Bibliography
Sones, S. (2016). Stop Pretending: What Happened When my Big
Sister Went Crazy. HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0064462181
Summary:
Thirteen-year-old Cookie reveals in this raw and emotional verse
novel the experience of watching her older sister experience a mental breakdown
on Christmas Eve which requires hospitalization. The once close relationship
between Cookie and her family members transforms into a relationship of
strangers because she faces both social isolation and overwhelming emotions
that she cannot comprehend. The author uses short but strong poems to guide us
through Cookie's journey of confronting fear and anger and shame and sadness as
she struggles to understand the changed sister and reversed life.
Critical Analysis:
This book grabs your heart from the first page. The poems use
basic forms yet they carry deep emotional meaning. Through free verse Sonya
Sones expresses genuine and untainted thoughts which seem to flow directly from
someone experiencing a crisis. Cookie’s emotional condition determines the
structure and speed of the narrative because her first poems appear brief and
forceful before her later ones become more reflective and healing. The shortest
poems within the book maintain their significant impact. The three-line poem
reveals the most power because it reads “I don’t want to see you. / I dread it.
/ There. I’ve said it.” The book creates its deep impact because of the
authentic honesty displayed in its text.
Through vivid imagery the story depicts the painful moments that
Cookie experienced like the classmates' mocking note and the hospital visits
during which she wished her sister could remember herself. The book contains
more than just its weighty content. The story contains both dark and light
elements including a new friendship and a boy who understands her true self
alongside moments of hope and acceptance. Cookie discovers that recovery means
remembering everything while learning love can persist through the most
difficult challenges.
The book gains additional power because Sones wrote it from her
actual experience. The author provides resources in her note while sharing
personal details which demonstrate the dual nature of her story because it
represents both her personal experience and the experiences of numerous readers
who need help.
Professional Reviews:
“The poems have a cumulative emotional power.” — ALA Booklist (starred
review)
“The poems take on life and movement, the individual frames of a movie that
in the unspooling become animated, telling a compelling tale.” — Kirkus
Reviews
“Unpretentious. Accessible. Deeply felt.” — School Library Journal
“Sensitively written.” — The Horn Book
Connections:
Stop Pretending is perfect for middle and high
school readers and would make a strong addition to any classroom or school
library collection. It opens the door for important conversations about mental
health, family relationships, and stigma. It could be used in literature
circles, mental health awareness lessons, or poetry units. The poems also serve
as strong models for students writing about personal experiences. This book
reminds readers that it’s okay to not have everything figured out and that even
in the hardest moments, you’re not alone.
APA Citation:
HYBE. (2023). Dark moon: The blood altar
(Vol. 1, C. Conley, Letterer). Ize Press. ISBN: 9798400900716
Summary:
Dark Moon: The Blood Altar, Vol. 1 presents a supernatural
graphic novel which unites fantasy elements with romantic and mysterious
plotlines within a school environment. Sooha enters Decelis Academy with her
hidden secrets and emotional scars after becoming a new student. She encounters
a group of enigmatic boys at the academy who possess striking features while
living in their own exclusive world. Sooha learns that the boys possess
vampiric nature, yet she becomes inexplicably attracted to Heli who leads the
group despite receiving warnings to stay away from them. The story becomes more
tense because the boys fight to conceal their true nature while Sooha battles
to conceal her powers and an ominous darkness threatens the school. The story
concludes with a cliffhanger that forces readers to continue reading the next
installment.
Critical Analysis:
The story moves at a quick pace while delivering intense
emotions which will attract readers who prefer character-based fantasy
narratives. The manga stands out because it combines a well-known narrative
with refined artwork and atmospheric cinematic artwork. The color scheme
together with character design and dramatic paneling create an atmosphere of
tension and emotional stakes. Each vampire possesses distinctive powers and
Heli's telepathic abilities enable readers to understand his mental state. The
combination of colored speech bubbles and visual indicators helps readers track
the story's progression especially when characters use nonverbal communication.
Sooha's emotional transformation to trust others after experiencing hurt
resonates with teenagers who face identity and belonging challenges. The volume
concludes with Sooha facing severe danger which leaves readers eager to
continue the story. The combination of suspenseful elements with romantic and
mysterious aspects makes this graphic novel and manga suitable for middle and
high school readers who want to start their graphic novel journey.
Reviews:
YALSA’s Best List
Connections:
This title would fit perfectly into a middle or high school library’s manga
section. It would also work well in a graphic novel book club or as a
springboard for comparing visual storytelling across cultures. Students could
explore themes of identity, power, trust, and belonging—all relevant to
adolescent experiences. The book could even lead to creative projects, like
writing alternative endings or illustrating character backstories. Its visual
format, quick pacing, and dramatic plot make it a great option for reluctant
readers or those who find traditional novels overwhelming.
APA Citation:
Jensen, K. (Ed.). (2018). Don't call me crazy: 33 voices start the
conversation about mental health. Little, Brown Books for Young
Readers.
Summary:
Don't Call Me Crazy presents 33 distinct voices from various
fields through the thoughtful editing of Kelly Jensen to explore how different
people experience mental health. A scrapbook-like format contains brief essays
together with poems and comics and artwork which present a wide variety of
conditions including anxiety and depression and body dysmorphia and
trichotillomania. Through their pieces the contributors show readers how their
mental illness affected their personal lives by sharing their experiences of
diagnosis and stigma and self-acceptance. The collection presents individual
moments and stories that help readers feel understood without trying to explain
everything simultaneously. The collection stands out because it presents
diverse perspectives of identities and voices alongside mental health
experiences which creates an inclusive reading experience that both validates
readers and opens their eyes.
Critical Analysis:
The collection achieves its power through individual contributor
voices rather than attempting to represent all mental health experiences. The
collection changes between comics and journal entries and straightforward
essays which maintains reader interest by allowing different readers to
establish their own connections. The spoken words remain authentic while
expressing positive messages. Through her comic illustrations Gemma Correll
demonstrates the visual experience of anxiety and Yumi Sakugawa guides readers
through her process of body acceptance. The stories investigate identity
through Shaun David Hutchinson's experience of being defined by depression that
overshadowed his entire being and Meredith Russo's disturbing experience of
being ignored in a psychiatric facility as a transgender woman. The stories
share their intense personal nature while becoming accessible to everyone.
Jensen's selection process establishes a platform for readers to gain knowledge
while forming connections and experiencing reduced isolation. The collection
provides readers with a starting point for mental health discussions through
genuine and empathetic perspectives.
Professional Reviews:
A Washington Post Best Children’s Book of 2018
“Jensen has brought together sharp and vivid perspectives concerning
mental-health challenges. Featuring writers such as Shaun David Hutchinson,
Libba Bray, Adam Silvera and Esmé Weijun Wang, this book asks questions and
provides real-life experiences and hope for the future.”
—Washington Post, “Best Children’s Books of 2018”
“Empowering . . . deeply resonant . . . With this diverse array of contributors
offering a stunning wealth of perspectives on mental health, teens looking for
solidarity, comfort, or information will certainly be able to find something
that speaks to them. Resources and further reading make this inviting,
much-needed resource even richer.”
—Booklist
“Lively, compelling . . . the raw, informal approach to the subject matter will
highly appeal to young people who crave understanding and validation . . . This
highly readable and vital collection demonstrates the multiplicity of ways that
mental health impacts individuals.”
—Kirkus Reviews
Connections:
This book could be a great choice for high school book clubs, health classes,
or guidance lessons focused on mental wellness. Students could respond to
individual entries in journals or create their own mini anthology inspired by
the format. It pairs well with other titles like Body Talk
or Here We Are, also edited by Jensen. It also opens
the door for meaningful conversations around empathy, identity, and mental
health awareness, topics that are more important than ever in today’s
classrooms.
No comments:
Post a Comment