Blog #6 (Contemporary Realistic Fiction)

For this blog post I really wanted to post about two other books I have read independently Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe and Fish in a Tree but (unfortunately for me) those were both realistic fiction and NOT contemporary realistic fiction. *insert sad pouty face here* 

So, for this blog post I will discuss a book we've previously chatted about in class: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas which revolves around an 11^th grader named Star who straddles two completely separate realities via code-switching. (Code-switching is where a person modifies their behavior, attitude, language, appearance, and the like to match the societal norms of the audience being addressed.) While I am no stranger to code-switching myself (as people of color tend to do so from time to time), Star’s dual realities in the book seemed like an exaggerated account of what might be a “normal person’s” reality. (I say this because it is one thing to code-switch from middle class to upper middle class—à la Kate Middleton—but to go from a crime and drug ridden ghetto—her words not mine—to an upper middle class setting without mentally cracking under the pressure seems like a bit of a stretch.)

 

But that aside, the story was a good one. It really did provide me with a window into one type reality that certain members of the black community might experience.

For the picture book I opted to read Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson which tells the story of Chloe and her clique as they decide to ignore/not interact with the new girl Maya. (Though the reason for their behavior is never expressly stated, it's suggested that it is because she's poor—they even coin the moniker Never New to describe Maya.)

The reason I selected this book was because I had seen it in one of the 4^th grade teacher’s classroom and was intrigued by the tile but—deciding that nothing else about the book made me want to read it—opted not to. However, once a quick Google search confirmed that this book would fit within the parameters of this assignment, I decided to give in. And boy am I ever sorry I did. Not that there was anything particularly wrong with the book, mind you, but after reading the Amazon and Goodreads reviews of the book (all of which lauded the book's strong anti-bullying message—their words not mine) I was sadly let down.

Like I get what the book was SUPPOSE to convey (be nice/kindness is its own reward/treat others like you want to be treated), but personally it just felt flat. I didn't like the coloring of the book, the media of the book (which was watercolor), the font of the book, and especially not the roundabout way the author tries to guilt Chloe (and the audience by extension) into feeling ashamed that *spoiler* Maya doesn't return to class before Chloe recognizes the error of her ways. (Also, like where the heck was the teacher? How do you just let your new student fend for themselves for a WHOLE semester before you think to do something!?! Like why no ice breaker? Why no classroom buddy? Why no suggesting that Maya conversate with other kids who might like things she likes--like the jacks she plays all by herself!? Like dude, MAJOR FAIL! *steps off soapbox*)

Books Mentioned in this Post:

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz 

ALA Stonewall Award Winner

Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

ALA Schneider Family Book Award

The Hate U Give by Angie Thompson

ALA William C. Morris Award

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson 

ALA Coretta Scott King Book Award