Fishtailing by Wendy Phillips

This is the second time I've read this novel and I love it more with each read. Told in verse, Phillips gives us four students', a teacher and a counselor's perspective of what is going on in their lives. Kyle, Miguel, Tricia and Natalie are all students of Mrs. Farr. The students pair up and begin "dating" while Natalie, a new and "hardened" student, turns Tricia (a sweet girl) over to the "dark" side. As Tricia creates her new image, Natalie encourages her to do things Tricia doesn't always feel comfortable with. The novel reaches a climax with a life changing for all four of the students.

If you imagine a fishtail braid, then you can see how the novel got its title. After dividing the hair into two pieces, one small piece from each side gets moved to the other side until all of the hair is beautifully intertwined. The lives of Kyle, Miguel, Tricia and Natalie do just that. Mrs. Farr, the teacher, and the counselor are the bookends to these students. I wanted to wring the neck of Mrs. Farr for her distant and seemingly aloof attitude about what was going on with her students. She didn't talk to them about their real lives and it was a constant irritation as I read. But, not a bad one. She was a hard edge in this gritty and incredibly realistic plot.

HAYNAKU-

I found this cool poem format on Miss Rumphius and challenged my students to write one for their Reading Response this week. All haynakus published are written by students and about their books. See Comments.

Beacuse I Am Furniture

I have a confession that won't surprise too many people since I'm an English teacher. I LOVE poetry. And, I ADORE novels told in poetry. I devoured (love that word-eating books imagery) Because I Am Furniture and it was more exciting than the Academy Awards! :)
Anke is in high school and at home her father abuses everyone but her. Her sister, brother and mother all suffer at the hands of what her friends term her "handsome" father. Anke just wants to be noticed for anything. She feels she has escaped her father's abuse because she's not worth abusing. This is a disturbing part of the novel, but it works in Anke's voice. Volleyball turns out to be Anke's outlet, and a good one at that (smacking the ball over the net, etc.). As Anke grows both physically and emotionally, she learns to find her voice and speak up against the wrongs she has witnessed for so much of her life. Even if this finally does gain the ire of her father, Anke knows she's done what an adult would do.

I felt like I was left wanting more of this book and I'd really love to see a sequel. I would characterize this as a sort of Sonya Sones meets Speak novel. The character of Anke is beautifully portrayed as she grows into her new body and emotions. I'm giving this to kids immediately.