York: Orchard Books, 1996. Print. 

If a reader is interested in seeing more of small town life in the late 1930’s, Our Town would be a wonderful read. While some readers may be turned away by the challenge of reading a play, many other young adults will enjoy the format. Published in 1938, it gives a fuller view of what life around Angie would have been like, especially for someone like Jack.

Wilder, Thornton. Our Town. New York: Harper Perennial, 1998. Print. 

Published Review

Leggett, Karen. “Seventeenth Summer.” Review of Seventeenth Summer by Maureen Daly. Children’s Literature. Accesed via CLCD, http://ezproxy.twu.edu:4529/#/bookdetail/1/0/PePnjKklgqepIOMk/bdrtop.