CARGYS - October 26, 2005 Meeting Notes
Date
October 26, 2005
Theme
Current Classics
Before beginning the discussion, members discussed the question:
What the heck do we mean when we say “classic†anyway?!
CARGYS Answer
- Newer titles, perhaps written in the last 5 years
- Express universal issues to which teens relate and which will continue to resonate
- Has lasting value; in twenty years we could pick up the book and say “still relevantâ€
- Well-written but also appeals to a wide audience
- Addresses some need specific to being a teenager, i.e. identity
Questions to Consider
- Do we make an effort to acknowledge/celebrate diversity in our list?
- Is it better to read something, even if it’s not “classic†than nothing at all?
- Are our titles compelling?
- How are we using these titles to develop readers?
- Should we be concerned about edgy language and content?
- Does a “classic†have to be fiction?
Our Current Classics List
Titles are in order based on the number of CARGYS members that agreed they should make our Current Classics list, beginning titles that had the most votes.
Titles with Nearly Unanimous Support
Speak, Monster, Coraline, Shattering Glass, Earth My Butt and Other Big Round Things
Titles with Significant Support
Fat Kid Rules the World, Great and Terrible Beauty, Northern Light, 47, Skin I’m In
The Rest of the Pack
Kissing Coffins, Forged by Fire, Breathing Underwater, Day of Tears, Inkheart , Vegan Virgin Valentine, Airborn, Dreamland, Stoner and Spaz, Son of the Mob, A Man Named Dave, Parable of the Sower, Traveler, Eragon, To Say Nothing of Dog, Man in My Basement
Why did CARGYS members vote they way they did?
- Speak
- Well-written, timeless topic, accurate portrayal, Accessible
- Monster
- Great theme, great format, easy to read, real teen-centric view of things, doesn’t offer easy answer
- Coraline
- Lasting appeal
- Shattering Glass
- Compelling themes for teens to explore, including people are not what they seem to be and people may not be as innocent as they seem, best first few lines of all-time. “Simon Glass was easy to hate...never really knew how much until the day we killed him.†Comparable to Dickens’s classic “These were the worst of times, these were the best of times.â€
- Fat Kid Rules the World
- Timeless, deals with perpetual teen issues: drugs, appearance, acceptance, neglect, mature language
- Skin I’m In
- Address shades of skin/shades of discrimination
- Forged by Fire
- Identity issue, all teens can relate to the powerful need for acceptance.
- Breathing Underwater
- Boy perspective classic
- Inkheart
- Evil characters are some of the best ever created
- Vegan Virgin Valentine
- Offers identity theme, Clash of cultures in a teen-centric way
- Son of the Mob
- Classic Lite, Romeo and Juliet by the Sopranos, will have lasting relevance
- A Man Named Dave
- Whole series, including A Child Called It, will be something that has staying power, captures the real story of redemption, where he finds himself, offers the “power of pulling yourself up†theme, moving, personal relationship with a great and compelling character
Next Meeting
Wednesday, January 25; 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Location
GCLC Office, http://www.gclc.org/about/directions.html
Theme
Shoulda’ Been a Winner
Discussion will focus on titles CARGYS members felt should have won the big YALSA book awards, including Printz, Alex, BBYA top 10 and Quick Picks top 10. Don’t know what those awards are? Come and find out more!
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