Why Do Readers Love to Cry?

Reading is a form of escape. At least, that is what reading is to me. So why is it that I find myself wiping away tears while I read, rather than laughing. I prefer stories that touch me and resonate with my experiences. Sometimes novels are windows into an unimaginable experience that I likely won’t live. Other times, the pain a character feels mirrors some memory of mine. These novels show the universality of heartbreak. Heartbreak comes in  many forms. Heartbreak can be the betrayal of a true love or the death of a best friend. Heartbreak comes from cancer and tragic accidents and the unfairness of life. Authors that convey heartbreak in sensitive and intuitive ways channel strong emotions to their readers. They are a dialogue between writer and reader. They say: You are not alone. I have also been there. This sadness does not have to be the end of your story.

Teens often live an emotional roller coaster, so it makes sense that the young adult genre is wealthy with heartbreak. John Green has made a successful career out of heartbreak. I dare you to read The Fault in Our Stars without sobbing. We can’t keep Jay Asher’s novel 13 Reasons Why on our library shelves. Teens live on a raw, emotional ledge and books that take them past that ledge and safely deliver them back to reality are the ones that they pass around to their friends. Here are a few recent reads that warranted a box of tissue and chocolates:

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

• Niven nails the topic of mental illness and suicide. One of the most genuine portrayals I have ever read.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King

• King mimics a ringmaster in how she paints suffering and regret.

Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony

• Anthony shows that visual literature can be just as heartbreaking as text on page. See my write up here.

I’ll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

• Nelson is a YA gem and I can’t wait to read what she publishes next. Memorable characters suffering from a raging sort of grief. Read more about it here.

Your turn! What was the last book (fiction or nonfiction, does NOT have to be YA lit) made you reach for the tissues?

Friday Night Lights

Friday Night Lights

By H.G. Bissinger

Publisher: Addison Wesley Publishing, 1990.

Paperback: 363 pages. ISBN: 0-06-097406-0

Genre: Narrative Nonfiction

PLOT SUMMARY

Fueled by his love of sports, journalist H. G. Bissinger packed up his young family to live in Odessa, Texas in 1988. He sought out an All-American town that lived and breathed high school football. For one year, he attended practices, school functions, church and parties with the players. Fridays, he joined the crowds of up to 20,000 fans to watch the football games under the lights. Odessa, a small town plagued by racism, factories closing and unemployment, came alive for high school football, placing an immense pressure on the players out chasing their own dreams of glory on the fields. Bissinger examines the affects of this pressure on young athletes, noting how many dropped the sport due to injury or imagined incompetence. He followed the plight of Coach Craig Gaines, whose acceptance in the community rose and fell bases on wins and losses, often coming home to a yard littered with For Sale signs when things didn’t go well on the field.
I thought this book had such heart. Sports is such an emotionally charged atmosphere. High school athletes and their parents will love this story as much as I did. An inspiring read.

Friday Night Lights (2004)    

Rated PG-13, 118 minutes

Genre: Sports Drama

Directed by Peter Berg

Starring: Billy Bob Thornton, Lucas Black

From Book to Movie Display

For this assignment, I decided to create a display of teen-friendly books that have been made into movies. I tried to choose from a variety of genres, including some that are outside my comfort zone. This project was a lot of fun. I feel like when books are turned into movies, it’s a great way to draw teen readers to the book to dive deeper into the story. Whenever there is a big teen movie released (A Fault in Our Stars, The Hunger Games, etc), teens pick up the books and often continue to read an entire series. I believe it’s important for school libraries to ensure they have several copies of popular books to check out.

To access information about each book on the display, please visit the booktomovie tag:

https://bookpicksbykelly.wordpress.com/tag/booktomovie/

Into the Wild

Into the Wild

By Jon Krakauer

Publisher: Signet Books, 1982.

Paperback: 508 pages. ISBN: 978-0451167538

Genre: Narrative Nonfiction

Recommended ages 14 and up

PLOT SUMMARY

Into the Wild shares the true story of Chris McCandless who left behind all of his belongings and donated his money to charity, setting out for a life on the fringes of society after his college graduation. He ceased all contact with his family for the two years he travelled across the country by hitchhiking, train, and even be canoe. His ultimate goal was to live in the rugged terrain of Alaska, which he did for over one hundred days until he died from starvation. Journalist Jon Krakauer originally wrote an article about McCandless for Outside Magazine, but was moved to further research McCandless’s story. Using letters, highlighted passages from McCandless’s books and journal entries, Krakauer delves into the reasoning behind his journey in the American wilderness and broadens his lens on the culture of American gypsies living outside of the confines of regular society. An interesting and haunting read about one man’s quest for inner peace and happiness.

Into the Wild (2007)     

Rated R, 148 minutes

Genre: Adventure, Biography

Directed by Sean Penn

Starring: Emile Hirsch, Vince Vaughn, Catherine Keener

Different Seasons

Different Seasons

By Stephen King

Publisher: Signet Books, 1982.

Paperback: 508 pages. ISBN: 978-0451167538

Genre: Commercial Fiction, Mass Market

Recommended ages 14 and up

PLOT SUMMARY

This fantastic collection of novellas resulted in two very popular movies: The Shawshank Redemption and Stand by Me.  The stories all center on themes about a journey. “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption” opens the book. Red, a convicted murderer imprisoned for life, tells the story of his friend Andy Dufresne, an innocent man accused of murdering his wife and her lover. Andy clearly doesn’t belong in Shawshank Prison. He gets by using his intellect and giving financial advice to guards in exchange for more privileges. The story shares his friendship with Red and his amazing escape from prison after almost twenty years. The eventual movie closely follows King’s original plot and uses a lot of the original narrative. A great story about hope and friendship.

The other stories “Apt Pupil” and “The Breathing Method” veer more into the horror genre, while “The Body” is a coming of age novella about a group of adolescent boys that journey to find a dead body. All the stories have fantastic plotting characteristic of Stephen King’s writing that translate well to the screen.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Rated R; 142 minutes

Genre: Crime, Drama

Directed by Frank Darabont

Starring: Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman

Stand By Me (1986)    

Rated R, 89 minutes.

Genre: Adventure, Drama

Directed by Rob Reiner

Starring: Will Wheaton, River Phoenix, Cory Feldman

TRAILER

Ender’s Game

Ender’s Game

By Orson Scott Card

Publisher: Tor, 1977.

Hardcover: 324 pages. ISBN: 0-329-02556-2

Genre: Science Fiction

Recommended ages 12 and up

PLOT SUMMARY

With a crazed alien race of Buggers threatening Earth, government agencies breed more intelligent people to then train them as children to defeat the enemy. Ender is chosen at age six, a third child in a family of genius children including his beloved sister Valentine and his brutal older brother Peter who resents not being chosen for the Battle Academy. Separated from his family, he quickly shows promise in mock battles despite every challenge the military throws his way. As he moves up the ranks, Ender questions the true motives of his teachers who are grooming him to be a commander, as his siblings unite to plant political propaganda in the media. It’s believed Ender is genetically perfect to be head commander to lead an army into war, but he struggles with the truth of who or what he will be fighting for.

Science fiction is not a genre I normally read. I admit I struggled with this novel, though I can see how certain audiences would be attracted to this type of action-oriented story.

Ender’s Game is the first book in the series by Orson Scott Card.

Author’s website: http://hatrack.com/
Ender’s Game (2013)       

PG-13; 114 minutes

Genre: Action, Science Fiction

Directed by Gavin Hood

Starring: Harrison Ford, Asa Butterfield, Hailee Steinfeld

City of Bones

City of Bones

By Cassandra Clare

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 2007.

Hardcover: 485 pages. ISBN: 978-1-4169-1428-0

Genre: Horror Fiction; YA Fiction

Recommended ages 14 and up

PLOT SUMMARY

One night out at the Pandemonium Club changes fifteen year old Clary’s world forever. She witnesses a murder, yet no one else could see the people behind it. Even the body disappears into thin air. Clary discovers that the murderers are called Shadowhunters, whose job is to rid the world of demons. And she also discovers that she has the Sight, meaning she is more like the Shadowhunters than she wants to be. When her mother is kidnapped, Clary must partner with arrogant Jace and his crew to fight demons and discover the huge secret her mother has hidden from her all of her life. Packed with action and a bit of romance, his horror story is a fun read and popular with the teen girls, although it wasn’t exactly the type of book I’d normally pick up.

City of Bones is the first book in The Mortal Instruments series.

Author website

http://shadowhunters.com/mortalinstruments/index.php
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013)  

PG-13; 130 minutes

Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy

Directed by Harald Zwart

Starring: Lily Collins, Jamie Campbell Bower, Robert Sheehan

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

By Stephen Chbosky

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 1999.

Hardcover: 213 pages. ISBN: 978-0-758-79600-4

Genre: Contemporary YA Fiction

Recommended ages 14 and up

 

PLOT SUMMARY

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming of age novel formatted as confessional letters to an unknown person. The writer is fifteen year old Charlie, a sensitive loaner who reveals in his first letter that his only friend committed suicide in eighth grade. The story begins at the start of his freshman year when he befriends Patrick and Sam, who are seniors. They welcome Charlie into their world of parties, drugs and Rocky Horror Picture Show performances. The friends seem to understand his emotional vulnerability and accept him for who he is, something of an observant wallflower. With their friendship and the attention of his English teacher who assigns him a variety of books to read that he hopes will speak to him, Charlie endures a roller coaster year and learns to be a participant in life instead of just a quiet observer.

I loved this book and think it’s a fantastic read, especially for those that aren’t pleasure readers. Charlie’s vulnerable narrative is emotionally powerful and I think a lot of his thoughts will hit home with teen readers.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2013)    

PG-13; 102 minutes

Genre: Drama, Romance

Directed and Written by Stephen Chbosky

Starring: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller

The Princess Bride

The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern’s Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure

By William Goldman

Publisher: Ballantine Books, 1973.

Paperback: 283 pages. ISBN: 0-345-34803-6

Genre: Fantasy; Comedy; Fiction

Recommended ages 14 and up

PLOT SUMMARY

Who hasn’t seen the movie version? The Princess Bride has earned cult-like status as a movie, but this was my first experience reading the actual book. The novel is crafted as an ‘abridged’ version of a fairy tale by author S. Morgenstern. Morgenstern doesn’t actually exist; he is actually another pen name for William Goldman and a literary tool for his satirical story. Princess Buttercup, the fairest in the land, falls in love with her farm boy named Westley. He leaves to make riches and promises to come back for her. When she believes Westley dies at sea, she promises to marry Prince Humperdinck. What ensues is a tale with pirates, giants, sword fighting, revenge and true love.

Having fallen in love with the movie version of The Princess Bride, I was skeptical when I started reading this book. I’m happy to report that Goldman’s humor, especially in the ‘asides’ of the story were fantastic. The action sequence in the very last pages were even better than watching it on screen.

The Princess Bride *1987)

PG-13; 98 minutes

Genre: Adventure, Comedy

Directed by Rob Reiner

Starring: Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Robin Wright

If I Stay

If I Stay

By Gayle Forman

Publisher: Penguin Group, 2009.

Paperback: 262 pages. ISBN: 978-0-14-241543-6

Genre: YA Fiction

Recommended ages 12 and up

PLOT SUMMARY

If I Stay contains many of the plot components that draw me in as a reader. An artsy aspect, in this case the protagonist Mia is an accomplished player; family dynamics, romance and an unspeakable tragedy. Mia feels like she doesn’t quite fit in with her rocker parents and her little brother who is more like them. She plays classical cello and has a successful audition for prestigious Juilliard under her belt. Plus, she’s dating Adam, who plays for a rock band starting to gain popularity. Then she goes with her family on a drive on a snowy day and tragedy ensues. Mia’s parents and brother are killed instantly. Mia is left in between life and death. She can hear everything in the hospital and can tap into her memories. And she struggles with the question: is life worth living without her family?

This assignment was a great excuse to pick up this book that continues to be a popular check out at my high school library. The emotionally charged story drew me in and I liked the use of flashback to carry the story forward.

Where She Went (Dutton, 2011) is the novel’s sequel.

If I Stay (2012)       

PG-13; 107 minutes

Genre: Drama, Romance

Directed by R.J. Cutler

Starring: Chloe Grace Moretz, Mireille Enos, Jamie Blackley