HOMEBOYZ by Alan Lawrence Sitomer - 2008 Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers Top Ten

With gangs being more visible in the area where I live, this book gave me an incite into their world. HOMEBOYZ by Alan Lawrence Sitomer is one of the top ten on the 2008 Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers list.

In this book Teddy Anderson is seeking revenge for the murder of his sister during a gang drive-by shooting. Teddy's family has not been involved in gangs, so when Teddy is caught trying to avenge his innocent sister's death, his family is disappointed. His mother is grieving so deeply, she spends her time in the bedroom. The family structure is crumbling. Teddy doesn't receive the judgement in court he expects though. He is placed under house arrest with an ankle bracelet and told he must work at preventing another potential gang member from getting involved in gangs with his probation officer at a school. That is how Teddy begins working with Micah. Things do not go well between them at first, but when Teddy finally takes the time to read the file about Micah and realizes what a terrible life Micah has lead, Teddy makes a concerted effort to make a difference. Teddy researches and determines that part of Micah's problem is that he may have dyslexia. Teddy brings colored transparencies which help Micah to read and boosts his self esteem. Teddy begins to make a positive difference in Micah's life! Through Teddy's cyber skills, he manages to "create" continued funding for Officer Diaz's program. Not only that, the family ends up adopting Micah in the end. Teddy realizes that out of a bad situation, good can happen.

This book gives the reader some understanding of what drives gangs to form and do the things they do. It also helps to understand how they are able to convince youth to join their gangs. Micah had learning problems that were never tested and no one there to be his advocate. But the gang was willing to be his support system. If Teddy hadn't come along, Micah would have been another statistic. I think teachers should read this book as well as youth. Sometimes we get so wrapped up in testing and the pressures of dealing with day to day classroom issues, we forget what a difference our job can make. This is a reminder to look for the potential in every student and not focus on what the student can't/won't be able to do.

SAFE by Susan Shaw - 2008 Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers Top Ten

Riding in the car headed to a family reunion/quick vacation and guess what? I couldn't put SAFE by Susan Shaw down! The author has placed herself in the mind of an eighth grade girl that has been brutally raped on her way home from school on the last day of classes. The emotions and fears this young lady goes through tears at your heart.

Tracy is raped and left for dead by the brother of a classmate. Since Tracy's mother is deceased she is raised by her father. Sadly the father tries to help Tracy by getting counseling, but she does not want to deal with what happened. Tracy hides things enough that the father thinks things will just eventually get better. He is wrong. She wants to forget it, but it won't go away. Slowly she shuts herself off - won't leave the house, alienates her best friend, then isolates herself from all other friends and classmates. Her only escape is playing the piano, which was not something she originally enjoyed. Her music teacher and the final therapist she will get will help her to finally open up and express her feelings either through music or verbally. But to finally reach her breaking point it takes Tracy falling apart and awaking on Monkey Rock disoriented after she can't deal with the fear that her attacker will possibly plea not guilty at his court hearing. Finally Tracy can "hear" the voice and "feel" her mother again. The poem she found on her first visit to the first therapist's office has even more meaning and power to her at the end.

Anyone who has a friend that is raped or a teacher that experiences a student that has been raped would do well to read this book. It gives you some insight to what they could be feeling but not answers on how to help, other than DON'T abandon them. Be there but don't talk about the rape unless they talk to you about it first.

QUAKING by Kathryn Erskine - 2008 Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers Top Ten

Quaking by Kathryn Erskine is a powerful book! Matt (Matilda) has been shuffled from one foster home to another since her mother was murdered by her abusive father. Matt has built a protective cover around herself to keep from being hurt anymore -gothic, uncaring, doing poorly in school. In actuality, Matt is very bright. At the beginning she is just arriving at a new home, relatives of Loopy's who are Quakers with a special needs child. This book is about how this peaceful and loving family break through her shell and show her how to love and care again.

Matt's inner belief in peace and what is right and wrong come through in her writings for her World Civics teacher who expects all of his students to only express the same beliefs he has concerning the war and patriotism. Matt can't do that. She expresses her belief that there is another side to everything and that peace is important. When she finally accepts that she cares and loves the family she is with, Matt realizes that Rat is headed to the Meeting House to firebomb it. When she struggles running through the freezing cold without a jacket and faces Rat and his Wall gang, she realizes she is finally also standing up to the Beast - her father - who made her build her protective shell. She embraces her new family and stands up for what is right and does not crouch and hide in fear anymore.

WOW!!! I loved this book. It was very thought provoking in so many ways - conscientious objector, abuse, gothic kids, perceptions, and special needs children. Though I couldn't use it with my elementary students, what a wonderful book for a government teacher to have the class read to go along with a lesson on patriotism or constitutional rights. After teaching the lesson, this could be a stimulus for discussion of how people view their rights. Can't wait to have my niece read this!