Some books we read from in January and February for General Writing and Fiction/Memoir.
Dream Boy by Jim Grimsley
When students read the opening chapter of this novel they appreciated the tension held as Nathan moves into a farmhouse across from Roy, the tall, older student who drives the school bus in a tiny, rural town. While Nathan and Roy watch each other from across the yard and the length of the school bus, Nathan moves in and out of the watery silence of his parents’ secret. Almost everyone wanted to read more.
The Dogs by Rebecca Brown
“Dog . . . in which is illustrated immanence.” This opening chapter is quintessential Rebecca Brown—strikingly sparse in word choice and sentence structure, while simultaneously rich in imagery. Find out why, “And so the dog moved in with me. She lived inside my life. And every day she woke with me and every night she filled by bed,” are such terrifying words.
Exile and Pride by Eli Clare
This compilation of essays is about disability, queerness, and liberation. The essay “Freaks and Queers,” explored the history and politics of names for people with disabilities landing in the history of the freak show. I encourage anyone who wants to educate themselves and explore the intersections of multiple oppressions as well as how to write essays with story, politics, reflection, and metaphor.
Thinking Class by Joanna Kadi
This text addresses multiple issues of class, race, and queerness through personal story and reflection. We read a piece that addressed cultural appropriation, the way in which people from a dominant culture participate in cultural traditions from marginalized groups without consent and/or consideration for their privilege, through the authors experience relearning traditional drumming on the Deberke.
Sprout by Dale Peck
This outstanding young-adult novel excels in authorial insertion (where an author interrupts to talk to the reader directly through parenthesis or otherwise). It’s usually something to avoid, but read Sprout to find out how it can be done in a hilarious and amazing way. Plus, what’s not to love about a teenage kid with green hair living in a small town with secrets upon secrets!