Annotated Bibliography 2
- Steinbeck, J. (1994). Of Mice and Men. New York, N.Y., U.S.A: Penguin Books.
YA Universal Theme(s): Friendship, Justice, Freedom, Violence, Racism, Fall from Grace
Fitzgerald, F. S. (1995). The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner Paperback Fiction.
YA Universal Theme(s): Love, Status, American Dream, Dishonesty, Death, Revenge
Grade Level: Secondary
Summary: This classic novel takes place during the 1920s in New York City and Long Island. The narrator in this story is a young man named Nick Carraway. Nick has just moved into a small cottage in West Egg next to a mysteriously famous aristocrat named Jay Gatsby. Across the bay, Nick has a cousin named Daisy who is married to a hyper-aggressive man named Tom Buchanan. One day, Tom brings Nick into the city for an evening of heavy drinking and partying. Nick soon learns that Tom is cheating on his wife with a woman named Myrtle. Later, Nick is finally introduced to Gatsby when he is formally invited to one of Gatsby's extravagant parties in his luxurious mansion. Nick is in awe of Gatsby's life of abundance, and they begin spending more time together as friends. The story about how Gatsby became so rich is not perfectly clear at this point. Gatsby tells Nick that he had fallen in love with Daisy before he was deployed in the first world war. Nick helps arrange a meeting with Daisy and Gatsby to help reignite their romantic history. Gatsby feels hopeful that Daisy will leave Tom, but things do not go as planned. Tom, Daisy, Nick, and Gatsby spend an evening drinking together, and everyone finds out that Gatsby is a notorious bootlegger. After a drunken argument, Daisy rejects Gatsby's romantic advances. Daisy and Gatsby drive home together, and Daisy accidentally kills Myrtle in a car accident. In order to protect Daisy, Gatsby takes the blame for the accident, and Mrytle's husband kills Gatsby shortly after. Although Gatsby was not 100% honest, Nick still formed an interesting bond with Jay. Nick feels upset that nobody attends Gatsby's funeral and he regards Daisy and Tom as reckless and heartless. Love is one of the most important themes in this story. Gatsby made an absurd amount of money, but the only thing of value in his life was the desire to be with Daisy.
Yolen, Jane. (1988). The Devil's Arithmetic. New York, N.Y., U.S.A.: Viking Kestrel.
YA Universal Theme(s): Life, Death, Family, Good vs Evil, Memory, Perseverance
Grade Level: Secondary
Summary: This historical novel begins in modern-day New York where a young girl named Hannah is about to celebrate Passover with her family. Hannah criticizes her family for putting such a great emphasis on the past. Ironically, Hannah is transported back to Poland in 1942. Soon, the Nazi's invade her village, and Hannah is taken into a concentration camp. At the camp, Hannah receives her prisoner tattoo and her head is shaved. Hannah thinks she is dreaming at first, but she slowly begins to lose the memory of her life back in modern-day America. Out of desperation, Hannah and the other prisoners do whatever that can to survive. Occasionally, Hannah remembers bits and pieces of the history of World War 2, and she tries to warn the other prisoners about what is going on, but her peers think she is going crazy. The novel presents a detailed description of the horrifying conditions endured by the prisoners in the Nazi concentration camps. Hannah learns from her peers that maintaining hope and a sense of humor is one of the best ways to stay alive. The title of the book comes from the system used to select prisoners to be sent into the gas chambers. The arithmetic of the devil is unpredictable, and Hannah is eventually chosen to be executed. After, Hannah wakes up back in modern-day New York. Memory is one of the major themes in this story because Hannah was able to understand and empathize with the survivors of the Holocaust by having a first-hand experience inside the concentration camp. Now that she has returned home, Hannah is more appreciative of her family and the stories that define their history.
Salisbury, G. (1994). Under the Blood-Red Sun. New York: Delacorte Press.
YA Universal Theme(s): Friendship, Coming of Age, Courage, Survival, Good vs Evil, Family, Identity, Racism
Grade Level: Secondary
Summary: This historical novel takes in Hawaii in 1941. The main character is a Japanese-American boy named Tomi. Tomi is best friends with an American boy named Billy, and they love to play baseball together. Billy comes from a rich family, and Tomi's mom works as a maid in Billy's house. Although there is a distinct racial and financial difference, Tomi and Billy have a genuine friendship. Tomi is close to his father and grandfather, and sometimes they will spend the day on his dad's boat fishing. Suddenly, Pearl Harbor is bombed by the Japanese military, and Tomi's life turns to chaos. Tomi's father and grandfather are locked up at an internment camp because they were born in Japan. Soon, Tomi is forced to endure a barrage of racism, mistrust, and intolerance from the surrounding community. Now that his father and grandfather are imprisoned, Tomi must look after his mother and sister and protect each other from their skeptical neighbors. It is extremely difficult for Tomi to feel proud of his Japanese heritage during this time, but thankfully he is still supported by Billy and his other friends on the baseball team. Two of the main themes in this story are coming of age and friendship. Despite the overwhelming intolerance of Japanese people in Hawaii, Billy and Tomi's other friends continue to support him and his family. Lastly, Tomi goes through a coming-of-age process as he adapts to his new role as the man of the house.
Annotated Bibliography 2
- Steinbeck, J. (1994). Of Mice and Men. New York, N.Y., U.S.A: Penguin Books.
Fitzgerald, F. S. (1995). The Great Gatsby. New York: Scribner Paperback Fiction.
YA Universal Theme(s): Love, Status, American Dream, Dishonesty, Death, Revenge
Grade Level: Secondary
Summary: This classic novel takes place during the 1920s in New York City and Long Island. The narrator in this story is a young man named Nick Carraway. Nick has just moved into a small cottage in West Egg next to a mysteriously famous aristocrat named Jay Gatsby. Across the bay, Nick has a cousin named Daisy who is married to a hyper-aggressive man named Tom Buchanan. One day, Tom brings Nick into the city for an evening of heavy drinking and partying. Nick soon learns that Tom is cheating on his wife with a woman named Myrtle. Later, Nick is finally introduced to Gatsby when he is formally invited to one of Gatsby's extravagant parties in his luxurious mansion. Nick is in awe of Gatsby's life of abundance, and they begin spending more time together as friends. The story about how Gatsby became so rich is not perfectly clear at this point. Gatsby tells Nick that he had fallen in love with Daisy before he was deployed in the first world war. Nick helps arrange a meeting with Daisy and Gatsby to help reignite their romantic history. Gatsby feels hopeful that Daisy will leave Tom, but things do not go as planned. Tom, Daisy, Nick, and Gatsby spend an evening drinking together, and everyone finds out that Gatsby is a notorious bootlegger. After a drunken argument, Daisy rejects Gatsby's romantic advances. Daisy and Gatsby drive home together, and Daisy accidentally kills Myrtle in a car accident. In order to protect Daisy, Gatsby takes the blame for the accident, and Mrytle's husband kills Gatsby shortly after. Although Gatsby was not 100% honest, Nick still formed an interesting bond with Jay. Nick feels upset that nobody attends Gatsby's funeral and he regards Daisy and Tom as reckless and heartless. Love is one of the most important themes in this story. Gatsby made an absurd amount of money, but the only thing of value in his life was the desire to be with Daisy.
Yolen, Jane. (1988). The Devil's Arithmetic. New York, N.Y., U.S.A.: Viking Kestrel.
YA Universal Theme(s): Life, Death, Family, Good vs Evil, Memory, Perseverance
Grade Level: Secondary
Summary: This historical novel begins in modern-day New York where a young girl named Hannah is about to celebrate Passover with her family. Hannah criticizes her family for putting such a great emphasis on the past. Ironically, Hannah is transported back to Poland in 1942. Soon, the Nazi's invade her village, and Hannah is taken into a concentration camp. At the camp, Hannah receives her prisoner tattoo and her head is shaved. Hannah thinks she is dreaming at first, but she slowly begins to lose the memory of her life back in modern-day America. Out of desperation, Hannah and the other prisoners do whatever that can to survive. Occasionally, Hannah remembers bits and pieces of the history of World War 2, and she tries to warn the other prisoners about what is going on, but her peers think she is going crazy. The novel presents a detailed description of the horrifying conditions endured by the prisoners in the Nazi concentration camps. Hannah learns from her peers that maintaining hope and a sense of humor is one of the best ways to stay alive. The title of the book comes from the system used to select prisoners to be sent into the gas chambers. The arithmetic of the devil is unpredictable, and Hannah is eventually chosen to be executed. After, Hannah wakes up back in modern-day New York. Memory is one of the major themes in this story because Hannah was able to understand and empathize with the survivors of the Holocaust by having a first-hand experience inside the concentration camp. Now that she has returned home, Hannah is more appreciative of her family and the stories that define their history.
Salisbury, G. (1994). Under the Blood-Red Sun. New York: Delacorte Press.
YA Universal Theme(s): Friendship, Coming of Age, Courage, Survival, Good vs Evil, Family, Identity, Racism
Grade Level: Secondary
Summary: This historical novel takes in Hawaii in 1941. The main character is a Japanese-American boy named Tomi. Tomi is best friends with an American boy named Billy, and they love to play baseball together. Billy comes from a rich family, and Tomi's mom works as a maid in Billy's house. Although there is a distinct racial and financial difference, Tomi and Billy have a genuine friendship. Tomi is close to his father and grandfather, and sometimes they will spend the day on his dad's boat fishing. Suddenly, Pearl Harbor is bombed by the Japanese military, and Tomi's life turns to chaos. Tomi's father and grandfather are locked up at an internment camp because they were born in Japan. Soon, Tomi is forced to endure a barrage of racism, mistrust, and intolerance from the surrounding community. Now that his father and grandfather are imprisoned, Tomi must look after his mother and sister and protect each other from their skeptical neighbors. It is extremely difficult for Tomi to feel proud of his Japanese heritage during this time, but thankfully he is still supported by Billy and his other friends on the baseball team. Two of the main themes in this story are coming of age and friendship. Despite the overwhelming intolerance of Japanese people in Hawaii, Billy and Tomi's other friends continue to support him and his family. Lastly, Tomi goes through a coming-of-age process as he adapts to his new role as the man of the house.
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