Megan Hale

04/19/04

Literature Review: Exploring Violence

Violence is a predominate influence among adolescents today. Adolescents are exposed to violence on a daily basis through various forms of media such as television, music, and news. With the growing amount of violence in schools and real life situations, teachers need access to books confronting violence. Many young adult books have a theme of violence that can be quite influential in the lives of adolescents. Some books that include this theme are: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Trino’s Choice by Diane Gonzales Bertrand, Slam! By Walter Dean Myer, I Had Seen Castles by Cynthia Rylant, and If You Come Softly by Jacqueline Woodson. The forms of violence in these books range from rape to gangs to racial hatred.

Speak is about a young girl who is raped the summer before she begins high school. She is alienated by her friends who do not know her story, struggles with her familial relationship, and ultimately conquers her problem. This would be a powerful book to use in a junior high or high school classroom. Not only does it cover the subject of rape, but it reaches out to young girls who have experienced or are experiencing the same sorts of problems as the main character. It shows adolescents that it is normal to feel like this, but that it is also important to tell someone.

Adults in this novel are represented mostly as unapproachable with the exception of the art teacher. The girl’s parents are always away from home and too busy to talk with her. Other teachers see her as a problematic student. The adolescents are mean. They do not want to be associated with the girl who called the cops at a party, and they do all they can to avoid her. Speak could reach out to boys who may not understand the effects that being raped has on girls.

In Trino’s Choice, Trino is a thirteen year old boy who is faced with the responsibilies of taking care of his younger brothers, keeping secrets to protect himself, attending school and trying to be “normal.” After witnessing the beating of an older man, Trino tries to avoid becoming the gang bangers next victim. When he becomes upset with his home situation, he runs away with his friends to meet the gang members who plan to rob a car wash. Unfortunately, one of Trino’s friends is shot and killed in the process. This book shows teens the real danger of becoming involved in gangs. Even through association with people in gangs, one can fall prey to violence.

The adults in Trino’s Choice are represented in a variety of ways. Some adults, like the book store owner, the author, and the mother’s final boy friend are positive influences in Trino’s life. Other adults, like the “relative” who temporarily lives with Trino’s family, are negative influences in Trino’s life. The young people in this book are from two completely different ends of the spectrum. There is a group of “bad kids” and a group of “good kids.” Trino is stuck in the middle.

Another book dealing with gangs is Slam! by Walter Dean Myers. Slam is a basketball player who has recently transferred to a new school. His best friend who he has grown up with is becoming involved with the gangs and drug dealers that he and Slam have seen the consequences of over the years. Slam knows that his friend is in trouble, and he does not want to see him end up like the other drug dealers and gang bangers. This would be a good book to teach the consequences of becoming involved with drugs and gangs. It generally appeals to boys more than girls because of the basketball story line, but any classroom can benefit from it.

Slam! has a variety of characters. Some of the adults are helpful, like the assistant coach who always shares his advice with Slam. Other adults, like Slam’s racist teacher, are negative characters. The adolescents in the book are either sissy white boys, wanna-be black white boys, and the “brothers” that live in Slam’s neighborhood. While the white kids are usually violence free, in Slam’s neighborhood violence is an every day occurrence.

I Had Seen Castles takes place during World War II. It is a short novel about a boy who is about to graduate from high school. He watches his friends enlist to fight in the war, and ultimately, he enlists too. He is only a boy, yet he is going over seas to fight for his country. Though the main character is still an adolescent he is represented as more of a man because of his decision to enlist in the war. This book raises some important issues such as war, death, and going to fight at such a young age. Because our country is at war right now, this would be an interesting book to read at school. The class could relate these issues of the past to the current conditions in America.

A final book that deals with racial violence is If You Come Softly. In this book, two characters of different races fall in love. They are both new to a private school, and they form a relationship that becomes an issue in the community and at school. People snub them for being together. In the end, the African American boyfriend is running through Central Park where he is shot. This random act of violence demonstrates the prejudice and cowardice of some white adults in the novel. While Jeremiah’s family accepts Elisha, Elisha is afraid to tell her mother about her new relationship, and worries about her sister’s reaction to it all. While Elisha worries that her family will object to her relationship, her family ultimately comes to Jeremiah’s funeral. In this book, the African American people were more accepting of Elisha than the white people were of Jeremiah. This book can be used to teach about violence, prejudice, and inter-racial relationships.

While violent literature and media can hinder the growth of an adolescent by influencing him or her negatively, these books can help young adults face the issues of violence in their schools and communities. Hopefully, teachers can help educate their students on the results of violence before it becomes an issue in the immediate lives of the students. With some students, however, it is an issue that they face every day. These books can help the students deal with the violence in their lives, and possibly turn a negative situation into a positive one.