#10 - A Greater Goal: The Epic Battle for Equal Pay in Women's Soccer-and Beyond by Elizabeth Rusch

 Just The Basics

    Published: July 9, 2024

    Genre: Nonfiction, Sports  

    Pages: 336

    Acknowledgements: YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award Finalist

        "A chant rises up in the stadium. At first, it sounds like "U.S.A! U.S.A!" The chant grows louder and louder, with more and more voices joining, the message becomes clearer: "Equal pay! Equal Pay!'"

    "A Greater Goal" is a nonfiction chronicle of the struggles for equal pay for the women's US national soccer team. Despite their domination in national performance, gold medal after gold medal, substantially more TV viewership than their male counterparts, and nearly a decade of Equal Opportunity lawsuits, women players made only a fraction of the money as their male soccer players on international pitches. A Greater Goal is ultimately a story of community and dedication, as the players who collectively sued their bosses at US Soccer still maintained their athleticism and win games while participating in an excruciatingly long lawsuit. From the 1990s to 2022, both retired and active players alike took a stand and demanded equal salaries, travel accommodations, and overall equal treatment against the patriarchal "non-profit" US Soccer, eventually securing true equality and treatment after nearly 30 years of bargaining. 

    Why "A Greater Goal"?

    I have to say, it was my love of the TV show "Ted Lasso" that made me want to read this book at first. I was so excited to see that the fourth season of this show is about a women's soccer club, that I threw this book on my YA list, hoping to learn more about women's soccer in general. However, once I read Rusch's work, I realized both how little I knew about Women's sports, but also how little I knew about the powerhouse that has been the US Women's soccer team. I did not recognize any of the icons mentioned in this book, but now I know the stories of women like Abby Wambach, Becky Sauerbrunn, Hope Solo, and Rose Lavelle, both on and off the field. This book took a little for me to get into, but once I felt acclimated to the positions, the team names, and how US Soccer organizes and runs national teams, I was impassioned about the feminist plight of the sports icons I had just learned about. 

     Teaching Considerations

     I have a few girls in my classes that I wish I could give copies of this book to. As I read, I thought of my own Sophomore class and the gang of bright students I know who play girls' soccer at my school. A Greater Goal, would make a great book club book, especially on a unit about gender, sexism, and systemic inequality between the social classes of men and women. This book was a bit of a long read, and is full of information, all punctuated with some excited narrations of soccer matches, so I would recommend this novel for advanced 10th graders, 11th graders, or 12th graders. There is some profanity in the book, but nothing worse than what students hear in the locker rooms of their own school. I don't think this book would be for everyone, and I even struggled to get through it myself at times. Not because I didn't care about the issues of income inequality and systemic sexism, but because the pure love of soccer radiating off of Rusch's words often flew over my head. I don't think there is anything wrong with this book; however, I believe it will do the best in the well-selected hands of some soccer-loving students like those I thought of. 

`      Sections to Read Aloud  & Reasoning

1. Chapter 21: The World Watches, Page 159

• "'A record-breaking 43 million Americans watched all or part of the stunning final game-- more than any US men's soccer match, more than any NBA final, more than the average television audience for the most recent Olympics... But still, when the women won the cup, they made seventeen times less than the German team that had won the men's World Cup just a year earlier." 

    The pay gap at times was even worse than the seventeen-times-less as in the above quotation for US women's players. This chapter expresses clearly how incredible the US team was, while still getting paid far less than the US men team (who didn't even win the World Cup). These types of selections abound in A Greater Goal, but after Rusch's compelling retelling of this World Cup match, it would be extremely clear to students that these women athletes were underpaid despite stellar performance in games. 

        2. Chapter 37, Pages 237-237

• ''The days were long and draining. The women faced demanding workouts and drills. Then, instead of resting and recovering, they hunched over papers at conference tables."

    One of the most impactful parts of this book is the moments where Rusch focuses on the personal sacrifice the players on the US women's teams make on top of their strenuous athletic demands. For the student athletes that read are read this chapter, who are already balancing an academic and extracurricular life, these moments of sacrifice would be even more impactful. I believe there will be more buy-in to read this book when students can see their own sacrifices mirrored in the actions of the plaintiffs in lawsuits and collective bargaining for equal pay. 

    Overall Thoughts

        A Greater Goal may not have been something I have ever read without this list of YA titles. I have never been an avid sports fan, but this book was still a compelling read. I felt I was educated in soccer, the pay gap in professional fields, and in sports history more than I have experienced before. While I don't think I will reread this book, I do think Rusch's work has earned a place in my class library. For the students who enjoy soccer, or for those interested in feminist issues, I think this book would be an enjoyable and action-inspiring work. This book makes its readers take a critical look at their leisure activity of choice, even if their sport is not soccer. 

    Future Explorations

     Next summer Olympics I will definitely be watching some Women's soccer, if for no other reason than to pay my dues to the women who sacrificed so much for a game they give their lives to. I can't say this book has activated any love for soccer in my heart, but A Greater Goal has made me more aware of the many ways sexism can rear its head. I think this book sets an optimistic tone. If equal pay is achievable for the US Women's soccer team, then there is hope for equal pay in other fields. The gender pay gap is still an epidemic issue, and with enough dedication and sacrifice from women and allied men, there may be slow progress-- even over the course of decades. 

#9 - March: Book One by Andrew Aydin and John Lewis

 Just The Basics

    Published: August 13, 2013

    Genre: Graphic Novel, Memoir

    Pages: 128 Pages

    Acknowledgements: CSK Book Awards - Author - Honor 2014

    "March" is a graphic-novel memoir capturing the life of civil rights activist and congressman John Lewis. Framed by Lewis's speech at Barack Obama's inauguration in 2009, March: Book One focuses on Lewis's upbringing in rural Alabama, his journey through school, and finally his participation in the Nashville lunch-counter sit-ins in the early 1960s. Robert "Bob" Lewis narrates, while the astounding black-and-white artwork (illustrated by Nate Powell) makes every moment drip with the darkness of segregated America, shaded in dark ink pen. Lewis's retrospective paints a picture of historical importance for his life. He repeatedly talks of the "spirit of history", which weilds the winds of fate, connecting John Lewis to his destined meetings with Martin Luther King Jr, Rosa Parks, and Jim Lawson. The forces of spirituality and the promise of nonviolent rebellion propel Lewis into his role in the civil rights movement, but also propel the readers with a sense of grave importance as Black Americans fight for equal rights in a tumultuous time in American history. 

    Why "March: Book One"?

    I was really interested in reading this first volume of the March trilogy. In school, I learned about the comic "Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story", and felt like it was fitting for Lewis to continue the tradition of using visual storytelling to communicate the importance of the civil rights movement to young readers. The art of March was the most interesting. I was instantly floored by Powell's illustrations, and was itching to read this graphic novel before I got it from the library. I think it's of utmost importance to enshrine civil rights leaders in media that is contemporary enough for a younger audience to fully engage and understand. I was reminded of Art Spiegelman's Maus when choosing to read March. To me, there is power in a graphic novel to marry art and history in a way that helps transfer difficult parts of history to young readers. 

     Teaching Considerations

     I think March: Book One would be a great introductory or hook text for a unit on the civil rights era. In terms of prose, this book is not hard to read. All graphic novels are good, accessible texts (because students assume they will do less reading, even though when I teach with a lot of visual analysis). However, the story of March starts with John Lewis's childhood, allowing the reader to understand who he is before explaining the Social Gospel, what nonviolence is, or who he was as a person before meeting other important confidants. There should be a note here that there is prolific use of racial slurs in this book; these are purposefully employed to reflect the reality of this time period. However, I don't think this book would be inappropriate for younger high school-aged kids, and could easily work for anywhere from 9th to 12th grade. Aydin and Lewis's work is impactful, even in one volume, and I believe this book would be a versatile choice for whole-class analysis, individual reading, or as a hook mentor text before looking at other documents about the civil rights era. 

`      Sections to Read Aloud & Reasoning

1. Page 75-79

    The above portion of the book is from when Lewis first attends a nonviolence workshop conducted by Jim Lawson. This is where Lewis is affirmed, and even goes as far as to have a revelation that nonviolence is the best way to gain equal rights for Black Americans. What is so powerful from this selection is the dark shading, often used to make great emphasis against the white backgrounds of the other pages, while also connecting Lewis's ideology to that of Gandhi. These pages clearly express in both visuals and words 

        2. Pages 90-95

    This is my favorite panel from March: Book 1, and is when the Woolworth's lunch counter closes and turns off the lights on Lewis and the other sit-in protesters. Pages 90-95 are when the sit-ins fully begin in earnest, and the power of these panels really sells the importance of this movement. This section would be a great introduction to students. The shading, the eye light, and the composition of this panel above sold me on this graphic novel. 

    Overall Thoughts

        March: Book One is powerful, historic, charming, and a wonderful part of John Lewis's legacy. I was not very familiar with Lewis's personal life; however, this book made his rise to speaker at the Million Man March, and his election to Congress really feel like progress for Black Americans. Even though he is the co-author of this work, this book doesn't feel self-aggrandizing, simply important. The "spirit of history" is a clear driving force in Lewis's life. This book was a fast read, both because of its thematic importance in American history and its impressive design. There are many scenes with Martin Luther King Jr., however, he is never portrayed as some god-like figure, but a man, a mentor, and a friend to Lewis. Rosa Parks is also treated as a dear friend, her accomplishments an important background detail to Lewis's life, again, not due to unimportance but for thematic continuity and careful storytelling. I really liked this book; every part seemed fruitful for students to explore. 

    Future Explorations

     I am for sure reading the rest of this trilogy, and I'm sure it won't take me long. I have now read three graphic novels for my YA list, and as much as I loved Homebody, I am most impressed with March: Book One. I was disappointed when I was done reading, as I felt the story was just getting going. John Lewis and Andrew Aydin craft a memoir that is instantly memorable. I want to find a way to weave this book into my classroom, even though I feel like March is almost definitely being read in social studies classrooms in my district. I think historical fiction and memoir have been great subgenres for graphic novels, and when making my way through this list, have become some of the most fun YA literature works to read. 

# 8 - Rising from the Ashes: Los Angeles, 1992. Edward Jae Song Lee, Latasha Harlins, Rodney King, and a City on Fire by Paula Yoo

 Just The Basics

    Published: May 7, 2024

    Genre: Nonfiction 

    Pages: 368

    Acknowledgements: Winner of the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award

        "Who is going to remember them? It is a simple question that has a simple answer. We all will."

    "Rising from the Ashes" is a nonfiction book about the 1992 Los Angeles uprising. However, while the destruction and loss of life in May of 1992 was triggered by the not-guilty verdict of the police officers involved in the beating of Rodney Glen King, Yoo contextualizes the civil unrest in the grater context of systematic racism, media bias, and supposed Korean-Black tensions in LA begining in the thrid wave of Koren immagration to California, to the flashpoint of Sa I Gu (the korean name for the LA "riots"). Now, more than 30 years later, Sa I Gu is shown to be much more than about Rodney King's beating, as Yoo memorializes the tragic death of Latasha Harlins and Eddy Song Lee, as other pivotal moments in Los Angeles's struggles with police violence, redlining, and economic segregation. From The Ashes tells the story of many people in Los Angeles gaining a sense of national identity, building strong cross-ethic relationships, and pushing for systemic changes in the wake of civil unrest. A profound period of change, all facilitated by the loss of life of the three individuals named in the work's title. 

    Why "Rising from the Ashes"?

    Rising from the Ashes was the winner of the 2024 YALSA award for Excellence in Nonfiction, and I was intrigued by the subject matter. I was born in Colorado in 1996, and knew next to nothing about the LA "riots", the Watts "riots", or how Rodney King's story continued past the infamy of his police beating. I am, of course, aware of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protest, participating in the Denver march myself, and I had yet to understand the longer historical context of how policy brutality has been received by the American public. This book read as an educated, compassionate, and detailed account of how Korean-Black relationships were tumultuous in the decade of my birth, how redlining had pushed desperate people of color in LA to build gangs, and how the LA Times and other media institutions unfairly shaped the coverage of the King Case, the Harlins case, and the Song Lee case in a way that has muddled their cultural relivance. Even as systematic racism plagues the institution of policing across America, Yoo uses the lens of Sa I Gu to contextualize how violence, protest, and rebellion in LA shaped both the Korean-American communities and the Black communities nationwide. 

     Teaching Considerations

     Whenever I read a nonfiction book for this list, I always think that these works would work equally well in a social studies class, along with my own in ELA. Rising from the Ashes is no expectation. This work is both as factual as it is compassionate, as informative as it is moving. There is some strong language and anti-police sentiment; however, these only exist in the testimonies from this difficult time and stem from reasonable frustration with racism and racist systems. This novel would work well for whole-class study, and with the complexity of the Latasha Harlins case in particular, would be best for older readers. This book is not hard to read in terms of its prose, but is frustrating to read due to its topical focus. Yoo's book would work best with ample support from the teacher and plenty of whole-class discussions to dissect the issues presented. Where this book shines is its contemporality; published in 2024, Yoo's work connects the Sa I Gu with modern issues of racism, Black Lives Matter, and even the COVID pandemic. 

`      Sections to Read Aloud  & Reasoning

1. Chapter 8: Flashpoint, Page 235

• "'It hurt my heart," she said. "I cried. I cried really hard. Like, wow. It made me see how American really is."

    The above is a quotation from Dennetta Lyles King, Rodney King's ex-wife, as she first saw the video of his beating on national TV. This selection is a heartbreaking moment of defeatism from Dennetta, where her frustrations with police violence against Black men come to an ugly head as the abuse of her ex-husband is broadcast to the world. This moment shows the human impact of police brutality in a clear way to students. The entire Flashpoint chapter would be powerful to read aloud, as it chronicles the first moments of violent protest after the not-guilty verdict. "How American really is" is a hard-to-read remark, showing how jaded police violence has made some Black Americans, 

        2. Chapter 8: Flashpoint, Pages 273-274

• ''Afterwards, as Williams headed home, people saw Hirara's blood on his shirt and assumed the actor, who was Black, had been attacked. "It dawned on me that they could not tell his blood from mine," Williams said. "And so ultimately, when it comes down to it, we are the same.'"

    Even though the above story from actor GregAlan Williams is not a major story about the Sa I Gu, his heroic actions are still emblematic of those who endangered their lives to save others when the police had abandoned South LA in the wake of the protests. After the protests turned violent, people like GregAlan went to great lengths to help protect the lives of others. Again, Chapter 8 is full of stories that encapsulate both the good and the difficult parts of the reaction of the LA people to Rodney King's verdict. This whole chapter would be great for a close read or Book Talk preview. 

    Overall Thoughts

        Rising from the Ashes barely felt like YA nonfiction. Even with a simplistic writing style meant for a young audience, Yoo's work reads like a very thoughtful journalistic exposé on the 1990s in LA and how the racial tensions arose in the region. This book was powerful, giving each of those injured or killed their remembrance and recognition. I was struck by how humaizing Yoo's retelling of history was, and how much space was held for both the Korean and Black sides of the conflict. This book is written without bias; the emphasis on love, respect, and community is clear. This book modernizes the Sa I Gu era in Los Angeles and gives space for contemplation for all those hurt, without shying away from the facts of police brutality, while still showing the depth of life those who were lost had before their untimely passing. For me, all the way here in Colorado, I knew nothing of this struggle or this time; however, I can now clearly see how important this civil unrest is in an era of modern police reform. For students, this book would be just as informative and powerful as it was for me. 

    Future Explorations

     I love how Paula Yoo writes and researches. As a Korean-American woman who never learned to speak Korean, this book was a personal look from the author at her own history that allowed for deep nuance and care for the subject. I want to read more of Yoo's work, and I found her approach to nonfiction and journalistic writing both captivating and strong. I'd love to read more of her work and find ways to implement her words into my classroom. Even though I might not always have the space for nonfiction books about historical events in my ELA classroom, I think her narrative style works so well to capture human stories. I will have to find a way to allow her words to reach my students. 

#7 - Heavy Vinyl Volume 1 by Carly Usdin, Illustrated by Nina Vakueva

 Just The Basics

    Published: August 23, 2016

    Genre: Graphic Novel, Action Adventure, Coming-of-age

    Pages: 112 Pages

    Acknowledgements: YASL Great Graphic Novels for Teens

        

    "Heavy Vinyl" is a graphic novel series about a young lesbian girl named Chris, who, by getting a job at her local record shop, Vinyn Destination, unknowingly joins the ranks of an all-girl vigilante fight club. Heavy Vinyl is set in 1993, and in a vein very similar to Scooby Doo, this group of young heroines solves crimes that the police are either too busy or too stupid to understand. In this first volume of the series, Chris is introduced to the gang at Vinyl Destination and leverages her adoration for her favorite band, Stegosour, to solve the mysterious disappearance of the band's front woman, Rosie Riot. This graphic novel is about girl-power all the way; each of the Vinyl Destination employees is emblematic of passion, knowledge, and self-sufficiency. Chris and the other girls find identity and power in their time in the fight club, as well as finding depth in their passion for music. This is only the first part of the series, but Heavy Vinyl sets up a feminist story where young passionate music fans take on a music industry hell-bent on removing the message of empowerment from female voices in music, attempting to undercut this message in exchange for conformity and male-dominated voices. 

    Why "Heavy Vinyl Volume 1"?

    "Heavy Vinyl" struck me by its art style first and foremost.  When compiling my list of YA titles, Nina Vakueva's art brought me back to the days of classic comic books. This first volume took a while to get on loan from the library, evidently very popular among young readers. I have always loved vinyl records, so the setting of Vinyl Destination in the 1990s seemed fun and charming. I don't think this is a series I would have read as a young man; however, I see why both the art style and topical feminist focus would draw in young queers girls in particular. For music-passionate young women, this graphic novel would be a fun read, especially if readers listen to the music explored in the story, like Placebo, Portishead, and more. Chris and Maggie's (another Vinyl Destination employee) queer love story adds another dimension that both characterizes these two while also making another access point for young readers to see themselves in the story. This story marries several interests and niches of young queer life in a way that students can relate to while reading a mysterious story, packed with action and humor. 

     Teaching Considerations

     I think Heavy Vinyl is for an age range a bit lower than those I teach in high school; this comic seems most appropriate for middle schoolers, grades 7th to 8th.  Describing the teaching considerations for this story is a bit difficult for me, as the story seems mostly for entertainment. The moments where feminism, girl-power, and the literal fighting of the patriarchy are explored all seem very blunt and not clouded by any subtext. From a visual analysis standpoint, the art also does not shrowd the story in any symbolism, limiting the visual analysis of Heavy Vinyl to how the font choices might reflect some characterization. This first volume of Heavy Vinyl would best suit low-level readers at the beginning of their secondary education. The themes of this story are clear, direct, and, while a bit ham-fisted for me, would be easily noticeable by young 7th graders.  I think this graphic novel is best for individual reading or choice reading in or out of the classroom. There are no real warnings for language, sexual content, and even the violence in this story is few and far between, existing as nothing more violent than fighting in early superhero comics (think pow! Boom! Splat!). If this comic finds its target audience, I'm sure they will enjoy it, but for those students who do not see themselves reflected in this book, they will likely speed through this volume without gaining much. 

`      Sections to Read Aloud  & Reasoning

1. Chapter 3, Page 74

    This scene most clearly exposes this story's themes of girls fighting back against sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and the oppressions of the patriarchy around them. For young readers, this would be a great point to begin analyzing what this story is all about. As Chris learns how to fight, she learn how to be self-sufficient, teamwork, and the meaning of girl-power. 

        2. Chapter 4, Page 96

In chapter 4, the story of the first volume has been concluded, while the overarching struggle of Rosie Riot and the silencing of her voice by her record company is just beginning to unfold. This is another thematic moment where an oppressive system aimed at silencing women is highlighted. This moment also exposes where the entire series is going, and would get those readers who liked this volume to keep reading. This plot line is only getting started in this chapter, but is what will be explored in the next volumes.

    

    Overall Thoughts

        Heavy Vinyl is not for me, and that's OK. In a classroom setting, I don't think there is much to say about this story, its themes, or its subtext. The themes of female empowerment raging against the patriarchy are important, and I did love all the musical nods, but this story seemed basic, blunt, and sometimes flat. The characters were cute, developed, and relatable for young readers, but still didn't seem very "teachable" for me. This graphic novel seems a better choice for students to read for fun rather than something I should assign in class. I hope young queer girls who are passionate about music find this story and enjoy seeing themselves presented clearly in this work. I like knowing about this series as a recommendation to students for some fun summer reading, but I don't think this story has enough to analyze to have a space in my curriculum. From an artistic standpoint, the paneling, shot choice, and use of color are fun and nice to look at, but there is also little room for subtextual analysis of the decisions made by the illustrator. This comic was cute, don't get me wrong, but I think assigning this book is not something I'm looking to do. The fun of Heavy Vinyl should be for those who relate to it, finding it for themselves, and bingeing the story all in one weekend. 

    Future Explorations

     Growing up, I read lots more manga than I did American comics. I always found manga to tell more compelling stories with much more interesting and substantive visuals. Heavy Vinyl Volume 1 did get me thinking, have I maybe been missing out? My misgiving of this story still did not scare me off from wanting to read more YA graphic novels of this style. In fact, I am more passionate now about finding more thematically deep American comics/graphic novels that are worth reading and analyzing in a classroom setting. The artwork of this volume was amazing; however, the story didn't land with me. I may also look through other illustration work of Nina Vakueva, just to see what else she has lent her talented hand to. 

#6 - Scythe by Neal Shusterman

 Just The Basics

    Published: November 22, 2016

    Genre: Speculative Fiction, Dystopian Fiction 

    Pages: 435

    Acknowledgements: ALA Michael L. Printz Honor Book 

        "Death makes the whole world kin."

    "Scythe" is the first book in the New York Times Bestseller "Arch of Scythe" trilogy and is a speculative fiction novel set in a post-mortal dystopia. In a future where aging, disease, and hardship have all been cured, and mankind is immortal, the order of the Scythes stands as harbingers of death, career grim reapers tasked with controlling the human population through the "gleaning" of lives. Seventeen-year-old Citra and Rowan are brought on as Scythe apprentices, ironically for their bravery in the face of death and their compassion for others. Through the novel, Citra and Rowan are shaped to be tools of death in their apprenticeships, while they face the moral toll of taking lives and inflicting pain, while still examining the deeper philosophical meaning behind their murderous duties. The novel looks at humanity in a future not ruled by the entropy of death. As they become Sythes, Citra and Rowan grow into polar opposite creations of their times, full of compassion for those they kill, while simultaneously exposing the corruption of the Sythehood around them. 

    Why "Shythe"?

    "Scythe" is one of the two novels on my YA lit list that I am teaching as a part of the book clubs. For this last unit of the year, my sophomore class will all read books in a unit on civil disobedience. When speaking to other teachers in my grade, Scythe seems to be a favorite choice among the books offered. Now finishing the novel, I understand why. When I think of YA literature, I think of books like Scythe-- dystopian novels (akin to The Hunger Games), where young, gifted, protégés of great and powerful mentors (akin to Harry Potter), face off against both their own moral dilemmas with newfound power, and wage war against the corrupted system around them. This novel is as fun to read as the previous YA titans I have just mentioned, and will no doubt be made into a film or series one day. More than some other books I have read, I sped through Scythe excited to see where the plot was going, and eager to see how Citra and Rowan mature through their blood-drenched lives. While this book contains violence, murder, and tons of knife and gunplay, the story is still crafted in a way that would be engaging to young readers, while still asking students big questions about the role death plays in human society. 

     Teaching Considerations

     I love this book for book clubs, and am very excited to see what my students think of it. While I don't think this novel would work well for whole-class discussion (as it does lack higher-level figurative language and thematic subtext), I think Scythe would get students excited to read for school. Much like I felt when reading it, the plot is exciting, the characters are interesting, and the story feels believably futuristic. Shusterman's novel would be great to teach in small groups, especially if those groups are comprised of typical non-readers. The accessibility of this book makes it a great fit for students in the ninth or tenth grade, again especially if these students struggle with the loftiness of classic literature and want a fun-to-read story that will keep them reading, just to see what happens. This novel is no more gory than a PG-13 movie, and the death within the story is only shocking and gratuitous when commenting on mass violence. These moments of mass violence might be triggering to some students, but the moments of senseless violence still contain purpose within the narrative and do come with retribution eventually. The hardest part for students might be the elements of suicide within the novel; however, overall, all the death within Scythe is toned down for young adult readers to be analyzed on a deeper level. A unit containing this novel could look to answer these hard questions brought up by shocking moments of violence. How does one live with the guilt of taking another life? Does death play a necessary role in human existence? How would society look if murder and crime were replaced with a system that still requires capital punishment or human sacrifice? The theme of "civil disobedience" suits this book well. This novel subversly asks hard questions about the role of conformity in society (especially when the government requires violence to maintain order), the role of AI in government,  and what death might look like in a speculative future-- all while still being a thrilling read. 

`      Sections to Read Aloud  & Reasoning

1. Pages 390-391

• "We could have been called reapers, but our founders saw fit to call us scythes - because we are the weapons in mankind's immortal hand. You are a fine weapon, Rowan, sharp, and precise. And when you strike, you are glorious to behold.”

    This selection comes at a climactic moment for Rowan's character, and is a moment where a lot of the mass-murder proliferated by his mentor is "solved". Without context, this selection explains what the Scythes are, making this a great moment for a book talk. The power of Scythe Goddard's words also carries thematic meaning. When students get to this moment and understand the full context, the payoff is awesome. 

        2. Chapter 6: An Elegy of Scythes, Pages 69-75

• ''The moment the blade was drawn, he thrust himself forward onto it-a final willful act, making death his own choice, rather than the scythe's. Denying the scythe, if not his method, then his madness."

    Chapter 7 is the first moment of mass murder in the novel. While this moment is intense, it is also a mysterious introduction of the novel's antagonist. The massacre on the airplane stands in stark contrast to how death and murder are seen in other parts of the novel, but the random businessman, around whom the chapter centers, shows bravery and decisiveness in the face of death, choosing to be the first killed to allow others to escape. Moments of heroism like this abound in Scythe, making the above selection a great place to hook readers into this violent and somehow compassionate world. 

    Overall Thoughts

        Scythe might not be the deepest book students have read for school, and yes, often the plot is cliché or overly sophomoric (pun intended for me), but this story has a lot to offer students who might not love to read for school. I had fun when reading this story, I had fun imagining the dystopian society in which it takes place, and I had fun with the action-packed moments of battle. Other teachers who read Scythe in book club units remark that students will often finish the trilogy after this book is assigned, and I get it. Even now, I want to know how the story continues and what will happen to Citra and Rowan once they officially join the ranks of the Scythes. What this novel lacks in literary complexity, it makes up for in its exciting plot and fast-paced character development. Scythe might not treat death as seriously as it exists in reality, with grief and loss pushed to the background sometimes for plot simplicity, but these elements don't make it any less fun to read. My disbelief was suspended to continue on and see where the story went. I think this book would be a lot of fun for students, and evokes the same sense of fun I found in reading other young adult titles. For my students who spent this year reading The Great Gatsby and Bless Me, Ultima, Scythe will be a nice way to end their semester. This novel is something my students would read for fun without me assigning it, and that alone is reason enough to keep it in my classroom. 

    Future Explorations

     During my summers off or during a week-long break, I can seriously consider reading the next two books in this series. I was able to shut off my literary-analysis-English-teacher-brain as I read, and simply enjoyed myself. I have said it once, and it's worth saying again, but I want to know this story in its entirety for when Scythe gets its movie adaptation. While this book felt like junk food for me, I hope my students may find it entertaining and substantive. I am not a huge fan of other dystopian YA novels (I never liked Maze Runner or Divergent), but Scythe shows me that this staple part of the YA genre is still a fruitful area of exploration. I think I might be able to stomach some more YA dystopian literature to finish this series, and see what happens with Citra, Rowan, and the rest of the Scythedom. 

#5 - They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera

 Just The Basics

    Published: September 5, 2017

    Genre: Science Fiction, Romance, LGBT 

    Pages: 373

    Acknowledgements: Flicker Tale Children's Book Award for Older Readers Winner 2021

        "But no matter what choices we make - solo or together - our finish line remains the same… No matter how we choose to live, we both die at the end".

    "They Both Die at The End" is a science fiction-LGBT romance novel told from a collection of first person narratives, all surrounding a new service called Deathcast. Deathcast calls every person at midnight on the day they will die, with totally accuracy, however with no additional details on time of death or how they will pass. The novel focuses on the "last-friends" Mateo and Rufus, as they spend their last day together in New York City. In a novel about grief, loss, free will, fate, seizing the day, and social media, young readers of Silvera's work embark on a hollowing journey about what one does when they know they have no more life to live. From Mateo (a shut-in, an aromantic loner), to Rufus (an orphan with a violent streak), the many characters in this story all deal with their own death or the death of others. coming to understand how loss changes one fundamentally. All packaged in a queer romance between the two Last Friends Mateo and Rufus, "They Both Die at the End", doesn't pull any punches in creating an often brutal, yet tragic-and-beautiful love story about two young men learning to seize their final day alive together. 

    Why "They Both Die at the End"?

    At the school I currently teach at, this book is read in 10th grade English class. One day when I was subbing we listened to some passages on audiobook, and I was struck with the power in teaching both a queer love story and a novel so centered around grief in a general education classroom.  This book has become absurdly popular: hundreds of copies on shelves at Barnes and Noble, and even a Netflix series on the way. As I read this story, I was touched again and again by how this novel treats hardship with tenderness and love. I can see why we teach this book at my school; this novel is written in a way that's both relatable and understandable by students, however always fulfilling its promise: death regardless of how ones lives. This novel feels like a realistic-dystopia, the only change to the world being Deathcast. The characters all use real social media cites, live relatively normal lives, and cope with grief and loss in realistic ways. Yes, the main romance is between two boys (the rough-around-the-edges Rufus more openly queer than Mateo), however their tragic romance is not the main focus-- their eventual death is. This novel humanizes its characters without focusing too much on their sexuality. The world of this novel is close enough to realism that students can easily relate, yet still allowing for analysis of free will, fate, and the entropy of death. 

     Teaching Considerations

     I think it's smart of my school to teach "They Both Die at the End" as a whole-class novel, as its themes of both LGBT sexuality and loss giving several entry points for relatability for students. However, I think Silvera's work would also be a great addition to a Book Club unit. This novel would be a great fit in a unit on fate/free-will, coming-of-age, or a unit on the romance genre. Something also noteworthy is the plot and structure of all the first person narratives. Each story connects in some way, even if the character narrating is only seen briefly. The plot may function around Mateo and Rufus, but the world of Deathcast is explored indirectly by every narration. This novel would be a great fit for both individual study, and whole group study, for students in the 9th-10th grade. Its an accessible and powerful read, with enough substance to be dug into by a class, even if a lot of the language used in the novel lacks complex metaphor and deep subtext. 

`      Sections to Read Aloud  

1. The Plutos 6:33 PM (Pages 333-334)

• "Entire lives aren't lessons, but there are lessons in lives".

1. Maeto 5:48 PM (Pages 320-324)

• “I cannot tell you how you will survive without me. I cannot tell you how to mourn me.  I cannot convince you to not feel guilty if you forget the anniversary of my death, or if you realize days or weeks or months have gone by without thinking about me. I just want you to live.”

1. Mateo 3:14 AM (Pages 72-79)

• "But no matter what choices we make - solo or together - our finish line remains the same … No matter how we choose to live, we both die at the end.”

    Overall Thoughts

        While this novel isn't perfect, it's a great look into grief for young queer kids. There are moments that made me cringe, from forced slang used by Rufus to pretty basic authorial-voice. I do think there is solace in this novel for kids who are struggling with difficult adult issues. This novel reminds me of Romeo and Juliet, where the dramatic actions of our doomed-lovers might not always be realistic, but instead serve as a vehicle for young adult readers to consider how free will and fate are intertwined. I understand the purpose of this novel, and there is power in how it would deliver its message to the right group of young readers. I think queer kids, who statistically will face more death and loss in LGBT communities than their cis/heterosexual classmates, would find solace in this story and its message about finding love, even if that love may only last a day. This novel is a brave conceptual choice to teach in a classroom: death is portrayed as sudden and tragic, the effects of loss lasting a lifetime. Where this novel comes up short can be easily overlooked by how it would encourage young readers to think about how they live their lives and how they deal with loss. 

    Future Explorations

     A part of me wants to read this books prequel, "The First to Die at the End" and would watch the Netflix series if it comes out. I enjoyed how Silvera constructed an intertwining story a lot, and found this novel a breath of fresh air in a genre saturated with dystopia-focused YA literature. In the future, I am excited to read more LGBT YA literature and see how queerness is used as a characterization method. I liked how in "They Both Die at the End" the characters were queer, and they fall in love, however this was not the absolute center of the narrative. I think I still groan a bit when thinking about how much science fiction I will read as I continue through the YA genre, but I enjoyed this book enough to not be discouraged as I read more stories thematically like this one. 

#4 - Twenty-four Seconds from Now... by Jason Reynolds

   Just The Basics

    Published: October 8, 2024

    Genre: Realistic Fiction, Romance 

    Pages: 239

    Acknowledgements: 2025 Coretta Scott King (CSK) Author Award

        "But this ain't no movie. This is real life. And the beginning of a special regular story where two people meet and help each other make something beautiful, at the risk of making a mess".

    "Twenty-four Seconds" is a teenaged romance story told in reverse, the story of Neon and his long-term girlfriend Aria starting twenty-four seconds before they lose their virginity together. Jason Reynolds constructs their story, starting in an intense moment of doubt as Neon debates whether or not he is ready for this moment with Aria. Then, tracing their romance back to its starting point two years earlier on the day of Neon's grandfather's funeral. This story focuses on the couples family and friends, as the people in Neon and Aria's life shape and nurture their romance, on the edge of graduating high school and going to college. While some stories about romance between Black characters might focus on stereotype or hardship, "Twenty-four Seconds" focuses on what Reynolds calls a "regular love story", where the struggles of adulthood and budding sexuality are more than enough to push the narrative forward. The families in this novel are whole, with each mother and father sharing words of wisdom with their kids, both supporting them as well as cautioning them on the risks of sex. Surrounded by a unique cast of friends of varying sexualities, Neon and Aria are shown as kids before all else, both learning themselves that they are people over sex objects, even as they learn what romance in adulthood looks like. This novel is a close look at the characters first intimate moment and lovingly enshrines Neon and Aria's coupling by showing the context and familial situation that lead these two teenagers to be young adults first, giving their trepidations and nervousness a deep emotional impact. 

    Why "Twenty-four Seconds"?

    "Twenty-four Seconds" is the 2025 winner of the Coretta Scott King Award for Young Adult Literature, and as I perused the list of winners, this title stood out to me. The topic of first sexual encounters seemed important for adolescents audiences, and is something I have not seen explored in YA literature without being wrapped in trauma of some sort. I was reading "Unboxing of a Black Girl: at the time and was acutely aware of the adultification and over sexualization Black youth face, and wanted to try a novel that took another angle. I was surprised how wholesome Reynolds story was, and even more tickled in the Pulp-Fiction-style reverse narrative structure (a perfect fit for protagonist Neon who has aspirations to attend films school after high school). This novel was simple, but still compelling in its approach to telling a first-time love story between two Black teenagers. The cast of characters in this relatively short story are all likable right away, the novel centering all types of relationships-- and all types of love-- thematically at the center. 

     Teaching Considerations

     Obviously, this book is about sex, and might be an awkward read-aloud with the wrong group of students. This novel would be best suited for individual reading, as the topics addressed are personal, and even awkward on purpose, to help young readers understand the complications of dealing with first loves, first sexual experiences, and talking about sex with one's family. That being said, "Twenty-four Seconds" would be a great novel for high schoolers in diverse school communities. This book shows that being Black doesn't have to look one way, all Black characters mold-breaking in their individuality and interests. This book would be a nice fit in a unit about sexuality, but also units focusing on coming-of-age novels, Neon and Aria experiencing a right of passage not often addressed in units of this kind. 

`      Possible (less awkward) Sections to Read Aloud  

1.  Chapter 4 (Pages 77-83)

• "I still don't know if Dodie knows anything about sex. If he's ever even had it. But he loves to talk about it, and he especially loves to sing about it. Scream about it" (pg. 83). 

1. Chapter 7 (Pages 205-214)

• "Yeah, well, one of these days your daddy's probably gon' tell you some stupid shit about sowing your oats. His daddy taught him that, and his daddy before that."

    Overall Thoughts

        I have never read anything like "Twenty-four Seconds", both because I am not the type to read romances, but also because this is the type of book I would have shied away from as a kid. Talking about sex is hard for kids, and especially hard in a classroom setting. This novel was filled with so much optimism, optimism aimed directly at what it means to be a Black teen in a world that sexualizes and adultifies these kids in so many ways. I think while some students might shy away from a romance novel, especially with one with this structure and theme, however those who are brave enough to explore this novel will find a story full of true, humanizing, love. Its clear that Reynolds wanted to write a novel to go against other White-centered teen romances, packaging the tropes of the genre in a way that lets Black boys in particular allow themselves to be nervous-- not letting themselves grow up too fast. This novel is as interesting in its structure as it is loving and pure. 

    Future Explorations

    This novel makes me want to explore the genre of YA romance more. While love stories have a connotation of being pulpy or overly smutty, this novel proved to me that romance can be a powerful genre to communicate a message. This novel made me think a lot about how media shaped how kids (especially Black kids) are exposed to sex in media. This novel takes such time to humanize both Neon and Aria, both kids never being pressured into sex, all deciding when it was the right time for their love to move to a physical place. In the future, I want to read more YA romance and see if more of these works can reach the bar set by "Twenty-four Seconds", in terms of both the treatment of sex in these works, as well as the overall treatment of the characters who are involved.