Module 9- Journal

Using both mystery and fantasy/scifi from last module, look at the roles of the characters. Were these roles stereotypical? Why or why not? What problems--if any--do you see with today's children being exposed to stereotypical gender roles? Choose at least 1 book from each genre to cite and give examples from these books.

Bella (Twilight)- Bella is a countertypical teen girl. While she may be interested in boys, she certainly does not fulfill the feminine stereotyped gender role. Bella would be considered a tom-boy, preferring to dress and act in a more gender neutral manner. She is not fussy about hair, makeup, or clothes, preferring instead to roll out of bed in clothes that keep her from being noticed. She readily admits that she doesn't relate to her peers (pg. 10), which leaves her open to the very non-stereotypical Edward.

Luke (Among the Hidden)- Luke's hidden child circumstances lead him to be far from the stereotypical male that his brothers or father represent. This most likely has a great deal to do with spending most of his childhood in the company of his mother only. Although his father and brothers tease him for things like baking bread or cleaning, without options for sports and school, Luke finds these to be the activities he enjoys. His favorite activity is reading, and his new found friend in Jen further highlights his feminine qualities. He prefers the safety of home to the bravery of Jen. (Jen appears more masculine than Luke. Wanting to fix and build things rather than shop. Standing up bravely to anyone.)

Torey (The Body of Christopher Creed)- Torey has the outer characteristics of the stereotypical male character. He plays football, prefers the company of his close male friends, spends his time with his band, and dates the popular cheerleader. However, Torey also displays some more feiminine like sensitivities in feeling for the Chris, Bo, and even Ali. In this way, he overcomes the stereotype that males must only be macho jocks. (Bo is much the same way, although he may appear tough and even violent, he is sensitive to those with rough home lives like he has experienced.)

Cam Jansen (The Chocolate Fudge Mystery)- Cam represents the stereotypical modern female. While she is friendly, cheerful, and enjoys a variety of things, she is also empowered to make decisions and think logically using her own abilities. Young girls often relate to Cam because she feels like one of them. She uses Cam and Jennifer interchangeably based on her situation. She feels equally comfortable with her male friend Eric or her female friends. I suppose you could say she meets the stereotype of a post-feminism female.

The fact that all of the characters are non-stereotypical (or modern stereotypical) I believe has a great deal to do with the genres in which they are found. The Mystery and Speculative Fiction genres often bring strong characters to the the table. These characters often exhibit the same non-typical (non-realstic) characteristics of the genres in which they reside. Realistic fiction provides the reader with stories that meat the norms, and therefore characters that do the same.

Generally, I think exposure to stereotypical gender roles is no more or less harmful than exposure to those who break from the norm. While many novels provide the reader with the stereotypes of feminine or masculine characters, there are still others that provide readers with examples of characters in a counter culture. Stereotypical roles are just that, typical. Most readers will easily identify with their characteristics. For those that don't, numerous examples can be found for their enjoyment. When we eliminate the stereotypical or the countertype from literature we give our children, that is when we will have problems. The goal should be to present a healthy balance, just like they might find in the outside world.

Module 9: The Body of Christopher Creed

Summary:
Torey Adams is a popular kid. He has popular friends, a beautiful girlfriend, and succeeds in school. Unlike many that he hangs out with, however, Torey also has a conscience. When the school weirdo, Christopher Creed, disappears, the mystery of where he has gone doesn't sit well with Torey. After getting his hand on Chris' possible suicide note, Torey finds his own name mentioned, and becomes more involved than others think he should. Torey and his childhood friend Ali begin to dig deeper into the life of the classmate that often found himself the butt of jokes and the target of punches. After some surveillance of Chris' house, the two determine a diary was kept by Chris, and must be hidden in the room. When Mrs. Creed can't seem to find it, Ali's undercover boyfriend from the wrong side of the tracks is sent to retrieve it. The plan goes wrong when the police become involved, but luckily the diary is found before the police understand what is happening. As the town police chief is attempting to charge Bo Richardson with murder, Ali and Torey continue their search for clues. When an old obsession of Chris' reveals the truth of their relationship and leads Torey and Ali to a psychic, some scary news is revealed- Torey will find a body in the woods. When Torey works up the nerve to venture into the woods alone, he gets the feeling that Chris is alive, just like Digger Haines, a boy who disappeared in Torey's Mom's high school days. A tragic fall in those woods leads to an even more tragic ending- the discovery of a rapidly decomposing body in an Indian tomb. The smell, the circumstances, the sight, all leave Torey with mental scars that can't be undone. Even after discovering that the body did not belong to Chris, Torey finds himself unable to cope. Eventually Torey attends a school with other young boys dealing with difficult issues and is able to write down what he remembers of the story. He sends this to anyone he can find on the internet with possible aliases Chris may have used. One response particularly intrigues Torey, a response with a great amount of detail, and a hint that Chris may be alive after all.


My Thoughts:
I found this book to be quite interesting. The plot had enough twists and turns to keep me turning the pages until the end. I found the main character Torey to be very likable, and essential quality for protagonists in mystery novels. I also found the story believable enough to suit my taste for more realistic fiction. The author did a great job of addressing the "caste" system found in high schools and the effect ones placement in the system can have on their well being. The only part I didn't enjoy was the graphic nature of the ending. The over the top description of the rotting flesh of the dead was pretty scaring, even as an adult. I suppose it might appeal more to boys in this way.

Their Thoughts:
Excerpt from Kathleen Karr's Children Literature Review-
"Sixteen-year-old Torey Adams's normal, rational life in small town South Jersey is turned upside down by the disappearance of Chris Creed, his high school's prime outsider. Looking back in a narrative written a year later from the boarding school he's escaped to, Torey relentlessly draws the reader into the teenage world of haves and have-nots, the blessed and the clueless. As a portrait of the missing Creed evolves, insider Torey finds himself inexplicably drawn deeper into the lives of other outsiders, like the misunderstood thief and "boonie" Bo, and the "turbo slut" Ali. This is a journey of understanding in the tradition of Cormier and the early Zindel, as well as a taut mystery-thriller. Journalist and first-time novelist Plum-Ucci writes hard and well."

Awards and Accolades-
Edgar Allen Pow Award Nominee
Michael L. Printz Award
Heartland Award for Excellence in young Adult Literature Finalist
15 State List Accolades
ALA Best Book for Young Adults, 2001

My Ideas:
I would love to focus on a genre each month in the library through displays and programming. March would be designated as the mystery month (Mystery March). Around the library I would have small set-ups: mysteries for the old, mysteries for the young, mysteries for boys, mysteries for girls, etc. The Body of Christopher Creed would be a great addition to the older reader or boy reader displays. Possible programming for the month could include "Muffins and Mysteries" as mentioned in our course work.