kaitlinapplegatewrites

[kaitlinapplegatewrites]

Always Keep Fighting

Growing up on a steady supply of Latin food and Supernatural, this novel quickly made itself a home in my heart. The combination of seamless worldbuilding and character development helped me understand the struggles and triumphs transgender people face.

One of my favorite devices this novel uses is mystery. Particularly, we do not learn that Yadriel is transgender right away. Before we learn his gender identity, we learn his disposition. This is a simple but effective way to put us in Yadriel’s mind. When he thinks of himself, he imagines his whole being. And yes, gender is a part of his identity, but there is much more to him than only gender.

During moments of discrimination, Yadriel finds support in his best friend and lover. While others in his community like his father, struggle to accept him, there is often still a great measure of love for Yadriel. The cast of characters in this book provide a diverse representation concerning how people react to transgender people.

To me, the most enlightening commentary in this book is offered as Yadriel reflects on his native tongue. Early in the novel, Yadriel reflects, “Navigating pronouns was a minefield when language was based on gender” (Thomas, 37). I honestly had never considered how a gendered language produces so many opportunities for hurt until reading this book.

Cemetery Boys is a wonderful work of transgender literature. But like Yadriel, it is much more than that. This novel is filled with mystery, romance, and action all mixed up and baked in a ghoulishly good pie.

[kaitlinapplegatewrites]

The Akata Witch Ain’t Nobody’s Bitch

Before taking this class, I had never heard of Afrofuturism. Bolanle Austen Peters’ definition in her article “This is Afrofuturism” helped me understand the term and “Akata Witch” better: “The term Afrofuturism, coined in 1993, seeks to reclaim black identity through art, culture, and political resistance. It is an intersectional lens through which to view possible futures or alternate realities, though it is rooted in chronological fluidity” (Peters).

Specifically, “Akata Witch” “views alternate realities” in light of opposites. What is seen as hated and cheap in the real world becomes advantageous and valuable in the novel’s universe. Namely, Sunny’s race, the depiction of soccer, and evaluation of money are three of many examples in which real world perceptions are flipped.

Sunny’s identity is riddled with dualism. Between her American and Nigerian heritage and her African heredity yet white skin, she faces feelings of displacement all throughout the book. It is not until she discovers her Leopard Person identity that some of these characteristics are celebrated. Instead of Sunny’s albinism isolating her, this genetic disorder gives her a natural proclivity for juju. Instead of having to hide from the sun and judgmental people, Sunny embraces her albinism as an expression of herself as a Leopard Person.

Additionally, it is in the Leopard people world, not her traditional school, where she plays her first real soccer match. Although the Leopard people are sexist, too, she is able to overcome gender expectations with the help of her friend Sasha. Sunny’s skill on the field becomes a celebration of what traditional parents might consider unladylike.

Finally, in this magical society, money is called chittim. However, unlike real currency, gold is the least valuable type of money. Instead, “copper ones, the most valuable kind,” take the throne (Okorafor). This role reversal in money shows how expectations of society are shattered in nearly every corner of Leopard people philosophy.

Although fictional, Sunny’s experience can extend hope to real world marginalized people. This novel makes me rethink why I hold the biases I have. It also encourages me to treat each person as someone with great potential, no matter how unassuming they may seem.

[kaitlinapplegatewrites]

Tyler Johnson Was Here

Perhaps one of the most powerful elements of fiction is its ability to help humanity understand reality. Well written prose uses contrast by showing us real experiences in front of a fake backdrop. “Tyler Johnson Was Here” by Jay Coles gives people of all different backgrounds an opportunity to understand the tragedies brought by police brutality. 

Although the story is narrated by Marvin, we get to know his brother, Tyler pretty well, too. The twins themselves represent powerful contrast, one geeky and the other popular, one loving their dad and the other struggling with hating him. But the ultimate distinction comes through Tyler’s death and Marvin’s life. The author’s focus on building contrast between Tyler and Marvin becomes the ultimate irony. Despite their superficial differences, the boys were very much the same: kids with dreams and deep compassion. Tyler’s murder helps us understand that the reason why Marvin lived and Tyler died has nothing to do with their character, but the corruption of the police officer who killed him. 

As the novel unfolds, Marvin’s life becomes more polarized, like the black and white picture his cheap TV projects (Coles, 75). Even though there is video evidence showing the cop shooting Tyler, his school becomes divided. Some stand with Marvin while others argue that the officer acted in self-defense. As his world unravels, Marvin is shell-shocked, feeling “like the world flashes between black and white and grainy and clear” (Coles, 91). 

Despite the chaos caused by racism and polarization, the novel ends on a relatively positive note. Marvin finds unity amid the bigotry through the love of his Mama, Faith, Ivy, G-mo, and Tyler, who isn’t alive at the novel’s end, but never truly dies. Because of Marvin’s perseverance, the world, both fictional and real, will remember #TylerJohnsonWasHere

[kaitlinapplegatewrites]

No-Good-Dirty-Rotten-Racism

Holes captivates the grade schooler and adult alike. Absurd elements from poisonous stopped lizards to smelly-footed baseball players appeal to kids, while Zero’s friendship with Stanley reminds adults hurt by bigotry the power of compassion. 

In many ways, Zero and Stanley foil each other. Besides race, Zero is small and fast, while Stanley is large and slow. Stanley does his best to give answers he thinks others want to hear, while Zero says little. Even Mr. Pendanski seems to view the two as opposites by treating Stanley with respect yet belittling Zero.

“‘You know why his name's Zero?’ asked Mr. Pendanski. ‘Because there's nothing

inside his head.’ He smiled and playfully shook Zero's shoulder” (Sachar).

Despite Mr. Pendanski’s assessment, the reader soon realizes that Zero is a fast learner not to mention a math whiz. In fact, Zero’s initial illiteracy leads to his friendship with Stanley. In simple moments between learning capital and lowercase letters, Stanley slowly begins to realize that Hector is a real person, just like him. 

Although the novel does not give much detail about what becomes of Hector and Stanley, the reader gets the idea that things work out pretty well for them. In the end, they both are enjoying a fancy launch party, and no one there is talking about their differences, but enjoying them each equally.

Like much of the novel, Holes speaks more about racism in the gaps between words than it does overtly. The author leaves us to think, to wrestle, and to come to our own conclusions about inclusion. “You will have to fill in the holes yourself” (Sachar).  

[kaitlinapplegatewrites]

Take Your Damn Shoes Off

Although I’m as white as they come, my Mom was a missionary kid, born in Indonesia.  Indonesian was her first language, and in many ways, my mom is still culturally Asian. My boyfriend’s father is Puerto Rican, and his mother is Korean. Who knew that watching To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before would become such a bonding experience for the both of us.

Although Lara Jean comes from a bi-racial home, we mainly see the European influences in her upbringing since her Korean mother has already passed away at the start of the film, leaving her white American father to raise his three daughters.

Perhaps the time when the girl’s Korean culture shines through the most is when Margot breaks up with Josh at the beginning of the film because her mother encouraged her not to bring a boyfriend into college. This recommendation harkens back to American born Chinese, when Jin’s mother told him he should focus on studies first and love second.

To All the Boy’s I’ve Loved Before presents and interesting case study in what is culturally kept and lost in bi-racial families. While some remnants of Korean lifestyle imprint upon the girls, it seems they most embrace a traditional American lifestyle. This reality was most evident to my boyfriend and I when Margot hops into bed with her shoes on. Both being raised by culturally Asian mothers, we screamed out “Take off your shoes!”

Afterward we joked that the movie is totally inaccurate because no Korean kid would get into a bed without taking their shoes off first. As a couple influenced by multiple backgrounds, this movie made us laugh and think deeper about how culture impacts routine.

[kaitlinapplegatewrites]

American Born Chinese

Some stories entertain, others teach, and the best do both. American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang snagged my attention and conscience. The end of the first section, when the monkey sits hating his own smell, is followed immediately by a picture of Jin Wang looking sad. Before any connection between these two stories is verbally stated, Yang gives us a visual hint.

Representing the alienated king as a monkey is a clever choice, too. I’ve often heard my friends of color complain about being likened to a monkey by Americans. By depicting the king as a monkey, Yang sheds light on how ridiculous it is to treat fellow humans as lesser and even animal-like.

Finally, there’s Chin Kee’s storyline. What might be passed off as low hanging fruit in an American sitcom is exposed as an uncomfortable racist depiction in context with Monkey and Jin’s struggles. Not only does Chin Kee’s character represent what Americans hate about perceived Chinese people, he also embodies the stereotypes Chinese people hate. When Chin Kee’s character is exposed as nothing more than a guise on page 212, a sense of epiphany grips the reader.

Chin Kee was never real, but the more people embraced him, the more damage he caused. When Jin finally learns to accept his identity, being Chinese no longer means being Chin Kee. Instead, Jin becomes himself, a normal kid. As the story closes over a cup of pearl milk tea, the reader finally gets the chance to celebrate Jin Wang’s culture alongside him.

[kaitlinapplegatewrites]

Green Pancakes, You Dig?

For a novel that includes three adolescent deaths, The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is pretty heartwarming. Between fight scenes and fires, green pancakes and chocolate cake give readers a charming Curtis family slice of life. 

Seemingly opposing themes of violence paired with loyal love has brought with it criticisms claiming the novel romanticizes hood life. I disagree. The novel’s purpose behind these two contrasting themes is to communicate one of The Outsiders main morals: people are people. 

Throughout the novel, Ponyboy begins to understand that poor kids like him and rich Socs have a lot in common. Both groups find identities in their gangs while also feeling lonely in their own communities from time to time. This dueling dynamic is perhaps most explored in chapter seven during Ponyboy’s conversation with Soc Randy. Even though Randy was friends with the boy Johnny killed, Ponyboy finds himself relating to Randy’s desire to stop fighting. 

While constant fighting is the main issue some critics find with The Outsiders, I feel this book uses violence to make a point, not glorify it. In “Speaking with S.E Hinton,” the interview included at the end of the book, Hinton says that she first got the idea for her novel after seeing one of her Greaser friends get beat up by a Soc just because he was a Greaser. It seems that in Hinton’s time, which is not so different from today, many assumed that all poor kids were morally corrupt. In chapter nine, Ponyboy thinks to himself that “half of the hoods I know are pretty decent guys underneath all that grease”...“but people usually go by looks.” 

If you look underneath all the smoking, drinking and switchblades, you might find The Outsiders is more about how Greasers can be gold, too, you dig?

[kaitlinapplegatewrites]

Every Heart a Doorway

After a week of sleeping awfully in my own bed upon coming home from living in my summer dorm, I realized what was happening. Although my mattress was way better than the bug infested one I’d slept on for the past three months, my bed was missing something: home. After living somewhere else, my house did not feel like my home anymore. It was like wondering through a building you know well but no longer able to navigate. 

“Every Heart a Doorway” by Seanan McGuire captures this misplaced sentiment. The quest to find home is what drives most of the story’s characters. Nancy, the novel’s protagonist, early on says “I’d do anything to go home” (p. 69). She is not alone in her desire. Nearly every student in the school is actively trying to find a way to reenter the worlds they once found. Even Eleanor, the school’s leader, takes displaced children in because she “hoped that someday, it would be enough to pay her passage back to the place where she belonged” (p. 14). 

The way this short book concludes makes me ruminate about what defines a home. Before leaving to return to her parents, Nancy discovers a note from her late friend Sumi. Sumi’s words grip Nancy and her door reopens. Finally at peace, Nancy is home. While a satisfying ending to the book, the fact that Sumi’s words enabled Nancy to find her old door makes me wonder if the door is really where Nancy finds belonging. Perhaps home is with the people Nancy loves. It’s a bit cliche, but this book makes me wonder if who takes precedence over where when finding our homes.