Related Texts - Novels and Short Stories
Note: Make don't get sucked into telling the story instead of analysing the techniques - you need to be able to tell the story in 20-25 words, and choose just two or three key scenes to analyse (before and after the transition works well) in great detail. If you're using a novel you studied in year 7-10, be sure it's not too babyish for an HSC exam.
Dystopian and Science Fiction Novels: have a clear transition into a new (and not often very friendly!) world of the future.
A Cage of Butterflies by Brian Caswell (F CAS) involves a group of children with genius level-IQ who were removed from their families to a remote farm where scientists experiment secretly on their telepathic abilities. The transitions are mostly psychological as they plot together to escape into the real world. Told from many changing viewpoints, this novel will provide excellent techniques for good readers.
Ender's Game by Scott Orson Card (F CAR) is set in a future where talented gamers are sent to a military school to learn to fight the aliens who are trying to invade earth. Of course, moving into this world has significant psychological effects of the characters as well as the society of Planet Earth.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (F COL) describes a future where the government controls the population by choosing children to fight to the death on a reality TV programme. Katnisse's transition into the a world of competitive violence leads to all manner of psychological transitions.
Wither by Lauren Stefano (F STE) is set in a world where teens die before the age of 20. Rhine is abducted and sold as a wife to a young boy whose father will do anything to find a cure before his son dies. the transition from poverty to the world of wealth and power does not resign Rhine to her fate.
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (F ROS) tells the story of Aria who is forced out of the safe, futuristic bubble where she grew up into a primitive wilderness. As her experience of this "real world" grows she loses her innocence and gain practical skills and attitudes that will enable her to survive.
Because it is my blood by Gabrielle Zevin (F ZEV) is set in a world where chocolate has been declared an illegal drug. The second book in a series, this novel examines Anya's (whose family are chocolate dealers) transition to life in a legal cacao plantation in Mexico after she is released from prison.
Cinder, by Marissa Meyer (F MEY) is based on the Cinderella tale but set in a future where humans can be part machine and the moon has been colonised by humans who have somehow evolved differently and now threaten earth. Going to the ball is just the beginning of cinder's transition into a new identity.
Romance Novels: involve a psychological transition into (or sometimes out of!) the world of Lurve.
That Summer by Sarah Dessen (F DES). Haven's world is in total chaos when her sister's ex-boyfriend returns to their lives. This novel focuses on the psychological transitions which happen when one's world-view is shattered.
Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen (F DES) describes Auden's return to the party scene after her parents divorce and the consequences of this transition into a world of alcohol and romance.
48 Shades of Brown by Nick Earls (F EAR) moves into his aunt Jacq's home while his parents spend a year in Europe. this physical transition prompts all kinds of psychological changes as he falls for his Aunt's flatmate.
Delirium by Lauren Oliver (F OLI) takes place in a world where love is considered a mental illness and teens undergo an operation at the age of 16 to save them from the disease. Lena's world changes when she chooses not to undergo this transition.
Historical Novels: are almost always set in a time of transition. Their characters usually move from the small world in which they were born into the new and wider world where they must make hard decisions.
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson (F AND) tells the story of slave girl's journey toward freedom so that she can find her lost sister. It is set during the American Revolution (when the US was fighting to be free of English rule).
Auslander by Paul Dowswell (F DOW) tells the story of Peter, a blonde, blue-eyed Polish boy who is adopted by a Nazi family who try to indoctrinate him into Nazi philosophy. This less-known aspect of Nazism involves both physical and psychological transitions as Peter learns to negotiate and resist the world of high-ranking Nazis.
Scatterheart by Lili Wilkinson (F WIL). Adapted from the fairytale, this novel describes rich, spoilt Hannah's transition into poverty, and her arrest for a crime she did not commit. Sentenced to transportation (to Australia), she realises that she should judge people (especially Thomas, a servant she gets to know well) by their character, not their social status.
Real-Life Problem Novels: have very obvious psychological and social transitions as the characters face and solve the difficulties in their worlds. There may also be a physical transition involved in causing or solving the transition.
Where the Streets had a name by Randa Abdel-Fattah (F ABD) tells the story of Palastinian Hayatt who sneaks secretly into Israeli-owned Jerusalem to get a handful of earth which she believes will save her grandmother's life. It is an insightful look life in the world of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
No Safe Place by Deborah Ellis (F ELL) describes Iraqui refugee, Abdul's transitions through the world of people smuggling en route to England. This is no simplistic look at the refugee area as it includes both "real" and "economic" refugees, and good and bad people.
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (F AND) describes the depression suffered by Melinda after a terrible event suffered at a party in the holidays. The novel charts her physchological transition from elective muteness (she refuses to speak) to the 'normal' teenage world.
Rock Dancer by Bronwyn Blake (F BLA) tells the stoy of Leah, an olympic-level gymnast whose life is shattered by her responsibility for the accident which put fellow-gymnast and friend into a coma. Her family has moved to a country town and Leah is sent on a rock-climbing camp where she will be responsible for fellow-students' safety. this is a good example of how the setting used in the physical transition leads to important psychological transitions.
Girl, Missing by Sophie McKenzie (F MCK) describes what happens when Lauren discovers she is actually a missing person. Running away to the US to find her birth family, she is trapped in an action adventure which cause her to grow up in all sorts of ways.
Fantasy Novels: usually involve a journey toward a new and wider world where they must make hard decisions, often with world-changing consequences.
Ingo by Helen Dunmore describes what happens when Sapphire and Connor start to explore the world under the sea. the environmental theme suggests that the transition into an underwater identity
Monsterblood Tattoo by D M Cornish tells the story of Rossamund, an orphan who has just left the orphanage to take up work as an apprentice lamplighter - a person who lights the lamps in the countryside which keep the monsters away from towns. His transition to an adult career changes everything he thinks he knows about the world.
A Cage of Butterflies by Brian Caswell (F CAS) involves a group of children with genius level-IQ who were removed from their families to a remote farm where scientists experiment secretly on their telepathic abilities. The transitions are mostly psychological as they plot together to escape into the real world. Told from many changing viewpoints, this novel will provide excellent techniques for good readers.
Ender's Game by Scott Orson Card (F CAR) is set in a future where talented gamers are sent to a military school to learn to fight the aliens who are trying to invade earth. Of course, moving into this world has significant psychological effects of the characters as well as the society of Planet Earth.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (F COL) describes a future where the government controls the population by choosing children to fight to the death on a reality TV programme. Katnisse's transition into the a world of competitive violence leads to all manner of psychological transitions.
Wither by Lauren Stefano (F STE) is set in a world where teens die before the age of 20. Rhine is abducted and sold as a wife to a young boy whose father will do anything to find a cure before his son dies. the transition from poverty to the world of wealth and power does not resign Rhine to her fate.
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (F ROS) tells the story of Aria who is forced out of the safe, futuristic bubble where she grew up into a primitive wilderness. As her experience of this "real world" grows she loses her innocence and gain practical skills and attitudes that will enable her to survive.
Because it is my blood by Gabrielle Zevin (F ZEV) is set in a world where chocolate has been declared an illegal drug. The second book in a series, this novel examines Anya's (whose family are chocolate dealers) transition to life in a legal cacao plantation in Mexico after she is released from prison.
Cinder, by Marissa Meyer (F MEY) is based on the Cinderella tale but set in a future where humans can be part machine and the moon has been colonised by humans who have somehow evolved differently and now threaten earth. Going to the ball is just the beginning of cinder's transition into a new identity.
Romance Novels: involve a psychological transition into (or sometimes out of!) the world of Lurve.
That Summer by Sarah Dessen (F DES). Haven's world is in total chaos when her sister's ex-boyfriend returns to their lives. This novel focuses on the psychological transitions which happen when one's world-view is shattered.
Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen (F DES) describes Auden's return to the party scene after her parents divorce and the consequences of this transition into a world of alcohol and romance.
48 Shades of Brown by Nick Earls (F EAR) moves into his aunt Jacq's home while his parents spend a year in Europe. this physical transition prompts all kinds of psychological changes as he falls for his Aunt's flatmate.
Delirium by Lauren Oliver (F OLI) takes place in a world where love is considered a mental illness and teens undergo an operation at the age of 16 to save them from the disease. Lena's world changes when she chooses not to undergo this transition.
Historical Novels: are almost always set in a time of transition. Their characters usually move from the small world in which they were born into the new and wider world where they must make hard decisions.
Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson (F AND) tells the story of slave girl's journey toward freedom so that she can find her lost sister. It is set during the American Revolution (when the US was fighting to be free of English rule).
Auslander by Paul Dowswell (F DOW) tells the story of Peter, a blonde, blue-eyed Polish boy who is adopted by a Nazi family who try to indoctrinate him into Nazi philosophy. This less-known aspect of Nazism involves both physical and psychological transitions as Peter learns to negotiate and resist the world of high-ranking Nazis.
Scatterheart by Lili Wilkinson (F WIL). Adapted from the fairytale, this novel describes rich, spoilt Hannah's transition into poverty, and her arrest for a crime she did not commit. Sentenced to transportation (to Australia), she realises that she should judge people (especially Thomas, a servant she gets to know well) by their character, not their social status.
Real-Life Problem Novels: have very obvious psychological and social transitions as the characters face and solve the difficulties in their worlds. There may also be a physical transition involved in causing or solving the transition.
Where the Streets had a name by Randa Abdel-Fattah (F ABD) tells the story of Palastinian Hayatt who sneaks secretly into Israeli-owned Jerusalem to get a handful of earth which she believes will save her grandmother's life. It is an insightful look life in the world of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
No Safe Place by Deborah Ellis (F ELL) describes Iraqui refugee, Abdul's transitions through the world of people smuggling en route to England. This is no simplistic look at the refugee area as it includes both "real" and "economic" refugees, and good and bad people.
Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (F AND) describes the depression suffered by Melinda after a terrible event suffered at a party in the holidays. The novel charts her physchological transition from elective muteness (she refuses to speak) to the 'normal' teenage world.
Rock Dancer by Bronwyn Blake (F BLA) tells the stoy of Leah, an olympic-level gymnast whose life is shattered by her responsibility for the accident which put fellow-gymnast and friend into a coma. Her family has moved to a country town and Leah is sent on a rock-climbing camp where she will be responsible for fellow-students' safety. this is a good example of how the setting used in the physical transition leads to important psychological transitions.
Girl, Missing by Sophie McKenzie (F MCK) describes what happens when Lauren discovers she is actually a missing person. Running away to the US to find her birth family, she is trapped in an action adventure which cause her to grow up in all sorts of ways.
Fantasy Novels: usually involve a journey toward a new and wider world where they must make hard decisions, often with world-changing consequences.
Ingo by Helen Dunmore describes what happens when Sapphire and Connor start to explore the world under the sea. the environmental theme suggests that the transition into an underwater identity
Monsterblood Tattoo by D M Cornish tells the story of Rossamund, an orphan who has just left the orphanage to take up work as an apprentice lamplighter - a person who lights the lamps in the countryside which keep the monsters away from towns. His transition to an adult career changes everything he thinks he knows about the world.