DATE: Monday, March 2, 2:45 Rm. 351 Moderator: Susan Woodhams Robyn Schneider's The Beginning of Everything is a witty and heart-wrenching teen novel that will appeal to fans of books by John Green and Ned Vizzini, novels such as The Perks of Being a Wallflower , and classics like The Great Gatsby and The Catcher in the Rye . Varsity tennis captain Ezra Faulkner was supposed to be homecoming king, but that was before—before his girlfriend cheated on him, before a car accident shattered his leg, and before he fell in love with unpredictable new girl Cassidy Thorpe. As Kirkus Reviews said in a starred review, "Schneider takes familiar stereotypes and infuses them with plenty of depth. Here are teens who could easily trade barbs and double entendres with the characters that fill John Green's novels." Funny, smart, and including everything from flash mobs to blanket forts to a poodle who just might be the reincarnation of Jay Gats...
This year's selection of titles offered a good variety of titles that could be utilized in part or whole in our classrooms. Jason Mott's Hell of a Book was definitely read by many creative writig majors who also received a master class from the author in the fall. N.K. Jemison's science fantasy novel is very contemporary and could work well for independent readers or even isn itshort story form in class. Isabel Allende's reflections on feminism can also be used in classes such as Women's Litrature. I assigned the novel about the struggles of Syrians hat continues to this day as an independent writing project to a junior who responded beautifully to the writing and story. Ross Gay's mini-essays in Book of Delights can be a model for mindfulness and SEL activities--daily journaling? And of course, Brene Brown offers so many insights in her Atlas of the Heart (which is also such a beautifully published hard cover book!). Lots to think about and offer with these readings.
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