SSHS Library Media Center


Heartless by Marissa Meyer Educational Value: Enters the world of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and imagines the early life of the story's villain, the Queen of Hearts. Readers can compare the classic to this reimagining. An author's note describes how Marissa Meyer used the Hatter's riddle from the original -- "Why is a raven like a writing-desk?" -- as inspiration for a major scene in the book introducing the character Jest. She also explains why sometimes she strayed from "societal rules and norms" of Victorian England, the time period in which the original was written. Readers can look up this time period and think about what this means. What choices were really available to women at the time, and how did they act around potential suitors? (Common Sense Media)	All American Boys by Jason Reynolds Positive Message: Strong messages about friendship, activism, doing what's right, and being honest help show the positive steps all people, no matter their age, can take in the face of injustice. The positive messages in the novel humanize what's often thought of as a political issue first before being seen as a human issue. (Common Sense Media)	Hunted by Meagan Spooner Positive message: Forging your own path despite society's expectations is big in this more feminist take on the Beauty and the Beast tale. Perseverance after a loss and bravery are important, as is the breaking down of prejudices to discover empathy. (Common Sense Media)

Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Educational Value:

Enters the world of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll and imagines the early life of the story's villain, the Queen of Hearts. Readers can compare the classic to this reimagining. An author's note describes how Marissa Meyer used the Hatter's riddle from the original -- "Why is a raven like a writing-desk?" -- as inspiration for a major scene in the book introducing the character Jest. She also explains why sometimes she strayed from "societal rules and norms" of Victorian England, the time period in which the original was written. Readers can look up this time period and think about what this means. What choices were really available to women at the time, and how did they act around potential suitors? (Common Sense Media)

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds

Positive Message:

Strong messages about friendship, activism, doing what's right, and being honest help show the positive steps all people, no matter their age, can take in the face of injustice. The positive messages in the novel humanize what's often thought of as a political issue first before being seen as a human issue. (Common Sense Media)

Hunted by Meagan Spooner

Positive message:

Forging your own path despite society's expectations is big in this more feminist take on the Beauty and the Beast tale. Perseverance after a loss and bravery are important, as is the breaking down of prejudices to discover empathy. (Common Sense Media)