Laura Mont�far

4/25/2013

English 112B

Dr. Warner


 Annotated Bibliography:

The Supernatural and Things That Go Bump in the Night

When it comes to literature one of my favorite genres has always been one that is highly underappreciated, and it is: the supernatural/paranormal.  Like fantasy, the supernatural/paranormal genre is often mocked or discarded.  Critics of this wonderful genre inaccurately rebuff the idea that anyone, let alone young adults, can gain anything of value from reading stories in which vampires, werewolves, witches and all sorts of other nonexistent beings play pivotal roles.  

However, the supernatural/paranormal gives young adult readers the chance to stretch their minds and indulge the possibilities of what could be, rather than simply accepting what is.  By doing this, imagination and creativity are encouraged, which allows the reader to see the �real world� in an entirely new light.  In today�s world of social media and technology/electronics vying for the attention of the younger generations, any literary genre that captivates their attention and engrosses their imagination is one that should be applauded and encouraged.  

The novels I�ve selected for my annotated bibliography are some that I believe represent the full scope of the supernatural genre while also incorporating themes that young adults can relate to, appreciate and learn from, such as: love, social isolation, starting a new school, leaving what is known behind for an unknown, and of course, family problems.  Despite the fact that fantasy is described in chapter 7 of Literature For Today�s Young Adults as allowing �readers to escape the mundane and to revel in glorious adventures [then] sends [them] back to their own�worlds to face many of the same problems� (Donelson and Nilsen), it is important to note that the supernatural/paranormal does it as well.

 1. Armstrong, Kelley. The Summoning. New York: Harper Collins, 2008. Print.

            Chloe Saunders sees dead people. But at 15, she just wants to fit in and maybe get a boy to notice her. After a particularly violent ghost haunts her, Chloe is sent to Lyle House, a center for disturbed teens.  At first Chloe is determined to keep her head down, but when her roommate disappears and some of the other patients seem to be manifesting paranormal behavior, Chloe realizes that if she doesn�t uncover the truth, she could be destined for a lifetime in a psychiatric hospital. Or could her fate be even worse�?

 (Summary from: http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/the-summoning/ )
            Chloe�s story is great for young adult readers because it deals with family relationships, the loss of a parent, fear of the unknown, and learning how to deal with a set of circumstances that are beyond control without having all the facts to help guide the way. It�s also a great way for readers to see that sometimes, in order to face their fears and overcome difficult challenges, they must first discover their voice and not let anyone (even an adult) try to force them into silence. 

2. Cast, P. C., and Kristin Cast. Marked. New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 2007. Print.

            16 year old Zoey Redbird is just a normal teenage girl until the day she gets Marked as a fledgling vampyre and must leave her old life behind to attend the House of Night – a boarding school where she will train to become an adult vampyre.  Soon Zoey learns that vampyre Goddess Nyx, has chosen her to be special, and she�s not the only one.  With trouble brewing at the House of Night and the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school�s most elite group, misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her new destiny – with a little help from her friends.   

            The first novel in the House of Night series is an excellent choice for young adult readers because it deals with many issues that would be easy to relate to, such as: going to a new school, loosing old friends and making new ones, and also learning to trust oneself. Yet it also deals with some issues that are much harder to address, like knowing whom to trust, and realizing that not everything/everyone (even authority figures) are what they appear to be.   These kinds of topics are important for young adult readers and can be applied to real life long after the book is finished.

3. Clare, Cassandra. City of Bones. New York: M.K. McElderry, 2007. Print.

            When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York  City, she hardly expects to witness a murder—much less one committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons.  This is Clary�s first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons, and Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks like an angel and acts like a jerk.  When her mother disappears, Clary is pulled into Jace�s world with a vengeance�but why would demons be interested in mundanes like Clary and her mother? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . . (Summary from: http://books.simonandschuster.com/City-of-Bones/Cassandra-Clare/Mortal-Instruments-The/9781416914280 )

            Clary�s ability to see demons, Shadowhunters and other things that most people can�t makes her an outcast and feel out of place with her friends and family. Unfortunately, not feeling totally connected to friends and family members is something that many young adults can relate to, and turning those insecurities  into strengths the way Clary does in the novel, is a great thing for readers to learn and incorporate into the their everyday lives.

4. Clare, Cassandra. Clockwork Angel. New York: Margaret K. McElderry, 2010. Print.

            When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform at will, into another person.  Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world. . . . (Summary from: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Clockwork-Angel/Cassandra-Clare/Infernal-Devices-The/9781416975861 )

            Set in Victorian England, this prequel to Clare�s The Mortal Instruments series is great for young adult readers because it shows them how a young adult must sometimes have to push the against the limits of what society tells them they �can do� in order to do what they must. It�s a great example of just how powerful love, friendship and determination can really be.

5. Garcia, Kami, and Margaret Stohl. Beautiful Creatures. New York: Little, Brown, 2009. Print.

            Ethan Wate is haunted by dreams of a girl he�s never met. When Lena Duchannes moves into his small southern town of Gatlin County, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her. And he is determined to uncover the strange connection between them, even if it means uncovering the one secret that could change everything. (Summary from: http://beautifulcreaturesnovels.com/page/novels#novel-creatures )
            What I love about the first novel of this series (and the rest of series as well) is that other young adult novels with romance in them, the clich� of a good girl/bad boy pairing is flipped on its head, and the romance portion of this book centers around a good guy and a girl who is an outcast.  It also emphasizes the importance of being able to look past what is on the surface of a person appearance, and taking the time to see who they truly are.   

6. Hawkins, Rachel. Hex Hall. New York: Hyperion for Children, 2010. Print.

            In the wake of a love spell gone horribly wrong, Sophie Mercer, a sixteen-year-old witch, is shipped off to Hecate Hall, a boarding school for witches, shapeshifters and faeries. It's bad enough that she has to deal with a trio of mean girls led by the glamorous Elodie, but it's even worse when she begins to fall for Elodie's gorgeous boyfriend, Archer Cross, and frankly terrifying that the trio are an extremely powerful coven of dark witches. But when Sophie begins to learn the disturbing truth about her father, she is forced to face demons both metaphorical and real, and come to terms with her own growing power as a witch. (Summary from: http://books.simonandschuster.co.uk/Hex-Hall/Rachel-Hawkins/9781847387226 )

            This story is great for young adults because it incorporates elements of family issues, going to a new school, and trying to find a place in a new environment, while at the same time staying true to your heart. By keeping Sophie�s family out of the main plot line, Hawkins gives readers the chance to connect with her on deeper level, as opposed to the standard young-kid-at-a-new-school. 

7. Kagawa, Julie. The Iron King. Don Mills, Ont.: Harlequin Teen, 2010. Print.

            Megan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined�

            When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she�s known is about to change.  But she could never have guessed that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she�ll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face�and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart. (Summary from: http://juliekagawa.com/wordpress/?page_id=130 ) This novel focuses on a girl whose whole life is turned upside down on her 16th birthday, and how everything she thinks she knows changes.  That kind of instant change is something that young adults can relate to as they make their way to adulthood and have to deal with the sudden changes that are often associated with it  Key themes range from trust, family and relationships, which are just as important for the reader to think about outside the novel as well as in it.

8. Messenger, Shannon. Let The Sky Fall. New York: Simon Pulse, 2013. Print.

            Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston has no idea how he survived the category five tornado that killed his parents, or if the beautiful dark-haired girl who�s swept through his dreams every night since then, is real.  Seventeen-year-old Audra is a sylph, an air elemental; and she�s also a guardian—Vane�s guardian—and has sworn an oath to protect Vane at all costs.  When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra�s forced to help Vane remember who he is. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock the memory Audra needs him to forget.  (Summary from:  http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/p/let-sky-fall.html )

            I feel as though this novel would be fantastic for young adults because it takes the idea of not knowing who you really are or where you come from to a whole new level. In some ways, it is something many young adults deal with (whether they have their families or do not) as they have yet to discover themselves and don�t really know who they are until well after their teenage years.  

9. Nayeri, Daniel, and Dina Nayeri. Another Jekyll, Another Hyde. Somerville, MA: Candlewick, 2012. Print.

            When Thomas�s billionaire father married French governess Nicola Vileroy, high society is all abuzz – but Thomas, the most popular student at Marlowe, is just plain high.   As Thomas�s blackouts give way to a sinister voice inside his head, and as news of a vicious hate crime has students on edge, Thomas comes to the sickening realization that Madame Vileroy has made him a victim of a horrifying supernatural plan.  

            In today�s world, this novel�s subject is one that many young adults are able to relate to. Issues such as divorce, drug use, and trying to block out the rest of the world are all things that are prevalent for today�s young adults, and the this book does an excellent job of bringing those subjects to the reader�s awareness in a fun, suspenseful way.

10. Stiefvater, Maggie. Shiver. New York: Scholastic, 2009. Print.

            For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In summer, a few precious months of being human� until the cold makes him shift back again.  Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever. (Summary from: http://maggiestiefvater.com/the-shiver-trilogy/shiver/ )

            While many young adult readers may seem too young to have ever felt the pang of  first love, any who have will instantly be able to relate to Stiefvater�s first novel of the Wolves of Mercy Falls series.  Yet aside from the romance aspect of the novel, the story also deals with family relationships and prejudice in a way that will engage readers who are not interested in the romance aspect of it.


 

Works Cited

 

Let The Sky Fall – Eleisha Caripis�s presentation and handout

Donelson, Kenneth L., and Alleen Pace Nilsen. "Chapter 6 Adventure, Sports, Mysteries and the Supernatural� Literature for Today's Young Adults. 8th ed. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman, 1980. 86-101. Print.

http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/mary.warner/Engl112B_handouts/LfTYA_Chapter_6.pdf

---. �Chapter 7 Fantasy, Science Fiction, Utopias and Dystopias." Literature for Today's  Young Adults. 8th ed. Glenview, IL: Scott, Foresman, 1980. 102-125. Print.

http://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/mary.warner/Engl112B_handouts/LfTYA_Chapter_7.pdf