[CASL-L] Neal Shusterman 12/14/2016 Looking for schools

[Shannon McNeice]

Hi Cynthia,

We are having Neal and I read *Scythe*. Although the premise of legal
serial killing is disturbing, he frames it in a way that is much like all
of the other dystopian novels we promote. In fact, there is more
philosophical pondering by characters in the book about how and why they
have come to where they are as a society than in most dystopin fiction. He
raises great questions about the perils of science, genetic engineering,
the technology which we rely on, our taste in entertainment, and the range
in the human moral spectrum. Both of the main characters have sound moral
judgement and have mentors who are also moral enough to know when to take a
stand against what is wrong.

I think my 6-8th graders will love this, the end was awesome, and there are
so many great talking points that are relevant in this exact moment in
time. I am still thinking about the book, long after I finished it.

Hope this helps.

Shannon

Shannon McNeice
*Library Media Specialist*
*Sedgwick Middle School <http://sedgwick.whps.org>*
*West Hartford, CT 06107*
Sedgwick Middle School Library <http://blog.whps.org/sedgwicklibrary>
@smcneice <https://twitter.com/smcneice>sedgwicklibrary
<https://www.pinterest.com/sedgwicklibrary/>  sedglibrary
<https://instagram.com/sedglibrary/>

On Wed, Dec 7, 2016 at 10:00 AM, Cynthia Armstrong <
carmstrong at avon.k12.ct.us> wrote:

> When we heard that Neal was going to be in the area, we jumped at the
> chance to have him visit.  Neal visited our school back in 2012, and he was
> great.  Unlike last time, this visit is part of a book tour for his latest
> novel, *Scythe*.  Here's my issue...  As part of our arrangement to host
> Neal, we had to agree to sell 100 copies of *Scythe*.  Since the book had
> just come out, I had not had a chance to read *Scythe *prior to booking
> Neal.  I wasn't overly concerned about this since I have read nearly all of
> his other books and had personal experience with his presentations in the
> past.
>
> We have been promoting *Scythe *and selling advance copies to students.
> I picked up the books today.  The back of the book reads:
>
> *Thou shalt kill.*
> *Thou shalt kill with no bias, bigotry or malice aforethought.*
> *Thou shalt grant an annum of immunity to the beloved of those who accept
> your coming...*
> *Thou shalt kill the beloved of those who resist.*
>
> I am trying to proactively think of a response to parents who may not be
> familiar with Neal's work and who may object to *Scythe*.
>
> Has anyone hosted Neal as part of this book tour who could speak to this
> concern?  Have you had any objections?  We are a grade 7-8 middle school.
> I know that I could highlight the awards his other books have won (which I
> have done already);  however, I am having a hard time getting past this
> book's premise.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> Cindi Armstrong
> Library Media Specialist
> Avon Middle School
> (860) 404-4780
> amslibrarymedia.weebly.com
>
> On Tue, Nov 22, 2016 at 3:40 PM, Shannon McNeice <shannon_mcneice at whps.org
> > wrote:
>
>> Hi all!
>>
>> Neal Shusterman is on a book tour for his latest novel *Scythe, a
>> thrilling dystopia*. He will be in CT on 12/14 and is looking for
>> schools to visit. The particulars are fee of $650 and school will sell 100
>> copies of *Scythe*. Shusterman won the 2015 National Book Award  for *Challenger
>> Deep*, a novel which allows the reader a glimpse into the complex world
>> of mental illness. He would be great for middle school or high school.
>>
>> If you are interested, please reach out to his tour manager Marcia Blanco
>> <marciablancopla at gmail.com>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Shannon McNeice
>> *Library Media Specialist*
>> *Sedgwick Middle School <http://sedgwick.whps.org>*
>> *West Hartford, CT 06107*
>> Sedgwick Middle School Library <http://blog.whps.org/sedgwicklibrary>
>> @smcneice <https://twitter.com/smcneice>sedgwicklibrary
>> <https://www.pinterest.com/sedgwicklibrary/>  sedglibrary
>> <https://instagram.com/sedglibrary/>
>>
>> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE:
>> This West Hartford Public Schools e-mail may contain confidential
>> information. It is intended solely for the original designated
>> recipient(s).
>> Any other use is prohibited and access to this email by anyone else is
>> unauthorized.
>> Any opinions expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily
>> endorsed by WHPS.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> CASL-L mailing list
>> CASL-L at mylist.net
>> http://mylist.net/listinfo/casl-l
>>
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> CASL-L mailing list
> CASL-L at mylist.net
> http://mylist.net/listinfo/casl-l
>
>

-- 
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTE:
This West Hartford Public Schools e-mail may contain confidential 
information. It is intended solely for the original designated 
recipient(s). 
Any other use is prohibited and access to this email by anyone else is 
unauthorized.
Any opinions expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily 
endorsed by WHPS.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mylist.net/archives/casl-l/attachments/20161207/e3792174/attachment.html>