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

[Cynthia Armstrong]

Thank you, Shannon - it does.  It was just the verbage on the back of the
book that made me pause...

Cindi Armstrong
Library Media Specialist
Avon Middle School
(860) 404-4780
amslibrarymedia.weebly.com

On Wed, Dec 7, 2016 at 10:34 AM, Shannon McNeice <shannon_mcneice at whps.org>
wrote:

> 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/>
>>>
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>>
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