ALAN Picks: Celebrate Latine Heritage Month

n this month’s ALAN Picks we feature two books for Latin Heritage Month and two books for spooky season. To kick it off, we have Our Shadows Have Claws edited by Yamile Saled Méndez and Amparo Ortiz that features multiple Latine authors, each writing their own scary story – perfect for October! The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School by Sonora Reyes is about a teen girl struggling with making space for her identity in a hostile environment. For Spooky season, Missing Dead Girls by Sara Walters features a classic murder mystery and thriller that touches on LGBTQ issues. For those into the zombie trope, we are featuring a second review of This Delicious Death by Kayla Cottingham. It’s about a group of teen zombie girls attending a concert when one of them turns feral. 

Looking For Teen Reviewers: If you know students who are interested in writing book reviews of recently published young adult and middle grade books, let them know they can write for ALAN Picks too! 

ALAN Picks Book Selections: ALAN Picks accepts reviews of books published from spring 2020 to present-day, including soon-to-be-released books. This gives ALAN members who are interested in reviewing books more great titles to choose from, as well as accommodate some great books released during the beginning of the pandemic that still deserve highlighting. If you have some books in mind that you would like to review, please reach out to me!

Let Us Know How You Use ALAN Picks! If you read an ALAN Picks review and end up using the book with your students, let us know! We want to hear all of your great stories and engaging ways you are using young adult and middle grades literature in your classrooms. Remember, ALAN Picks are book reviews by educators for educators! Click on the archives to see previous editions. 

Submit a Review: Would you like to submit a review? Check out ALAN Picks for submission guidelines and email ALAN Picks Editor, Richetta Tooley at richetta.tooley@gmail.com with the book title you are interested in reviewing. Rolling deadline.

–  Richetta Tooley, ALAN Picks Editor

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Synopsis: In this collection of fifteen short stories acquainting Latine mythos and genre-bending, blossoming authors of Latin origin elicit curiosity and terror in numerous creatures and fantastical concepts. Some stories dwell more potently in the intersectionality of queer and Latinx identity, such as that in Racquel Marie’s “La Patasola”, a harrowing tale that follows a queer girl’s coming out crossed with a South American spirit; whereas, other stories might simply wish to frighten, evident in Alexandra Villasante’s “El Viejo de la Bolsa”, which follows a horrifying and nightly occurrence of children gone missing from their beds.

Review:

Each author demonstrates meticulously-woven creativity, intersectionality of intricate, marginalized identities, and curious allusions to an undoubtedly unfamiliar mythos. Despite each story encapsulating traditional aspects of horror, which in itself is no negative remark, the collection harbors a sense of thematic complexity, featuring genre-bending that weaves romance, drama, mystery, and fantasy into spectacles of short fiction. A grand addition to the book is Ricardo López Ortiz’s illustrations that greet readers at the introduction of each new story. The drawings — which depict each story’s antagonist or concept — provide a semblance of classic noir horror, sketched and rendered in entirely black and gray, and linger in the reader’s mind as they immerse themselves into fresh characters and terrors. Indeed, this collection is a wonderful and unique extension to contemporary short fiction, enduing readers with insight on Latinx identity, and the ever expansive monsters and tales of Latine mythos.

Suggestions for Curriculum & Classroom Use

Thematic Connections

For a collection of fifteen short stories, it comes as no surprise that each story contributes overlapping or singular themes brimmed with relatability and significance to ethnic identity.

• Queer relationships & love
• Violence against queer peoples
• Coming-out
• Grief and mourning
• Gender
• Power imbalances
• Empowerment 
• Environmental destruction

Essential Questions

Close-reading questions revolving around the thematic and intersectional relationships of each story would be most engaging and effective to learning.

• How do the stories draw from traditional horror within contemporary literature and media? How do they not?
• How do some of these stories diverge from external horror in creatures and spirits? And, instead, diverge a reader’s suspense or terror through the hardships of relationships and teen life?
• In what ways do intersectional identities in the book provide a personal (and real) horror for ethnic and queer insiders to the text?
• Would ethnic and queer outsiders to the text encounter challenges while reading the stories? If so, what challenges?
• Queer themes and characterizations have become overtly prevalent in the horror genre, especially in contemporary media. In what ways does Our Shadows Have Claws contribute to this development?

Formative/Summative Assessments

Formative: Students can note and conceptualize the methods of intersectionality across each story, which can be framed using the questions and themes listed above. They can further analyze the way that identity and themes interact with the horror genre and cultural mythos.

Summative: After the students have concluded their reading and notes, allow them liberty to formulate their own horror short stories based and personalized after their own cultural identities.

Encourage students to pursue their own writing process, be it through outlines, brainstorm maps, etc. before writing a rough draft; then, to encourage education of other identities and cultures, have peers exchange and edit for revision. Finally, a final draft of the short story can be written and optionally shared among a community-like setting in the classroom.

Reviewed by Marlene Morán, Undergraduate Student studying English Creative Writing at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.

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Synopsis: After being outed at her previous school, 16 year old Yamilet Flores must learn to navigate the trials of her new mostly white catholic school, where being different is comparable to wearing a target on your back. Here, Yami is determined to keep her identity a secret. She has bigger things to worry about, like keeping her brother out of trouble and proving herself to her mother. Her plan becomes much more difficult once she meets Bo, the only out and proud kid in the whole school, and one of the only people Yami feels connected to. With everything on the line, she must consider what she is willing to give up.

Review

Set against the backdrop of a harsh and unwelcoming Catholic school, Reyes weaves a captivating story of a young girl trying to discover herself. Packed with beautifully developed characters that urge a sense of connection with the reader, The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School addresses the difficulties of growing up and how it can be especially challenging when done so within the harsh constraints designed by one’s religion, peers, and family. This book is about making a space for yourself in a world that seems to reject you, and how even in the face of uncertainty, love prevails.

Suggestions for Curriculum & Classroom Use

Thematic Connections:

This novel explores themes critical to the development of self identity and the fundamental understanding of belonging. Themes include:

• Homophobia
• Racism and racial stereotypes
• Power imbalances
• Family structures

Essential Questions:

• How and why are stereotypes harmful to those they are directed at?
• How do our surroundings influence our expression of self?
• How do accepted standards play into our acceptance of ourselves and others?

Teaching Strategies and Activities:

• Students can participate in an online discussion board where they can candidly discuss their thoughts and ideas about the themes and plotlines of the book. 
• Students may have group discussion about how the voice and tone in which the author writes the characters affects the way in which the story is presented. Groups can share ideas with the class and are encouraged to engage with the ideas of other groups by considering how they may be similar or different.

Formative and Summative Assessment Suggestions:

Formative: Students can consider how the development and expression of identity contributes to a person’s wellbeing and sense of self. Using magazine clippings and any other suitable supplies, students can create a collage that showcases their identity and anything else they deem to be important to them. Students should consider what items the characters of the book would want to include in their collage, and whether they would feel comfortable including them given their surroundings.

Summative: Students can research the connection between religion and sexuality and how this connection has translated into society today. They can explore how these connections affect individuals and communities. Students can write a short paper discussing their findings and their critical analyses of them.

Reviewed by: Hannah Uhl, Marketing Student at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

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Synopsis: After moving away from Philadelphia following her junior year of high school, Tillie begins her journey in the suburbs of Pennsylvania by befriending Madison Frank: the most popular girl in town. The two quickly fall in love, struggling with the pressures of feeling comfortable displaying their same sex relationship in a not very accepting community. Although Tillie is constantly warned about Madison, the pair work together in a unique plot of revenge on someone from Madison’s past. When Madison is suddenly murdered and gruesome photos are spread around the entire school by an unknown number, everyone points fingers at Tille, forcing her harsh past to resurface as she confronts her situation. 

Review

Missing Dead Girls may be a story that is initially interpreted as a very classic murder mystery; however, the focus on themes such as same sex relationships, trauma, and sexual assault allow for the book to address many difficulties that young adults may experience when it comes to their personal identities. Walters successfully displays social challenges that are placed upon two lesbian characters in a homophobic community, highlighting a theme that is extremely prevalent in modern day society. Missing Dead Girls is an engaging read filled with popular culture references and raunchy banter, making it a perfect read for a younger audience.

Suggestions for Curriculum & Classroom Use

Thematic Connections:

There are many themes that a young adult audience should be aware of that are addressed throughout this text. Students could be asked to consider the following ideas in relation to their own identities and experiences through discussion and/or reflection opportunities. 

• Trauma
• Sexual assault 
• Homophobia 
• Friendship 
• Justice and revenge 
• Change and adjusting to a new environment 

Essential Questions:

Missing Dead Girls touches on many topics related to the challenges of self-identity such as dealing with trauma and harmful social expectations. The following essential questions explore ideas that are relevant to the text.

• How might one’s trauma have an affect on how they behave with their surroundings?
• What effect do social pressures have on one’s ability to feel comfortable in their identity?
• Does social environment have an impact on how someone may be perceived? How do you think this might influence an individual’s view of their own personal identity?

Teaching Strategies and Activities:

Quickwrite 

• In Missing Dead Girls, Tillie and Madison’s actions are seen to be greatly affected by experiences that they had in their pasts. 
• Using the same first person voice that is used throughout the text, write about a meaningful experience in your past that you believe has had an effect on who you are today. 

Rewriting a Scene 

• Identify a scene within Missing Dead Girls in which Tillie and/or Madison experience homophobia. 
• Using the same first person voice, rewrite the scene in a way that you think might help Tillie and/or Madison to feel more accepted within their community.
• Share with a partner and discuss how the character might be affected by your scene in comparison to the original scene. To what extent are someone’s actions influenced by their social environment? 

Formative and Summative Assessments:

Formative: Students could be asked to write a short letter that proposes changes that could be made in order to create a more inclusive and accepting social environment. They could include steps that they will personally take in order to make everyone feel comfortable in their identities while also considering how they might influence others to do the same. 

Summative: Students could be asked to create a portfolio compiled of three short memoirs that outline memorable past experiences. The portfolio could also include a reflection aspect that asks students to write about how these experiences have impacted their current identity. Then, students could be given the opportunity to share their portfolio with their peers, helping them to learn more about one another and build a strong classroom community. 

Reviewed by: Megan Benjamin is a third year student at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado.

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Synopsis: The Hollowing occurred two years ago, a transformation experienced by a fraction of the population. The people affected became ghoul-human hybrids and they survive on human flesh. In response, a synthetic version of human meat was created to sustain them. Zoey, Celeste, Valeria, and Jasmine are four hollow girls and best friends headed to a musical festival in the desert with a cooler of SynFlesh. One night at a party, Valeria goes feral and kills someone. Soon after, more people go missing and the girls discover that hollow people are being targeted. They have to find a way to stop it or everyone at Desert Bloom will end up dead. 

Review

Cottingham explores a variety of topics in this horror-mystery-thriller. Cottingham’s use of imagery immerses the reader into this alternate universe and sends chills down their spines. While telling this thrilling horror story, Cottingham is promoting inclusivity and diverse voices. There are four girls, each with a different story and identities. Cottingham portrays the power of female friendship and how even one commonality can unite people who may not have crossed paths otherwise. This novel also touches on prevalent issues like transphobia, racism, and mental health. 

Suggestions for Curriculum & Classroom Use

Thematic Analysis Topics:

• Sexuality
• Religion
• Feminism/Women Empowerment  
• Self Acceptance
• Race/Ethnicity 
• Identity
• Mental Health 
• Gender
• Friendship 
• Family Dynamics

Essential Questions:

• How is identity important?
  • How do life experiences and environments influence self-acceptance? 
• What are the effects of a traumatic event on mental health? 
• How is the importance of friendship portrayed in the novel? 

Teaching Strategies and Activities to Use:

• Students can find four images that reflect how they perceive each character and join in small groups to explain to each other why they chose those images. After the discussion, each member will share a perception they had of a character that was similar or different from another member in their group.
• Students can get into small groups and a member from each group will reach into a hat and pull out a piece of paper that will have a theme on it. In their groups, they will have to find 2 examples of the theme in the book and write them down on a sheet of paper.  

Formative and Summative Assessments:

Formative:

• Students can choose two themes from the book that interest them and write a letter, addressed to their friend, explaining why these themes are significant to them. They will also draw or select images to accompany the letter that shows at least three examples of these themes in the book and include a short interpretation at the back of the pictures. 
• Students can do a prediction exercise where they try to predict who is responsible for the Hollow people going feral and killing innocents. They will create a crime board where they use textual evidence from the novel so far to determine who the culprit could be. They will also add a short analysis at the bottom to disclose who they ultimately think the culprit is and why. 

Summative: Students can design a portfolio for each main character (Zoey, Celeste, Valeria, and Jasmine). They can provide the following about each character: background information (before-during the Hollowing), family dynamic, identities, highschool reputation, personality traits, interests, and future goals. They will write an analysis at the end of each character’s portfolio to discuss how it contributed to the story’s plot and themes.

Reviewed by: Danni Garcia, Student at the University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida