Code Name Verity

 Wein, E. (2012). Code name Verity (p. 441). New York: Hyperion.

 Characters:

• Julie (AKA Verity, Queenie Scott)
• Maddie (AKA Kittyhawk)
• Fraulein Anna Engel
• Jamie Beaufort-Stuart
• Paul

Theme(s):

Spies, Friendship, World War, Fear, Nazi

Summary:

Julie is the main character.  She is a British spy and her best friend Maddie is a pilot.  Their plane crashes in Nazi occupied France. Julie (Verity) is captured by the Gestapo and is forced to confess the British mission or be killed. Maddie, on the other hand, is in France and is assisted by the "Resistance". The "Resistance" help Maddie find Julie. They are planning an ambush to release Julie.  The ambush goes wrong and Julie tells Maddie to kill her, so she is not tortured by the Nazis. 

The story is told in two parts - first part in the "confession" Julie.  Julie writes the friendship between her and Maddie. The second part is from Maddie's perceptive. At the end of the story, these letters are given to Maddie and they turn out to be false but they contain coded instructions to destroy the Ormaie Gestapo headquarters.

One of the major strengths of the book is female empowerment. Generally, the media (movies, books, TV shows. etc.) will have a strong male character. In this case, the author has two strong and courageous female characters. The books has Maddie would rides motorcycles and see an airplane and knows she can fly it. 

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian

Alexie, S., & Forney, E. (2007). The absolutely true diary of a part-time Indian (p. 230). New York: Little, Brown.

Main Characters:

• ·         Arnold Spirit (Junior)
• ·         Rowdy (Arnold’s best friend)
• ·         Mom and Dad
• ·         Mary (Sister)
• ·         Grandma
• ·         Coach
• ·         Gordy
• ·         Penelope (Arnold’s girlfriend)
• ·         Roger

Themes: Poverty, Race, Friendship, Love and Identity

Summary:  Arnold Spirit is a boy that lives on the reservation (rez).  He was born with cerebral spinal fluid in his brain.  At school, he finds his mother’s name in a geometry textbook.  He gets to frustrated he throws the book at Mr. P’s face.  After school, Mr. P talks to Arnold and tells him he needs to leave the reservation to experience live and to never give up. The following day, Arnold transfer schools, Reardan which is a twenty-two mile drive. Rowdy and the other reservation Indians shun him for leaving.

Arnold does not receive a warm welcomed at Reardan, a primarily white school. Arnold feels like a part-time Indian since he lives two lives; one at the reservation and one at Reardan. Arnold tries out for the basketball team and makes varsity.  He has never been good at anything, so this is a major confidence boost. The first game of the season is against Wellpinit, his old school. They lose because Rowdy is such a good player. The team has another opportunity to play them again the in the finals. They win! During the summer, Arnold and Rowdy reconcile and play a game of basketball.  Here Rowdy says Arnold is a nomad Indian; meaning he leaves to different places to find food or water.

Lesson: The audience that the book is intended for is young adults because the book addresses issues teens are going through, such as awkwardness and the desire the leave. Due to the loss of his loved ones, Arnold has an epiphany of self acceptance. He realizes he is not only an Indian, he is many things. 

YA Lit: Looking for Alaska by John Green

Green, J. (2005). Looking for Alaska: A novel (p. 256). New York: Dutton Children's Books.

Main Characters:

• ·         Miles (Pudge)
• ·         Alaska
• ·         Chip (Colonel)
• ·         Takumi
• ·         Lara

Themes: Friendship, Love and Grief

Summary:  Miles goes to boarding school, Culver Creek, to seek the “Great Perhaps”. He meets his roommate Chip and he introduces him to Alaska. Alaska is an avid reader and asks Miles “What is the labyrinth” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. In religion class, Dr Hyde (Old Man) poses their final exam question – “What is the most important question human beings must answer?”

Alaska dies from a fatal car crash. Chip, Takumi and Miles try to find out why she would drive drunk in the middle of the night. In the end, Miles answers Alaska’s question. “We have to forgive to survive in the labyrinth.”

Lesson:  You cannot change the past, so you must put in behind you. The only person you control is yourself.  True friends will always support and love you.