Library Minute

sponsored by the

Fr. Michael Goetz Resource Centre

February 2012

Persepolis by Marijane Satrapi	Persepolis by Marijane Satrapi When introducing my history students to their new course, I like to emphasize to them that the important events in history, the big picture so to speak, is made up of thousands of tiny pixels.  Each pixel represents a person or family who experienced, lived through, and participated in these great events.  Marijane Satrapi was a young girl who, along with her family, was caught up in the historical events surrounding the Iranian revolution in 1979.  Almost overnight, religious fundamentalism changed her country dramatically, impacting the way she could dress, what she could say in public, and even the music she listened to.  Through the brave efforts and sacrifice of her parents, Marijane was able to flee a totalitarian regime, and recover her freedom and individuality.  Her tale is an amazing story of courage and determination, bravery and sacrifice, an affirmation of the human spirit, and is extremely relevant to nations and events that are shaping our world today.  Marijane’s coming of age story is wonderfully depicted in her graphic novel Persepolis.  Also available is the accompanying animated DVD, which was nominated for a Golden Globe and Academy Award in 2007.  This Library Minute has been brought to you by the Father Michael Goetz Resource Centre. Recommended by Mr. P. Garvey; February 8, 2012.
One Soul by Ray Fawkes	One Soul by Ray Fawkes This is a graphic book that you have to read 18 times.  The format is entirely original.  Each open page has eighteen frames and each series of frames tells the story of one person, one soul’s time on this earth.  The people come from all different backgrounds and historical periods.  Each person begins life alone and must overcome a series of obstacles.  Among the characters you will meet will be a primitive warrior, a Priestess, a healer from the Middle Ages, and a revolutionary.  Each of these characters asks the question, “Why am I here?” and all arrive at a common conclusion.  The solitary consciousness becomes the shared consciousness of humanity, spanning over twenty centuries of time.   It is a book for those among you who are obsessed with answers to the question, “Why?”  It’s moving.  It’s thought provoking and it is disturbing.  The dedication at the front of the book simply reads:           To Dorian           Our beloved son           Born and died           March 13, 2010           In Memoriam What started out as an attempt, perhaps, to understand why, sadly, a life should begin and end so soon and so abruptly, becomes an invitation to the reader to explore the meaning of life.  When I read this book, I felt like I was truly on some kind of journey.  This very unusual book is called One Soul and it is by Ray Fawkes.  Check it out.  This Library Minute has been brought to you by the FMG Resource Centre. Recommended by Ms. Cosgrove; Feb 15, 2012.
Yummy: Last Days of a Southside Shorty written by G. Neri; illustrated by R. Duburke.	Yummy: Last Days of a Southside Shorty written by G. Neri; illustrated by R. Duburke. I have never liked books that dramatize hard core subjects like drug addiction or gangs and soften them up in order to attract a younger readership.  There is nothing soft about these problems and I truly feel that if you are mature enough to read about them, you are mature enough to get the truth, in all of its ugliness.  There is nothing soft about today’s graphic book.  It’s about an 11 year old gang member from Chicago who was murdered in 1994 and it could just as easily have happened in Toronto or any of its suburbs, including Mississauga. The boy’s name was Robert Sandifer.  His gang name was Yummy.  He was removed, as a child, from his mother’s care and was raised by his grandmother who could not keep him off the streets.  He felt he belonged nowhere and so was perfect prey for the local gang who looked for underage offenders, known as “shorties”, to who they could offer a sense of belonging and in turn could use to commit felonies, knowing that they wouldn’t be sentenced to hard time in prison.  The “shorties” are never savvy enough to realize that they are being used.  During a shooting, Robert ends up missing his intended target and instead kills an innocent 14 year old girl.  His gang family ends up murdering Robert to divert attention away from themselves.  The narrator is a fictional friend who tells the story in an effort to understand why Robert ended up living such a short tragic life and he concludes that he didn’t know which was worse, the way Robert lived or the way Robert died.  That pretty much sums up the life of a gang member anywhere in North America – kids literally dying to be accepted by other kids who feel they don’t belong anywhere.  No hope, no love and no glamour to it – just a very long line of coffins with the faces of boys who never grow to be men. You’ve got to read this graphic book.  I researched the true story on the Internet and couldn’t believe how sad and senseless it all was.  The book is called Yummy and it is written by G. Neri and illustrated by Randy Duburke.  Check it out.  This Library Minute is brought to you by the FMG Resource Center. Recommend by Ms. Cosgrove; Feb 22, 2012.
Natasha and Other Stories by David Bezmozgis	Natasha and other stories by David Bezmozgis There are thousands of teens in Mississauga who are modern, socially networked, with immigrant parents who just don’t understand.  Look around you.  They’re in your class.  You might be one.  But who is telling the stories of these kids?  David Bezmozgis, that’s who.  If you’ve taken grade 9 or 11 English or ESL CO or DO with Mr. Bird, you’re probably familiar with David Bezmozgis’ wonderful collection of seven short stories called Natasha.  All seven stories are chronologically linked and tell the story of Mark Berman and his family.  The Bermans are newly arrived immigrants to suburban Toronto.  These stories trace the heartbreak and hilarity of their struggles to fit in and figure out Canada.  Although Mark is newly arrived Russian Jew, he would not stand out in the halls of Goetz.  In the first story, he is six, he does not know a word of English, and he nearly kills a dog.  By the fifth story he is a sullen teenager, too easily influenced by the wrong crowd.  That leaves two more stories. Does he disappoint his parents and become a typical Canadian teen: bored, apathetic and without a culture?  Or does he learn to compromise and adapt in a healthy manner?  Natasha might give you a glimpse of what’s to come. The book is called Natasha and Other Stories and it is by David Bezmozgis.  Check it out.  This Library Minute has been brought to you by the Father Michael Goetz Resource Centre. Recommended by Mr. Bird; Feb 29, 2012.