Best Choice for Emerging Scholars

Personally, I would recommend having them read Black and White. This book contains many issues that are still dealt with throughout the country and might give them a better understanding of some of these issues. Issues with race and prejudice are still faced in schools and this book would be a fairly decent representation of a real life situation other than the fact that the ending may disappoint. The students could also discuss their feelings towards the book as a way to voice their opinions as well. This could lead into a constructive discussion on negative stereotypes and how they make students feel. There are many issues dealt with in this book that are represented fairly and unfairly, which makes it a great catalyst for conversation.

Disney's Mulan

I don't agree with the statement that Disney's Mulan has been "over" westernized. The story has been westernized, no doubt, but not to the point where it takes away from the story and Chinese culture that is involved. I feel like even though the Disney version has been altered, it still contains many aspects of Chinese culture as well as original details from the Chinese story of Mulan, which make a great movie for Disney's audience. Without the story being westernized, Disney's audience might not be as accepting. It is hard for a younger audience to fully grasp the concept of different cultures, which is why it is essential that Mulan be westernized to accommodate Disney's audience. Westernization may take some of the rich, cultural aspects away from the original story, but it still leaves younger audience's with enough diversity to spark an interest in different things. I don't think the Disney audience would be able to relate to someone like Ailin, who is more representative of true Chinese culture because the typical Disney audience wouldn't quite understand some of her cultural beliefs and practices, which would push them away from being accepting towards a character such as this. Ailin is a great character, who is quite representative of a rebellion against previous Chinese culture, and would be more widely accepted by an older audience who has the insight and understanding of different cultures.

Black and White

The main issues with this story are associated with socioeconomic status and race, which are realistic issues that alter the outcomes of similar decisions in real life. This book does a good job of portraying a real life situation that could occur but also lays out some stereotypes that cannot always be assumed. It is borderline racist to assume that the reason for Marcus's sentence is his skin color and that every minority is judged based on the issue of race. The more realistic issue to look at here is the socioeconomic status between the two boys. Marcus is not as wealthy as Eddie and therefore cannot afford a good lawyer. If Marcus were able to afford a good lawyer, then his case decision would have probably been much more fair. Also, when Marcus was in jail, the inmates were composed primarily of minorities, which may be the case in certain situations but not always. I also feel like the book leads one to believe that minorities are sentenced harshly due to their skin color. I realize this is the case in certain situations, but not always and I think this book tries to make the reader feel bad for minorities by associating with them a negative stereotype. Minorities and caucasians alike all break the law. If a person commits a crime, regardless of their skin color, they should be punished, and in most cases are. Whether or not inmates are mainly minorities is not necessarily due to a racial issue, it just means that minorities have committed more crimes and have been punished for them. This doesn't mean that all minorities that have been charged for crimes are guilty. This goes back to the issue of socioeconomic status. Many people are falsely convicted of crimes that they haven't committed because they couldn't afford a good lawyer. I think this is sad, and is a flaw within our legal system, because money shouldn't be able to buy one man's freedom and then cause another man his. Another issue that comes into play when deciding a case is ethics. A judge will, in some cases, make a decision based on whether or not they think the defendant will be a repeat offender. The court takes the defendant's ethical values into consideration as well when making a decision.

Another issue that is problematic within this book is friendship, and the lack thereof. Marcus takes the fall for Eddie because he is a true friend and truly cares for Eddie. The two boys are best friends, which makes it all the more difficult to understand why Eddie doesn't step forward and take his proper punishment and lets Marcus take the fall for him. It is also hard to judge Eddie's decisions based on reading this book because I haven't been in his shoes, nor faced a similar situation, but given the circumstances I would never let someone else take the fall for something that I was also associated with, especially my best friend. If I were to do that it would bother me everyday for the rest of my life and I couldn't live knowing that I ruined someone else's life by selfishly choosing to save my own. I think doing something like that compromises a persons integrity and doesn't say much for their character. I think in the end Eddie's true character is shown.

Fairy Tales

Until now, I have never thought of the morals that are incorporated within fairy tales. I always enjoyed them when I was younger, but would never have thought what they may be teaching. I can't say that I ever read fairy tales as a kid, but I grew up on the Disney movies. My favorite Disney fairy tale would have to be Aladdin. When I was younger, I loved that Aladdin was able to do all of these amazing things like fly around on a magic carpet with his pet monkey while having his own personal genie. This story isn't one of the typical Disney stories you see. In most Disney fairy tales, the tales are solely based on girls or princesses. In Aladdin, however, the main character is a poor male who dreams of a better life. Aladdin comes across many daunting tasks as he tries to win over Princess Jasmine. The moral of this tale seems to be that no matter who you are, or what type of background you have, you can succeed if you believe in yourself. Although not everyone who dreams of succeeding will be granted three wishes by Robin Williams, or be able to fly on a magic carpet, this tale gives hope to those who dream of something more.

Park Article

I can't say that I have read any books by celebrity authors, so I really don't have any personal insight into this subject. The opinion I do have, however, is that celebrity authors are most likely not qualified to write books worthy of reading by children or adults, unless they have had prior training in literature, writing, publishing etc. before they became the famous person we know them as today. Most celebrities are using their fame as a platform to do other things. I can't tell you how many actors/actresses have tried to pursue music careers and have been awful in my opinion. It doesn't matter if they are awful though because if they think they can sing then they will sing while being backed from the various people who are benefitting from their exploits. This is also true with celebrity authors I am sure. If they have the time and money to dawdle in writing literature then they will just because it is something that interests them at the time. I also agree with Park when she says that celebrity books will push better books off the shelves. Books by celebrities have somewhat of a "priority" over books from other authors. It is sad, but some readers will buy a book by a celebrity just because they know their name even though there are much better books to be bought. This is a way for the bookstores to make more money and it is sad but that is what the world we live in revolves around, making money. Not only are the bookstores benefitting from books by celebrity authors, but the publishing companies as well. They don't care that these books are not fit for reading because they know they will make money off of the author's name. And let's not forget about the celebrities themselves. Their pockets will become more full than they already are, as if they need it. I won't get into how greedy our society is, but its sad. In my opinion, books by celebrity authors take away from the hard work and success of writers who actually know what they are doing. I think it is an insult for celebrities to write books in most cases because it is demeaning towards the true art form of writing. I won't say that all celebrities are bad authors, but I haven't heard of or came across a book by a celebrity that was worth reading.

Beach Articles

After reading the Beach articles, the concerns I've had with teaching multicultural literature in classrooms have been confirmed. Although teaching multicultural literature is a great stepping stone for students to understand things about different cultures, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds, it doesn't justify the true history behind the lives of the characters in the books. When reading Esperanza Rising, a student who has not been brought up to understand Mexican culture will not be able to grasp some of the concepts within the book. It is possible for them to pick up a little Mexican history from this story, but they will not fully understand where these characters are coming from unless either they or their families have went through something that these characters have gone through. In Copper Sun, there are things that a student would not understand about African culture unless they have African heritage or they have been taught about African culture. Even so, it is impossible to fully grasp what these characters in these stories have been through unless you have been in their position no matter if you are taught about the history or not. However, I still think it is a great idea to incorporate multicultural literature in the classroom because it does give a student a little insight into the lives of ethnically diverse characters nonetheless.

Research Paper Proposal

For my research paper I would like to discuss how certain authors incorporate underlying meanings of good morals and success in their stories. I think it is extremely important to motivate students, and with the right type of literature this could be a great way to incorporate a form of character education in the classroom. Stories like these could be used to spark critical thinking and reflection on certain behaviors and character ethics, which can teach students constructive ways in which to go about their educational careers as well as life. With the moral decline and drop out rate in our public schools, motivational as well as ethical approaches to learning could be an important aspect in teaching todays students however, not every method of incorporating things such as these are beneficial and appropriate. I may touch on some of these teaching strategies in my paper but I want to base the majority on literature that can be used and the philosophies they convey. I will probably use a couple of the books that I read for the literary circle this past week which are, Oh! The Places You'll Go, by Dr. Seuss, and How to Paint the Portrait of a Bird, by Jaques Prevert. And I tried to italicize the titles of the books but for some reason the system would not let me, oh well. I will find some others that portray the same message as well, I just haven't gotten that far in the process.

Teaching Multicultural Literature

In the article, "Bridging the Cultural Gap by Teaching Multicultural Literature", by Yu Ren Dong, Dong discusses the importance of incorporating multicultural literature in the classroom. She makes references to students who have commented on how reading multicultural literature appeals to their emotions more so than any other type of literature such as Shakespeare, classic novels, best selling books, etc. I agree that multicultural literature should be incorporated into every classroom in some form or another, but multicultural literature does not appeal to everyone. That is why the teacher must make it a priority to familiarize themselves with the material and teach it in a way that appeals to the students and gets the point across. Specific groups of students gravitate towards multicultural literature more than others, that is why the teacher has to teach it in a way that appeals to everyone in one way or another so that everyone can relate to the story and draw their own insight from it. It is important that different cultures and ethnical backgrounds are presented to students from every type of ethnical and social background so that they are aware of different types of people and can grow based on the knowledge they gain. Students are constantly surrounded by issues of race and ethnical difference, so by incorporating multicultural literature into the classroom, the teacher is preparing the students to deal with everyday life and to be more tolerant and understanding of those around them regardless of their background or ethnicity. By reading multicultural literature in the classroom, students can analyze text and really take into account the different types of people that make up the area in which they live. Not all areas are the same, so by incorporating multicultural literature into classrooms students can learn about people that they may only have preconceived notions about and actually build and understanding for people who are different than them. I think teaching multicultural literature is a great idea but it has to be done effectively, otherwise it is a waste of time.

Brannon and Greene/Harry Potter, Twilight

The Brannon and Greene articles were very good in that they make you think about which types of books are appropriate for different age groups. There are many things you have to think about when incorporating a book into the classroom. Teachers must decide whether or not a specific book is appropriate for the age group they teach and also what the students are going to get out of the book. Although people love to read for pleasure, teachers must teach their students to analyze text and not only enjoy the story. It is also very important to incorporate multi-cultural literature in the classroom. Students need to be aware of other people with different ethnic backgrounds. By incorporating multi-cultural literature, students will learn about different cultures, which prepares them for the world and how to work with different types of people.

This isn't the first time I have read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone but I can say that I enjoyed it just as much this time as I did the first time I read it. I last read this book in elementary school so this book somewhat made me feel like a kid again. J.K. Rowling does a great job with setting up a story and keeping you captivated throughout the books entirety. The book is not a hard read so it is definitely a great book for adolescents, and it is something they will enjoy while in school. I can't think of many books that I was made to read in school that I actually enjoyed at the time. The reason for this is that when I was in school I didn't care how great an author was or about analyzing text. The only thing I cared about was reading for pleasure. And if the important thing is to instill a love for reading in adolescents then wouldn't it be a good idea to incorporate books in the classroom that will make children want to read? If that is the case then Harry Potter would be a great book for the classroom. I think it would be smart to start students off with books they will enjoy and gradually throw in some analyzing throughout the reading process so that they will have fun reading while also learning to analyze text. Another thing this book teaches that is extremely important to adolescents is friendship. Throughout the entire book the characters escape danger and discover themselves while helping each other along the way. This book incorporates inclusion with Hermione because she is a half blood who can definitely hold her own against any wizard. It teaches you never to underestimate anyone. I think this is a great book for adolescents.

When I read Twilight for the first time I can say that I truly enjoyed it. The story was enthralling and the book was hard to put down. It is a great book for romantics but also throws in a little action and suspense as well. When reading it for the second time I did a little more analyzing. The book is extremely easy to read and I can say that while the story is great, Stephanie Meyer isn't that great of a writer when it comes to a literary aspect. She does a great job when coming up with a story that adolescents will be interested in but everything else within the story is lacking. Her vocabulary and sentence structure seems to struggle at times. With that said, adolescents would love this book because they can understand what the book is saying and it won't confuse them. I think this would be an OK book to teach in the classroom but not a great choice. Yes, it could possibly teach the students to enjoy reading but there aren't many great things to get out of the book. I think it would be a somewhat pointless book to teach in a classroom because the only thing you can get out of it is enjoyment. The book teaches a lot about true love and how the two main characters feel for each other. When James is tracking Bella, it really shows how much Edward really cares for her. Edward is sort of the perfect guy and his character can really teach young men how to treat women. Not until later in the series do the books teach about abstinence until marriage which is another great thing these books teach, but not in Twilight. If it were up to me I would leave this book out of the classroom and save it for pleasure reading outside of school.

Copper Sun

Overall, Copper Sun by Sharon draper was a well written, descriptive account of what life was like for slaves in the South. Not all cases of slavery were as severe as those depicted in this book, but slavery was cruel and inhumane nonetheless. Copper Sun uses compelling vivid imagery to depict the process of enslavement beginning with the capture scenes in the first few chapters. The description of the events that took place were very descriptive and well written and didn't leave out the harsh reality of what actually happened. One part of the book that really made me think was how Draper involved the reality of the neighboring African tribes capturing and selling their own people into slavery for profit. It is just hard for me grasp the fact that they could do that to their own people. Granted they probably would have been enslaved regardless, the fact that they offered aid in capturing their own kind is somewhat sickening. It reminds me a lot of the Holocaust and how the Jewish people were persecuted by their own people just for their religious affiliation and heritage. With slavery though, there was no persecution due to beliefs or racial indifference. They were captured, sold, and killed for gain, which in most cases ended in enslavement for the parties helping with the deeds themselves. Not only does the persecution aspect of slavery remind me of the Holocaust, but how they were treated by white people as well.

I don't really have any fault with the second half of the book being too unrealistic. This book is intended for adolescents and it needs some form of happiness to keep the readers interested in reading in the future. The first half of the book did a great job with the harsh reality of slavery and the second half did a great job with keeping the readers morale up; making them enjoy the book and not just focusing on the wickedness of slavery. I think Draper ties the two aspects in effectively which makes for a great novel for all ages to enjoy. If you want to read a book that just depicts the barbarity of slavery, then read a biography or a work of non-fiction with just the facts and nothing else. That is not what this book is intended for.

From discussing the book in class, the title of Copper Sun takes on a whole new meaning. I think it was quite a fitting title for the book because there are references to a copper sun throughout the entire piece. From reading the book and through class discussions, I have come to the conclusion that the copper sun throughout the story represents hope, and an over all purity and goodness. It often seems that when Amari notices the copper sun in the story that things are looking up for her and the rest of the characters and when things are not going so well the sun is never mentioned. I think that the copper sun represents the overall morale of the characters at a specific point in the book. When the characters are hopeful, and have something to look forward to the copper sun seems to be noticed.

From looking at Sharon Draper's website, it is apparent she feels very strongly about slavery and wants people to be educated on the subject. She does a great job of educating her readers through Copper Sun, while also giving them something to enjoy. She often references to Teenie and Tidbit and how important it is to pass on stories from the past. This is a way for her to show that heritage is important and to never forget where you came from. If you do, then it will disappear and be forgotten. I like that she places a significance on this because I believe it is very important to always remember your beginnings and heritage. It all makes you who you are and without it you wouldn't be you.

All in all, I was very pleased with Copper Sun. I think it is a great book to inform adolescents on the subject of slavery while also giving them an enjoyable book to read. Any other information that is needed can be researched. I think this book serves its purpose to inform and to also be a great read with a happy ending, which is what we all love.