The Odyssey

The Bibliography
Hinds, Gareth. The Odyssey, A Graphic Novel. Somerville: Candlewick Press. ISBN 9780763642686

The Characters
The main character of The Odyssey is obviously Odysseus! In this version of Homer's epic poem, Odysseus is a strappingly buff older gentleman. Other characters include his son Telemachus, his wife Penelope, and the various gods and goddesses, kings and queens he meets along his way back home to Ithaca.

The Plot
Odysseus's plot hasn't changed much in this version. He desperately wants to get home after the Trojan war, but gets strung along and toyed with by the gods, especially Poseidon after he blinds one of the sea god's cyclops sons.

The Setting
The setting of this graphic novel is the Mediterranean and various islands that Odysseus stops at on his long journey back to Ithaca.

The Theme
A theme of The Odyssey is the idea that brains are better than brawn, although Odysseus is pretty muscly for an old, old man.

The Style
The graphic novel version of The Odyssey is illustrated in watercolor and colored pencils. It shows in colorful detail the exploits of Odysseus as he travels back to his home after the Trojan War. There is not much text in the graphic novel version, especially compared to the epic, but the pictures almost do a better job of telling the story, which is what good graphic novels do.

The Analysis
I enjoy The Odyssey in pretty much every form. Mythology is one of my favorite subjects to study and seeing the visualization of the ancient Greek gods and goddesses in delicate colored pencil was lovely. It's always interesting to see different people's adaptations of the classics, and in this version, you really do see what the author was thinking, since he drew it!

The Review
Jesse Karp (Booklist, Sep. 15, 2010 (Vol. 107, No. 2))
Starred Review* As the proliferation of recent Odyssey graphic novelizations approaches the record held by Shakespeare adaptations, it is perhaps appropriate that Hinds, the Bard’s premiere sequential adapter, should produce the most lavish retelling of Homer yet. Showing great artistic evolution since his rough-and-tumble Beowulf (2007), Hinds lets the epic story take its time, with a slow build and pages that aren’t afraid to alternate packed dialogue with titanic action. The sumptuous art, produced with grain, texture, and hue, evokes a time long past while detailing every line and drop of sweat on Odysseus’ face and conveying the sheer grandeur of seeing a god rise out of the ocean. Teens may be baffled by the hero’s commitment to the same pantheon of gods who heap trouble in his path, but they will not lose touch with the universal qualities of steadfastness that Odysseus still embodies. The mythic trials have seldom felt more grueling or genuine, and this makes a perfect pairing with Tim Mucci and Ben Caldwell’s adaptation for a slightly younger audience from the All-Action Classics series, affording a chance to see how an archetypal story can function so powerfully at both the realistic and the stylized ends of the artistic spectrum. A grand example of Hinds’ ability to combine historical adventure with human understanding.

The Connection
Since some teens find might find Odysseus and mythology a little daunting, it could be more intriguing to watch the 1997 TV movie The Odyssey, assuming you have a movie license, after discussing the epic and the graphic novel. Other mythological movies could be watched, too, like Troy or even Clash of the Titans.

When You Reach Me

The Bibliography
Stead, Rebecca. When You Reach Me. New York: Wendy Lamb Books. ISBN 9780385797425

The Characters
The main character of When You Reach Me is normal, everyday, New York City sixth grader Miranda. The events that happen to and around Miranda are extraordinary, but she takes them in stride... more or less. When Miranda finally deciphers the notes left for her by a mysterious stranger, the audience does, too, and experiences the fantastic events of the story with her.

The Plot
While Miranda's mom is training to be on the hit 1970s game show, The $20,000 Pyramid, Miranda receives mysterious notes that seems to be from the future. The notes reveal that something life changing is going to happen, and Miranda is the only one who can do anything about it.

The Setting
The setting of this novel about time travel is in 1970s New York. This is what we now call Urban Fantasy, with fantastic events happening in a normal, nonfantastic (in the magical sense) city.

The Theme
The theme of When You Reach Me is the acceptance of life and what happens around you, despite how challenging or fantastic it may be.

The Style
When You Reach Me is written from Miranda's point of view. Time travel is integral to the outcome of the story, but it's discussed in a purely quizzical, sixth grade scientific sort of way. Nothing is overly complicated or difficult to understand, which makes the story seem more believable, like a friend from school really could come back from the future to save a life.

The Analysis
When You Reach Me was a really fun read. I actually read it in almost one sitting, just because I wanted to find out what these mysterious notes really meant and what was going to happen between Miranda and her friend Sal. I also wanted to find out if her mom won her gameshow. I always liked watching The $20000 Pyramid when I was younger, so seeing the game-themed chapter titles made me want to read them all the more.

The Review
Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, June 1, 2009 (Vol. 77, No. 11))
When Miranda's best friend Sal gets punched by a strange kid, he abruptly stops speaking to her; then oddly prescient letters start arriving. They ask for her help, saying, "I'm coming to save your friend's life, and my own." Readers will immediately connect with Miranda's fluid first-person narration, a mix of Manhattan street smarts and pre-teen innocence. She addresses the letter writer and recounts the weird events of her sixth-grade year, hoping to make sense of the crumpled notes. Miranda's crystalline picture of her urban landscape will resonate with city teens and intrigue suburban kids. As the letters keep coming, Miranda clings to her favorite book, A Wrinkle in Time, and discusses time travel with Marcus, the nice, nerdy boy who punched Sal. Keen readers will notice Stead toying with time from the start, as Miranda writes in the present about past events that will determine her future. Some might guess at the baffling, heart-pounding conclusion, but when all the sidewalk characters from Miranda's Manhattan world converge amid mind-blowing revelations and cunning details, teen readers will circle back to the beginning and say, "Wow...cool."

The Connection
I think it would be really fun to share this book with kids, then make a time capsule! Since the book is all about time, I think that would be a cool activity to do. We could also watch the Back to the Future movies, maybe have a futuristic party, or a pastursitic (Yep, made that word up!) party! Or, we could always just read this, then read A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle like MIranda does, then discuss time travel and if we think it's really possible. Ooh! What a fun book!

Speak

The Bibliography
Anderson, Laurie Halse. Speak. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux. ISBN 0374371520

The Characters
Melinda Sordino is the main character of Speak. It's written from her point of view, although I don't think I'd want any young girl to feel like she's in Melinda's shoes. Melinda's internal journey and emotional growth are tied to the plot and action of the story. If she didn't experience what she experienced, she wouldn't be the same Melinda, she definitely wouldn't have had to grow up as quickly as she did. She definitely changed through the course of the story, and though she had a terrible experience, she came out okay at the end, or at least as good as she could.

The Plot
During the summer before freshman year of high school, Melinda goes to a party with her friends, but calls the police and gets the party busted. She starts school as an outcast. Throughout the novel in flashbacks, the reader finds out that Melinda was raped at the party. She survives her entire freshman year despite being picked on by nearly everyone, including her former best friends, but doesn't talk about the tragic event that she lived through until one of her former friends starts dating the guy who attacked her.

The Setting
The majority of the novel takes place at and around Merryweather High. Even though Melinda skips a lot, the novel is broken into four segments, each quarter of her school year. The book revolves around her school life and her inability to speak, about the events that happened to her or about anything else.

The Theme
The theme of Speak is the difficulty of overcoming a personal tragedy and the struggle to still live despite it.

The Style
Speak is written from Melinda's point of view and is filled with her thoughts, most of which are about the night she was raped. Everything ties back to that night. Since Melinda doesn't speak much, the dialogue rings true. If you were traumatized, you probably wouldn't have much to say at the school where everyone hates you, would you? The tone of the book is serious laced with ironic humor.

Gender and Culture
Melinda's story probably wouldn't work if it were Mel instead. Melinda is a scared but strong female leading character.

The cultural markers are modern, so it seems the book is still contemporary, like it could happen in any high school today.

The Analysis
I enjoyed reading Speak and will recommend it to a few teen readers that come into my library. It's a difficult story, but one that high schoolers need to read, especially the girls. Even if they haven't been in a situation as dire as Melinda's, it's still a good read, and it's important for them to know that they need to be strong even if something bad happens.

The Review
Debbie Carton (Booklist, September 15, 1999 (Vol. 96, No. 2))
Having broken up an end-of-summer party by calling the police, high-school freshman Melinda Sordino begins the school year as a social outcast. She's the only person who knows the real reason behind her call: she was raped at the party by Andy Evans, a popular senior at her school. Slowly, with the help of an eccentric and understanding art teacher, she begins to recover from the trauma, only to find Andy threatening her again. Melinda's voice is distinct, unusual, and very real as she recounts her past and present experiences in bitterly ironic, occasionally even amusing vignettes. In her YA fiction debut, Anderson perfectly captures the harsh conformity of high-school cliques and one teen's struggle to find acceptance from her peers. Melinda's sarcastic wit, honesty, and courage make her a memorable character whose ultimate triumph will inspire and empower readers.

The Connection
While this book isn't about the happiest of subjects, it's an important one. It could be used in a book talk with teens about the big S-E-X or problems that they encounter in high school.