The Magic of the Books of Gayle Forman by The Book Dealer - Dr. Susan Densmore-James
Once again, I get to host my good friend, Susan James. I first meet Susan when i was still an editor of The ALAN Review (2009-2014) and she was inquiring about writing for the Journal. As I recall, I was pretty new at the job and was doing everything I could to encourage this enthusiastic scholar. Since then we have stayed in touch. Susan came to at least one of the conferences I hosted at Louisiana State University (Find a review of 2014 here and a review of 2015 here.). She has kindly visited my classroom as a Skyped in Scholar. She is well know as the book dealer, a title that her students lovely gave her. Not only is she an advocate for YA books, she is also works tirelessly with a writing project. Yes, you guessed it. She is another one of those chronically "lazy" teachers who keeps finding ways to work hard and benefit their students. |
WHAT: Voraciously reading and talking books
WHEN: 2009-2011
WHERE: Portable located at the east side of school in the back 40 (once erroneously labeled “Dummy Ally” but now affectionately known as a “Home” away from home)
WHY: They were given choice and a teacher who would read and write with them daily
HOW: Parents worked with the teacher to decide which books were best for their teens
Yes, we need to talk about it.
These teens from my classes (2009-2011) continue to be readers. And they have stayed (pun intended) with her since her first novel in 2009, If I Stay. I could not keep it on my shelf. I had to purchase multiple copies, and they are still high up on the list of most read in my university classroom. The last year I taught high school, the excitement was palpable in my trailer when the sequel arrived: Where She Went was just as much of a hot commodity. I have remained a part of the lives of these readers (even being godmother to one young man’s daughter). And what do I love most? They still text me about their readings. Gayle’s writing followed them into their twenties and now, as they have rounded the corner, into their thirties.
Not Nothing is truly a book that every human should read. First, it has a unique approach of using multigenerational characters and two voices: Alex, age 12, and Josey, age 107. Aside from the obvious difference in age, these two characters could not be any more different. Under the care (if one can call it care) of his aunt and uncle, Alex has chosen to cause trouble in response to the pain of his now absent mother. The trouble is so bad, a judge has sentenced him to spend his summer volunteering at Shady Glen, a retirement home. Alex is horrified by the often-cruel aging process. And to add to the situation, he is put off by the annoying and very bossy Maya-Jade, another young person who volunteers at Shady Glen due to her grandmother living there. The judge and social worker are giving Alex another chance, as he is at the start of his teenage years and could learn about the value of hard work and the importance of true-blue relationships. |