1. BLOOD WATER PAINT by Joy McCullough
Bibliography
McCullough, Joy (2018). Blood Water Paint. Dutton Books.
Plot Summary
Artemisia Gentileschi is a seventeen-year-old girl. She and her two younger brothers live with their widowed father in Rome in the late 1500s. Artemisia is a talented painter. Her father takes advantage of this and of her station in Roman society at the time. A greater transgression befalls Artemisia, and her trust in men is tarnished further. She finds courage in the stories her mother told her before she died, and she stands up for herself no matter the personal cost.
Critical Analysis
Blood Water Paint is a verse novel set in Renaissance Italy. It is intensely emotional. In the beginning, the poems depict a frustrated young woman, whose biggest concerns are her father’s neglect and mistreatment. As a female, Artemisia has few rights in her society. She is frequently disrespected and taken advantage of. Artemisia, despite her immense artistic talent, is very relatable. Like many teenage girls, she develops a crush on a new, handsome man in her life, Signor Tassi. She trusts him because her father trusts him. We come to learn that neither man is trustworthy. Her father mistreats her by forcing her to pose nude for him, and Signor Tassi is a serial predator. This novel deals with rape and a survivor’s courage in reporting it and facing her abuser. Young women will see pieces of themselves in Artemisia’s journey.
The book is told in five parts. The afterword shares briefly that the novel was based on a transcript of the 1611 trial. There are acknowledgments and resources for victims of sexual assault.
Review excerpts
- School Library Journal: “A thrilling portrait of a woman of character who refused to be dismissed.”
- Booklist: “Her story and the stunning verse in which it is told will resonate just as strongly with readers today....”
Connections
- The Reading Guide at the end of the book has questions and discussion topics.
- Still Speaking is at the end of the book and gives information about a newly discovered painting of Artemisia Gentileschi’s in 2017.
2. RUN by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin
Bibliography
Aydin, Andrew and Lewis, John. (2021). Run. Abrams Comicart.
Plot Summary
Run is a nonfiction graphic novel that depicts a integral time in Congressman John Lewis’s life. It is the sequel to the trilogy March by the same team of authors and artists and L. Fury. John Lewis tells the story of how he got into politics after his days of Civil Rights activism.
Critical Analysis
Run is an Eisner Award-Winner for Best Graphic Memoir. It details John Lewis’s life after the passing of the Voting Rights Act in 1965. This is artist L. Fury’s first graphic novel. The illustrations are sophisticated black and white depictions of a monumental era in our nation’s history. The images and text structure pack the emotional punch that it intends. Readers feel like they are in the scenes with John Lewis at the SNCC meetings and experiencing the emotional ups and downs. The style of this memoir, told as a graphic novel, sets a pace and takes the readers on a very directed, explicit journey. The goal is historical accuracy and to convey the consequential nature of the moment.
Review excerpts
- Publisher’s Weekly: “Lewis’s stunning American story and legacy lives on in these pages.”
- School Library Journal starred: “Just as powerful as the "March" trilogy, this paean to "nonviolent soldiers" is principled, tragic, and stirring.”- Booklist starred: “This is a wordy graphic novel, with abundant speech balloons and voice-overs offering insight into Lewis’ motivations, but such a complicated moment in civil rights history deserves this kind of exploration.”
Connections
- Further reading: March trilogy by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin
- Teaching guide on the Abrams Comicarts website
3. (DON’T) CALL ME CRAZY: 33 VOICES START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH by Kelly Jensen
Bibliography
Jensen, Kelly. (2018). (Don't) call me crazy: 33 voices start the conversation about mental health. Algonquin Young Readers.
Plot Summary
Don’t Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices to Start the Conversation about Mental Health is an anthology of essays and illustrations that bring awareness to mental illness through varying perspectives.
Critical Analysis
This themed anthology explores mental illness from 33 individual voices. Each story is succinct and impactful. The editor assembled the collection of essays and illustrations from different viewpoints in order to give an accurate and honest representation of mental illness. Multiple mediums are used in order to reach a wider audience and to reflect the complex presentations of mental illness.
The essays and illustrations are organized into subheadings to help the reader better understand the subject. Backmatter includes a Resources section with a list of nonfiction titles including reference works, fiction books and films with noted themes, online sites, and hotlines. Next are short biographies of the contributing voices, acknowledgments, copyrights, and hotlines. Readers will recognize a few well-known contributors.
Review excerpts
Kirkus Reviews: “A lively, compelling anthology about mental health by over 30 contributors from a variety of backgrounds.”
Booklist: “With this diverse array of contributors offering a stunning wealth of perspectives on mental health, teens looking for solidarity, comfort, or information will certainly be able to find something that speaks to them.”
Connections
Further reading: Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World and Body Talk: 37 Voices Explore Our Radical Anatomy edited by Kelly Jensen.
Students could write or draw about their own experiences with mental illness.
