textbook blog #3

Realistic Fiction

The setting of a realistic fiction story needs to take place in the modern contemporary world.  This is what makes them feel “real” to the readers.  It can sometimes be abbreviated as “MRF” or “CRF”, standing for Modern Realistic Fiction and Contemporary Realistic Fiction respectively.

When looking at MRF for young adults there are a few criteria you should use to aid in your selection.  Make sure that the story is modern.  The use of language, tech, and social circumstances should feel contemporary.  Be sure to look out for stereotypes in books, as that may leave readers feeling slighted or left out.  Theme(s) should not be forced on the reader, they should emerge naturally in the story.  Also consider the way in which your readers are going to relate to this book.  Many MRF can feature subjects that can be a bit touchy, such as death, loss, sexuality, and family issues.  This becomes particularly important as a middle school librarian where you need to balance two different age groups.  Some YA topics may be too mature for younger kids.

I don’t have as much experience reading realistic fiction as I do fantasy.  In fact, I think I’ve read and am reading more realistic fiction for my library degree than I have my entire previous life.  So I good I’m getting this experience and expanding my horizons.  Learning more about realistic fiction is going to help to be able to recommend titles to the kids I service later on.

Nonfiction

Nonfiction is much easier to define by what it is not.  It is not fiction.  Nonfiction is more of an umbrella term encompassing many different genres and styles of writing.  Its main qualification is that it be factual.

There are 5 main criteria for evaluating a nonfiction book.

1.        What are the qualifications of the author?

Some authors are very narrow in their field of writing, while others write about a broad span of topics.  It is important to find out about any author you may be unfamiliar with.  Without leaving the book, there are ways to learn about the author.  The inside cover, dust jacket, or page before the end paper usually has a note about the author containing a small background.  Sometimes the author will leave their own notes that may detail their research.  If there isn’t enough information on the book itself, information can likely be found on the author’s website.

2.       Are the facts accurate?

Unless you happen to be an expert in the field that book was written, it can be hard to know for sure.  There are a few things that can check on that will lend credence to their accuracy.  First, check their sources.  The author should have a bibliography, and maybe a list of acknowledgements.  These will tell you where the author sourced their information.  Some organizations, such as the NSTA, will list books they have checked out and are factually accurate.  You might even just do a compare and contrast activity with kids or on your own.  How do the facts in this book compare to others on the same subject?

3.        What is the purpose and scope?

Books within the same subject area can differ in purpose and scope.  The broadness of the information covered, or the age groups it is appropriate for are example of scope differences.  Even books within the same series, such as the It’s Perfectly Normal trio, can differ in scope.  So ultimately, the educator needs to judge for what purpose and in what scope do they need the information before selecting the book.

4.       How does organization of the book assist in locating information?

Organization starts right from the beginning with the table of contents.  A table of contents helps the researcher find general information about what might be in the book.  At the end of the book is the index, which will give much more specific information about where to locate topics.  There may be other appendices as well that help provide additional information.  Glossaries are pretty common, and help researcher s to understand word meanings.

5.       What role do visuals play?

Visuals can be very important in attracting readers and keeping their attention.  Pictures and photographs can help readers to visualize the information.  They can also help to break up the text into smaller tidbits of information.  A long drawn out page of text can seem to drone on, but if you break it up into smaller chunks aside pictures it helps readers to better digest that information.

It is important to keep a balanced library.  You should never assume you don’t have any kids that wouldn’t be interested in reading on a certain subject.  Even you don’t actually have kids that fall into certain religious categories or other categories, it is still important to have the resources available for the kids you do have to learn about these groups.

The library is all about information.  A librarian’s job is to supply a community with the information it desires, and to assist them in finding it when they request so.  Knowing about non-fiction helps to satisfy this function of the library.  In order to give the community correct information when they need it, the resources the library contains need to be worthwhile.

Fantasy

Fantasy deals with a world in which the laws of physical reality have been altered.  It may involve science, but it may involve magic as well.  Fantasy books should be evaluated so:

1.        Characters should behave in believable ways.

2.       There should still be rules for this fantasy world.   Even if the laws of the universe are different than our own, the universe should still be expected to act a certain way.

3.       The author writes in a way that will help you to accept and enjoy the difference in this world, even though you know it to be false.

4.       The themes of fantasy stories should explore “universal truths.” Yes it is fantasy, but people are still people and their issues will still be similar to our own.

Science Fiction

While all Science Fiction is Fantasy, Not all Fantasy is Science Fiction.  Science fiction is a division of Fantasy.  In these types of stories, like fantasy, there is a violation of the laws of our current physical reality.  In Science Fiction though, it typically has a link to technology of some sort.  Some of the basic categories of Sci-Fi are as follows.

Apocalyptic- Deals with some impending catastrophe and how the characters are dealing with it.

Post-Apocalyptic- The major event has already happened and the characters are living in the world that resulted.  Depending on the time frame since the apocalypse, the characters may have no memory of how the world was before.

Steampunk- this type of story envisions a world in which steam powered machines are the dominant technology.  Often they are set in a Victorian-style world.

Cyberpunk- These deal with computers.  Typically the story is darker, and there is some conspiracy that is being uncovered.

Biopunk- Biotechnology is key in these stories.  DNA splicing or some mechanism has created new creatures/ people.  These stories can be similar to cyberpunk in their themes.  I think my favorite book, Jurassic Park, falls into this category.

Dystopia- The characters in these stories live in the illusion of a perfect world.  1984 is a great example of this.  Typically a “big brother” type government is watching your every move, pushing conformity, and using propaganda to control its citizens.  With all this forced conformity you can expect someone to rebel.

Extra Sensory Perception- books that involve E.S.P have characters that use their mind to perform unusual abilities.  This may involve mind reading, telekinesis, or even foretelling the future.

Robots/ robot like- Stories that involve any kind of smart technology I’m including here.  This could include things that are strictly technological (robots, androids, A.I) or humans that are part machine (Cyborgs).

Space-  The final frontier.  Sorry, couldn’t resist quoting Star Trek.  Like Star Trek, space stories may involve exploring space.  They may also be about colonizing it, or just have a setting in a place that is not earth.   Aliens may come into factor as well.  Aliens are typically either part of a conspiracy, invading earth, or barely making contact with us.

Time Travel and Parallel Universes- When traveling into the past, it can be easy to create changes in your timeline.  Sometimes this may evolve into a paradox, which than may lead to the creation of an entirely different universe.  Not all parallel universes are the result of time travel though, they may have already been there just waiting for you to fall in.

Virtual Reality and Gaming- What happens when the game isn’t just a game?  In a V.R. story, the character may get trapped in the game, or solve a puzzle to beat the game because people’s lives depend on it.

In addition you could also classify your sci-fi as either “Hard” or “Soft”.  In hard science fiction, there is an emphasis on the science, and the accuracy of it.  Soft science fiction either deals with the “soft sciences” (psychology, anthropology, sociology) or doesn’t worry itself in being accurate with the science.  

Not every Sci-Fi book fits easily into one of these categories.  Many books fit into more than one, somewhere in between, or not at all.  As long as there a science concept in it that makes it different from reality, it counts.

Before this lesson I never realized that science fiction was a division of fantasy, which now makes perfect sense.  I’ve always been a fan of both, my favorite author being Michael Crichton.  There are so many division of this group!  I think I’ve read books pretty much from each one too.  One area I did not know about was Hard vs Soft science fiction.  I’m still a bit confused on where the line is drawn on those categories.  I know “soft” science fiction is supposed to concentrate on characters and story vs the science, but I feel a good science fiction novel has both of those aspects.    Either way, I’ve already been recommending books to fantasy lovers  (and those mildly interested) for a long time.

Graphic Novels

Like poetry, graphic novels are a form not a genre.  Graphic novels can span any genre or type of story  you can think of.  Though many teachers aren’t quite comfortable with them, they are popular reads amongst young people.  A graphic novel is in comic form, but differs from your classic Sunday comic in their complexity, length, and narrative development.

The basic parts of a graphic novel are similar to other comics containing panels, dialog balloons, thought bubbles, captions, and written sound effects.

Graphic novels promote literacy in quite a few ways.  One, it’s still a book.  If a person is reading it, they are still reading.  Graphic novels contain all the literary elements of a normal style novel.  Since the action is in picture form though, it can be easier to grasp certain elements such as mood and tone.  Certain special populations may also find it easier, depending on the novel, to understand what is going on in a graphic novel vs a written novel.  Since many students are attracted to the graphic novel style, this can be motivation to read.  That’s what we really want anyway; we want them to want to read.

For those unfamiliar with graphic novels, there are many ways to find out about them, and where to purchase them.  Review journals and websites will have information about the books.  Professional organizations like the ALSC produce lists of graphic novels by age group.  Listening to other people’s recommendations will help out.  Students will be all too happy to tell you what graphic novels they’re interested in.  The recommendation of the local comic-shop worker can be an immense help.  It’s their job to know what’s good for what age group, and what is popular.

Truthfully, I already share information on graphic novels on a weekly basis.  I am the sponsor for the Anime Culture Club at the high school I work at. Every week there will be a discussion with the students during club and out about what manga or comics they have read and their opinions on it.  So I’m constantly getting feedback through them.  I also draw on my own experience, as I have  a collection myself, mostly manga though.  I’ve like learning about other stand-alone graphic novels through this class though.  In addition, the library at my school has an extensive collection of many varieties of graphic novels.  Margie is a great librarian who knows how to get the books kids want, and I constantly see kids with checked out graphic novels.  I hope to learn more about them through my library.

Peck’s Questions

Richard Peck, children’s author, devised a list of ten questions to ask about a novel.  These questions will help you to analyze a book.  I’m going to list each question, with a little a bit about how they can help to evaluate a book.

1.       1.  What would the story be like if the main character were of the opposite sex?

     Imagining the story this way can help you to recognize stereotypes.  Some stories would only work the one way, for example Gabi: A Girl in Pieces, because it is about a teenage girl’s life and the stereotypes she faces.  Some can flip flop pretty easily, take Twilight. Stephanie Meyer rewrote this story in Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined, where the main characters are swapped genders.  

2.2.    Why is the story set where it is?

This helps to understand the setting as an author’s device of telling the story.  It helps to set the mood as well.

3.     3.   If you were to film the story, would you use color or black and white? Why?

This all about the tone of the film.  

4.    4.    If you could not use all the characters, which would you eliminate and why?

In film adaptations of books, often characters are modified or outright left out.  If a character is absolutely essential, it means something to the story.  Sometimes you do get characters that are pretty superfluous. 

5.    5.    How is the main character different from you?

If you can relate to a character that isn’t very similar to you, that means the writer has done well in making you empathize with that character. 

6.      6.  Would this story make a good TV series? Why or why not?

Is the flow of the book sequential to the chapters?  Some books don’t have those stop points that would give you a good break.

7.      7.  What one thing in the story happened to you?

It helps to understand the story when you can personally recognize how something feels.

8.      8.  Reread the 1^st paragraph of chapter 1.  What is in it to make you read on?  If nothing, why did you continue to read?

Find that hook that drew you in.  If there isn’t one in the first chapter, maybe you have a feeling things are going to happen later on in a different way.

9.     9.   If you had to design anew cover for the book, what would it look like?

They say never judge a book by its cover.  We all do that anyway. It’s an important marketing tool.  It can be deceptive though.  This past year I met Simone Elkeles, author of Perfect Chemistry.  She was quite upset over the new covers her publishing company had chosen for her books.  The newer covers are very girly and have hearts and kissing faces.  She stated that her books weren’t’ like that though, and many boys enjoyed them as well.  The cutesy cover is a way to draw in teen girls that like those stories.

1.10.    What does the title tell you about the book?  Does it tell the truth?

The title can be just as important in drawing someone in as the cover.  A good title hooks you into being interested.  Some titles tell something about the book in a straight forward way, like Jurassic Park, and some are more symbolic, like Twilight.

I get the feeling that these questions were originally created as an activity for children to do after reading a book, like a classroom assignment.  Regardless of that, the questions can be useful to anyone evaluating a book.  I may use some of them when doing my book blogs for this class.