Weetzie Bat

I think this book has become a new favorite around my place! It is so heartfelt, quirky, and the characters are so lovable that it's hard not to like it. I really enjoy how fast paced it is. I was never bored and even though the book was short I really felt like the characters were well developed. I think that Block really sums up the book in the last line when she writes, "I don't know about happily ever after...but I know about happily, Weetzie Bat thought". Even though Weetzie Bat and her friends aren't exactly the most conventional family they have found happiness anyway. This fits perfectly with the whole story because not much about any of them is very conventional but they are great people who aren't perfect but are loyal and care about each other. I really like all the weird names, I just love the name My Secret Agent Lover Man. It's just funny and cute. I think that a lot of teens would like this novel because it is fun and fast paced and even though it is an older book it really doesn't seem that dated. I am looking forward to the debate tomorrow to see what everyone else has to say about the book!

101 Ways to Dance by Kathy Stinson

I really enjoyed this book, it was an engaging read and I think that a lot of teens would enjoy it. It was very sexual, there were some scenes that were very erotic, but I liked this because it didn't shy away from some of the forms of sexuality that people often avoid. There is such a wide variety of people, relationships, feelings, and sexual experiences in this novel and they are written so well that you can really get a feel for what is going on. Although, I didn't quite understand what was going on with the balloons in "everybody love a clown"...??? I thought that it covered a lot of the standard issues that teens face in terms of relationships and sex like teen pregnancy, losing your virginity, getting caught, and sexual orientation but it also covered some more off the grid topics such as the relationships between teens with cancer or teens that have developmental disabilities. I thought this was interesting, and I think that this book would be a good outlet for teens to experience some of the forms of sexuality that many people look down on or refuse to talk about.

Sherman Alexie: YA Profile

Sherman Alexie: YA Author Profile

Sherman Alexie was born near Spokane, Washington in 1966. He grew up on the Spokane Indian Reservation and is a Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Native American. Alexie graduated from high school in 1985 and attended Gonzaga University in Spokane before transferring to pre-med at Washington State University. After realizing he did not want to become a doctor, Alexie was encouraged to follow a path in creative writing. He received a B.A. in American Studies from WSU. He was 23 when he published his first collection of poems and has since become one of the most well known contemporary Native American authors in the United States and Canada. He currently lives in Seattle, WA with his family.

Sherman Alexie is best known for his works of poetry, short fiction and novels. He received the Washington State Arts Commission Poetry Fellowship in 1991 and the National Endowment for the Arts Poetry Fellowship in 1992. He has published over 20 books of poetry and fiction. His work is also featured in dozens of anthologies including The Longman Anthology of Poetry and The Norton Anthology of American Literature. His first published work was The Business of Fancy Dancing, a collection of poetry, in 1991. He is best known for his collection of short stories, The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven, (1997). Although Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian (2007), is considered his first young adult work, many of his other works are considered cross-over works that may appeal to both adults and young adults. The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven is one of those works; the collection of stories revolves around two young men, Thomas Builds-the-fire and Victor Joseph, as they experience a personal journey through pain, death, and healing. Reservation Blues has also been used as a classroom resource to introduce young adults to Native American literature. His works are internationally known and have been translated into over 10 other languages. His most recent publication is a collection of poetry titled Face, Small Press Distribution's best selling poetry book of 2009.

Sherman Alexie’s works have been widely accepted and he has won numerous awards nationally and internationally. In 1996 Alexie was cited as one of the “Twenty Best American Novelists Under the Age of 40” by Granta Magazine. His book The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature in 2007 and has received over 20 other nominations and awards from organizations such as the New York and LA Times and the ALA. He is a New York Times Bestseller and his book Reservation Blues (1994) won the Before Columbus Foundation's American Book Award. The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven (1993) received a Hemingway Foundation/PEN Award. Other recent awards include the 2010 PEN / Faulkner Award for Fiction for War Dances; the 2009 ALA Odyssey Award for The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian audio book; the 2009 Mason Award; and a 2008 Scandiuzzi Children's Book Award. Alexie has also received two honorary degrees from Seattle University and Columbia College, Chicago.

Sherman Alexie’s works are primarily autobiographical; he bases his poetry and fiction on his experiences being a Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Native American. He also draws inspiration from his life growing up on the Spokane Indian Reservation. His writing holds elements of traditional Native American storytelling and incorporates both traditional and contemporary aspects of Native American culture. He often critiques the relationships between non-Natives and Native Americans as a reflection of his experiences. A recurrent theme in his literature is the critique of the image that has been created for Native Americans by non-Natives, especially since the existence of Hollywood productions featuring Native Americans. One way in which his writing is unique is that he does not present Native American culture as something that is becoming extinct but as something that is growing and changing just like the rest of the world. His writing aims to give a contemporary perspective on Native American ways of life. Humor is an important aspect in Alexie’s writing and he often intertwines deep complexities with the light heartedness of humor. He also uses magic realism to give spirit to his writing; this is seen in The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven where Thomas Builds-The-Fire, the quirky and puzzling friend of Victor, is a real life storyteller, prophet, and spiritual healer. Alexie’s writing is not only engaging, humorous and original it is thought provoking and enlightening to those who may not know a lot about life on a reservation or being a person of Native American origin.

Sherman Alexie often experiments with mediums other than print. He is well known for his film Smoke Signals (1998), based off one of the stories in The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven. This film won the American Indian Film Award for Best Film and the Sundance Film Festival Audience Award. He is also known for his film The Business of Fancydancing, which he both wrote and directed. Alexie has been involved in the creation of music based on his writing; his songs can be found on the motion picture soundtracks of Smoke Signals and The Business of Fancydancing as well as in a collaborative production with Tim Boyd called Reservation Blues (1995). Alexie has also written many articles for various publications including Time and Aboriginal Voices. These articles are primarily about Alexie’s perspective on contemporary issues faced by Native Americans. He also writes about reading, writing, current political issues, and reviews of other works. In addition, Alexie takes a live approach to his humor and has participated in several stand-up comedy events such as the Vancouver International Comedy Festival. Sherman Alexie’s successful career is based on his unique perspectives, his diversity of interests, and his drive to educate people of all ages and races. His voice is an important contribution to all classifications of literature and is enjoyed by a wide variety of readers nationally and internationally.

Boyz n the Hood Review

Title: Boyz n the Hood
Director: John Singleton
Starring: Cuba Gooding Jr., Laurence Fishburne and Ice Cube. 
Sony Pictures, 1991.
DVD, $23.00 (Amazon).
Appropriate Grades 11 and up / Ages 17 and up.
Star rating (3.5/4)



Director and writer John Singleton has directed many critically acclaimed films including Poetic Justice, Higher Learning, and Four Brothers. His films often offer commentary on the issues of racism and violence in the United States. He received two Oscar nominations for this film, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. Boyz n the Hood is one of the best examples of life in the hood for young African American males. It follows Tre Styles, and intelligent and sensitive young man, and his resistance to violence, alcohol, and drugs through his desire to achieve, his love of his friends, and the guidance of his political father.  It is an engaging and emotional film about the pains of poverty, the destruction of gang violence, the dangers and pleasures of sex. But, it is not only about the strive to make the African American ghetto a better place but also about how the bonds of family and friendship make the world a better place. Although the harshness of the ghetto is shown, the film also portrays the normalcy of families, their hopes and dreams, their educational goals, and what they do for fun. The National Film Preservation Board, Library of Congress selected Boyz n the Hood for preservation because of its cultural significance. This film offers an intelligent perspective on important social issues of race and poverty that are still present in today's society. This film will appeal to young adults interested in social issues and African American culture. This film is intended for mature audiences. Cost is average for a DVD.


Recommended with reservations. There is a significant amount vulgar language, violence, and some sexual content.

Rutherford Article

I agree with Rutherford that the internet definitely fuels the formation of taste cultures by attempting to bring the writer, publisher, and reader together. I like when she states that the publishing industry "uses the Internet and social media in ways that deliberately disguise a promotional intent, mimicking the ostensibly non–commercial discourse of youth sociability in online channels". I think that she's right that the best results come from strategies that seem "organic, viral and uncommercial in nature". This is probably because fans feel as though their relationships with the author and publisher are more wholesome.  


I thought that Rutherford's commentary on celebrity image was interesting. It was interesting to see how the media tries to portray Stephanie Meyer and also how she chose to portray herself separately from the Twilight Saga. Fans can see actual posts from Stephanie Meyer and follow Robert Pattinson on Twitter for an even closer experience to knowing some of the celebrities involved with Twilight. Although, this can also work against the author or celebrity. My roommate has a crush on Damon from the Vampire Diaries so she thought she would follow him Ian Somerhalder on Twitter. But, after she read some of his posts she was disappointed that he wasn't bad boy Damon, but a guy who saves puppies and loves the environment. She decided she didn't really want to get to know him. Hilarious, I know. 


Fans have it pretty lucky; they are able to experience a whole other world separate from the texts or media they love. Blogs, forums, and websites are a great way to connect with other fans and share thousands of different experiences and opinions. It is also great for people who are unable to travel to see their favorite authors when they come for book tours or school visits, especially in Canada.