By Louis Lowry
Louis Lowry's The Giver is one of the most well-known and controversial books of its time. After winning the 1994 Newberry Medal as well as other awards including the American Library Association listing as "Best Book for Young Adults," it became one of the most popular books for children in all grade levels. The idea of a structured, futuristic society (similar to that in the novel 1984) combining science fiction with realistic fiction made its debut in children's literature in The Giver. Many children's literature author's have built upon Lowry's original theme. The Hunger Games series for example, includes many similar themes and traits found in The Giver. Unfortunately, Lowry, being the first children's author to include such themes took the brunt of the criticism and controversy that goes along with having the courage to "expose" children to a different and "new" style of literature. Because of Lowry's courage and determination to publish and defend her work, any author now has the option to include the same themes deemed "controversial" at the time with almost no challenge at all. In fact, such thematic children's literature is now wildly popular with children and adult readers.
I read The Giver when I was in middle school (when it first came out). I remember choosing it because all of my classmates were reading it and discussing how fabulous it was. I checked it out at my school library (a private school) and read it without a blink of an eye from my teachers and parents. In fact, I didn't realize the book was considered so controversial until reading it a second time for my class in graduate school. I am not sure if this is a result of going to private school (where the school district has zero authority because the school functions off of private funds) or the fact that my parents encourages me to read anything I was interested in regardless of book length or content (obviously they wouldn't let me read porn or anything like that- but you get the point). I remember being told by my teachers that Uncle Tom's Cabin was banned by some schools, but anybody could use it for their book report if they chose to. That was the extent of my knowledge of censorship at the time.
After being exposed to an variety of articles and text discussing the censorship of The Giver, I better understand WHY some parents would choose to not have their child read the book (one child had a deformity and was sensitive to anything suggesting criticism of appearance.) However, I continue to believe that The Giver should be available in the school library to student's who choose to read it and whose parents support this notion.
Here is the link to the resources surrounding the issue of censorship of The Giver:
What do you think?
By Brian Selznick
From author and illustrator of The Invention of Hugo Cabret, this book contains all of Selznick's unique style, technique and characteristics. Wonderstruck is composed of both text and illustrations to convey the plot and significant details to the reader. Unlike most other books, the illustrations are a necessity to the storyline. Each picture not only compliments the text, but defines meaning and a continuation of the plot. The reader must be able to make inferences and process the underlying message of the illustrations in combination with the text. Even though this book contains a vast quantity of illustrations, it is not intended for an audience of young children. Children in the upper grades and adults are the target audience because they have developed the mental capacity to absorb meaning through subtle clues, comparison, and inferencing.
Wonderstruck can be considered a challenging read because it intertwines two different stories from two separate time periods that contain several hidden similarities. The stories gradually immerse together at the end, but keep the reader literally "struck" by wonder predicting how and why the stories will coexist as one. The plot transition of each story move at the exact same time and place which serves as a technique to challenge the reader. For example, the girl from Hoboken, New Jersey in 1927 leaves her house at the exact moment the boy from the first story leaves his (yet he is in Gunflint Lake, Minnesota in 1977.) The reader is only told once at the beginning the place and time of the separate stories. Selznick brilliantly and cleverly combines elements both unique to each story and shared between to =immerse the reader in the book's content.
The first page of the book contains the quote: "Sooner or later, the lightening comes to us all. -Gregory Maguire, A Lion Among Men" to introduce the element of 'lightening' (both figuratively and literally) present in the book. I would recommend this book for high school readers or advanced readers in the upper elementary school grades. I know Hugo Cabret was popular among younger readers as well but I personally fund this book far more complex. Younger readers will enjoy the stunning illustrations and may be able to follow the stories along, but older students will gain the most meaning and significance from this book.
Here is a link to the book's website for more information:
By J.K. Rowling
Published in 1998, this was the very first book in the series that would change children's literature forever. The Harry Potter series ignited the roaring popularity of the fantasy genre. Fantasy had been present before (Lord of the Rings, Gulliver's Travels, Narnia series) but not considered a mainstream genre as it is now, thanks to Rowling. Rowling created a world accessible to such a broad audience (children, adults, teenagers, the elderly) with different backgrounds and interests (its been translated into seventy one different languages). The Sorcerer's Stone was the book that first introduced the legendary characters and storyline.
In the United States, the first book can be found with two different covers, the original (the picture on the right) and the limited edition (the left). The original cover possesses gold-embossed lettering (the lettering on each book cover is a different color) signifying the storyline's cornerstone and its initial importance. It is in this book the reader develops a relationship with the characters and begins to "live through" Harry Potter. Harry Potter starts out as an "average" child living in unfortunate circumstances. The arrival of his invitation to Hogwarts changes his life forever. It is at this time he realizes that he is "special" and has an outlet away from his negative circumstances. The people holding him back and putting him down in life "get what they deserve" while he flourishes in a magical, miraculous world of friendship, love, and acceptance.
It is also in The Soercerer's Stone that evil is first introduced to the audience. Many consistent themes in the series begin to emerge. Harry establishes his lifelong friendships and begins his uphill battle against Voldemort. Harry also begins to view adults in a more positive light (Dumbledor and Hagrid especially change Harry's perspective) as a result of the presence of positive role models and "parental figures." The more negative themes (such as evil, death, loss, and torture) begin their emergence but are present in a stronger manner in later books.
The Sorcerer's Stone begins the journey of a lifetime for both the characters in the book and the readers outside. Unfortunately, this book began the many controversies associated with the Harry Potter series as well. However, the amount of sheer obsession and delight outnumbers the negative reactions by far. In fact, some Harry Potter fans consider Rowling's imaginary world a way of life:
Harry Potter Memorabilia (above)
J.K Rowlings website:
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