Sticks and Stones:

Books about being different, fitting in and finding your identity

by

Diane M. Robillard

Children’s Assistant/Young Adult Librarian

West Warwick Public Library

We all remember our teen years. Some of our memories are fond ones that we cherish. Others we look back at with as much enthusiasm as getting our teeth pulled. Being the new kid in school everyone picked on, or the know-it-all, or the kid that simply wore the wrong clothing: these are just a few examples of why teens are singled out and ridiculed.

Face it: being a teenager isn’t easy. It is a time when the only thing that is constant is change. It is a time when we try on various personas to figure out which one works best for us. We might dye our hair various shades of red (which I still do) or wear black from head to toe. Teens rebel against everything: parents, peers or even society as a whole.

Working with teenagers as a Young Adult Librarian is a very interesting job, to say the least. I learn the daily trials and tribulations in the lives of teenagers. I get the inside scoop on who’s dating who, which clothes are cool and which ones are not and many other important factors that make up the wonderful world of adolescence.

Teenagers can be most cruel and judgmental towards each other for any behavior that deviates from the “norm,” a point that was brought home to me sharply while chatting with teenagers recently. The teens I spoke with were generally concerned about harassment and how it affects the students in their school.

Here is a list of recent fiction written for young adults dealing with being different, fitting in and the consequences that occur when we are in the process of discovering ourselves.

A book that deals with a girl who is unique and different from everyone else at her school is Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli (author of Maniac Magee and Crash). Spinelli’s latest book, Loser, is the story of a boy who has been ridiculed by his peers since kindergarten. Everyone considers Donald Zinkoff to be an outcast, except of course for Donald and his supportive family.

The Misfits by James Howe (author of The Watcher) is the story of four middle school friends brought together by their differences and how they attempt to change the attitudes of their student body by forming their own political party. Crispin: The Cross of Lead by Avi (author of A Man Named Poe and Nothing But the Truth) is an historical novel about an orphaned 13-year-old boy who is on the run for his life. This mysterious tale weaves an interesting story about what life is for a boy who is an outsider.

On the Fringe, edited by John Gallo, is a collection of eleven short stories by popular young adult authors including Joan Bauer, Chris Crutcher and M.E. Kerr. These stories get to the heart of what it means to be a teenager. Ellen Wittlinger (author of Hard Love) creates an interesting story about friendship, uniqueness and the importance of being true to yourself in Razzle.

A compelling must-read for teenagers and adults is Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher (author of Ironman and Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes.) This book is the story of The Tao Jones (T.J.) an adopted biracial teenager who is given the task of creating a swim team from the misfits at his high school. T.J. discovers the true meaning of friendship and trust from his teammates. The Gospel According to Larry by Janet Tashijian is the story of Josh Swenson, a loner who creates a website which makes him popular, even though it wasn’t his intent. Will he be able to keep his identity a secret?

These books can be used to open up discussions with teens about issues in their lives and help with understanding the importance of individuality. The audience for these titles, in addition to teens themselves, could also be adults looking for insight into adolescence or to share with a special teenager. A booklist of these books is available in the Young Adult Department at the West Warwick Public Library. Drop in and check it out!