Culture 6: Inclusive Literature
A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Abdel-Fattah, Randa. DOES MY HEAD LOOK BIG IN THIS? New York: Orchard Books, 2007. ISBN 9780439919470
B. PLOT SUMMARY
Amal is an Australian-Palestinian girl who lives in a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Amal will begin her third term at the prominent McCleans Preparatory School as a full time student. She makes the decision to wear the hijab full time. Amal encounters discrimination, bigotry, and acknowledgment for her choice. Abdel-Fattah's novel follows Amal as she journeys through high school standing up for her beliefs, values and her obsession with fashion.
C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
Randa Abdel-Fattah’s first novel, DOES MY HEAD LOOK BIG IN THIS? begins with Amal’s deciding whether or not to wear the hijab full time. After she decides to take that stand in her faith, the novel deals with her life in general as well as the other challenges she deals with in connection to her decision. For instance, in the beginning of the story, the principal of McCleans Preparatory School opposes Amal’s choice. Amal faces the challenges of people staring and classmates teasing her about wearing the hijab. provides the reader with various identifiable cultural markers. First, the character’s name, setting, religion, culture, celebrations, attire, dialects, and the time the story takes place are authenthic cultural markers in the book. The Palestinian-Arabic names are cultural marker in the novel: Amal Mohamed Nasrullah Abdel-Hakim and Jamila. The forms of address are cultural marker in the book: “We live in Camberwell, one of Melbourne’s trendy suburbs. Beautiful treelined streets, Federation homes, manicured front lawns, and winding driveways. The identification of a specific religion is a cultural marker in the story: “I’m an Australian-Muslim-Palestinian. That means I was born an Aussie and whacked with some seriously confusing identity hyphens. . . I believe in Allah/God’s commandments contained in the Koran. God says men and women should act and dress modestly. . . My dad wakes me up for the morning ‘fair’ prayer. . .Then I perform the ‘wuduh,’ the ablution, wetting my hands, face, arms, feet, and crown of my head. And then we pray.” Further, time, place, location, and first languages of the characters are cultural markers in the novel. For instance, the modern day setting is revealed in the book: “I’m in eleventh grade and in four days’ time I’ll be entering the first day of my third term at McCleans. My Jennifer Aniston experience couldn’t have come at a worse time. I mean, it’s hard enough being an Arab Muslim at a new school with your hair tumbling down your shoulders. Shawling up (hijab) is just plain plain psychotic. . . Everybody’s scared of what they don’t know.” Culturally specific use of Muslim celebration and traditions such as Ramadan and fasting are authentic cultural markers in the book. Amal’s old Greek neighbor, Mrs. Vaselli, is the single stereotypical character in the novel. Mrs. Vaselli’s dialect is exaggerated: “My husband, you know, he get sick of factory. So we say why not open ze shop and sell ze fish and chips.” The paramount cultural marker in the novel is the main character’s choice of wearing the hijab, an article of clothing worn by Muslim women, some full time, some during religious services. The hijab mirrors many of the values of Islam. The most vital, being modest. Choosing to put on the hijab full time also requires Amal to make a drastic wardrobe modification. Food and family celebrations are a significant cultural marker in the book. Amal’s mother prepares a number of Palestinian dishes: Mansaf and fatoosh. Finally, there are numerous examples of the Arabic language: “Assalamu Alaykom, she says, greeting me with the universal Islamic greeting, peace be upon you. Walaykom Wassalam, I reply, smiling back at her.”
Randa Abdel-Fattah’s book DOES MY HEAD LOOK BIG IN THIS? is a well written contemporary novel that shares the connections between cultures and the mixtures within the muslin culture.
D. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist
*Starred Review*
“Without heavy preaching, the issues of faith and culture are part of the story. The funny, touching contemporary narrative will grab teens everywhere.”
Horn Book Guide
“The girls' thoughts and dreams are authentically adolescent, providing a bridge between cultures.”
Kirkus
“Abdel-Fattah's fine first novel offers a world of insight to post-9/11 readers.”
Library Media Connection
“With so much misunderstanding surrounding Islam in today's world, teens may appreciate a high school-centered story featuring a Muslim girl who is more like than unlike them in many ways.”
Publishers Weekly
With an engaging narrator at the helm, Abdel-Fattah's debut novel should open the eyes of many a reader. Using a winning mix of humor and sensitivity, Abdel-Fattah ably demonstrates that her heroine is, at heart, a teen like any other. This debut should speak to anyone who has felt like an outsider for any reason.”
School Library Journal
“The novel deals with a number of serious issues . . . it is extremely funny and entertaining, and never preachy or forced. The details of Amal's family and social life are spot-on, and the book is wonderful at showing the diversity within Muslim communities and in explaining why so many women choose to wear the hijab. Amal is an appealing and believable character. She trades verbal jibes with another girl, she is impetuous and even arrogant at times, and she makes some serious errors of judgment. And by the end of the story, she and readers come to realize that ‘Putting on the hijab isn't the end of the journey. It's just the beginning of it.’”
Voice of Youth Advocates
“This novel is an excellent addition to the multicultural and chick-lit genres, and it is recommended for most collections.”
E. CONNECTIONS
In small discussion groups, students are to share why they think Abel-Fattah wrote this novel.
A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sanchez, Alex. 2005. RAINBOW ROAD. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 68986565
B. PLOT SUMMARY
While on a road trip across the United States, during the summer after high school graduation, three young gay men meet diverse group of bisexual and homosexual individuals and make some choices about their lives and personal connections.
C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
Alex Sanchez’s final book in the Rainbow series is RAINBOW ROAD. This book is a gripping and well written story for mature high school teens. The three main characters in RAINBOW ROAD are Kyle Meeks, Jason Carrillo and Nelson Glassman. These young men are struggling with their gay identities. The cultural markers in Alex Sanchez’s book RAINBOW ROAD are questions of sexual identity; transexuality, racism, love and companionship are major cultural markers in the book. The cultural markers of questions regarding sexual identity are prevalent throughout the book: “Kyle had known Jason was confused about girls before they’d become boyfriends. Jason was now probably going through one of those insecurity things by which bi guys reassured themselves they weren’t completely gay.” Further, Jason shares, “Her rose perfume brought back memories as she planted a tender kiss on his cheek.” Finally, “As he dribbled across the concrete, he tried to sort out his thoughts about the crazy Faeries and their sanctuary. He’d never experienced anything as wild as that before: the wacky clothes guys wore, the tribelike dancing around the fire, and the girls flaunting their boobs in his face. That topless thing had totally crazed him. But why? Hadn’t he figured out he was gay? Then why’d he gotten so excited by bare girl titties? Kyle and Nelson obviously hadn’t.” Next, transexuality is a central cultural marker in Sanchez’s book: “Okay, now pull everything back between your legs.” Racism is a cultural marker in RAINBOW ROAD: “By the time the boys reached the restored motel room where Martin Luther King stayed the night before being assassinated, Nelson and Jason stared solemnly at the historic balcony. Hey, Kyle? Jason asked as they slowly walked back to the lobby. If this is a civil rights museum, shouldn’t they mention the hatred toward gay people, too? Yeah! Nelson agreed. They have a whole frickin’ exhibit about the Little Rock black kids getting called names and being beaten up for going to a white high school. What about all the gay kids who still get beat up every day? Well . . . Kyle nodded in agreement, excited by Nelson and Jason’s newfound enthusiasm. We could put that in the suggestion box.” Finally, love and companionship is a cultural marker in the book: “How long have you two been together? Todd and Miguel gazed at each other, smiling. Twenty years, Todd said softly. Twenty years today, Miguel specified, nodding happily at Todd. Kyle realized that these two guys had been together as long as his parents had. This is our anniversary trip.” Many young high school readers will identify with the characters in RAINBOW ROAD.
D. REVIEW EXCERPTS
School Library Journal
“The final installment of this trilogy is a true winner. Sanchez writes with humor and compassion. Some mature romance scenes, occasional frank language, and an inclusion of transgender/transsexual/bisexual story lines translate into a tender book that will likely be appreciated and embraced by young adult reader.”
Booklist
“Fans of Sanchez's first two Rainbow novels will certainly want to read this one.”
Children's Literature
“The rotating first-person narration is confusing but improves as chapters lengthen. The author's research is evident in locations and encounters. This quirky adventure will delight interested teens, and larger collections should include the series.”
KLIATT
“YAs who have been following the series will be delighted to read this conclusion to the adventures of this trio. While the writing is not especially polished, the characters are appealing, their feelings are realistically portrayed, and the tone is supportive and hopeful. This might be a controversial book in some libraries, but it will also be an important book for readers looking for a sympathetic and empathetic portrayal of gay teens.”
E. CONNECTIONS
Explore Alex Sanchez's web site
Read the other two books in the Rainbow trilogy:
RAINBOW HIGH ISBN 9780689854774
RAINBOW BOYS ISBN 9780 689857706
A. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Gantos, Jack. 2007. I AM NOT JOEY PIGZA. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 9780374399412
B. PLOT SUMMARY
In Jack Gantos’ book, I AM NOT JOEY PIGZA, the protagonist, Joey Pigza, is thrown for a loop when his dead-beat father turns up on his family’s front door as a new and improved man of means. Joey’s dad, aka Carter Pigza has renamed himself Charles Heinz and has demands that Joey and his dear mother join his newfound success. This book is about the changes Joey must endure, including having to leave school to assist at his father’s raggedy roadside diner and how Joey will come to terms with who he really is.
C. CRITICAL ANALYSIS (INCLUDING CULTURAL MARKERS)
As Joey's father re-enters his life, he must deal with issues of identify and forgiveness. Joey has been disillusioned innumerable times by his father and struggles to give him another chance. In the beginning of the story, Joey seeks advice from the graveside of his dearly departed grandmother who offers him the following advice: "If you forgive him, then it will put you in control. Think about it. Who is the bigger person? The one who can forgive or the one who can't?"
The two resounding themes throughout I AM JOEY PIGZA is identity and forgiveness. For example, Joey's dad persuades his ex-wife and son to give up their old identities (just as he has) in order to accept a new-fangled life: “You think I’m your old good-for-nothing dad, Carter Pigza, coming back to cause trouble like before,” he started like some wise old owl who could read my mind. But I’m not Carter Pigza anymore. Nope. You can forget about that Carter guy. He’s history! He puffed himself up. I’m a new person now. It’s like I died and was reincarnated. It’s like you’ve never seen me before. Like you don’t know a thing about me-not even my real name. It’s like I’m a mystery man to you . . . He has changed, I thought. He never sounded so polite in all his life. Suddenly I recalled his new name Charles Heinz.” Finally, “You are not Joey Pigza, the man said firmly. You are now Freddy Heinz, my son. And this is Maria, your mom. . . You’ve just won a great new life as Freddy Heinz!” The theme of forgiveness is prevalent in the story: “Freddy, Dad calmly replied as he leaned low over me and put his hand on my shoulder. That was the old me who took your dogs. I’m new now, remember? I’m Charles, your good dad, and I’m back. It’s time for all of us to forgive and forget the past. I have, so you have nothing in the world to worry about.”
In I AM NOT JOEY PIGZA, Joey not only has the issues of identity and forgiveness to contend, the medical condition of ADHD is an issue as well. Joey shares, “I asked the vet if Pablo could have a med patch like mine to make him less hyper, and the vet said his meds would be called ‘a cage.’” Joey explains his ADHD as follows: "I always have to have something on my mind or something in my hands, otherwise my mind chases off in one direction and my hands go in another. This is how trouble starts for me, because if my mouth controls my mind and my hands control my body then I'm totally split in half.”
By the end of the book, Joey forgives his father and realizes that he does feel better afterwards. However, just as the baby is born, Joey’s dad vanishes to avoid his responsibility. Joey states, "He'll just be going in circles until he figures out how to be comfortable in his own skin-not some borrowed skin but the skin he was born in."
Joey, like many children in today’s society, is without healthy role models in their life’s.
D. REVIEW EXCERPTS
Booklist Reviews
*Starred Review*
Horn Book Magazine
“This installment relies more on caricature and frantic slapstick than on the nuanced character development and poignantly portrayed chaos that made earlier volumes so satisfying and funny. Readers new to Joey's world will find it more bizarre than tragicomic, but fans of the three previous adventures will forgive the missteps to spend more time with their favorite wired kid.”
Kirkus
“With this fourth installment in the series, Gantos offers it all: outrageous schemes, funny scenes, strong voice, dramatic characters and profound reflections on identity, family and love. It stands well on its own, though anyone new to Joey's saga will want to read more. This is Gantos at his best, and that's saying a lot.”
Publishers Weekly Reviews
“Gantos exercises complete command of his subject—so thoroughly inside the dented head of his character that readers easily suspend disbelief. Another wild ride–over serious terrain.”
Voice of Youth Advocates Reviews
“Joey's character continues to evolve in this fourth book. Junior high students as well as teachers who are fans of Joey will laugh and shake their heads.”
E. CONNECTIONS
Other Works by Jack Gantos:
JOEY PIGZA SWALLOWED THE KEY ISBN 9780374336646
JOEY PIGZA LOSES CONTROL ISBN 9780374399894
WHAT WOULD JOEY DO? ISBN 9780374399863
