What would you say to an "unbeliever" who tried to convince you that children's and young adult authors are "inferior" writers?

I would first say you should have taken EDU 320! I honestly feel that this course has opened my eyes and allowed me to see young adult and children's literature in a whole new light.

I will say that before I started this course I was not much of a reader. I could not seem to find anything that would keep my attention long enough to get past the first page. By taking this course I think I realized that I was in the wrong section of the book store. I should have been in the YA and CHILDREN'S LIT section.

These books are incredible. The text is so well thought out and truly committed to helping the reader engage in the story. I feel that this literature is relatable for all ages. We were all young adults and children at one point in time and reflecting on the past through someone else's story is a wonderful experience. To me these books are like memory enhancers; they truly bring out the good and the bad from the good ol' days.

This type of literature also helps you to escape and enter a realm of freedom. These books challenge you to leave the adult world and use a little bit of your inner child and imagination. Reading these books has definitely been that escape for me. As I have been reading them, I could channel everything out and just enjoy the magic, symbolism, and and heightened imagery involved in the story, but when I closed the book I was back in the real world.

I am happy to say that I am an official fan of YA and Children's Literature!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What signifcant symbols do you notice in Alexie's novel?

Throughout most of the books we have read this semester, I have noticed a lot of symbolism. I think one big misunderstanding is that because they are children or young adult books, there are no real meanings. That is not the case. These books are amazing and really make the reader analyze the text. The symbolism truly adds another dimension to the story.

One symbol that I see throughout Alexie's book is honesty. I say this because I feel that Alexie is being very open and honest about being a Native American and the actual culture involved. A lot of times people including myself have a common misconceptions about Native Americans. We see them as living in tipi's and wearing cloth etc. I think Alexie does a very thorough job of trying to symbolically show the reader how Native Americans live on a day to day basis. In a way it seems he makes fun of it because of how simple their culture actually is.

Another symbol I see throughout the novel is struggle. I think that Alexie is trying to show the reader how hard it is growing up, being a part of a very different culture, and making ends meet. He does a great job making these struggles light hearted because of the comedy involved. I feel that ultimately, Alexie is proving to the reader that struggle comes from all directions and effects everyone, but you have to determine how to handle it.

What scenes from The Giver do you think you will remember five years from now?

I think one scene that I will remember from the Giver, is the ending scene. At the end Jonas and Gabe are on the sled, getting ready to see what lies below the hill and what has come of their journey. At this point the reader is not quite sure what to expect. In a sense we are just as lost as Jonas. As they are going down this hill, Jonas realizes that something or someone is waiting for he and Gabe. He says that he can hear music. I think this scene is so important because even though it is the end, the reader does not feel that the book is over. We are still left with some questions. Did they die? Was he imagining it? Even though there is not a specific ending I definitely feel that the closure that was presented was very realistic for this book.

The next scene that I will remember is the scene where Jonas realizes that "release" means death. This scene definitely pulled on my heart strings. I put myself in Jonas position and I tried to imagine what it would be like if I was just realizing what it meant. To find out by seeing it rather than hearing is so much more painful. Lowry is very descriptive in this scene. She gives the reader a mental picture of every moment, from the needle going into the forehead to the father pushing the body into the darkness. This scene is one of those scenes where after you read it, you don't just continue on to the next chapter, but you reflect.