Smart. Girls. Can. Save. Our. World.

I loved this piece I heard on NPR a few weeks ago. A readaholic and writer (pictured above thanks to npr.org) shares the titles and gives previews of three books she recommends. Her topic: young female heroines. Read on!


-Stenson

Libba Bray

Hello. Just another reminder about all of the great authors out there. One of my favorites is Libba Bray. She's given us the Great and Terrible Beauty series (a story about a strong and courageous young woman, Gemma, in a marvelous, mysterious and somewhat misunderstood land, India).

Anyway, I found a post on her blog from May 2009 particularly interesting. With full disclosure, it is about same-sex marriage. If this topic fires you up, proceed with caution. I include it in my blog not to be political or decisive, but because I've had the pleasure of teaching kids who live a GLBT world, and I want them to know, I will not stay silent either.

Submitted with kindness,
stenson (aka abs kujawski)

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. By e. lokhart

Frankie Landeau-Banks, narrator and hero of the award-winning “The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks” by E. Lockhart, is the literary friend for whom my middle school girls have been looking.

Our heroine pointedly asks the handsome, popular, rich guy: “Why is it psychotic if I did it, and brilliant if Alpha did it?” Calling to task the double-standard girls and women face frequently, widely, all too often. That's not the only aspect of gender stereotypes and roles Frankie calls into question. You've got to read this book to find out more.

She is equal parts insecurity and confidence, creativity and conformity. That's why she is great...because she's a lot like many of the young girls I teach, a complicated mess of strengths and weaknesses. Her sophomore year is an unforgettable one. She wins the heart of the most popular senior boy on campus, she fights hard successfully to become more than just the "bunny-rabbit" nickname her family has given her, and she makes a mark at her prestigious prep school by taking on a long-standing, all-male, secret society, and she does so with with flair and imagination.

The book is entertaining, witty, clever, and smart. It's a fun read, and a satisfying one. The lessons of the book are tough to articulate, but even me--a happily married, pretty boring and ordinary 34 year old woman--learned about the tricky relationship between men and women.

Secretly (or not so secretly now), I also loved the peek into the rich, boarding school life of Frankie and her classmates. Good grab a copy and read it.

BUT! I also recommend the audio version. Ms. Sirois (the narrator), Ms. Lockhart, and Ms. Landeau-Banks create a captivating, memorable story. Read it this summer. If you can't trust me, trust the NY Times.

Keep reading-
Stenson (a.k.a. abs kujawski)

Wintergirls

For every young woman out there who has battled with body-image or weight issues-
For every adult and child who has loved someone who has had these battles-

there's little I can say to show you I understand or know what it's like, but there is a book you all must read. Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson. As one reviewer wrote, it's hard to read, but harder to put down. You've got to give Lia (and all the young girls like her) the gift of reading her story and sharing it with others.

For a list of reviews or other information about the book or the author, go to www.writerlady.com.

You. Must. Read. Wintergirls.
-abs(tenson) kujawski

"I want to be thoroughly used up when I die."

My DA kids are reading the book Three Cups of Tea. The geography and the people, the story and the spirit of this book are each extraordinary.

The man behind this true story, Greg Mortenson, is a true American hero who school by school is promoting peace and justice in an impoverished land; but he is not alone. Jahan, the first young girl from her village to be educated, has just as much courage as Greg. Haji Ali, a village leader, holds himself with wisdom and patience unfamiliar to the Western world. Jean Hornei and his wife Jennifer Bergman give so generously, it's not surprising that the title of this post comes from Jennifer's necklace inscription.

There are several versions of this book. Anyone up for a challenge should try the original, but there are a few other versions depending on who is reading the book. For more information, please go to this website.

I urge you to read this book. It will reach right through you and grab you by the spine. In my experience, that's always been a sign of a good book.

Peace,
-Stenson

Highlights of an Independent Reading Project!

Many, many, many 7th graders are upset with me. I've made them pick a topic (they had a choice of four: war, real teens, sports, or strong young women), and they had to read about this topic for SIX WEEKS (that's a long time for 13 year olds).

Anyway, some good has come out of it. Here a few of the good books we stumbled on:

Emako Blue by Brenda Woods. A realistic look in the lives of young black women growing up in today's world.

Stolen Voices by various kids. A informative, personal look into the lives of kids living amidst war.

Fallen Angels by Walter Dean Myers. An exciting book about a young black man who is surprised and changed by the Vietnam War.

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher. A book different from others told from the interesting perspective of a girl who committed suicide by recorded her story in audio tapes first.

The Child Called It Series. Three books about the survival of a child abuse victim. It's a true story, so it's really sad how badly he was abused, yet it makes you want to read on!

The Girl with the Baby by Sylvia Olsen. This book follows a girl who is forced to raise the baby alone. Readers learn about the consequences of having a baby at such a young age.

It's been too long!

The last time I blogged it was FEBRUARY!
Now I'm blogging about summer reading.
Something went wrong! So sorry, your readers.

Here's the deal. Summer is a great time to get caught up on all of the books you are excited to read. Here's a new list from Amazon.com. Now, I know it's amazon, and that means they are just trying to make money, but you can always look for these titles at the library.

Check it out and get reading!

Keep reading,
-stenson