RSS Feed (xml)
1. Bibliographic Information
Arnoldi, K. (1998). The amazing “true” story of a teenage singe mom. New York: Hyperion.
176 pages
ISBN: 0-7868-6420-6
2. Plot Summary
In a semi-autobiographical story told in graphic novel format, Katherine Arnoldi writes and illustrates a novel showing the hardships and the overcoming of those obstacles as a teenage mom. The story begins with the narrator at seventeen and having just given birth to her daughter, Stacie. However, the narrator realizes that she still has the same dreams as she did before having her baby. She continues to dream and work at a surgical glove factory in order to make ends meet and that hopefully through saving money she can find a way to go to college. However, she soon finds herself out of a job, and travelling cross country to Arizona with her roommate and a man named Dave. When Dave becomes abusive, she leaves, however it is not before the reader fully realizes the experiences that placed the mother to where she is now. Depending upon the kindness of strangers, can this young mother overcome her difficult life to make something better of herself and better for her son?
3. Critical Evalutation
The Amazing “True” Story of a Teenage Single Mom is an uplifting story about overcoming personal insecurities along with an unhappy childhood, an abusive boyfriend, and rape. Katherine Arnoldi’s tale might at first appear childish; however, Arnoldi’s ability to reinforce positive messages of self-worth, responsibility and overcoming obstacles allows teenage moms to focus on what is most important: the mother and child. She reinforces the idea that having a child is not the end of one’s life, but rather the beginning. Teens are able to use Arnoldi’s experiences to find shared comfort, support, and the courage to do what’s best for themselves and their children. The only drawback to this story that might be off-putting to readers is the author’s own admission that some of the aspects of the story were generalized, hence the quotations around true. However, hopefully teenagers in similar situations can use this book as a means of encouragement. Arnoldi includes advice for teenage moms for more information on college admissions, financial aid, housing and day care. She also warns people about the dangers of hitchhiking and some hotlines people can call if they are victims of abuse, rape, and domestic violence.
4. Reader’s Annotation
How can one teenage mother get past her own experiences and society’s expectations to accomplish her dreams?
5. Information about the Author
Katherine Arnoldi is an advocate for equal rights to education for single moms. She has also written All Things Are Labor: Stories. She currently lives in New York City.
6. Genre
Graphic Novel: Teen Pregnancy
7. Curriculum Ties
I could see this book being used in a health class or a class on women’s rights to help empower young girls to know what is available to them if they do have a child. Additionally, if students were interested in penning their own autobiography, this story could be used to show how the graphic novel format can be used.
8. Booktalking Ideas
-Do you find this graphic novel an oversimplified view of teenage pregnancy, or a means for positive reinforcement for those in a similar situation?
- This graphic novel is semi-autobiographical of Katherine Arnoldi’s life. How does the graphic novel format help tell this story that a traditional book would not be able to accomplish?
9. Reading Level/Interest Age
While the reading level might be appropriate for a younger teen, I think that the content of this novel might be better suited for older teens aged 15-18.
10. Challenge Issues
This graphic novel has instances of rape, physical violence, homelessness, dysfunctional families, and teenage pregnancy. The overall purpose of this novel is to empower teenage mother; however if one wished to challenge this novel I would recommend the ALA’s website guidelines and challenge form found at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm
Arnoldi, K. (1998). The amazing “true” story of a teenage singe mom. New York: Hyperion.
176 pages
ISBN: 0-7868-6420-6
2. Plot Summary
In a semi-autobiographical story told in graphic novel format, Katherine Arnoldi writes and illustrates a novel showing the hardships and the overcoming of those obstacles as a teenage mom. The story begins with the narrator at seventeen and having just given birth to her daughter, Stacie. However, the narrator realizes that she still has the same dreams as she did before having her baby. She continues to dream and work at a surgical glove factory in order to make ends meet and that hopefully through saving money she can find a way to go to college. However, she soon finds herself out of a job, and travelling cross country to Arizona with her roommate and a man named Dave. When Dave becomes abusive, she leaves, however it is not before the reader fully realizes the experiences that placed the mother to where she is now. Depending upon the kindness of strangers, can this young mother overcome her difficult life to make something better of herself and better for her son?
3. Critical Evalutation
The Amazing “True” Story of a Teenage Single Mom is an uplifting story about overcoming personal insecurities along with an unhappy childhood, an abusive boyfriend, and rape. Katherine Arnoldi’s tale might at first appear childish; however, Arnoldi’s ability to reinforce positive messages of self-worth, responsibility and overcoming obstacles allows teenage moms to focus on what is most important: the mother and child. She reinforces the idea that having a child is not the end of one’s life, but rather the beginning. Teens are able to use Arnoldi’s experiences to find shared comfort, support, and the courage to do what’s best for themselves and their children. The only drawback to this story that might be off-putting to readers is the author’s own admission that some of the aspects of the story were generalized, hence the quotations around true. However, hopefully teenagers in similar situations can use this book as a means of encouragement. Arnoldi includes advice for teenage moms for more information on college admissions, financial aid, housing and day care. She also warns people about the dangers of hitchhiking and some hotlines people can call if they are victims of abuse, rape, and domestic violence.
4. Reader’s Annotation
How can one teenage mother get past her own experiences and society’s expectations to accomplish her dreams?
5. Information about the Author
Katherine Arnoldi is an advocate for equal rights to education for single moms. She has also written All Things Are Labor: Stories. She currently lives in New York City.
6. Genre
Graphic Novel: Teen Pregnancy
7. Curriculum Ties
I could see this book being used in a health class or a class on women’s rights to help empower young girls to know what is available to them if they do have a child. Additionally, if students were interested in penning their own autobiography, this story could be used to show how the graphic novel format can be used.
8. Booktalking Ideas
-Do you find this graphic novel an oversimplified view of teenage pregnancy, or a means for positive reinforcement for those in a similar situation?
- This graphic novel is semi-autobiographical of Katherine Arnoldi’s life. How does the graphic novel format help tell this story that a traditional book would not be able to accomplish?
9. Reading Level/Interest Age
While the reading level might be appropriate for a younger teen, I think that the content of this novel might be better suited for older teens aged 15-18.
10. Challenge Issues
This graphic novel has instances of rape, physical violence, homelessness, dysfunctional families, and teenage pregnancy. The overall purpose of this novel is to empower teenage mother; however if one wished to challenge this novel I would recommend the ALA’s website guidelines and challenge form found at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm
11. Why was it selected?
I wanted to include a story about teenage pregnancy.
12. Citations
Arnoldi, K. (1998). The amazing “true” story of a teenage singe mom. New York: Hyperion.
Challenges to library materials. (2010). In American Library Association. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/challengeslibrarymaterials/index.cfm
Picture
Amazon.com. (2010). The amazing true story of a teenage single mom (Hardcover). Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com/Amazing-True-Story-Teenage-Single/dp/0786864206/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272588823&sr=1-1
13. Awards
Named a Top 10 Book of the Year by Entertainment Weekly
Nominated for the Will Eisner award in graphic novel category
Winner—New York Foundation for the Arts Award in Drawing
ALA Notable book
ALA Top 10 quick picks for reluctant teen readers
No comments:
Post a Comment