Here’s to (New Year) Beginnings by Rob Prickett

Rob Prickett is closeing out 2021 with the final post of the year! Thanks Rob!

Here’s to (New Year) Beginnings 

Rob Prickett

So, the last YA Wednesday blog of 2021. If you are like me – you breathe a sigh of relief while at the same time screaming unbelievably, “How is this possible?” This is where my mind is fighting with itself currently. It’s the timing of this blog post that struck me (literally, as I am banging my head on my desk like that meme from The West Wing) – the last blog post of 2021. After the last year (or two or fifty – I seem to no longer have any sense of time), I was struggling with what to focus on in this post – endings (after all, 2021 is ending)? 2021 reflection (it’s what we do this time of year)?  My anniversary (12.31 – always easy to remember/ always a party going on to celebrate – going on 27 years)? New Year’s Eve, itself? Jude Law’s Birthday (12.29)? But what I realized is that all of these could result in some melancholy, some sadness (except for my anniversary – Love you, Meg!). I don’t know about you but these days I need positivity. I need inspiration. I need possibility. And that’s part of this time of year. 

​So, I’ve decided to be inspired and positive by looking at the other side of the timeline – looking forward to new beginnings. January 1, 2022 is only a few days away! After all, New Year’s Eve is really the celebration of the new year . . . of what’s coming. . . of what’s possible in the unknown of this linear timeline of life. We excitedly countdown to midnight when the new year starts. We kiss someone – anyone (except for me – anniversary, remember – Love you, Meg!) – to start the new year off right (?) – in love (?) – not alone (?) – with potential (?). . . 

I do a mini lesson/modeling on predictions in my Adolescent Literature class by reading a children’s picture book to the class and then having them predict what’s going to happen next in the story. And because it is a children’s book, they can find out if their predictions come true quickly. We then transition to the discussion of/analysis of/prediction of/ modeling of some of Book #1 of the YA series that they have just read (past series included: Arc of a Scythe, Chaos Walking, Children of Blood & Bone, Origami Yoda, etc.).  These discussions focus on predicting where the series will go after and the possibilities inherent after reading the beginning book in the series.

​With a nod toward the possible and to remind us all that everything can start off right (even if you don’t know where it is going) – here’s some of my favorite YA beginnings (see what I am doing here? – reflecting back and yet looking ahead) . . .

1. “There was a hand in the darkness, and it held a knife.” – The Graveyard Book (Gaiman)
2. “We went to the moon to have fun, but the moon turned out to completely suck.” – Feed (Anderson)
3. “He’d stopped trying to bring her back.” – Eleanor and Park (Rowell)
4. “The best day of my life happened when I was five and almost died at Disney World.” – Going Bovine (Bray)
5. “The day I came squealing and squalling into this world was the first time someone tried to kill me.” – Dread Nation (Ireland)

Some of my favorites have additional aspects to their beginnings beyond just the text – such as these amazing graphic novels . . .
​        6. “I’ve hated sports every since I was a little kid, especially basketball.” – Dragon Hoops (Yang)

       7. “This is how I feel every single day of my life like I’m falling without a parachute.” – New Kid (Craft)

     8. “My name is Jensen, Jensen Graham. I may be just a regular kid at regular Berrybrook Middle School . . . but I am going to save the world.” – Brave (Chmakova)

Many of us just “returned” from the virtual ALAN Conference not too long ago. Many of us have experienced the absolute joy of receiving the ALAN Book Box – Christmas before Thanksgiving. When I opened my box this year, I immediately found another new book or two or five . . . and inevitably, a new favorite this year. I was immediately excited to read this beginning . . .

1. “Baba says only wicked things happen after midnight, but I know better.” – Beasts of Prey (Gray)

So, as we get ready to celebrate the possibilities . . . Here’s to so many fantastic beginnings in YAL. Here’s to being inspired. Here’s to being motivated. Here’s to the beginning of 2022 – May it bring us all our own opening lines full of potential. Happy New Year! 

Dr. Robert Prickett is currently Associate Dean, College of Arts & Sciences and Interim Department Chairperson, Interdisciplinary Studies and Professor of English Education at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC. It is this last title – he still teaches adolescent literature every spring despite his administrative duties – which allows him to always look forward to the start of a new spring semester and calendar year.

Until next time.