Part One:
Book Information:
Myracle, L. (2004). Ttyl. New York: Amulet Books.
Genre: Challenged Book, YA novel,
Grade Level: (7-12), YA, Adult, Teenagers
This book has minor sexual language and mature content.
Part Two: Response to the book: Predictions, thoughts about craft.
As I first suggested due to the title, TTYL, I predicted this book would be about teen girls or high school students. The cover of the book has emoji’s and is pink in color which suggests it is being promoted to teen girls. I thought at first that the book was written in texting format, but it is actually written in instant messaging format. Honestly, it seemed a little young for my taste, but I wanted to venture out of my comfort zone, and take a step back into the minds of high school students. The cover suggests the novel is about three high school friends who run across normal high school drama encounters such as boy conflicts, a queen bee or popularity contrast, and crushes towards high school teachers. Immediately I was reminded of my high school experience, and all that I went through during that time.
The book was a little hard to read at first, because you are trying to identify who is saying what. The whole book is written in instant messaging format and only consists of the three girls talking after school or on the weekends about their days. You can instantly get a feel for the girls personalities from the discussion, and you begin to be intrigued with the normal situations that happen in other people’s lives. The more you read, the more you are acquainted with who is speaking and the easier it becomes to read. It was still challenging though, because there were a few times when I had to backtrack to understand who was talking about what. Also, the abbreviations caught me off guard at times, even though it was easier to understand what they meant because I have use them all the time. Clearly the author was promoting this book to young middle school/high school students or even young adults. Before I begin to critique, here is a recap of the book.
TTYL is about three 10th grade girls (Zoe, Maddie & Angela), who are best friends and whom encounter normal high school situations, just like everyone else. Zoe is a young innocent girl who works hard at her grades and her parents are always wanting her to become better. She encounters a teacher who is faithful to the Christian community and who invites her to participate. As she begins to explore her faith, she realizes that her teacher is hitting on her and making inappropriate gestures. She is constantly reprimanded by Maddie who disagrees with her teachers behavior, and warns her of his previous encounters of flirting with students. Maddie, on the other hand is nicknamed “mad Maddie” as she is a little feisty and outspoken. Maddie constantly is disgusted with a classmate, Jana’s actions and words. She later forgives and becomes friends with Jana upsetting Zoe & Angela while leaving them behind. Although the three girls still continue to talk, for the most part, until Maddie sees that Jana purposely embarrassed her while attending a frat party and drinking a little too much. She was tormented with Jana spreading rumors and sending pictures of the event. She went at least a week or so without even speaking to Zoe or Angela because they were talking about her behind her back. Angela, on the other hand, is boy crazy and falls in love so quickly with a hunk. Later, he turns his back on her and dates another girl that Angela can’t stand, and she looks elsewhere to distract herself from a broken heart. The entire book the girls talked about planning a trip Thanksgiving break because Maddie is 16, and getting her license. After begging their parents over and over, they decide to bring along a friend who is 18 so their parents would let them go. Near the end, it was decided they were all allowed to go, but unfortunately, the book ends before they even take their trip! Maddie forgives Zoe and Angela in the end, and it ends with a conversation of just Maddie and Zoe. While Angela is waiting for Maddie to pick her up for breakfast, Maddie forgets for the second time while she was speaking with Zoe.
Part Three: Critique
I can see why this book was classified as a Challenged/Banned book, but it is really a well written book. I like the format of instant messaging, because it seems to fit well with the targeted age group. The difference in text colors easily helps to understand who is speaking to who, and becomes less confusing as you learn the patterns. It was a little complex to read at times, as I had to go back and reread parts to either see who was talking, or what the text meant. Other parts I felt I could skip through because it was such small talk. Then again, I felt the small talk with the real life situations presented in this book helped engage the reader. Of course, there is the issue of sexual language, or sexual content being presented. There is also other foul language and implications presented, like the teacher making moves and flirting with students. Also, Maddie does drink alcohol at a party (while underage) and they all at one point either lie, or attempt to lie to their parents, just like some teens do. Do I feel this book is inappropriate for middle high schoolers or high school students? Probably not. Although I am not presenting the idea of promoting books about sex or with dirty language, I would like to say that most teens are already talking about this stuff with their friends, maybe even with their parents! They are teens! Sex education is taught to those in middle school even, so if it is the sexual content and language being identified as the portion that should be banned, that would be silly. I think this book might help reach out to those teens curious or those who encounter problems like this. These are everyday normal situations for junior high and high school students; these students are not being introduced to anything new. Additionally, maybe this book will help bring up the topic for those students and their families or parents. It helps to talk about these things when they are dealing with peer pressure from friends/classmates. Overall, the book has a good theme, plot and realistic approach that could attract young adult, teenage readers.
Part Four: Lesson Plan / Activity (Grades 8)
Since I plan on teaching upper elementary, and this book has a mature approach, I will stick with an eight (8) grade activity.
Common Core Standards:
- CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.6 Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and present the relationships between information and ideas efficiently as well as to interact and collaborate with others.
Objective:
- Students will illustrate a collaboration of ideas through a group wiki and promote the difficulties of situations presented in this book (teacher/student relationship, difficulties of dating, peer pressure with drinking/drugs or going to parties, lying to parents, and true friendship).
- Lesson outline:
Using a group wiki students will compare and contrast ideas and relationships between the difficulties and include their own opinion and or experiences. They may use images, quotes, text, drawings, tables, charts, statistics, whatever they choose to include. Students will work in groups of 4. Once all groups have completed the assignment, ideas could be shared to compare similarities and differences of thoughts throughout the classroom.Discussion questions:- Do you feel that Zoe’s relationship with her teacher Mr. H was inappropriate? If you were her friend, would you tell a school member about this?
- What are the effects of peer pressure in junior high / high school? Are you classified into popularity groups? Are the popular ones considered, “bullies?”
- They say that high school friendships rarely last because everyone goes about their separate ways. Do you know of anyone who has been friends since high school or even before? Do you believe friendship lasts forever? What are some of the qualities in a “true” friend?
- Have you ever lied to parents about where you were going? It is said, honesty is the best policy. Do you believe in this? If you were honest to your parents about where you were going before hand, do you think they would appreciate that more? Do you think it would change their mind about you going? Why not? Lets not forget, safety of our children most important.
Links to outside resources:
- This is a link to a quick response & video illustrating Lauren Myracle’s book, TTYL. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/04/11/lauren-myracle-on-why-her-books-top-list-that-america-wants-banned.html
- Here is a video of a local newsgroup illustrating that a mother has complained about this book and asked that it be removed from a junior high school. It also promotes the author’s response. http://www.ksla.com/story/16674997/author-of-controversial-book-fires-back
- Interview with the author and other books she has accomplished: http://cynthialeitichsmith.blogspot.com/2007/01/author-interview-lauren-myracle-on.html
- Here is a Prezi about the author: http://prezi.com/hcvuqwiexxby/ttyl-lauren-myracle-2004/
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