Literacy Matters Vol. 23 Winter 2023

to cover her tight pants. This sweater gains unwanted attention from a group of boys who want Mila to hug them or brush up against her sleeve. The behavior flies under the teachers’ radars, and Mila’s slightly louder reactions get negative attention, which does not make her feel any better. Finally, one of the boys makes a comment right before the middle school band takes the stage for the concert, and Mila can no longer be

culture supports the objectification of female bodies and bullying. Girls are ranked by their looks, and the emphasis on appearance and sexualizing of peers makes many in the school uncomfortable. The narrative is told from the perspectives of Sophie, Nessa, and Eve, all of whom grapple with their own rankings and the negative attention these numbers bring. As the characters begin to unravel

their feelings about the list, they also start to find a way to stand up against what is happening at their school. The novel provides ample examples of bullying and harassment and how societal expectations of beauty and misogyny have a stronghold in school culture.

silent. This realistic tale of bullying and sexual harassment can be a valuable springboard for discussing boundaries and consent.

That’s What Friends Do Barnhart, C. (2020). HarperCollins. ISBN: 978 0062888938 This novel centers around the longtime friendship of David and Sammie, two friends who met playing their favorite sport, baseball. Unfortunately, their dynamic begins to change when a new boy moves to town: Luke. To David, Luke seems good at flirting and making comments to girls. In actuality, Luke makes Sammie

Literacy Matters Feature Article

Chirp Messner, K. (2021). Bloomsbury Children’s Books. ISBN: 978-1547605705 Mia and her family moved to Vermont to reside near her loving grandmother and her cricket farm. After the move, Mia reflects on her experiences as a gymnast and her discomfort with a previous male coach. Memories of her life in Boston intertwine with Mia’s present day experiences of learning about crickets, investigating whether someone

uncomfortable, and she struggles to communicate precisely how Luke makes her feel. David uses Luke’s example to act on his crush on Sammie but makes her feel even more uncomfortable. This novel explores how different understandings of consent can have devastating consequences and how respecting peers and their physical and emotional boundaries is important.

is sabotaging her grandmother’s farm, and making new friends. Mia also learns that male crickets are very loud and wonders why female crickets stay silent. Her wondering transfers to her own life as the book compares how an adult male coach used his position to make Mia uncomfortable. The narrative opens the potential for discussions of how to speak up when someone does something inappropriate, no matter who they are in a young person’s life. Resources for Middle Grades: • Girls Against Dress Codes (Brown, 2017) • Model Anti-Harrassment and Discrimination Policies for Schools (ACLU, n.d.) • Teaching Consent Doesn’t Have to Be Hard (Hoover, 2018)

Dress Coded Firestone, C. (2020). G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers. ISBN: 978-1984816436 Molly Frost is a typical eighth grader. She struggles with self-esteem and body issues. She works hard to do well in school and is finding her place between new and old friends as she grows, matures, and changes. She takes to the airwaves when she sees her friend get yelled at and humiliated by

Sexual Assault and Rape Culture: Young Adult Novels (Grades 9-12) Someone I Used to Know Blount, P. (2018). Sourcebooks Fire. ISBN: 978-1492632818 High school freshman Ashley is assaulted by Victor, a popular

two male teachers at school for wearing a shirt that shows her shoulders. Dress Coded: A Podcast quickly becomes a safe place for other girls to talk about their experiences getting dress coded, and the effects of the podcast snowball into protests. While the central theme of this story revolves around challenging the dress code, there are secondary stories about vaping, family dynamics, bullying, body image, misogyny, romance, and kids exploring their sexuality. Multiple storylines on keenly relevant topics converge to compel a young girl to speak up and demand change.

senior on the football team, during a Homecoming week scavenger hunt. After the assault, Ashley’s brother, who is also a member of the football team, Derek, testifies against her in court. The story occurs across two narratives: Ashley, who is still in high school in her Ohio

The Prettiest Young, B. (2020). Roaring Brook Press. ISBN: 978-1626729230

When an anonymous list of the fifty prettiest girls is released at a middle school, the student body devolves into gossip. The school

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