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Although C.S. Lewis was raised in a Christian household, in his teens, he rejected Christianity and became an atheist. However, he rediscovered his faith around 1931 during his time at Oxford. After this, it became his mission to smuggle the teachings of God into the children's fiction that he was writing. From 1949 to 1953, Lewis wrote the "Chronicles of Narnia" stories. What started as a simple idea for a story turned out to be the ideal vehicle for conveying Christian ideas.

Throughout the novel, Lewis uses the character, Aslan, as a Christ-like figure. Aslan's name holds a certain power that evokes strong feelings in all who hear it. The first time Aslan is mentioned to the children, Edmund feels a "mysterious horror," Peter feels "suddenly brave," and Susan feels something "delicious or delightful" float by her, and Lucy feels a sense of gleeful anticipation similar to the feeling of waking up on the first day of a holiday. Lewis uses Aslan's indescribable power to mirror the feelings of "horror" that sinners and liars, like Edmund, feel at the mention of Christ and the bravery, glee, and peace Christ's name inspires in his followers. Additionally, Lewis puts Aslan in contrast to the evil White Witch. Lewis shows Aslan's power against the Witch to be powerful even from a distance. This is symbolic of Christianity's power against nonbelievers to be powerful even from a distance. Lewis truly believed that Christ was almighty, and that is evident as the text progresses to fight for Narnia's soul.

Citation:
Christian Inquiry Agency . “CS Lewis-CS Lewis Is, Perhaps, Best Known for His Beloved Narnia Books, but There Was Much More to the Man.” Christianity, Christian Inquiry Agency , 2022, https://christianity.org.uk/article/cs-lewis.

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How Relevant are "The Chronicles of Narnia" Today? 

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How Relevant are "The Chronicles of Narnia" Today? 

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In today's world, children have access to everything they could imagine at their fingertips. When "The Chronicles of Narnia" was written in the 1950s, life was very different. Now more than ever, children are growing up in a consumerist society where excess isn't necessarily a bad thing. So, how is a story about selflessness still relevant today? The fantastical elements of "Narnia" allow children today to escape their reality and entirely delve into a deeply imaginative world.

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The Lion, The Witch, The Wardrobe... And Feminism? 

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The Lion, The Witch, The Wardrobe... And Feminism? 

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An outwardly Christian novel might not be one's first pick for a children's feminist novel, but some key elements of the book allow readers to view it from a feminist perspective. While Peter and Edmund might be the ones who get to swing the swords, Lucy is the real protagonist of the book. Lucy is the one who goes through the wardrobe and discovers the land of Narnia. The others don't believe her at first and think she is telling tales and that she might be possibly insane. This turns the first part of the novel into an extended moral about how power structures work to silence young girls through condescension, ridicule, and, ultimately, the threat of insanity. While the moral might not be directly linked to the patriarchy-the person who eventually believes Lucy is the Pevensie's. However, the plot has an obvious application to the long-standing feminist discussions around abuse, specifically child abuse.

Once the kids do enter Narnia, it is Lucy who gets pride of place; she is the one who's been there before, and she's the one who gets to tell them where to go and what to do. Peter even says, "I think Lu ought to be the leader. Goodness knows she deserves it". Even the narrator chimes in with, "Lucy proved a good leader". Through "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe", C.S. Lewis goes out of his way to put Lucy in a position of authority, and then insists that she belongs there.

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Roald Dahl is often revered for his ability to write texts that withstand the test of time. Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory are all texts that have played an integral role in the childhood of so many since their release. However, Dahl's personal life and personal beliefs have raised questions about

Before his death at age 74, Dahl publicly admitted that he was anti-Semitic. This is in addition to a number of reports of his alleged misogyny and racism. In an interview with Britain's New Statesman, Dahl reportedly told them, "there is a trait in the Jewish character that does provoke animosity... Even a stinker like Hitler didn't just pick on them for no reason". These are hefty words to come from an author with such a large influence over children's literature. Dahl also made largely anti-Semitic and deeply offensive comments in an earlier interview in 1990. He said, "I'm certainly anti-Israeli, and I've become anti-Semitic in as much as that you get a Jewish person in another country like England strongly supporting Zionism." Dahl's comments are intensely offensive and caused a lot of controversies. In recent years, Dahl's family issued an apology for the "lasting and understandable hurt caused by some of Roald Dahl's statements." While the apology was mostly well received, many believed that the apology should have been issued much sooner. The apology came shortly after "lucrative deals were signed with Hollywood." Many also noted that while the apology was encouraging, it is "a shame that the estate has seen fit mere to apologize for Dahl's anti-Semitism rather than use its substantial means to do anything about it." Dahl's strongly anti-Semitic views have left a stain on his legacy.

Although Dahl's comments have impacted his personal legacy, his remarks have barely impacted his legacy as an author. Even some prominent Jewish voices couldn't resist the allure of Dahl's stories. Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said on Twitter, "I've always adored Roald Dahl's books. I've known about his anti-Semitism, but to even point it out often felt like sacrilege towards one of the most popular authors of all time." Dahl's ability to capture readers through his writing has created the space for people to forgive, and even forget, his deeply offensive way of thinking. The president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Marie van der Zyl suggests that educators should use Dahl's books as an opportunity for young people to "learn about his intolerant views." Despite Dahl being so open about his problematic views, many are quick to forgive him for the sake of the work he created. Children should still be able to read and enjoy the fantastical, creative worlds of Roald Dahl, but it is crucial they are made aware of the controversy and harm that his views have caused.

Citations:
McCluskey, Megan. “Roald Dahl: Inside His Anti-Semitism and Complicated Legacy.” Time, Time, 18 Mar. 2021, https://time.com/5937507/roald-dahl-anti-semitism/.

Schwartz, Matthew S. “Roald Dahl Family Apologizes for Children's Author's Anti-Semitism.” NPR, NPR, 6 Dec. 2020, https://www.npr.org/2020/12/06/943698406/roald-dahl-family-apologizes-for-childrens-authors-anti-semitism.

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During Roald Dahl's childhood, the two largest British candy companies, Cadbury and Rowntree, sent so many spies to work in competitor's factories that sent their spying became legendary. The real-life espionage became so intense that candy makers in Europe began employing detectives to keep track of workers. Sensitive manufacturing processes were off-limits to all but the most loyal workers. Outsiders dealing with candy makers were forced to sign strict, highly punitive confidentiality agreements.

Citation:
Lanzendorfer, Joy. “12 Gloriumptious Facts about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Mental Floss, Mental Floss, 11 Aug. 2015, https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/67102/12-gloriumptious-facts-about-charlie-and-chocolate-factory#:~:text=CHOCOLATE%20ESPIONAGE%20WAS%20A%20REAL,to%20steal%20each%20other's%20innovations.

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The original publication of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in 1964 depicted the Oompa-Loompas as African pygmies that Willy Wonka "discovered" and shipped to England "in large packing cases with holes in them". In the 1970s the NAACP and other groups criticized this portrayal as racist, which it was. Dahl then rewrote the Oompa-Loopmas to be small people with white skin and long golden brown hair who came from Loompaland. The orange skin and green hair were added for the 1971 film.

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What's really down the rabbit hole?: Lewis Carroll's questionable interactions with young girls 

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What's really down the rabbit hole?: Lewis Carroll's questionable interactions with young girls 

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Before and during, Lewis Carroll's life as an internationally beloved author, Carrol was a mathematician while also instructing students at the College of Christ Church, Oxford. His male contemporaries at the university often recalled him as awkward and unfriendly, with a noticeable stammer. Biographers noted his ability to have easier relations with women and his warm, friendly way with children. Carroll was also a lifelong bachelor, a very private individual, and very close to his family.

Carroll died in 1898 and was revered for his work in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. However, posthumously, his legacy was tainted with claims that his work was embedded with possibly pedophiliac tendencies. It was Carroll's photography, in particular, that raised questions about his intentions. Carroll was an amateur photographer, making over 3,000 photographs in his lifetime. Just over half of these images are of children, and around 30 depict nude or semi-nude children.

Many came to the defense of Carroll, claiming that during the Victorian era, Children were considered the "embodiment of innocence." Many have pointed out that during this time, pictures of posed nude, and semi-nude children were not out of the norm. Carroll is known to have received parents' permission to photograph at least some of the children.

The Mystery of Lewis Carroll, written by Jenny Woolf, lays out evidence that Carroll was likely attracted to and romantically pursued teenagers and young women throughout his adult life. Woolf suggests that Carroll used his role as an older, non-threatening "uncle" figure to circumvent rigid Victorian social rules around romantic relationships. These rules would have forbidden a bachelor like Carroll from spending alone time with a teenage girl or a single woman. There is no hard evidence to prove Carroll's intentions with these young girls. However, Carroll's journals from this time in his life have not been found. It is rumored that family members removed those pages after his death. It can only be speculated the truth surrounding this gossip.

Citation:
Elliot, Sarah K. “Antiques Roadshow.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/stories/articles/2017/2/6/understanding-concerns-about-lewis-carroll#:~:text=Biographer%20Jenny%20Woolf%2C%20in%20her,women%20throughout%20his%20adult%20life.

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Lewis Carrol suffered from partial deafness as well as a rare neurological disorder that causes hallucinations and makes objects appear larger or smaller than they actually are. This disease wasn't discovered until 1955 by English psychiatrist John Todd. Eventually, it was named Alice in Wonderland Syndrome or Todd's Syndrome. Perhaps it wasn't psychedelics that caused Carol to create such a deeply imaginative world.

Citation:
Mastria, Giulio et al. “Alice in Wonderland Syndrome: A Clinical and Pathophysiological Review.” BioMed research international vol. 2016 (2016): 8243145. doi:10.1155/2016/8243145

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Some scholars believe that Carrol's day job made its way into the book in a satirical form about 19th-century innovations in mathematics, like imaginary numbers. For example, the riddles like the one the Mad Hatter asks Alice about a raven being like a writing desk were a reflection of the increasing abstraction that was going on in mathematics in the 19th century. Carrol was a conservative mathematician, and he found new forms of math emerging in the mid-1800s absurd compared to the algebra and Euclidean geometry he favored.

Citation:
NPR. “The Mad Hatter's Secret Ingredient: Math.” NPR, NPR, 13 Mar. 2010, https://www.npr.org/2010/03/13/124632317/the-mad-hatters-secret-ingredient-math.

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Theme of belonging in Pictures of Hollis Woods 

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Theme of belonging in Pictures of Hollis Woods 

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For all of Hollis's life, she has longed for a nuclear family, a support system, and stability. When Hollis is placed with Josie, she gets a glimpse of what those things are like and can tries to finally escape her "troubled girl" identity. One of the quotes that encapsulates the theme of belonging is, "She smiled at me. 'It's yours to have forever, even when you leave me,' 'I won't leave you'. I said." Here, Josie is creating the space for Hollis to feel comfortable in her new placement. Finally, Hollis has a place and a person to belong to, and that means the world to her. Although the placement with Josie is far from perfect, it is the closest thing Hollis has felt to belonging in a long time.

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"Pictures of Hollis Woods" could be quite harmful to kids in the foster care system

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"Pictures of Hollis Woods" could be quite harmful to kids in the foster care system

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Pictures of Hollis Woods tells the remarkable story of Hollis and follows her through her darkest moments and also her highest. However, the ending of the story, could create false hope for children in the foster care system. While Hollis gets the picture-perfect ending, that is certainly not the case for most children in the foster care system. There is approximately 424,000 foster youth in America, and that number is increasing. The median age of children in foster care is 6 and a half. Foster kids are often stereotyped as troubled teens, but more often than not, they are just kids looking for a loving home. Additionally, 20,000 youth age out of the foster system between the ages of 18-21 annually. This means that they are left to fend for themselves and never had the opportunity to find their forever family. These grim statistics reveal that the foster care system isn't exactly like how Patricia Reilly Giff portrays it. Not every kid is as lucky as Hollis, so children should be exposed to the realities of the foster care systems if this book were to be taught in schools.

Citation:
iFoster. “6 Quick Statistics on the Current State of Foster Care.” IFoster, 2022, https://www.ifoster.org/blogs/6-quick-statistics-on-the-current-state-of-foster-care/.

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Possible Activity for Teaching "Pictures of Hollis Woods"

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Possible Activity for Teaching "Pictures of Hollis Woods"

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Although controversial, teaching Pictures of Hollis Woods could be a great conversation starter as well as a learning experience for students. One way to incorporate this text into your classroom would be by having students write a paper on dreams. The teacher should review the basic theme of The Wizard of Oz. Then, ask students to discuss how Hollis's journey might be compared to that Dorothy's journey. Students will then write a short paper from Hollis's perspective entitled, "Dreams That You Dare to Dream Really Do Come True".

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After Florida's latest "Don't Say Gay Bill", it's extremely plausible for Simon vs the Homo Sapien Agenda to be banned in schools because of its queer content. Throughout the country, there is a push for increased control of the reading material that is available for students. However, I think that it is crucial that Simon is available for students. Studies show that representation in literature allows students to identify and create deeper connections with the text. Additionally, it can be an educational moment for students who are not queer. Students in the LGBTQ+ community deserved to have their experiences validated, and this contemporary novel does just that.

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While the text is filled with moments that validate the experience of so many LGBTQ+ teens, this moment, in particular, stands out in my mind. When Simon says, "I'm tired of coming out. All I ever do is come out. I try not to change, but I keep changing, in all these tiny ways. ... And every freaking time, I have to reintroduce myself to the universe all over again". This moment highlights the experience of so many LGBTQ+ kids who have to make the difficult decision to come out to their loved ones in fear that they may not be accepted for who they are. Coming out is such a personal and difficult decision and one that heterosexual, cis people will never experience. This moment in the text validates the anxieties, worries, and contemplations of LGBTQ+ youth.

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For Simon, coming out is filled with consequences. He knows he will face homophobia at school, but is fortunate that outright violence doesn't have to be a concern for him. However, Simon's dad is often casually homophobic, possibly for comedic purposes. Simon knows he'll most likely have the support of his dad, but his dad projects a weird vibe that makes Simon less comfortable coming out to his family. Simon worries that his dad's slightly homophobic jokes might be a deeper issue. The character of Simon's dad creates an uncomfortable situation for both the reader and Simon. Ultimately, Simon realizes that his dad will support and love him no matter how he identifies.

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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian

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The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian

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"Diary" Speaks to Sherman Alexi's Personal Experiences

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"Diary" Speaks to Sherman Alexi's Personal Experiences

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Just like Arnold, Sherman Alexi grew up on the Spokane Indian reservation in Washington. That is not the only parallel, however. Alexi suffered from congenital hydrocephalus and underwent surgery when he was six months old. While the procedure didn't affect his ability to learn, he suffered from harsh side effects, like seizures, in his childhood. As a child, he was heavily influenced by his maternal grandmother, a spiritual leader of the Spokane. So much of Alexi's life is mirrored in Arnold's. Sherman Alexi was able to earn a scholarship to Spokane's Gonzaga University; however, he later graduated from Washington State University, where he credits a poetry course for helping him find his voice as a writer. Although readers don't know what happens to Arnold after that infamous basketball game with Rowdy, Sherman Alexi's success story provides hope to readers that Arnold may turn out the same way.

Citation:
Kuiper, Kathleen. "Sherman Alexie". Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Oct. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sherman-Alexie. Accessed 9 December 2022.

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"So I draw because I want to talk to the world. And I want the world to pay attention to me. I feel important with a pen in my hand. I feel like I might grow up to be somebody important. An artist. Maybe a famous artist. Maybe a rich artist."
This quote from the chapter, The Black Eye of the Month Club, explains Arnold's relationship with cartooning. The passage shows how Junior would like to use his art as a springboard to a better life. But drawing is not just a way for Junior to cope with and escape the challenges he faces on the reservation. Drawing, as Junior explains elsewhere, gives Arnold a means to honor his friends and family. Junior’s drawing, therefore, is not just a selfish or self-involved pursuit. Drawing gives Junior his particular way of contributing to his community.

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Many people in America believe that the oppression and marginalization of Native Americans are things of the past. However, Native American communities to this day are underserved, underfunded, and filled with deep poverty. Because of these harsh conditions, many Native Americans turn to the use and abuse of alcohol. Today, alcohol is the most commonly used drug among Native Americans. Here are some shocking statistics about the use of alcohol among Native Americans:

The rate of past month (35.9%) and past year (54.3%) alcohol use among Native Americans is significantly higher than other ethnic groups.

Nearly a quarter of Native Americans report binge drinking in the past month (22.4%)

The rate of Native Americans with an alcohol use disorder (7.1%) is higher than that of the total population (5.4%).

3 in 10 Native American young adults (age 18-25) report binge drinking (consuming 5 or more drinks in 2 hours), 1 in 11 report heavy alcohol use (binge drinking on 5 or more days in the past month), and 1 in 10 have an alcohol use disorder.

1 in 6 Native American adolescents (age 12-17) engage in underage drinking, the highest rate of alcohol use of all racial/ethnic groups.

The conditions on Native American reservations are actively contributing to the use and abuse of alcohol amongst the ethnic group.

Citation:
American Addictions Center. “Alcohol Abuse in the Native American Population: Statistics & Risk Factors.” American Addiction Centers, 14 Sept. 2022, https://americanaddictioncenters.org/alcoholism-treatment/native-americans.

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Growing up, I also had a mom who put a large emphasis on aesthetics, keeping skinny, and watching what you eat. Perhaps not to the extent of Ellie's mom, but I definitely felt the pressure to be skinny. This book was something that I wish I had when I was growing up. It validates the experience of so many young girls who want so badly to fit in. It also emphasizes that a person is so much more than their weight, something I longed to hear in my tween and teen years. Starfish is such a powerful work and something that all young girls should have the opportunity to read.

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“I'm a starfish,
taking up all the room I want.”

This quote from the novel is so powerful. Oftentimes, women are told to shrink who they are. Women are told they should not take up space, whether that be physically or in a conversation. In the novel, Ellie is forced to come up with tactics for how to assimilate and not draw attention to herself. Yet, in the end Ellie realizes that she is unique, important, and deserving of taking up space. These lessons are something that any tween or teen girl could benefit from.

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“The fat on my body
never felt as heavy as
your words on my heart.”

This is a crucial part in the text because, for the first time, Ellie is forcing her mom to own up to the abuse and belittling she has put Ellie through. Finally, with the help of Dr. Wood, Ellie is able to take a stance and tell her mom that her worth goes so far beyond how much she ways. While Ellie may not have lost weight, she finally lost the weight of the pressure that her mom puts on her. She gains freedom in this moment. She gains the freedom of her own story, the freedom to be who she wants, and the freedom to live without the pressure of her mother.