Ritualo's Reviews

  Bibliography:  Jensen, K. (2020). Body Talk: 37 Voices Explore Our Radical Anatomy . Algonquin Books. ISBN: 978-1-61620-967-4 Plot Summary: The book is a collection of anecdotal stories from various authors who have dealt or are dealing with various body topics. The stories vary and include: physical disabilities (both visible and invisible),  weight issues, birthmarks, body hair, and transgender issues. Written by celebrities, bloggers, and other artists, the theme running throughout is accepting one's self and making peace with one's body.  Critical Analysis: Although not every story in the anthology is relatable, more than likely, everyone can find one or two that speaks to them.  Every story is a first person narrative from someone who has experienced that body issue. Jensen does an excellent job of taking the broad theme of "body talk" and breaking it down into 6 subtopics with narratives that relate to each other on some level. Each author speaks with vu...

  Bibliography:  Anderson, L. H. (n.d.). Illus. by Emily Carroll.  Speak: The Graphic Novel . Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR). ISBN: 978-0-374-30028-9 Plot Summary: The story follows Melinda, a high school freshman, through a school year as she deals with and then comes to terms with a traumatic event that occurred the summer before high school. None of her classmates know what really happened as she has been afraid to speak of it, so she deals with bullying based on what the other kids think they know. Eventually, they will find out the truth when she is no longer afraid to speak.  Critical Analysis: Carroll created the illustrations in black and white, which seems appropriate as Melinda seems to be living in a world of gray, suffering from depression and anxiety as a result of her rape. The drawings accurately reflect both the movement and the emotion in the text. The use of language is stunning. Metaphors, similes and hyperbole flow throughout and provide vivid im...

  Bibliography:  Shakur, T. (1999). The Rose That grew From Concrete . Pocket Books. ISBN: 30006000192014 Plot Summary: The book is a collection of poems written by Tupac Shakur at the age of 19, before he had achieved any type of fame. It is divided into four parts each with a theme: obstacles, romantic love, freedom, and injustice.   Critical Analysis: The title of the book tells us that something beautiful can grow, despite obstacles, a theme that runs throughout Tupac's poems. The poems are raw and vulnerable. He talks about issues personal to him:  poverty, racism, and life as a black youth in the inner city. He discusses his girlfriend's miscarriage, his faith, and pays tribute to both artists and activists he respects. He speaks passionately and with true feeling on every topic. When speaking of the plight of black youth in the inner city, he points out that there is "no path 4 a young unaddicted [sic] black youth."  His use of language is truly beau...

  Bibliography:  Collins, S. (2008). The Hunger Games . Scholastic Press. ISBN 978-0-439-02348-1 Plot Summary: 12 districts lie outside the Capitol. Each year, every district must send two tributes, a boy and a girl, to fight to the death in the Hunger Games, a punishment for the district rebellions against the Capitol years earlier.  When her sister's name is called, Katniss Eberdeen volunteers to go in her place.  Peeta, a boy from her district, is also chosen to go.  Over several weeks, tributes must fight to the death until there is only one survivor, a winner who will be rewarded with food and prizes. Katniss fights to save herself, and eventually Peeta as well. But even survival will have a cost.  Cri tical Analysis: If you haven't seen the movies yet, I recommend reading the books first.  Although the movies are well done, the book gives more depth to the characters, especially Peeta and Katniss, as the author delves deeper into their motivation...

  Bibliography:  Boulley, A. (2021). Firekeeper’s Daughter . Henry Holt and Company. ISBN: 978-1-250-76656-4 Plot Summary: Narrated by Daunis, an 18 year old girl of mixed white and Native American heritage, tries to come to terms with her identity as a product of a scandalous relationship.  Her life changes when her grandmother dies and she must deal with the loss while caring for her own mother. Soon, she becomes entangled with an FBI investigation into a drug that threatens her community. Mix into that a relationship with a young hockey player, and Daunis' life becomes even more complicated.  Critical Analysis: The author tackles issues of racism, drug use, and sexual assault among others in an honest way, not sugarcoating it to make it easier for the reader, but addressing it head on.  The language is appropriate to that of an 18 year old headed off to college, neither too simple or overly intellectual.  The main character is given much dimension, and w...

  Bibliography :  Nayeri, D. (2021). Everything Sad is Untrue: (a true story) . Levine Querido, Chronicle Books LLC. ISBN: 978-1-64614-000-8 Plot Summary: This is the story of Daniel, born Khosrou, an Iranian immigrant.  At a young age, he, his sister and mother are forced to seek refuge when his mother converts to Christianity. His father stays in Iran. The story follows Daniel's childhood, filled with violent bullying and the physical abuse his mother faces from his stepfather.  He intertwines stories of his childhood with family history and Iranian legends and myths,which he shares with his classmates. The story concludes with seeing his father again after 6 years and the strained relationship that developed as a result of his absence.  Critical Analysis: Written as a memoir, Nayeri does an excellent job of creating empathy in the reader.  As he is an immigrant, we get to hear a childhood story from the perspective of someone who is different.  The ...