Why I Care about The Big Read

Returning to Hope College this Fall semester, I have had the opportunity to work closely with the NEA Big Read Lakeshore that hosts a series of author events through November.  This year, the theme is Greek Mythology and the Hero’s Journey.  Organizing event details alongside Dr. Deborah Van Duinen, Director of the Big Read, has given me insight to this complex and exciting event. 

I was first introduced to the Big Read last year, as I sat in Dr. Van Duinen’s Foundations of Education course.  It was there I learned about Social and Emotional Learning as well as Culturally Relevant Teaching in the classroom.  Tagged along with the Big Read, which last year featured Poet Warrior by Joy Harjo and Fry Bread by Kevin Noble Maillard, a determination sparked within me to promote literature that reflects the diversity of culture within the classroom.  

When I am not studying at Hope College, I take my drive around the lake until I am back home in northern Illinois.  Being a transfer student at Hope has widened horizons and provided new experiences.  I attended community college before my transfer last year, and there’s not an event quite like the Big Read in my area.  The mission of the Big Read was all but foreign to me.  Introducing classic stories from alternative perspectives was not only mind blowing, but also made sense.  Coming from a high school with a strong Latinx student body, I crave an experience to read classic plays,but with supplements that reflect not only my culture but the cultures of my peers as well.  An example would be studying Romeo and Juliet, but reading a book like Shame the Stars by Guadalupe Garcia McCall– a retelling of Shakespeare’s play but set in Texas at the turn of the 20th century.  

As a Creative Writing student, I understand the necessity for children to engage with literature that reflects their identities.  It’s this desire that encourages what I read and motivates what I write.  Working with the Big Read has allowed me to follow this passion in a proactive way.  Little Read author Matt de la Peña is visiting Hope College on November 9th to discuss his book The Last Stop on Market Street.  Getting to organize this event for students in the Holland and surrounding areas feels like a step towards the mission of my calling. 

The behind the scenes work gives me a glimpse of how much dedication it takes to engage with the movement of Culturally Relevant Teaching.  While I am not studying to be a teacher, my work with the Big Read is building experiences of how to prove that literature matters.  The content we read influences our manner and actions in the world around us.  The books that our teachers hand us at formative ages matter.  Being given books that don’t reflect ourselves or the communities around us limits our knowledge of our neighbors and the cultures that influence our environment.  It also inhibits those of marginalized cultures to view themselves and the individuality of their culture in the curriculum they are presented with.  It’s the Miles Morales of the classroom seeing himself as Spider-Man. Seeing himself as the hero makes the web-slinging adventures more fascinating to follow and hope the hero wins in the end.   

There are pockets around the country like my hometown in Illinois and Holland where the student body consists of marginalized groups who don’t always receive literature that reflects their cultures or life experiences.  By offering literature with alternative perspectives than that of the original text, we allow students to engage fully with the text and give them the opportunity to see themselves as the hero in the story. 

Greek Mythology and General Education 

You might be wondering, is Greek Mythology really relevant today? Well, in order to fully understand just how relevant it is, you first need to understand Greek mythology. Mythology is important for the understanding of history, art, and literature. Science, philosophy, psychology, astronomy, and many other topics were heavily influenced by Greek myth. This is one of the many reasons Greek mythology, and mythology in general, should be a part of the general education curriculum in schools.

Just look up into the night sky and each constellation tells a story from Greek mythology. Look at almost any painting from the Renaissance and you will see aspects of Greek and Roman myth. To fully understand most classic literature, like any of Shakespeare’s works, you need to have a basic understanding of Greek myth. Even psychological theories have been based on Greek mythology; for instance, Sigmund Freud used the myth of Oedipus to help explain his theories of psychosexual development.

Greek mythology has shaped cultures, traditions, and history. In order to fully understand democracy and forms of government, you need to know the history behind it. There is a myth about a man named Lycurgus who was given the Great Rhetra by the oracle Delphi. The Great Rhetra is the Spartan constitution that gave most of the power to the people. This document was the first of its kind in the Western world and was the first step towards modern democracy. The Greeks even informed Western and Eastern cultures and their relationship today; for instance, the Persian Wars changed how the Western world viewed the East, and understanding this background is essential.

Myths don’t just inform the way we study certain topics, but they also give us insight into the human condition. Emotions such as grief, love, anger, lust, pride, and jealousy are all themes throughout Greek myth and most Greek heroes wrestle with these emotions. Reading about these mythological characters can give students guidance and assurance when dealing with their own emotions. 

Learning Greek mythology in the school setting would help students better understand their emotions, the context for modern society, and the background for most modern structures, systems, and beliefs. 

Firekeeper’s Daughter: The Hero’s Journey and the Ojibwe Medicine Wheel

The 2021 Big Read programming featured Angeline Boulley and her debut novel Firekeeper’s Daughter. Her book is one example of following the hero’s journey, but it contains a twist by also using the Ojibwe medicine wheel to create the story. She discussed the structure of her book at the Michigan Council of Teachers of English Conference on October 14. 

Boulley structured her book into four acts in order to overlap the four quadrants of the hero’s journey with the medicine wheel. She incorporated the medicine wheel by combining the plant medicine of tobacco into the story. Each act continues to highlight areas of the medicine wheel to capture this aspect of her Native American culture. 

We see a similar theme in our 2022 Big Read Lakeshore book since Circe is knowledgeable in herbal medicine and hones her craft throughout the book. One of the reasons we read stories is to learn about the culture and practices of different cultures. 

Angeline Boulley announced that her next book will be available next spring about a heist gone wrong. Keep an eye out for it! 

The Odyssey: Choosing a Translation

With over 60 English translations, knowing which translation of The Odyssey to read can be difficult. 

In the original Greek, The Odyssey is in blank verse, using dactylic hexameter, both of which are common attributes of Greek and Latin poetry. Some translators of The Odyssey choose to keep their translation in blank verse while others choose to change the style or instead write in prose. Because of these style choices, each translation highlights different aspects of the original. 

The first person to translate The Odyssey into English was the British poet and playwright George Chapman in 1616. Since then, men have continued to translate the famous epic, but it was not until 2018 when the first female translator published her version of The Odyssey.

Emily Wilson is this first female translator. Her translation of The Odyssey keeps the original blank verse, but changes the dactylic hexameter into iambic pentameter. Throughout the poem, she keeps many of the original Homeric similes. Another unique characteristic of Wilson’s translation is her portrayal of the female characters and certain situations; for instance, she translates male and female relationships without compromising the original meaning. Wilson’s translation is great for anyone who is interested in reading The Odyssey, whether a first-timer or a veteran.

George Chapman’s translation, one of the most advanced, is written in Elizabethan English. Similar to Wilson, he also keeps the epic in blank verse and turns the dactylic hexameter into iambic pentameter. Throughout his translation, Chapman adds descriptive, moral, and philosophical details and interpretations that are not in the original, making his translation more like a personal response. This translation is best for more advanced readers who are already familiar with The Odyssey.

Some translators choose to write their version in prose since it can be easier to read and understand. One prose version of The Odyssey can be found in the textbook World Mythology: An Anthology of the Great Myths and Epics by Donna Rosenberg. This is a paraphrased version best for younger students and individuals who are only interested in a summary of The Odyssey. Another prose translation by A. S. Kline can be found for free online. It includes hyperlinks to character descriptions and images which can be helpful for first-time readers. This translation is great for beginners since it keeps the integrity of the original translation while still providing a prose version that is easy to read.

Robert Fitzgerald and Peter Green both wrote poetry translations of The Odyssey. Fitzgerald’s translation has been the most common modern translation since 1961. It has sold more than two million copies, and has been the standard translation for most schools and poets. The one aspect Fitzgerald’s translation lacks, however, is a rhythm; it is not written in a particular meter like Wilson or Chapman’s. Peter Green translated the original poem line-by-line which keeps most of the original integrity of the poem. Similar to Fitzgerald, Green’s translation is not in a specific meter; however, it maintains a lyrical tone, analogous to the original. Both Green and Fitzgerald’s translations are great for students and adults alike.

Although finding a translation of The Odyssey can feel challenging, when looking at the pros and cons of each translation, you can easily find one that fits your needs.

So You Want to Learn About Greek Mythology?

Question: Why did Achilles pull over to the side of the road? 

Answer: He heard Sirens.

Question: What game do Greek Gods play at birthday parties? 

Answer: Hydra and go seek.

Question: What did Poseidon say to the sea monster?

Answer: What’s Kraken?

If you are not laughing, either you do not have a sense of humor, or you need to brush up on your Greek mythology.

Learning Greek mythology may seem like an Olympic feat, but once you get started, you will find it is not all that difficult.

Fortunately, there are many free resources available to learn about mythology, especially Greek mythology.

One of the best resources is GreekMythology.com, which is an app, YouTube channel, and website. The website has the most information with a clear outline of each god and goddess as well as the famous myths.

Besides GreekMythology.com, there are many videos on YouTube that explain different aspects of Greek mythology. The best video is Greek Gods Explained in 12 Minutes which does exactly as the title suggests. Greek Mythology Stories: The Essentials goes through the origin stories chronologically and is needed to understand the Greek pantheon and other myths later on.

Do you want your kids to learn about Greek mythology? Greek Mythology for Kids is a quick video explaining the history of mythology as well as the Greek gods and goddesses.

If you do not have much time to sit down and read or watch something, I suggest listening to a podcast. 

The Greek Mythology: Short Stories podcast is best for a quick listen since most episodes are only five minutes long and talk only about one myth. This podcast can be found anywhere you get your podcasts. 

Let’s Talk Myths, Baby is another good podcast, but the episodes are about 20-30 minutes long. There should also be a content warning since the occasional swear word is used. This podcast also takes a political view on certain myths, which can be interesting. 

Whether listening, reading, or watching, any mortal can turn this seemingly Herculean task into an enjoyable afternoon. 

Heroes and the Home

They say home is where the heart is a trend which is true for many heroes as they leave home to embark on the hero’s journey. 

In one of the Big Read meetings for our area teachers, participants were asked what aspect of home they miss most when they go away from home. I answered that I missed a stocked pantry the most because my mom always has the one at home full of our favorite snacks. When I am away from home at college, I rarely spend the money to buy things to fill the pantry. 

One of our teachers linked homesickness to Odysseus’s travels in the Odyssey. He spends 10 years at war and then another 10 years trying to get back to his wife and son. Then, when he returns home he finds a home full of people trying to woo his wife, Penelope. This is likely not the homecoming Odysseus was expecting. 

Ties to Greek Mythology

In Greek mythology, the goddess Hestia is the goddess of the home and the hearth. She’s one of the 12 gods and goddesses of Olympus and receives a portion of all the sacrifices made to any of the other gods.

Most gods and goddesses on Olympus are prideful and aim to gain power over the other Olympians. However, Hestia is arguably the best-liked Olympian. This is significant because it shows that the Greeks felt that home should be a place of compassion and peace.

The term nostalgia also has links to the Greeks. The roots of this word are derived from the Greek nostos (return) and algos (pain). This translates to mean the suffering felt because of the desire to return to one’s place of origin. 

A desire and a longing for home links people. It is even a natural part of the hero’s journey since the hero must leave what is familiar and cross the threshold into the extraordinary world. Yet, the hero usually returns home at the end of their quest. 

Let us know what you miss most when you leave home in the comments below!

The 2022 Big Read and Little Read Events are Live!

Now that you have learned a little bit about all of our 2022 Big Read, Middle Read, and Little Read books we are excited that our 2022 events calendar is live. The Big Read and Little Read has 100 events taking place on the West Michigan Lakeshore with help from our partners and libraries. This year is going to be bigger and better than ever! 

There are a variety of events for people of all different interests. We have author visits with Madeline Miller and Matt de la Pena, a murder mystery game night at Herrick District Library, book discussions, and a variety of other art and literature events. 

The goal of our program is to foster a community where reading matters, so we hope you will pick up a copy of Circe or another one of our books and join us for a few events! This year we are specifically exploring Greek culture, what we can learn from classics like The Odyssey, what constitutes heroes and villains, and so many other themes. 

We hope that you will read alongside us as our November programming grows closer! 

View the full calendar of events online.

Themes in Last Stop on Market Street

As I said in the last blog post, multiple themes can help foster discussion of Matt De La Peña’s Last Stop on Market Street, no matter what age range you decide to use the book for.  Some of the themes in the book are happiness or goodness, inequity, beauty, and community. 

Happiness/Goodness

Happiness and goodness can be seen clearly in CJ’s grandmother Nana. Nana seems optimistic about everything and tries to get CJ to see the bright side. When CJ and Nana go to the soup kitchen, happiness can also be seen. They are doing something good, but it also makes CJ and Nana happy to help others. 

Inequity

Inequity is another theme found in Last Stop on Market Street. The story has the overarching theme of inequity regarding food insecurity and the need to use a soup kitchen, though. However, are also more underlying inequities that can be found in the story. For example, CJ and his Nana take the bus as their primary form of transportation because they do not have a car. Though it is important to note that when the story discusses these types of inequities, it does not seem to do it in a way where having less is seen as a bad thing, it is ultimately seen as a different way of living.  

Beauty

The third theme, beauty, can also be tied to the theme of inequity, explicitly looking at having less as just a different way of living. Throughout the book, Nana tries to show CJ how beautiful every part of their city is through her smile and being unfazed when the bus enters the side of the city where inequality is present.

Community:

The last theme is community. The theme of community can be seen throughout Last Stop on Market Street. There is a community of volunteers at the soup kitchen and people who ride the bus. Still, there is also a larger community in the neighborhood and the community that CJ and Nana are trying to help. 

Finally, as with every Big Read, Middle Read, and Little Read book, readers can discuss many themes, but these are great jumping-off points. We hope you use these themes to start great conversations and can not wait to see what comes to your mind when you think about themes in Last Stop on Market Street by  Matt De La Peña.

Written by Nancy Gately

Lessons in Last Stop on Market Street

While we have been discussing our middle-read books a lot, it is time to switch gears and discuss our little read book for the year. This year the little read book is The Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña. 

Matt de la Peña is a New York Times bestselling author and the winner of the Newbery Medal for seven of his young adult books and five picture books, including The Last Stop on Market Street. He will also be visiting the lakeshore area, including Holland, Hope College, and Muskegon, during the 2022 NEA Big Read Lakeshore season. 

According to Matt de la Peña, The Last Stop on Market Street is about a curious African American boy named CJ and his grandmother’s positive attitude: “Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don’t own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn’t he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty—and fun—in their routine and the world around them.” 

The lessons do not stop when CJ and his grandmother get off the bus. As CJ and his grandmother exit the bus, readers learn that they made this journey to go to the local soup kitchen and serve a meal as their weekly volunteer outing. They are not only productive members of the community, but they are also able to enjoy and appreciate the community they are surrounded by. 

Ultimately, the NEA Big Read Lakeshore little read books are geared towards elementary-aged children. However, many of our past little read books and our current little read book can foster great discussions for elementary-aged students, middle school students, high school students, and even adults.

In the next blog post, we will discuss some of the themes that can help foster discussion for any age, but in the meantime, pick up a copy of The Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña and learn how to see the beauty in your community.

Written by Nancy Gately

Takeaways from Zita the Space Girl

Even though Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke is a must-read on its own, there are other things, specifically what the reader can take away from it, that help to solidify it as a must-read. 

One of the first takeaways is leadership. Throughout the graphic novel, Zita must learn to become a leader and live into her persona as Zita the Spacegirl. However, she must also be a leader when it comes to putting together a team and saving her friend Joseph. 

The second takeaway is closely related to leadership and why Zita has to be a leader, and that is friendship. Friendship is the true catalyst of this graphic novel. All of the action begins because of Zita’s and Joseph’s friendship. Though, friendship does not have to be only on Earth. Through her adventures in space, Zita gets to meet many different creatures who she can consider her partners and friends. 

The third takeaway from Zita the Spacegirl is trust. When Zita goes into this other world to save Joseph, not only does she have to trust herself and her skills, but she also has to trust that others have her best interest in mind. For example, Zita meets many creatures, such as Robot Randy, Mouse, and Piper, who know the universe better than she does, but she must trust that they are not going to use their knowledge to deceive her. 

 The last takeaway is choice. There are many choices that Zita and others have to make throughout the graphic novel, such as: Should Zita follow Joseph? Should Zita save herself and Joseph, or should she save the planet?  Should Piper help Zita? While the graphic novel shows many characters making many difficult decisions, one thing that it does make clear is that even with a difficult decision, the characters stand by their choice.

As always, there are plenty of more takeaways that can be found in Zita the Spacegirl by Ben Hatke. We hope that this blog post is a jumping-off point for you and that as you read the graphic novel, you will find these takeaways and your own.

-Written by Nancy Gately