pickI really enjoyed reading this book, I was able to pick it up and not put it down until it was over. I can see myself recommending it to students in the future so they can see that everyone, no matter the age, has a voice to use and can speak up. I also think this gave a good inside look on how book bans and challenges go about getting solved, something students may not know too much about!
pickI found the unique structure of the book challenging, but it was SO worth THIS moment:
“'Thank you, Gideon,' Bright said.
'Thank you, Roberto,' Mr. Howe replied“ (122).
I adored this book because it appropriately addresses school issues and encourages students to advocate for causes dear to them. Most importantly, this story teaches students to communicate respectfully with people with whom they disagree.
*I have had these turtles for YEARS!
By far one of my favorite parts of the book is how the stories all combined towards the end. The way that Roberto ends up being the author of the challenged book, and Mr. Howe is his childhood best friend and first love, warmed my heart. Also the constant advocation for the fact that a book incorporating gay characters is not a bad thing. Whether the characters in The Adventurers were gay or not did not matter, and only that students felt seen.
pickI absolutely loved the story as a whole and would love to use it in a classroom to introduce students to real life situations. I think it would not only be a good way to demonstrate to students taking action for things they care about can produce results as opposed to giving up, but also as a mentor texts of creating a variety of POVs that interconnect with one another.
I absolutely loved this book. I think that its take on book censorship is presented in a real but very appropriate way makes it a great pick for young readers! Readers can learn about different life experiences, challenges, and ideas in 165 pages making it a pick!
Paired with this text, I would have students create protest posters about a cause they care about, inspired by Answers in the Pages. It connects to the book‘s themes of advocacy and censorship, and gives them a chance to express their voices creatively. They‘ll choose an issue, design a poster with a clear message, and explain how it ties back to the story. ---I found a cute example of this assignment, pictured above---
pickLevithan‘s Answers in the Pages explores censorship, identity, and courage through three connected stories. When a book is challenged at school, a community is forced to confront what stories “deserve“ to be told. Thoughtful and timely, this novel celebrates the power of books to spark change. A must-read for young readers navigating their place in the world—and for the adults who support them.
“We are who we are and we'll be who we'll be. A book can make us feel that, but it can't invent that. It is already inside of us.“
This sounds sweet at first, but I do not like this idea. This idea assumes that we cannot change as people, and that we cannot choose to act/not act on the things we feel. I think it is pretty clear that in everything in life, what you put into something is what you're going to get out. Acknowledging this is important
