scholarly journals Red Queen by V. Aveyard

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawna Manchakowsky
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Book Club ◽  
Life Changes ◽  
Red Queen ◽  
School Students ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Older Brothers ◽  
The University ◽  
Unique Individual

Aveyard, Victoria. Red Queen. New York: Harper Teen, 2015. Print.In a world where having red blood means you are nothing but the lowest kind of human and where having silver blood means you are a part of the God-like humans who have unique, individual powers, life is grueling when you are born with red blood.  Mare Barrow has chosen a life of crime to survive and knows she will soon be conscripted to fight in the war that no red returns from, just like her older brothers.  Her life changes when she gets a job at the palace and accidentally discovers she has a power too.  In order to hide this impossibility, the king betroths her to one of his sons.  What happens next is a story of rebellion, lies, love, loyalty, friendship and deceit.  In a place where it is red against silver and where loyalties can change, the side you choose will seal your fate.This teen book touched on many themes: friendship, class, siblings, unrequited love, family and war.  With this broad diversity of themes, Red Queen should appeal to many readers.  For me, however, it was not a book I would highly recommend.  For example, I found Mare to be one-dimensional in her character development.  She did not grow or change as much as I expected her to, especially when she came from such humble beginnings and travels to the grand palace.  There was a lot more violence than I thought was necessary as well, and the graphic descriptions made Red Queen less enjoyable.  It read more like an adult book than a teen book.  I would recommend this book with reservations to high school students in grades ten to twelve.Recommended with reservations: 2 out of 4 starsReviewer: Shawna ManchakowskyShawna Manchakowsky recently completed her MLIS at the University of Alberta.  When she is not working at Rutherford Library as a Public Service Assistant, she can be found with her husband parenting their two young girls; avoiding any kind of cooking; and reading for her two book clubs. In between book club titles, she tries to read as much teen fiction as she can get away with. 

scholarly journals A is for activist by I. Nagar

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leslie Aitken
Keyword(s):  
High School Students ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
English Language ◽  
Solar Panels ◽  
School Students ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Alphabet Books ◽  
Book Format ◽  
The Mind ◽  
The University

Nagar, Innosanto.  A is for activist.  Mississauga, Ontario: Random House, 2013. Print.A publisher’s release indicates that Innosanto Nagar is the founder of “…The Design Action Collective, a worker-owned cooperative design studio in Oakland, California, that is dedicated to “serving the movement…” (Enclosure dated November 16, 2013).  It is not the least bit surprising, then, that he would produce a book in the cause of activism; in fact, he would appear singularly qualified to do so.  But that he should, in good conscience, produce this particular book is baffling.At times political propaganda, always a diatribe, A is for activism comes in the form of a board book for tiny hands, and in the guise of an ABC book.  Who is Nagar’s intended audience?  Or, more cynically, just whom is his publisher trying to kid?The underlying intent of English language alphabet books is to introduce preschoolers to phonics.  Typically, words and illustrations are kept within the young child’s own experience level, real or vicarious.  One is free to agree with the following sentiment; it is, however, absurd to suggest it as an appropriate mnemonic for fastening the sound of the letter “d” in the mind of a three-year-old:            “Little d democracy            More than voting, you’ll agree.            Dictators Detest it. Donkeys Don’t get it.            But you and me? We Demand equality!” It also strains credibility to think that the symbolism of the illustration accompanying this stanza, a donkey and an elephant butting heads, will be grasped by American infants. This mnemonic for “n,” I grant you, might appeal to a two-year-old; but his mother?  Not so much.            “N is for NO             No! No! No!            Yes, to what we want.             No to what must go!             No! No! No!” Finally, if you are seriously opposed to the expanding use of fossil fuels, join the adult conversation.  Sell your car.  Install some solar panels. Vote.  Don’t waste time teaching your babies to chant,            “Silly Selfish Scoundrels Sucking on dinosaur Sludge!”Some of Nagar’s ideas would be worth presenting to high school students—but not in board book format.   For young children, there are excellent picture books about people who have championed human causes with courage and conviction; for example, Every Day is Malala Day by Rosemary McCarney.  Don’t buy A is for activist for a little child.  If you must have it, buy it as a gift for your adult friend who joins causes.  With this last possibility in mind, I am awarding the book one out of four stars.Not Recommended: 1 out of 4 starsReviewer:  Leslie AitkenLeslie Aitken’s long career in librarianship involved selection of children’s literature for school, public, special, and university collections.  She is a former Curriculum Librarian at the University of Alberta.

Cardboard by D. TenNapel

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Metthea Maddern
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Graphic Novel ◽  
Upper Elementary ◽  
Learning Program ◽  
School Students ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Award Winning ◽  
Trade Bill ◽  
Distance Learning Program ◽  
The University

TenNapel, Doug. Cardboard. New York: Scholastic Graphix, 2012. Print. Following award winning Ghostopolis and Bad Island, acclaimed author and illustrator Doug TenNapel delivers another highly enjoyable graphic novel with Cardboard. The story begins with down-and-out dad, Mike, desperately needing a birthday present for his son Cam. With less than a dollar in his pocket, Mike happens upon a strange man who is selling cheap toys. Old Man Gideon is peculiar, but offers Mike a very special present for his son: a cardboard box. Not only does Mr. Gideon rave about what a stupendous present the box is, he explains that there are two rules that come with ownership of the box. Mike agrees to the conditions without paying much attention to them, and takes the box. At home, Cam tries to hide his disappointment with his birthday present, and agrees to work with his dad to turn the box into something better - a boxer. Later that night, Cam is awoken by his cardboard creation, a boxing champion named Bill, who has magically come to life! Rich kid and neighborhood bully, Marcus, can’t believe his eyes when he sees Bill mowing Cam’s lawn the next day, and wants Bill for himself. When Cam refuses to trade Bill for any of the expensive toys that Marcus offers, Marcus steals the remaining scraps of magic cardboard from Cam’s room and begins making cardboard creations of his own – evil ones. Soon Marcus has created so many monsters that he loses control of them, and in desperation turns to Cam for help. What follows is a fast-paced, action-packed adventure through the world of Marcus’ imagination. The boys form a bond as they struggle to escape and save each other from a variety of vicious monsters. Both Marcus and Mike are transformed by these experiences, resulting in an uplifting ending that offers readers hope. TenNapel deftly weaves together themes of friendship, poverty, bullying, and loss in this engaging and beautifully illustrated graphic novel. The cover itself is difficult to pass up, as the intense yellow eyes on the cover can’t help but elicit curiosity. The illustrations are well-suited to the story; they are highly animated and expressive, and the cardboard characters are delightfully cartoonish. The colors used throughout are an effective backdrop for the story and contribute to the overall setting and mood. I would recommend this book for upper elementary and middle school students and reluctant readers in particular. It is sure to capture the imaginations of all readers: What would you make if you had a box made of magic cardboard? ​ Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Metthea Maddern​ Matthea is a Masters student in the Teacher-Librarianship through Distance Learning Program at the University of Alberta.

scholarly journals The One by K. Cass

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawna Manchakowsky
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Book Club ◽  
Her Family ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Hunger Games ◽  
Know How ◽  
The Hunger Games ◽  
True Love ◽  
The One ◽  
The University

Cass, Kiera. The One. New York: Harper Teen/Harper Collins Publisher, 2014. Print.Book Three in The Selection seriesThe One is the third instalment of Kiera Cass’ Selection series.  The first book, The Selection, begins with thirty-five girls who are chosen across the country to vie for the prince’s heart to become the next queen of Illéa.  For most girls, this would be a dream come true.  For America Singer, one of the selected, she could not care less.  She does not want to leave her family or her childhood sweetheart behind.  Soon swept into a world so different from her own, she begins to see not everything is perfect at the castle or as simple as it seems.The Elite, book two, picks up right after one of the eliminations and begins with the final six girls (the elite).  There is more turmoil as America battles with her feelings for her childhood sweetheart, Aspen, who is a guard at the palace, and Maxon, the prince, who has more aspects to him than she originally thought.  Tension rises when the rebels attack the castle and the girls are under siege.  While America struggles with her feelings, she decides that she does, in fact, want to be there and will now try for Maxon’s heart, if she still has a chance.The One, book three, begins with the castle under attack.  We have learned secrets about the king at the end of book two and are beginning to understand the rebels’ motives. Competition is also fierce as it is now down to the top four girls and each girl is desperately trying to win Maxon’s heart.  America feels strongly for the prince, but how can she know if she loves him when he still has three other girls that he is dating?  Does he love her or one of the other girls more?  Can she really turn away from Aspen, her first true love? Full of action, suspense and heartache, you will want to know how this book ends. The story is a mix between The Hunger Games, The Bachelor and Cinderella. This series is sure to thrill teenage audiences looking for adventure and romance.Highly Recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewed by: Shawna ManchakowskyShawna Manchakowsky recently completed her MLIS at the University of Alberta.  When she is not working at Rutherford Library as a Public Service Assistant, she can be found with her husband parenting her two young girls; avoiding any kind of cooking; and reading for her two book clubs. In between book club titles, she tries to read as much teen fiction as she can get away with. 

scholarly journals Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawna Manchakowsky
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Book Club ◽  
Smooth Transition ◽  
Growing Up ◽  
Road Trip ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Young Readers ◽  
The Past ◽  
The University ◽  
The Relationship

Telgemeier, Raina. Sisters. New York: Scholastic, 2014.  Print.In this graphic novel, Telgemeier tells the story of two sisters - namely herself, Raina, and her sister, Amara.  Raina dreams of the day she will become a big sister but, when that day arrives, it is nothing like she imagined.  Her younger sister likes to play by herself, is always cranky and does not want much interaction with anybody, including the long-lost cousins they visit.  We watch as the family grows bigger in an apartment that seems to shrink.  Tight quarters do not help the relationship between Raina and Amara especially when each girl wants her own privacy.  In a story told over a long family road trip mixed in with memories from the past, Raina comes to see maybe having a sister, even one who is different than she expected, is maybe not so bad after all.Telgemeier’s drawing will delight readers with her characteristic colourful pictures that are easy to absorb and understand.  Young readers will know when the author is in the present tense and when she is relating a story in the past as the colours of the pages turn a time-worn yellow.  This makes the jumping back and forth in time a smooth transition for readers.  In a story that is relatable about siblings, family life and growing up, young readers will find her humour funny and timely.  This book is a must-have for every school and public library.Highly recommended: 4 out of 4 starsReviewer: Shawna ManchakowskyShawna Manchakowsky recently completed her MLIS at the University of Alberta.  When she is not working at Rutherford Library as a Public Service Assistant, she can be found with her husband parenting her two young girls; avoiding any kind of cooking; and reading for her two book clubs. In between book club titles, she tries to read as much teen fiction as she can get away with.

scholarly journals Gift Days by K.-L. Winters

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Law
Keyword(s):  
Picture Book ◽  
School Setting ◽  
Life Changes ◽  
School Students ◽  
Her Family ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Rural Libraries ◽  
Book Format ◽  
The University ◽  
Public Librarian

Winters, Kari-Lynn. Gift Days. Illus. Stephen Taylor. Markham, ON: Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2012. Print.A young Ugandan girl, Nassali, watches her brother go to school every day, and wishes she could go too.  She wants to learn to read but her time is filled with taking care of her family, her responsibility since the death of her mother.  How her life changes, and how she learns to read is told through this picture book. The author, Kari-Lynn Winters, is a Canadian author and literacy researcher and a faculty member in Teacher Education at Brock University.  She is a well-known author of numerous picture books.The book is illustrated by Stephen Taylor, a graduate of the Ontario College of Art, and frequent Illustrator of children’s books.  The illustrations are charming and add a great deal of depth to the story.  They do an excellent job of conveying how alone and left out Nassali feels as her brother goes to school every day, and her joy and sense of pride when she learns to read.The story unfortunately, is not as engaging as the illustrations.  The language is quite dry and somewhat didactic, seemingly at odds with the picture book format.  There are some disconnections in the story. It is unclear, for example, why the brother decides to teach Nassali to read.  For this reason it is difficult to determine the intended audience.  The format suggests primary school students, but the content suggests an older audience.This book would be useful as an instructional resource in an elementary school setting for a unit on gender issues or development. It is not, however, likely to engage a self-directed reader of any age.Reviewer:  Margaret Law Recommended with reservations: 2 out of 4 starsMargaret Law is the Associate University Librarian (International Relations) at the University of Alberta, responsible for developing international library partnerships.  Previously, she was a public librarian, primarily involved with the development of rural libraries in Alberta.

scholarly journals Pyro by M. Polak

2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimberly Scheideman
Keyword(s):  
High School Students ◽  
Middle School Students ◽  
Sunday School ◽  
Instructional Coach ◽  
School Students ◽  
University Of Alberta ◽  
Simple Sentences ◽  
Teenage Suicide ◽  
The University ◽  
Book Publishers

Polak, Monique.  Pyro. Victoria: Orca Book Publishers, 2012. Ebook. Franklin Westcott has always been fascinated by fire.  As pressures mount in his life, Franklin struggles internally to keep things together.  His father is running to be re-elected as Mayor, and is focused on catching the pyromaniac that is threatening the community.  Franklin's mother reveals she is in love with someone else, and moves out of their home.  At his father's request, Franklin attends Sunday school, something he hasn't done for years.  Fatefully, he becomes involved in the lighting crew for the talent show the Sunday school is presenting.  There he meets Tracy, one of the girls performing in the show, who is also struggling with her own inner turmoil.  Together, Franklin and Tracy face the obstacles life has presented them.  As their relationship grows, Franklin begins to open up to Tracy and, in her, finds the support he needs to face his inner demons. The simple sentences and compelling storyline make this an accessible and intriguing read for struggling and reluctant readers.  The straightforward plot development is quick paced, engaging the reader from start to finish.  The unexpected revelations and complexities keep the reader questioning the outcome for Franklin to the very end.  It deals with subject matter which is realistic and relevant to middle school students, broaching a topic which is often in the shadows of more prevalent issues, such as bullying and teenage suicide.   Polak researched "firestarters" over several months, utilizing the expertise of Dr. Kenneth R. Fineman, a psychologist specializing in the topic.  Polak also interviewed numerous firefighters and high school students to gain further insights to the techniques and characteristics of such youth.  The result is a story which reveals the consequences of such actions for all those involved.  Pyro brings awareness to the issue and promotes fire prevention. Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars Reviewer: Kimberly Scheideman Kimberly Scheideman is a student in the TLDL program at the University of Alberta, and an Instructional Coach/Teacher with ECSRD No. 2 in Spruce Grove, Alberta.

Anxiety of High School Students Preparing for University during the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 374-377
Author(s):  
Prapattra Hongwisat ◽  
Thanawat Wuthikanokkan ◽  
Nathakan Preechakansakul
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Students ◽  
Respiratory Symptoms ◽  
The Other ◽  
Depression And Anxiety ◽  
School Students ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
The University ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Online Form

Covid-19 are one of the viruses that were widely spreaded in 2019 and are still separate until nowadays. Thailand is one of the countries that are highly infected. The majority of people who are infected with this virus tend to have mild to severe respiratory symptoms. Furthermore, anyone can get sick, and it can lead to death. However, the most common symptoms of this virus are fever, cough, tiredness, and loss of taste or smell, on the other hand, characteristics in a minority of people, such as diarrhea and headaches. Due to the impact of the Covid-19 virus, people have to change their lifestyle to the online form. These changes have impacted mostly on economics and education in particular countries, so this problem also affects anxiety among high school students; who must prepare to apply to the university during the COVID-19 outbreak. In addition, we have collected 151 answers from high school students by surveying in order to know the feelings for entrance to the university during the pandemic situation. We found out that 81.3% of the students are highly affected by covid, and only 0.7% of students are slightly affected. We also found out that 55% of the students are worried about university entrance, and only 2.6% of the students were not worried at all. According to the result, most of the students in Thailand are facing the problem about their education and their entrance for the university which are caused by Covid-19. This may lead to illnesses like depression and anxiety. Keywords: Students, Learning, COVID-19, Thailand, University.

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