I loved the article on David Levithan and really enjoy the concept of being open to change. If you would have asked me a few years ago if I thought it was okay to have books about the LGBT community I may have said no. However, over the few years I’ve learned so much and have become a lot more open about this topic. Many of the people who are opposed to these topics were raised being told that it was wrong. I believe that challenging books such as these are beneficial and important to include in the school system. Often times LGBT children are bullied or treated unfairly by those who do not understand the concept of being gay. By publishing books such as these, being gay can be seen as more of a normality. People are uncomfortable around things that seem gay because to them it is not something they see every day. I can personally say that when I first witnessesed it as a child I thought it was weird and I didn’t understand it. I was so used to everything I was told when growing up that it was difficult for me to accept. However, I’m glad that I began to witness it more frequently because it no longer feels weird to me. By reading books on gay relationships or having friends that are gay I’ve learned that relationships work the same either way. Although David Levithan’s books continue to be challenged, he continues to write and I love that. He is fighting for the future and he is getting through a wall of oppression. I deeply admire him and would like to continue reading his work.
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Round Table
Scott Westerfeld answers this question by relating a young adults life to that of a dystopian community. He primarily focuses on school and how we are subject to dress codes, have limited freedom of speech rights, are constantly under surveillance, and rise and sit when we hear a bell. He says that because we are constantly being controlled, books about the government breaking down or being attacked continue to be popular now more than ever.
I personally agree with his opinion. Some of my favorite books and movies deal with the government being taken over by kids or young adults fighting for their freedom against those in power. It is true when he says that we are constantly being controlled and told what to do or how to act. I feel that because of this, our creativity is often times impaired and we lack the ability to think outside the box. In fact, some people become so used to this pattern that when change comes along they do not welcome it.
Westerfeld’s commentary can definitely be related to The Giver. In The Giver, everyone in the community is under control and told to think in one way only. Similarly, students in the real world and in school are frequently treated the same way. Students no longer seem to be taught how to think critically because teachers in grades k-12 focus more facts and what will be on the next exam. There are so many underground movements that we don’t know about but should be more aware about. Students are constantly being tracked and watched in the real world, which relates to the way children are watched and tracked in The Giver as well. I think the scariest part about books on dystopian communities is how much they relate to the real world.
The Princess and The Pea
The Princess and The Pea was the first storybook I ever read. I remember coming home and showing my mother I could read with this book. I memorized the entire thing very quickly and as my mom noticed this, she came to the conclusion that I needed a new book. The story begins with a girl who is drenched wet knocking on a door and trying to find safety. She claims to be a princess, however because she does not look like one, she is overlooked. They then test her sensibility because only a normal girl could sleep sound-fully on a mattress with a pea underneath it. To the mothers surprise, the Princess awakens the next day and says she had trouble sleeping because there seemed to be a lump in the bed. (Ridiculous, I know.) From this day forward she is recognized as a true Princess and she lives a long happy life alongside her new Prince. I loved it because it was fairly easy to read and somehow the story always kept me entertained. I had an obsession with princesses when I was younger. The ones that did not actually look like princesses intrigued me the most. (The Princess Diaries was also a favorite of mine). I wanted to be a princess SOOO badly and these books gave me hope that some day it would happen. Although the story is completely impossible, the little girl in me is still in love with this book. 
Frog and Toad Are Friends
Frog and Toad Are Friends holds a spot in my heart. It was just so easy to read for me and the characters always made me laugh. They both reminded me of myself as a child because at times I could be lazy (like Toad) and sometimes I was mischievous (like frog). I recommend this book to children because the writing is fun and the pictures go along with text very well. Even as an adult as I read this book it still manages to make me laugh!