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Printz Honor Books
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From: Peter Butts <pbutts>
Date: Thu, 01 Mar 2001 14:03:40 -0500
I'm glad to see the honor books finally discussed. As a member of the committee who had a serious "love-hate" relationship with _Stuck in Neutral_, I appreciated Edie Chang's comments, even as I disagree with some of the conclusions drawn. For me the poetry was a significant problem. The verses are hardly worthy of a Pulitzer, as chapter headings they are distracting, and they stand in sharp contrast to the lyrical good humor and "smarts" of Shawn's narrative.
Poetry is an important component of the universe of YA literature; the teens I work with are pretty saavy about poetry and many of them read a lot. This stuff is beyond mundane..... It is possible to ignore it.... it is also possible to construct a rationale where it is INTENTIONALLY
"bad"....this fits the character of the father, it makes his elevation to "professional victim" that much more pathetic (from a teen perspective), and I can almost buy the Pulitzer prize being so politicized. But I don't know....
Nonetheless, the construction of Shawn's narrative is brilliant. There are simple observations juxtaposed against insight that is naively brilliant. It's funny and poignant. The voice shifts slyly from straight narration of events to addressing the reader directly. The ambiguous conclusion is chillingly perfect.
If I dare have a favorite, it has to be _Many Stones_. This is a book I can see English teachers wanting to teach as it is rich with metaphor, contains a wonderful balance between the themes and the setting, and rich, difficult characters. The interview with Caroly Coman in the January _Booklist_ was interesting in her discussion of the development of Berry and how she came to write the book in first person. I've heard some complaints of how "whine-y" she is. But for me, and for teens who have discussed the book with me, it is the sheer intensity of the narrative, the frustration that is beyond words that is finally released in the end, that makes this book shine.
Now... any favorites for the 2002 award???
-Peter
- ************************** Peter Butts * "One man gathers what * East Middle School * another man spills." * Holland, MI 49423 ************************** pbutts at edcen.ehhs.cmich.edu www.holland.k12.mi.us/ems/ mel.org/education/
Received on Thu 01 Mar 2001 01:03:40 PM CST
Date: Thu, 01 Mar 2001 14:03:40 -0500
I'm glad to see the honor books finally discussed. As a member of the committee who had a serious "love-hate" relationship with _Stuck in Neutral_, I appreciated Edie Chang's comments, even as I disagree with some of the conclusions drawn. For me the poetry was a significant problem. The verses are hardly worthy of a Pulitzer, as chapter headings they are distracting, and they stand in sharp contrast to the lyrical good humor and "smarts" of Shawn's narrative.
Poetry is an important component of the universe of YA literature; the teens I work with are pretty saavy about poetry and many of them read a lot. This stuff is beyond mundane..... It is possible to ignore it.... it is also possible to construct a rationale where it is INTENTIONALLY
"bad"....this fits the character of the father, it makes his elevation to "professional victim" that much more pathetic (from a teen perspective), and I can almost buy the Pulitzer prize being so politicized. But I don't know....
Nonetheless, the construction of Shawn's narrative is brilliant. There are simple observations juxtaposed against insight that is naively brilliant. It's funny and poignant. The voice shifts slyly from straight narration of events to addressing the reader directly. The ambiguous conclusion is chillingly perfect.
If I dare have a favorite, it has to be _Many Stones_. This is a book I can see English teachers wanting to teach as it is rich with metaphor, contains a wonderful balance between the themes and the setting, and rich, difficult characters. The interview with Caroly Coman in the January _Booklist_ was interesting in her discussion of the development of Berry and how she came to write the book in first person. I've heard some complaints of how "whine-y" she is. But for me, and for teens who have discussed the book with me, it is the sheer intensity of the narrative, the frustration that is beyond words that is finally released in the end, that makes this book shine.
Now... any favorites for the 2002 award???
-Peter
- ************************** Peter Butts * "One man gathers what * East Middle School * another man spills." * Holland, MI 49423 ************************** pbutts at edcen.ehhs.cmich.edu www.holland.k12.mi.us/ems/ mel.org/education/
Received on Thu 01 Mar 2001 01:03:40 PM CST
