Identity+and+Coming+of+Age+-+Annotated+Book+List

//The Absolutely True Diary of A Part-Time Indian// is a part of a sub genre of Young Adult Literature that focuses mainly on identity and coming of age themes. Likewise, there are many other authors who share this theme as well. Called a sub-genre of “coming of age” each of these characters grows and changes throughout the novel, much like Junior explores his own identity through the impact of other characters and life lessons. Therefore, each of the ten novels listed in the accompanying list focus on the main character’s search for identity and how those around them impact their identity These novels, like Sherman Alexie’s work, push the envelope thematically, focusing on the harsh realities of teenage life. The important fact remains however: that these realistic fiction selections examine the raw emotions that teenagers face when confronted by life’s realities. The power of the text in each of the choices below will reinforce the class discussions and essential questions that have been asked during the unit that focus on identity. Each of these books seeks to ask the question: How does one define identity? Additionally, these books ask, how do others shape identity? Therefore, like Junior each of the main characters seeks to find and shape their own personal identity. Students will have the opportunity to apply what is learned in class independently to another book that is like Part-Time Diary. Exploring growth of the characters will also help the students connect personally to text and will hopefully enrich their ability to make text –to-text connections as well.
 * Unifying Theme:**

**__Annotated Book List__** //Each of these novels came from a list complied off of the East Lyme High School Lion Library Website. The Lion system of libraries in Connecticut is the largest consortium in the state. This list came from a “tagging program” that groups novels with similar themes together.// 1. Anderson, Laurie Halse. //Speak .// Massachusetts: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1999. Print.


 * What it is about:**

Melinda is a freshman in high school and she is pretty sure that life is all a lie. Even though her school keeps telling her that she matters, Melinda believes that how she is treated is the exact opposite. She made an enemy of herself when she snitched on an out of control party in the summer where something horrible happened to her. This is her story of what happens after that one night at the party. Did what Melinda say happened actually happen? Or is it simply her call for attention? (Adapted from Amazon.com Review)

Reading Level: 7.1 (Scholastic.com)

2. Brashares, Ann. //Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.// New York: Delacorte Press, 2001. Print.


 * What it is about:**

Four friends find a pair of jeans at a local thrift shop. The four girls: Lena, Carmen, Tibby and Bridget are all so different, but yet the jeans manage to fit them all. This is what holds the girls together as they split up for the summer. A sisterhood is formed. Read of their life adventures and what happens when they all say good-bye. How will they stay in touch? And how will the jeans help them navigate life? (Adapted from Amazon.com Review)

Reading Level: 6.2 (Scholastic.com)

3. Cisneros, Sandra. //The House on Mango Street//. Illinois: Perfection Learning, 1984. Print.


 * What it is about:**

The author, Sandra Cisneros, tells her story of growing up in a tough area as a Hispanic young woman. Her collection of short stories and poems tells the truth of growing up in the projects and at times the violence one experiences. Follow Sandra as she works to figure out life, school and her family through short chapters and see what she learns about life. (Adapted from Amazon.com Review)

Reading Level: 4.5 (Scholastic.com)

4. Cormier, Robert. //Chocolate War//. Illinois: Perfection Learning, 1986. Print.


 * What it is about:**

Jerry has lost his mom and his dad could care less about him. Jerry is a quirky kid, who likes to ask life’s big questions especially Do I dare disturb the universe? At school Jerry, has a bully named Archie who is backed by the school’s principal. When Jerry refuses to bow to the bullies in his life he is made an outcast. What will happen? Will Jerry come back and listen to the bullies or will he stand for all that is right and threaten to disturb the universe? (Adapted from Amazon.com Review)

Reading Level: 6.7

5. Crutcher, Chris. //Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes.// Illinois: Perfection Learning, 2003. Print.


 * What it is about:**

Eric Calhoune is fat and made fun all of his school life of because of it. But there is hope in his friend Sarah Byrnes. Sarah has a secret too – she is horribly scarred from a car accident when she was three. But before senior year of high school, Eric loses weight. Even though he is slim now, Sarah is still scarred. Sarah can’t handle that Eric has changed and as a result checks herself into the mental hospital. Eric promises to help her, but realizes that he is just a kid and this is a really big job. Eric asks everyone important to him to help Sarah, but is it too little too late? Will Eric save Sarah and help her finish school or will he lose his friend? Through all of this, will Eric learn about himself as well? (Adapted from Amazon.com Review)

Reading Level: 7.2 (Scholastic.com)

6. Hinton, S.E. //The Outsiders//. New York: Viking Juvenile Publishers, 1967. Print.


 * What it is about:**

Ponyboy is a Greaser, which means he is one “tuff” dude. A member of a gang of rough kids from the wrong side of the tracks, Ponyboy drives fast cars, smokes and looks like bad news. But, in reality Ponyboy is smart and is not what he looks like. It doesn’t matter in his small town though, he has to protect what’s his – his friends and his family, well what’s left of them. Fighting against the rival gang the Socs, Ponyboy works hard to prove who he is. But one night after some trouble things get out of hand and Ponyboy may just lose it all? Will this 15 year old be able to save himself, his family and give himself a new name? Or will he become bad news like the other Greasers? (Adapted from Amazon.com Review)

Reading Level: 5.1(Scholastic.com)

7. Lowery, Lois. //The Giver//. New York: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 1993. Print.


 * What it is about:**

Jonas lives in a perfect world, he has everything under control. There are no surprises, no loss, no war, only peace. Jonas knows his role in the community. At 12 Jonas was given the honor to train under a man known as The Giver. The Giver protects the community and shares the truth with the next person. Jonas is that person. Is Jonas ready to receive the truth? Is this the role that Jonas wants or will he fight against it all to gain something else? (Adapted from Amazon.com Review)

Reading Level: 6 (Scholastic.com)

8. Myers, Walter Dean. //Monster.// New York: Harper Collins Publisher, 2004. Print.


 * What it is about:**

Steve is 16 and in jail. Called Monster, by the judge, Steve is accused of helping someone commit a murder during a robbery. But is the story as easy as it seems? Steve tells his story about his life and his experiences from behind bars. Steve writes his story in the form of a movie and searches deep inside himself to find out if he is indeed the “monster” everyone says he is. As Steve searches through his life, what will he discover? Will he be the monster? Or will he learn that maybe he is intended for something greater? (Adapted from Amazon.com Review)

Reading Level: 7.1 (Scholastic.com)

9. Spinelli, Jerry. //Stargirl//. New York: Random House, 2000. Print.


 * What it is about:**

Leo Burlock is obsessed with this mysterious girl named Stargirl. Stargirl is everything the school was missing… until she became too popular and interesting. Then she became the enemy. Leo then has a choice to make – will he leave his friend or will he be friends with her no matter what? Leo chooses to try and change her to normal, Stargirl is not allowed to be different anymore. But in doing this what will happen to Leo? Will Leo find out that maybe being different is not all that bad? Or will Leo become like the rest and hate Stargirl? (Adapted from Amazon.com Review)

Reading Level: 6.1 (Scholastic.com)

10. Twain, Mark. //The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.// New York: Dover Publications, 1994. Print. //**this bibliographic information refers to a reprint as the original printing is no longer available**//


 * What it is about:**

Huckleberry Finn is a boy with a weird name and no cares in the world. A drunk father who does not care whether he lives or dies, Huck decides to go on a journey to escape all of his problems at home. Finding a raft in the river, he takes it over, befriends an escaped slave named Jim and begins the world’s greatest adventure. Along the river, Huck meets some tough characters that force him to question his morals and thoughts. In these instances, will Huck become a better person or will he fall victim to the authority who wants to control this out of control boy? (Adapted from Amazon.com Review)

Reading Level: 5.9 (Scholastic.com)

//__**Accompanying Book Talk:**__//

Speak and Huckleberry Finn Book Talk