Deuker, C. (2007). Gym candy. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.
Gym Candy by Carl Deuker:
This week i've read the first 100 pages
-Did any characters remind me of someone I know? Explain?
Well, the main character is the definition of a football jock. His entire life is the sport of football, the narrative talks about his home life and his football life. His school life in the book = his football life. There is little description of working hard on an english essay or math equation-I mean, i get why that might repel some readers, but i'm left wanting some more immersion into his academic life.
I've met many people like this in my life, especially throughout grade school-kids who thought that they were going to grow up to be the next best thing. A lot of these athletes even came from similar backgrounds as Micky-parents that were big stars in high school or college.
-Overall, what kind of feeling did i have after/during reading this work?
Well, honestly the writing was so simple and large that i couple read a page in a couple of seconds, skimming was doable as well. Because the magic was in the plot and the personal connections that readers make to the main characters, i never worried about higher analysis of rhetorical devices or anything like that. As I was reading i felt like i was watching a less dramatic version of the TV Show Friday Night Lights that focused on one particular character instead of many. I will also admit that even though my experience with adolescent sports was limited, i was still very nostalgic as i moved through the pages; it make me remember earlier times even though i had never taken the field at a varsity football game.
I've met many people like this in my life, especially throughout grade school-kids who thought that they were going to grow up to be the next best thing. A lot of these athletes even came from similar backgrounds as Micky-parents that were big stars in high school or college.
-Overall, what kind of feeling did i have after/during reading this work?
Well, honestly the writing was so simple and large that i couple read a page in a couple of seconds, skimming was doable as well. Because the magic was in the plot and the personal connections that readers make to the main characters, i never worried about higher analysis of rhetorical devices or anything like that. As I was reading i felt like i was watching a less dramatic version of the TV Show Friday Night Lights that focused on one particular character instead of many. I will also admit that even though my experience with adolescent sports was limited, i was still very nostalgic as i moved through the pages; it make me remember earlier times even though i had never taken the field at a varsity football game.
If i were a teacher, would i share this would my students and how?
Yes, i would share this piece in a heartbeat. I wouldn't teach from it, but i would absolutely recommend it on individual bases to students. I very much like the idea of beginning each class with a recommendation of the day. I also would not hesitate to pair it with canonical texts being taught in the classroom. As long as the themes or connections are there, i would allow nearly any relevant YA pairing.
Overall Reader's Digest Version:
Into it. Easy page turner. Would auto-recommend for any sports-minded male. Themes: Father/Son, Being the Best, Making Friends, Sports, Lying, Cheating, Conflicting with adults, larger moral chocies
Overall Reader's Digest Version:
Into it. Easy page turner. Would auto-recommend for any sports-minded male. Themes: Father/Son, Being the Best, Making Friends, Sports, Lying, Cheating, Conflicting with adults, larger moral chocies
I really appreciate this honest review of the book--how you recognize the book for what it is--how you may not teach from it as a literary text, but how you still recognize it as worthy of being read by students--Deuker is a fave among struggling readers and the more we know about what he writes, well, this helps us better relate to those students who may struggle with other literary texts such as Beowulf. One is not better than the other--just different. I like reading al sorts of books because they help me better understand all kinds of people--all kinds of readers.
ReplyDeleteI second Dr. Sty on the appreciation of your honesty! I love how you responded to three different writing invitations. It allowed for you to look at the book from all different kinds of angles. One angle you analyzed was a reader response angle. You connected to the characters to yourself in some way. Next, you connected the book to your feelings, which I guess would be considered another example of reader response. Lastly, you extended it out to a reflection about others and the potential experiences they may or may not have. I really enjoyed taking a swim in your brain. Thanks for sharing!
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