A special dedication to my 16 year old brother Ryan

I will be the first to tell my brother that being a boy is no excuse to not like reading. It is not "uncool" or "girly" to like to read. It is important to be able to read and even better if you like it.

However, it's certainly an interesting point to look at the majority of popular books out there, and they seem to seek a female audience. This reinforcing that 'reading is for girls' is not good for anyone. Where oh where can we find 'boy books'?

If any of this rang a bell for you, never fear! Robert Cormier is here!

The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier was not only a great literary classic by an incredibly talented author, but it is the kind of book that can draw almost any audience. I would hesitate to call it a "boy book" as I really liked it myself, a 21 year old female, but it definitely had a more masculine feel than most of the books I've read so far.

The story follows Jerry Renault, a freshman at an all boys high school who has an encounter with the infamous Vigils, a school gang of upperclassmen boys. This gang gives out "assignments" to intimidate the younger boys and display their power. The assignments are not dangerous or violent, rather rule-breaking and embarrassing.

The main conflict is a result of Jerry's assignment- to refuse to sell chocolates for the school-wide fundraiser being heavily pushed by the administration. The situation certainly escalates, and Jerry is left with an internal conflict and decision to make.

I point this out as a book that boys might like for a few factors, and most of them are pretty obvious. First, we have our male narrator, an immediate draw. Then we have the plot itself- an all-boys school, pranks, gang action, some violence, some sports scenes, and more. Finally, and I think most importantly in a school setting are the themes presented. Jerry and the rest of these boys are easily influenced, intimidated, and coerced into these assignments. Doesn't this happen every day? Aren't boys dealing with issues in the same way girls are?

In terms of this book in the classroom, it would really fit perfectly. I think though Cormier's book is well-suited for boys, it reaches beyond that audience, which really is an accomplishment. As I mentioned, I really thought it was hilarious, and I even found myself laughing out loud at some of the pranks pulled. I also found myself involved with the characters, worried about their decisions, and getting inside their heads.

Finally, it is SO well-written. Some of the language Cormier uses is so beautiful and perfectly appropriate for the feelings he wants to evoke and the meaning he wants to portray. Not only would this book work for a novel unit, but it would fit right into a writing lesson as well. Pulling specific passages from the novel would serve to help students write more effectively. And reminding those boys that a man wrote this book wouldn't hurt either.

So Ryan, get ready, because we're going to read this book over Christmas break when I get home, and you may even thank me. =)

Appreciating a Classic

The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton is undeniably a classic. It broke away from the cookie-cutter previously novels aimed at young adults. It spoke about real things, real life. It is certainly of the "coming of age" genre, but it far surpasses the usual themes. Through its combination of groundbreaking reality, literary merit, universal themes, and ability to pull at your heart strings, The Outsiders will continue to stand the test of time.

Ponyboy Curtis, our male protagonist is a mere fourteen years old, but his perspective is one few fourteen year olds could dream of knowing. He and his two older brothers are members of the Greasers, the poor lower class. They and their gang have a bitter and violent rivalry with the Socs (short for Socials). As the violence escalates, Ponyboy is forced to deal with social class, relationships, family, and loyalty. How much is too much? How far is too far?

Overall, the book was undoubtedly well-written, impressively so when you realize Hinton was just sixteen when she wrote it. Hinton also does an impressive job incorporating several apparent themes, motifs, and recurring symbols. It's a great introductory novel to literary elements, and I believe it's a story that students will really like. The fast-paced, action-packed, high-interest plot would keep both genders satisfied throughout.

I want to specifically point out the gender issues in this book. I first heard of this book a few years back when my younger brother read it. He has fallen into the typical "boy dilemma", one in which he rarely enjoys reading and has trouble finding books he likes. This particular book stood out in my mind, because he actually enjoyed it, so I made a mental note. Having now read it myself, I understand why he liked it. Though I liked it myself, I could see where someone would label this a "boy book". The main characters are all male, and the gangs, violent action, brotherly loyalty and male bonding are prominent themes, more appealing to males than females.

With that in mind, it's interesting that S.E Hinton chose to write under a gender ambiguous name. I can honestly say I didn't know S.E. Hinton was a woman until I did a little more research into the novel, and while reading the book, I assumed the author was male. It begs the question... would her book have been as popular if it was widely known that she was female? Did her gender ambiguity let her fall under the radar and let her book take the center stage?

Furthermore, I thought the role of male and female characters in the book was interesting, especially from a female author. The males were a band of brothers, reliable, loyal, and even the Socs stuck together. The females, however, were widely unreliable, fake, superficial, and problematic for the males. Overall, the gender aspect is an interesting one to examine throughout the book.

There are so many other ideas to examine, consider, and analyze. What a great book, one students enjoy AND you can use for literary purposes.