Young Adult Annotation

Synopsis of Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer: 

Miranda is a high school sophomore whose home life has gone through a lot of changes recently; her parents got divorced, her dad is expecting a baby with his new wife, her mom seems listless, her brother, Jon, is focused on being a sports star, and her brother, Matt, is away at college. This book is told from the POV of Miranda writing in her diary.

Although many changes have occurred in Miranda's life, the world has been going along as normal- until a meteor hits the moon, moving it closer to Earth. This is a catastrophic event that causes weather changes and disasters all over the world. 

Miranda is forced to grow up quickly; food becomes sparse, and one by one, important buildings such as schools, hospitals, and the post office begin closing. Once the weather makes it hard to venture out of the house, Miranda and her family are shut off from the outside world, leaving them mostly alone to face hunger, illness, and death. The friends she once held so close begin to fall away when their families desperately search for a safe place to live or when they succumb to the devastation. This is a story about survival of an unimaginable event.

Elements of Young Adult Fiction (science fiction):

Story Line: According to Saricks, science fiction authors, including YA, take an idea and an explore it in a setting outside of our own world or out of everyday contexts. A meteor hitting the moon and devastating our planet is something we do not think about outside of a random, fleeting thought, so it is definitely out of an everyday context. This story is appealing to young people because of the family and friendships dynamic. 

Frame/Setting: This book is visual for the reader in the sense that it paints a picture of the devastation that Miranda and her family endure; vicious snow storms, volcanic eruptions, and what the moon looks like having been pushed closer to Earth. As I read the book, I wasn't sure if the science behind these claims were correct, but I feel if the book had been overly technical it would not be as appealing to young readers (or some older reader, too!). 

Style/Language: This story is written as excerpts from Miranda's diary. The language is easy to follow and it is fraught with worry. There is devastation going on around her, but she still writes about how her personal relationships with friends and family are affecting her life. 

Characterization: The writing of this book sets relatable people in an extraordinary circumstance. Miranda and her family could easily be your next door neighbors. As the book goes on and the reader finds out more about how the moon is wreaking havoc on the Earth, more is learned about Miranda's family dynamic. I am sure more of this is explored in the other books in this series (there are 4).

Pacing: This was a fast-paced story; the meteor hits and it's almost like the reader is down the rabbit hole of tragedies unfolding. As the book goes on, it is amazing that the family is still alive, and you wonder how much more they can endure.

Read-Alikes: 

Each of the following books are about young people surviving a cataclysmic event, with no supernatural elements:

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

The Last Boy and Girl in the World by Siobhan Vivian

The Living by Matt de la Pena

(Life as We Knew It is the first of 4 books in the series. Book Two is The Dead and the Gone, Book Three is This World We Live In, and Book 4 is The Shade of the Moon)

Non-fiction Annotation (biography)

Synopsis of Bossypants by Tina Fey

Tina Fey uses humor to write this endearing work about her life. Below the surface of the fame is woman who lived through tragedy, awkward teenage years, and years of hard work to get to where she is today. She does this with comedy and also earnestness
Tina grew up in a middle class family in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania that included her parents and her older brother. She knew she was interested in comedy from a young age. She was introduced to it by her father, who loved sitcoms and comedies from the 50's and 60's and shared this love with Tina and her older brother. By her account, she had a loving family and a great childhood, although part of her childhood was marred by tragedy. When she was 5 years old, a stranger with a knife slashed her face while she played outside her home. Tina does not disclose much information about this event, only to say that it happened and it greatly affected her and her parents.
Going through high school and college, Tina felt that she had awkward experiences with dating and trying to fit in with the crowd. She recounts dating stories that seem terrible, but she relays them in a way that you laugh with her and not at her.
She graduated from college with a degree in Drama. She moved to Chicago and her first job out of college was working for her local YMCA where she met colorful people. She landed a spot with an improv group called Second City, and this led to a job writing for Saturday Night Live. While writing for the show she became a featured player and host of Weekend Update within SNL. From this, she moved on to writing successful TV shows such as 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt as well as movies like Baby Mama. 
While Tina was working for SNL, she met her husband, Jeff Richmond, with whom she has two children. Fey talks candidly about struggling with their decision to have a second child. Besides the discussion of her professional life, she discusses raising two daughters and her hopes for the people they will hopefully become.

Elements of Nonfiction

Appeal: This book would appeal to those that like comedy or gentle reads. Fey's book deals with family relationships, celebrity, women, and identity. Her writing is candid. Knowing this appeal helps to advise potential readers to highlights of the book so they can decide whether or not they want to read it.

Pacing: The book moves quickly through Tina's life but in a way that reader feels as though they are getting a realistic glimpse into her life. Those that are interested in Fey's career might find that the book is an easier read in comparison with those who read it that are not familiar with her work. I agree with Neal Wyatt when she states that a strong narrative hooks the reader and helps them navigate through their reading experience.

Characterization: In this autobiography, of course, Tina is the main focus. Many readers of nonfiction will find that they like reading about real people- as Neal Wyatt says, a sense of reality adds fascination to nonfiction. Since Fey is so candid about her life and experiences, the reader feels as though they know her throughout all the stages of her life. Though she is the main focus of the book, there are secondary people that enrich the story of her life, such as her parents and husband- even those that are part of the not-so-fond memories from childhood and college.

Story Line: Bossypants has a strong narrative. Due to this, Neal Wyatt believes this book would do well for a book club. This book is not fact-based nonfiction and more imaginative, so the book may seem easier to readers. Fey's intent is not to provide facts, but to entertain the reader. This book would be advisable for those who are not looking for something dense or fact-ridden.


Read-alikes:
I Know I Am, but What Are You? by Samantha Bee
Are You There Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler
Yes, Please! by Amy Poehler

“1.” The Readers' Advisory Guide to Nonfiction, by Neal Wyatt, American Library Association, 2007.

Week 12 Prompt

Author: Mary Roach

Title: Stiff: The Curious Life of Human Cadavers

Publication Date: 2003

Number of Pages: 304

Geographic Setting: Roach covers practices in Ancient Egypt, the Middle Ages, as well as current practices regarding the different uses of cadavers in the United States.

Time Period: Mary Roach researches what happens to cadavers donated to science in the present (present being 2003 when the book was published) and the past going back 2,000 years.

Subject Headings: Human experimentation in medicine. Dead. Human dissection.

Type: Science

Series Notes: This is a stand-alone book.

Book Summary: The subject of human cadavers and archaic medical practices is not usually thought of as humorous, but Mary Roach combines facts and humor in Stiff.
Medicine has made great strides since the days of surgeons performing operations with no anesthesia and low mortality rates.  Presently, those who donate their bodies to science are well-respected by the medical students that hone their surgical skills on cadavers. Not only do cadavers help in the medical field, but in others such as the automotive industry- cadavers were once used as human crash test dummies.
Roach believes that cadavers deserve the utmost respective for advancing humankind's endeavors.
This book is appealing because one does not need to have a vast understanding of science to appreciate it. Roach explains it in a way that is easy to understand. Not only easy to understand, but she uses humorous footnotes to keep the tone informative, yet light.
There is no vulgar language or sex, the only violence would be seen in the archaic medical practices that were used in the past.

Reading Elements: Learning/experiencing: Roach brings to light a subject that is not often discussed in the media. There is a rich history of cadavers that had advanced over time. People may not know the areas that cadavers have helped advance.
Writing style: Informative and humorous
Pacing: Roach begins by discussing the mood and attitude of those working with cadavers in present time. She then flows back into history and propels the reader forward in time with stories and facts.
Tone/mood: The text is informative and the subject matter could be viewed as macabre, but Roach peppers this with humor.

1-3 Annotation: Human cadavers have powered medical advances for centuries. Human bodies have endured post-mortem surgeries, car crashes, and dissection with a respect and gratitude from the living that benefits from what the cadavers teach us.

Similar Works: Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the Body Farm Where the Dead Do Tell Tales by William Bass
The Mummy Congress: Science, Obsession, and the Everlasting Dead by Heather Pringle
Body of Work: Meditations on Mortality from the Human Anatomy Lab by Christine Montross

Name of Annotator: Kelly Kindle

Week 11 Prompt

Ebooks and audiobooks are a part of our landscape, and this has appeal for some readers, while it repels others. With ebooks, there is an ease for readers, especially voracious readers or those who are traveling, as you can store many books in one device. This is also true for audiobooks, where many books can be stored on a phone within apps such as Audible/OverDrive.
Inevitably, there will be resistance to change and those who prefer the feeling of a book in their hands. While this is true, I do not think that reading a book on a device affects knowledge of the genre, per se, but it may change someone's reading habits. Instead of perusing through a bookstore and spending time choosing a seemingly perfect title for yourself, a device will tell you what to read next based on your previous choice. While the choice is not taken away from you, of course, it can replace discussion with a friend about what they recommend.
But, it cannot be denied that ebooks are alluring in several ways. Besides excellent storage in ebooks, readers are able to change the font and color of the text. While I do not think it changes the tone of the book (that comes through in the way it is written, not on the device on which you read it), I do believe it changes the pace. As Kate Dunneback stated in her article, E-books and Readers' Advisory, ebooks often times do not show page numbers, so the reader does not know how many pages are left to read. It is not the same as having a physical book in your hands;  knowing you only have 50 pages left so you stay up late to read it because you *have* to know how it ends! When I read on my device, I have to make sure the lighting is perfect, especially when reading in bed so I do not disturb my husband. On the flip side of that, it is nice to have that option so I do not have to have a lamp on to see, illuminating the whole room. Also, perhaps because I am not terribly technologically savvy, I sometimes have a hard time keeping my place or going back to a page to reread a section. I sometimes will press something on the screen by mistake and end up getting a dictionary definition for the word "the"- these instances are what I find to be aggravating about reading on a device. One part of the ebook experience that I like on my Kindle is seeing the parts of the book that have been highlighted the most by other readers. It gives the book a sense of community for me that I do not have when reading print material.
Since I have two small children and I tend to fall asleep the second I sit down in the evening, I have done most of my reading with audiobooks; I listen in my car, when I am doing housework, or when I go for a walk. I am in full agreement with what Kaite Mediatore said in her article Reading With Your Ears- "Imagine sitting in rush hour traffic and not getting frustrated. Or walking an extra mile and not realizing it. Or folding the laundry and not feeling bored." This is the power of audiobooks. It is an efficient and easy way for me to hear books I want to read. I use the Audible app, which I find to be easy to use and I have never had a problem with it not keeping track of where I am in the story. I can pick right up where I left off (this is also true with a basic bookmark in print material!). I have listened to several lengthy books and trilogies, such as Needful Things and The Bill Hodges Trilogy, both by Stephen King. I am a huge fan of King, so this is a great way for me to stay as current with him as possible. Without listening to the audiobooks while on-the-go, it would have taken me months to get through these stories. King narrated Needful Things, which I thought was excellent. Will Patton has narrated several of Kings' books, and he is excellent; his voice is soothing and his voices and acting are perfect.
There are positive characteristics of ebooks and audiobooks, but also drawbacks. Most of this comes down to the preference of the reader. While the preference of the reader is paramount, it is also important for librarians to be able to recommend these mediums based on the needs of the patron, as well as have a basic understanding of the electronic formats on which they are used. 

Dunneback, K., & Trott, B. (2011). E-books and Readers' Advisory. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 50(4), 325-9. 

Mediatore, K. (2003). Reading with Your Ears: Readers' Advisory and Audio Books. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 42(4), 318-23. 

Historical Fiction Annotation

Synopsis of The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

The story of the Nightingale begins in the year 1995 with an old woman ruminating about her past but quickly goes back in time to France at the beginning of World War II. It follows the lives of Vianne, her husband Antoine, their daughter Sophie, and Vianne's seemingly ne-er do well sister, Isabelle. Vianne and Isabelle have a strained relationship due to events that transpired after their mother died when they were young, and they have lived apart since Vianne was a teenager. As World War II unfolds around the world, Isabelle is expelled from a school for girls and Antoine is sent to fight for France. Isabelle and Vianne are reunited and they still feel the tension after years of unresolved conflict, and sour feelings about their father who did not seem to care for them after their mother died. Soon after they are reunited, the Nazis occupy their small French town and the women's lives spiral down a path of war and survival. Amid the brutality of the War, the women are pushed to their limits and beyond, which allows them to see each other in a different light. The sisters are not content to lay idly by while others suffer at the hand of the Nazis, so they help to save those that would otherwise be persecuted. They are always walking the line between their heroics and caution. Isabelle the Nightingale helps people cross from France into Spain in the cover of darkness. Vianne fights her own battles at home trying to survive for her child and a town that needs her. This is a story of War, compassion, heartache, brutality, and the enduring bond of two sisters that lasts throughout decades. 

Elements of Historical Fiction

Setting: The novel takes place mostly in France in the duration of World War II. It gives the reader a glimpse of what life was like for the people who lived there during that time. The country and the people are described, as well as the route the Nightingale took from France to Spain in her effort to help people escape. 

Tone/Mood: While this book has aspects of romance and suspense, the tone is somber due to the subject nature. It is somber, and the reader is immersed in a time of great distress, but hopeful for the characters' future.

Storyline: The characters are living during World War II. The novel focuses on the relationships between the sisters, their love interests, and other family ties, but the War itself is almost as equally in the forefront.

Characterization: Isabelle and Vianne are not real people who lived during the time, but they accurately portrayed as women living in the 1940's during war and oppression. It is known that they speak French with each other, but due to the book being written in English, that is the language that is used for the reader. 

Pacing: The story is told from the first occupation of France through the end of the War. This is several years' time. The book is long, 440 pages, which gives the author time to delve into the characters' lives and the events of the War. 

Read-alikes

The Book of Aron by Jim Shepard 

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The Distant Hours by Kate Morton

Book Club

I work in an elementary school library where I am the assistant to the librarian. I belong to a book club that is informal and mostly made up of teachers and other educators. We usually meet every 2-3 months for the discussion and the meeting is held in the library where I work. There are a few members of the book club that attend every meeting, but it is usually a different mix of people; some people cannot make it or choose to not participate, while others participate every few months- whatever schedules allow. We always meet at lunchtime. While there is no one in charge of the group, per se, someone volunteers at the previous meeting to be in charge of taking a poll for what we have for lunch at the next meeting. An email goes out to all the members of the club with a few options for lunch that are close to the school. Majority wins, we give the volunteer our order, the school pays for the lunch order, but we reimburse them by paying for our own orders on the day of the meeting. The atmosphere of the book club is relaxed and inviting. Before the meeting starts, there is a lot of chatter, people catching up with each other, and getting their food together. 

There is not a leader of the group. Once everyone is situated, the conversation usually begins with someone saying, "So, what did everyone think?" We begin by taking turns giving our basic opinions of the book; "I liked it" or "is was boring" or "I liked this character." All, some more than others, give their opinions without judgment. At our most recent meeting, we discussed a thriller where the protagonist had a mysterious past, the book had several disturbing scenes and a twist ending. We had a fulfilling discussion about about the main character's past and how that molded her present. This aspect of my book club is reminiscent of a quote from Bill Goldstein's article Reads Well With Others, "Book club discussions tend to focus on how the plot or characters relate to our own lives or perspectives" ("Reads" 32) While I believe that all of the members of the group participate during the discussion, I would not say the participation is equal. I think some members are more comfortable speaking in a group than others. I tend to be more open with my opinions in a book club setting and I enjoy engaging with others to see if their thoughts align with mine, or get fresh opinions on what we have read. 

A few meetings ago, the members of the book club compiled a list of books that we could potentially read. Everyone gave their opinions and a list was made with the title of each book and a synopsis. The person who had been in charge of lunch for that meeting made an online poll where the members voted on which books sounded the most interesting to read. The top three selections were decided to be the books for our next three meetings. Several different genres of books were in the running, but ultimately, thrillers won the top 3 spots. After the last meeting, a few of us voiced that maybe we could give thrillers a break and focus on something lighter. We will vote again at the next meeting. Knowing far in advance is helpful, as many of us get copies from the library and we need to hold popular titles. A few aspects of my book club are in agreement with the I Love Libraries website's article "Structuring a Meeting;" we choose 2-3 titles at a time and so far, we have not chose any megahit "favorites." According to the article, we should mix up genres to keep things interesting- a point of which I agree. ("Structuring" 2015) 

Goldstein, B. (2005). Reads Well with Others. Publishers Weekly, 252(21), 30-34.

“Structuring your meeting.” I Love Libraries, 2015, www.ilovelibraries.org/booklovers/bookclub/structure-meeting.

Special Topics Paper

I work in an elementary school library. We recently finished reading a series of award-nominated books to second and third-graders; The Show-Me Readers Award nominees (for us in the Show-Me state- Missouri). The award is geared toward grades 1-3 and the purpose is to promote literature, literacy, and reading in Missouri, and also to recognize favorite authors and illustrators. There are certain criteria that nominees have to meet, such as they must be published in the United States, be an easy read-aloud with literary value, and appeal to young children. We read the books to the students and have them vote on their favorite. They quite enjoy the process.

The Special Topics paper coincided with the end of the the voting in our library for the Show-Me award. This led me to think about awards that are bestowed in the United States that are considered prestigious. The research into this topic led me to how people feel about awards; mainly the thought of "What are they good for?" On a positive note, I read that awards are good for the author's book sales, and it helps them with future publication. On the flip side, some feel that awards cannot please everyone; with every award that is bestowed, people will feel that certain authors were slighted, and that other "big name" authors monopolize the award scene.

There are quite a few book awards given in the United States. Every search I did on awards seemed to pull up another one of which I had not previously discovered. It would be quite an undertaking to discuss them all. I chose to write about two adult fiction-centered awards and one for children- The Man Booker Award, The Nobel Prize for Literature, and the John Newbery Medal. Each award has its own distinguishing characteristics and the award-winners, and often, the nominees, enjoy increased book sales and accolades.