Mountain Girl River Girl by Ting-xing Ye

Pan-pan and Shui-lian leave their small town homes with the hope of finding a better life in a modern Chinese city. They soon realize that only by working together will they have a chance at success.

Questions:

Life for young women in China looks a lot different than it does for teens inthe Western World.

• Did you relate to the characters of Pan-pand and Shui-lian?
• How do these characters change or evolve throughout the course of this story?
• What triggers such changes?
• Did certain parts of the book make you feel uncomfortable? If so, why did you feel that way?

Gravity Journal fans!

The author of this book, Gail Sidonie Sobat has recently posted to our blog. Check out the posting here under the title of the book!

Welcome Marsha Skrypuch, author of "Daughter of War"!

White Pine is happy to welcome Ms. Skrypuch as a follower and contributor to this blog. She would love to hear from you!

I live in Brantford and my novel, Daughter of War, is on the 2009 White Pine list. Just wanted to drop you a note to let you and your students know that they can ask me questions via email and I will answer them. If you would like me to participate in your blog, I would be delighted to. If they'd like to read my blog, it's here:
http://marsha-s.livejournal.com/
and my website is:
www.calla.com
And Chapters did an extensive interview with me about the novel. It can be found here:
http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/Marsha-Skrypuch-Q-A/MarshaSkrypuch_QA-promo.html

Little Brother by Cory Doctorow

After his city is attacked, Marcus is wrongfully taken into custody by Homeland Security. When he’s released, one of his friends is missing, his rights are gone and his city has become a police state. The only computer the government isn’t watching is his Xbox....

Discussion questions:

How realistic do you think Marcus' situation was?

Coult this "Police State" ever really happen in Canada or the United States - in these democracies? Why/Why not?

Did you ever consider that Van or Ange might actually be traitors to Marcus? What about Masha or Zeb?

Did you think this was a well-written novel? Why/Why not?

What did you think of the plot? If you have read Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell do you see any similarities between the two novels?

Do you think the Omar Khahr arrest had anything to do with the theme for this book?

Don't forget to check out Cory Doctorow's website boingboing.net!

NB: A downloadable FREE ebook version of Little Brother is available from the author if you want to choose this format.

Gravity Journal
By Gail Sidonie Sobat

While battling anorexia in rehab, Anise keeps a journal. Anise's mother and father seem oblivious to her struggle and her brother is too consumed with his own problems to be able to help her. Her poems, daily accounts and personal reflections reveal the destructive nature of anorexia as well as the amazing strength of the human spirit to survive.

Discussions Questions:

What specific themes did the author emphasize throughout the novel?

Can you relate to the characters' predicaments?

To what extent do they remind you of yourself or someone you know?

In your opinion, what triggers the disease of anorexia and self-mutilation?

Do you keep a journal or diary?